DL thru the eyes of a WDW vet

[rabyoga]

Just got back from a Sprin Break DL. We've been to WDW the last 4 years. I thought I would give my ever-so-humble opinion and comparsion of the 2 parks ride-by-ride:
Main Street- are pretty similiar. Although I believe (like everything in the world- WDW's main street is longer.) We loved the "Disneyland-the First 50 Magical Years" and it was similiar to "Walt Disney: One Man's Dream". Both are never very crowded, even on very crowded days.
Disneyland Railroad-WDW Railroad- I have to give Disneyland's RR the edge only for the diorama and Primeval World Diorama. Although I like the seating arrangement of the WDW RR's better.
Tomorrowland- are similar. I like WDW's entrance better. I found that Astor Orbitor in the middle of DL's make it looked cluttered.
Buzz Lightyear Astor Blasters- DL's guns aren't bolted to the car; so they are easier to operate. I give DL the edge there. My hubby and daughter felt WDW's ride was longer and gave more oppronunities to score. (I am horrible at the game)
Stars Tours are identical.
Honey, I Shrunkj the Audience are identical. But, we noticed that both times we were on it. We didn't get mice or water effect. I don't know if it was the seats or what. For the effects alone, I have to give WDW the edge.
Innoventions. DL's was just horrible. We spent a total of 10 minutes in there. We didn't get to see the robot; but I still don't think that would save DL's innoventions. WDW's wins hands down. *I believe that DL's innoventions may have housed the Carousel of Progress (which is a favorite of my family).. I think DL should bring the Carousel back.
Space Mountain... DL wins this hands down!!!!! I LOVED this version. Unfortunely, so does everyone else. Fastpasses were out by 2pm everyday we were there. We didn't get to ride this as much as we would like.
Autopia- We don't ride this ride in either park-since the line for it is always so long in both parks...
Finding Nemo- We didn't even bother with this. The lines were just horrible- I talked to a lady that waited over 2 hours. I think this is very similar to Epcot's "Finding Nemo" ride only it's in the old submarines. I like it there- but didn't find it a big deal. DL needs to Fastpass this one.
Monorail- DL's is just a ride- and a short one at that. I was suprised how small the monorails in DL were. I prefer WDW's more- bigger and longer. WDW's monorails are really a mode of transporation.
Fantasyland- While I knew that DL's castle was smaller than WDW's, I was still shocked by the difference. WDW's castle wins no doubt.
DL's and WDW's Fantasylands are very similar- DL has Alice, Mr. Toad's Wild ride which I love. WDW has PhilharMagic which more than makes up for the lack of Alice and Mr. Toad. Mad Tea Party are identical- I hate both! They make me sick.
The Storybook Boats are cute- but I don't miss them at WDW.
Matterhorn is awesome. I love the ride-rough as it is. I guess you could sort of compare it to Mt. Everest- although Matterhorn is a family ride- Everest is a Coaster! If I had to choose- Everest wins.
We don't do Dumbo or the Carrousel- we call the "baby" rides.
Mickey's Toontown- DL has more to it- Roger Cartoon Spin which is great!
Both DL and WDW's kiddie coaster are the same. I give a slight edge to DL
Adventureland- are similar. I don't think DL or WDW's is better.
Tiki Room- we liked both versions. I can't really give one an edge over the other. I did hear a lady mention as we were leaving- she couldn't stand the WDW's version with Iago. I usually cat nap in both shows.
Jungle Cruise are almost identical. I can't really give either an edge.
Treehouse- I give a slight edge to DL's for the Tarzan. I really don't like either.
Indiana Jones Adventure- is an "E-ticket" for sure! I would compare it to Animal Kingdom's "Dinosaur". I liked Indiana better. I thought Dinosaur was too scary and too Loud!
Pirates of the Caribbean- DL wins no contest!!!!!!!
Haunted Mansion are similar enough that I couldn't pick a favorite.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are similar that I think both are fun...
Splash Mountain are similar- I think you get wetter (especially if you are in front.) in DL's. I think WDW's has better effects. I give a slight nod to WDW.
Tom Sawyer Island are similar- I like the Pirate's Lair on DL. Slight edge to DL. My daughter and I agree we like the Pirate's Tutorial (as well as Captain Jack Sparrow) better at WDW.
Fireworks were similar at both parks. We tend to ride hop then. Or we eat at WDW's California Grill- to watch fireworks. We like WDW's fireworks just for the fact we eat as we watch them.
Fantasmic- we just couldn't bring ourselves to sit on concrete for hour or more to watch the show at DL. We are used to doing the Dinner package at WDW-only have to sit for 30 minutes in actually seats.
California Adventure reminded of us of Disney Studios.
Soarin' in both are identical- with long lines... Love both!
Mulholland Madness is very similar to Primivel Whirl without the spinning. I thought it would be a lot less bumpy.. Wrong! Love both-no clear winner.
California Screamin' reminds of us of Rockin' Roller Coaster (although I believe that RRC is a faster take off). My daughter and I preferred Screamin', my hubby likes RRC better.
We didn't do Sun Wheel- lines way too long.
Muppets 3-D and It's Tough to be a Bug are identical to WDW's.
Tower of Terror- I like the randomness of WDW's. I think WDW's hotel looks creepier. Slight edge to WDW. I LOVE this ride!
Monsters Inc.- is absolute delight!! I guess Monster's Laugh Floor in WDW would be the comparsion but you really can't compare the two.
WE thought Aladdin was the best show Disney puts on... Followed by the "Finding Nemo" show in Animal Kingdom.
We loved our time at DL.. I think we just prefer WDW- We sorely missed Epcot and Animal Kingdom.
Just one person's silly opinion..

