DL as "magical" as WDW?

[mom2rtk]

Shame on you! You forgot the most improtant of all: People Mover

Last trip Katie just couldn't get over how tiny the castle was. This year it was the People Mover that kept getting her attention. She kept pointing out the old track to me every time she saw it. Regardless, having Earl of Sandwich so convenient to the monorail made her forget pretty quickly.

 

[Suvadoo]

Last trip Katie just couldn't get over how tiny the castle was. This year it was the People Mover. She kept pointing out the old track to me every time she saw it. Regardless, having Earl of Sandwich so convenient to the monorail made her forget pretty quickly.

Truly, the missing People Mover does bum me out, but then I think " no FP+" and my smile quickly returns!

 

[mom2rtk]

Truly, the missing People Mover does bum me out, but then I think " no FP+" and my smile quickly returns!

Oh yeah, absolutely!

We got SO much done last week with FP. We even got to ride Radiator Springs Racers with FP twice in one day.

And I'm just kidding about the Earl of Sandwich thing (mostly). It's the park experience we both prefer at DLR.

 

[jade1]

Honestly, I love DLR for what it is. It doesn't need to be the same as WDW to be just as magical. I absolutely would stop Disney from adding 27 resorts to DLR. I *love* the fact that DLR is smaller than WDW. I love being able to walk from park to park in 5 minutes, as opposed to being on a bus for 30 mins or more (or the monorail).

Like I said-no argument then.

Lets hope they never add a 3rd park.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Like I said-no argument then.

Lets hope they never add a 3rd park.

I don't have an issue with them opening a third gate, necessarily, I just don't think they need to attempt to duplicate WDW at DLR. DLR is a unique experience right now, and I think it should remain so. I don't need to see Epcot or AK at DLR If they do a 3rd gate, I hope it's something where they can incorporate Marvel (something WDW can't do).

 

[wisblue]

Oh yeah, absolutely!

We got SO much done last week with FP. We even got to ride Radiator Springs Racers with FP twice in one day.

And I'm just kidding about the Earl of Sandwich thing (mostly). It's the park experience we both prefer at DLR.

In this regard I envy people who have the flexibility to visit DLR at low crowd times. On the crowd level 10 days when we will be visiting in 2 weeks a couple of advance FP reservations would come in handy.

At least we have our seats for the Rose Parade.

 

[jade1]

I don't have an issue with them opening a third gate, necessarily, I just don't think they need to attempt to duplicate WDW at DLR. DLR is a unique experience right now, and I think it should remain so. I don't need to see Epcot or AK at DLR If they do a 3rd gate, I hope it's something where they can incorporate Marvel (something WDW can't do).

Those were examples of making it "bigger is better"-glad you agree after all.

I like your bigger is better example with Marvel as well.

 

[Suvadoo]

Oh yeah, absolutely!

We got SO much done last week with FP. We even got to ride Radiator Springs Racers with FP twice in one day.

And I'm just kidding about the Earl of Sandwich thing (mostly). It's the park experience we both prefer at DLR.

Isn't it great that DTD is within walking distance (or riding distance of DLR)? Did you visit Tortilla Joe's? I love their guacamole!
Now for the critical question: were the restrooms clean in the parks? I love the restroom near Alice in Wonderland, where all the stall doors are playing cards! I know I' m weird, but I just think DLR is fabulous! I also love being able to get a walk in at a TS restaurant and get seated.. Yeah, for no ADR's 60 days out!

 

[Coffee50]

I don't have an issue with them opening a third gate, necessarily, I just don't think they need to attempt to duplicate WDW at DLR. DLR is a unique experience right now, and I think it should remain so. I don't need to see Epcot or AK at DLR If they do a 3rd gate, I hope it's something where they can incorporate Marvel (something WDW can't do).

If they add a 3rd gate, I don't think they would duplicate any of the parks at WDW.

DCA somewhat cemented they were (are) going for something different at DLR. I feel if they were going to duplicate a WDW park, DCA would have been Epcot (or Westcot). All 4 of the WDW parks were already opened before DCA, so they could have easily copied one of those for the 2nd gate if they wanted to.

I do think Marvel (& possibly Star Wars) could be incorporated in a potential 3rd gate!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Those were examples of making it "bigger is better"-glad you agree after all.

I like your bigger is better example with Marvel as well.

I didn't say bigger was better. I said I didn't necessarily have a problem with it. That's a far cry from saying bigger is better. A 3rd gate doesn't automatically equal better.

I was honest about what I said. I love DLR as it is. I love that it is *different* from WDW. They could not do anything to expand the resort, and I'd still love going there. I don't see it as a lesser vacation spot than WDW, even as it is now with 2 gates.

 

[Angel Ariel]

If they add a 3rd gate, I don't think they would duplicate any of the parks at WDW.

DCA somewhat cemented they were (are) going for something different at DLR. I feel if they were going to duplicate a WDW park, DCA would have been Epcot (or Westcot). All 4 of the WDW parks were already opened before DCA, so they could have easily copied one of those for the 2nd gate if they wanted to.

I do think Marvel (& possibly Star Wars) could be incorporated in a potential 3rd gate!

My response was to someone else who wanted to know how people would feel/respond if Disney said they were going to add Epcot/AK/27 resorts to DLR.

Even adding a 3rd gate is not the same as adding all of what that person was proposing.

 

[cattywampus]

Shame on you! You forgot the most improtant of all: People Mover

That is so funny because after I hit submit, I actually thought that!

