DL Crowds Seem Genuinely Happier

[quantumottle]

I grew up visiting WDW, but got to take my first DL trip last month. No, this isn't one of those full-blown DL vs WDW comparison threads. All I'll say on that is: While WDW may have the size...DL by far has the substance. (Our MK in Fla will from here on out seem 2nd-rate ). But I'll talk about that more in my trip report.

But one thing we noticed was the behavior of the crowds at both DL park and DCA. Maybe we hit on a good week...maybe it was due to the holidays...but you West Coast-er's seem genuinely happier than the crowds we are used to in Orlando. I'm not saying WDW guests are unhappy by any means. The Orlando crowds just seem more rushed, sometimes "fake" happy if that makes any sense. It's hard to describe and I cannot pick out individual circumstances to illustrate this. I go to WDW every year, but never have I seen so many grown-ups relaxed and letting their inner child free than I did while visiting DL park. It was like "we've got a whole day on a playground...and we're gonna make every second count." Whereas in Orlando it's more like..."I paid good $$$ for this, so I'd BETTER get a good view of the fireworks."

And something else I noticed. When I hold the door for people..you West-Coast'ers say those two appreciated words "Thank You". It was a pleasant shock. If I had a nickel for everytime I was at a park in Orlando...held a door open for someone..and they gave me a silent look as if they expected this gesture for their holiness.

So hats off to you West-Coast DISer's. Your behavior & attitude I witnessed while visiting DLR really helped bring out my inner child as well...and your genuine happiness DID rub off! Kudos. Walt's original park truely is the happiest place on earth!

THANK YOU !!!!
I have been saying this for a couple years now on the WDW forums, of course nobody understands what I'm talking about. For me, the experience was the other way around. When my family visited WDW we could not believe the rudeness and thoughtlessness we saw on a regular basis - and sadly, this includes the castmembers.

I actually witnessed two different physical attacks at WDW, one that lead to a full on fist fight. I myself could have come to blows with the husband of a woman that ran over my wife with a stroller. I saw a woman change a dirty diaper on a restaurant table. I've seen castmebers yell at guests, yes, in their face, and another time a castmember told a lady to "wait a sec" while she was placing a food order so the CM could answer her cell phone. I could go on with several other incredible examples... I cannot imagine any of these things ever happening at DL.

I do not know if it has to do with location or not, I have another theory that would probably sound mean spirited so I'll keep it to myself, but it is certainly good to read that someone else is able to see this mazing difference in the parks.

 

[suzannen]

I have been to Disneyland 3 times (once in peak season July at the launch of Splash mountain) and WDW once in March around spring breaks but we missed most of the schools spring breaks.

We fell in love with Florida. We are nature people and it had lots of it still. But we definetly found the parks a little more exhausting than at DL. It felt as though we could not survive a park without a plan.

In DL you can still wing it and see mostly everything (note I have yet to experience the California Park).

In March at WDW the heat was incredible. In MARCH! The tempurature made a huge difference in the day and the experience. And by lunch time at WDW the crowds were incredible. We had to leave after lunch for a daily break to hold your sanity.

DL we have never left mid day. Even when crowds are heavy they have been comfortable (only exceptions are after parades etc).

So although we love both parks and would go back to either for totally difference reasons, my theory is that WDW can overwhelm a lot more travellers. Especially if they did not plan ahead.

I do think all of this at WDW - the crowds, the heat, the longer distances to walk - plays into it. I'm a New Yorker who goes to both, but always come away from WDW exhausted and feeling like the immense pre-planning and trying to keep to a schedule is just so much work. I think it makes folks a little 'Grumpy.' While at DL, except for a few special dinner reservations (Napa Rose), we do almost no planning, keep a really loose schedule, and end up feeling so relaxed - it seems like a real vacation. Add to that the beautiful weather, it's no wonder everyone is so happy!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I love this point of view because what you often hear people say is "DLR is a trip, but WDW is a vacation". I have always thought was kind of silly as most people coming back from WDW NEED a vacation!
How people approach either location is what makes the difference between a trip and a vacation, but DLR lends itself to a more relaxing mentality.

 

[azdisneylover]

It's very hard to be in a sour mood when you are in the "Happiest Place on the Earth". Knowing that every little detail you see was thought out by Walt or someone who was with Walt at the time! Walking through the magical history of Disneyland is amazing! The weather, awesome. Sure, Florida gets sunny skies, but it also gets humidity along with it. California doesn't get as humid as Florida. The West in general has a laid back mentality and enjoy the little things,
the details that are put into little things.
It is easier to shovel sunshine than it is to shovel snow! Some people are born grumpy! (I have a sister who I think was and she is a CA native! LOL) It could also be more people on this side of the States look for the glass half full, than half empty, eat more fruits and veggies, and are pet owners.

