How do the international parks compare to WDW?

[2102raven]

If I might add, other than attractions and entertainment, the 3 Disney Parks in Asia offer the most unique and I'd say 'cutest' merchandise available. Fortunately they are not part of the combined 'Disney Parks' structure in the States (TDL & TDS aren't owned by Disney) thus eliminates the same old same old stuff one would see at DL and WDW.
I found the food offerings (restaurants, snacks, QS options) to be quite plentiful. It's refreshing not to see pizza, hot dogs, burgers at almost every QS counters.

Then again each park/resort has its own pos/neg which have already been mentioned.

 

[surferdave]

7. Because Tomorrowland has always been a pain since by the time an attraction gets there it's already tomorrow. They made the choice to theme it on Vern and more of a steampunk tomorrow theme. (The walk though Nautilus is pretty cool too.)

That's actually a great idea. Making it a retro-Tomorrowland nicely solves the problem of it becoming outdated.

 

[JimmyV]

Perhaps you have to grow up in Europe to be used to it.
But it is getting better: they started to build up lines for the meet&greets of the characters.

OT...but the first time I went skiing in the Alps, I could not get over how the "lift line" worked. Essentially, there was no line. People just plowed their way up to the loading area in a free for all, stepping all over each other's skis. I learned real fast that lines in Europe were very different than lines in the U.S.

 

[asc]

to answer the question, tokyo disney is insanely busy.

we have either been in may, just after the national holidays, or this past time in june.

either way, it was very very busy. standby lines of 100-120, for things like monster's inc. and big thunder that said, never more than 10 minutes for star tours, the new 3D version.

at hong kong, it was very quiet before about 1pm. it was, after all, HOT HOT HOT, 32 degrees and 90% humidity....so that's about 115+ in terms of heat index in degrees F. for those who have been to HKG, i have been too much in the last 3 years, you are almost soaking wet as you walk outside with sweat at this time of year.

 

[cheryl.UK]

Disneyland, Hong Kong is... small but perfectly formed. It's by far the smallest of all MK style resorts but is so pretty. There has been a lot of expansion since it opened but it will never be the size of MK or DLP because it doesn't have the space. The cast members are awesome and there are separate lines for English and Canton speaking gussets on rides like the JC. Crowd levels vary enormously. We went at easter and they were pretty low but I've heard that HK school holidays and public holidays are so full that they close the gates very early. The tech is certainly better than WDW but on par with DLP.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Ok... seriously freaking out, just looked up a video of the dragon!!! SO COOL! I have to go there at some point! amazing!!!!!!

 

[asc]

Disneyland, Hong Kong is... small but perfectly formed. It's by far the smallest of all MK style resorts but is so pretty. There has been a lot of expansion since it opened but it will never be the size of MK or DLP because it doesn't have the space. The cast members are awesome and there are separate lines for English and Canton speaking gussets on rides like the JC. Crowd levels vary enormously. We went at easter and they were pretty low but I've heard that HK school holidays and public holidays are so full that they close the gates very early. The tech is certainly better than WDW but on par with DLP.

agreed...having an English boat available on JC was funny.

with the expansion to add three new areas, it's much better in terms of size. in fact, we only recently went, despite being in HKG, 6 times in the last three years....10 times for me due to business...because of the small size. but they now have some only in Hong Kong attractions.

the food options were also very good IMO. some of the spicy noodle dishes and the curries. wow....I was in heaven. I would take more of this stuff any day of the week.

it was also very cheap.

as a reference point, the price for 2 adults and 1 child at Tokyo was about US$175 and in Hong Kong, US$168.

I don't even want to know how much a one day ticket is at WDW....

 

[KatrinfromGermany]

Dark except there is a part that comes outside right? At least when I saw the the building it looked like there was a section outside too.

yes, a short part of the ride is outside -but so short you almost don't notice it!

 

[JimmyV]

Fascinating to see some of the rides at those parks, in light of the lesson that we learned here that Disney's parks are not the right place for more thrilling rides. I don't know about you, but I would have loved to see the Mine Train look more like this:

http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tds/atrc/lostriver/raging/index.html


.....with cute dwarfs at the end, of course.

 

[flortlebap]

The dragon under the castle and POTC in DLRP are the only things that are superior to WDW. Everything else is far inferior IMO - particularly the appalling food and rude staff. DH said he wouldn't waste another penny on DLRP, but loves WDW!

DLRP is comparatively very expensive too for what you get, and the accommodation on site is shabby compared to WDW. Hotel New York was nice but pretty expensive, and the "moderate" hotels in DLRP are basically falling to bits.

I wouldn't be in a rush to go back, but the Indy coaster and crush coasters are also nice additions. BTM is on it's own island as well, which is pleasant as you have to go "under" the water to reach the main island on the track

 

[asc]

Fascinating to see some of the rides at those parks, in light of the lesson that we learned here that Disney's parks are not the right place for more thrilling rides. I don't know about your, but I would have loved to see the Mine Train look more like this:

http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tds/atrc/lostriver/raging/index.html

that ride, is actually, remarkably short.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5CD-Ml0VYs despite the comment from the maker, it's actually pretty close to the one in paris.

now this ride in HKG was very fun.

POV is around 6 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ySk0OVgFfg

 

[thehails]

We live in the Uk so get to go to DLP every year at some point.

I think where people end up getting disappointed in DLP is when they compare it to WDW, its not WDW by any stretch of the imagination, but it fantastic in its own right.

DLP understandably has a European atmosphere, unlike WDW, most cast member, but not all, are there only to do their job, its not their dream employment, this is one big difference between DLP & WDW, customer service levels are completely different.

There is hardly any crowd control with most meet and greets in the parks, the characters get mobbed, and if you have children its extremely difficult to get them in a position to meet the character. My biggest recommendation if you are going to DLP is book character meal to meet the characters and dont waste time trying to see them in the park. Inventions restaurant is the Disneyland Hotel does a fantastic character meal in beautiful surroundings.

There is a huge amount of smoking at DLP, there shouldn't be, but the cast members do not have authority to stop it, they can ask the guest to go to the designated smoking area but cant actually stop them. In all my visits i've never noticed people smoking in the queues, however they do smoke all over the park. We love WDW because this doesnt happen

The Disneyland hotel (the big pink palace) is right at the entrance to park, in fact, if you stay Castle Club (Concierge level) you get an elevator that takes you down directly down into Disneyland Park.

DLP is much smaller than WDW so its easy to park hop. Both parks and Disney village are walkable from all the on-site hotels. The theming in the moderate and deluxe hotels is beautiful.

DLP has the only space mountain with an inversion.

We prefer Rock n Roller coaster at DLP, the ride in much darker.

As a family we also think that the theming is much more detailed at DLP than it is at WDW.

DLP does get extremely busy even at non peak times. Although you do get rain and even snow, the parks have been built with this in mind and its easily manageable even in inclement weather.

As a family we prefer WDW, but as DLP is nearer its more affordable and fills the Disney need in between saving for our WDW trips, either way its Disney so its going to be magical