 

[HydroGuy]

Great comparison. As a DLR person who went to WDW for the first time in 2006 and hence a reverse comparison, I agreed with your comparisons almost all the way down the line.

 

[stopher1]

Just got back from a Sprin Break DL. We've been to WDW the last 4 years. I thought I would give my ever-so-humble opinion and comparsion of the 2 parks ride-by-ride:
Main Street- are pretty similiar. Although I believe (like everything in the world- WDW's main street is longer.) We loved the "Disneyland-the First 50 Magical Years" and it was similiar to "Walt Disney: One Man's Dream". Both are never very crowded, even on very crowded days.

Buzz Lightyear Astor Blasters- DL's guns aren't bolted to the car; so they are easier to operate. I give DL the edge there. My hubby and daughter felt WDW's ride was longer and gave more oppronunities to score. (I am horrible at the game)

Finding Nemo- We didn't even bother with this. The lines were just horrible- I talked to a lady that waited over 2 hours. I think this is very similar to Epcot's "Finding Nemo" ride only it's in the old submarines. I like it there- but didn't find it a big deal. DL needs to Fastpass this one.

Fantasyland- While I knew that DL's castle was smaller than WDW's, I was still shocked by the difference. WDW's castle wins no doubt.

Matterhorn is awesome. I love the ride-rough as it is. I guess you could sort of compare it to Mt. Everest- although Matterhorn is a family ride- Everest is a Coaster! If I had to choose- Everest wins.

Indiana Jones Adventure- is an "E-ticket" for sure! I would compare it to Animal Kingdom's "Dinosaur". I liked Indiana better. I thought Dinosaur was too scary and too Loud!
Pirates of the Caribbean- DL wins no contest!!!!!!!
Haunted Mansion are similar enough that I couldn't pick a favorite.

Fantasmic- we just couldn't bring ourselves to sit on concrete for hour or more to watch the show at DL. We are used to doing the Dinner package at WDW-only have to sit for 30 minutes in actually seats.

Just one person's silly opinion..

As a vet of both resorts many, many many times (plus a former CM at DL) - I'll just add my two cents, from my own humble opinion.

Main St. and the castles - yes WDW's is longer, and the castle is taller - both have an IMPOSING feeling to them. DL's castle was purposely made smaller and more intimate, and MS very effectively uses forced perspective to make it feel the same way...I don't think either can be classified as BETTER than the other - they both have something neat to offer. DL's has a more midwestern feel - while WDW has a more victorian feel.
Finding Nemo subs are MUCH BETTER than the ride they put in at The Living Seas at Epcot. It's a shame you missed it - this was a great way to bring back and update the classic subs. Epcot's is much too short for any story, and feels more like a bunch of disjointed scenes thrown together. Hands down - DL's is better.
Matterhorn and Everest - no comparison, definitely. There's just something really extra cool about the Matterhorn - especially being the first ever tubular coaster - and it's just so beautiful at night to ride!
Dinosaur at AK is an exact replica of Indy - except in the dark and with dinos!
Haunted Mansion - definite similarities yes, but actually going underground in a real elevator at DL vs the ceiling simply rising at WDW is much cooler! Although I do LOVE the endless stair sequence at WDW.
Fantasmic's seating at DHS was definitely an improvement - but the DL original is a better show.

 

[Hound 109]

imo very accurate comparisons....good job.

Only two disagreements:

- PINOCCHIO, Toadie, Storybookland, Casey & Alice easily trumps Mickey's Philharmonic (which I'd love to see at DL or DCA btw).

- Logistics of DL (ease of moving through/to DTD, DL & DCA to hotel) trumps WDW.