 

[dollarmite]

In November my family spent 2 weeks at WDW, followed by 2 weeks at DLR.

We enjoyed WDW far more than DLR. It seemed much more relaxed to us, and we found the employees in general to be much more pleasant and friendly. Most of the other visitors we encountered seemed very relaxed and friendly too.

DH and I constantly made comments at DLR at how rude and less friendly the people seemed, particulalry the employees, in comparison to WDW.

We also visited New York on this trip, and as usual, were struck by how friendly and nice most people were.

 

[jbrule]

I grew up visiting WDW, but got to take my first DL trip last month. No, this isn't one of those full-blown DL vs WDW comparison threads. All I'll say on that is: While WDW may have the size...DL by far has the substance. (Our MK in Fla will from here on out seem 2nd-rate ). But I'll talk about that more in my trip report.

But one thing we noticed was the behavior of the crowds at both DL park and DCA. Maybe we hit on a good week...maybe it was due to the holidays...but you West Coast-er's seem genuinely happier than the crowds we are used to in Orlando. I'm not saying WDW guests are unhappy by any means. The Orlando crowds just seem more rushed, sometimes "fake" happy if that makes any sense. It's hard to describe and I cannot pick out individual circumstances to illustrate this. I go to WDW every year, but never have I seen so many grown-ups relaxed and letting their inner child free than I did while visiting DL park. It was like "we've got a whole day on a playground...and we're gonna make every second count." Whereas in Orlando it's more like..."I paid good $$$ for this, so I'd BETTER get a good view of the fireworks."

And something else I noticed. When I hold the door for people..you West-Coast'ers say those two appreciated words "Thank You". It was a pleasant shock. If I had a nickel for everytime I was at a park in Orlando...held a door open for someone..and they gave me a silent look as if they expected this gesture for their holiness.

So hats off to you West-Coast DISer's. Your behavior & attitude I witnessed while visiting DLR really helped bring out my inner child as well...and your genuine happiness DID rub off! Kudos. Walt's original park truely is the happiest place on earth!

Maybe we have hit a bad week then! I have said to my husband over and over how much ruder people are here a DL then when we were at WDW last year. It's not just guests, it's cast members as well. Maybe it's because of NAMM, I don't know but I have been very disappointed

 

[disney-inspired]

This is such a lovely post (maybe I'm biased )
I attribute it to the weather and the entertainment to size ratio. Disneyland may be smaller than MK but I believe it gives more. I also think people don't feel so overwhelmed here since the DLR is smaller than WDW so they don't panic about fitting everything into their trip.

 

[Ashlotte]

I think the fact that DLR is so much smaller is helpful. They can be more selective when hiring because there are less CM positions to fill. We went to WDW last year and we did note that some of the CMs were less than magical compared to DLR.

I did encounter an incredibly rude CM at DL, though. I was getting off of the Canal boats and apparently someone had left an empty bag on the boat. I guess he decided it was mine and turned to me and said in a very demeaning way, "So, are you going to pick your trash up?" The way he said it was so rude and embarrassing, like he was shaming me and the bag wasn't even mine! I felt like I had been scolded in front of a bunch of strangers.

 

[Blue dear.]

I was getting off of the Canal boats and apparently someone had left an empty bag on the boat. I guess he decided it was mine and turned to me and said in a very demeaning way, "So, are you going to pick your trash up?" The way he said it was so rude and embarrassing, like he was shaming me and the bag wasn't even mine! I felt like I had been scolded in front of a bunch of strangers.

OMG! What did you say? I wonder if he'd just had a really bad day and you happened to be his "last straw." This kinds of stuff can happen anywhere though... I was in Hawaii on an elevator with my dad who had just freaked out at our hotel maid (LOOONG story) and we were really tense and trying to make a helicopter ride appointment and the elevator stopped. I went to get off thinking it was the parking garage, but it turned out to be a guy getting on from another floor. In my HEAD, I said, "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon" rushing him to get on so we could be on our way - but apparently I actually SAID THIS to the guy! I wasn't even THINKING, seriously. I was so flustered with my dad, it just came out. My dad looked at me in shock, the guy turned to me and said something like "I'm on vacation. Don't talk to me that way just because you're having a crappy time." And I looked at him totally flabberghasted and my dad suddenly turned on the guy and totally blew up at him for "talking to my daughter that way" blah blah blah and the next thing you know, I'm trying to get my dad off of this guy - IN HAWAII no less!!

It totally ruined our day. And it was a family vacation for my dad bacause he just found out a few months earlier that he had cancer and didn't have long to live. He was on painkillers, and chemo, and he was totally messed up.

Sooooooo, long story short... (TOO LATE ) You never know what's going on with people when they snap like that. It's hard, but I always try to give them the benefit of the doubt. <---- ha

 

[Ashlotte]

OMG! What did you say? I wonder if he'd just had a really bad day and you happened to be his "last straw."

