Disneyland comments from WDW vet

[sonofanarchy]

A couple of friends of mine just got back from California and visited Disneyland for the first time. One of them had some interesting comments comparing Disneyland to Magic Kingdom. I've never been to DL (hoping to go next summer), but some of these have me very surprised (and worried):

-Overall, didn't care for Disneyland as much as Magic Kingdom.
-Space Mountain, while fun, she didn't like as much as MK's.
-Character interaction wasn't as good. If you're not a kid, they pretty much rush you along, and aren't as friendly as Florida.
-All the dark rides in Fantasyland are neat, but they all have 45 minute waits all day long.
-Parades aren't set up as well. You have a very small area in which to stand, and once 2 floats go by, they let people cut in front of you and cross the street, blocking your view.
-She preferred California Adventure to Disneyland. Said that park could use 2 days, but only 1 is needed for Disneyland.

Given the majority of comments here, I was quite surprised by hers. Any thoughts?

 

[luvgoing2disney]

Wow she must have been at a different DLR than the one we were at last week. We also think of WDW as our home park but had our third visit to DLR and found the character interaction to be incredible. In fact one day we were walking and who should we see but Mickey on his way to greet guests. He waved and shook my hand as he passed by and was without a handler. That is something you never see at WDW. I saw characters many times with adults having pictures made. One day in area around the train station hub were Mickey, Minnie, Donald , Goofy and Cruela. Many times there were more than one character in an area


The wait times in Fantasyland CAN be long but not all the time and not all rides. We rode Mr Toad with a 25 minute wait, Snow White and Pinocchio were less than that. PPF and Dumbo did have long waits throughout the day

DW and I both preferred the DLR version of Space better than WDW. The ride it self is better and you ride side by side

Main Street has much more charm and character than does the WDW version

I realize that every visit is different in the eyes of the guest but we enjoy visiting DLR. It is a smaller park but does not require nearly as much advance planning and travel time to and between the parks.

 

[JaymeC]

Just my thoughts having extensive experience at both parks.

Preferences are what they are. My heart belongs to DL, but I grew up going to MK so I can understand both sides If someone prefers MK then they do. It may be anything from familiarity to different priorities. I think DL can catch you off guard if you're used to MK. I remember asking my husband jokingly where the castle was the first time he took me And it can be much more crowded/smaller feeling, but then the details and attractions are everywhere you look.

I prefer Space at DL, but again preference. My kiddos don't like riding at MK since they can't sit next to me like they can at DL. I also prefer Small World vastly at DL over MK. MK gets the nod for Splash though. It's fun comparing the rides in both locations in general though

I've never had a problem with character interactions at DL, and I know quite a few single adults who go regularly for character photos so the character comment baffles me. Maybe they got an off day? I will say its much harder to *find* the characters at DL, since they're more set in stone at MK.

Ride waits equate back to proper tour planning, just as in WDW. I think it says something for those rides that they're still able to tout 45 minute waits after all this time as well. They really are some great creative little rides though.

They do let people cut across for parades. On the bright side, they're also usually easier to get a spot closer to parade time. The plus of DL being a 'locals' park and them not wanting to see the parade every time. My personal favorite is still Tokyo Disney Resort where everyone SITS for parades. It's amazing how you can all see then.

DCA is really starting to stand on its own as a park. When we went last summer I could have easily spent a couple days at DL and at DCA... which is a first. It was previously a half day park at best (Oh DCA... those early days). Its wonderful to see it come into its own. And I'm pretty sure my kids would have willingly stayed in Carsland alone all day.

