Convince me...

[d1gitman]

We have been WDW regulars up until this year. We moved from MA to SoCal and are just 25mi from DL. We were unable to make it to WDW this year and went to DL for 4 days in November. We have since done 2 day trips on our SoCal passes.

I agree with a previous poster that DL is good for daytrips/weekend getaway. While we certainly enjoy DL (just got back from a day trip today), we have quickly come to the conclusion that for us, DL just does not hold a candle to WDW when comparing a vacation get away. We love the fact that we can hop on over to DL and DCA virtually anytime we want, but it is a totally different experience from WDW. If we are planning a week or two for vaca, it will most definitely be WDW over DL/DCA.

Some of the reasons we like WDW over DL/DCA...

1. for our tastes, the food is much better at WDW and there is much more variety of restaurants in park. DL is mostly counter service, pricey and very poor quality in our opinion.

2. maybe it's just our bad luck but it seems in the 6 days total we have been to DLR in the past 2 mo, multiple rides have been out of commission multiple times daily (indy jones, BTMRR, Space Mountain, Nemo Submarine). this is such an annoyance.

3. we like having 4 parks, 2 water parks, downtown disney, 24 +/- on property resorts at our disposal. DL/DCA is just two parks with 3 hotels, and pricey at that. Also, 4 days at DL/DCA (we did check into a hotel for those 4 days) felt like we pounded the pavement and we were exhausted at teh end of 4 days. At WDW, we can space it out with plent to fill in 'down days'. DL/DCA is two parks and that's it.

4. for us MK feels more magical than DL. Main Street, the Castle, the layout. Maybe because we were WDW veterans first, that taints our view. We just feel the magic more at MK.

5. DCA is very good in our opinion, but it is not the caliber of Epcot or Hollywood Studios. And what is up with TSM not having Fast Pass at DCA?!

6. the 2 mornings we went to DCA at opening, some of the major attractions (CA Screamin', Grizzly River Run, Maliboomer) were not ready to go until 30min after park opened. That was super annoying, especially because you can't fastpass when the ride is down.

7. Monorail. You can use to hop from MK to Epcot or to the three monorail resorts. The monorail at DLR for all intents and purpose is useless other than a novelty ride.

8. Boat rentals, fishing, Cirque, multiple resorts of all types/amenities, boardwalk resort area, convenient onsite transportation and magical express

9. Parades & Fireworks. It never seemed so difficult in MK to see parades and fireworks. DL seems like you have to camp out 2 hrs. ahead for a decent spot, not my idea of fun.

10. Fantasmic. not a huge deal, but we like it better at the outdoor theater setup at DHS vs the out door jerry-rigged set up at DL.

There are some things at DL we do like better:

1. Space Mountain. We think the DL version is much better, more exciting layout, awesome music, better effects. The only part of space mountain we like better at WDW is the cars. We think the single file cars at WDW SM is more fun but overall, SM at DL rocks!

2. Fast Passing. For some reason, not sure why as of yet, Fast Passing at DL seems to flow very well. We seem to be able to stockpile a good amount of fast passes throughout the day and completely manage our rides without having to jump in any long lines because we were out of FP rides.

3. Walking. It seems like walking DL and DCA are easier (less walking) than MK, Epcot, DHS and most definitely AK.

4. Weather. CA has it 100% over FL. No humidity or bugs.



I am sure this might upset some DL diehards, and i know DL is the original. But for our family, we would choose WDW over DL everytime. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt that we live 25mi from DL and have the AP's, so we ain't complainin' either.

 

[mareed]

As you can see in my signature, we've been fans of both DL & WDW for years... But, I'm sad to say that our recent DL trip between XMAS & New Years was rather disappointing. We've done DL & WDW during the extremely busy XMAS season many times, and I'd have to say the DL crowds that we saw this year were the biggest that we've seen in either DL or WDW!

We also felt that DL this trip had much less of a vacation feel for us. I think it's because there were likely so many locals there for just a day rather than other tourists there for a longer vacation. An example of this is that we enjoy dressing in coordinating Disney t-shirts and there are many who do this at WDW and it's part of the fun. Almost all of the guests at DL were in regular, dark color clothes and we really stood out in our shirts. Almost to the point that I felt somewhat conspicuous and uncomfortable - although we did get several nice comments from CM's about it.

