Identical rides at DL and WDW?

[Albertan mom]

We have been to DL two times in the past 2 years.
This is our first time to WDW.

I know alot of the rides are the same, or very similar. I heard that you should be sure to do both POTC, because there is 2 dips at DL, and one at WDW.
Also, Splash Mountain is a little different, because of the seating.

Is there any rides that are exactly identical?

If we are running out of time at a park, I don't want to use our valuable time doing a ride that is exactly the same (though some are worth it-TOT etc..!!)

Is "Its Tough to be a Bug" identical?
Muppet Vision 3-D?
The Making of Disney Animation?
Tower of Tower?
Honey I shrunk the audience?
Innoventions?
Dumbo?
Tiki Room?
Jungle Cruise?
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
Haunted Mansion?
Liberty Belle Riverboat?
Its a Small World?
Mad Tea Party?
Winnie the Pooh?
Peter Pans Flight?
Snow White Scary Adventures?
Astro Orbiter?
Space Mountain?

Or could you tell me what makes one different from the other? Things to watch for, to compare the two?
Thanks!

 

[denecarter]

I've been lucky enough to go to DLR and WDW twice each within one year. This is our opinion, ymmv.

Is "Its Tough to be a Bug" identical? yes, only difference is queue area... MUCH more eye-candy at WDW
Muppet Vision 3-D? yes, queue area slightly different
The Making of Disney Animation? ?
Tower of Tower? building different, queue different, ride different. I prefer building/queue at WDW (more old Hollywood). There is no hall to walk through to get to seats. There is no cool mirror like at DLR... but there is the room that the elevator moves forward through.
Honey I shrunk the audience? yes, mouse effect seemed to be different, building/queue different, I "think" the floor shakes more at WDW when the" big people" walk.
Innoventions? ?
Dumbo? Looks identical... never ridden either.
Tiki Room? Huge difference in show... DLR is classic, WDW is revamped with Iago and Zazu (Under New Management)
Jungle Cruise? ?
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? Slight differences. We feel the WDW version does more turning and goes a little faster... could just be our perception. Queue a little different.
Haunted Mansion? Big differences here. WDW looks more haunted from the outside. More of the ride is in the Doom Buggies (pictures and statues that follow you). Floor in stretch room actually moves down in DLR; ceiling moves up at WDW. Madam Leota's room is different (crystal ball doesn't float). Little "Hurrry Back" lady is seen during ride.
Liberty Belle Riverboat? Looks the same... too long between rides to know. No sailing ship in WDW.
Its a Small World? Except for the queue being indoors, rather than out, I don't think there are many major differences. Daughter dislikes the ride, so I haven't ridden enough to notice anything but small differences.
Mad Tea Party? Except for WDW being covered, I don't think there is much difference.
Winnie the Pooh? DLR is much better... 3-D instead of 2-D. There cars themselves are honey pots instead of bee hives.
Peter Pans Flight? ?
Snow White Scary Adventures? Much better at DLR... 3-D characters, like Pooh.
Astro Orbiter? DLR is on ground; WDW is up on top of the snack place... take an elevator up to it. Same ride, different perspective.
Space Mountain? Biggest difference of all. DLR is MUCH MUCH MUCH better... recently redone, great music, rockets hold 12 instead of 6, one track instead of two so the ride is twice as long. Queue different, but major difference in the ride itself... DLR is better!

Dinosaur uses the same ride vehicles as Indiana Jones... just not as well (less eye-candy, more darkness).
Monorail at WDW is bigger and has more tracks (two to MK from Ticket and Transportation Center, one from TTC to Epcot).
You can walk from Disney-MGM to Epcot... but it is a fairly long walk. You can't walk between any other parks.
I didn't get to see Fantasmic at DLR, but there is a stadium/theater for it at D-MGM... and there is no pirate ship.
Castle is HUGE at WDW.
Downtown Disney is far from the parks (relatively speaking).
The evening fireworks at the Magic Kingdom is different.

WDW feels more "roomie"... both within the parks and between the parks. They both have excellent qualities.

 

[zipDdoodah]

Add-ons to above response:

Jungle Cruise - Much better at WDW, way more detailed, longer, you get to go through a long cave.

Pirates - Much better at DL!, no comparison

Tea Cups - Under canopy at WDW and out in the open at DL.

Splash Mountain - I think longer at WDW, side-by-side seating (single at DL), better at WDW.

Thunder Mountain - I've read the tracks are identical, just opposite of each other, but DL seems much funner to me for some reason, queue area is much neater at DL.

Haunted Mansion - Much better at WDW!

Space Mountain - The new SM at DL is so much fun! It's awesome! Hope they do the same to WDW at some point.

TOT: Much better at WDW!


As a side note:
Churros - Way more at DL!
Dole Whip - Used to be just at WDW, now at DL too (no swirl though)!

 

[denecarter]

Space Mountain - The new SM at DL is so much fun! It's awesome! Hope they do the same to WDW at some point.

Me, too! Me, too! Me, too!

 

[esmetutu]

GREAT THREAD! should (almost) be a sticky...

I was wondering the same thing. I know we definitely don't have to ride Soarin'.

I went about 7 years ago, barely remember anything, but I *do* remember how cool WDW's Jungle Cruise was.

 

[cdntourguide]

I am a ap holder at both DL and WDW.
There are very slight differences in each of the rides/attractions on your list.
One of the things I found fascinating on going between the too (DL & WDW) is finding and enjoying those differenced.

