DLR vet..still just 'don't get' WDW

[nunzia]

Little preface..we went to WDW once..way back in the 90's, when our kids were young. Although we had a nice time, none of us were that crazy about it and just stuck to DL (there was no 'R' at that time) from then on. So..I kept thinking we really needed to go back since so many raved about WDW and we have DVC and since point useage is so low at many resorts there I envisioned us in retirement just staying at OKW for a few weeks a year or something. So..when we decided to book the Disney Magic out of Galvston 8 night cruise that included a day at WDW I was pretty excited that we could see AK for the first time and try our best to 'get it'. It was a little rainy when we got there after our over a hour bus ride from the ship. We did get to AK before opening and had done enough research to hustle to the Safari ride. It was nice, then we wandered through a trail area and around the villiage some and had the most ridiculously large bagel I have ever seen. We made it to the Lion King show and oh wow..best show hands down in a park and that includes DCA Aladdin IMO. Love it..we then wandered around for awhile..didn't ride Everest ( I don't do the 'mountains' and DH had an ear infection and didn't want to either) We found Dinosaur and were really disappointed in it. I thought it would be very similar to Indy but really..it seemed very tame and not worth doing again.
We then made our way to EPCOT and World Showcase..since we only had one day we didn't want to live on busses so decided on just those 2 parks since we hadn't seen AK and had Illuminations dessert viewing. We noticed that just the walk to the park from the busses drop off area was a longer hike than staying way down at the HoJo or somewhere at DLR . By now it was hot...humid..icky. We did a few things, enjoyed some, others not so much (both of us had a nap in the Ellen's Energy thing) then made our way to WS and were immediatley struck with 'what now'? I wanted to really like WS!..but it pretty much boiled down to what I remembered from our first trip..some nice buildings, a show or two, places to eat and shopping. Hmmm...what is there to do all day besides eat and shop? Since they had the Flower show thing going on (gorgeous topiaries and plants everywhere) they had little places with food offerings..I enjoyed these..nice little samples of interesting food. Really loved the Liberty singers and American Adventure show..but other than that..hmm..must have missed something again because I don't know if I'll be able to drag DH back since he was so underwhelmed. Illuminations was pretty nice, but couldn't hold a candle to WOC. We didn't like how it seemed like attractions were stuffed into big convention center like buildings..like Soarin in a big echoy cavern with food court places, escalators and a unbearable din. Weird.b I may be able to talk him into going to F&W one day, but that remains to be seen. We found overall the CMs were much less caring than at DLR..many instances of dull looks, pods of CMs talking and ingnoring guests who wanted food, cutting up about work..who'd get to leave early..etc.
So..for the forseable future DLR is still home. Just my views and so wanted to get it but didn't.

 

[interstate70s]

Over the years we primarily did day trips to wdw and 4+ day trips to DL and later DLR. We just spent a week there(wdw) and had a great time. My DH and I hadnt been to WDW 10 years and our kids had never been. I think its hard to judge all of wdw based on 1 day. We stayed at the Beach Club and thought it was awesome. Its about the same distance maybe slightly farther to world showcase as the lobby of the GCH to the DL turnstyles. The kids loved epcot, future world and world showcase. We hopped back there 3 of days we were there. In fact, my daughter now ranks epcot as her favorite Disney park. I do agree that illuminations is a bit underwhelming though.

I ve seen a lot of posters say cast members on one coast or the other are nicer. I honestly didn't notice a difference. They all seem human to me.

The only park that was a little blase to us was hs. We 're not a huge fan of shows and there aren't many rides there. Loved the rollercoaster though and the sci fi diner.

We went to universal too, and although the rides were great it lacked "magic " I think wdw has that feel, although not on the level of intimacy of DL.

 

[nikkislaght]

We did WDW 8 yrs ago and I have no desire to go back...
Did Euro Disney about 15 yrs ago and loved it.. and would go back in a heart beat...

But not WDW.. Like you , just didnt get it,, and we were there for 9 days...

 

[jimilla]

It's really a Coke or Pepsi, or more recently Android or IOS, type of thing...if you know what I mean.

I have found that folks who grew up on the East Coast tend to like like WDW and those that grew up on the West Coast tend to like DLR better.

 

[Sherry E]

I moved this thread to the Disneyland Community forum, as it seems to be more general discussion of WDW from a DLR vet's perspective rather than discussion related to Disneyland trip planning.