 

[magicbob]

A couple of friends of mine just got back from California and visited Disneyland for the first time. One of them had some interesting comments comparing Disneyland to Magic Kingdom. I've never been to DL (hoping to go next summer), but some of these have me very surprised (and worried):

-Overall, didn't care for Disneyland as much as Magic Kingdom.
-Space Mountain, while fun, she didn't like as much as MK's.
-Character interaction wasn't as good. If you're not a kid, they pretty much rush you along, and aren't as friendly as Florida.
-All the dark rides in Fantasyland are neat, but they all have 45 minute waits all day long.
-Parades aren't set up as well. You have a very small area in which to stand, and once 2 floats go by, they let people cut in front of you and cross the street, blocking your view.
-She preferred California Adventure to Disneyland. Said that park could use 2 days, but only 1 is needed for Disneyland.

Given the majority of comments here, I was quite surprised by hers. Any thoughts?

Surprised they like MK version of Space Mountain better. I found the DL version to be far better (side by side seating = wider track = smoother ride). Although the Disneyland Paris version blows everything else away (smooth ride, launch, inversions, and great special FX including an amazing supernova!).

I also really loved Indiana Jones Adventure and the DL version of PotC (one of my favorites) is better. Fantasmic is better at DL. Plus, they still have Mr. Toad! I can see how rides that are the "same" at both parks might be considered better at MK especially given the smaller size of DL park and as you said they encountered longer lines than they were used to. So that could skew their overall impressions.

DISCLAIMER: My trip to DL was a solo trip, so I was focused more on seeing the unique attractions and/or ones that are different in some way from WDW. Because I was getting lots of "new" experiences, I was very happy with my trip. But I didn't bother going on many of the rides that are exactly the same as those in WDW (except Soarin').

 

[damo]

That is an opposite reaction than my entire extended family. Space Mountain is much, much superior in DL. It is very smooth since the entire track was replaced. And Indy is just one of the best dark rides anywhere. About the lines, well it would depend on when you go compared to when you go to WDW but in my experience, they are much lower.

We spent 4 days there in November and still didn't see several of the rides.

The layout of Disneyland is different than that of MK and that may have thrown them off enough to have them not like it. You've got to go for a few days to get used to it and embrace it. There is not as much separation between lands, so rides seem to be right next to each other where in MK, they are more spaced apart.

Our family much prefers DL to WDW.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

To each his own.....

While I would never be able to choose one over the other, there are some things in DL that I certainly prefer over MK.

The DL POTC is far superior to the one in MK, as is Space Mtn. The one thing that DL still has that is no more in the MK is Toon Town! I LOVE Town Toon and feel that the character interactions were just as good if not better than MK. I went to DL by myself in Feb. and even tho I was a solo traveler and they could have rushed me in and out, each character took their time and let me enjoy my moment. Goofy spent a significant amount of time "goofing" around with me, instead of just posing for a pic.

When we took our boys there in Dec. 2012, we were in Toon Town and just finished lunch, when Pluto appears and grabs my DS by the hand and just starts walking around TT. Just having a nice stroll waving and interacting with my DS and the other kids. It was so much fun and so much more relaxed. You would never get that in MK.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

A couple of friends of mine just got back from California and visited Disneyland for the first time. One of them had some interesting comments comparing Disneyland to Magic Kingdom. I've never been to DL (hoping to go next summer), but some of these have me very surprised (and worried):

-Overall, didn't care for Disneyland as much as Magic Kingdom.
-Space Mountain, while fun, she didn't like as much as MK's.
-Character interaction wasn't as good. If you're not a kid, they pretty much rush you along, and aren't as friendly as Florida.
-All the dark rides in Fantasyland are neat, but they all have 45 minute waits all day long.
-Parades aren't set up as well. You have a very small area in which to stand, and once 2 floats go by, they let people cut in front of you and cross the street, blocking your view.
-She preferred California Adventure to Disneyland. Said that park could use 2 days, but only 1 is needed for Disneyland.

Given the majority of comments here, I was quite surprised by hers. Any thoughts?

Nothing here makes sense, especially enjoying california adventure over DL. Waits for dark rides can be long but last time we went I think peter pan was the longest and the actual wait time was 20 mins.

Maybe it was just a crowded period at DL.

