How will DL and CA compare if you've been to orlando a dozen times?

[jeff968]

Hi, we are traveling to california in April. We have visitied Orlando a dozen times over the past 15 years and have hit all the parks multiple times. How does Disneyland and Calif. Advent. compare? What do they offer? Will we be disappointed?
Thanks

 

[DisneyMax74]

Well I have been to DisneyWorld once and Disneyland many times but I highly doubt you will be disapointed. With Disneyland its great because both parks and lots of hotels are sooo close together. No driving all over the place to get from park to park. Also your hotel should be quite close and if your on property you will just be a few foot steps away.





I think you will find that DLR & CA have plenty to do and see. Of course they are not as expansive as DW is but if you love Disney I dont see how you wont enjoy it. Even though there are only two parks we can spend 5 days there and not get bored.

 

[blackjackdelta]

There seems to be a number of threads about this subject today so I would suggest you read the following:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

Jack

 

[disneydreamer74]

I have been to WDW a few times myself, but am now a DLR transplant (hehe) and will say that you will not be disappointed! It is important that you understood that these are two unique resorts. DLR is important to me and my family b/c it has a certain charm that seems to be lost in the massive WDW. I have found DLR to be more intimate, even down to CM interaction with guests, and not as overwhelming as WDW. Don't misunderstand, I love WDW too, but the two resorts are quite different in their appeal and grandeur!! Enjoy!

 

[Judy from Boise]

These answers are very valid, but this April 2010 has some big potential drawbacks
I am going to link you to Hydroguy's discussion on AP crowds.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

 

[HydroGuy]

Hi, we are traveling to california in April. We have visitied Orlando a dozen times over the past 15 years and have hit all the parks multiple times. How does Disneyland and Calif. Advent. compare? What do they offer? Will we be disappointed?
Thanks

Well, if you are asking about park comparisons, then MK and DL are comparable. By far the common sentiment is that DL is better than MK.

DCA feels a lot like DHS.

There is nothing really equivalent to AK or Epcot. However, as far as rides go understand that DLR has a much higher ride concentration. WDW's four parks put together have only 10% more rides than DLR's two parks.

What do they offer? Disney magic in abundance! Some really great shows. Some great rides you cannot experience at WDW such as Indiana Jones.

Will you be disappointed?

Here is the formula for disappointment at DLR for a WDW vet:

1. Set up WDW as the "ideal Disney vacation" such that anything that is different is by definition bad

2. Do not do any research on DLR strengths over WDW so that you never see the good things about DLR because you are so absorbed by the differences

3. Think like a "WDW person" while at DLR rather than a "DLR person". For example, be sure to think that because the castle at MK is the center of the park that at DL its castle must also be the center. Then when you see DL's small castle you can be disappointed. A DLR person knows that the much larger Matterhorn mountain next to the castle at DL is considered to be the park's center.

DLR is definitely less than WDW is some areas, but it is more in others. So you do not have to search for them, IMO these are areas where DLR exceeds WDW:

1. Proximity of parks, hotels and DTD - at DLR you can walk everywhere in 5-10 minutes. You can parkhop in 60 seconds flat. For this reason it is easier to take hotel breaks, avoid crowds on crowded days, and experience more park hours. At DLR we spend 3-4 hours extra per day actually inside the parks than at WDW because little time is wasted on transportation (and waiting for transportation)

2. Shows - DLR's top shows are better than the ones at WDW (IMO). This includes Fantasmic, the Aladdin stage show (closing in August unfortunately ), and, when it is showing, Remember Dreams Come Treu fireworks/laser/special effects show. The new World of Color show opening in April is expected to be a blockbuster.

3. Weather - less rain and less humidity makes for better weather on the whole - especially in the summer

4. Ride concentration - WDW's four parks in total only have 10% more rides than DLR's two parks

So will you be disappointed? Let DLR be DLR, enjoy it for itself, and you are in for a real treat.

 

[Diznut84]

I disagree. I think WDW is a far better place as a vacation destination than DL. That said, I think you can have as much fun in Southern California as you can in Orlando.

DL is older and smaller than WDW. It doesn't have anywhere near comparable resorts or food.

However, it is a nice place, and is located next to many other interesting things like Newport Beach, the El Capitan theatre, TV show tapings, In-N-Out burgers , the San Diego Zoo, the Angels baseball team, etc.

Just my two cents!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Both are wonderful. My suggestion is all about attitude. Go with the attitude that you WILL enjoy it, you WILL have fun and take DL for what it is and don't expect it to be WDW. I personally loved CA so much more than I would have imagined.

We stayed off property at DL while we always stay on property at WDW and the main difference for me was not feeling quite as "immersed" in Disney while at DL like I do when at WDW. When I'm at WDW, I feel completely in another world. I think I would have enjoyed it more if we would have stayed on property there...which is what I'm doing next time.

I'm going back in a few weeks and really looking forward to it. Have fun!