 

[bumbershoot]

We didn't like how it seemed like attractions were stuffed into big convention center like buildings

It's a weird thing to get used to, but when you think about the weather Orlando gets, it makes far more sense. Otherwise they would have to shut down almost everything during the thunderstorms.


World Showcase...have a snack (school bread from Norway!), have a drinkie (either a beer in a souvenir stein that gets turned into a coin "bank" at home OR a grand marnier slushie), do the Phineas and Ferb game that allows you the opportunity to see the little tiny details and areas in the showcases. See the movies from the countries that have the movies...the China movie brought DH to tears since he likes China so much. I fell more in love with Canada when we saw the Oh Canada movie.

We feel that AK can be an all-day park, and it gets better for us when we HAVE that whole day. And if we include Tusker House as part of our day.


I like liking all the parks. And I personally have found that some of the best themepark employees aren't at Disney at all, but are found at Universal. (of course those people might also work for Disney....I just haven't seen the same person at both yet)

 

[Greysword]

I agree about the East/West coast idea of which park is best. DW and I need one of those "House Divided" license plates .

I can address the building issue at WDW; I've heard that quite a bit here in Oregon. First, as Bupershoot said, it is the weather. Not only does FL get thunderstorms, it is hot. Like 200% humidity sweat 99F hot in the summer. The buildings are refuges from the heat. In addition, FL gets hurricanes. Big ones that would level DLR if it wasn't inside (IASW at DLR would look like the backdrop from Epic Mickey ). Finally, it wasn't built by Walt, so some of the small details may be missing.

Now as an East Coast person , I prefer WDW and don't feel the same immersion at DLR. When we're on property at WDW, it is all Disney. Orlando does not creep in from anywhere, and it is basically a safe zone bubble of magic. The outside world does not exist. Disney makes the rules there and owns the fire department. The guest population is much different, since it is nearly all vacationers versus locals. Few locals visit the parks in relation to out of town visitors.

Disneyland Resort is ruled by the locals. If something new opens (like this 24 hour event coming memorial day), the place is flooded with people that live nearby. People drop in for a couple of hours then leave, with no concern about the visitors. This is exactly as Walt intended it to be! It was designed and built for the local population more so than outside visitors. Disney World was built with the idea of being a resort destination instead of catering to the local population (Orlando was pretty small back then).

This is the largest dynamic between the two parks, IMO, as it governs the policy and interaction between Cast Members (both field staff and management) and visitors.

 

[Cinderpamela]

It's a weird thing to get used to, but when you think about the weather Orlando gets, it makes far more sense. Otherwise they would have to shut down almost everything during the thunderstorms.


World Showcase...have a snack (school bread from Norway!), have a drinkie (either a beer in a souvenir stein that gets turned into a coin "bank" at home OR a grand marnier slushie), do the Phineas and Ferb game that allows you the opportunity to see the little tiny details and areas in the showcases. See the movies from the countries that have the movies...the China movie brought DH to tears since he likes China so much. I fell more in love with Canada when we saw the Oh Canada movie.

We feel that AK can be an all-day park, and it gets better for us when we HAVE that whole day. And if we include Tusker House as part of our day.


I like liking all the parks. And I personally have found that some of the best themepark employees aren't at Disney at all, but are found at Universal. (of course those people might also work for Disney....I just haven't seen the same person at both yet)

I find myself agreeing with pretty much everything you said here!

I myself was especially suprised at how much I liked/enjoyed the interactions with the cast members at Universal Orlando... when going there I thought for sure it would not compare, but the CM's there were so helpful and friendly they were almost (dare I say it) out Disney-ing Disney!

 

[nunzia]

Over the years we primarily did day trips to wdw and 4+ day trips to DL and later DLR. We just spent a week there(wdw) and had a great time. My DH and I hadnt been to WDW 10 years and our kids had never been. I think its hard to judge all of wdw based on 1 day. We stayed at the Beach Club and thought it was awesome. Its about the same distance maybe slightly farther to world showcase as the lobby of the GCH to the DL turnstyles. The kids loved epcot, future world and world showcase. We hopped back there 3 of days we were there. In fact, my daughter now ranks epcot as her favorite Disney park. I do agree that illuminations is a bit underwhelming though.

I ve seen a lot of posters say cast members on one coast or the other are nicer. I honestly didn't notice a difference. They all seem human to me.

