I have spent the majority of my Disney play time at WDW and love it there. I met my DH standing in line at BTMRR 3 years ago and we were married last year. My heart belongs to WDW.
Having said that, I strongly believe you simply cannot expect the same experience. I convinced my DH of that last year when we went to DL --- he thought DL would be too small.
What he discovered is they ARE different.
Yes, DL is small and sometimes that's a good thing.
DL is far more intimate. We LOVE watching the parade in CA and scooting back to DL quickly for a bite and fireworks.
We are leaving on September 11 to celebrate my birthday at the Grand Cali. This year, I am still hobbling a bit from an ankle accident a few months ago. DL will be FAR easier for me to navigate --- and escape back to the hotel if I need to rest.
I actually love how quickly you transition from one land to another at DL. Yes, perhaps some of that charm is because I do not know the park as well as the parks at WDW.
Yes, WDW has far more to do --- many more resorts to choose from depending on your budget and the magic lives there too.
What DL has that is hands down - the most special for me is.....that is where Walt walked. His hands, personally, are everywhere there. I hear the sound of "Disneyland is your land" everywhere I walk there.
I am almost 54 years old. I was raised with the Mickey Mouse Club - tears fill my eyes when I watch the magic of the characters with little children. I'm not as objective as a non-disney nut would be.
I love BOTH places and celebrate the fact that they offer different experiences (and I LOVE DL's space mountain!!!!!)
One practical side of me also recognizes the standards of quality at WDW are not always what we remember. My DH works for "the mouse" and we are well aware of the $$$ cutbacks. They are especially noticable at WDW.
Last year we found DL to have none of the budget-cut type problems of WDW (bathrooms can be sewers at WDW at the end of the night, cutbacks in mousekeeping mean your resort room may not be touched by a maid until 5 or 6 pm.) We haved learned how to avoid some of the problems --- but they are there.
When we were at DL last year it was an entirely different feeling. Castmembers were so friendly, the park was clean, there were ladies cleaning the bathrooms every time I entered. Perhaps because they are so close to the "grownups" that could stop b at any time. Maybe it keeps them on their toes.
Alright....of course I'll think of everything else I wanted to say later....but that's enough for now.
