After WDW is DL a disappointment?

[FreeTime]

We are planning a trip to DL next year. We usually go to WDW 2-3 times a year. People that had bee nt oboth DL and WDW are saying that we will be disappointed and not to waste our time. Honestly, do you think this is the case? Thanks

 

[Alison Wonderland]

see the post further down the page titled "dl vs wdw'

 

[daannzzz]

The are both great but very different. Just realize that Disneyland resort is about 400 acres in the middle of the suburbs vs. WDW 40 square miles. Once inside the parks it is still beautiful...well in Disneyland. Some of DCA is pretty too. The deal for me, living in Californian is that Disneyland can be done on a short 4 day trrip while I take 8-12 days for a WDW trip.

 

[justmestace]

I agree completely with Daannzzz,
there's a huge difference in size and theme....but the Magic Kingdom (Disneyland Park) in California is, in my opinion, better in a lot of ways than at WDW. (Please, no flames)
Disneyland has a certain charm and California Adventure is a relaxing change of pace with at least one ride you won't find (yet) in Florida...Soarin Over California...one of our favorites. I love the pier area at CA also.
DL can be done in a lot less time than WDW, but 3 days is the absolute minimum, I think.
I also love walking through Disneyland knowing that this was Walt's dream...his world. I love going up to the galllery, knowing that he lived in there, and trying to imagine what he was doing, and what he was thinking about. Guess I'm kinda weird, but my heart belongs to DL. (Again, no flames...) I love WDW for a long, huge vacation, and for the fact that the cruise ships are there, but DL is always worth going to, for any Disney fan.

 

[year2late]

We all but stopped going to WDW after DLR expanded. The intimate atmosphere makes my vacation more enjoyable. I grow weary of bus here and bus there.....


The only thing I can think of that is "disappointing" is the castle. But it is more freaky kinda disappointing than "ruined my vacation" kind of disappointing..

 

[westjones]

It seems like DL would be like going to MK, and the new California park is like going to MGM. At least that is the way we are looking at it. We are going to DL in April (and we usually go to WDW also).

We have a 5 day ticket and we are staying at the DLH and we are so excited about being able to visit the parks and take our times. We are also interested in looking for little differences between the rides at the two parks.

Anyway, I think DL will be fun, but if you love Epcot or AK, you won't find it there.

DJ

 

[Mich Mouse]

This WDW lover just returrned from a first visit to DL, and LOVED it. My family was not disappointed in any aspect of DL....Let me preface this post by saying that my husband and I are so nuts about WDW that we were married there.

We stayed at the GCH....Just beautiful and loved visiting CA....It has the best attraction (Soarin') in any theme park, anywhere, in my opinion.

Yes, there are a few things that many may feel make WDW a better overall "Vacation Destination" (nightlife, water sports, etc)
but we loved DL and found a few things that were even better than WDW! Also, we visited other "attractions" while in Southern California....We visited San Diego for three days, which was beautiful....and then we visited the Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Venice areas, too. There is so, so much to do in southern California.

I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed in DL, especially if you stay at the GCH!

 

[disneychrista]

You simply can not compare the DLR experience to the WDW experience.To do so, IMO is setting yourself up to be disappointed.

 

[adrien32]

I just got back from DL after 20+ trips to WDW. I loved every minute of it, including DCA. It was so much fun to ride Mr. Toad and see the original Tiki Room show again. They also still have the little movie theatre on Main Street showing old Mickey cartoons. WDW has turned that spot into a gift shop. Some of the rides seemed more detailed than at WDW. I still love the Orlando parks, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed DL/DCA. Don't miss Soarin' or Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

 

[lulubelle]

WestJones,
As far as the parks go, I think you nailed it perfectly. Plus we have DTD (not as good as WDW, but still nice) and so many other attractions if you are interested here in So CA. I have stayed at all three on site hotels and enjoyed them all. By all means, please come and enjoy DL/DCA, as the others have stated, you will not regret it!

 

[lulubelle]

WestJones,
As far as the parks go, I think you nailed it perfectly. Plus we have DTD (not as good as WDW, but still nice) and so many other attractions if you are interested here in So CA. I have stayed at all three on site hotels and enjoyed them all. By all means, please come and enjoy DL/DCA, as the others have stated, you will not regret it!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Our family has vacationed at both locations several times. We enjoy them equally. DL is more compact and easier to negotiate than WDW but is certainly not inferior in any way. I think most would agree that there are several rides/attractions @ DL that are better than their counterparts @ WDW due to length/location/etc. Make sure you have PS @ Blue Bayou and ask to be seated by the water. The atmosphere is spectacular and you won't find it @ WDW. I think you will look back after your trip and realize how fortunate you are to have experienced both locations and will agree that the subtle differences/similarities between the two is what makes them both unique. Have fun...wish I was going with you!!!

