I love both the Snow White show and the Aladdin show. Many people think that the Aladdin show is the best show at either park. The thing I like about both the shows at DL is that they tell so much of the story. They are a little longer than the shows at WDW. My favorite rides, the ones I cannot miss are as follows:
Pirates of the Caribbean, way better than WDW's version
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Matterhorn (probably my kids favorite ride at DL)
Small World (also way better than WDW's I am told)
Big Thunder Mountain
Peter Pan
Alice in Wonderland
Storybookland Canal Boats
Star Tours
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Indiana Jones (My favorite ride at DL)
At DCA:
Soarin Over California
Grizzly River Run
California Screamin
Tower of Terror
Mullholland Madness (very similar to Primevil Whirl but doesn't spin)
Many of the rides seem almost identical to the WDW version, like BTMRR, others are very similar but different too, like Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror. I think the Fantasyland area at
Disneyland is better and both the canal boats and the Alice ride are exclusive to Disneyland. They are getting a new parade and fireworks for Disneyland. Fantasmic at Disneyland is great but there is no seating so you have to stake out a spot early. If you want to splurge they have limited seating with a dessert buffet in the Disney Gallery ($49 per person) or some reserved seats with a dessert box by the river (don't know that price and have never done that one) The Electrical Parade runs over at California Adventure and is my personal favorite parade! I think there are enough similarities between WDW and DL to make you feel at home but enough differences to make you feel like you are getting something new and different.
As far as my favorite counter service places, at Disneyland my family enjoys, Rancho Del Zocalo (good Mexican food), French Market, Hungry Bear, Golden Horshoe and Main Street Bakery. At California Adventure, we love Taste Pilot's Grill and Award Wieners. Seems like we always eat at one of those while we are waiting for some fastpass to come up! Disneyland does not have as many choices for dining full service. The only place in Disneyland itself is the Blue Bayou. We love this place, it is right in the Pirates ride, has a great, very unique atmosphere and great food. We like lunch better because we can get the Monte Cristo, which isn't offered at dinner. They have a lot of southern dishes like jambalaya and pretty decent prime rib. We also love Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel, which is a character buffet similar to Chef Mickey's. There are some really nice places like Napa Rose in California Adventure/Grand Californian Hotel. Haven't tried those yet. We have been to Ariel's Grotto (now called Cap'n Mickey's) at DCA, it is a fixed price menu with around 6 or 8 choices. You can sit outside and admire the lights of Paradise Pier. The food isn't always the best but its a fun character dinner.
Disneyland is wonderful and compact. You can park hop mulitple times a day by just walking out of one park and into the other. They are right next to each other. Downtown Disney is also right there. We never even rent a car when we go to Disneyland. The weather is usually great, with very little humidity and pleasant evenings. I think you will have a really great time. I have had people tell me that they think WDW is much better and cannot understand why we always go to Disneyland. We have never been disappointed or bored I can tell you that much! Even after our first trip to WDW last October, we didn't feel jipped or disappointed when we went back to Disneyland two months later. Sorry to go on and on, my kids and hubby are out for the evening and I don't know what to do with myself! Hope some of this info helps!
