DL v DWorld: What not to miss?

[S. S. Columbia]

... With limited time, we want to be sure to see rides/attractions that are special and unique to DisneyLand....

I don't know if there's time for this, but with 2 nights I would want to see the fireworks and Fantasmic. Maybe you could try to see the fireworks on Thursday night, with the intention of maybe seeing the 2nd Fantasmic show at 10:30? Or maybe the fireworks on Thursday, and Fantasmic on Friday?

I think most people like DL's Fantasmic more than WDW's.

 

[HydroGuy]

I think most people like DL's Fantasmic more than WDW's.

I doubt Goofy's Friends does.

 

[mndisfam]

Wow - once again - thanks everyone. I am going to print out Hound109's itinerary and check out that thread DL for WDW veterans.

I guess the Cal hotel is a good place then - sounds so close. After all the bus trips at the World, walking like that is something we are just going to have to wrap our heads around.

 

[goofy's friends]

Have a great time and did anyone mention the fireworks?? They are better at DL than DW!!!

Oh, and Hydroguy...as I recall last I was in WDW, we commented that Fantasmic was better at DL Sadly, we didn't get to see it in DL this last trip. It wasn't showing

 

[mississaugamom]

Thanks Hound109. Can't add another day tho. We are arriving Thursday around 2, and catching the boat for the 2 week Panama Canal repo on Saturday. Airfare already bought, and can't change ship leaving. !!

So, we are thinking MK for Thursday afternoon until very late evening, and then CA all day Friday.

I may be confused, but isn't the Panama cruise leaving California on SUNDAY, August 17??? We were booked on that cruise as well but cancelled. If you're arriving on Thursday, you now have two and a half days for Disneyland! (Probably lots more fun than waiting at the cruise terminal for an extra 24 hours )

Happy Planning!

 

[Hound 109]

Wow - once again - thanks everyone. I am going to print out Hound109's itinerary and check out that thread DL for WDW veterans.

I guess the Cal hotel is a good place then - sounds so close. After all the bus trips at the World, walking like that is something we are just going to have to wrap our heads around.

More of "here's some things you could ride if you planned it well" than a recommended itinerary. After reading the tip threads & trolling here for a little while, you'll have a good idea of what you want to do. Report back when you have a "list" of what you want to do & lots of folks here will offer pretty spot on opinions.

As others have said, the Fireworks is a "must do"....as well as the Aladdin Show in DCA...& a dozen other things. I'm not familiar with Ride-Max, but others here who i respect, think highly of it. You might want to subscribe to that as well.

Regarding no bus trips. One of the several reasons that THIS WDW vet has fallen in love with Walt's park is the ability to walk & avoid buses. Truly your day is so much fuller w/o the logistical hassles to deal with. With that full day, you can either have more time to tour (like the commando hound family ), or more time to relax in the your luxurious digs at the GCH.

The GCH is lovely. I haven't stayed there, but stayed twice in the Paradise Pier (across the street) & would walk thru the GCH at least 4 times a day.

Keep reading up & post back.

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

I must beg to differ! IMO, Splash at DL blows the pants off the WDW version. All I know is when we rode it @ WDW w/ a bunch of DL fanatics, we all looked at each other at the end and said that it?! Isn't there supposed to be another drop? The WDW version is nowhere near as exciting as the DL version!

I too thought that was a strange statement. Splash at MK is longer and more elaborate. While I like Splash at DL a lot, the one at MK seems obviously better. Most people agree but if the previous poster disagrees that is what makes the world go 'round.

I completely agree with DisneySuiteFreak. I, too, found the MK Splash underwhelming. Although it had a stronger "story" component, I didn't feel it was anywhere near as lively or as FUN as the Disneyland Splash. I couldn't quite put my finger on why I felt this way, but I finally found some facts that help explain my impression.

As you can see at http://www.songofthesouth.net/splashmtn/facts/index.html, the lengths of the two rides are almost identical. The MK Splash only seems "longer" because it is slower (3 ft/second) – whereas the DL version speeds along 25% faster. Nor is the MK Splash "more elaborate". The DL Splash contains 37 more characters than one found in MK (105 vs. 68). That's a HUGE difference! And last, but not least: the Zip-A-Dee Lady Showboat is considerably larger at DL, too (50x30 as opposed to 36x22) -- which makes for a far more impressive finale, imo.

I hope you will re-check the MK Splash on your next visit there, HydroGuy.

 

[jlmarr]

Yes, I am sure that when I went with my group of DL fanatics, we were shocked at how boring and tame Splash at WDW was compared to DL. Who is most people??? It's very subjective. The OP asked for opinions. This is my opinion and the opinion of the group of people that I went to WDW with. I do recall thinking Pirates was lame compared to DL version, but I didn't go on that ride w/ my friends we were all separated at that point. We joined up for Splash and I distinctly remember all of us in our group looking at each other asking, "That's it?!" Then one of the guys said, "I think this version is missing a drop or something, 'cause it seemed awfully short and not anywhere near as exciting as the one at DL." And we all agreed. There was about 20 of us who went, and we all noticed this. This was our experience; yours could have been different...

Okie dokie. I thought you might have been talking about POTC since what you said, particularly about the drop, could have been said word-for-word about it. "I thought most people" would be my impression of the general consensus, but obviously it's not unanimous.

 

[HydroGuy]

I hope you will re-check the MK Splash on your next visit there, HydroGuy.

Well, you learn something new everyday. When we rode Splash at MK for the first time, all six of us got off and said that it was better than DL's. It seemed longer and it seemed like there were more characters. I will pay more attention next time.

