Going to Disneyland or not?

[Eloi]

Hello,

I'll be in Laguna Beach, CA with my wife for 7 days arriving Nov. 30. It's a trip that is part-work (3 days) and part-vacation (4 days). The days that we'll have on vacation will be a Saturday, a Sunday, a Thursday and a Friday (where we fly back home at 12:30 AM at the Ontario airport).

This will be our very first trip in California and we'd like to visit the surroundings a bit and I know we don't have much time. We've been to Disneyworld in Orlando with our 2 daughters in 2005 (spent 7 days, we've been to all Parks and Water Parks) and all the family LOVED it. We're tempted to skip DL in this trip cause we've already been to DW once and we've been said that DL is smaller, even though beautiful. We don't have much time and would like to do a short trip to LA, as well as maybe San Diego.

So, should we skip a visit at some other place and do Disneyland instead even though we've already been to DW? What do you think? Part of me would love to go there, as it's surely beautifully decorated for Christmas. But another part of me says that I should visit something else as I mentioned above as it's maybe my first and last visit to California and maybe I should try to see as much as possible.

Thanks.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Okay, I would never skip a trip to DL or WDW, but to each his own. DLR is the original and is quite different from the "world". That being said, you will be in Laguna Beach so you might find driving to San Diego easier than Anaheim (its a traffic thing) so you could hit up Seaworld, San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park. I would NEVER attempt a drive to Universal from Laguna. . .Not unless planning an overnight in Hollywood. . .its a hellish drive. However, if you have never been to the DLR and DCA you should check it out. Its got its own magic. Much more so than you would think.

 

[mystic_path]

Well I cant honestly say I have been to Disney World so I cant compare the 2 parks, but what I have been told is that DW is quite different from DL. DL is much smaller then DW but has more attractions in a compact area. The upside is that DL has some different rides and shows then Disneyworld, and some rides such as pirates and the haunted mansion and splash mountain are different in both parks. So going for just a comparison would be fun, and for the fact that you can say you have been to both parks.

Personally what I would do is get a 2 or 3 day hopper for DL and go for those 2 or 3 days and then spend the extra going to the zoo or univeral or sea world.

Just a note cause you might ask.... DL can NOT be done in one day. If you tried to see it all, your rushing it. Personally I wouldnt get anything less then a 2 day hopper. Just my opinion. Its not so hard if you have been there before and know what to expect and what you want to see so you can plan around it and skip the attractions you dont need to see, or if you do tons of research before or ask us here on disboards we can totally give you some tips as to how to plan your day accurately.

Either way, your trip sounds like a ton of fun, even if you do have to work part of it. Im still jealous you get to go there so soon LOL

 

[bumbershoot]

Definitely you should go! I don't normally say such things, but others remind WDW fans that DL is "Walt's park". He was actually there. To many, that is very special.

There are many rides there that are better, I hear, than their counterparts at WDW, like POTC.

Have you looked at the "sticky" thread by Hydroguy? He has tips for WDW veterans going to DL, and it would probably be a good read for you.

We've done two one-day blasts at DL, and they were great fun! We stayed only at DL, and by no means did everything, but we still enjoyed ourselves. I looked at all the guidebooks I could find at the library (most recent only) and fashioned a touring plan based on one of the books' "Dumbo or Die" (for families with little kids) and threw in other rides as we could. We did quite well on each of our one day trips.

Of course, each trip fueled our desire to go back, and we had 6.5 days at DL and DCA in September, and are going back in December, and very likely in January and then again in the spring, and then again....yes we got APs for this year, LOL.

So yeah, spend a day at DL. Study up on it, read everything you can! Spend a day there and then spend the rest of your trip going to San Diego (SeaWorld? lol) and other places. Have fun!

 

[Master Mason]

I wouldn't miss a chance to go to DL especially if you don't think you'll ever be in CA again... But I have been told I am slightly obsessive about it as well.

 

[Tink208]

I live in northern CA, and I cannot imagine making a trip to the Los Angeles area without working in Disneyland if at all humanly possible. (I went all by myself for a few hours when I was at the Anaheim convention center for a state PTA convention last year.) But, like the previous poster, I am pretty much obsessed. I've never been to any of the other places in the LA area like Universal Studios or the like, because if I am there, I am at DL.

 

[Hound 109]

I've been to both & both are great (but very different). You MUST read HydroGuy's "DLR for WDW Vets" thread. It is (imo) 100% accurate info w/o (much) opinion.

I, however will offer My opinion...I won't return to WDW unless I'm forced to...because:

- I can have more fun in half the time.
- Many of the same rides are much better at DLR.
- I don't have to ride buses (or wait in many lines).
- The rides that aren't available at WDW (Toadie, Indy, Alice & a dozen others), rock.
- There are as many rides in 2 parks (at DLR) as there are in WDW in 4 parks.
(I would enjoy a World Showcase & Mission Space at DLR...but that's about it.)
- DTD is next door.
- DCA is next door.
- My lodging is next door.
- If i want water, I'll jump in the Pacific (or go to the worlds best water park here in Central Texas)
- If i want golf, I'll play here in Austin.
- If i want humidity, i'll go to Houston (or Orlando ).

- & it's Walt's park.

You might want to consider a visit for 2 of your days (or at least 1 day).

