Disneyland-which rides can we skip?

[smsnorthup]

We have a short trip to DL in June, so I'm wondering since we go to WDW 3-4 times a year....what rides at DL are exactly like it's counterpart at WDW that we may want to skip to save on time?

 

[DSNY4ever]

Oh my there are lots-

Disneyland:

Peter Pan
Dumbo
Small World (once inside is the same, but the outside building is much better)
Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion (once inside is the same, but the outside is quite different...fun to try!)
Honey I shrunk the audience
Jungle cruise
Winnie the Pooh (the outside in DL is a little cuter)

(Don't be fooled- the Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain are better in DL, so give them a try!)

California Adventure:

It's tough to be a bug 3-D
Muppet Vision 3-D
Soarin over California

That is all I can think of off the top of my head- everything else might have some slight differences from their WDW counterpart- and then we have a lot of totally unique attractions! Have fun! Make sure you see the Aladdin musical- it is only in California Adventure and it is great!

 

[Laurabearz]

Splash and HM are not the same at both parks... HM, like Pirates, is much better at DLR than at WDW. (although since WDW remodel they are close)

When you Say Short trip... how much time are you talking about?? One day? Two?

I would focus on the rides that at ONLY at DL such at Matterhorn, Toad, Storybook Canal, Casey's train, Pinocoho, Indy, Nemo and what else am I missing.... well all of DCA lol, but I think I am missing something at DL too...

Some Dont miss things that are at both parks but better at DL are... Pirates is wicked better at DL, Space Mountain too... Haunted Mansion is also worth riding for the differences. The Autopia is much nice at DLR than at WDW too.

Have fun!

 

[tofubeast]

Maybe easier for me to tell you what NOT to skip:

Definitely do Space Mtn. and Pirates! - FAR Better... FAR!
Haunted Mansion....neat to see the differences
Thunder Mtn - I like better at DL
Splash-- fun to see diff. though I think WDW wins on this one
Railroad- lots of neat things not seen in the WDW version!



You can skip:
Star Tours (though queue is kinda neat)
Winnie the Pooh
Buzz
Jungle Cruise (I think WDW version is better)
Dumbo
Pan
Honey I shrunk the kids
Tomorrowland rockets
Autopia
Innoventions (just a guess...though might be neat to see House of the Future that opens in June)
and no choice about Small World (won't be open this summer...refurb till late fall)
Muppets, Tough to be a Bug, and Soarin' at DCA
Maybe Fantasmic!--- but it is cool to see it all on the River!

 

[Hound 109]

Maybe easier for me to tell you what NOT to skip:

Definitely do Space Mtn. and Pirates! - FAR Better... FAR!
Haunted Mansion....neat to see the differences
Thunder Mtn - I like better at DL
Splash-- fun to see diff. though I think WDW wins on this one
Railroad- lots of neat things not seen in the WDW version!



You can skip:
Star Tours (though queue is kinda neat)
Winnie the Pooh
Buzz
Jungle Cruise (I think WDW version is better)
Dumbo
Pan
Honey I shrunk the kids
Tomorrowland rockets
Autopia
Innoventions (just a guess...though might be neat to see House of the Future that opens in June)
and no choice about Small World (won't be open this summer...refurb till late fall)
Muppets, Tough to be a Bug, and Soarin' at DCA
Maybe Fantasmic!--- but it is cool to see it all on the River!

imo...Buzz is better at DL (than at MK) because the guns lift out (so you can be shooting targets nonstop 360 degrees around).

& i personally think Soarin' is better at DCA (than at Epcot) because of the wonderful historic Aviation theming & because it's Soarin.... over.......California. (granted same ride.....but I always like to end our visit with a final trip on Soarin (normally with a FP).


Edited to add....the original Fantasyland rides shouldn't be missed (especially Alice, Pinocchio, Toad & Storybookland....& none of these are at MK).

Amazing & wonderful rides for kids of all ages (and all are over 50 years old i believe).

 

[Barbday62]

Dont forget at Disneyland you can get fast passes all day long and hold them until later when its more crowded. You can use them after the expiration not before. This way you may be able to see just about everything.

Also if you choose to do Aladan Show (I highly recomend it too!) Dont wait in the long line. Unless you want a front seat (back section front is best) Just walk up a few minutes before the show and sit in the high balcony. This way you can maximize ride time. If you had more time I woudl recomend waiting 45 minutes to get a front seat in the second section but when short on time the show is so good its not to be missed and can be enjoyed form any where really.

 

[scooter15]

Dont' skip Fantasmic at DL. WDW version is different and didn't have the same feeling as the one at DL. Many scenes are different and the ending is better at DL...MUCH better.

I wouldn't skip Jungle Cruise because its one of the originals at DL. Actually, try not to skip the original rides at DL. Can't go to the original park w/o going to the attractions that are still there when it first opened.

 

[smsnorthup]

We'll be arriving at GCH around 10am on a Sunday and will also have all day on Monday...so almost 2 complete days to do both parks.

Thank you all so much for the tips and suggestions, it's just what I was looking for!!

We're so excited to be visiting the Original Park!!

 

[Hound 109]

We'll be arriving at GCH around 10am on a Sunday and will also have all day on Monday...so almost 2 complete days to do both parks.

Thank you all so much for the tips and suggestions, it's just what I was looking for!!

We're so excited to be visiting the Original Park!!

Are you flying in??

(if you're staying at the GCH (sunday night), you can enjoy MM on that Sunday morning, fwiw)

 

[smsnorthup]

Are you flying in??

