Does Disneyland scare any WDW veterans?

[boomhauer]

My wife and I (after more than a dozen WDW trips) have decided we'd really like to go to Disneyland next year. So, for the first time, I bought the Birnbaum Disneyland book.

I've been going into the idea of Disneyland as not trying to compare it to WDW, as everyone says I'll be disappointed if I do. However, there's something that just makes me uneasy about reading this book.

I feel a complete, safe form of comfort at DW. DL however, confuses me a bit with the hotels and "good neighbor" hotels. It also seems kind of odd to me, that a trip to Disneyland for 4 nights, is about the same price (if not more) than a trip to DW for 7 nights. There are 3 DL on property hotels, all of which start at $200 a night. California Adventure seems like a seaside amusement park rather than a theme park.

It could be just me. In fact, it probably is. I was just curious how others DW vets felt about DL for the first time.

 

[jann1033]

never been but would like to know

 

[jedi_librarian]

I've been to both (probably equal amount of times for both). They're just a different experience. I think that in my heart, I really love Disneyland because it's the original and it's small. It's also a very small resort, compared to DW. We just went in November and stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn which is right across the street from the park. Literally! You cross the street and there you are. It's easier to get around between both parks. The park entrances are back to back. The good neighbor hotels are safe. Not only are they a good deal, some are even closer to the park entrance than the DL Resort hotels.

I think you won't be disappointed with DL if you just go with the mindset that it's not the same as DW in size. You'll be pleasantly surprised with the Magic Kingdom there! I personally LOVE Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion there because they're both in New Orleans Square which are much more fitting for those attractions.

Check out the Disneyland thread - they're great over there.

 

[tmt martins]

ITA I love WDW but will go to DL each chance I get (just did 1 day in Feb ) .You will not be disappointed if you go knowing it's just not a big.
As others have said I think some of the rides are better and the Shows and parades are different as well.
Go and Have a great time .

 

[BikeFan]

DL's great - went there for the first time in December, and enjoyed it alot (and we'd just been to DW in October). As others have said, the resort's not as big, so as long as you accept that, you'll be fine. And Christmas is a great time to go - they do 'makeovers' of It's a Small World (special "Holiday" edition) and Haunted Mansion (it's rethemed after the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas"), so if you can go at Christmas, you won't be disappointed!

DL's got some rides and attractions which are exclusives, like the Indiana Jones ride and the Matterhorn, and some stuff is better, like the newly-refurbished Space Mountain. We also spent a day in California Adventure and it was enjoyable. Go - you won't be sorry!!

 

[Robo]

Love 'em both.

But its true, I can stay at WDW cheaper than DL.

Even the airfare to LA costs more than to Orlando (even though a similar distance from here in the middle of the country).

And when Disneyland is crowded (and it IS... a LOT) it is completely JAMMED with people in that "tiny" park.

But many of the attractions that are at both WDW and DLR are (in many ways) "better" at DLR.

These "better in California" (IMHO) attractions include:
Fantasmic!
Pirates
Haunted Mansion
(And HM has "Nightmare Before Christmas" make-over in the Fall.)
Space Mountain
Tiki Room has no new managment (some perfer that version)
Small World has a Christmas make-over every year
Main Street USA has Mr. Lincoln (except during the 50th celebration) but it also has Walt Disney's Apartment... even though its not open to the public, just knowing its THERE is a plus.

and Mr. Toad still rides "Wildly" at DLR.


There's also "Club 33" the "secret, hush-hush" private club for VIP's (can't say I've ever been there).


But the BIG deal at DLR is:
Indiana Jones Adventure... its amazing!

DLR (and even DCA with the "Electrical Parade" and a few other pretty good attractions -like Soarin', California Screamin' and Tower of Terror) can make for a great trip.

 

[AStamm]

We got our airfare for $100 CHEAPER per person to fly to CA this summer! The only thing scaring us about our 1st trip to DL this summer is the fact that the POTC2 premiere is the last full day we'll be there and it will probably be a mad-house. Not to mention that we are more than a little disappointed that due to this premiere, there won't be any showing of Fantasmic the entire week we'll be there and the POTC ride doesn't open until the day after we leave.

 

[Colorado DISers]

We've been to both. Two different experiences. Both great!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

There are a ton of things at DL you cannot experience at WDW. Just as there are a ton of things at WDW you cannot experience at DL.
Many of the attractions themselves are better than those at WDW.

Though there aren't any value or moderate Disney resorts out there, the partner hotels are pretty nice too.
And the good news is you can find some nice hotels off site that aren't partner hotels with very reasonable rates (ie competitive or better than Disney Value rates in WDW.) Some of these, you can walk to the main gate of both parks and are actually closer than the Disneyland or Paradise pier hotels. And "Maingate" doesn't mean 20 miles from the Magic Kingdom like at WDW, though it still can mean a mile and a half or two. So beware. Consult this handy dandy map.
http://www.accommodationsneardisney.com/Default.asp
Also, much as you would in WDW for an off site hotel, always go to Travelocity and Expedia and read through the customer comments on hotels as well as ask on the Disneyland message board here. These will help you spot a fleabag, or a hotel with bad shuttle service, etc.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We got our airfare for $100 CHEAPER per person to fly to CA this summer! The only thing scaring us about our 1st trip to DL this summer is the fact that the POTC2 premiere is the last full day we'll be there and it will probably be a mad-house. Not to mention that we are more than a little disappointed that due to this premiere, there won't be any showing of Fantasmic the entire week we'll be there and the POTC ride doesn't open until the day after we leave.