 

[fairycat]

Ok first let me start this off by saying I was born and raised in the upper part of Southern California my whole life, so my thoughts might be a little different, but I would never skip DL.

I have been to DL every year of my life and had a AP for the past 6 years, I have been to Seaworld twice in my entire life and the last time was we'll say many, many, many years ago. Universal Studios I went a handful of times as a kid and last time was about 10 years ago. I also have been to WDW three times the last time in October.

If you love the Disney experience go to DL and skip San Diego for another trip. San Diego is dealing with fire clean up, is not really beach weather this time of year (at least to me ), and it is a rather big area with lots of driving. I like the city a lot and hope to do the parks some time in the futire but wouldn't personally skip DL for it.

Universal is a cool park, but not a lot of rides, this is the place to ride the backstage tram ride unlike FL parks you are going to see actual sets. This is were they filled many famous movies and still do, in fact you can sometimes see them filming from the tram (my friends had a tram photograph them when they were extras for POTC2), also a lot of what they used as ride filler at USFL is part of the tram. It was always my favorite. US is also two freeway off ramps from Hollywood and Highland. These streets lead you to the walk of fame, El Capitan (the classic Hollywood movie theater Disney bought and refurbished and show Disney movies, I love the extras they do here) which also has a teeny, tiny Disney Store and Malt shop next door, the very nice Hollywood and Highland shopping complex that also includes the Kodak theater where they hold the Oscars and next door is Grohman's Chinese theater.

The down side about Hollywood is its kind of tacky and dirty. While they are fixing up areas some of it is kind of BLAH! But the new shopping complex has made that area much better, and with such major draws I love to take tourists down there for an hour or two. We actually went bowling at Lucky Strike for my B-day and decided to play tourists and our whole group had a blast even though most everyone was from CA. or had lived here for years. Some just hadn't been there in a while. But don't expect Hollywood to be an all day thing unless you want to add a tour, see some of the famous cemetaries (its a guarenteed way to always see the stars ), go shopping or see a show (Wicked at Pantages is AMAZING! Pantages is another old theater).

Disneyland is so much different then WDW first DTD, DCA and DL are all within VERY short walking distance of each other, you can park hop all day and eat dinner and lunch at DTD if you wanted and lose next to no park time. With 2 parks DLR has only 10% less attractions then WDW's 4 parks. The park is smaller but that doesn't take away rides it takes away walking, instead of huge expanses inbetween everything you have a design that has been worked to carefully utilize the land. In some places this made DLR have to use more imagination and care, I think in some ways it shows in DLR's favor.

Others have already said this but both parks do share some rides and while some are the same (very few), many are better at DL (buzz, SM and POTC are common examples) some like HM are great no matter what but you would see HMH the HM with its special Nightmare before Christmas Holiday overlay which is unique to DL and in my opinion fantastic.

You would also get to see IASW in all it's glory, while MK has IASW and the ride is the same the front display can not be compared, its huge and beautiful and extra wonderful in holiday mood.

There is so much to see that is different and it does make it extra special to see the apartment that Walt and his family actually stayed at. And all its special touches. Personally I would check it out, but then I am a bit biased


You might want to do two days at DL two in San Diego, or two days DL, one day Hollywood and US and one at the beaches, it depends on how busy you are and how much you want to do, but two days can accomplish quite a bit at DL. Driving can be a pain but if you travel, very early in the morning both 6am, around 11-1pm and then hold doing a lot of driving until 8pm. In you drive during these times you can cut out large hunks of travel time. Most of the places you are looking at going are under 2 hour drive if you avoid peak hours, otherwise it can add a whole lot of driving. But you can get buses to many locations as well.

BTW if you like shopping and get to Ontario early go check out the Ontario Mills Mall and up a bit more the new Bass sporting goods store I haven't been but I heard it was insane, some have indoor golf, fishing, climbing walls, archery and more. Ontario Mills has a IMAX and Dave and Buster's which is fun to eat and play games at.

 

[DangerMouse]

You do realize you're posting on a DisneyLAND fan board, right?

Did you actually expect someone to say "Nah, skip Disneyland, it's really not worth your time."

I go to DLR as often as I possibly can, and I think most other people who are regulars on this site will say the same thing.

 

[Hound 109]

....Did you actually expect someone to say "Nah, skip Disneyland, it's really not worth your time."
....

Hey....maybe that's what we need to do.

"Nah...better skip DL, especially Dec. 9-11. Heard it was going to be crowded & the Brazilian Cheerleader Convention & the Elks Convention will be in town. Better stay clear of DLR those days."

hound <--- staying at the PP 12/9 & 12/10

 

[darph nader]

(using the Force) He built it ,you 'will' go there.
Sad to say,we lived in Cali over 40yrs ago. Watched "Wonderful World of Disney" every Sunday.Never thought about going to DL.
If you're that close,DO IT.

 

[Eloi]

You do realize you're posting on a DisneyLAND fan board, right?

Did you actually expect someone to say "Nah, skip Disneyland, it's really not worth your time."

I go to DLR as often as I possibly can, and I think most other people who are regulars on this site will say the same thing.

I do realize I'm posting on a Disney board and was kinda expecting to get the positive replies I got. And I guess you succeeded in convincing me to probably skip San Diego and to go to Disneyland on the Thursday of my vacation...I can't go 2 days though, so I'll have to plan carefully to be able to see the most on one day.