(if you're staying at the GCH (sunday night), you can enjoy MM on that Sunday morning, fwiw)

We're driving down from Santa Barbara that Sunday morning and with 2 kids, I don't think we'll be down there much earlier than 10am so I don't think we'll be able to make the MM at DL. That's my main reason for starting my Sunday at CA because we'll miss DL opening by a couple of hours and I think it will already be crowded. We'll park hop to DL at some point throughout the day and then Monday am we'll start there first thing. If DL opens at 8am on Monday, what time should we be at the gate?

 

[DangerMouse]

If DL opens at 8am on Monday, what time should we be at the gate?

I'd be there at 7:15, but I have this thing about being first in line.

 

[mickeymoo]

imo...Buzz is better at DL (than at MK) because the guns lift out (so you can be shooting targets nonstop 360 degrees around).

& i personally think Soarin' is better at DCA (than at Epcot) because of the wonderful historic Aviation theming & because it's Soarin.... over.......California. (granted same ride.....but I always like to end our visit with a final trip on Soarin (normally with a FP).


Edited to add....the original Fantasyland rides shouldn't be missed (especially Alice, Pinocchio, Toad & Storybookland....& none of these are at MK).

Amazing & wonderful rides for kids of all ages (and all are over 50 years old i believe).

IMHO I think there is alittle more atttetnion to detail at DLr vs WDW and I so totally agree with the PP quoted, Buzz and Soarin are way better at DLR. but its been over three years since I've been... so it may be different but Ihave such fond memories of visiting as a child with my dad (God rest his soul!) Have fun!

 

[mickeymoo]

Ooh yes, odn't miss Aladdin, absolutely fantastic. I didn't see Fantasmic at DL but I hear it ways rocks over the WDW version too and I loved the WDW version

 

[DoomBugger]

You should park hop Sunday, utilize FPs at both parks since they are not linked and you can cover much more ground than you might think. Have fun.

Definitely hit: Mr Toad! Pirates (MKs is shorter). Space Mountain (Great ride, MKs is much tamer). Matterhorn. Buzz (you can hold the guns). Nemo Subs. Grizzy River Run (AKs version is weak by comparison). Mulholland Madness. Maliboomer. Cal Screamin' and if you like shows some of those too! Tiki Lounge is better out west also. Check out Tom Sawyer Island as well and the Columbia ship. Yes, yes and of course hit up Indiana Jones several times. You might like it more the mnore times you ride it! AKs Dinosaur is fun, very cool and I like it but it is nothing like Indy. Indy just the que line is great, probably the best themed que line of any ride ever made, anyone not agree?

Come to think of it, just go on everything, to me that is the fun and I love going to DLR and WDW to see and appreciate the differences within the rides so I go on everything just to know for myself! I'm silly like that.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Since you're a regular visitor to WDW, I would concentrate on Disneyland itself. In DCA, you should do Monsters Inc., Toy Story Midway Mania if open, and California Screamin' if you like roller coasters. Otherwise, spend your time in Disneyland. DCA has little to offer that you can't experience in Florida and I listed the ones worh doing(keeping in mind that you visit WDW all the time).

In Disneyland, Space and POTC are absolute must dos. Disneyland's POTC is nearly twice as long as MK's. I would skip Pooh altogether. In Fantasyland, I would do all the rides that are cloned in WDW except Snow White because the Disneyland version is better in every single case except Snow White with the obvious exception of Dumbo. If you like Sleeping Beauty, the carousel is worth doing because the artwork is all from that film.

Simply put, I think 2 full days are needed to experience Disneyland itself(ignoring DCA), so concentrate your time in that park. I think you need to see Remember, Dreams Come True(fireworks) if it shows. It is not to be missed.

 

[HoneyBee06]

Oh my there are lots-

Disneyland:

Peter Pan
Dumbo
Small World (once inside is the same, but the outside building is much better)
Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion (once inside is the same, but the outside is quite different...fun to try!)
Honey I shrunk the audience
Jungle cruise
Winnie the Pooh (the outside in DL is a little cuter)

(Don't be fooled- the Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain are better in DL, so give them a try!)

California Adventure:

It's tough to be a bug 3-D
Muppet Vision 3-D
Soarin over California

That is all I can think of off the top of my head- everything else might have some slight differences from their WDW counterpart- and then we have a lot of totally unique attractions! Have fun! Make sure you see the Aladdin musical- it is only in California Adventure and it is great!

The Haunted Mansion at DL is NOT exactly like the one at WDW. There are quite a few differences, in my opinion.

I also thought Winnie the Pooh seemed different.

 

[smsnorthup]

I'd be there at 7:15, but I have this thing about being first in line.

Me too!! I have anxiety if I think I'm running late at all and turn into Disney Mom Commando to my family....the husband just loves that side of me!!

 

[smsnorthup]

You guys give such good advice...Thanks again so much!

But I have one more question, if we start out Sunday at CA around 10am what time would you hop over to DL and what rides can I expect to ride without a FP? It will be a Sunday in June, from what I've read, DL will be very busy.

 

[julezdisney]

You guys are forgetting the Grand Canyon Diorama and Primeval World that can only be viewd from the train between Tommorowland and Main Street that is unique to DL. The dinosaurs were the first animatronics of that scale that Walt's team created and was first displayed at the World's Fair before they landed at DLR.

Also RR's Car Toon Spin in Toontown. HAVE to see Toontown-completely diff. from WDW.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Okay so since some people seem upset that I said Haunted Mansion is the same...what is the difference other than the building? I like to go on both because I like the different queues of both rides- but what is the difference inside? Apparently I don't remember.