Ouch!!! Those are two of the very compelling reasons to make that trip out there.

But there are a lot of other reasons to go out there too. You'll still have a good time.

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

My family loved Disneyland long before we ever moved to California. Disneyland is far superior to the Magic Kingdom, and with DCA, the only big advantage WDW has is EPCOT. Yes, DCA is more of a seaside amusement park, but there is a unique feeling at Disneyland that no other park has. And remember this, if not for Disneyland, WDW would not be around.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We have only been to DL/DCA once almost five years ago right after DCA opened. At that time we had only had one WDW trip.
We are returning for a long weekend this Fall to DL/DCA. DH is registered for the DL half marathon.
We have room ressies atthe same hotel on Harbour Blvd we had last time.
It was a real switch to walk a short distance EVERYWHERE. It is a real pleasure to walk from the room to the park and to DTD. Everything is so close compared to WDW.
AT WDW, they make a real effort to hide back stage. I remember at DL how easy it was to see back stage. I think it was just a space issue.

 

[babyyeti]

is the space mountain ride at disneyland any different than at disneyworld? just curious

 

[HydroGuy]

Here is a different link for local DLR hotels, and also shows restaurants:

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

I agree with a previous post about walking. If you get a close by hotel, you can park your car and never need to get in a car, tram, bus or any form of transportation all week. That makes taking hotel breaks and parkhopping extremely easy.

Compared to DL, DCA does not stand on its own very well. It is a cool park, and we like it, but if we had to choose we would choose DL. The good news is we don't have to choose. Since DCA is so close to DL, to our family it is not a separate park. Rather it is like a new DL land - call it "CaliforniaLand". We treat DL and DCA as the same place, and with that approach DCA is a lot of fun. Heck, with that approach it beats the heck out of ToonTown which is of course part of DL proper, and might beat some other DL "lands" as well.

I bought the Birnbaum book last year, and it is just not very good. And while DIS is great for WDW, it is one of the weaker boards for DLR. I really got a lot out of MousePlanet and MiceChat, but there are a couple other popular ones that are better than DIS DLR. And when I say better, I mean more activity from knowledgable participants. The DIS DLR is fine, and the people nice and all, but it is just not as valuable as the others.

 

[Robo]

is the space mountain ride at disneyland any different than at disneyworld? just curious

Yes.

Disneyland has...

Two-rider Side-by-side seating (in rows).

And there are two different syncronized stereo rock music tracks (one daytime, one nighttime) that play through speakers in the head-rests.

Take a look at more comparisons here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Mountain

 

[Tam1067]

I grew up in California so we went to DL a lot. It is smaller, of course. One thing I think WDW does better is handle crowds. When it's crowded in DL, there are very few options, and because there is so little space, the walkways and space in the park get jammed with people, more than at MK. But it is cool to be so close to everything, and the entrances to the 2 parks are literally steps apart from each other which is also kind of cool.

Dining is another thing you'll miss. Although DL has upgraded food options, there's just no comparison to the choices you find at WDW. But it's special in a lot of ways.

 

[Robo]

Dining is another thing you'll miss. Although DL has upgraded food options, there's just no comparison to the choices you find at WDW. But it's special in a lot of ways.

Ah, the "Blue Bayou"...

Monte Cristo sandwiches...
with the Pirates of the Caribbean river scenes in view and soft banjo strumming in the backgound.

WDW doesn't have THAT.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

We went to DL for the first time July '05. Just so happened to be there the week of 50th. Even so, did not think crowds were too unmanageable except at parade and fireworks time. DD7 and DS5 at the time. We had a great time. Parks are smaller, so less walking for kids. Everything very central around the castle. DD very into character greets so we hung around the castle one morning and she met every princess, Peter Pan and Wendy, Pinnochio, Geppeto, Evil Queen, and more. Much easier then WDW for this. "Remember....Dreams Come True" fireworks were sooooo good. Better than "Wishes" IMHO.
I love WDW, but I still completely enjoyed DL. Even CA was a good time.
No need to stay in resort hotel if looking to save $. The whole street is lined with Good Neighbor hotels all in walking distance.
For families with small children, I think DL/CA is a great pick.

 

[Tam1067]

Ah, the "Blue Bayou"...

Monte Cristo sandwiches...
with the Pirates of the Caribbean river scenes in view and soft banjo strumming in the backgound.

WDW doesn't have THAT.

True enough--I like the fireflies flying around while you eat. They even get the humidity right.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Ah, the "Blue Bayou"...

Monte Cristo sandwiches...
with the Pirates of the Caribbean river scenes in view and soft banjo strumming in the backgound.

WDW doesn't have THAT.

Oh yeah! Love the Blue Bayou and the Monte Cristo! Yum! I've been to WDW and DL multiple times and I love them both for different reasons. It's funny, with my first trip to DL in 2001, I looked at the trip kind of as a once in a lifetime thing....living on the east coast and within driving distance (albeit a loonnnng drive) of WDW, I was mainly interested in seeing DL because it was the first Disney park, where it all began, where Walt actually walked, etc. I thought I would see it once, and then never again feel the need to go back, since I had the 'better' Disney resort closer to me. Boy was I wrong! I totally fell in love with Disneyland, and although I am hesitant to compare DL resort to WDW resort because they are such different experiences, DL park to MK park, DL wins for me every time!!! Just about every ride that is in both parks is far better at DL. Yes, it's smaller, and doesn't handle crowds as well because of the smaller walkways, but there's still something about it that just beats the MK, more charm, more ambiance, I don't know what it is, but I adore Disneyland! I encourage all WDW fans to go try it out!!