Help me decide WDW/DL, July/November

[scrappinmom]

ok, we've been to WDW a few times, we love it, love everythign about it, have dozens of scrapbooks devoted to it..Thought maybe it would be fun to try out DL someday. Here's the choices: DL, would have to be a summer trip, probably July, staying onsite at DL hotel, 7 days. OR WDW in Novermber during Turkey week...& PRAY there is a MVMCP while we're there. We've never been to WDW during christmas...but can't go other than that week in November (17th-25th). DL would have to be a summer trip just because airfare from Chicago to anyplace on the west coast when it's cold here is just simply outrageous. Can't possibly do both in one year so WWYD?

 

[Bete]

First, you've already been to WDW. DL and CA are only two parks vs. four, but I like DL better than MK. DL is the heart of Walt Disney. That was truly his baby. It's the 50th anniversary there, not really anywhere else.

I love going to LA and San Diego, too. If you rent a car, it's easy to get to either place. If no car, there are plenty of tour companies that will get you to Universal Studios, Hollywood, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Knotts Berry Farm, etc.

 

[Amirah95]

Since you've never been, try it out but I wouldn't devote 7 days to that trip though.

 

[idofabric]

DL! I went in Aug, not my first trip, I grew up in SoCal. But I had not been in 10+ years..more like 15! We have gone down to WDW so often I had forgotten all the cool stuff at the orginal. Like the flag pole in front of City Hall was a last min thing and was made from a lampost. And Walts Apartment over Pirates...
However, I was there one of the last weeks before SoCal schools when back for fall, 3 days were more then enought for me! It was a solo trip, and I had no ADR's but I still walked into Blue Byoue for lunch. And every other sit down meal I had at both DL and DCA. I liked the themeing so much better at the orinal Soaring!
And the new rehab at Space Mountain rocks so hard! I could not believe how fast and smooth it is. Took my breath away! Almost reminded me of RNRC at MGM.
The Pirates ride is down for rehab, but should be back up by July, and it is worth going just to see it! I have been on this ride in DL, TokyoDL and WDW, and still love the orginal.
You can sit on the steps in front of the POTC ride and see Wishes, and stat put, 'cause in less then an hour after that you are front and center for Fantamsic. OR you can book a Desert party and see both from up in Walts apartment over POTC ride. It is now an Art Gallery.

Keep in mind that Walt had a much, much larger piece of land to do MK then he did for DL. Every thing is so much closer/crowded together. But if you cross the park 7 times a day at DL it is a hole' bunch less walking. And the hotels are very nice. One reminded me of Wilderness Lodge- only more restrained..... a little more Arts and Crafts influe. then WL.
DL Hotel has been re done in the last few years, acording to the info from DL. I was told that most of the rooms have "pixie dust" that travels around the room as a night light. No idea how/when or ? I do know that the orginal rooms were smallish.

We will be there for our DD grad from USC in May. Hoping to stay on site. But if not there are a ton of hotels that you can stay at across one of the many streets. I saw the fireworks from my off site room. And Calif.Screaming was down... hoping it is up! There was an accident some time last July, and with Cal. laws it can/has in the past taken a much longer time to get rides recert.ed for riders....

All in all I think you will have a great trip! It had been 18 months since my last trip to LA/SanDiego and I could not believe how much more traffic, even on a Sat! So take that in considration also.

 

[Ginamarie]

I've been to DL twice now (both times within the past 2 years, though both times because I just happened to be in the LA area). Like the other posters mentioned, DL is a LOT smaller than WDW and you wouldn't need seven days to see the parks. If you've never been to the LA/Anaheim area though, it could be a good opportunity to see the area. Of course, DL in July may be VERY crowded. We were there this past August and it was absolutely mobbed.. we had to wait about 40-50 minutes just to get food from a counter-service restaurant for lunch. A lot of the rides had massive waits (luckily we knew how to utilize fastpass and had been on most of the rides the last time we were there). I'm not sure if they had a huge difference in crowds because of the 50th celebration or if that's the usual crowd capacity for a summer day. California Adventure was MUCH less crowded than DL.

If you're looking for a week of Disney related activities, I'd stick with WDW. However, the VMCP doesn't start until after Thanksgiving week. I've gone both during THanksgiving week and during December. You get to see some of the Christmas decorations during THanksgiving week, but the Christmas festivities start after that week.

 

[scrappinmom]

Thanks for the tips everyone....I think it would be really fun to see DL, but I am a bit concerned about the crowds....Thankfully I've still got a couple of months to figure it out!