Has anyone considered DL due to all the changes with FP+

[kittycruize]

Hi everyone! I'm just curious if all of these changes with FP + has made anyone consider DL? I have to say with all of this I have. We are still going to WDW at the end of April, but if these changes drastically change the way we do WDW, we just might go to DL next time.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

We have done WDW with FP+. We are AP Holders. We have done it with tiers in place and without tiers. With tiers, we really didn't like the system at all. We will be visiting once this year and again in January 2015. If we still don't like it, we will be headed for DL instead.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We have and we were almost completely convinced that we would do DL instead of WDW this summer until we had such a great trip with FP+ 2 weeks ago. Because of that positive experience, I doubt that we will - but I want to see how this plays out a bit more before we decide.

 

[estherhead]

I've been to DL. It's fantastic. But WDW goers who only want to go some place where they won't have to stand in line will be disappointed in DL. There are much fewer rides with FP and HOARDS of people. And since most of them are locals they know every trick in the book and no matter how much research you do, you'll still be the newbie.

Go to DL because it's one of the best theme parks in the world.

Don't go because it'll be less crowded and fewer lines.

 

[tfc3rid]

Everyone should go to DL and see how much better it is than WDW... Seriously...

But remember, it caters to locals more than WDW so it's not a place to obsessively 'plan' for.

 

[Laz]

I've been to DL. It's fantastic. But WDW goers who only want to go some place where they won't have to stand in line will be disappointed in DL. There are much fewer rides with FP and HOARDS of people. And since most of them are locals they know every trick in the book and no matter how much research you do, you'll still be the newbie.

Go to DL because it's one of the best theme parks in the world.

Don't go because it'll be less crowded and fewer lines.

I do agree with all you say, expect that as a WDW vet, I felt much more relaxed with only 2 parks and 7 days to visit them. I actually slowed down, spent more time enjoying the DLH pool area and still got on every attraction enough times to be very happy, except for Radiator Springs Racers. RSR is amazing, and everyone knows it (Go at rope drop and the Wide Right Technique does work). If you do go to DLR for a week, you may find time to visit other S. California attractions.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Hmmmm,,,lets see. I live like 10 minutes from WDW. Should I (A) Drive 3000 miles or (B) fly 3000 miles which both A&B will cost me some bucks just to avoid FP+ or (C) just stay where I am and deal with it. Tough choice here.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Hmmmm,,,lets see. I live like 10 minutes from WDW. Should I (A) Drive 3000 miles or (B) fly 3000 miles which both A&B will cost me some bucks just to avoid FP+ or (C) just stay where I am and deal with it. Tough choice here.

Well, obviously!

For the rest of us who have to fly to Orlando anyway, we might be inclined to move our travel money around.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I've been to DL. It's fantastic. But WDW goers who only want to go some place where they won't have to stand in line will be disappointed in DL. There are much fewer rides with FP and HOARDS of people. And since most of them are locals they know every trick in the book and no matter how much research you do, you'll still be the newbie.

Go to DL because it's one of the best theme parks in the world.

Don't go because it'll be less crowded and fewer lines.

In my experience, the lines at DL are generally much shorter during the week. Weekends get busy with locals. TSM has no where near the lines at DL than the HS location.

 

[nugov2]

I love DL that is where I would go for sure if you haven't been. This new system is a downer and I would hold off on any WDW vacation until the dust settles and the system is stable. Right now I feel like the rules could change at any time for the better or worse and wouldn't want to gamble. WDW customer service is horrible when it comes to making guests aware of changes that may significantly impact their vacation, so I wouldn't trust them to not do something crazy to impact my vacation the day I arrive. I'm sure the system will end up being better than it is now, but I still am doubtful it will be better for the smart FP family. We had a ton of FP without running all over and didn't have problems getting them later in the day/evening either.

 

[BrianL]

I have found DL to be more crowded with longer lines. Weekdays are manageable, but the Weekends are brutal. Compared to WDW, where it's really more of a high season vs. low season, and I think low season at WDW is much better crowd/line wise. I know I never waited 90 minutes for the Haunted Mansion at WDW (though it was the Holiday one at DL).

I also didn't take 7 days at DL, but when you consider there are almost as many attractions in 2 parks ad there are in four at WDW, maybe it would be better with more time.

 

[AJPPGH]

Nah- I would never pay for a cross country flight just for DL. If we ever do go there it will be because our family finds ourselves in CA for some reason...and I doubt this will ever happen because there are many other places in the country/world that rank higher on our list to see.

 

[estherhead]

In my experience, the lines at DL are generally much shorter during the week. Weekends get busy with locals. TSM has no where near the lines at DL than the HS location.

We have three kids in school and so had to go in the summer. There were hour long rides for lots of things. TSM does have a somewhat shorter line than at DHS but there is no FP. We ended up riding it during WOC and still waited at least 45 minutes, that was the shortest it ever got.