 

[goofy's friends]

Well, you learn something new everyday. When we rode Splash at MK for the first time, all six of us got off and said that it was better than DL's. It seemed longer and it seemed like there were more characters. I will pay more attention next time.

I like DL version better, but the one thing I think it was missing was "Pleeeese, don't throw me in the briar patch!!!!!!" before the drop. I love that part at MK!!!

 

[DLR29]

Well, you learn something new everyday. When we rode Splash at MK for the first time, all six of us got off and said that it was better than DL's. It seemed longer and it seemed like there were more characters. I will pay more attention next time.

For our family too it totally seemed longer. I even rode them within a month of each other. To each his own.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I completely agree with DisneySuiteFreak. I, too, found the MK Splash underwhelming. Although it had a stronger "story" component, I didn't feel it was anywhere near as lively or as FUN as the Disneyland Splash. I couldn't quite put my finger on why I felt this way, but I finally found some facts that help explain my impression.

As you can see at http://www.songofthesouth.net/splashmtn/facts/index.html, the lengths of the two rides are almost identical. The MK Splash only seems "longer" because it is slower (3 ft/second) – whereas the DL version speeds along 25% faster. Nor is the MK Splash "more elaborate". The DL Splash contains 37 more characters than one found in MK (105 vs. 68). That's a HUGE difference! And last, but not least: the Zip-A-Dee Lady Showboat is considerably larger at DL, too (50x30 as opposed to 36x22) -- which makes for a far more impressive finale, imo.

I hope you will re-check the MK Splash on your next visit there, HydroGuy.

Cool link! Glad to know I'm not alone in thinking something was missing at WDW version.

 

[mndisfam]

I had the days wrong - we are arriving Fri afternoone and have Sat there also. I tried really hard to get DH to take more time off, but it is already a very long trip for us.

I am glad everyone speaks highly of the Grand Cal. We actually used DVC points to stay there, bcs we are trying to watch cash (as always!) We used DVC points for part of the cruise.

Anyway, one std room at the Grand Cal for 2 nights was 116 points - pretty steep. Out of curiousity, I checked the pricing for two nights - is was btwn $1600 and $1700!!!!!! FOR TWO NIGHTS!!! That didn't inlude tix or food plans. I am shocked.

But it does seem the locale will be great. It will be SO WEIRD to be close to the action.

Now, if I can just figure out a way to not let all our Cal families know we are there, so we can tour more and not worry about planning time ofr them.

 

[mndisfam]

The excellant thread I read did not mention DTD? Is it the same as DW's?

 

[DLR29]

The excellant thread I read did not mention DTD? Is it the same as DW's?

WDW's DTD is very large. DLR's isn't as big, but it's right outside the GCH lobby. So no buses or any long transportation, which makes DTD a great place for eating dinner at a sit down restaurant right outside of the parks. There's no Cirque du Soleil, DisneyQuest, or Pleasure Island. There is a large World of Disney store (not as big as WDW's), a Rainforest Cafe, and an AMC similar to WDW. There's also an ESPN Zone which is different.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Have a great time and did anyone mention the fireworks?? They are better at DL than DW!!!

How are the fireworks better at DL? We've only been to WDW and love Wishes. It's hard to believe that any firework display could be better than that, but if it is that's just one more thing to get excited about at DL. So tell me about the fireworks at DL and what makes it so great!

 

[HydroGuy]

How are the fireworks better at DL? We've only been to WDW and love Wishes. It's hard to believe that any firework display could be better than that, but if it is that's just one more thing to get excited about at DL. So tell me about the fireworks at DL and what makes it so great!

Quite frankly, the DLR fireworks show Remember...Dreams Come True is much more than a fireworks show and is far better than Wishes. RDCT has lasers, lights and special effects in addition to the fireworks and music. Many people say it is the best show of its kind Disney has ever produced.

Bottom line? Do not miss it.

Bottom line #2? See it in the hub where it was designed to be seen.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

... we are arriving Fri afternoon and have Sat there also ...

Saturday will have the Magic Morning early entry (MM), and since you're staying at the GCH you will be able to enter DL one hour before the "regular" opening time. Fantasyland and Tomorrowland will be open during the MM. In the summer time, the regular opening time is 8:00 -- with MM you will be allowed to enter at 7:00. If it were me, I would want to be at the DL entrance at 6:30. Yes, it's a bit early, but your 2-hour time difference should make it a little easier.

HTH

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Quite frankly, the DLR fireworks show Remember...Dreams Come True is much more than a fireworks show and is far better than Wishes. RDCT has lasers, lights and special effects in addition to the fireworks and music. Many people say it is the best show of its kind Disney has ever produced.

Bottom line? Do not miss it.

Bottom line #2? See it in the hub where it was designed to be seen.

Thanks HydroGuy! But what so you mean by hub? Where's that at?

 

[tinkermell]

Quite frankly, the DLR fireworks show Remember...Dreams Come True is much more than a fireworks show and is far better than Wishes. RDCT has lasers, lights and special effects in addition to the fireworks and music. Many people say it is the best show of its kind Disney has ever produced.

Bottom line? Do not miss it.

Bottom line #2? See it in the hub where it was designed to be seen.

I agree with Hydro about the fireworks at DL verses WDW.

Back to Splash. I think the part leading up the drop is better at WDW. But DL's drop seems higher to me. Maybe they are the same distance, but the single rider at DL makes it more intense?? I can't put my finger on it, it just seemed shorter, and I remember thinking "That was it?"

Maybe too much hype and expectations?