A WDW veteran's first time at Disneyland

[erinreid]

So I wasn't planning to visit Disneyland on my family's trip to California. I've never been before, but a few things fell into place, and we found ourselves able to visit DL and DCA for three days. The podcast team is definitely right, everyone who goes to WDW should visit DL at least once. We just completed our trip, and I wanted to get some of my thoughts down from our trip.

I don't know whether I'm biased (well, of course I am), but there are just a limited number of things that I would say are better in DL than at WDW. This is just my perspective, but it's one person's idea of what to focus on if you find yourself in DL for only a day or two.

THINGS THAT ARE BETTER IN DL THAN WDW

This list only contains things that are present in both parks.

1) Pirates of the Caribbean. The story makes sense in a way that it just doesn't in WDW.

2) Space Mountain. This is just a personal opinion, though. They are very, very different rides. The one at DL seems to go faster, the music is more rocking, and there are no sudden drops. I hate sudden drops, so I prefer DL.

3) The quick-service food. The quality of the quick-service food at DL is light-years above that of WDW. There's no comparison. Unfortunately, the price is about 40% higher in DL as well. (This is NOT true of the table-service food, which is better, and cheaper, at WDW.)

That's really it. I don't think any other shared attractions are better in DL. WDW, in my opinion, has the edge in Haunted Mansion, Downtown Disney, Big Thunder Mountain, It's a Small World (other than the facade, which is better in DL), Dumbo, the Monorail, the castle, and Astro Orbitor. Everything else is equal between the two parks, I think.

MUST-DO'S IN DL

These are the things that are unique to DL that I think you must do if you travel to DL.

1) Cars Land. There's just nothing that compares; it's amazing. Radiator Springs Racers is the best ride I've ever been on. Stay in a DL hotel for one night for a morning you can get in the park at 7 AM, it's worth the money. The other two rides are good, but RSR is amazing.

2) World of Color. Illuminations is better, because it has a better story and tugs at the heart more. But WOC is more beautiful, what a gorgeous display. Get a spot on the bridge and you won't get wet. Be sure to get a Fastpass.

3) Indiana Jones. Same ride as Dinosaur but much better.

4) Ariel's Undersea Adventure. I guess this is coming to the new Fantasyland, but it's my favorite dark ride now.

THINGS THAT WERE SURPRISING ABOUT DL

1) The crowds. Other than Cars Land, which was a madhouse, we just didn't have much in terms of wait. For instance, on Wednesday morning, I *walked on* to Toy Story Mania and Soarin'. At no point during the day did the wait for either one get over 40 minutes. When's the last time you can say that at WDW? This morning, Thursday, at 8:30 AM, I *walked on* (that's no exaggeration) back-to-back onto Pirates, Peter Pan, Dumbo, the Teacups, and the Carousel. Yes, all five, completed in 35 minutes. In the afternoon, the worst wait in all of DL was 30 minutes. I'd heard such horror stories, I was prepared for much worse. Maybe Cars Land drew off such a large number of people, I don't know, but I was amazed that I was able to do everything I wanted to do in such a short period of time.

2) The weather. Wow, it's so much nicer here. I should have known that, but I didn't.

3) Reservations. One week in advance, I was able to get prime reservations anywhere I wanted for dinner. Pretty nice, but again, table service food is better at WDW.

4) Walking. Yes, I'd heard a lot about how close everything is to everything else. But you just can't understand it until you experience it, if all you've ever known is WDW. It really is so much less walking to get from place to place. Of course, everything is more compact, which has its disadvantages too.

That's it. I hope it's helpful to other WDW veterans who want to visit DL.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Thanks for posting. I always like to hear what WDW vets think of DLR. I've never been to WDW but we are planning to go in 2014 so I can't wait to see all the differences. That's what makes it fun- trying new things!

I just got back from a week at DLR too. We did feel like CL drew some of the crowds away from other areas. TSMM is pretty much always 40-50 min all day. To me that seems long and before CL, that was the only ride we would wait 40 min for. Every other ride we either can get a FP for or know the time of day to ride it with a shorter line. Mornings have always been "prime time" at DL. I would say even more so with DCA drawing the first click of the day. We noticed the sub line seemed shorter than usual also.