The only park that was a little blase to us was hs. We 're not a huge fan of shows and there aren't many rides there. Loved the rollercoaster though and the sci fi diner.

We went to universal too, and although the rides were great it lacked "magic " I think wdw has that feel, although not on the level of intimacy of DL.

The first time we went...way back when..we stayed a week and stayed at Beach Club..which I LOVE and would want to stay there again. The one day thing was just for another taste..to see if we felt different..and I really wanted to feel different! I guess for the time being we are happy to be DLR people..maybe when (if) we ever get to retire, we'll try one more time..at F&W (where I probably won't be able to get Beach Club at 7 months out) and stay a long time.

 

[nunzia]

It's a weird thing to get used to, but when you think about the weather Orlando gets, it makes far more sense. Otherwise they would have to shut down almost everything during the thunderstorms.


World Showcase...have a snack (school bread from Norway!), have a drinkie (either a beer in a souvenir stein that gets turned into a coin "bank" at home OR a grand marnier slushie), do the Phineas and Ferb game that allows you the opportunity to see the little tiny details and areas in the showcases. See the movies from the countries that have the movies...the China movie brought DH to tears since he likes China so much. I fell more in love with Canada when we saw the Oh Canada movie.

We feel that AK can be an all-day park, and it gets better for us when we HAVE that whole day. And if we include Tusker House as part of our day.


I like liking all the parks. And I personally have found that some of the best themepark employees aren't at Disney at all, but are found at Universal. (of course those people might also work for Disney....I just haven't seen the same person at both yet)

I will say that Phineas game looked fun and we would have done it with more time..I can understand the reasoning for stuff to be in the big buildings..but it seemed oppressive in there..still heavy air..you know? and the noise..holy cow. Anyway..I suppose when we try yet again it might be better. My DH recently has been diagnosed with fairly serious health challenges resulting from his Hep C, so no drinking allowed anymore..he is fine with me drinking but I feel it's not as fun if he can't indulge, you know? Anyway..in the far off furture when we try again, we'll stay for a long time so we can take breaks and I should really do some more planning I guess..DLR is just so easy! We did the stuff we planned, but I guess I didn't plan ENOUGH...I cannot watch the Oh Canada movie..makes me spin and feel yucky. I remember all the movies from the last time..and they didn't seem all that great, but I guess it would have helped to see them again. Also putting a damper in the day was trying to figure out where our group would meet for the Illuminations dessert..the tickets said the "Friendship Bridge" NO ONE knew which bridge that was..we asked many CM and called Disney Cruise twice..we FINALLY found a guy with the cruise sign (it is by France BTW) and we hadn't seen anything being set up because they moved the dessert portion inside because of the impeding doom weather (which never really happened) to the American Experience building..which was great BTW..then they shuffled us over to Italy to watch the show.
UGH...ok..so maybe the year we try and retire we'll make it a big trip. I hate to fly and pretty much refuse, so on top of everything else, it is a big deal to get there. But if must be a great place because so many love it! I just want to love it too.

 

[nunzia]

I agree about the East/West coast idea of which park is best. DW and I need one of those "House Divided" license plates .

I can address the building issue at WDW; I've heard that quite a bit here in Oregon. First, as Bupershoot said, it is the weather. Not only does FL get thunderstorms, it is hot. Like 200% humidity sweat 99F hot in the summer. The buildings are refuges from the heat. In addition, FL gets hurricanes. Big ones that would level DLR if it wasn't inside (IASW at DLR would look like the backdrop from Epic Mickey ). Finally, it wasn't built by Walt, so some of the small details may be missing.

Now as an East Coast person , I prefer WDW and don't feel the same immersion at DLR. When we're on property at WDW, it is all Disney. Orlando does not creep in from anywhere, and it is basically a safe zone bubble of magic. The outside world does not exist. Disney makes the rules there and owns the fire department. The guest population is much different, since it is nearly all vacationers versus locals. Few locals visit the parks in relation to out of town visitors.

Disneyland Resort is ruled by the locals. If something new opens (like this 24 hour event coming memorial day), the place is flooded with people that live nearby. People drop in for a couple of hours then leave, with no concern about the visitors. This is exactly as Walt intended it to be! It was designed and built for the local population more so than outside visitors. Disney World was built with the idea of being a resort destination instead of catering to the local population (Orlando was pretty small back then).