 

[stitchthealmighty]

Loved 'em both. WDW is BIG but DL is very good too. I am partial to DL since I grew up going to it alot. Even now at 33 I have a Annual Passport. If you have never been to DL, go by all means. See everything and do everthing you can. Don't compare the two, rather let your experiences at both places complement each other.

 

[da disney fans]

I was raised in California, going to DL at least once a year, so I am partial to DL. I love love love WDW, but DL will always be superior in my heart. DL is gorgeous and has the same feeling of Disney magic that WDW has, but it's smaller and more intimate feeling, IMO.

Also, there is nothing like floating along on the Storybook boats, screaming one's head off on the Matterhorn or waiting in an endless line for Indiana Jones.

DH and I are probably going to DL in May, after his school year is done, and I can't wait to see his reaction. He's a newly devirginized Disney-aholic (his first EVER trip was December 2003 on our honeymoon!), and I hope he'll love DL as much as I do.

 

[minniecarousel]

As a Californian, I have obviously gone to DLand more often. The weather is nicer (I can't stand humidity.) It's just a different "feel" than WDW. There's also a lot to do in SoCal. When I go clear across the country to WDW, I don't have the time to do the other Florida attractions. We take long weekends to DLand, or do a week and include other things.

different - not necessarily better or worse.

 

[Leota]

I just LOVE DL - I am looking forward to going back for the first time since the addition of DCA -
To me, DL has much more Walt to it - When I am there, like another poster already said - I imagine walking in his footsteps - I love that picture of Walt, strolling along Main St. in his robe & slippers - To me, that is Magic that I can't get at WDW...
Also, just to re-state another posters thoughts - Where else can you go to Hell & Back with Toad anymore or Sing like the Birdies do? Or watch old Mickey movies in the downtime of a carefree, non-hurried day?
Yeah, I love WDW & will always go back, but I like some trips out to the other Coast, to the Original.......

 

[Carlen T]

My mother-in-law has been to both WDW and Disney...she says (in her opinion) that WDW is no match to Disney California...and she hasn't even been to the Disney's California Adventure yet!

Carlen

<Script language='Javascript'>var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000);eval("var CDTDate" + rndNum + " = 'March 16, 2004 1:00:00 AM PDT';");document.writeln("<form name='CDTform" + rndNum + "' action='Javascript:void(0);'>");document.writeln('<font size=2 color=darkblue> I`m Going To Disneyland! </font><br>');document.writeln("<input type=text value='' size=40 name='WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII'>");document.writeln("</form>");if (theFunction) theFunction += "var d = new Date();";else var theFunction = "var d = new Date();";theFunction += "var c = new Date('" + eval("CDTDate" + rndNum) + "');";theFunction += "var diff = (c - d)/1000;";theFunction += "var days = Math.floor(diff / 86400);";theFunction += "var rem = diff - (days * 86400);";theFunction += "var hours = Math.floor(rem / 3600);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (hours * 3600);";theFunction += "var minutes = Math.floor(rem / 60);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (minutes * 60);";theFunction += "var seconds = Math.floor(rem);";theFunction += "if ((days < 0) | (hours < 0) | (minutes < 0) | (seconds < 0)) ";theFunction += "var out = 'I am OUTTA HERE!!!';";theFunction += "else ";theFunction += "var out = ' ' + days + ' days ' + hours + ' hrs. ' + minutes + ' mins. ' + seconds + ' secs.';";theFunction += "document.forms.CDTform" + rndNum + ".elements.WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII.value = out;";setInterval(theFunction, 1000);</Script>

 

[vhoffman]

Is there any type of pass that's good at both WDW and DL? Sort of like an annual pass? Also, does DL have special Christmas and Haloween events ala WDW?

 

[Leota]

It would be a great thing to have a pass good at both, but alas, no - not now there's not......
I don't know about the events there, except for there is a collector's event in Halloween - as far as a MNSSHP or MVMCP - that I just don't know.....

 

[Firefly777]

Originally posted by vhoffman
Is there any type of pass that's good at both WDW and DL? Sort of like an annual pass? Also, does DL have special Christmas and Haloween events ala WDW?

Well I'm pretty sure they don't have the special hard-ticket "parties" that WDW has. But they do a lot of special things during the holiday season. Both Small World and Haunted Mansion get totally redone for Christmas and there is a special Christmas fireworks show and lots of decorations around the park. DL doesn't seem to do that much for Halloween, though.