7 days til DL and feeling... meh

[alc571]

We've been planning our trip to CA for a few months now - although not nearly as much as we do for a WDW trip - and I have to say I'm feeling a little "meh" about the whole thing

We haven't been to CA since our honeymoon in 1998, and I can't even remember DL other than the pictures I have (which are few). I'm really looking forward to Disney's Calafornia Adventure (our son will LOVE Cars Land), but other than that I feel like it will be disappointing compared to a WDW stay. We're also doing SeaWorld and Universal Studios thanks to Costco's SoCal City Passes. We're staying at the Ayres Anaheim hotel - which looks beautiful.

But somehow, I can't help but long for my POR! As I was typing a recommendation for POR to a fellow Dis'r, I found myself getting all teary thinking about the nice warm walks at night along the river, past the pool, to our mansion. I kinda wish I was going back.

It also doesn't help that we're flying from Detroit - which means a 4 hour drive, followed by a 4.5 hour plane ride. Ick! It won't be too bad going there, as we're staying at a hotel the night before our flight - but on the way back, we're doing the fly-drive straight. It's going to be a LOOONG commute day.

I know... poor me, right? Welcome to my pity party... lol

 

[xipetotec]

We've been planning our trip to CA for a few months now - although not nearly as much as we do for a WDW trip - and I have to say I'm feeling a little "meh" about the whole thing

We haven't been to CA since our honeymoon in 1998, and I can't even remember DL other than the pictures I have (which are few). I'm really looking forward to Disney's Calafornia Adventure (our son will LOVE Cars Land), but other than that I feel like it will be disappointing compared to a WDW stay. We're also doing SeaWorld and Universal Studios thanks to Costco's SoCal City Passes. We're staying at the Ayres Anaheim hotel - which looks beautiful.

But somehow, I can't help but long for my POR! As I was typing a recommendation for POR to a fellow Dis'r, I found myself getting all teary thinking about the nice warm walks at night along the river, past the pool, to our mansion. I kinda wish I was going back.

It also doesn't help that we're flying from Detroit - which means a 4 hour drive, followed by a 4.5 hour plane ride. Ick! It won't be too bad going there, as we're staying at a hotel the night before our flight - but on the way back, we're doing the fly-drive straight. It's going to be a LOOONG commute day.

I know... poor me, right? Welcome to my pity party... lol

We are a Disney World family. We go every two years with my mom's DVC membership ( She loves to spoil the grandkids and take huge family vacations every two years ).

One year we went to California instead. My son wanted to see Hollywood, and I wanted to go to DisneyLand. It is a whole different experience. Sure it's smaller, but it's where Walt actually spent time in. There is a more intimate feeling there. Not to mention, SOME of the attractions are just plain better ( Pirates, for one ). They also have the indiana jones ride, The Nemo submarines, The Matterhorn to name a few. You will have a blast!

 

[scrappinginontario]

I hope you're pleasantly surprised! We're a WDW family through & through but still looking forward to trying DL in a couple years.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Without any hyperbole whatsoever, I can definitively say that Disneyland is a gazillion times better than Disney World - it's the park that Walt created and walked in.

You have more rides and attractions in DL and California Adventure (basically one park - the entrances are 60 seconds away from each other) than you do in all four parks combined in Florida. Yes, the parks are smaller, but that just means that there is a whole lot less 'filler' in them (souvenir stands and quick serve restaurants).

On the whole, the weather is much nicer in California (virtually no humidity) and there are a million things you can do within a short drive of DL - beaches, Hollywood, San Diego.

If you go onto the DL board, there is a lengthy, lengthy thread by a poster named Hydroguy, called (something like) "WDW vet's first time at DL"???? This thread lays out in great detail all of the reasons why DL is so much better than WDW (as noted above, Pirates, Space, Indy, not having to spend half your life on buses, etc.)

WDW is... fine (we were there for 2 weeks in March and will be there again in February), but if we had our choice, we'd pick DL a hundred times out of a hundred.

 

[dsneygirl]

We are WDW veterans and we LOVE Disneyland. We were there last June just after Carsland opened and the park was immaculate. The QS food options are better and CA is amazing, they spared no expense with the refurb.

Yes the flight is longer and if you are off property you don't quite get the all encompassing feel but it's great allow yourself to get excited.

