Disneyland Yes or No

[yensidisney]

I am a huge Disney World fan as I'm sure most of you are! Recently, I've been thinking of going to Disneyland for the Diamond Celebration. I've done my research, and I know Disneyland is MUCH smaller, etc. Can someone who always went to Disney world and then went to Disneyland tell me their opinions on it? Thanks a ton!

 

[Robo]

I am a huge Disney World fan as I'm sure most of you are! Recently, I've been thinking of going to Disneyland for the Diamond Celebration. I've done my research, and I know Disneyland is MUCH smaller, etc. Can someone who always went to Disney world and then went to Disneyland tell me their opinions on it? Thanks a ton!

We LOVE Disneyland!

We much prefer WDW to DL because there is so much more to do for so
many days at the Florida parks,



BUT...



Many of the attractions shared with WDW are a bit

"better" at DL.



Pirates, Fantasmic!, Space Mtn., just to name a few.



Indiana Jones ride is one of the best Disney creations

in the US parks (with, by far, the best queue.)



And, the fireworks show at DL may be the BEST, most elaborate and creative

fireworks show ever designed.

There's "World of Color" evening spectacular that runs at DCA.


And, DCA offer "Cars Land" which is spectacular!
Yes, DL can be crowded most any day of the year.

One more thing. WALT spent a lot of time there.
He loved that park.

DL is special for that reason alone!

Lots more, but that's a thumbnail from me.

Take a look at-
DLR for WDW Veterans by HydroGuy
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[DanBoris]

If you are a Disney fan then I highly recommend checking out Disneyland. I am a big WDW fan but really enjoyed the trip to DL a couple years ago. There are a lot of things at DL that we don't have at WDW and even the things that are duplicated, Pirates for example, have differences between the two resorts. Beyond all this there is the simple fact that you are vising Walt's original park. Here are just a few great things at DL that we don't have at WDW:

Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye
Radiator Springs Racers and Carsland in general
World of Color
Matterhorn
Paint the Night Parade
Mr Toad's Wild Ride

not to mention the ability to get around the entire resort without every having to get on a bus!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have only been once long ago. I would totally revisit when it works for our budget and travel plans. (It is literally across the country for us, so quite impractical at this time.)

 

[larryz]

Go before they implement the FP+ system.

 

[wdwlver]

Love Disneyland, would recommend a trip there to any wdw fan. When we go we usually spend several days there (we like Disneyland hotel) then we go explore Southern California. So so much to do. One of our fave trips.

 

[sturner324]

We are Disney World fans and have been several times. In 2013 we did the repositioning cruise to LA and ended it with a few nights at Disneyland. I LOVED it. People always ask which I like better and I can't choose. My answer is I love them both for different reasons. Here are some of the things I loved about Disneyland:

- Haunted Mansion holiday overlay (we went in September) AMAZING
- Mickey and the Magical Map and Fantasy Faire shows (WDW magic kingdom is really lacking in shows)
- I personally love the cute smaller castle and feel of Main Street. I can't explain it. I prefer to like them both!
- New Orleans Square - just really cool and lovely. Love the different exteriors to pirates and haunted mansion
- I love the way everything looks around fantasyland, and the storybook canal boats with the Casey junior train (I hope I'm naming everything right)... It was all so charming.
- I love WDW fantasmic already, but I love that DL version is a bit different (supposedly better?)
- loved the Halloween carnival at big thunder ranch. I think they do seasonal things back there, but we got to mingle with the characters in Halloween costumes. It's was so casual and fun!
- Disneyland Hotel. I know everyone says it isn't important to stay onsite, but I thought this may be my one and only trip... So I splurged. I'm SO glad because the Disneyland hotel may be one of my favorite Disney resorts I've stayed. Again, it's hard to explain the why's, but I just loved it.
- Carsland. I'm sure you've read all about it. It's great and beautiful and fun. We watched the lighting ceremony in the evening and it was cute with the song and everything.
- Aladdin show - we really enjoyed this.
- loved the Newsboys or whatever the Mickey trolley show is called at DCA. "Suitcase and a Dream" gets stuck in my head sometimes.
- World of Color
- loved walking through downtown Disney to get to the parks and how easily you can park hop.

I'm sure I'm missing some things, but I loved it all! I miss it and want to get back soon! If you're a fan of WDW Magic Kingdom, you'll love Disneyland park. If you think you'll miss some of the other WDW things... Disneyland fits more into their small spaces so that they may have equal or more total attractions between the two parks compared to WDW four. There is less walking and lots to see and do. I think a big part is the perspective you bring to it. If you go with an open mind and don't expect a clone of WDW, you'll enjoy it.

 

[larryz]

We are Disney World fans and have been several times. In 2013 we did the repositioning cruise to LA and ended it with a few nights at Disneyland. I LOVED it. People always ask which I like better and I can't choose. My answer is I love them both for different reasons. Here are some of the things I loved about Disneyland:

- Haunted Mansion holiday overlay (we went in September) AMAZING
- Mickey and the Magical Map and Fantasy Faire shows (WDW magic kingdom is really lacking in shows)
- I personally love the cute smaller castle and feel of Main Street. I can't explain it. I prefer to like them both!
- New Orleans Square - just really cool and lovely. Love the different exteriors to pirates and haunted mansion
- I love the way everything looks around fantasyland, and the storybook canal boats with the Casey junior train (I hope I'm naming everything right)... It was all so charming.
- I love WDW fantasmic already, but I love that DL version is a bit different (supposedly better?)
- loved the Halloween carnival at big thunder ranch. I think they do seasonal things back there, but we got to mingle with the characters in Halloween costumes. It's was so casual and fun!
- Disneyland Hotel. I know everyone says it isn't important to stay onsite, but I thought this may be my one and only trip... So I splurged. I'm SO glad because the Disneyland hotel may be one of my favorite Disney resorts I've stayed. Again, it's hard to explain the why's, but I just loved it.
- Carsland. I'm sure you've read all about it. It's great and beautiful and fun. We watched the lighting ceremony in the evening and it was cute with the song and everything.
- Aladdin show - we really enjoyed this.
- loved the Newsboys or whatever the Mickey trolley show is called at DCA. "Suitcase and a Dream" gets stuck in my head sometimes.
- World of Color
- loved walking through downtown Disney to get to the parks and how easily you can park hop.

