Having visited Disney World numerous times, will I be "let down" when visiting DL?

[Sarah_Rose]

I've done many trips to WDW since childhood (and every year for the past 4 years) and it has always been my happy place. We live on the west coast, but I'd never been to DL until last month.

I have a new happy place.

The attention to detail at DL is just so much MORE than WDW - it's like every inch has been carefully crafted. You just feel like you're in Walt's park with every step. There are so many more rides than at WDW, and a greater range of rides as well. I can't wait for the construction at DCA to be finished so that we can see that park as it was meant to be seen.

Anyway, we've already booked our next DL trip for December. I wasn't expecting to LOVE DL, but I do. We'll always go back to WDW, but probably only every 3-5 years, now. DL is our new go-to park. It's so much easier to get around (especially with a stroller!) and it's just as magical as WDW. Epcot is my favorite park and I will miss it the most, but DL is just as awesome.

 

[dalstitch45]

Koz, you will not be disappointed. As many times as I have been to WDW, and loved it, I thought nothing could be better. The more I go to DLR, the more I fall in love with this place. Even though it is smaller than WDW, there is so much to see and do. Go with an open mind. It is truly magical.

I truly love them both, but ("gulp") I think DLR is becoming my favorite.

 

[gmi3804]

I was prepared for a real "urban" experience when I visited in '05, and indeed, the surrounding area is pretty congested. But once you enter Disney property, the magic descends. Yes, it is more compact than The World, but altogether charming nonetheless. And historic.

 

[teddygurl28]

i have never been to DL, so take it for what its worth. I go to WDW because im obsessed (and i live on the east coast so its way easier to get to).

I am going to DLR for a short stay (25 hrs in the parks over 3 days) and i am excited about it.
Everyone i tell that i am going have the same reaction- its nothing like WDW, its not worth it, you won't enjoy it.

I tell them this- its disney, how can i not enjoy it ( i even enjoy going to the disney store in NYC and will drive 4 hrs to do so)
I know it won't be the same- thats the point. I can experience new rides, hotels and experiences that they don't have in WDW.

I do not think i will love it as much as i love WDW...mainly because of size. I love spending 7-10 days at wdw. going to each park several times, water parks, downtown disney and enjoying the hotel life. my guess is you may be in the same boat as me.. you just love to be constantly immersed in disney and all its offerings.

I do not think you will be dissapointed with DL (again though cant say for sure until i am there next month) but you have to let yourself enjoy it for what it is...a different disney experience. if you try to much to compare, you will be loosing out

 

[ducky_love]

We live at WDW but make it out to DL every few years. It is different and every bit as wonderful!!

 

[soaringirl]

We're also WDW fans and love the "inmerse feeling" at WDW. We went for our first trip to DLR last September, and when trying to decide where to go next year, it was a no-brainer: DLR! We stayed at the Grand Californian last year and that was amazing! Now we're trying for HoJo's, and see what's all the buzz is about.
If you come with an open mind as you said, you will certainly not be dissapointed. As Hidroguy mentioned in his amazing tips, Disneyland has more rides. Yes there are other parks, and being Epcot my favorite, I must say I didn't even remember its existance once in DLR.
Again, as Hidroguy mentioned, there are other wonderful places to go and visit while in Anaheim. We loved San Diego and Sea World.
Can't wait to go back!

 

[J. Galt]

I was you a few years ago. I have been to WDW many, many times... usually stay at a deluxe for over a week. My family LOVES it. I had very low expectations going to DL for the first time and I was really blown away. We LOVED it! We didn't even stay onsite (stayed at the HOJO, which we call the "Poor Man's Polynesian", lol). With young kids we relished how relaxing our DL trip turned out to be. At WDW we are always running, running, running trying to see everything and beat the crowds. Transportation is always a headache ("C'mon guys, we need to get up and get going in the morning, b/c if we miss the bus at XXX time we might not make it to our character b'fast", you know the drill). At DL, transportation headaches fall completely out of the equation. So wonderful! We sleep in! We wander back to our hotel to grab sweatshirts if it gets chilly. We wander over late at night to catch fireworks. We take things at a slower pace and poke around and discover all sorts of little hidden magical touches which may or may not be replicated at WDW but we would never know b/c we are always running around at WDW trying to cram in all the big ticket items! I love both WDW and DL. The only thing I miss about WDW when we are at DL is EPCOT. There is just no replacing EPCOT. Keep an open mind, change your touring strategy and you will have a great time!

