Disneyland vs WDW

[HUFF590]

Just returned from first trip to DL using points. I wont go into a long trip report but the DLH was very nice great food and pool and the parks where very nice also, but DL is (IMOP) not very clean. They have trash everywhere, no one was cleaning up the grounds anywhere(parks hotel) and the cms cant compare to WDW. Most where very rude, it seems as they are not trained the same IMOP, I am very spoiled here at WDW. We had a great time and I recommend seeing it once but just once and Im glad to be home when we are at SSR and WDW.

 

[bigsmooth]

If you ever read Al's column over at Miceage (and believe what he says), he has been talking about the chronic labor shortages that DL has been experiencing, which could be a factor, although there should be no excuse for trash everywhere).

One thing I have learned that is tends to be where you grew up with that you like the most. I'll always prefer DL to MK, since that is where I made my first trips growing up and have visted the most. But I've grown to really like WDW (hence my DVC purchase). It is nice that DL and MK are not carbon copies of each other, so there are differences to appreciate. My fear is that my DVC investment will keep us from going back to DL on any kind of regular basis. Be nice to get a west coast DVC, but no shortage of rumors on that one.

 

[*elaine*]

One thing I have learned that is tends to be where you grew up with that you like the most. I'll always prefer DL to MK, since that is where I made my first trips growing up and have visted the most. But I've grown to really like WDW (hence my DVC purchase). It is nice that DL and MK are not carbon copies of each other, so there are differences to appreciate. My fear is that my DVC investment will keep us from going back to DL on any kind of regular basis.

Ditto.

 

[I Love DVC]

Just returned from first trip to DL using points. I wont go into a long trip report but the DLH was very nice great food and pool and the parks where very nice also, but DL is (IMOP) not very clean. They have trash everywhere, no one was cleaning up the grounds anywhere(parks hotel) and the cms cant compare to WDW. Most where very rude, it seems as they are not trained the same IMOP, I am very spoiled here at WDW. We had a great time and I recommend seeing it once but just once and Im glad to be home when we are at SSR and WDW.

I'm sorry you had an unfortunate CM experience at DL. There are good and bad CMs everywhere. IMO, MK has the most rude CMs of any Disney park. Magic Kingdom is simply inferior to Disneyland Park. (I've never noticed excessive amounts of trash.)

I'm probably biased bc/ I have a DL AP and go about every three months or so. However, now that we are DVC members, we will probably go to WDW a lot more. I wish they would open a DVC resort in California. IMO, it is a waste of points to use them at the DLR hotels. For what you pay for one night in a standard room, you can get a 1-bedroom in WDW. For now, we are fine staying at the Candy Cane Inn in DL. (But, even wo/ DVC, we would NEVER stay off property in WDW!)

I LOVE DISNEYLAND PARK!!! But, not the Disneyland Resort. I LOVE THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT. But, I don't love MK or the Studios.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We just got back from four noghts at the Grand Cal. It was beautiful. I thought DL was as well kept as WDW. Our hotel was spotless.

 

[rinkwide]

...the cms cant compare to WDW. Most were very rude...

You probably shouldn't have worn that "Magic Kingdom Rules - Disneyland Drools" sweatshirt.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Every time we go to California for anything, I always comment on the not great attitudes of the employees in public jobs. DL was no different and no surprise to me, so I didn't think it was any worse than any other California destination, and better than most. I just didn't think it compared in any way to WDW mostly because I didn't care for California Adventure. I didn't think it was particularily "Disney". I did enjoy the Monster's Inc. ride since it was different from WDW, but mostly found CA to be a run of the mill amusement park.

 

[disneykid4ever]

I grew up going to DL so it will always be my favorite. To me, it's cozy and familiar with all of the magic I remember as a child. I only went on my first trip to WDW this year and I am now in my 30's. We had fun but I missed being able to just walk to everything (DTD, all the Disney hotels, off-site food, etc . . .) like you can at DL. We have more trips planned to WDW and we bought DVC because Mickey Mouse magic runs in my veins . . . but DL will always be "home". Oh, and we loooooooooove the Grand Californian . . . even better than WL. I think it's the giant fireplace cove!

