DL or WDW for next trip?

[brenda1966]

Looking for opinions from anyone who has been to both recently. I'm trying to figure out which location to visit in March for Spring Break.

I'm trying to list pros and cons of each and still torn. We were last in WDW Fall of 2019. We were last in DL Spring of 2018. I consider myself a veteran planner but the covid changes and new level of planning required feels immense!

Pros to DL: shorter and cheaper flight, time change is less difficult, less tiring overall
Pros to WDW: more parks to visit, more Disney immersion

At DL we stay across the street on HArbor. At WDW we stay budget or moderate, so would do early entry, but no late extra hours.

Each location has two new rides to us (we rode Ratatoille in PAris, so it's not a must ride, but would be nice). DL has Web Slingers and RotR. WDW has Mickey and Minnie Railroad and RotR. I'm concerned about the difficulty I'm hearing of getting RotR at DL. Not sure if WDW is as difficult.

Party of Mom and adult daughter. Disneyland is probably my favorite park, but I do appreciate all that WDW has to offer. We like to do rides like BTMRR many times, so the new limits on Genie+ give me pause, but we will likely purchase it. And seriously, no Genie+ for Everest?!
Any comments or things we should consider are appreciated.

 

[barb969]

I would do DL. I have preferred DL since the 1st time I went to DW in 1974. Trouble is I am on the East coast So we usually go the Fla. I like the more compact area, no Disney transportation and usually better weather.

 

[Chickinvic]

I have always loved DL way more than WDW, so my vote is DL. However, I would probably be waiting a little longer to see how everything plays out with all the new systems in place.

 

[Disney0010]

I grew up in Florida and have been to WDW more times than I can count. We now live in So Cal but made a five night trip back to WDW in mid May. Overall we had a nice time but I’m in no hurry to go back to WDW any time soon.

We stayed at the Riviera Resort as the Contemporary was under full blown construction and we had to change lodging at the last minute. We quickly grew tired of each time that it rained or threatened a storm they shut the Skyliner down which meant switching to buses to get to HS or Epcot. Also, the bus wait times was horrible which we had to use to get to MK or AK. Several times we called Uber and took a hit on spending the money versus waiting in the mid 90 degree heat and high humidity. No issue with this as the DL parks are so close and much easier to get to. Especially when staying on site or across the street as you’re planning to do. We just find DL to be more intimate and easier to enjoy.

Also, we love Epcot but it was a major construction zone with walls all over the Future World area. To be fair that might not be an issue next year but it took away from our enjoyment.

During our entire stay we never were able to get a boarding group at ROR at HS. Last month we got a boarding group on both days at DL. Again WDW has done away with the boarding group and ROR is now standby.

Everyone is different but we grew tired of all of the walking and travel to the parks issues. We’re now spoiled by DL and the smaller footprint. Enjoy whichever park you choose and good luck.

 

[brenda1966]

Oh, I didn't know RotR is now standby only at WDW! I guess many will be forking over $$ to buy a ride through Genie+. I guess it makes sense with Genie+ now, so likely in March the virtual queue will be gone? This makes it even harder to plan in advance.

I just thought of another pro for WDW: the 50th celebration. I guess I need to look into what kind of nighttime fireworks, parade type of things are going on.

I appreciate all the thoughts as I try to work through this. I have a United airlines credit I have to use, so we will go to one or the other. And I feel like I need to get started planning now so that I can get park reservations and such in time.

 

[JoMarch]

I’ve been to WDW more times out of both parks. I’ve been to both DL and WDW recently.

I’d choose DL! You’ll accomplish a lot more.

 

[drmoore1976]

I can't speak to the experience myself at DL, but I've made the decision after a lot of research and advice from others to plan a trip for next August to DL, instead of WDW. The price difference is a major factor, but it wasn't something that was driving our decision; now that we are going, we will have a ton more spending money for dinners, drinks and shopping when we are there. You can stay across the street at a Harbor resort and be as close or closer than being on property. You can walk easily to both parks, go back to your hotel without a lot of effort and I know for our family, my wife will probably need to spend some time outside of the parks for work and it will be easy for her to meet up with us when she is ready for the parks in the morning or after a midday work session.

