Back from DL - Thoughts

[BrianL]

Thanks to everyone who helped me plan my DL visit on the Sunday and Monday before Thanksgiving. Everything went very well! Below are some thoughts:

It was great on Sunday but CROWDED on Monday, a bit too much so, but since I had my run of the place on Sunday I didn't mind.

I treated both DL and DCA as one park on Sunday. I hopped 5 times and it worked really well. It's about the same ground to cover as Epcot.

Tropicana was a great place to stay and so close. Thanks to Angrose for recommending it!

I know many won't agree, but I just don't get how pulling paper fast passes is better then FP+ at WDW. It was difficult, inconvenient and made me run around so often. We had pulled for Space Mountain for a time (and just to check the return times at Space Mountain you have to go all the way up inside the plaza), then wanted to pull for HM, but the hours almost overlapped exactly. What choice did we have. Rode one then rushed to the other side through very heavy crowds. For me, I'd rather have it set up ahead of time.

Watching World of Color from the wet zone is very, very COLD But what a view!

I kinda don't actually like Haunted Mansion Holiday, even though I like Nightmare Before Christmas. I think its too bright and the music is not as good.

Jingle Cruise is AWESOME!

That about sums it up I think. I had a great time, though my family drove me a little nuts. Thanks again for all the help. It'll probably be back to WDW next time, but I might be at the DL again sometime.

 

[SMD]

There's a sign outside Space with the current return times and the standby time. Was that not working?

 

[MouseEXP]

Glad you had a great time.

I couldn't even imagine how I would feel if I park hopped from Disneyland and DCA 5 times. I tend to go to finish up one park as much as possible and then move to the next, and maybe close out the first park at night. At least you got a great workout.

After experiencing FP+ at WDW, I never want it to come to the DLR, unless there are major changes to it.

Not sure, why you would have to run around so often to check FP return times. Isn't that on the FP ticket itself. I was just confused by the statement.

Haunted Mansion Holiday actually had a year maybe two where they took music from the movie, but the result was pretty poor so they brought back the music you hear today.

 

[kathie859]

Thanks to everyone who helped me plan my DL visit on the Sunday and Monday before Thanksgiving. Everything went very well! Below are some thoughts:

It was great on Sunday but CROWDED on Monday, a bit too much so, but since I had my run of the place on Sunday I didn't mind.

I treated both DL and DCA as one park on Sunday. I hopped 5 times and it worked really well. It's about the same ground to cover as Epcot.

Tropicana was a great place to stay and so close. Thanks to Angrose for recommending it!

I know many won't agree, but I just don't get how pulling paper fast passes is better then FP+ at WDW. It was difficult, inconvenient and made me run around so often. We had pulled for Space Mountain for a time (and just to check the return times at Space Mountain you have to go all the way up inside the plaza), then wanted to pull for HM, but the hours almost overlapped exactly. What choice did we have. Rode one then rushed to the other side through very heavy crowds. For me, I'd rather have it set up ahead of time.

Watching World of Color from the wet zone is very, very COLD But what a view!

I kinda don't actually like Haunted Mansion Holiday, even though I like Nightmare Before Christmas. I think its too bright and the music is not as good.

Jingle Cruise is AWESOME!

That about sums it up I think. I had a great time, though my family drove me a little nuts. Thanks again for all the help. It'll probably be back to WDW next time, but I might be at the DL again sometime.

I'm glad you had nice trip. Isn't it amazing how small DL/DCA seem compared to WDW? I'm with you re: WOC---LOVE it and wish they would bring it to the EPCOT lagoon and the overlay on HM left me thinking "Eh--doesn't add anything to the original attraction so why do they bother?" I also agree with you re: paper fastpasses vs FP+. I infinitely prefer FP+.

 

[GatorChris]

I was there on Sunday morning, and by 11am it was already NUTS! I can't imagine Monday if you thought Sunday was a good day.

As for FP, I get that some people don't like chasing down FP tickets. But I like it. Still don't like the idea of planning attractions two months in advance, thus the reason we're DL visitors now.

Agree about HM. I don't get all the hoopla over the overlay. To me, it's too loud and garish. Can't wait to see it back to normal in February.

And Jingle Cruise is so much better than it was last year.

 

[BrianL]

There's a sign outside Space with the current return times and the standby time. Was that not working?

Maybe you're right, that whole area is so difficult to navigate and see in heavy crowds though. It was difficult and seems like a long way to the FP machines.

Not sure, why you would have to run around so often to check FP return times. Isn't that on the FP ticket itself. I was just confused by the statement.

I mean the times that they are currently issuing the tickets for. We had wanted to pull the HM ones earlier, but the return times were during our Lunch ADR so we had to wait, but we had to walk all the way over there just to know that.

I couldn't manage to pull more than three in a day anyway, so for me, FP+ is my preference. Also, DL needs to get rid of turnstiles like WDW has, which is all part of My Magic+

 

[dsneygirl]

We were there Sunday as well.

Agreed the turnstiles were so annoying. We had one CM who was "holding" strollers and letting all others go, creating an annoying backlog.

I also missed the Magic Bands with carrying a room card, paper FP and admission ticket all the time.

 

[perlster]

I mean the times that they are currently issuing the tickets for. We had wanted to pull the HM ones earlier, but the return times were during our Lunch ADR so we had to wait, but we had to walk all the way over there just to know that.