This is the largest dynamic between the two parks, IMO, as it governs the policy and interaction between Cast Members (both field staff and management) and visitors.

I can see all the points and really agree with most. The thing I don't feel is being immersed in Disney at WDW..Once you get on that bus..even though you are on Disney PROPERTY you are on heavily traveled roads, with traffic lights and for cryin out loud..a McDonalds sign! So to me going between the parks felt very un Disney, while at DLR we stay on property, never leave and just walk across the esplanade to hop..so I actually feel more immersed in the Disney bubble at DLR even though I know I'm really not.

 

[WINTER]

just don't get WDW?? All I can say is "wow"

 

[awdsmama]

I've never had any interest in WDW, it just seems "too big" - I love the walkability of DLR and the good neighbor hotels. Plus there's something about the "original Walt feeling" that DL has for me.

If I ever go on another cruise out of Port Canaveral though I'll probably plan one day at one park, just to get a taste. Who knows, maybe I"ll be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Xenorye]

I can see all the points and really agree with most. The thing I don't feel is being immersed in Disney at WDW..Once you get on that bus..even though you are on Disney PROPERTY you are on heavily traveled roads, with traffic lights and for cryin out loud..a McDonalds sign! So to me going between the parks felt very un Disney, while at DLR we stay on property, never leave and just walk across the esplanade to hop..so I actually feel more immersed in the Disney bubble at DLR even though I know I'm really not.

I agree with this. I've never been to WDW, but I never felt out of the bubble at DLR. Especially if you stay at the Grand. We stayed at Paradise Pier so we had to walk across the street, but that still wasn't a big deal at all.

I lived in SoCal when I was 8 and went to DL many times. My wife (who just took her first trip to a Disney park in February with me when we went to DLR) is curious about WDW, so we may do a WDW trip in the future. She mainly just wants to do Harry Potter world or whatever the heck it's called. I have no doubt I'll enjoy myself at WDW, but I'm just one of those people that sticks with what they know for the most part.

 

[Pinup Mommy]

It's really a Coke or Pepsi, or more recently Android or IOS, type of thing...if you know what I mean.

I have found that folks who grew up on the East Coast tend to like like WDW and those that grew up on the West Coast tend to like DLR better.

This.

I am a California gal, born and raised less than 10 miles from DLand, and I feel it is the better park.
Now the husband, born and raised in Miami thinks I am crazy, and believes WDW is the best.


My argument is that Disneyland is easier to visit. WDW, is just too big...

I am bitter that WDW took my Main Street Electrical parade. :-(

I also disliked that for a Disney cruise we had to fly across the country... I am so happy that is no longer the case

 

[Greg K.]

I think the intent of each place was very different.

DL was designed and built as a local park for local residents.

WDW, on the other hand, is city unto itself, complete with multiple convention-center hotels, numerous golf courses, a growing shopping and entertainment district, water parks and an expanding timeshare industry. It's a vacation destination and experience that offers guests a wide array of recreational and sporting opportunities, shopping, dining, marinas, spas, and on and on. (After our first stay, at the Grand Floridian, I told my wife, "I could come here and stay at the hotel and never even enter the parks and have a great time.")

It's a different culture, I think, than what you find at DL. WDW has more international visitors, and visitors who just tend to stay longer, and it offers a scope and scale that are unlike any other Disney project in the world.

As a result, I think, some qualities and characteristics that we love about DL were lost -- intimacy, accessibility, charm, the Walt Disney sensibility that seems to live on even today in Anaheim.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I've visited WDW once and while I plan to take my children in a few years, it's not a frequent trip for us and I'd probably go elsewhere if it wasn't for wanting my family to have the experience. I enjoyed Epcot, but aside from that, I can see everything else in my own backyard and better because it's the original, touched by Walt himself. I love that it's pretty much made for locals and that it's small.

WDW is too big. The animal park seems like a not as good version of the San Diego Wild Animal Park with rides. The Hollywood themed park is not half as good as being in Hollywood at Universal Studios. The Magic Kingdom is mostly just Disneyland. Now, I am excited to someday visit New Fantasyland and there are some rides like Mt. Everest and the Maelstrom that just aren't available at Disneyland, but other than that...WDW is too hot, even in the winter, and aside from more affordable onsite hotels, honestly not all that special for me.