 

[Allison]

A couple of friends of mine just got back from California and visited Disneyland for the first time. One of them had some interesting comments comparing Disneyland to Magic Kingdom. I've never been to DL (hoping to go next summer), but some of these have me very surprised (and worried):

-Overall, didn't care for Disneyland as much as Magic Kingdom.
-Space Mountain, while fun, she didn't like as much as MK's.
-Character interaction wasn't as good. If you're not a kid, they pretty much rush you along, and aren't as friendly as Florida.
-All the dark rides in Fantasyland are neat, but they all have 45 minute waits all day long.
-Parades aren't set up as well. You have a very small area in which to stand, and once 2 floats go by, they let people cut in front of you and cross the street, blocking your view.
-She preferred California Adventure to Disneyland. Said that park could use 2 days, but only 1 is needed for Disneyland.

Given the majority of comments here, I was quite surprised by hers. Any thoughts?

I walked onto nearly all the Fantasyland rides last month so there were no waits for me. I probably did wait 10 minutes for Peter Pan and maybe 5 for Dumbo. It must have been the time of day they were in the area.

Not my experience for the parade either. I had a great spot with plenty of room. In fact I had a place to sit with a wonderful view and they didn't let people cross the street.

I spent more than one day in Disneyland to see everything I wanted and do my favorites again.

I didn't try to interact with characters so no comment on that.

 

[hsmamato2]

we loved DL when we went a few years back....and we're WDW vets too Yes, some of the lines seem longer,some seem shorter, but the nostalgia factor,and the details for those who are absolutely nuts for all the disney details....DL is wonderful! my teen sons spent 6 days in the parks,and never wanted to leave! I thought it was smaller, but simply adorable,and I love all details,etc. I did like SM better in DL,and the Indiana Jones ride beats any WDW ride.....

 

[PinkBudgie]

DLR is my "home". Been many many times. My favorite time to go is during July. I have never been to WDW but going this June. I've had people Disneyland-centric people tell me that DL is better than MK and MK was their least favorite park at WDW. I don't know which I'll like better, but I'm going to see for myself.

Part of the problem is not knowing when to ride what at what time when going somewhere new. For example, if we want to go on Fantasyland rides, we head there first thing in the morning. Peter Pan first for about a 10 min wait, then the rest of the rides in that area are walk ons or several minutes at most. You can get FL done quickly then head to the rest of the park. At MK, I don't know which rides to go to first or how the line flow works.

I don't understand the parade comment. It stretches all the way to the back and I've found some spots without waiting a long time It seems like there are many places to stand. They do tend to make it tricky to go from one place to another if you don't want to watch and you are trying to get from Tomorrowland to Adventureland.

Anyway, if you do your research for DLR like I've been doing for WDW, then you should have a great time and find things to appreciate.

 

[undertheradar]

Being that DL is the original, there is no comparison. Our first visit to DL included our then 4 year old asking "Who shrunk my castle?"

The ride entries are so different between the 2 parks and Small World is much better at DL.

 

[Hootch]

a couple of years ago right after Carsland opened. The first day we headed to DCA to get the Radiator Springs Racers fast passes and then headed over to DL. A marching band was exiting DL with Alice and the Mad Hatter skipping along behind them. It was a great welcome.

We headed over to Fantasyland first. Most of the rides were almost walk ons the first 60-90 minutes. I was trying to track my wait times for each but the lines were moving too fast for me to keep up. That may have been in part due to the newness of Carsland.

