Decisions: WDW (been before) or DL (never been)

[keishashadow]

If you love Disney magic you should try DLR. As others have posted, DLR is not WDW and should not be treated as such. It does have tons of magic, and has areas where it exceeds WDW. And areas where it doesn't.

The following links will give you lots of insights.

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

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

It's DL For Dummies just what I need to plan my 1st trip...not the OP; but thank you very much!

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

We both got the feeling that Walt just realized his mistakes and vastly improved upon them in the design/dream of WDW.

I could not disagree more.

I'm a Disneyland vet who just got back from my first trip to WDW. Although I enjoyed the other 3 parks, I was so disappointed in the Magic Kingdom. I found it lacking much of the charm and (dare I say) magic of its predecessor. (The design of Fantasyland, for example, is much better at Disneyland, as it really feels like a "land" and not just a collection of rides. And give me New Orleans Square any day over the yawn-inducing Liberty Square.) Plus, for the most part, the rides at Disneyland are far superior to their equivalents at MK.

After all these years of wondering how much better the Magic Kingdom could be, I now feel that Walt got it right the first time.

 

[HydroGuy]

Plus, for the most part, the rides at Disneyland are far superior to their equivalents at MK.

Also being a DLR vet, I did not feel this way during our first visit to WDW. It is so subjective, and it is common for people to have an emotional attachment to the version of the ride at their home reort.

There are some clear differences in rides (POTC and Space Mtn better at DL, and Splash Mtn better at MK and ToT better at MGM), but I was surprised when many rides were equal or better at WDW in my family's opinion.

In any case, it would be a bit boring if the rides were exact copies - which they aren't.

 

[IndyDisneyFan]

Thank you very much for the information. We are too heading to DL for our first trip on March 30. We are annual passholders at WDW and have been for years. We are not expecting DL to be like WDW because we know that they are not the same. After reading all of the posts I beleive that we are approaching it with the right attitude. It will be a new Disney experience and we can't wait to get there!

Laura

 

[drag n' fly]

Have done both and nothing compares to the old school Walt Disney magic at DL.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

UgHhH LOL Im in the opposite boat, I live about 40 minutes away from DL, and just got done with annual passes which I had for about 3 yrs straight, and now Im finally getting my BIG chance to go to Dw and am scared that I have to much expectations for DW. YIKES! I can tell u, I have stayed at Disneyland Hotel and have also stayed at the Grand and outta the two, I really liked the DLH way better!! It's a little further yet, it has more of a Classic disney feel to it. IMO.

I will say the same thing to you as I do to WDW folks contemplating a run west. Judge it for what it is, not for what it is not. Do not set up one as your ideal and anything that deviates from it is less than your ideal.

Each has its advantages and disadvantages. I know the first time I came off POTC at the MK, I thought what a joke. When I came off the Tiki Room under new management I thought Ugggh!!! I've been violated!!! When I saw small world I thought Ok, but it's not as good. It was about then I figured out I could either stay in that rut, or judge it for what it is, not what it is not. But if you go and have fun for what it is, you'll see that it is different, in some ways better, in others, not as good. Oh and do look into the meal plan. We of course got ours free but we scheduled meals at several of the resorts and got to see them all that way. And the food was really good. That's one thing of WDW that is far superior to DLR. All the different restaurants.

Keep in mind you cannot get through WDW as a first timer and see everything in 4 or 5 days. days. You just can't. Epcot takes 2 to do fully. MK takes 2. Ak and DS 1 each. The Water parks take a half day each if you don't repeat a slide. But you're going to want to repeat the slides. Disneyquest takes about a half day, but you can linger longer. Oh and prepare for walking. You do more walking at MK than you do at Disneyland AND THAT IS THE LEAST WALKING YOU DO!!!! DS ends up more walking because of the timing of the major shows usually has you going back and forth. AK is more walking and Epcot is double the walking.

As for hotels over at WDW, they tend to all be themed not Disney, but for what they are. The Polynesian has a polynesian theme. The Wilderness lodge looks like a big pacific northwest wilderness lodge.
The ones most Disney themed are Pop Century and All Star Movies. And those are much more Disney themed than even the DLH. But those are value resorts and the only amenities they have are an arcade, food court, pizza delivery, and a concierge desk. So they may not be the type of accomodations you want. The contemporary is a big A-frame on the monorail with a view of the MK. It's a nice place to stay and may be most like the DLH of the hotels on the monorail loop when all is said and done. But pick one you think you're going to like and don't judge it for its Disneyness or lack thereof. To be honest, at WDW because they have the transportation system, we stayed at the $70 or so a night pop. It was cute we thought. The rooms are small but we were only there to sleep and we toured the grounds once or twice. But we ate all over the place so we got to see the best parts of the expensive resorts. THE FOOD!!!! as well as the oh so great lobbies. We found that a sit down meal each day didn't really take from our touring. You walk so much you kind of need to sit down for awhile. It was relaxing and refreshing.