 

[HUFF590]

Oh dont get me wrong we had a wonderfull time and our hotel was beautifull and the room was great, I loved DL the park was not crowded and we rode everything Space M there is the best, but the Neverland pool was so pretty but nasty,the food and trash was all over ketchup and chicken fingers laying on the ground. Several CMs where just I guess in bad moods. It seemed the bath rooms and the park grounds had a lot of paper and everything seemed dirty and stickey, will I go back? dought it.
Rink you are right we where covered in WDW stuff

 

[slp87]

We just returned as well and I have to agree about the Neverland pool. I never saw anyone picking up towels, etc. We were just there in November at the GCH on the concierge level and loved it. This trip was at the DLH and while we still enjoyed it, there is a little bit of the Disney spark missing. That said, I will never pass up a trip to DL! I love not having to catch a bus, Indiana Jones is awesome, we actually like DCA, and Space Mt. is the BEST!!

 

[gppnj]

I grew up going to WDW. Sometimes I prefer Magic Kingdom, and sometimes I prefer DL.

When I first visited DL (April 1989), I immediately preferred it over MK. It was the original, and although it was smaller, it was very charming. It also had some great things that weren't at MK (or anywhere at WDW) at all at that time, such as Star Tours.

In 2001, DL was at what was probably its lowest point ever. Maintenance had been severely cut back, an everything looked shabby. There hadn't been a major new attraction in years. It was a mess. It hurt me so much to visit it then. MK was much better than that disaster. I vowed I wouldn't go back to DL until I had heard that it was back on track.

I visited DL this past December, and boy was it ever back on track. New management bent over backwards to get the place looking top notch for the 50th anniversary. I loved the refurbished Space Mountain - such a smooth ride, and the music really enhances it. DL is now my favorite again.

 

[gppnj]

Oh - and although I dearly, dearly love my precious Wilderness Lodge, the Grand Californian does take the prize as my favorite Disney resort. I could spend a whole day just looking around. From now on, I will never visit DL and stay anywhere else.

 

[rinkwide]

Every time we go to California for anything, I always comment on the not great attitudes of the employees in public jobs...

That's because English is our second language.

Seriously though, every time we go to Florida we notice a diminished level of service received in restaurants. There seems to be a higher level of empathy and tact in use by wait-staffs here in California (maybe it's just all our aspiring actors bending over backwards, hoping to be "discovered").

I guess it's as stated, you miss what you're used to.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree about the lack of bathrooms at DL too. I swear they hid all of them very well, and there weren't nearly enough either! They were especially difficult to find.

 

[cruiseletters]

I guess it is what you are the most familiar with. Having grown up going to DL I know where all the out of the way restrooms are and there are plenty even on a crowded day. We have gone to WDW the last few years and have been surprised at how nonchalant the CMs are. when you say thank you or smile at them when getting on rides they seem to just stare through you. My DH and I have talked about this, but we did not mention it to the friends that we brought to WDW with us this year [they're from Ca. as well]. When we were at the airport waiting to fly home we were all talking about the trip, and they mentioned that they were surprised at how little enthusiasm the CMs at WDW had for their jobs. I thought that it was interesting that they had reached the same conclusion as my family had. Now I read this thread and I just have to laugh.

 

[disney-super-mom]

We're in the planning stages of making our first trip to WDW, and I'll admit I'm a bit nervous about going to WDW since we love DL and CA. My seven year old's favorite rides are Star Tours and Buzz Lightyear, which are right across from one another at DL. He rides them over and over again while we make our way through DL.

On the other hand, I'm hoping that he'll find some new favorite rides at WDW, and us too! I also love the fact that WDW has an animal theme park. I think both our boys will love watching the animals (the last time our 7 year old went to a zoo was when he was 2 and he probably doesn't remember it. And our 3 year old has never been to a zoo!)

We're ready to spice things up a bit and make a trip out to Florida. With that in mind, we're going there with the attitude that we won't be disappointed by comparing one park to another, or one version of a ride to another. Instead, we're going to appreciate and enjoy the differences each has to offer.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We're in the planning stages of making our first trip to WDW, and I'll admit I'm a bit nervous about going to WDW since we love DL and CA. My seven year old's favorite rides are Star Tours and Buzz Lightyear, which are right across from one another at DL. He rides them over and over again while we make our way through DL....:

He may not like the fact that the guns at Buzz are attached and fixed to the car.

 

[I Love DVC]

He may not like the fact that the guns at Buzz are attached and fixed to the car.

That's very true. I first went on Buzz in WDW in 2004 and loved it. Then, Buzz came to DL in 2005 and I also loved it. I didn't go back to Buzz until 2006. I never realized how much easier it is when the blasters are detachable. I probably won't bother w/ Buzz in WDW anymore........

 

[rinkwide]

...I'm hoping that he'll find some new favorite rides at WDW...

Don't worry, Test Track is gonna' blow his mind.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Don't worry, Test Track is gonna' blow his mind.

I think he'll LOVE this one! I think we'll all LOVE this one!