It totally ruined our day. And it was a family vacation for my dad bacause he just found out a few months earlier that he had cancer and didn't have long to live. He was on painkillers, and chemo, and he was totally messed up.

Sooooooo, long story short... (TOO LATE ) You never know what's going on with people when they snap like that. It's hard, but I always try to give them the benefit of the doubt. <---- ha

I picked it up and threw it away and mumbled something like, "It isn't even mine!" I am not one for confrontation, though, so I just stewed about it for 10 minutes and forgot about until now when reading the posts about DL CMs being nicer .

So sorry about your dad. Both my parents and MIL died of cancer, so I have seen how miserable the treatments make people feel and the stress is causes on everyone in the family. I hope some of the vacation was fun, though

 

[drag n' fly]

Going to WDW is monumental in size, task and effort. Combine that with heat and humidity and you have a lot more cranky people.

When we went in October it was 90% humidity and 105f almost every day at WDW. Fortunately we have been enough times we could pace ourselves. Imagine being a newbie or having to haul around young children on and off buses and through parks with strollers and baby gear. The sheer size of trying to tackle that would make even the nicest family miserable without careful planning and realistic expectations. The cultural makeup of the parks is much different also.
For the most part people who go to DL are just a little more go with the flow and have a whole lot less crap to deal with when doing Disneyland.

It definitely makes for happier park people. You still have the tools and noobs at both parks but maybe just less of them at DL

 

[sters]

I grew up visiting WDW, but got to take my first DL trip last month. No, this isn't one of those full-blown DL vs WDW comparison threads. All I'll say on that is: While WDW may have the size...DL by far has the substance. (Our MK in Fla will from here on out seem 2nd-rate ). But I'll talk about that more in my trip report.

But one thing we noticed was the behavior of the crowds at both DL park and DCA. Maybe we hit on a good week...maybe it was due to the holidays...but you West Coast-er's seem genuinely happier than the crowds we are used to in Orlando. I'm not saying WDW guests are unhappy by any means. The Orlando crowds just seem more rushed, sometimes "fake" happy if that makes any sense. It's hard to describe and I cannot pick out individual circumstances to illustrate this. I go to WDW every year, but never have I seen so many grown-ups relaxed and letting their inner child free than I did while visiting DL park. It was like "we've got a whole day on a playground...and we're gonna make every second count." Whereas in Orlando it's more like..."I paid good $$$ for this, so I'd BETTER get a good view of the fireworks."

And something else I noticed. When I hold the door for people..you West-Coast'ers say those two appreciated words "Thank You". It was a pleasant shock. If I had a nickel for everytime I was at a park in Orlando...held a door open for someone..and they gave me a silent look as if they expected this gesture for their holiness.

So hats off to you West-Coast DISer's. Your behavior & attitude I witnessed while visiting DLR really helped bring out my inner child as well...and your genuine happiness DID rub off! Kudos. Walt's original park truely is the happiest place on earth!

ReallY? I found just the opposite. I grew up in Disneyland and have made several trips to WDW as an adult. It seems that DL caters to locals with a lot of day trippers, particularly teenagers whereas WDW caters to families on vacation for a week or more. I find teenagers on the whole were ruder than the families, excepting of course those annoying POP Warner packs circulating WDW in early December.

 

[ebtbmom]

I just returned from my first DLR vacation on Friday, and I have to say that I felt happier and more relaxed when I was there than when I am at WDW. I think it's the size and scope of the place.

At WDW we NEVER take a break at the hotel in the afternoon because it's so spread out that I feel like it would waste a ton of our precious time. At DLR (we were at DLH) it was so easy to take the monorail or cut through GC that we took an afternoon break nearly everyday and still got to do every ride that we wanted to do, BTMR at least 4 times!

Of course, it was a really slow week (10-15) and we walked on SM, PotC, BLAB, and many others, only BTMR, TSMM, and PP had waits, and those waits were no longer than 20 minutes. I am so excited to have discovered the wonder of DLR that I'll miss it a lot when we return to WDW (gotta see Harry Potter though!).

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

I grew up visiting WDW, but got to take my first DL trip last month. No, this isn't one of those full-blown DL vs WDW comparison threads. All I'll say on that is: .

But one thing we noticed was the behavior of the crowds at both DL park and DCA. Maybe we hit on a good week...maybe it was due to the holidays...but you West Coast-er's seem genuinely happier than the crowds we are used to in Orlando.

So hats off to you West-Coast DISer's. Your behavior & attitude I witnessed while visiting DLR really helped bring out my inner child as well...and your genuine happiness DID rub off! Kudos. Walt's original park truely is the happiest place on earth!

As a West Coaster and Disneyland lover who made my first visit to DW in 2005, I've said the same thing myself! It really is the happiest place on earth!