Disneyland after DW?

[jennyh2829]

We love DW. For those of you who have done DL...would you suggest going there or not? If we went it would have to replace our trip to DW and I'm not sure it is worth doing. Input please...

 

[Mono~rail]

We enjoy both resorts! Each has their own special qualities. I'm a big fan of The Matterhorn!

 

[Minky]

I have 30+ trips to WDW, and LOVE IT obviously.

We just went to DL for the for the first time, and I was honeslt prepared to say eh, it was okay, but I soooooo fell in love with it.

It really is an amazing place. It is different, and it was freaky the first time going into the parks, everything is so familiar yet so different. But the amount of details, and all the little touches are amazing. And I feel like a traitor for saying this but most of the rides that the 2 share, the DL version is way better. Space Mountain (OMG), ALL of Fantasyland is amazing there, Indiana Jones is unique to DL and a great ride.

And about 500 feet away is their California Adventure Park, which I would most compare to MGM studios. A lot of people are down on that park but we loved it! They have Tower of Terror, Monsters inc, its a bugs life, Soarin, and Paradise Pier which is a fun retro boardwalk theme...and they have an AWESOME rollercoaster California Screamin! LOVED IT! They even have a ferris wheel with moving gondolas...which I thought would be a mellow ride, well it scared the heck out of me! But it was cool!

I cant wait to go back!!!
Any hardcore WDW fan should visit at least once and experience it, it is after all the original

 

[FanOfStitch]

I have to agree with Minky. We went summer of last year and I had already prepared myself that it wasn't going to be as good as WDW. However, I loved it once we got there! There's something about the quaintness of it and it's a really neat/weird feeling walking down main street knowing that Walt himself did the same thing. California Screamin' rocks!! And if you can, I highly recommend staying at the Grand Californian.

 

[LauraAngel]

I was a WDW girl for years... that was where we went when I was little and I loved it all like crazy. Then I had the chance to go to Disneyland.... whole other feeling for me. To be fair, for a weeklong vacation I'll still take WDW in a heartbeat, but for a 3-5 day visit, there's nothing like Disneyland. There's a certain special feeling there for those that love the history... seeing the lamp burning in the window above the fire house... walking through the Disney Gallery and knowing Walt was once there. Also, several rides are either ONLY at DL or are better versions (i.e. Pirates of the Carribbean... you'll never see the one at WDW the same way... it's such a let down once you've ridden the one there, and the Tiki Room- it's the only place you can still see the original attraction, or Indiana Jones and the Matterhorn, which are just a really cool rides you can only do there). IMHO, if you're a disney fan, you MUST MUST MUST go to disneyland at least once in your life. And there's lots of other great stuff to do in and around Anaheim and L.A., so you can easily still make a nice family trip out of it. GO!!!

 

[Harmony]

Went to DL for the 1st time in June and our entire family LOVED it! (we didn't expect to enjoy it as much as we did) We stayed at the CG and DHL and enjoyed all 5 of the character meals DL offers. (Goofy's Kitchen is the BEST character meal we've ever done!)

We had a CA theme park view (room 6011) at GC and it was soooo awesome to go to bed with a view of California Screamin! Just awesome. I'd wake up at night just to look at the lights.

As much as we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE WDW...it'll be hard not to go to DL again. It's now a difficult choice. Oy!

Have fun!

 

[tmt martins]

Been to WDW many times and still try to Get to DL any time I'm on the westcoast . Last time was just for a day.

Now you really can't fill 7 or 8 days at DL but the 3-5 is a very good time in the great parks.

We did the Southern Cali pass in 05 that included SW and SDZ as well as Knotts (replaced by USH i think).

You won't be diappointed as some of the rides that are in WDW are better and done differently in DL.So don't skip something just because you think they are the same.

 

[deekaypee]

Another big YES to DL. You should go at least once. They're really two different experiences, each with a lot to offer. I really like the immersive experience of WDW and really like the local feel of DL. And ditto especially to observations that the same attractions aren't really the same--there's lots of subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences to experience.

Oh, and I agree with other posters that it's perfect for 3-5 days. If you're interested in planning a longer trip, though, there's a lot to do in the area.

 

[halfway there]

I would have to echo the sentiments of all the posters above! I have been a permanent fixture at WDW since my first trip as a child in 1977. Being a FL resident helps so we are there all the time. In fact we just returned today from our first trip to the MK since visiting DL this past summer. I couldn't stop comparing it to the CA version! Some rides are soooo much better at DL, the weather was gorgeous in June and the Grand Californian was to die for. I didn't want to leave even after 6 days! We loved it and most of my family of four voted for DL as their #1 park of all, including the four we have here!! I still like our castle better but after a very extensive survey among family members comparing ride for ride and land for land, that is the only thing that WDW won out on! LOL