You should have asked Otto

 

[crazyventures]

I liked FP+ (or the idea of MagicBands, at least). However, it's so much easier to get more than 3 FPs per day in DL than it is in WDW, especially if you know which rides are disconnected from the FP system. By the time we used our initial 3 FPs in WDW, the only availability was for rides we didn't really want to go on. We usually use around 5-6 FPs a day/don't mind walking to get them so the DL system just works better for us.

 

[RKKUNK]

We are from CA, have been to DL many times, and just went to WDW for the first time earlier this month. Sorry, but I also prefer the original FP over the FP+. I just didn't like having to make the choices so far in advance and since we were off property, there wasn't much left. We always do multiple FP's in Disneyland. We also like that everything is so much closer in DL and park-hopping is so much easier. Sorry, just saw this conversation and thought I would throw in my two cents.

 

[DahliaRW]

I'm with you. FP+ is so much easier, and I loved magicbands. You are able to get more than 3 with FP+ too, you can get additional at the machines in the park after using some of yours. I haven't been to DL since they started enforcing return times, I'm sure that'll make me like regular FP less too!

 

[wdwfan22]

Glad you had a great time.

I couldn't even imagine how I would feel if I park hopped from Disneyland and DCA 5 times. I tend to go to finish up one park as much as possible and then move to the next, and maybe close out the first park at night. At least you got a great workout.

After experiencing FP+ at WDW, I never want it to come to the DLR, unless there are major changes to it.

Not sure, why you would have to run around so often to check FP return times. Isn't that on the FP ticket itself. I was just confused by the statement.

Haunted Mansion Holiday actually had a year maybe two where they took music from the movie, but the result was pretty poor so they brought back the music you hear today.

Last time I was there, they played music from the movie. So you are saying they don't anymore? What music do they play? The music from the movie is what made it for me. I can't imagine it without that music.

 

[GatorChris]

We were there Sunday as well. Agreed the turnstiles were so annoying. We had one CM who was "holding" strollers and letting all others go, creating an annoying backlog.

We got guy at the turnstile too! He was completely confused. He would scan our passes and then hold onto them. Then why I came through with the stroller, he scanned my pass and then went into the next few guests. "You just scanned these. Can we go through?" I guess he got lost really fast. That was not a good spot for him.

 

[BrianL]

Last time I was there, they played music from the movie. So you are saying they don't anymore? What music do they play? The music from the movie is what made it for me. I can't imagine it without that music.

I recall it being a bit of a melding of NBC music and Grim Grinning Ghosts in the graveyard scene. They definitely use NBC music in the stretching room.

Honestly, I just think it's too bright. The scrims are so visible as to be distracting. I also preferred the older ceiling scene in the stretching room with jus the jack face as opposed to the new over the top Jack jumping down at you type video.

 

[Nezumi Fan]

And Jingle Cruise is so much better than it was last year.

The "Jingle Cruise" at Disneyland was a terrible disappointment last year. As my ten-year-old says, The queue had more holiday spirit. I don't think there was more than one holiday-themed joke last year; I understand it's an almost entirely different experience this year. Probably won't be making down to DLR again until "mid winter break" at my son's school, in February, but on the bright side, we're down for Mickey's Very Merry and an entire week starting 12/13!

 

[Nezumi Fan]

I recall it being a bit of a melding of NBC music and Grim Grinning Ghosts in the graveyard scene. They definitely use NBC music in the stretching room.

Honestly, I just think it's too bright. The scrims are so visible as to be distracting. I also preferred the older ceiling scene in the stretching room with jus the jack face as opposed to the new over the top Jack jumping down at you type video.

It's definitely the blend of music from the movie and the traditional HM themes. Disagree on the "bright" -- I think that when you round that corner in the attic and the giant sculpted snow peaks right out of the movie appear...magic. And of course a trip through the Holiday Mansion isn't complete until you get that smell of gingerbread and then see the new gingerbread centerpiece in the ballroom -- it's a big deal and the centerpiece is new every year! I won't spoil, but this year is pretty spectacular. And we LOVE the animated Jack in the foyer! It only just started a year or so ago.

 

[wdwfan22]

I recall it being a bit of a melding of NBC music and Grim Grinning Ghosts in the graveyard scene. They definitely use NBC music in the stretching room.

Honestly, I just think it's too bright. The scrims are so visible as to be distracting. I also preferred the older ceiling scene in the stretching room with jus the jack face as opposed to the new over the top Jack jumping down at you type video.

That's how I remember it. While I love the HMH overlay, it made me happy to still hear grim grinning ghosts in the graveyard. I'm glad that's still there. And I've only seen the giant Jack face in the stretching room, which just didn't do it for me. That was the only part I really missed the regular version. I'm looking forward to seeing this new Jack jumping part!

Thanks!

 

[BrianL]

I think what I liked about the giant Jack Face in the Stretching Room was the Grim Grinning Ghosts musical sting...now Jack's voice overwhelms it, plus it is again too bright. I dunno, I like what they are trying to do, but I think I just like the regular HM better.

 

[gmi3804]

RE: HMH:

Here's one soundtrack (the original?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NnRiRaTk7w

And here's the other (the current version?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xgYIQ0RydQ

Both can be converted to MP3 and saved to your computer by copying and pasting the links at http://www.youtube-mp3.org.

 

[MouseEXP]

I agree that the Jingle Cruise is much better now. I would just recommend riding it at night, since the lighting adds to the theme.

I hope that someday they do a Holiday version of the Enchanted Tiki Room. I think it would fit well since its a musical attraction.