Biggest surprises going to Disneyland after visiting WDW first?

[robert_j]

It's funny how some people see Disneyland as "cramped" after going to WDW. I saw it as a more efficient use of space. I love not having to walk forever to get places, and how just about everywhere you turn there is something interesting to do.

Also, I never bother park hopping at WDW, but I never go without it at Disneyland. The proximity of the parks, and the fact that you can hold fastpasses at both parks at once, means that you can just about always have something coming up, and greatly minimize the need to wait in lines.

 

[MikeRx]

My wife is a big time planner. I put it this way recently as we've started researching a trip to WDW next year.

Pre-planning is a NECESSITY to be on the same playing field at WDW.
Pre-planning is a BENEFIT to give you an advantage at DLR.

This is a perfect summary of the two resorts!
Mike

 

[MrJT]

The one thing that I noticed, that I never see mentioned, is how much you are going to walk at Disneyland. At WDW, if you go from park to park, or to the hotel, or to Disney Springs, you take transportation, whether it be by bus, boat, or monorail. At Disneyland, because everything is so close, there is no transportation. So your feet never get a break. I remember many a time, walking from Disneyland park, through Downtown Disney, back to the Grand Californian, just wishing that the tram went somewhere besides the parking lot.

 

[cruisehopeful]

My thought is non park hopper ticket for the park without the party then try to get the ticket for the halloween party, go there that night. Then go to whichever park we like best the next day.

Since you are arriving on a Sunday, I recommend considering getting a 3 day non park hopper ticket and go on Sunday night, also. I do recommend the halloween party ticket, as the park without the party will be overcrowded with people who are visiting and didn't know that they needed to buy a special ticket.

Any idea about when they announce the halloween hard ticket events? Historically when do they announce it?

I believe it happens in July. Keep a close eye. You will need to buy tickets as soon as they go on sale as most dates sold out last year.

The one thing that I noticed, that I never see mentioned, is how much you are going to walk at Disneyland.

This is a good point. I logged 10 miles in one day last week. I did park hop a couple times and go to Downtown Disney twice on that day. It was a very long day, but I was shocked at how far I walked.

 

[MrJT]

This is a good point. I logged 10 miles in one day last week. I did park hop a couple times and go to Downtown Disney twice on that day. It was a very long day, but I was shocked at how far I walked.

I made it even worse with my choice of shoes for that trip. I had recently purchased a pair of Mickey Mouse Vans. They felt great when I would wear them before the trip. But after the first day, I wanted to buy new shoes! I wore them the other night, for a short period of time, and I still got flashbacks of Disneyland.

 

[the donut]

When it's crowded as it is through most of October these days, I'd say a parkhopper is an imperative. That way you can pull fastpasses for both parks and always have something lined up to ride. Of course MaxPass will be online by then which might change things signficantly.

 

[elaine amj]

We went to DLR for the 60th anniversary and had a blast I also stayed at the FFI on points and it was a great spot - very close to the parks.

I planned and researched a ton and still, a couple of things surprised me:
- CMs walk in their costumes to and from work. It was a little weird when walking to and from our hotel.

- Riding slow-loaders in Fantasyland at RD did not end up saving us time and we still waiting in long lines. (This was for "smaller" attractions like the little circus train and the storybookland canal boats). We accomplish much more at RD in MK's Fantasyland. Weirdly enough, we had no issues with the "big" attractions like Peter Pan, Matterhorn, etc.

- Carsland is even more amazing than expected and RSR definitely deserves all its accolades.

- People camp out forever for night shows. They're not easy to see and we did spend a lot of time waiting for them

- It was hard to find our way around. I continually got disoriented and confused. In the end, I let my teen DD guide us around the park.

- most rides where there are counterparts in both parks - are better at DLR. LOVED DLR's Space!!!! But WDW's BTMR is much, much better.

- Cali weather is awesome. Except we brought a couple of days of crazy rain - to a state that was experiencing a bad drought.

 

[SoCalDisneyFan2708]

As a Disneyland Vet who lives 15 minutes away from the parks I was opposite of the OP when I went to WDW for the first time a couple months ago.