 

[andrniki]

We live near the Detroit border. We go to WDW every year. This past March, we tried DL and we CAN'T WAIT to go back. You will love it!! As others have said, there are so many amazing rides that WDW doesn't have. Pirates is way better as is Small World. It's more magical than WDW because they don't have as much space so they've put way more effort into the ambiance and decorative aspects of the parks to hide that other rides are so close. You also get way less tired because everything is close. The weather isn't as stifling either.

As for your flight, yes it is 4 hours, as compared to 2.5 to Florida but the plane was a bit nicer because it was a longer trip ( on Delta) and once the kids were plugged into their tech devices, it was all good. It's so worth it.

WDW will always be our 2nd home, but DL is right up there now.

 

[alc571]

As for your flight, yes it is 4 hours, as compared to 2.5 to Florida but the plane was a bit nicer because it was a longer trip ( on Delta) and once the kids were plugged into their tech devices, it was all good. It's so worth it.

Thanks! I think this is the biggest reason I'm not looking forward to the trip. My DS7 hits his limit on our 3 hr flight from Toronto to MCO, so I hope he'll be entertained enough on the longer flight. We are flying Delta, and the plane is MUCH larger than the one we normally fly on to FL. We are seated together in the middle three seats. I'm sure the "no window" thing will be an adjustment for him, but at least he has one of us on either side of him.

I am definitely looking forward to all the different rides the parks have to offer. Pirates is one of our favs, and so we are really looking forward to seeing it. We are also looking forward to checking out Universal and Sea World.

I'm sure I'll get more excited as the week drags on. For now, I'm inundated with stuff to get done at work and I haven't started packing! Eek!

 

[andrniki]

Thanks! I think this is the biggest reason I'm not looking forward to the trip. My DS7 hits his limit on our 3 hr flight from Toronto to MCO, so I hope he'll be entertained enough on the longer flight. We are flying Delta, and the plane is MUCH larger than the one we normally fly on to FL. We are seated together in the middle three seats. I'm sure the "no window" thing will be an adjustment for him, but at least he has one of us on either side of him.

Not having a window won't matter that much. The Delta plane has a screen in front of each seat that has limited viewing/audio but my boys (8 & 6) loved it because there is a map that shows them how far they've flown and how far left to go. They were mesmerized by it

 

[BCmomma]

We leave in 4 days, driving down to DL from Vancouver and cannot wait!! of course, I've done DL and DCA several times so I know what to expect, but it's FABULOUS!!!!!

To tell you the truth, being on the west coast we have NO desire to ever go to Florida and WDW. Of everyone we know in Vancouver, not one person has ever been to WDW.

 

[Carina]

We leave in 4 days, driving down to DL from Vancouver and cannot wait!! of course, I've done DL and DCA several times so I know what to expect, but it's FABULOUS!!!!!

To tell you the truth, being on the west coast we have NO desire to ever go to Florida and WDW. Of everyone we know in Vancouver, not one person has ever been to WDW.

I live on Vancouver Island, we've been to DL twice and last year we went to DW

Whenever people ask which I prefer, I say I like DL better than DW but FL better than Cali

We like DL a LOT better for all the reasons listed above.
We liked all the things outside DW in Florida (we did Universal Studio's, a Swamp Tour, Disney Quest, the 2 water parks, Cocco Beach, Kennedy Space Center)
Yes we did other stuff in California too, but Florida is superior. DW is not nearly as good as DL though, too much filler and wasted space!


OH and too the person who said their 7 year old reaches his limit about hour 3 on the plane. I really belive talking to kids about expectations and the benefit at the end really helps.

Our 7,8,10 year old ( at the time) did over 20 hours in the car spread over 2 days. We told them yes it is really going to suck, but it's how we are getting to Disney ( it was our first trip) and it's our only option. We did not threaten them or anything, just basically said if you want us to have this trip, your job is to behave and not complain. It really changed their mindset treating it like their responsibility. And of course we thanked them a LOT for their good behavior and their lack of complaining.

Now those are mini days for us 18 hours in one day is our record

I know each kid is different, but I figure it wouldn't hurt to share what worked for us. Or try a 1/2 dose of kids gravol right before take off.

 

[podgirl]

I totally understand the feeling of missing a WDW resort. It's a very different experience going to Disneyland. Be sure to have a QS meal at the Pacific Wharf Cafe. You can watch sourdough bread bowls being made and then have some soup in one. Delicious!