 

[Lucille1963]

So much has been said already, but I'll add my 2cents.

I grew up with numerous trips to WDW, but just 1 day at DL when I was 18. That one day was all it took to hook me.

I love the intimate size, its simple to get from place to place without loosing hours of your day! By the time you'd make it to the bus stop at WDW, you'll be back in your room at DL!!

To me, the entertainment in DL is superior. I love catching numerous Miner 49'ers and Billy Hill and the Hillbillies shows.

For our family, it is just so much more relaxing. No running from ADR to ADR, waiting in long lines for long bus rides, or sweltering in FL humidity between rain showers.

 

[ludari]

I grew up in SoCal so for me DL has magically memories for me. Yes, DL cannot compare to the large resort at WDW and the way you are immersed in everything Disney but it's the orginal and I take each park on it's own merits.

 

[elaw]

Having visited Disney World numerous times, will I be "let down" when visiting DL?

Yes .... but WDW will let you down, not DL ... you will forever be unable to look at WDW the same way and finding yourself continuously comparing the two and thinking how much better some of the DL versions of the rides are way better .... (POC is a great example). Of course, some of the WDW versions are better than their DL counterparts too. Sleeping Beauty Castle's size (or lack thereof) will be a bit of a shocker.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Enjoy the differences. Concentrate on the attractions you won't find at WDW, including World of Color, Aladdin, the Matterhorn, etc. While there aren't as many restaurants, I've never known anybuddy to starve at DLR. Hope you can try Blue Bayou -- that's something WDW doesn't have, plus the Pirates of the Caribbean is better themed. So is It's a Small World.

While we love both parks, we prefer DLR's climate -- humidity is not my friend! -- and the ease of getting around without buses!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Koz,

As you can see, we're a little biased when it comes to "our" park, but I have to agree with the others. Come with no expectation that Disneyland is the same as Walt Disney World - similar, but not the same, and enjoy this park for what it has to offer (which is a lot).

Disneyland is my favorite park. I've been to WDW a few times, and am going in December for a couple of days. I like WDW for what that park has to offer, and love Disneyland for what it has to offer, plus, my heart is here, too.

Hope you have a fabulous time planning (we have wonderful DISers in our corner of the DIS, and a better time when you actually go to the park.

 

[HydroGuy]

I am going to DLR for a short stay (25 hrs in the parks over 3 days) and i am excited about it.
Everyone i tell that i am going have the same reaction- its nothing like WDW, its not worth it, you won't enjoy it.

I really want to find these people because I will bet big money that 95% of them have never been to DLR, have no idea what they are talking about, and are just repeating "what they have heard".

Sort of like the Yogi Berra saying "no one ever goes there anymore because it is too crowded".

 

[ArchOwl]

I really want to find these people because I will bet big money that 95% of them have never been to DLR, have no idea what they are talking about, and are just repeating "what they have heard".

Sort of like the Yogi Berra saying "no one ever goes there anymore because it is too crowded".

Hey, that's fine. Less people in our park!

 

[teddygurl28]

Hey, that's fine. Less people in our park!

haha they have been there...but we grew up commando style at WDW, so i think DLR was a bit of a shock to them ..

....they also just don't get disney the way i do, so i don't listen to them and continue to get excited about going....im only nervous that i wont get everything done i want (which such limited time) and that i may never want to leave

 

[HydroGuy]

Yes .... but WDW will let you down, not DL ... you will forever be unable to look at WDW the same way and finding yourself continuously comparing the two and thinking how much better some of the DL versions of the rides are way better .... (POC is a great example). Of course, some of the WDW versions are better than their DL counterparts too. Sleeping Beauty Castle's size (or lack thereof) will be a bit of a shocker.