We'll be back to DL at Spring Break in March, and I'm hoping that we enjoy it again like we used to. If not, we'll probably quit switching back and forth between DL & WDW and stick with WDW for a while... We love many things at DL, but it just didn't have a very pleasant "feel" to it this year for us.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Well ~ as someone who visits DLR fairly regularly and visited WDW for the 1st time a few months ago ~ I can say I prefer DLR! Comparing MK at DLR (Disneyland) and MK at WDW - DLR wins for sure - Fantasyland is so much better, everything is really. WDW was way too hot and humid ~ S CA weather is much more pleasant. Dining was great at WDW ~ we had free dining so that was fun. DS would like DL to replace the Matterhorn with Everest ~ and that was cool, but Matterhorn is a classic. The only thing I wish DLR had is Epcot's World Show Case ~ that was wonderful. We'll go back to Orlando someday ~ maybe 2011, we won't visit during the summer and DS will be too old to miss school for long vacations in a few years (4th grader this year). We'll also visit Universal Studios ~ very excited for the Harry Potter World ~ when we go back ~ and it will be in the winter, hopefully free dining will be on then ~ it was this past early Dec. right??

 

[dapoteete]

Disneyland has magic that you can't find anywhere else. I love both very much but the twinkle lights at DLR give it much more magic than WDW. Also, the French Quarter adds so much. I agree with pp about the feel of Uncle Walt everywhere you turn.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Another nice thing about visiting DLR...

San Diego is just 90 miles south of Anaheim.

You can also visit SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, San Diego beaches, etc.

 

[cab0ad]

keep em coming! I'm going to DL for the first time and I have to admit I don't seem to be near as excited as I am for my DW trips! I'm keeping an open mind and trying to get excited!

question: One of the things I love about DW is the immersive feel of a "whole different world". Do you get that in the parks or does it feel like a normal amusement park?

 

[HydroGuy]

keep em coming! I'm going to DL for the first time and I have to admit I don't seem to be near as excited as I am for my DW trips! I'm keeping an open mind and trying to get excited!

question: One of the things I love about DW is the immersive feel of a "whole different world". Do you get that in the parks or does it feel like a normal amusement park?

From this thread: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

20. Disney Immersion

Some WDW visitors place a high value on Disney "immersion". They enjoy being within Disney themed areas during their entire visit. This includes hotel, transportation, shopping and dining, as well as the parks. This experience sort of blocks out the outside world and gives a more enjoyable Disney experience.

Immersion in this sense is more possible at WDW because of its large size which allows the outside world to be more thoroughly blocked out. The 20 Disney hotels also help. The setting at DLR is different. The parks, resort hotels, and DTD are in the middle of Anaheim, California. When you enter the DL park you will find the outside world fairly well blocked out. In fact I can never remember noticing the outside world when inside DL. DCA, for better or worse, was not designed this way. Perhaps the reason is that it would seem odd to design Disney’s California Adventure and locate it in California, and then try to block out all of the surrounding real California. So DCA does not seem as isolated as DL. In addition, the DLR hotels look out on the city of Anaheim (in addition to DLR) and are not as isolated as at WDW.

The bottom line is that it is just not possible to have the same level of immersion at DLR as at WDW. By staying at a DLR hotel and taking the monorail or walking to the parks through DTD you will come closest.

However, there are some upsides to the DLR geography that may balance this out. The issue of transportation and hotel locations at DLR have already been discussed and will not be detailed again here. But note this - when one stays at a DLR hotel or certain Good Neighbor hotels, you can see the parks right out your window and easily hear (and see) the fireworks at night. In fact, if you are trying to sleep they may wake you up. You are right there, across the street from the parks. Although you are not immersed in Disney as at WDW, you nevertheless feel very close to the parks because you are. When you walk out your hotel room you may clearly see the Matterhorn or Space Mountain at DL, or the Tower of Terror or California Screamin’ at DCA. As also mentioned previously, DLR usually has longer park hours than at WDW. If you use the close hotel locations and longer park hours to your advantage, you may sense a different kind of immersion where you are in the parks for most of your waking hours and not waiting for or sitting on buses, boats, etc.