To me, the biggest two pros for DL over WDW are:
- Minimal travel/logistics to worry about once you are at your hotel. Walk to the park, walk between parks, walk to downtown disney, head to the hotel quick if you need a break or forgot something. You get more time in the parks and don't have to stress about when you should leave b/c you'll beat the rush.
- Weather in Southern Cal is amazing. I'm planning a mid-august trip and the weather in Florida, both the heat and the rain potential daily can wear on you over the course of a week and destroy an entire day.

I know we will miss Epcot and the countries, and some of the unique rides/attractions from WDW, but I really think my family and I will love a 5-6 day trip to DL and really be able to get our fill of Disney, where sometimes it will take 7-8 days at WDW and you feel like you still missed out on a bunch. Looking forward to tracking this column for more opinions. March in Florida I've never been, so I'm thinking the weather will not be terrible, but the crowds can be a little nuts if its a holiday/spring break week, so that would be a key thing to factor in.

 

[Dug720]

Have you even checked to see if there is availability at WDW for your dates in place you'd stay? It has been filling up extremely quickly - especially around break times (mid-Feb through the week after Easter is "rolling Spring Break" where there are almost always people on Spring Break.

 

[ktlm]

It is a hard choice. The WDW resort prices are currently ridiculous. The DLR crowds, procedures, and virtual queues are currently ridiculous. We stay deluxe at WDW. We were going to go to WDW last week for the 50th until I looked back at prior years and realized the package price they were charging me was $3,000 more than I had paid for the exact same category room on the same dates in 2019. A non-club room was $2,000 HIGHER than we paid for a club level room with the same view category in 2018 for the same dates. I was not interested in paying the increased and outrageous price to get less. We cancelled that and went to DLR last week instead.

At WDW, you would get to experience the 50th anniversary. Also, the restriction on hopping until 2:00 doesn't have too much of an impact because it is harder to hop there anyway as the parks are so spread out and it takes so much time to get from one to the other. Most people don't hop in the mornings. It does impact you being able to hop to another park for lunch if you can only get an ADR for something you want on a day when that is not your planned park.

We found that at DLR the restriction on hopping far more impacting, annoying and difficult than we had even anticipated. My DH, who never complains, wants me to write Disney about it and he has asked for the last 3 days that we have been back if I have done it yet. DLR is like one big park to a WDW person-- not being able to hop freely is not workable. It is extremely annoying when you are in a packed park and can see the other park is not that crowded and you can't hop over---- and when everyone really wants something at the other park for lunch, but you can't go get it. We found that was a huge hit on our trip and there is no reason for it now that APs (okay Magic Keys) are back. Locals book a reservation because they are required to and then show up at 2:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.--- there is no reason to restrict hopping in the morning.

If you have never experienced ROTR and that is a priority- based on my experience last week if the Virtual Queue at DLR doesn't go away then hands down pick WDW. The Virtual Queue/Boarding group is a fiasco when the parks are busy. It is a stressful disappointing mess. Those BGs are HARD to get when the parks are busy. (I had been watching at home and there were days that they stayed available for 5 minutes or more--- it was literally milliseconds last week-- I was shut out completely several times). I would MUCH rather have been at WDW where we could get in a standby line even if it was REALLY long. There will be lightning lane by your trip, but right now there is no idea if there will be a large enough demand that will make it hard to get, or if you can easily just buy ROTR. As opposed as I am to pay per ride-- last week when I was loaded with stress for hours and repeated disappointment- I would have forked over a lot of money just to get on that ride and bring my stress level down and eliminate disappointing my DD over and over. I suspect that Virtual Queue may go away before your trip at DLR too.

I have never been to either park at Spring Break, but I know that WDW can be insane. I'm not sure if DLR is the same or if it is more manageable. I would look into that. If you don't mind basically letting them hold $200, you can always book a package at WDW now and set park reservations while you decide- you have until 60 days before your trip to cancel and get your money back. If you are going Spring Break, I would get the park reservations set sooner rather than later.

I'm not sure I helped at all because I think that put everything right back down the middle! There are pros and cons to each.

