DL smaller than MK at WDW?

[Mrs. Bee]

Oh yes, I was just at WDW Jan 23-29 and at DL last weekend. Disney's Pirates is so much better.
1) DL's queue is better. You know exactly how far you have to ride. Plus, you have the talking parrot. At MK, it's indoors, twists and turns, and is quite dark.
2) DL has introductory bayou scene plus boat floats past the Blue Bayou restaurant.
3) Yes, DL has two drops and there more spaced and seem a bit deeper.
4) The VIgnettes are better placed. Don't really know how to describe, but they are just situated in better areas for viewing.
5) DL has all the updates that WDW has. In fact, they received them first.
6) The scene where you see the Pirate ship is much better at DL. MK does not have fortress with images of men fighting in silhouette. More cannon blasts and the feel of cannons whizzing by you.

I actually like the looks of the queue for Pirates at WDW better. It's interesting and there is more to look at. I also like that the drop at WDW's is more surprising. At Disneyland you typically get stopped at the top while you wait for others to drop.

I totally agree. Having just visited both parks within a week or two of each other, the differences were obvious. IMHO, Disneyland is vastly superior to MK. More rides, better theming, cleaner, more attention to detail, simply a very beautiful well thought out, well designed park. Plus, rides they share tend to be superior at DL (Space Mtn, Pirates, SMALL WORLD!!, Tiki Room, Autopia) and it has classics not at MK (Nemo Subs, Casey Jr., Mr. Toad, Mr. Lincoln).

Don't get me wrong. I love MK. MK does have a vastly superior Tomorrowland.

But one on one, DL is the park for me. Plus, it truly is a hassle to visit the MK for anyone other than those staying at the Contemporary Hotel.

I agree. Although I didn't really consider the buses to be a hassle. Not as easy as Disneyland, of course...but I didn't think they were a problem. We rarely had to wait very long and the rides were short. It gave us time to relax and chitchat about what our plans were.

 

[LauraAnn630]

Trey - I am not suggesting you split your days 50/50 between DL and DCA. But I would recommend spending more of your DCA time on Sunday. We always hop back and forth. If it was me I would start Sunday at DL at rope drop and avoid Nemo and Fantasyland because of MM. I would pick up a few FPs and ride some of the DL rides in other areas. Then I would hop to DCA at 10AM and spend a good part of Sunday at DCA, and return to DL later in the evening. Then I would spend all day Monday at DL. I would plan to see the DL RDCT fireworks show on Sunday night because of the threat of cancellation due to winds. If it got cancelled you would have a second chance on Monday.

Thanks, thats exactly what we will do. It sounds like the best way to do it with the crowds, no MM and what we want to ride and see. I had no idea about the cancellations due to wind, again great tips thanks!

So one night we could see the electric parade & Dreams Come True the other night we could see Fantasmic. We have seen it at WDW. How is it at DL?

Can I do them all on the same night, then ride the rides we didnt get to do while everyone else is watching the parade/Fantasmic and fireworks? Any better ideas?

Im seeing Toy Story Mania is at DCA. I thought it was at DL.

How big is the hill on CS?

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Thanks, thats exactly what we will do. It sounds like the best way to do it with the crowds, no MM and what we want to ride and see. I had no idea about the cancellations due to wind, again great tips thanks!

So one night we could see the electric parade & Dreams Come True the other night we could see Fantasmic. We have seen it at WDW. How is it at DL?

Can I do them all on the same night, then ride the rides we didnt get to do while everyone else is watching the parade/Fantasmic and fireworks? Any better ideas?

Im seeing Toy Story Mania is at CDA. I thought it was at DL.

How big is the hill on CS?

Toy Story Mania will be at DCA but I am not exactly sure when it's supposed to open.

Fantasmic at Disneyland does not have auditoruim type seating. So if you want a decent spot...head over early. The entire show is on the Rivers of America and it's very neat. (We didn't see the one at WDW though.) But yeah...seating isn't the best so get there early. And if they happen to have two showings that day, I'd suggest the later one as I think it tends to be less crowded.

I'm assuming CS is California' Sreamin....

Here are some stats from the rollercoaster database.
http://www.rcdb.com/id731.htm

108 foot drop
top speed 55 mph
0-55 mph in 4 seconds on the launch
1 inversion
ride length 6072 feet.

Not sure if that's all accurate but that's what the site says. I don't mind drops but the hill is always the worst part for me. I sit on the right side so that I'm close to the stairs. It's a little less scary there...haha. Still a good time though.

 

[stacielee]

I like Fantasmic at DLR much better than WDW. Not sure why, but I do know some of the show is a little different. I think part of it is that at WDW you're not really "in the park" when you go see it, and at DLR you are right in the middle of everything! That can be a good or bad thing

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks, thats exactly what we will do. It sounds like the best way to do it with the crowds, no MM and what we want to ride and see. I had no idea about the cancellations due to wind, again great tips thanks!

Ahhh, that is the reason that "HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule" exists - see www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851

So one night we could see the electric parade & Dreams Come True the other night we could see Fantasmic. We have seen it at WDW. How is it at DL?

Don't count on it. Only DangerMouse attempts this death defying feat, but DLR purposely schedules both the timing and parade direction of DEP at DCA and RDCT start time at DL to make it very difficult to see both on the same night.

As other have posted, most people consider the Fantasmic show at DL to be better than at WDW. Although seating (or lack thereof) is an issue for some.

If you want to see all three, I would recommend you do this:

1. See RDCT on night #1, and the late Fantasmic show on night #1 aftert RDCT

2. See DEP on night #2. If you want you can safely delay Fantasmic to night #2, but need to be sneaky about getting from DEP to Fantasmic because Main Street will be crowded. Best bet IMO is to use the DLRR to get to the NOS station to get a spot for Fantasmic.