I don't know. We found there to be a lot of lines. I don't always link to my blog by I wrote a post on tips for WDW vets going to DL.

http://www.enchantingbeginnings.com/disneyland-tips-for-walt-disney-world-veterans/

We found we had to get to the park a good hour before park opening and stand in bag check line and then wait at the gates if we wanted to ride non-FP rides without an hour wait. We waited for the train for 45 minutes one day. We waited an hour for Tink, an hour for the other princesses. And the FP return line at Splash Mt. was ridiculous the day we went. Also, everyone would be doing the exact same thing as me. I researched and researched but all it did was make me almost as smart as the locals. I had no advantage. So where I would start my morning, everyone else was too.

And people got ready for nighttime shows 2-3 HOURS ahead of time. Fantasmic shocked me. And World of Color freaked my family out crowdwise both times we saw it.

Here's my viewpoint on that:
http://www.enchantingbeginnings.com/disney-world-family-takes-on-disneyland-nighttime-shows/

So I stand on what I said. I'm sure locals and people who go all the time have no problems. But many of the FP+ complainers also want to travel at peak times from 11am-8pm. And we found at DL it was even more critical to do rope drop or stay super late and get to nighttime shows 4 hours early.

And that was our comparison before FP+ existed.

And we did a Monday-Friday stay. No weekend.

And this was right before Carsland opened, so lots of people were biding their time and not coming for another two weeks.

But I'm not really complaining. We DL and plan on going back. And we don't actually mind standing in lines now that our kids are big. We al have iphones and play games and get the lines to sing with us. We have fun. And DL crowds are fun crowds. I just don't want people to get the wrong idea.

 

[Laz]

Went to DLR last year during 4th of July week and except for RSR, we never waited more than 20 minutes for any attraction (that includes TSM, Soarin, etc.). We avoided DL on the 4th of July, and DCA was manageable. We made the mistake of having the WOC dinner/show package on the 4th July. While the WOC viewing was great, we made the mistake of exiting the park at the main entrance I guess it depends on your attack plan.

 

[jade1]

Went to DL last year for a day. Everyone should do it at least once IMO. Very fun, some attractions are better even, plus Cars and WOC was great.

But once was enough-could never spend 12 days there like we do WDW Resort.

Oh and FP+ will improve our touring anyway.

 

[5forDis]

We're going to Disneyland rather than Disney World this year. Our next trip to DW will be when Fast Pass Plus is not so new.

 

[ktlm]

We've done a trip with MDE/FP+. It was bad enough before the tiers existed, now, with the tiers I don't desire to do it again until they get things more sorted out or changes are made (which I think ultimately they will be). Although, we have been to WDW at least once a year for the past 6 years, at this time, we don't plan on going back this year. We love DL. If I can't get a FP for TT and Soarin at EPCOT on the same day, I can get a FP for RSR and Soarin at CA on the same day. RSR puts TT to shame anyway. The themeing is amazing. We were blown away by it last summer, and we aren't even Cars fans! Right now we are planning on spending 4 nights there this year, instead of 7 or 8 nights at WDW.

 

[redsbe]

Our family has been to DL and WDW multiple times and with our kids at different ages as they grew up. Disney fans should try and experience both results, but they clearly are difference experiences and each has their pro/cons.

Would I intentionally go to DL to avoid FP+? No as I still believe I could plan and enjoy a WDW visit without depending on FP+ .

DL is made up of just two parks, is much smaller, and not at the scale as a full service and resort experience as WDW. DL can easily be fully experienced in as few as 3-4 days whereas the complete experience at WDW is easily 7+ days. So the costs are different. And for us the flight costs to DL are 2x that for Orlando, suddenly making flight costs much more large portion of our vacation budget (meaning less money for days, hotel and food).

 

[Eoghann]

Disneyland doesn't really make much sense for us financially. We're East Coast based so the travel is not favorable and we have access to DVC at Disney World.

Putting that aside, while I haven't had the opportunity to use FP+ yet I'm actually anticipating it working quite well for us.

We're not going until December but I've had a rough itinerary worked out since last October and so far FP+ looks to be able to let us do everything we want. I think the only puzzle piece I still have to work out is Fantasmic.

What can I say, I'm a planner, it's fun.

 

[rhondabee]

We went to Disneyland last year on July 4. I am so glad we were able to experience the park. Honestly, until closer to firework time, I didn't find the crowds too bad. We had a wonderful time. We went to WDW in Sept. 2011. We loved that time of year so much, we are planning our second trip to WDW in Sept. of this year. I'm concerned about the FP, but since I'm not exactly a WDW veteran--I'm just excited I'm going again to the Happiest Place on Earth.