In summary, DLR does not offer quite the same immersive experience as WDW. But the fact that you can spend up to 50% more of your daily hours actually in the parks and have a room literally across the street from the parks can be immersive in a different sense.

 

[mareed]

keep em coming! I'm going to DL for the first time and I have to admit I don't seem to be near as excited as I am for my DW trips! I'm keeping an open mind and trying to get excited!

question: One of the things I love about DW is the immersive feel of a "whole different world". Do you get that in the parks or does it feel like a normal amusement park?

From our most recent XMAS & New Years trip, I'd say it feels much more like a normal amusement park than it used to due to the other guests. At WDW, I'm used to seeing large groups of obviously extended family on vacation, with many of them wearing silly, fun, matching t-shirts. We saw none of that at DL (other than us) and everyone seemed to just be in regular dark-colored clothes, which was actually kind of depressing for me. There were also many more groups that clearly weren't families (like groups of teenagers or young adults). To me, this just made it feel like our recent Six Flags trips and much less of a Disney-feeling trip. I don't remember DL feeling so different like this to me before (see my sig to see many previous trips), and I imagine it's due to the hugely increased # of locals with AP's that they now have (although all but the Premium AP was blacked out during our visit).

We'll be back at DL for Spring Break, and I'm really hoping that it feels more like a normal Disney vacation to us. If not, we'll probably finish up this year's AP's and then stick to WDW for our Disney fix for a while.

 

[goldies 5]

It's funny. I have always wanted to take the family to DW, but always start to feel overwhelmed and start to feel like maybe I will miss the quaint and lovely feeling of DL especially during the Christmas season. I still want to go someday to see it all but I do love DL.

 

[tksbaskets]

We just returned last Saturday from our second family trip to Disney Land. We are DVC owners at the Boardwalk Villas and have been several times to WDW.

I have to tell you my whole family prefers Disney Land. There are attractions you can't get at WDW that rock - Indiana Jones for one. Some that are much better at DL (Pirates and Space Mountain)

I think the #1 reason is that everything is close. We walk out of the Grand Californian and we are in DCA. Less than a 10 minute walk to Disney Land from our hotel. SUPER easy to go back to the room in the middle of the day to rest and re-group. DTD is on the way to Disney Land. Did I mention no need to take a bus? Not spending > 1 hour on a bus a day during vacation - PRICELESS.

I will be doing a trip report from our NYE adventure but there is a report in my signature from last summer at Disney Land for your review. I think I put a fair amount of thoughts about comparing to WDW.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I go to WDW a lot because of living on the East Coast. However, I do love DL so I think you will really enjoy it. It is smaller and more intimate. There seem to be so many surprises and rides that WDW does not have. Granted you can't get the full immersion as WDW with the huge resorts, lakes etc but DL has it's own charm.

 

[Alice_Mushroom97]

Personally i Love disneyland mainly for it's originality and history. The fact that you can walk into the park and say "WOW Walt himself worked on thisn park!" sure the castles a little small but there's an essence of magic in the fact that this is where it all began.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I am going to be the ANTI here. I try my hardest to convince people not to go to DLR(Not on the boards). The more people who are convinced to go, the more people who will be there when I am.

I find DLR more like a very high quality diamond (D-IF/FI) and WDW(G-SI1). I talking with people who go to WDW and DLR both, WDW has a huge selection of offerings(things to do other than Disney) but to they do all those things(no) the place is huge and you waste a lot of time just getting to places.] And definately more $$$$$$.
DLR is a smaller footprint where you do not have those great distance issues, I hear the food is better(not as many choices), the CM's nicer, and the place is cleaner and better maintained.

My recommendation(no flames please) is to go to WDW! I am selfish!!

Jack

 

[HydroGuy]

I am going to be the ANTI here. I try my hardest to convince people not to go to DLR(Not on the boards). The more people who are convinced to go, the more people who will be there when I am.

