From WDW To DL With Love - January 06, 2011

[RanCan]

So I just finished my school work for the evening and decided to catch up on posts before heading to bed. Little did I know that half of them would be from my wife. She's going to pass me in post count very quickly.

Thanks so far for the DLR suggestions, we'll take as many as we can get. I hear from friends here in Central Florida that it is a little strange walking into the park which looks so similar in many aspects, but things just don't seem to be quite in the right place. Do you think it is really possible to cover both DL and CA in just two days?

I agree...with the little ones you should take it slow and not try to do them in two days.

 

[aan1701]

Well, with all those of us in So. CA, I can see we're going to have to plan some pre-cruise meets at DLR to get to know each other!

We're in Torrance, so count us among the locals who are looking forward to bringing the Wonder home!

I live right next to LAX in Wrstchester. I guess that is good since I work there. I would love to do a few meets at DLR before. I go a lot on Fridays. When it comes to my DLR tips for those who have never beeb but have been to the FL parks are the following:

1: The Matterhorn. You can't ride it anywere but here.

2: POTC. Sorry WDW people this one blows yours away. (And this from the Guy who hates the POTC movies).

3: Go on our version of Buzz. The hand held guns are way better than the ones that are stuck to the car at WDW.

4: Make sure you see the Sleeping Beauty Dioramas inside the Castle. Very impressive.

5: Skip our TOT. For you WDW people I think you will just laugh at ours. Yours is way better.

6: Last one for now. See our Fantasmic. Sorry WDW people. This one blows yours right out of the water, especialy with our enhahancements and awesome new dragon. Sorry I have seen your version once and will never go again.

That's it. I got to run to watch the Dodgers finaly win the NL west.

 

[RRBB]

RRBB....do you mean the "eye, nose, you" sign? I remember Minnie Mouse doing that to you in Liberty Tree Tavern back in '04!

Yup, and she pointed to DD and signed baby when she did it, too.

I live right next to LAX in Wrstchester. I guess that is good since I work there. I would love to do a few meets at DLR before. I go a lot on Fridays. When it comes to my DLR tips for those who have never beeb but have been to the FL parks are the following:

1: The Matterhorn. You can't ride it anywere but here.

2: POTC. Sorry WDW people this one blows yours away. (And this from the Guy who hates the POTC movies).

3: Go on our version of Buzz. The hand held guns are way better than the ones that are stuck to the car at WDW.

4: Make sure you see the Sleeping Beauty Dioramas inside the Castle. Very impressive.

5: Skip our TOT. For you WDW people I think you will just laugh at ours. Yours is way better.

6: Last one for now. See our Fantasmic. Sorry WDW people. This one blows yours right out of the water, especialy with our enhahancements and awesome new dragon. Sorry I have seen your version once and will never go again.

That's it. I got to run to watch the Dodgers finaly win the NL west.

We go to WDW about once a year (3-4 times/year before kids), I have to agree with you. We took the kids to DL in August and tried to focus on rides and attraction that you can't do or are very different at WDW. We definitely prefer POTC at DL.

And the DL version of Small World is so much better than the one at WDW. We tried to go on it at least once each day we were there. It was so much fun to spot all the characters throughout. DD2 got so excited each time she saw the Little Mermaid and Donald Duck and Jasmine and... inside the ride.

 

[Shoshie]

Also...
be sure you ride Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio (which don't exist at WDW).
And your kids will LOVE Casey Jr's Train and/or the Storybook Land Canal Boats (the Disney stories in miniature).

Also, our Mr. Toad is still around (we lost our Country Bear Jamboree).

Plus, in Toontown, Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin is great fun!

Stop by our charming Snow White grotto (known for the large number of wedding proposals).

Feel free to ask anything you want to know about DLR (I was in the college program - workign in Fantasyland -- and these days go down once a month).

 

[aan1701]

Also...
be sure you ride Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio (which don't exist at WDW).
And your kids will LOVE Casey Jr's Train and/or the Storybook Land Canal Boats (the Disney stories in miniature).

Also, our Mr. Toad is still around (we lost our Country Bear Jamboree).

Plus, in Toontown, Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin is great fun!

Stop by our charming Snow White grotto (known for the large number of wedding proposals).

Feel free to ask anything you want to know about DLR (I was in the college program - workign in Fantasyland -- and these days go down once a month).

All great tips. Especialy Mr. Toad. I love that ride. I will throw out two more. The WDW Haunted Mansion is more of a complete story than ours, but go on ours and look down in the streaching room as you enter the room, is that a crack in the floor for an elevator? I now that crack is not at WDW. Makes that question of the host an interesting one. You know the one: "Is this Haunted room acctualy streaching or is it your imaniation?" The second is if it is running check out The sailing ship Columbia.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

From Sunshine To Gold, Bringing Home the Wonder.

RE: DLR vs. WDW, as of last year, I preferred the DL Space Mountain over the MK Space Mountain...unless things have changed.

At California Adventure, of course we should have the "World of Color" show operational at the time of the cruise:

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/disney%E2%80%99s-wor-957/

For big kids, California Screaming, the Mickey Funwheel (of Death), the Maliboomer, and the Grizzly River Run. The first three are especially great at night.