 

[JoytotheWorld]

For me, attempting to compare DLR and WDW is like trying to compare apples and oranges. They're both wonderful in their own unique ways. Although I did miss Epcot and Animal Kingdom when visiting DLR, the magic of what was there more than made up for the losses. I will never forget my first ride on Indiana Jones or all the fabulous behind the scenes tours we took there. For my money, the tours at DLR are far superior to those offered at WDW in every conceivable way. There's a more relaxed, laid-back feel to DLR and Walt's touches are everywhere. One moment stands out vividly in my mind. We were about to head back down Main Street for our afternoon break and noticed that there was a miniature fire engine parked at the curb. We decided to give our feet a break and ride it back to the entrance. While en route, the driver mentioned that Walt used to drive this same little vehicle all over Disneyland once upon a time. It gave me goosebumps.

Much as I love WDW and I'm a DVC member who visits at least once a year, there is just something magical about DLR that WDW has not managed to recapture. It's difficult to put into words but you'll feel what I mean from the minute you step foot inside. As for the DLR hotels, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and had a marvellous time there. We particularly enjoyed all the small Disney touches and the tons of Disney memorabilia to be found all over the hotel. That being said though, if you prefer to stay at a hotel more like Wilderness Lodge, then I recommend you give the Grand Californian a try. It's very reminiscent of WL but with a tad more luxurious feel to it - sort of like if you crossed Wilderness Lodge with the Grand Floridian.

Since you've never visited DLR before, you really owe it to yourself and your family to give it a try and then decide for yourself what exactly it is that makes DLR so special.

Joy

 

[KelsiesMommy]

Just so you know- the very start of June is a perfect time to go because local school are generally out around the third week of June. And that's when the crowds come. Also, beware of June Gloom- it may be cloudy and cool (though if you want to avoid the heat, that makes it perfect!)

 

[helenm29]

Hey IndyDisneyFan: Hope you have a GREAT time at Disneyland! you are right when you say you just can't compair...they are SO different! but they both have their good points so have at it, and HAVE FUN!

 

[SamIAm21]

I was a WDW vet when I first visited DLR last year. As I walked down Harbor Blvd, from the HoJo, I thought, boy did I make a big mistake coming here. I'm not in the magic at all! At WDW, you immersed in the magic the minute you get to your hotel. You lose all sense of what is going on in the real world. And that's a wonderful thing. At DL, that transition happens the very minute you walk through the gates and under that train bridge. It's instaneous!! DL (vs. MK at WDW) is without a doubt far more magical and that sensing of it is almost palpable when you gaze down Main Street.

To stop in front of the Fire House on Main Street and realize that Walt had been there and for a Disney fan -- he's still there. How he walked that park day in and day out to make sure it was as perfect as it could be. To see the lantern on in the apartment window will make you mist over at the end of the day when you are leaving the park. It's like he's up there just watching all the happy people file out of the park. Thanks Walt!! The queue lines at DL are far better than the queue lines at WDW and give you a preview of the story before you even ride. Case in point is BTMRR. The queue in WDW is a mind numbing maze of people without so much as a dinosaur bone to gaze upon. Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country walking in the 100 Acre Woods and seeing all the story come to life before you even step into the beehive. The Haunted Mansion and its Bride!! Nope she's not at WDW! There's no Fantasyland boats, no Casey Jr. Circus Train, no Roger Rabbit, and no Evil Queen peering out the upper floor windows at WDW. The golden apple...don't forget to touch the golden apple. And DL has Mr. Toad! Don't even get me started on how much better Fantasmic is at DL. Magic and Disney just ooze out of every pore at DL. Yes the sidewalks are narrower, but that's when you can really smell all those gardenia bushes!! And you got a better chance at running right into a Churro stand!! The Matterhorn and that lovely little yodeling sound you hear as you walk by. And I've yet to see Mickey and Minnie scale Expedition Everest!!

At DL, the characters are out in full force, but it's harder to find them at WDW most summer days due to the heat and humidity.