 

[nblake05]

Wow she must have been at a different DLR than the one we were at last week. We also think of WDW as our home park but had our third visit to DLR and found the character interaction to be incredible. In fact one day we were walking and who should we see but Mickey on his way to greet guests. He waved and shook my hand as he passed by and was without a handler. That is something you never see at WDW. I saw characters many times with adults having pictures made. One day in area around the train station hub were Mickey, Minnie, Donald , Goofy and Cruela. Many times there were more than one character in an area The wait times in Fantasyland CAN be long but not all the time and not all rides. We rode Mr Toad with a 25 minute wait, Snow White and Pinocchio were less than that. PPF and Dumbo did have long waits throughout the day DW and I both preferred the DLR version of Space better than WDW. The ride it self is better and you ride side by side Main Street has much more charm and character than does the WDW version I realize that every visit is different in the eyes of the guest but we enjoy visiting DLR. It is a smaller park but does not require nearly as much advance planning and travel time to and between the parks.

I totally agree! I'm from SOCal, so DL has a special place in my heart. I LOVE DL's Main Street!!! While WDW's has a grander feel, it also feels more impersonal. I would also add that I could spend hours in New Orleans Square, while Liberty Square leaves me sorta cold. I would also agree with the poster who said it does have a more crowded feel.... MK does feel more spacious and less closed in. Especially in areas like Adventureland. And while I've never really had any problems with CMs in MK, I feel like the CMs at DL (all CMs, not just character interactions) just take it up a notch (the PhotoPass photographers really went out of their way to help us create some special photos). And F! There's no comparison! I can't miss it at DL, at HS I don't even care if I see it. All that being said, I do have to say that what I love about WDW is the resort feel. I love the resorts and the resort dining options are better (as well as the meal plans, which aren't available at DL). Somehow, going to WDW feels more like a big vacation, whereas going to DL feels more like a getaway. Perhaps that's because we can't get more than 5day hoppers at DL. But I really think it's more that WDW is more resort oriented, since DL is known to be a "locals park." Comparing resort to resort I'd give it to WDW, comparing DL park to MK park, it's DL all the way!

 

[magicbob]

The one thing that DL still has that is no more in the MK is Toon Town! I LOVE Town Toon and feel that the character interactions were just as good if not better than MK.

Oh, yeah. I forgot about Toon Town! Much better at DL (obviously I'm comparing to when WDW had a Toon Town). The whole area is much more immersive (the cartoon mountains behind the buildings really help you to suspend disbelief) and the Roger Rabbit ride was a nice addition as well.

 

[MrInfinity]

-Overall, didn't care for Disneyland as much as Magic Kingdom.
-Space Mountain, while fun, she didn't like as much as MK's.
-Character interaction wasn't as good. If you're not a kid, they pretty much rush you along, and aren't as friendly as Florida.
-All the dark rides in Fantasyland are neat, but they all have 45 minute waits all day long.
-Parades aren't set up as well. You have a very small area in which to stand, and once 2 floats go by, they let people cut in front of you and cross the street, blocking your view.
-She preferred California Adventure to Disneyland. Said that park could use 2 days, but only 1 is needed for Disneyland.

Given the majority of comments here, I was quite surprised by hers. Any thoughts?

Take it all w a grain of salt! Disney World is BIG. Really big. A Disneyland vet just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is.

Conversely, if you were born to WDW, going to DLR will seem small! Thus I could see that review above being reasonable from a WDW native. It's common to spend a week vacationing in WDW but one can easily do DLR in 2 or 3 days. You'll do the same amount of stuff in less time.

-Overall, didn't care for Disneyland as much as Magic Kingdom.

I don't understand this critique without backup, as DL just crushes the MK park-to-park. You've got basically the whole MK, plus Indiana Jones (Dinosaur), the Matterhorn (Everest), Star Tours and Fantasmic all in one park! Nearly the best of all 4 WDW parks in DL, and whatever else isn't there is in DCA (Soarin, RSR / TT, and many others!) Plus you've got Cars Land, Bugs Land, New Orleans Sq, Critter Country... Basically the number of good rides in 4 parks in FL are in 2 parks in CA.

I grew up going to WDW so when I started going to DL because we lived in California, it felt weird at first cuz things were so different. But now, having gone to CA most of my life, I look back on our recent WDW trips and totally miss the DL stuff! Small World in DL is amazing. If you grew up going to DL SW and went to Florida... you have to just go... "really"? This is what they did with Small World here?