I find DLR more like a very high quality diamond (D-IF/FI) and WDW(G-SI1). I talking with people who go to WDW and DLR both, WDW has a huge selection of offerings(things to do other than Disney) but to they do all those things(no) the place is huge and you waste a lot of time just getting to places.] And definately more $$$$$$.
DLR is a smaller footprint where you do not have those great distance issues, I hear the food is better(not as many choices), the CM's nicer, and the place is cleaner and better maintained.

My recommendation(no flames please) is to go to WDW! I am selfish!!

Jack

Jack, only someone with an avatar photo like yours could get away with this....

 

[tksbaskets]

I am going to be the ANTI here. I try my hardest to convince people not to go to DLR(Not on the boards). The more people who are convinced to go, the more people who will be there when I am.

I find DLR more like a very high quality diamond (D-IF/FI) and WDW(G-SI1). I talking with people who go to WDW and DLR both, WDW has a huge selection of offerings(things to do other than Disney) but to they do all those things(no) the place is huge and you waste a lot of time just getting to places.] And definately more $$$$$$.
DLR is a smaller footprint where you do not have those great distance issues, I hear the food is better(not as many choices), the CM's nicer, and the place is cleaner and better maintained.

My recommendation(no flames please) is to go to WDW! I am selfish!!

Jack

I love this post!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Jack, only someone with an avatar photo like yours could get away with this....

Trey, I am just an old man who has an opinion. In the the two types of occupations I have over the last 30 years(Healthcare and Combat Security) I have to use diplomacy in one and fast decision making in the other.
I hope the OP did not take the statements wrong. I am just trying to help the overcrowding and I think most of the regulars who have seen me post over the years really do not take me seriously. Ugly mug isn't it.

Just wanted to say, I really enjoy your posts. I love the analysis of the facts that you provide. I understand what you present without alot of mumbo jumbo.

Have a great day, what is left of it.

Jack

PS Two years ago a poster in Kansas called me a crusader because on an incident that I had with a drunk guest. I am not. I is just really hard for me sometimes not to speak my piece, politically correct that is!!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

I love this post!

Thanks,

Jack

 

[HydroGuy]

Trey, I am just an old man who has an opinion. In the the two types of occupations I have over the last 30 years(Healthcare and Combat Security) I have to use diplomacy in one and fast decision making in the other.
I hope the OP did not take the statements wrong. I am just trying to help the overcrowding and I think most of the regulars who have seen me post over the years really do not take me seriously. Ugly mug isn't it.

Just wanted to say, I really enjoy your posts. I love the analysis of the facts that you provide. I understand what you present without alot of mumbo jumbo.

Have a great day, what is left of it.

Jack

PS Two years ago a poster in Kansas called me a crusader because on an incident that I had with a drunk guest. I am not. I is just really hard for me sometimes not to speak my piece, politically correct that is!!!

 

[GrumpyCAdad]

As an ex-resident of California, we used to go to DL every year. We went to WDW in 2004 when the kids were much smaller than they are now. By the end of our 8 day trip, my wife was exhausted and fed up with Disney transportation (having to go everywhere with a diaper bag and stroller). She would much rather go to DL than WDW. I loved WDW the first time we went. We went back to WDW in 2009 and I did not have as good of time as I thought...I am not sure why, maybe it was the crowd level being so high due to free dining or the amount of rude people I encountered.

Having experienced both, I agree with my wife, DL is better than WDW. I like how close everything is and how the parks have more rides. We love the original Electrical Parade (even if it is in DCA) and we love staying on property there. Don't get me wrong, I still am planning to go back to WDW in 2014 (but not during a holiday or peak period) but our next trip is to DL, hopefully in 2012.

 

[wannabimagineer]

I try to enjoy the DLR and WDW on their own merits and not really compare them too much, although comparisons are inevitable. In general Disneyland seems more charming, compact and quaint whereas the resorts at Walt Disney World seem more immersive and impressive.

You get to go to a Disney park, it is magical so, enjoy it. I wish I could be in either one right now but, at least I have a trip to WDW to look forward to in October.