A few DL questions

[irisbud]

Hello everyone,

This is the first time I have ventured over here as I thought it may be many years before DH and I were able to visit DL. Instead, we are thinking of trading out Sept 15-20 WDW trip for a trip to DL on those days using DVC Developer points.

I have a few questions before we set this up, though. I've read through the FAQs, etc but was still hoping to get a few opinions/answers!

(1) We would have 5 nights/6 days in the area, all staying at DL. Will 2.5 - 3 days at DL be enough to at least get the highlights and get a feel for the parks? DH does NOT want to spend all of our time at DL.

(2) What are some more interesting things to do in the area? Is the City Pass something we should look into or should we forgo it and look for other things on our own?

(3) We will probably stay at Paradise Pier. We are thinking of doing CL for 3 nights. Is this similar to CL at WDW? We normally end up staying CL at WDW and have done so at AKL, WL, BWI and GF RPC so any comparisons would be appreciated!

(4) Are the parks decorated for fall at that time? One thing I am hating giving up at WDW is the MNSSHP and the fall decor but if DL is decorated for fall I am sure it will be beautiful!

(5) Finally, I love WDW for two main reasons: the feeling of being in another world and the history, thought, and detail that go into the parks. DH is mostly a fan of the latter. I understand that WDW and DL are very different experiences and that I may be a little disappointed in losing the different, isolated world feel. Will the additional history and detaill in the DL parks make up for the loss of that experience? Or am I underestimating DL's ability to transport you to another world?

Thanks for any help or input of any kind! This is all new to us so any advice is appreciated!

TIA,
Amy

 

[Quilter007]

1) 3 days should give you lots of time -- especially if you to DL/DCA on the weekdays. DL/DCA are much more compact than WDW.
2) Ohhh -- the list is long: Beach, Acquarium in Long Beach, Legoland, Sea World, Wild Animal Park, Griffith Observatory, Natural History Museum, Tar Pits......
3) Don't know on that one
4) Yup
5) Both times that we've been to WDW, we thought that it wasn't maintained as well as DL. We also saw a bunch of things that weren't as detailed as we thought they would be. We saw some screws or bolts on something and said -- "Gee, @ DL they would have made this themed to fit the decor" -- stuff like that. So, I don't think you'll be disappointed. You can occassionally hear something from outside the park (like a siren or the occasional helicopter), but it's pretty rare.

You must go to an In-N-Out. Oh -- and get a churro @ DL -- they are the best!

Katrina

 

[ballarinamom]

Having gone to DL twice before we went to WDW, we were let down by WDW as well. Not only in cleanliness but in the planning of the buildings. Because of the Florida rains, IASW is all in a building. None of the beautiful extreriors at DL. We tried to always stay at DLH because we are imersed more than at WDW. No hoping on a bus, boat or monorail. Just walking through DTD on our way to the Land is wonderful. Also, for history, Walt never walked through a competed WDW. He kept an apartment on mainstreet at DL.
We had a good time at WDW but we were so happy to get back to DL!

You will hit the highlights in 2.5 to 3 days. We prefer 4-5 just to not feel rushed. You may want to consider getting a park hopper for more days just incase you make it back to the hotel and want to get in a little more fun.

Someone recently posted about the Concierge Lounge at PP. There are photos on the dining review sticky (somewhere between pages 74-75 I think)

 

[irisbud]

Thanks for your help everyone! Your answers are making me more excited about doing this trip!

 

[kikiq]

(5) Finally, I love WDW for two main reasons: the feeling of being in another world and the history, thought, and detail that go into the parks. DH is mostly a fan of the latter. I understand that WDW and DL are very different experiences and that I may be a little disappointed in losing the different, isolated world feel. Will the additional history and detaill in the DL parks make up for the loss of that experience? Or am I underestimating DL's ability to transport you to another world?
TIA,
Amy

When you first get to the neighborhood around the Disneyland Resort area, you will probably raise your eyebrows...BUT the minute you walk under the train tracks onto Main Street, let your DH enjoy every single little minute detail of the park. You will forget that you are in an urban area. My DH and I both love to sit near the "Partner's statue" and just people watch and sometimes...you might feel Walt watching with you. Or sit on the Rivers of America facing Pirate's Lair formerly known as Tom's Sawyer's Island. Wander through New Orleans Square and back to the train station where Walt's...wait, that's for you to find. Enjoy the exterior of Small World, WDW's version doesn't even come close...but let my oldest give you that commentary (she's 25 now, but at 4 she was quite opinionated about why HER Disneyland was better than the Magic Kingdom, caught that on video way back when)

As for the PP CL, we've only stayed at the GCH CL and Poly CL. If you don't want to stay at the GCH then I would use my DPs to stay at the DLH.

I never know what to tell folks about how long it would take "to do" DL/DCA. My friends came for 5 days and spent all 5 days at the parks, loved it. Some folks think 3 is enough. Do you have kids or just the two of you?

