Disneyland Yes or No

[minnie mum]

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.

For sure check out the link given by a PP for an overview of the DLR resorts. Personally, I won't spend that kind of $$$$. And while I won't stay at a value resort at WDW, I have no problem staying at one of the motels across the street on Harbour Blvd. The DLR forum has a couple of threads on these as well as links to maps showing the surrounding hotels.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Go! Go! Go!

You will not regret it!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been to WDW about 40+ times since '99. Finally got to DLR last Dec....didn't go to WDW for the first time in 11 yrs!!! I really can't say too much about it because it rained both days we were there!! Torrential rain!! I loved what I saw though. Enough so that I'm heading back the weekend after Thanksgiving. My friend and I are staying at the Grand Californian from Sat to Tuesday..then to an airport hotel Tuesday night, and flying to WDW Wednesday morning!! Will be there for a week! Can't wait to get back to DLR, hopefully without the rain, and be able to make some better comparisons.

 

[Robo]

For sure check out the link given by a PP for an overview of the DLR resorts. Personally, I won't spend that kind of $$$$. And while I won't stay at a value resort at WDW, I have no problem staying at one of the motels across the street on Harbour Blvd. The DLR forum has a couple of threads on these as well as links to maps showing the surrounding hotels.

Speaking as the "PP," I'd never spend the kind of money it takes to reserve rooms at Grand Californian, myself, but I've spent some time there during the day.

 

[Robo]

I've been to WDW about 40+ times since '99. Finally got to DLR last Dec....didn't go to WDW for the first time in 11 yrs!!! I really can't say too much about it because it rained both days we were there!! Torrential rain!! I loved what I saw though. Enough so that I'm heading back the weekend after Thanksgiving. My friend and I are staying at the Grand Californian from Sat to Tuesday..then to an airport hotel Tuesday night, and flying to WDW Wednesday morning!! Will be there for a week! Can't wait to get back to DLR, hopefully without the rain, and be able to make some better comparisons.

Don't say that too loudly when you get there.
(They sorely need rain, and lots of it.)

Regardless, even without the drought, I doubt that you'd have any significant rain at this time of year in CA.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Don't say that too loudly when you get there.
(They sorely need rain, and lots of it.)

Regardless, even without the drought, I doubt that you'd have any significant rain at this time of year in CA.

Apparently they are predicting a bad el Nino year, which may bring a lot of (needed) rain this fall. There is a thread about it on the DLR board.

 

[PetePanMan]

We have been to DL and WDW many times. We love WDW because of the size, additional options (eg water parks) and total immersion in another world. Having said this, DL really is an awesome park. We prefer to DL to MK - Yes, the castle is way smaller and less spectacular but there is just something about the original.

Some highlights (most of which have already been mentioned by others): Indiana Jones (don't believe AK Dinosaur is better - not even close), Fantasmic (right on water fronting tom sawyers island - far better IMO than DS version), world of color show at DCA (unbelievable show which I suspect new AK water show will build from), Pirates (and Blue Bayou restaurant), Space Mt., Carsland (and just closeness of the 2 parks with DtD between them), teacup ride (with trees and lanterns), Cali Sreamin (great roller coaster) etc.. Oh, btw....it still has regular fast passes!

If you can afford it, stay at one of the 3 Disney hotels - it does help with the immersion aspect.

Last point, although there is fair amount of urban sprawl in area, California weather (generally speaking) is awesome (far more comfortable than Florida and get this, no afternoon thunderstorms on summer afternoons!), there are great beaches, and many other things to do (Hollywood, show tapings etc.).

Have great time if you decide to go.

 

[Planogirl]

We were very pleasantly surprised by Disneyland and that was before the redo of California Adventure. It was extremely fun and very charming and to me more "magical" than WDW. WDW has it beat due to size but other than that I see the original Disneyland park as the best US park.

Plus you can't beat being a short drive away from some wonderful beaches and other sights. I'd love to go back someday.

 

[OFF2NVRLAND]

Yes! When I had family in California we visited Disneyland every trip. We love it! I could ride Matterhorn all day. Mr. Toad, New Orleans Square, the Indiana Jones Ride and so much to see that is not at Disney World. My favorite place to eat is the restaurant inside Pirates, Blue Bayou.
Unfortunately for me, without family to visit I don't see DL in our future for a very long time. I think everyone should go once

 

[L&Lfan]

We love Disneyland and try to get out there every few years. We love the Disneyland Hotel but our favorite is the Grand Californian with a theme park view of DCA!