I do miss the people mover and we rode it several times while at WDW. I think it is actually better than the one we lost at DL -- it seems to have more "pep".

Not to date myself, but I also miss the skyway.

 

[Coffee50]

My response was to someone else who wanted to know how people would feel/respond if Disney said they were going to add Epcot/AK/27 resorts to DLR.

Even adding a 3rd gate is not the same as adding all of what that person was proposing.

Oh yes, I know. I was just chiming in on what you were saying .

I just quoted yours because it referenced Marvel!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Oh yes, I know. I was just chiming in on what you were saying .

I just quoted yours because it referenced Marvel!

 

[mom2rtk]

Isn't it great that DTD is within walking distance (or riding distance of DLR)? Did you visit Tortilla Joe's? I love their guacamole!
Now for the critical question: were the restrooms clean in the parks? I love the restroom near Alice in Wonderland, where all the stall doors are playing cards! I know I' m weird, but I just think DLR is fabulous! I also love being able to get a walk in at a TS restaurant and get seated.. Yeah, for no ADR's 60 days out!

Restrooms were fine! And yes, we saw the playing card doors near Alice for the first time!

We didn't get past Earl of Sandwich when we ate in DTD. We mostly ate in the parks since my list of places to try was still so long. We love love loved Carnation Café and ate there twice. We also had lunch at the Jolly Holiday Bakery for the first time. It was amazing and will now be a regular for us.

I loved that we could get into Carnation Café without a prior reservation. I also loved that we could get into the character breakfast a day ahead of our reservation just because we were hungry and had time that morning.

In this regard I envy people who have the flexibility to visit DLR at low crowd times. On the crowd level 10 days when we will be visiting in 2 weeks a couple of advance FP reservations would come in handy.

At least we have our seats for the Rose Parade.

Well, I'm sure Christmas week is its own beast. But there really is not a "low crowd" time at DLR any longer. Last Saturday the MouseWait app rated the crowd in DL at 90 out of 100. But I was still quite happy to be able to make decisions on the fly and pull traditional FPs. But I'm sure that doesn't surprise you.

 

[famy27]

Last trip Katie just couldn't get over how tiny the castle was. This year it was the People Mover that kept getting her attention. She kept pointing out the old track to me every time she saw it. Regardless, having Earl of Sandwich so convenient to the monorail made her forget pretty quickly.

You stole my EoS example: "Being able to park hop in a few minutes is great. We thought the food options were very good, and I loved being able to walk to Earl of Sandwich. EoS is the one thing I love at DTD in WDW, but DTD is so crowded that we never go."

Anywhere with EoS within 5 minutes works for me. I seriously go on their website at least once a month, hoping that they'll announce a Chicago location. Sadly, I have been disappointed thus far. Although it's probably a good thing for my waistline and bank account that I don't have one too close.

 

[mom2rtk]

You stole my EoS example: "Being able to park hop in a few minutes is great. We thought the food options were very good, and I loved being able to walk to Earl of Sandwich. EoS is the one thing I love at DTD in WDW, but DTD is so crowded that we never go."

Anywhere with EoS within 5 minutes works for me. I seriously go on their website at least once a month, hoping that they'll announce a Chicago location. Sadly, I have been disappointed thus far. Although it's probably a good thing for my waistline and bank account that I don't have one too close.

LOL, you and Katie should get together sometime. I have the feeling you would get along famously.

We have the same issue with EoS at WDW. We usually don't get a car, and it's just too much work to get to DTD just for a sandwich. To have it integrated into our park experience so closely at DLR is just perfect for us.

 

[Money82]

lol I guess I'm the weirdo that doesn't like Earl of Sandwich

 

[ethanwa]

The parks can be as magical, but with the following caveats. A really crowded day at DL is far more miserable than a really crowded day at WDW. There is only one other park to "hop" to if you want to get out of the Magic Kingdom, and the scale of DL is just so much smaller that when crowds build up past the queue areas that are designed to contain them, they spill out into walking areas that make it almost impossible to maneuver. It can feel like Times Square on New Year's Eve. Wall to wall people. I have experienced "typical" summer days at DL that felt like Code Red (or whatever they call it) days at WDW where they close the parks to additional guests. But an "uncrowded" day at DL is every bit as magical if not more so, when you are in the park.

But it cannot be underestimated what a huge difference there is when you are not in a park. DL has nothing there that can capture the magic of what you can do at WDW after hours and in addition to visiting theme parks. This is especially true when the parks have shorter hours. To us, there is no comparison between a day at WDW and a day at DL when the MK closes at 7:00. At DL, you fight legendary California traffic. At WDW, you go to any number of places to spend several more hours immersed in the magic. Staying on site at DL lessens the blow. But even still. The hotels there are "nice" hotels. But nothing like the theming of the Poly, or the Contemporary, or Animal Kingdom Lodge, or Port Orleans, just to name a few.

I agree with EVERYTHING you said in the post. Spot on.

I love DL, and it's magical, but just crammed into a MUCH smaller space.

Ethan

 

[mom2rtk]

lol I guess I'm the weirdo that doesn't like Earl of Sandwich

LOL, I knew there had to be one of you out there.

I love DL, and it's magical, but just crammed into a MUCH smaller space.

And my feet LOVE that about it.

Plus, I can make a dining reservation anywhere on the property and not be committed to being in a certain park for the day. I do think the size of WDW is very impressive. But I get frustrated with the inefficiency of getting from point A to point B.