Has a lot changed in 4 years?

[TheSixOfUs]

Last time were were in Disneyland was 2011. We are thinking of heading back in 2015. Has a lot changed? I know that Cars Land (or whatever its called) was not there back then. Anything else there to help me convince the family its worth another trip? We were at WDW in 2013.

 

[Nonsuch]

Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers alone are worth a trip

 

[lalasmama]

I'm assuming the last time you went to DLR, DCA would have been covered in annoying walls, correct?

My first "adult" trip was at the beginning of 2012. Disneyland was great, but DCA left a lot to be desired... Those blasted walls were all over, it seemed to take forever to get anywhere, no area was "connected" to any other so you have to go "the long way" to get anywhere, and it just didn't float my boat. In fact, while I liked several of the rides, I considered it a big headache to visit DCA!

Now, just 2 years later, the walls are down. Carsland is complete (and AMAZING!). The park is definitely "holding it's own" and it's no longer a headache to visit. Our family loves it! The FP time for RSR is down to a semi-reasonable amount of time, so we do MM at Paradise Pier, and then go get RSR FPs, and have plenty more to hold our interest until our RSR time. It's no longer something to do because it's there, it's now an actual place to look forward to going! I was honestly very surprised when I saw the transformation after the walls came down.

As far as DL itself, there's the new princess fairytale show area (which was great fun to see!). Otherwise, it's Disneyland... and always worth the visit I can't think of things that are "new" there since our first visit, but I always find something new that I hadn't done in the past, even if it's not new.

 

[spellhex]

The new things that have opened since 2011 are Cars Land, Buena Vista Street, Princess Fantasy Faire, Mickey and the Magical Map, the Frozen meet and greet, and updated Matterhorn.

Things that were added in 2011 (so I'm not sure if you've experienced them) are the Soundsational parade, Ariel's Undersea Adventure, World of Color, and the new Star Tours.

So a solid day's worth of new things have been added since 2011.

 

[chrisaman]

Big thunder mountain railroad is sensational now. Previously we would skip it most trips and not even care. Now I ride it twice a day Carthay Circle restaurant is worth a visit also

 

[sheetz]

Next year is DL's 60th anniversary and there are rumors of a new parade, new fireworks, and upgraded special effects in the Fantasyland dark rides.

 

[tarheelalum]

The crowds are much worse now. DCA is much nicer looking overall and the RSR ride is pretty neat. Prices are a lot higher now as well.

 

[Gisele]

The crowds are much worse now. DCA is much nicer looking overall and the RSR ride is pretty neat. Prices are a lot higher now as well.

Agreed! It just isn't a nice, slow paced park anymore on average. Saying that because there may be times when it more or less will be.

 

[zanzibar138]

Our last trip was also in 2011, in Feb/March. While we were there were no parades, and a LOT was down for refurb or just hadn't opened yet. Just off the top of my head, things that will be new to us include:

DCA
* The whole of Carsland
* The new entrance and Carthay Circle restaurant
* Ariel's Undersea Adventure
* Silly Symphony Swings
* Goofy's Fly School
* Not sure if there is a parade in DCA, but that would be new

DL
* The whole of Critter Country
* Star Tours
* Mickey and the Magical Map
* The princess theatre
* BTM enhancements
* Soundsational parade

We'll also be experiencing RunDisney and Dapper Days events for the first time. And we should catch the very beginning of Halloween time, so hopefully will get HMH and SMGG.

We loved it last time (didn't find the walls to be a problem at all, was just disappointed it wasn't Carsland yet ) and didn't have time to do everything we wanted with a 6 day pass. I'm honestly not sure how we're going to fit all the new stuff in this time around!

 

[GatorChris]

DCA is a completely different park. Lots of new stuff!

DL....pretty much the same. A few new meet and greets at Fantasy Faire and the Marvel bunch over at Innoventions are nice. For me, the best update at DL is Star Tours. It's in 3-D now, and the you can get a different adventure everytime you ride it (waiting for that on Tower of Terror).