Help with Disneyland California

[alohamom]

Hello everyone, we are planning to do a few days in Disneyland Cali on our way to Hawaii, just to break the trip up a bit. Has anyone been to the two parks there and how do they compare to the World in Fla? Also, does anyone know where on the boards I can post specific questions for Dis/Cali? We would love to know if there are any minigolf experiences like Winterland Summerland, among other things. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance...

 

[Scratch42]

First, when do you plan to go. If it's a busy time of year, then be prepared for huge crowds!

There is no comparison ~ They are both special in their own way!

There is a Disneyland, California board where people will be more than happy to answer any and all your questions!

There is also a DTD there! Great places to shop and eat.

Depending on when you plan on going, DCA could probably be done in 1/2 a day. DL itself 1 day. DTD the other 1/2 day. But that is pushing it.

I loved the fact that everything is within walking distance. I love New Orleans Square!

They have the same rides but are different from WDW! It's a whole new experience!

I did not come across any mini golf areas but were not mini golfers so was not looking.

Good Luck with your planning!

janet

 

[Albertan mom]

Head over to the Disneyland board, they are geniuses over there They will answer every question you might have!

I would recommend at least 3 days there, 5 if you can.

It is lots of fun, my favorite place to go!

 

[pxlbarrel]

They have one ride that I wish they'd do in Orlando...the Alice in Wonderland ride. I love that ride...especially when you emerge into the sunlight and you can see the Tea Cups ride spinning away.

<sigh>

Yes, they're both different yet the same and I love them both. The one thing I love about the California version is that all the lands are so close together.

One of the best rides at DL is the Indiana Jones ride. When it was still new, we happened to be in DL for 5 days...we rode it every day and even twice a day (first thing in the morning, last thing at night.)

 

[alohamom]

Thanks for all your help guys, I think we are going next month, I just have to book it all!

 

[twinz]

We went to DL in December of 2003, and there was NO compairison to WDW..WDW is WAY bigger, and much much more to do. We were done both parks in a half a day each. We stuck it out until the end or each day but we could have easily left early. I did like the differences in some of the rides...eg. Pirate Of The Carribean, It's a Small World, Haunted Mansion. Unfortunately when we were there Space Mountain was closed for rehab. ToT was not open yet.
California Adventures was all new...we liked The Aladdin show (can't remember what it is called or if it is even still playing), the rides in Paradise Pier. We took a few little tours (tortilla and bread making--cool). WE rode Soarin' which was amazing! Their downtown Disney was different as well...smaller again.
We also liked all the rides that they don;t have at WDW (Indiana Jones, Materhorn, Alice In Wonderland). The one thing we did notice was that a lot of their rides board outdoors, which we thought was a little weird.
Have fun, you'll enjoy it...we did.

 

[c&m]

Like you, we are going to Hawaii and coming back through California, so we're stopping by DL for 2 days as well. With 2 days, we plan on doing California Adventure one day and Disneyland Park the other day. When it gets busy at either parks, we like to head out to DTD to explore for a while. Having been to both DL and WDW, there are some differences (mainly size), though both are enjoyable and fun in their own way.

What we like about DL Park:
1. Pirates of the Carribbean (2 waterfalls in DL whereas only 1 small waterfall at WDW)
2. Blue Bayou restaurant (yummy Montecristo sandwiches!)
3. Indiana Jones ride (amazing!!!)

What we like about CA:
1. Soarin' over California
2. Grizzly River Rapids
3. Redwood Forest playground
4. Electrical Parade

As another poster suggested, the Disneyland discussion board is great! You'll get a ton of information from locals. Sounds like you're going to have a great trip!

 

[pxlbarrel]

Like you, we are going to Hawaii and coming back through California, so we're stopping by DL for 2 days as well.

ha! We did that a few years ago when we stopped in Los Angeles on the way back from Hong Kong. I insisted we break up our 18 hour trip by stopping in LA and heading to DL. Gosh...we were soooo tired when we got there...I think I almost fell asleep driving us there. We were staying at the Fairfield Inn and as soon as I got there I made ressies at Goofy's Kitchen (it wasn't busy...we were there the week after New Year's). My brother and I went across the street to look at the plans for California Adventure and then we went back to the hotel. Then we all fell asleep (it was noon). We woke up by chance (by CHANCE!!!) at 6:30 pm. lol...our ressie was for 7:00 pm. Gosh, try seeing 4 adults trying to get ready for dinner while still half asleep.

The next day, my plan was to hit DL as soon it was open...but...we all woke up at 11 am. hahaha....so by the time we had breakfast, it was noon before we entered the park. So the best plans turned into mush because of jet lag. Lunch at the Blue Bayou was so late in the day. LOL (OK...some things you just gotta do no matter how tired you are.)

OH well, I've gotten so off topic.

 

[Cass]

I am looking at DL for next summer, thanks for the tip about the DL board here, duh ~ I forgot we had one

 

[DisneyDotty]

Ohh--you will LOVE Disneyland! We were just there and were sooo impressed. I'm currently jealous of you and anyone else who is planning a trip there--it will be a while before we get to go back **sigh**.
Anyway, you can check out comparisons between DL and WDW if you do a search, but I say just go and enjoy it for what it is--the happiest place on earth.
(PS--I really prefer DL's DTD over WDW's--the variety of merchandise is much better, IMO)

 

[pxlbarrel]

I quite enjoyed the Italian restaurant (the name escapes me) at DL's DTD. I ordered a spicy pasta dish. Now, I can eat heat but this thing was even tough for me. As I choked back tears, I asked the waiter how in the world regular non-chili heads could eat this. He laughed and said they can't. hahaha...it was soooooo goooooooooood though. I'm going to insist that we eat there when we return in August.

 

[TimNDansMom]

We had a wonderful vacation last summer in Southern California and are planning on returning this summer. I LOVED Disneyland for all the reasons listed above and can't wait to go back. It was very crowded though and I'm glad that I bought a 5 day hopper.

I found the Disneyland forum, here on the DIS, very helpful in all my planning for that trip last summer.