First of all let me just say that I now love both Resorts and I already have another trip booked to WDW early next year. But I love that the DLR is my home park(s). DLR is a lot better for spontaneous visits and just stopping by for a few hours to hop on a few rides, get a bite to eat or watch WoC or fireworks. I feel like WDW is meant to be experienced as a vacation of at least a few days but more preferably a week+. Especially staying onsite like I did there's just something about being totally surrounded by all things Disney. It really is like you are in another world while you're there. I don't think it would be as easy to do everything you want at WDW if you lived close by. You could but it would take a lot more time than it does at the DLR

Just between Disneyland and the MK in WDW I was amazed by the differences between the two. Maybe it's because I know Disneyland so well and every fine detail there that I could spot the differences between the two more than most. Besides the obvious differences like the layout, lands and size this is my opinion on whats better and worse from each park:

Space Mtn: Disneyland >>>>>> MK - My biggest disappointment from WDW. The MK version doesn't even come close to Disneyland's. No music playing, much jerkier, seats uncomfortable in MK
Big Thunder: Disneyland < MK - Better and longer track layout at WDW but a little jerky
Splash Mtn: Disneyalnd << MK - If you like to get wet then you'll like Disneyland's more. I barely get wet at all at WDW's. Like the seating in WDW's logs more than Disneyland's.
Pirates: Disneyland >>> MK - Shorter ride at WDW surprisingly. Many scenes at the Disneyland location are absent at WDW. No drops like at Disneyland.
HM: Disneyalnd << MK - Extra scene at the beginning in WDW. Better queue.

In terms of shows, you have to see WoC in DCA. My favorite show of all time beating out Disneylands Fantasmic! I really liked Wishes, Illuminations and even saw RoL in AK which kinda borrowed some aspects from WoC.

Lastly you can't compare the food between the two Resorts. WDW blows DLR out of the water. There's just so much to choose from in WDW.

 

[sachilles]

We are use to walking. We averaged 10-13 miles per day on our last trip to WDW. I was amazed that my son who had just turned 7, was there step for step, with the exception of one after bus ride walk to our room. We criss crossed parks a fair bit, contributing to the long walk days.

We aren't sure about Sunday evening for a couple of reasons. Friday and Saturday are going to be flat out days for myself. Sunday AM, I may have residual work to do. Our thought was just to take in Long Beach a bit and get to hotel by disney when we can. If we are there early enough we'd take in downtown disney, as I'm assuming that is a free access area like wdw.

 

[Aladora]

Space Mtn: Disneyland >>>>>> MK - My biggest disappointment from WDW. The MK version doesn't even come close to Disneyland's. No music playing, much jerkier, seats uncomfortable in MK
Big Thunder: Disneyland < MK - Better and longer track layout at WDW but a little jerky
Splash Mtn: Disneyalnd << MK - If you like to get wet then you'll like Disneyland's more. I barely get wet at all at WDW's. Like the seating in WDW's logs more than Disneyland's.
Pirates: Disneyland >>> MK - Shorter ride at WDW surprisingly. Many scenes at the Disneyland location are absent at WDW. No drops like at Disneyland.
HM: Disneyalnd << MK - Extra scene at the beginning in WDW. Better queue.

I would also add:

Jungle Cruise: Disneyland << MK - Longer in WDW

 

[dolewhipdreams]

Space Mtn: Disneyland >>>>>> MK - My biggest disappointment from WDW. The MK version doesn't even come close to Disneyland's. No music playing, much jerkier, seats uncomfortable in MK
Big Thunder: Disneyland < MK - Better and longer track layout at WDW but a little jerky
Splash Mtn: Disneyalnd << MK - If you like to get wet then you'll like Disneyland's more. I barely get wet at all at WDW's. Like the seating in WDW's logs more than Disneyland's.
Pirates: Disneyland >>> MK - Shorter ride at WDW surprisingly. Many scenes at the Disneyland location are absent at WDW. No drops like at Disneyland.
HM: Disneyalnd << MK - Extra scene at the beginning in WDW. Better queue.

These are interesting comparisons! This year I'll be in WDW over Labor Day weekend, then at DL for a couple of days the weeks before Thanksgiving. I'm thinking of using my GoPro and doing POV videos for all of the rides that have sisters at each parks to compare after the fact. But would that ruin the fun of the different experiences???

 

[SoCalDisneyFan2708]

I would also add:

Jungle Cruise: Disneyland << MK - Longer in WDW

I actually didn't ride WDW's version. Its not one of my favorite rides at Disneyland to begin with, so I thought why bother. Now I kinda feel bad I didnt at least try it. I'll have to try it next time I go to WDW.

 

[SoCalDisneyFan2708]

These are interesting comparisons! This year I'll be in WDW over Labor Day weekend, then at DL for a couple of days the weeks before Thanksgiving. I'm thinking of using my GoPro and doing POV videos for all of the rides that have sisters at each parks to compare after the fact. But would that ruin the fun of the different experiences???

It would definitely ruin the fun for me. Unless you have the GoPro mounted on your head or something you'd be too worried about holding onto the camera to take everything in. At least that's how I'd feel. I tried to take videos of the shows at WDW and I feel like I missd out on having the best experience possible. When I go back It'll just be for fun and not trying to capture everything on camera for myself and others.

 

[BayouQueen]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned how beautiful New Orleans Square is and the Rivers of America area at DL. I actually like WDW better than DL, but I don't think that Magic Kingdom has any one area that is so cohesive and beautiful.