I cried when I left there and I can't wait to get back.

DCA is a wonderful park for what it is now. It will be getting some serious upgrades and wonderful attractions in the next few years and by 2010 is supposed to be a very awesome little park. Just read MiceAge to find out the plans for that little gem! Any park where you can run onto Soarin two times in a row (no Fastpasses required) is with me!!

Some people may say that WDW's MK is an improvement over the DL original. Or is it just a copy -- and like every copy, does it lose something in the copying process. That is something each of us need to decide for ourselves.

Don't get me wrong, as you can see by my ticker I have two trips planned to WDW this year. I really love it there too, but DL is where the magic started and that's where it is still the strongest.

 

[pegster56]

I will give my same advice as I gave my daughter. Yes, once you have been to WDW, DL can be a let down -- but only if you don't remember the importance of DL. You have to look past the size. It started in Disneyland where they really weren't sure if the crowds would come. Think about what Walt created and how it evolved. Then it is like going to pay homage to Walt Disney and all that had to happen to get to current state! Appreicate it for what it is and you will love it.

 

[mickeysgal]

Hmmmm. Sorry to hear you are disappointed with DLR. I got the sense that your family thinks DL falls short of MK, and if so that is surprising. Most people have the opposite reaction. But obviously we are all different.

After over 25 visits to WDW, we finally had the opportunity to try DL last year and we fell for it head over heels. So much, in fact, we're going again for a very short stay this year. We did immerse ourselves totally within the complex by staying at the GC. I'm sure that added to the Disney effect of the overall experience. Head to head we like DL better than the Magic Kingdom. Overall, we enjoy the complex of WDW better than the complex of DL/DCA. Does that make sense?

I think you owe it to yourself to try DL. Its completely charming and feels the same yet different.

 

[disneymom8589]

You need to at least try DL. It's the original!! I've been 13 times and I'd go every week if I could!

 

[honeymom]

We've been to both. I really do prefer WDW because of the overall resort feel and if you said that you were only doing DL, I would say not to. But, since you would combine it with San Diego, I would say go for it. You can definitely get the resort feel in San Diego. San Diego has the oceans, Mission Bay, several islands and I always feel like I am on vacation there. It is actually a nicer place overall than the Orlando area.

As to DL vs. WDW. It is smaller, so it gets more crowded and that is what bothers me. DL rides vs. MK rides are better though. I would definitely recommend staying at the GCH if you can swing it. We stayed at the DLH years ago, and it just does not compare to the WDW hotels. While the grounds are pretty, there is something very plain feeling about it - more of a hotel than a Disney hotel. I know that there are some that disagree because it has more Disney characters (i.e. Neverland Pool) thrown in, but they seem more of an afterthought, than the well thought out theming that goes on at WDW (we have stayed at POFQ and WL). GCH is definitely themed. Everything is in the California craftsman tradition. It is designed by the same architect that designed WL and AKL at WDW. My only complaints - the room size is compact (maybe a little smaller than WL) and they need to make it a little less serious, a little more whimsical (i.e. you have a piano player in the lobby instead of the Whispering Canyon Cafe). However, service was impeccable, the location can't be beat, we loved the pool area, and it has some of DL's finest restaurants.

 

[HydroGuy]

Head to head we like DL better than the Magic Kingdom. Overall, we enjoy the complex of WDW better than the complex of DL/DCA. Does that make sense?

This puts you in the majority as far as the Internet polls I have seen. Most people prefer DL to MK, and prefer WDW to DLR.

Regarding resorts, I am on the fence right now and cannot say I have a stronger preference for one or the other. Which is saying a lot, because I did not think there was any way WDW could dislodge DLR as my favorite resort (mostly for reasons of nostalgia). I thought after the one trip last year that would be it and we would just go back to DLR. But now we want to go to WDW again.

To top it off, I now have firmly in mind to visit (solo) the resort in Tokyo and possibly Hing Kong on my next trip to Asia which will probably happen in 2008.

 

[HydroGuy]

I will give my same advice as I gave my daughter. Yes, once you have been to WDW, DL can be a let down -- but only if you don't remember the importance of DL. You have to look past the size. It started in Disneyland where they really weren't sure if the crowds would come. Think about what Walt created and how it evolved. Then it is like going to pay homage to Walt Disney and all that had to happen to get to current state! Appreicate it for what it is and you will love it.