 

[Sherry E]

Pmama (one of our DIS-ers) is a seasoned WDW vet who visited DLR for the first time last year (as well as other SoCal spots). She wrote a great TR and provided a comparison of what was better or preferred at either Resort. You may be interested in taking a glance at her TR. Here is the link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2096377

 

[HydroGuy]

I disagree. I think WDW is a far better place as a vacation destination than DL. That said, I think you can have as much fun in Southern California as you can in Orlando.

DL is older and smaller than WDW. It doesn't have anywhere near comparable resorts or food.

However, it is a nice place, and is located next to many other interesting things like Newport Beach, the El Capitan theatre, TV show tapings, In-N-Out burgers , the San Diego Zoo, the Angels baseball team, etc.

Just my two cents!

Not sure you who are disagreeing with. And the OP did not ask about which was a "better vacation destination". He just asked if he would be disappointed and how the parks compared.

I happen to agree with you that WDW is a better vacation destination. There is lots more to do. But IMO better vacation destination does not equate to "have a better trip". We personally never "vacation" at a Disney resort. We vacation elsewhere and visit Disney to have fun! And both WDW and DLR are very fun!

 

[Judy from Boise]

and to emphasize my answer, this is not a hypothetical question, rather a specific question about a trip in April 2010. I think there are some unique considerations the OP needs to understand.

 

[Katiebell]

Most of the year, the weather in Anaheim is beautiful. Both times we have been to Orlando, May and September, the humidity was miserably unreal. We loved WDW, but found it overwhelming. We had to know where we would be each day, six months in advance, just to make sure we had dinner reservations. We could have found somewhere to eat, sure, but would have often ended up at CS and not been able to enjoy the fun themed restaurants. We've been able to make same day or next day reservations easily at DLR, except the one time we made the mistake of going during Spring Break.

WDW has Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios -- all unique, wonderful parks. Mickey's Philharmagic was a lot of fun at MK, and we enjoyed seeing the differences between Toontown in CA and in FL.

DL has New Orleans Square, the Small World is an amazing structure, the Matterhorn is stunning, Indy is a great adventure ride, the swing dancing at Carnation Gardens on Saturday nights is a blast -- there are plenty of differences that make it unique, charming, and special.

I don't really find CA Adventure to be like Hollywood Studios. There is one section that is similar, but there are the wilderness area, Condor Flats (where Soarin' is located), a Bug's Land for little ones, the Pier...lots to see. And the big changes that will be coming in the next few years are exciting. The Aladdin stage show is not to be missed.

I think you will find plenty to do and see and won't be disappointed. Just research and plan before you go, and you'll have a great time!

 

[sasywtch]

I'm not sure what will be down in April but the weather should be ok. Maybe some light rain for an hour. DL vs WDW, it depends on your mindset when you go. We are researching a trip to DLP and not expecting the 7-10 days as I would in WDW. I am looking forward to the theming, characters, friendliness, rides, adults and kids being able to enjoy things together. I'm looking at DLP as a new experience, not better or worse than WDW or DL plus seeing things in the surrounding area.

The things I did enjoy a lot about DL? Mostly what everyone else says. Being at the front entrance within 5 minutes and going across to DCA in 1 minute. No ferries, busses. it's not as stressful to us as WDW is to us as we are able to be right in the park and not worrying about priority eating times, which park has early entry that day etc. Friends of ours from the middle of the country came out here for the first time and combined it with a trip to Hollywood, ocean making it a 8 day vacation.

I think you will have a great time if going with the mind that it's a new experience, something new to explore.

 

[jeff968]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. I do appreciate it. We will be staying at the Marriott Newport Beach Villas for the week so if we take in a day or two at DL it will be a drive to the location. I understand your comments about weather, accommodation proximity, park size, but it was really the park contents that would weigh most in our decision. You have given me that information as well. Thanks again for your help!!! We are looking forward to seeing the West Coast for the first time.

 

[DisneyMax74]

If this is your first trip to the west coast PCH might be fun. For sight seeing we love to take a drive down PCH, you can go from LA down to La Jolla and back in less than a full day. Stop at a cool mom and pop restraunt for lunch. (There are plenty of them) Stop at the beach and just check out the cool Cali beach front sights. Past Laguna Beach PCH tunrs into the 5 but its still a fun drive. Once you get to Ocean side get off the 5 and go to North Coast Highway. Towns like Camino Del Mar and La Jolla are beautiful.

Of course heading north on PCH might be even nicer.

 

[nurse.darcy]

First off, do not compare the two. ..you will most certainly be disappointed. . .DLR is older, more mature and less frivilous than its counterpart in Florida. However, that being said if you compare number of rides and attractions you will find that DLR is very close in number. Staying on property takes on an entirely different meaning at DLR. It means staying deluxe or staying off property. . .In Anaheim, off property means I can still walk to all parks if I choose the right off property. Many discounts are offered for off property yet walking distance hotels. The Howard Johnson, a favorite, is frequently found as a discount place for many of the offered ads and is within walking distance.

 

[franandaj]

I don't know when in April you'll be there but there is also the benefit that the F&W Festival starts on the 16th of April!