(Would love to have a version of AK & World Showcase at DLR though.)

 

[DoomBugger]

Better resort: WDW no doubt as DLR really is not a resort, more a park/hotel complex.

Better single park: Disneyland. To me to choose all the parks in FL against the two parks in CA WDW gets the nod but if I were to choose just a single park, one on it's own to me DL... the original is the most dense, most interesting and has the best accumulation of attractions of any single park.

 

[tink too]

WDW vet here with our first ever trip to DL coming up in May. Although I enjoyed reading all of the comments and comparisions, I am going to (try to) go into DL with an open mind. I know there will be many similarities AND differences, so I want to view WDW and DL as different experiences instead of comparing them.

No doubt, when we return home, I'll have something to say though

 

[PSWGal]

Just a few comments.

Indy and Dino are the exact same track, as another poster said. My son is a CM and the first time he rode Dino at AK he mentioned that.

Fantasmic is much better at DL, while the seating is much better at HS. While seating at DL isn't so great, the ambiance is. The show really is better.

Also, Nemo is better at DL, although I like the on at Epcot.

The attractions are much closer together at DL due to the smaller space. We like that for several reasons, one of which is fewer shops between, and we're really not shoppers.

And the main reason I like the DRL parks better: as a non-smoker and living in CA, there are way more smoking areas at WDW and the cast members don't bother to enforce the rules anyway. There's much less smoke to contend with at DLR. (OK, don't mention the smog. Once at WDW the swamps were on fire and it rained ashes the whole 2 weeks we were there. I looked like a nuclear winter.)

 

[keishashadow]

We, too, are looking forward to our 1st visit to DL this summer

thanks for the input

 

[PSWGal]

We, too, are looking forward to our 1st visit to DL this summer

thanks for the input

I forgot to mention the not-to-be-missed Billy Hill and the Hill Billies at the Golden Horseshoe. Great show for young and old.

I too miss the Carousel of Progress at DR, but have a special place in my heart for DL Innoventions. That's where our son got his start at DL at the age of 17. I believe that all the jobs at that attraction are "audition" jobs. He was "an interactive host." He's now moved to Guest Relations.

 

[newfamilyman]

Finding Nemo- We didn't even bother with this. The lines were just horrible- I talked to a lady that waited over 2 hours. I think this is very similar to Epcot's "Finding Nemo" ride only it's in the old submarines. I like it there- but didn't find it a big deal. DL needs to Fastpass this one.

Sorry, but I couldn't pass up a comment on this one. If they did "Fastpass this one," how long do you think the standby line would be then? Fastpass does not cure long lines, it works just the contrary. It makes long (standby) lines even longer.

 

[grannyminnie]

As a WDW vet, I appreciated the OPs comparisons. I went to DL once over 40 scared1: ) years ago, and I am ready to check it out with a nostalgic eye!
I will have to say, tho, that Nemo in EPCOT did nothing for me, so I wonder if I should race to stand in line for Nemo at DL?

 

[Cass]

I just came back from Disneyland Paris and thought that their Space Mountain was better than WDW's version, it will be interesting to see how we like DL's version

Thanks for your comparisons

 

[lillygator]

thanks for posting. We are heading to DL in May but only for two days....I have been before but it will be a first time for DH and our girls. I can't wait! It will be a first for all of us at CA!

 

[lamagique]

As a person who grew up going to DLR and then worked at WDW for a summer, I do have to say that I noticed some of the same things as you.

However, I do have to say that while WDW has the size/space and different parks, I do think that DL has quality, that magical feeling that you can't quite completely replicate at WDW (maybe it's just KNOWING that Walt did it), and it provides a more intimate atmosphere. I think the "overwhelming" element of WDW is taken out at DLR because it is so much smaller. Also because of the space, they have to put in the better attractions. I really like Disneyland a lot and besides PhilHarmagic, it definitely beats WDW Magic Kingdom. But that said, I love WDW and I love Epcot and Rockin' Rollercoaster, etc, etc. I just think if every Disney park was done to the same level of quality as DL, then OH MAN OH MAN... I wouldn't be able to contain my happiness!!!

 

[quest4dl]

Just a few comments.


And the main reason I like the DRL parks better: as a non-smoker and living in CA, there are way more smoking areas at WDW and the cast members don't bother to enforce the rules anyway. There's much less smoke to contend with at DLR. (OK, don't mention the smog. Once at WDW the swamps were on fire and it rained ashes the whole 2 weeks we were there. I looked like a nuclear winter.)

I hear ya - last time we were at WDW and shoulder to shoulder with people watching Wishes, we had a smoker next to us. I was holding my active two-year old and we were all squished together so I just let him kick away at the smoker!