We've been to both. I really do prefer WDW because of the overall resort feel and if you said that you were only doing DL, I would say not to. But, since you would combine it with San Diego, I would say go for it. You can definitely get the resort feel in San Diego.

I am not disagreeing with anyone here, but one thing I try to point out is there is no universal "this is what a Disney trip should be". WDW vets get accustomed to the resort feel of WDW and the larger size, and sometimes conclude "a Disney visit must consist of large parks and a large resort". Who says?

On the other hand, DLR vets get accustomed to the close hotels and easier park access, plus the much higher concentration of rides at DLR (DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as WDW's four parks put together). Hotels and dining are not as important to DLR vets (on the whole) as they are to WDW vets. So DLR vets may conclude "a Disney visit should include close hotels, easy park access, and tons of rides at each park". Who says?

My point is that while WDW is more of a full resort, that does not mean that is the only way to experience Disney. Do not look down on DLR because it does not match up in this area. DLR is only a "let down" when you try to match it to WDW in the areas where WDW is stronger.

If you want the best experience at each resort, find out the strengths of each resort and let that be your focus. DLR absolutely has areas where it outshines WDW.

The castles at MK and DL offer a classic case in point. The one at MK is much larger and more spectacular than the one at DL. It is the centerpiece of the park and the visual landmark.

It is natural for a WDW vet to take their "castle expectations" to DLR and be immediately disappointed with a castle that is only about one-third the height and not nearly as spectacular. But this all based on the (incorrect) assumption that DL's castle is it's centerpiece. It isn't. At least not in the way MK's castle is. Most DL vets would say that the Matterhorn (adjacent to the castle) is the visual landmark. If a WDW vet does not take time to understand this, they may be disappointed - and never "get" DL.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

After over 25 visits to WDW, we finally had the opportunity to try DL last year and we fell for it head over heels. So much, in fact, we're going again for a very short stay this year. We did immerse ourselves totally within the complex by staying at the GC. I'm sure that added to the Disney effect of the overall experience. Head to head we like DL better than the Magic Kingdom. Overall, we enjoy the complex of WDW better than the complex of DL/DCA. Does that make sense?

I think you owe it to yourself to try DL. Its completely charming and feels the same yet different.

You make perfect sense.
Disneyland itself beats MK for most, especially families with kids. Many rides are better and there are more of them. It also has more charm and for the most part, the lands are much better themed. The exception is Tomorrowland. It was very nicely done in the MK.

WDW overall wins. It's two parks, three hotels and a small shopping and entertainment complex in a space of 10 or so city blocks vs four parks, two water parks, over 20 hotels, 5 golf courses is it? and a huge shopping and entertainment complex in an area the size of the city of San Francisco.

 

[ellebeegee]

I thank you all very much for your thoughtful and impassioned responses! We have made a decision. Where is the drum roll icon? We will be departing for CA on June 1, woo-hoo!! We are VERY excited. We will be starting south, with San Diego Zoo and Sea World, then will make our way to DLR on the 5th and plan three days at DL/CA. I hope that will be enough. I'm anticipating two of those days will be DL.

We are VERY much looking forward to experiencing the original magic and feeling the presence of Walt. I am a HUGE iasw fan so I, myself, would probably head west just to see that masterpiece. I know many of the things that are different. My 7-year-old daughter can already name the rides at DL, just based on the planning DVD and my husband's visit. Yes, he had the nerve to call us a couple of weeks ago when he was riding the tram into DL, the stinker. But he is ingratiating himself to us once again by taking us now.

Now. Any suggestions for pre-trip planning and reading? Besides here, of course. I like a book I can hold in my hand. How is the Passporter for DL? We don't do much pre-trip reading for WDW anymore, except just for the excitement of it, but even though DL is smaller I feel we would be foolish not to learn as much in advance as we can. I sure wish there was a TourGuide Mike for DL, alas.

Someone mentioned all-day fast passes booking with AAA. Are those still available, does anyone know?

Thank you again for all your input. I know we will not be disappointed. I do hope we get to beat some of the crowds that first week in June. We're saying this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us but who knows? We'll take it one trip at a time.

 

[HydroGuy]

Someone mentioned all-day fast passes booking with AAA. Are those still available, does anyone know?

They were discontinued in January.

 

[Diznotyzed]

Best wishes for a fantastic, fun filled trip! As a yearly visitor to both DL and WDW I think you made a great decision! Be sure to stop and make a wish at Snow White's Wishing Well next to the castle (we always wish to come back)!