Don't know what your BTMRR is like, but we definately think that ride is better at night than in the day. And there are subtle changes too.

Did you get to try the new Carthay Circle? We went and we loved it! Excellent food and excellent service.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I always tell WDW veterans that when they go to DL and walk onto Main Street, their reaction will be "where is the Castle?" The comparison is 189 feet in WDW and 75 feet in DL.

 

[erinreid]

I always tell WDW veterans that when they go to DL and walk onto Main Street, their reaction will be "where is the Castle?" The comparison is 189 feet in WDW and 75 feet in DL.

Castle? There was no castle. I saw this pretty little pink cottage in the middle of the park, but there was no castle there...

 

[Disney Enabler]

Let us not forget that Walt himself thought the castle was just right.

I'm just saying...

Carol
It's a great day to be alive!!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Well, at least you can actually walk up and in to our castle.

Besides, it belongs to Sleeping Beauty and if you watch the movie the prince's father said he is already building them a new home and he calls it "a honeymoon cottage, really". So that's why the castle at DL is smaller. It is their starter castle.

 

[erinreid]

Well, at least you can actually walk up and in to our castle.

Besides, it belongs to Sleeping Beauty and if you watch the movie the prince's father said he is already building them a new home and he calls it "a honeymoon cottage, really". So that's why the castle at DL is smaller. It is their starter castle.

So I was right! It's a cottage!

Of course, I tease. I thought the whole experience was lovely. I just thought the more info for WDW veterans out there, the better. The knowledge you gain at Orlando does not really translate to DL. I felt like I was relearning everything.

 

[cj9200]

So I was right! It's a cottage!

Of course, I tease. I thought the whole experience was lovely. I just thought the more info for WDW veterans out there, the better. The knowledge you gain at Orlando does not really translate to DL. I felt like I was relearning everything.

DD and I returned from DL a couple of weeks ago. Agree with relearning things. It is familiar but different.

DD's first impression on Sleeping Beauty's place was, "Look at the cute little castle."

DL beats the Magic Kingdom in a number or areas. A couple off the top of my head...

Pirates without a doubt.
Fantasmic. We have a poor imitation of it. Our cardboard cutout boat at the finale vs the Mark Twain, come on.
Space Mountain is so much cooler with the music.
World of Color (OK, it is at DCA but including it here because it was so good). We can only wish we had that type of a show.
The food. We have had great meals at WDW but some busts. The DL food was always very good. (well one exception)
Live entertainment. These performers are ready for the big show.
Main Street. Walt walked there and you can feel it.

Really enjoyed that cute little park you guys have out there.

 

[hapandpam]

Love your summary, erinreed. I was at DL once, 41 years ago. I have been to WDW about 20 times but I long to return to "Where the magic began." Your report renewed my commitment to go back.

 

[BriarRosie]

I think Main Street USA is much better at Disneyland compared to the way Main Street has changed over the years at WDW.

My main thought when I went to Disneyland for the first time was the feeling that someone went into my house and re-arranged all my furniture.

 

[Joshua_me]

I tend to agree with the above posts.

As someone who was raised on WDW, and been lucky enough to have visited the parks countless times, I've only had the privilege of visiting DL for one magical weekend.

I guess if I had to sum up my experience in one cliched thought, it would be that good things come in small packages.

Yes, DL can seem, well, a bit on the smallish side to us FL residents -But what blew me away was the attention to detail in practically every inch of the park.

DL was the place that Walt built, where he walked and had complete control over most every detail. And it shows.

There's a certain magic in DL, a "spirit" if you will, that is nothing short of enchanting.

Yes, WDW has endless land to build endless dreams upon as the years go by, but what it *doesn't* have, IMO, is Walt's original vision of his own personal utopia, where "children of all ages" can bask in the genius that Mr. Disney left to us on this planet.

I enjoy both parks - both coasts - in different ways.

WDW may have unlimited grandeur that only more land and more advanced technology can provide, but DL contains the seeds of the inspiration that began it all, and there is nothing better than that for the true Disney fan.

 

[EPCOT is a verb]

It is great to hear from WDW veterans about their thoughts on DL. We are also WDW veterans and have only been to DL once, almost 25 years ago. I would love to go back sometime.