The crowds are very different. It's primarily two day-parks instead of the resort destination that is WDW, thus a very different approach to hotels and dining. Much of your WDW trip is spent planning how you'll eat and where you'll sleep... whereas most DL guests plan to eat before or after the parks on their way home to bed. There's very little in the way of dining.

DL character interaction is better. Characters actually found walking around outside (at least they were a few years ago) like you'd think they should be. None of this M&G mega-structure like you find in PFH or DHS.

45-min waits seem about right. Most good rides anywhere that is pretty typical for.

I thought the parades were set up well. It does bisect the park end-to end (ends in Fantasyland by Small World as opposed to hooking a left at the hub and going thru Frontierland) making it hard to get around I guess, but that's true at both parks.

The Castle is smaller. Overall very different experience. So much at both parks for a Disney fan to enjoy. Plus them being quite different makes going to both worthwhile. Would be boring if they were just the same!

 

[KCmike]

Don't know what she was talking about because Disneyland is far superior to the Magic Kingdom at WDW. Fireworks, parades, and most rides are better in California as is the weather. The rides that I think that are better in WDW at MK include Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion but thats about it. DL and DCA have as many rides and attractions in two parks as WDW has in its four parks.

 

[lugnut33]

I had a completely different reaction to DL than the friend of the OP. I love Disneyland more than Disney World.

I love how small it is, yet there are more attractions than all of Disney World.

Space Mountain is way better in Disneyland.

The CMs in DL are veterans and much better than WDW.

Pirates is about 1000x better at DL.

They do holiday overlays at DL.

The counter service restaurants are better at DL.

Love all the live entertainment offering at DL and DTD.

The weather is better and more consistent at DL.

I could go on and on.

 

[jimmysmom74]

We have been to DL and WDW. It was hard to say which I loved more. They are both great! But I felt the characters at DL were much better than WDW. Esp. face characters, like the princesses. I loved how close the rides were to one another. I didn't notice a difference in waits, maybe less at DL. I thought the live entertainment was amazing. WOC the best show at both parks!

 

[minnie mum]

Perhaps the OPs friends opinions of DL resulted from a combination of lack of planning and unrealistic expectations. MK and DL are so very different. You can't use your past experiences at one to plan your days at the other. They are both great places, but aren't clones, and require a different mind set in order to get the most out of them.

WDW is our "home" place, but we've visited DL many times. I can't say we've ever had a disappointing day there. But we don't go expecting that things operate the same as in MK. Each has attractions and features that are better or different from the other. That's what makes visiting parks in different parts of the world so great. Now, if you want to talk differences, try Tokyo Disney sometime. It will blow your mind. They SIT for parades. Sometimes they stake out places for the parades hours in advance. FPs can be gone before 10 am on a slow day. And Peter Pan can have an hour long wait before 9:30 am.! But with proper planning you can still have an absolutely wonderful time.

 

[BrianL]

I go to WDW more but have been to DL. THey both have their charms, though overall I prefer WDW and MK. My observations of DL incliude:

DL is smaller and more crowded, lines were longer
The DL castle is just not as grand
The CM's were less freindly
Cleanliness was not as high
Food was much better all around
Fireworks were better
The Halloween Party was much better (I have attended both)
Some rides are better at DL, some at WDW - this is a wash
No Welcome Show at DL - something that almost soured me for a whole day

I still had fun at DL and hope to go back soon. DCA was nicer than expected too, and much less crowded than DL on the same day (excepting CarsLand - I think that's where everybody in the whole park was!).

You get a different vibe form DL, which I think is great. It gives people a reason to go to both. I also enjoyed the holiday overlays (HMH and Ghost Galaxy) though I would like to see those rides in their classic forms as well for better comparisons to their WDW counterparts.