Can I do them all on the same night, then ride the rides we didnt get to do while everyone else is watching the parade/Fantasmic and fireworks? Any better ideas?

Im seeing Toy Story Mania is at DCA. I thought it was at DL.

How big is the hill on CS?

Probably not. To see all three and go on most of the rides you will likely want to ride takes closer to 3 full days. Somewhere you will need to cutback on rides or shows. The most likely show to cut out is Fantasmic because you have seen it at WDW. But DEP is alot like Spectromagic (not as good IMO but still a fun parade) and I like Fantasmic at DLR much more than DEP. So I would skip DEP if I had to skip one of the three. But that is personal preference only.

 

[HydroGuy]

Toy Story Mania will be at DCA but I am not exactly sure when it's supposed to open.

People are talking about soft openings in April and official opening in June. It is one of those things that if at all possible DLR will want to have open before summer hits to promote summer visits, pull more people into DCA (a challenge) and suck up guests.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

I like Fantasmic at DLR much better than WDW. Not sure why, but I do know some of the show is a little different. I think part of it is that at WDW you're not really "in the park" when you go see it, and at DLR you are right in the middle of everything! That can be a good or bad thing

well, it can be bad for the people that want to get from one end of the park over to the haunted mansion...haha.

 

[fairycat]

Pirates is indeed an underground ride.

The Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones on the other hand are not. They both use some very clever "Disney Magic" to give you the illusion.

Both attractions are outside of the park boundries with the bulk of the ride in a large building that cannot be seen from inside the park.

Haunted Mansion -
The elevator (stretching room) serves to take guests to a lower level so they can travel underneath the Disneyland Railroad tracks to get to the building that is located in the backstage area. You can see this building from the Mickey and Friends tram. while you walk through the corridor with the paintings you are actually underneath the tracks. After boarding your Doom Buggy you are taken up a staircase which puts you back at ground level and in the hidden building. You are underground for a brief period of time but not for very long.

Actually I believe you still are under ground in HM at least till the end because the end of the ride actually has a "escalator" to take you up to ground level. You do progressively get higher and higher starting from the stairs, then into the ball room. If I remember you are about 1 or 2 flights of stairs underground after the elevator (I had to leave the ride after the elevator, we took stairs and exited by the "masoluem" wall.

I am going to look this up

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Actually I believe you still are under ground in HM at least till the end because the end of the ride actually has a "escalator" to take you up to ground level. You do progressively get higher and higher starting from the stairs, then into the ball room. If I remember you are about 1 or 2 flights of stairs underground after the elevator (I had to leave the ride after the elevator, we took stairs and exited by the "masoluem" wall.

I am going to look this up

I love visual aides so here's one that might help.
The red circle is the actual Mansion that we see. It houses the elevator. The blue circle is the building that houses the majority of the ride.
The greenish yellowish circle is the train. It's tracks run between the two buildings. We have to go underneath the tracks to get to the rest of the ride.

(I'd just like to add that I love satellite images of places...especially Disney parks)

 

[Quest4fun]

Actually I believe you still are under ground in HM at least till the end because the end of the ride actually has a "escalator" to take you up to ground level. You do progressively get higher and higher starting from the stairs, then into the ball room. If I remember you are about 1 or 2 flights of stairs underground after the elevator (I had to leave the ride after the elevator, we took stairs and exited by the "masoluem" wall.

I am going to look this up

I should have been more specific about the entire ride. The same way you must go down an elevator to go under the Railroad tracks to reach the ride building. You still need to go under the train to get back which is why you conveniently exit the House via the attic then descend into the graveyard. From there you go under the tracks again towards the exit of the ride though instead of taking an elevator you use an escalator.

I wouldn't have taken the time to explain it if I didn't know what I'm talking about. You can take it from me or ask a disenfranchised cast member who doesn't mind "spoiling" the magic. The facts of this ride are relatively well known. If you would like all the information you want in one place I recommend the incredible site http://www.doombuggies.com

If you like I can tell you how and where they service the Doom Buggies as well if you want even more information.

 

[fairycat]

I love visual aides so here's one that might help.
The red circle is the actual Mansion that we see. It houses the elevator. The blue circle is the building that houses the majority of the ride.
The greenish yellowish circle is the train. It's tracks run between the two buildings. We have to go underneath the tracks to get to the rest of the ride.

(I'd just like to add that I love satellite images of places...especially Disney parks)

I think its a case of both being right looking at the pictures I see we mean two different things. Physically you are at a level in a tall building below ground. But parts of the tall building are above ground. I guess it helps to see pictures to understand. haha!

 

[fairycat]

I should have been more specific about the entire ride. The same way you must go down an elevator to go under the Railroad tracks to reach the ride building. You still need to go under the train to get back which is why you conveniently exit the House via the attic then descend into the graveyard. From there you go under the tracks again towards the exit of the ride though instead of taking an elevator you use an escalator.

I wouldn't have taken the time to explain it if I didn't know what I'm talking about. You can take it from me or ask a disenfranchised cast member who doesn't mind "spoiling" the magic. The facts of this ride are relatively well known. If you would like all the information you want in one place I recommend the incredible site http://www.doombuggies.com

If you like I can tell you how and where they service the Doom Buggies as well if you want even more information.

No need I have plenty of friends and connections who also work at Disney.

 

[Quest4fun]

The backstage area is on a lower level than the walkway outside of the Mansion also so it can be a bit confusing. I didn't understand until I got to tour the facility. It's surprisingly easy to get backstage so you might want to see if you can have one of your friends sneak you back for a good look.