I'm sure I'm missing some things, but I loved it all! I miss it and want to get back soon! If you're a fan of WDW Magic Kingdom, you'll love Disneyland park. If you think you'll miss some of the other WDW things... Disneyland fits more into their small spaces so that they may have equal or more total attractions between the two parks compared to WDW four. There is less walking and lots to see and do. I think a big part is the perspective you bring to it. If you go with an open mind and don't expect a clone of WDW, you'll enjoy it.

And I like some of the food options better...

 

[sturner324]

Ah yes, food! I meant to mention that too.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

I am a huge WDW fan. We went to Disneyland for a change last year and it was great. Cars land at ca was unbelievable. I always love fantasmic but it was even more incredible at land. Make sure to eat at blue bayou inside pirates. It was wonderful to see the vision Walt had so many years ago. He difinitely didnt know the impact he was going to make in the world.

 

[Robo]

I am a huge WDW fan. We went to Disneyland for a change last year and it was great.

1. Cars land at ca was unbelievable.
2. I always love fantasmic but it was even more incredible at land.
3. Make sure to eat at blue bayou inside pirates.
4. It was wonderful to see the vision Walt had so many years ago.
5. He difinitely didnt know the impact he was going to make in the world.

1. Agree.
2. Agree.
3. Agree.
4. Agree
5. Agree!

 

[Ambear]

Definitely, but I want to try ALL disney parks haha. Disneyland is fun. It's just a different total vacation experience if you're used to spending a week onsite at wdw cause DL just isn't as insular.

The food is better at DL. Quickservice anyway. Indiana Jones is fun though I like dinosaur better cause dinosaurs, but I wish they'd bring Indiana Jones to wdw anyway. I like space mountains car better. But I dislike splash mountains car. The matter horn is a great little coaster. Dca used to suck but apparently cars land has made it better so I'm excited to try that the next time I'm out there. It also seems to be a less stressful day just cause it's so much smaller. Spend a couple days there and I don't think you'll feel like you missed anything which can happen at wdw with high crowds and stuff.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I am a huge Disney World fan as I'm sure most of you are! Recently, I've been thinking of going to Disneyland for the Diamond Celebration. I've done my research, and I know Disneyland is MUCH smaller, etc. Can someone who always went to Disney world and then went to Disneyland tell me their opinions on it? Thanks a ton!

This is definitely the year to go to DLR! I recommend reading HydroGuy's thread "A DLR Guide for WDW vets.". DLR is my favorite Disney park. Yes, it is smaller, bit there is still so much to do. The size actually makes the trip a bit more enjoyable as everything is much more walkable than WDW. Park hopping is a 5 min walk across the esplanade! There are good neighbor hotels that are 1/4 the price of wdw deluxe hotels that are c
walking distance to the turnstiles. You do lose a bit od the immersion factor when you leave the parks, but I have always felt very immersed within the parks and dtd.

Basically, DLR is different than WDW, and they are both amazing, unique experiences!

 

[larryz]

Park hopping is a 5 min walk across the esplanade!

And the California Downtown Disney is just five minutes' walk to the West as well!

 

[yensidisney]

Wow!!! Thank you everyone for all the responses!!! These threads are making me want to go even more! any suggestions on the best Disneyland Hotels? I will likely be staying on property if I go.

 

[Robo]

Wow!!! Thank you everyone for all the responses!!! These threads are making me want to go even more! any suggestions on the best Disneyland Hotels? I will likely be staying on property if I go.

Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.
(That sliver of lighted attraction you see in the top right of the photo is Disney California Adventure park... the GC Hotel has it's own entrance/exit directly to DCA.)




No need to look any further.

Click HERE.

 

[khertz]

We are huge WDW fans, but there is just something about Disneyland that all Disney fans simply have to experience! We went for the first time as a family in 2012, and that same year, DH and I went back for our anniversary weekend just the two of us (we had Premier passes). We just went again this past March with DS who is now 4.5 years old, and he keeps asking when are we going back. I even told him about our upcoming WDW trip in October, and he still wants to go back to DL instead! World of Color is amazing, and worth the trip out to CA in itself. We were so bummed after booking our trip and then hearing about all of the great new things they have planned for the 60th anniversary that we would be missing out on, but we couldn't change our dates. We can't wait to go back!!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Wow!!! Thank you everyone for all the responses!!! These threads are making me want to go even more! any suggestions on the best Disneyland Hotels? I will likely be staying on property if I go.

I would check out the 7 in 7+ that the DIS Unplugged team did for Disneyland. They reviewed each of the onsite Disney hotels, as well as 4 offsite hotels. After watching those, I would probably choose the Disneyland Hotel if I were going to stay onsite. They have great video overviews of the hotels, though, so definitely check them out!

 

[cigar95]

I drive past DL at least 6 days a week, but I haven't been since 2006. You guys are convincing me it's time to go back.

 

[larryz]

We are huge WDW fans, but there is just something about Disneyland that all Disney fans simply have to experience!

Exactly! It's like being transported back to the mother ship.