 

[skuttle]

Love reading everyone's thoughts! We hope to get to DL one day, but waiting for our youngest to be tall enough to ride everything (he's almost 3yo) since it'll probably be a one-time trip for us! Then sometimes I think, when he's tall enough for the matterhorn we'll go. LOL! I'm anxious, and our oldest DS is almost 12yo so I hate to keep him waiting!

 

[Bluegrrl]

Ohhh...we loved it! It's so cool and different that WDW, in many many ways!

1. Dole Whip stand is by the Tiki Birds and you can bring your whips into the attraction (Tiki birds was originally going to be a restauant, but everyone watched the birds instead of eating!
2.Pirates, HM, and Small World are all completely different than WDW. I won't say better because that's not fair; they are just different with their own charms.
3. Indy Jones. Now that is truly cool, and I kinda wish that DHS would rip out the stunt show and put Indy there instead. It's the best!
4. New Orleans square!!! I spent nearly all my time there - it was so cool. Loved sitting outdoors, listening to the jazz band play and people watching!
5. The food in general. The QS is mainly served cafeteria-style which threw me for a loop! But I really liked it! Instead of fighting to get in line, getting behind people who are all like "uhh, what are you getting? Umm, I don't know." I was able to move quickly, get my food and get out, leaving those type of people behind.
6. Downtown Disney! The music, the dancing (that actually attracts locals! We saw a swing band and a salsa band and they both had lots of people dancing out there)

Oh, there are so many more reasons (nemo ride, Mr. Toad, Snow White) I can't count them all! Do treat yourself to the Disneyland hotel. It is quite nice. Be aware that you will most likely get a great view of the parking lot! Oh, and the castle is really small. Laughably small. And the layout of the park is very confusing to say the least. But that's the charm. Lots of things are small there - Main Street, the Castle, and Star Tours. But it's charming. I have heard it said that WDW is the cubic zircornia, but DL is the diamond. There's some truth there. WDW is big and flashy, just like a cubic (not to say is isn't nice, just flashy) But there is some beautiful charm to DL.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

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!!

How funny, I also have a four year old who keeps talking about going back to Disneyland and we just got back from WDW.

 

[Lynzer4]

World of Color is one of the best night shows (ok the best in my opinion) that Disney has created. LOVED IT. And Cars land is amazing. I went over thanksgiving while I was in LA visiting my cousin. I will go back for sure.

I wouldn't just plan a DL trip like I do for WDW but it's great to go to DL but know you don't need a week plus to visit. 3 days will be more then enough to see everything so I wouldn't just plan for a DL trip. I would plan to see LA and/ or San Deigo also.

It's nice that you can stay in hotels and walk to the park unlike WDW.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

How are the likes for characters there???

I wanna see

Mickey Minnie Goofy Donald
Captain America and Thor

Only because you can't see the fab 4 in The Magic Kingdom without that awful magician attire...

 

[ichabody]

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.

This is one of the best write ups I've ever read for a WDW fan visiting Disneyland. Thanks for sharing...I agree with just about everything you've said, except I have to say that Fantasmic is a bit more entertaining at Disneyland. When the sailing ship Columbia appears after that stirring cannon shot and you see Peter Pan and Capt Hook fighting while jumping around on the ropes, it's just...well...WOW!!

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 suggest the Disneyland Hotel if you can swing it. It's just a magical place that oozes Disney history...the pool is fantastic and the onsite eating establishments are great (Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam's are not to be missed!!). Definitely splurge if you think this is a once in a lifetime trip.

 

[sturner324]

I agree with just about everything you've said, except I have to say that Fantasmic is a bit more entertaining at Disneyland. When the sailing ship Columbia appears after that stirring cannon shot and you see Peter Pan and Capt Hook fighting while jumping around on the ropes, it's just...well...WOW!!

You are right. I do agree, that scene especially is very superior to the WDW version! And I had a seat on the ground pretty close to the water. It was amazing how big and in your face that scene was. Simply amazing! I just feel for WDW's fantasmic getting hate when compared to DL, because I still love it, lol. But yes, many things about the show are superior and cannot be missed at DL. I want to go back now!

 

[Lumiere Lover]

I feel special being quoted by Robo. That made my week.