Have fun planning.

 

[mystic_path]

I have a few questions before we set this up, though. I've read through the FAQs, etc but was still hoping to get a few opinions/answers!

(1) We would have 5 nights/6 days in the area, all staying at DL. Will 2.5 - 3 days at DL be enough to at least get the highlights and get a feel for the parks? DH does NOT want to spend all of our time at DL.


I would definitely say do at the very min. 3 days. You can get a feel in 3 days but you might feel shorted. So I would say 4 would feel proper. But if you only want to do 3 then you can still see a huge chunk and feel very happy with yourself. Just remember though that major shows like Fantasmic, Fireworks, the Electrical parade, and sometimes Aladdin musical only play on weekends.

(2) What are some more interesting things to do in the area? Is the City Pass something we should look into or should we forgo it and look for other things on our own?

The city pass is great if you only want to go to DL for 3 days and then see Sandiego Zoo, Sea World and Universal. City pass also has connections to Grayline which will give you round trip transportation to these places. So a car wouldnt be needed. Personally Sea World and Sandiego Zoo are quite a drive each way and doing the trip 2 days in a row or so would be a bit tiring. But I definitely say Universal Studios is a great thing to see if you want something else to do. But let me suggest too though that if you purchase tickets to Universal through Southern California Grayline, you can also do a Universal Deluxe tour where the bus picks you up at Universal after the park closes and takes you right into the heart of LA where you see the Chinese theatre where the hand and foot prints of the stars are, you get to walk and shop along the Hollywood walk of fame, see Celebrity houses, stop at the theatre where the Emmys are held, you get to see the Disney concert hall, and SO MUCH MORE! All this before the bus brings you back to your Anaheim hotel. But for this tour you would probably have to pay for is seperately then going with the City Pass. Unless you can call the agent where you get your city pass and see if you can upgrade.


(3) We will probably stay at Paradise Pier. We are thinking of doing CL for 3 nights. Is this similar to CL at WDW? We normally end up staying CL at WDW and have done so at AKL, WL, BWI and GF RPC so any comparisons would be appreciated!

I have no idea on this one....

(4) Are the parks decorated for fall at that time? One thing I am hating giving up at WDW is the MNSSHP and the fall decor but if DL is decorated for fall I am sure it will be beautiful!

The parks will most likely start putting some halloween decorations out during that time. Either way the DL/DCA are just beautiful during any time of the year. Though be careful as the Haunted Mansion might be down in September due to a holiday overlay where they decorate the mansion into a nightmare before Xmas theme.


(5) Finally, I love WDW for two main reasons: the feeling of being in another world and the history, thought, and detail that go into the parks. DH is mostly a fan of the latter. I understand that WDW and DL are very different experiences and that I may be a little disappointed in losing the different, isolated world feel. Will the additional history and detaill in the DL parks make up for the loss of that experience? Or am I underestimating DL's ability to transport you to another world?

You know you hear it all the time that people are worried about losing that "Magic" feel when they go to another park, but there have been SO many WDW vets who have come to DL for the first time and fell so much in love with it. They say the magic is just as amazing as WDW. DL vets say this about WDW too. Though both parks are different they do have some similarities and people have a BLAST discovering things that are new, and things that are similar and what they prefer at which park.

Remember this... You wouldnt have WDW if it werent for DL. You would be coming to see the real deal. Where it all started. So would there be less magic in DL then WDW? I highly doubt this! You will be knocked off your feet when you walk through those gates.

 

[KCmike]

WDW vet that also lives in Missouri (KC) and congrats on going to where it all started. Let me say that we consider ourselves WDW vets and thought that WDW was the end all be all of places to be.....but then a funny thing happened to our family....we visited Walt's home.

Here are some very important things to know about DL:
1. It doesn't have the resort feel like WDW does.
2. It has as many rides and attractions in two parks compared to WDW has in four.
3. DL is by far superior to WDW's magic kingdom.
4. DL has so much history and detail and it is amazing. Soak it in.
5. It is compact and very small feeling. We love it. I can't stand walking miles and miles to attractions at WDW while sweating it out in the summer months.
6. The weather is to die for.
7. So much to see in California (Beautiful Pacific Ocean, deserts, Yosemite Natl Park, Monterey, San Francisco, Redwoods, Seqouia Natl Forest, Hollywood (we found this dirty and dated), Beverly Hills, etc....
8. It is now our favorite Disney park. We have been twice in a row and are going back for a third time this summer.
9. Halloween is good. Good decorations. No Mickey's Not So Scary Parade and fireworks though. They do have a Haunted Mansion makeover/overlay. Based on the Nightmare before Christmas. We love it.

There is so much to tell you. Keep asking questions and you can send me a private post if you wish.

Where do you live in Missouri?

Oh yeah one more thing...What is CL?