 

[Kit Jackson]

This applies to both parks but is something worth considering. If you are traveling in March, Genie/Genie+ will be up and running. This means that you will be able to skip the boarding group process if you want and pay extra to ride ROTR through the Individual Lightening Lane. I'm not sure if it helps you with the decision making process, but is something to keep in mind.

 

[Dug720]

Oh, I didn't know RotR is now standby only at WDW! I guess many will be forking over $$ to buy a ride through Genie+. I guess it makes sense with Genie+ now, so likely in March the virtual queue will be gone?

They made it clear when they announced it was going away that they could bring it back at any time. At least in initial presentations, the indication was that the virtual queues would still exist - people could try for that and if they didn't get it then pay the ILL fee. Of course they may have figured out that most people would do both, shutting out others who couldn't get in on the virtual queue - there was no clarity on if you got a virtual queue spot you'd be blocked from purchasing or not. (Personally I'd hope so to give more people who care (not me - other than Remy) a chance to ride.

 

[brenda1966]

Ok, the WDW resort prices are ridiculous! As are the airline prices. The limits on park hopping in CA are ridiculous too. There really is so much to consider. I may need to flip a coin.

 

[Dug720]

The limits on park hopping in CA are ridiculous too

There are limits at WDW as well. You can't hop until 2pm there.

 

[brenda1966]

Thanks for the feedback. I think we have decided on Disneyland due to the less stressful nature of the time change and shorter flights and just fewer parks to navigate. Now the planning begins! Wow, are flights high. *faints*

 

[VandVsmama]

I’d vote for WDW instead right now. We were at DL a little over a week ago and right now, I’d take WDW over DL any day. And that’s coming from a person who always prefers DL.

 

[RNTeacher]

Having just returned from DL, I would pick WDW over DL. I really did not feel the magic at DL. It just seemed “stressful” and a lot like work.

 

[Disney0010]

The biggest issue that I see will be flights. Expensive and there may be a shortage of personnel in both the airports (TSA) and the airlines themselves due to vaccination mandates. Choose the easiest to travel to for this trip. Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback. I think we have decided on Disneyland due to the less stressful nature of the time change and shorter flights and just fewer parks to navigate. Now the planning begins! Wow, are flights high. *faints*

 

[nuttynatty]

OMG this was literally me!! Like literally pros cons, last trips..... except my trip to WDW was earlier in 2019. I went with WDW and here is why... Kids (teenagers and 1 adult child) hadn't been anywhere since Feb 2019 and they thought a longer trip would be nice. Had we gone to DL it would have prob been a 5 night trip whereas WDW we are doing 10. Also I really wanted to celebrate the 50th. I know Spring Break will be insane at either park but it seems a little more doable at WDW since there is more space... not just the 4 parks but the actual parks have way more breathing room.

I also had other reasons to choose WDW though, 1 being that I am going on a semi-solo semi-husband only trip to DL in 3 weeks. And the other being that I have free comp passes and expired DL tickets. So I thought I should use the comp passes at WDW since I still have tickets for DL.

But man, those flights to Florida right now are not looking pretty! Whatever you choose I am sure it will be amazing.

 

[Aspencreek]

I’d vote for WDW instead right now. We were at DL a little over a week ago and right now, I’d take WDW over DL any day. And that’s coming from a person who always prefers DL.

Having just returned from DL, I would pick WDW over DL. I really did not feel the magic at DL. It just seemed “stressful” and a lot like work.

What was the biggest problems you experienced there? Overcrowded?

 

[VandVsmama]

What was the biggest problems you experienced there? Overcrowded?

DL felt "off" on our visit earlier this month. Food cart lines for churros and popcorn? Forget it...6-8 people in line at each cart and it seemed to take forever. Mobile order? Sure, no problem, we did that at WDW earlier this year, but at DL right now, not all of the QS locations are doing mobile order...so you have to look it up every time and then adjust accordingly. It made things stressful.

People seemed more, how to put this, frustrated, angry, and there was a frantic vibe about the park. It was NOT relaxing.

The merchandise for sale was generic, lackluster, uninspiring, and boring.

Ride lines were crazy long. We skipped a lot of things.

Fireworks? People lined up for fireworks over 2 hours ahead of time...I thought I was at Magic Kingdom for a sec.