 

[agamble]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned how beautiful New Orleans Square is and the Rivers of America area at DL. I actually like WDW better than DL, but I don't think that Magic Kingdom has any one area that is so cohesive and beautiful.

That area does feel so different. From our WDW trip I remember that Splash and Thunder Mountain are right next to each other. So very different from Disneyland where they are on the other side of the river from each other. It's quite a walk, especially with crowds. And the river and New Orleans are so very nice. The whole park really is very nice.

 

[Belle83]

I'm not adding much that hasn't already been said. The big things are the size of the castle and the size of Disneyland park in general (compared to MK). It will just feel smaller all around (CA doesn't feel small though). I think another big thing is crowds are worse at DL. There are tons of great QS options at DL and CA, and much less of an emphasis on TS restaurants and the need for ADRs. There is less immersion once you leave the parks, as there are hotels and other restaurants all around that are not Disney. There is less of a need to schedule everything, which is great (WDW has really gotten out of hand in that respect, takes the fun out of it).

I love Disneyland. I don't prefer DL to WDW or vice versa, they are each great for different reasons. It made much more sense for us to go to DL on our next trip because of better weather (I'll be pregnant and do not want to deal with Florida weather), the shorter flight, it's going to be less expensive overall, etc.

Have fun!

 

[Winnowill]

Another thing that doesn't really happen at WDW that was a surprise for us at DL was random character encounters. WDW's characters are so regimented and placed. Whereas we ran into Merida and Gaston within five minutes of each other in Fantasyland at DL two weeks ago, and half an hour prior to that found Moana in Adventureland.

 

[pblack]

We are use to walking. We averaged 10-13 miles per day on our last trip to WDW. I was amazed that my son who had just turned 7, was there step for step, with the exception of one after bus ride walk to our room. We criss crossed parks a fair bit, contributing to the long walk days.

We aren't sure about Sunday evening for a couple of reasons. Friday and Saturday are going to be flat out days for myself. Sunday AM, I may have residual work to do. Our thought was just to take in Long Beach a bit and get to hotel by disney when we can. If we are there early enough we'd take in downtown disney, as I'm assuming that is a free access area like wdw.

Downtown Disney is a free access area, but honestly there is not a whole lot to do in the downtown Disney area. It mainly consists of a lot of restaurants, both sit down and fast-casual, and some shops. Depending on when you get over to the Disney area on Sunday, and depending on what time the park closes, i'd also recommend you get a 3 day ticket so you have some extra time to explore the parks.

I've only been to WDW once when I was about 8, but i've been to Disneyland more times than I can count. In my opinion a park hopper is definitely the way to go since it's so easy to go between the two parks. The French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square is a fast-casual place, has great food with good portions for little cost, and has great ambiance. I highly recommend downloading the Disneyland App so you can track what the wait times are for each ride. I also recommend Blue Bayou, reservations recommended, for dinner. There food is really good, albeit on the pricey side. Disneyland does not serve alcohol, but DCA does. Also one last tidbit of info that I can think of is if it's really busy when you're in the parks, search out which rides have single rider lines. Single rider lines are the way to go if you and your family don't mind riding separately. Especially for Radiator Springs Racers. This ride generally has at least an hour and a half wait.

 

[tzeitel]

We were driving from the airport to the HoJo, I was the navigator and was looking around when DH said - "Oh, there it is" and I said "Holy carp there is the monorail!"
Yes, the castle is smaller. But what blew us away is how close the parks are. Both DH and I are WDW ex-CMs and had not been to DLR since we were kids, the convenience of staying right across the street, hopping was crazy easy. POTC is awesome. DCA is the most beautiful park we've been to (granted we have only been to WDW, DLR and DLP).

 

[elaine amj]

Space Mtn: Disneyland >>>>>> MK - My biggest disappointment from WDW. The MK version doesn't even come close to Disneyland's. No music playing, much jerkier, seats uncomfortable in MK
Big Thunder: Disneyland < MK - Better and longer track layout at WDW but a little jerky
Splash Mtn: Disneyalnd << MK - If you like to get wet then you'll like Disneyland's more. I barely get wet at all at WDW's. Like the seating in WDW's logs more than Disneyland's.
Pirates: Disneyland >>> MK - Shorter ride at WDW surprisingly. Many scenes at the Disneyland location are absent at WDW. No drops like at Disneyland.
HM: Disneyalnd << MK - Extra scene at the beginning in WDW. Better queue.

I agree. We didn't care much for DLR's BTMR but it is one of our faves in WDW. As for Space, we went on DLR's version over and over and over again because it was just so awesome!

I quite liked spending a bit of time in Downtown Disney just to get shopping done. Also, this would be a fabulous time to explore the onsite hotels - they are beautiful. We also stopped at Trader Sam's one night and had apps for dinner. It was very fun to see the effects when other patrons ordered certain drinks!