For little kids, all of Bug's Land and the Brother Bear Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.

Soarin' over California is always great, but I don't remember how different (if at all) it is from Soarin'.

And although it isn't a spectacular ride, it IS kind of cool that DLR still has operational "submarines", re-purposed as the Finding Nemo ride. A very cool night time picture shot is of the lighted submarine lagoon with the Matterhorn in the background.

And, just for the ambiance, you must eat at the Blue Bayou restaurant just once...it's located INSIDE the PotC ride, but decorated to look like an outdoor seating area along the Bayou at dusk, with frogs croaking, crickets chirping, fireflies twinkling, and the PotC boats floating past.

One last point...DLR is compact, and as long as you stay within the resort (3 hotels, DD, CA, DL), you will never need outside transportation. Everything is walking distance, and you can even "cheat" by taking the monorail from DD to DL (tomorrowland), or the Grand Californian entrance directly into CA. For example, it took us literally five minutes to walk from the door of our room at the Grand to being at the Grizzly River Run inside CA. If commando park visits are not your thing, then DLR is perfect for you, because the hotels and pools (and relaxation) are all short distances from the parks.

 

[aan1701]

I do completely agree with the above post. I would like to offer some advice. First, as a man I find the Mailiboomer very, um, uncomfortable. Also remember that in late January it can get very cold here highs only in the upper 50's and lower 40's at night. Grizzly River Run may not be the best rude to go on that time of year. As for Soring over California. If you have been on the WDW version, it is no different but the line. Our line is in a aircraft hanger and has the history of aviation. The ride movie is the same.

 

[disneymum2201]

I am looking forward to celebrating my birthday in Disneyland the day after the cruise finishes. I have always wanted a disney birthday on the actual day.

 

[ibouncetoo]

WELCOME to all the new kids!

I am looking forward to celebrating my birthday in Disneyland the day after the cruise finishes. I have always wanted a disney birthday on the actual day.

I get to visit DLR on my birthday THIS YEAR (5 weeks) and am really looking forward to it. Dragging some of my gal pals along for a get-away weekend...even got permission for all of us to leave work early that Friday to make the 5 1/2 hour drive. I told them no presents, as they have to shell out for a one day park admission (ouch). Using time share points (Shell Vacations) for 'free hotel' and tempted them with a stop at the outlet mall on the drive home Sunday.

As this is one of the 'milestone' birthdays, I'll be buying an annual pass to DLR as my gift to myself, but I'm going to wait till January to get it, so that I can still use if for the Friday/Saturday after this cruise.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Good morning, everyone, We, too, are planning a few days at DL post-cruise. Carol and Doug, pahrumpgirl, will be our tour guides as Steve and I have never been.

We'll be staying 4 or 5 days and will be renting a car and exploring the area as well.

Sounds like a lot of us are doing a post-cruise DL vacation!

 

[pahrumpgirl]

Good morning Denise. Welcome to all the newbies. Love the differences DL over WDW. Makes it fun to go to both parks.

Carol

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Good morning!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Wrong post!

 

[RanCan]

Good morning fellow cruisers!! Hope everyone has a great day...

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Good Morning, RanCan! Any day I'm talking about a cruise that I'm signed up for IS a good day!

 

[granmaz]

I live right next to LAX in Wrstchester. I guess that is good since I work there. I would love to do a few meets at DLR before. I go a lot on Fridays. When it comes to my DLR tips for those who have never beeb but have been to the FL parks are the following:

5: Skip our TOT. For you WDW people I think you will just laugh at ours. Yours is way better.

6: Last one for now. See our Fantasmic. Sorry WDW people. This one blows yours right out of the water, especialy with our enhahancements and awesome new dragon. Sorry I have seen your version once and will never go again.

We stayed at DL for our first time for a few days after the last WB PC cruise, and I so agree about Fantasmic. It was worth fighting the crowds for!!

However, we had the BEST ever TOT ride at the DL one, so I would say don't skip it!!!

 

[RanCan]

Just a quick question... When will DCL post the shore excursion options for our cruise?

 

[cardidog]

Hi! I'm glad to see everyone talking about visiting DisneyLand after our PC cruise! We plan on staying 2 nights after the cruise---we have to go back to work on that Monday. Sigh. Can you guys help me out with the acronyms? I finally figured out the Pirates ride one but what the heck is TOT? I guess I'm not much of a Disney Geek---actually, I hardly go on the rides at all---my favorites are the tea cups and the golden carousel.

Thanks!

 

[RanCan]

Hi! I'm glad to see everyone talking about visiting DisneyLand after our PC cruise! We plan on staying 2 nights after the cruise---we have to go back to work on that Monday. Sigh. Can you guys help me out with the acronyms? I finally figured out the Pirates ride one but what the heck is TOT? I guess I'm not much of a Disney Geek---actually, I hardly go on the rides at all---my favorites are the tea cups and the golden carousel.

Thanks!

TOT = Tower of Terror...Very good ride, random elevator drops!

 

[poohs4me]

I would love to be able to go to DL for a couple of days after the cruise, but realistically being gone from the house for so long may prevent it. I have yet to broach the subject with DH because I do not want to push my luck.