LOL, I call it the "Disney boomerang". It works equally for WDW vets going to DLR for the first time and vice versa.

Here is how the boomerang works:

1. You are worried you won't like the "other" resort and it won't have the same Disney magic and you will miss your favorite (fill in the blank, Epcot, castle, Matterhorn, etc.)

2. You try it

3. You find Disney Magic - if you have an open mind and do not come with preconceived ideas that the "other" resort must be like your home resort in all ways.

4. You go back to your home resort

5. You were always perfectly happy with your home resort in the past. But now something is missing...what is it? Then it hits you. You are missing something from the "other" resort about which you were worried so much initially.

My Disney boomerang after WDW is that I now miss the following things while I am at DLR:

o Rockin Rollercoaster
o Expedition Everest
o Philharmagic
o Randomized Tower of Terror rides
o Festival of the Lion King
o Lights, Motor, Action
o Off Kilter
o Mulch Sweat & Shears
o Beaches & Cream
o Sci-Fi Dine-In

While at WDW I miss these things from DLR

o Indiana Jones
o World of Color
o Matterhorn
o DL's Space Mountain
o DL's POTC
o Aladdin show
o DL's Tiki Room
o Alice in Wonderland
o DL's FantasyLand as a whole

 

[ArchOwl]

Yeah, I am starting to plan a trip to WDW for November 2012. I am totally excited for it and want to do everything with an open mind. But I am freaking out about the planning. How am I supposed to know what I will be doing on a certain day so I can plan meals? It makes me appreciate the laid back attitude at DLR. Bottom line though is that I wouldn't be making the trip to WDW if it was exactly like DLR. There would be no point! So I will figure it out and have a great time.

 

[johde]

I took my first trip to DL over Labor Day weekend after having been to WDW countless times. I would say DL is the best Disney park in the U.S. DCA was fun but seemed to be missing something. Part of that could be the huge portions of the park closed off refurbishment/carsland expansion.

Like Hydroguy's superthread mentions, Disneyland feels very familiar, yet off. Things are not where you expect them to be. For example, POTC, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and Pooh are all practically next to each other where at WDW they are spread all over the park. So, it takes a while to get your bearings. That is not a bad thing, just a different thing. I also really enjoyed riding things that are no longer at WDW. Being able to ride Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and the Submarines (currently Finding Nemo, then 20,000 leagues under the sea) really took me back to my childhood.

I really appreciated the closeness of the hotels given the heat. I visited during one of the stretching where the temp. hit upper 90's to 100 on several days. I stayed at the GCV so being a short walk back to the hotel was great. Even on the day it hit 100, it was fairly cool in the morning and evening so touring then and taking a break in the afternoon was good.

That being said, I don't think DL makes an entire vacation for me. But by the same token neither does WDW. In addition to DL, I went to Knotts Berry Farm, Six Flags, The beach, and Hollywood. When I go to Orlando, I'll go not only to WDW but also Universal, Seaworld, and Busch Gardens.

I would say go with an open mind. I had a great trip and plan on going back again in a few years.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We just had our first trip to WDW and there was so much I missed from DLR. If we ever get to go back to WDW I would do things totally different and spend all my time at Epcot (eating!) and AK doing things not at Disneyland. .....okay a day at MK and a half a day at DHS. For me, WDW was a fun adventure, but DLR is home. Also if I ever go back it'll have to be at Christmastime because I want to do and see all the holiday stuff, otherwise I'd be happier staying "home".

 

[HydroGuy]

Like Hydroguy's superthread mentions, Disneyland feels very familiar, yet off. Things are not where you expect them to be. For example, POTC, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and Pooh are all practically next to each other where at WDW they are spread all over the park. So, it takes a while to get your bearings. That is not a bad thing, just a different thing.

Ahhh, but POTC, HM and Splash were all built first at DL. Pooh was at MK first. And BTMRR was built first at DL and then MK. That Splash and BTMRR are right next to each other at MK is the aberration. It is MK which is "off" not DL!