I am positive you will enjoy each and every ride/attraction at WDW and not think that it was a waste of your time.

The Railroad around the Magic Kingdom in WDW is completely different from DL.
Toontown does not have Roger Rabbit at WDW.

The live shows are completely different at WDW: nothing to compare to Aladdin.But still good in their own right.

Have a great time.

 

[joshsmom]

This is a GREAT thread. We've never been to DL, but its making me want to go!!

 

[Albertan mom]

This is a GREAT thread. We've never been to DL, but its making me want to go!!

Disneyland is great. I love it. Now we are trying out Disneyworld in August, and are very excited!

 

[Albertan mom]

I am excited to hear that The Haunted Mansion is good at WDW.
The first time we went to DL, DS was too scared to go on it, so I had to sit off with him.
The second time we went, it was in the Nightmare Before Christmas decor.

So this will be the first time I get to actually see it in it's original form!
Is it scarier then the DL version?

 

[JennyMominRI]

I am excited to hear that The Haunted Mansion is good at WDW.
The first time we went to DL, DS was too scared to go on it, so I had to sit off with him.
The second time we went, it was in the Nightmare Before Christmas decor.

So this will be the first time I get to actually see it in it's original form!
Is it scarier then the DL version?

It's longer at WdW and there are more sections too it..AT DL there is the walk through area after the log room..At WDW you see much of that stuf after you get in the doom buggy..The only thing I like better about DL's HM is the outside and I really prefer New Orleans Square as a whole to Liberty Square at WDW
We really like dinosaur,but it even scares my older kids

 

[Daveylegs]

I was surprised at how different Splash Mountain is.

At DL the bees sining the Laughing Place song seems to go on longer.

At WDW you barely hear the song "What can poor Brer Rabbit do to keep from becoming rabbit stew?" This happens after the Laughing Place song. At DL, mother rabbit is singing this song to the baby rabbits as they lay in bed. It goes on much longer.

The sound is better at WDW (and so is the smell...believe it or not I noticed this!). The WDW also seems much wetter at the end.

My kids noticed all sorts of differences in the animals at WDW.

I love both versions! This is my favorite ride.

 

[Albertan mom]

We really like dinosaur,but it even scares my older kids

I wondered about that.
On the WDW planning DVD, it kind of reminds me of the Indiana Jones Ride at Disneyland. The jeeps look the same, and it looks like the same very jumpy bumpy trail.
Also looks similar in the darkness factor.

Which one would you rate as scarier? (IJ or Dinosaur)

My DS hated Indiana Jones, he said it was too rough and scary. But he loved California Screamin', Space Mountain, and Tower of Terror!!!
DD and I like Indiana Jones, so I think we would like Dinosaur, but I wonder if DS8 would find it too scary?

 

[Phrank40]

I really don't know much of anything about Disneyland so I can't personally compare attractions. However, it has been interesting to read lately and listen to some podcasts about the fact that Pirates in Disneyland is a better and several minutes longer ride than the WDW version. With all the room to work with in WDW I wonder why the attraction is that different. Would be interesting to know why the decision was made years ago to shorten the ride substantially for WDW. Cost decision or physical limitations or what?

Phrank

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Is "Its Tough to be a Bug" identical?
Muppet Vision 3-D?

The same experience. The queue's are obviously different (no Tree of Life at DCA, of course), but inside the respective theaters most people would have a hard time telling the difference at all. Don't count them both out, though - at DCA they can be great to take a break from the heat and don't generally have long waits.

The Making of Disney Animation?

Much nicer at DCA. Do they still have the library from BatB and other character-themed exhibits? I'd catch it if you have time.

Tower of Tower?

Much longer and more elaborate at WDW - the Disneyland version doesn't have the "fifth dimension" room at the top, you just go up and down a single shaft. That said, the lines aren't bad these days and it has FP, and the slightly different effects during the ride are worth at least one ride. Like PotC, this is one you just need to ride to compare the experiences.

Honey I shrunk the audience?

Same as "Muppets" and ITTBAB; I think the Epcot version may have a larger theater though (haven't been on the DL one in a long time).

Innoventions?

Sort of different concept at DL, but the whole thing is really a corporate shill and you can avoid it unless you need a place to duck out and relax.

Dumbo?

The same experience, though doesn't WDW have more Elephants after the last rehab when we stole the central rig for the ride that was going to Disneyland Paris?

Tiki Room?

Disneyland has the "classic" version, whereas WDW has the "Under New Management". Definately worth a try.

Jungle Cruise?
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

I'm sure experts out there can point out the differences, but not a whole lot to me. The same basic experience.

Haunted Mansion?

Disneyland's just got updated with new effects - it's a must see! Mme. Leota's head floats around the room now...the exterior is also completely different and well worth multiple rides.

Liberty Belle Riverboat?

Different scenery. The Mark Twain is a Disneyland original from opening day, worth the time if you have it.

Its a Small World?

Completely different, yet essentially the same. It's worth a ride because IASW has it's own building there, and your boat gets to ride around outside of it. Disneyland's is basically one large room as opposed to ours.

Mad Tea Party?

See "Dumbo".

Winnie the Pooh?

I haven't been on it, but I believe it's just like our version without the bouncing with Tigger? The layout is different, as ours was laid on some of the same track Toad had in that building (half of it, to be exact), but if you had to miss it I don't think you'd be missing much new.

Peter Pans Flight?
Snow White Scary Adventures?

Must-sees, at least for me. They are not carbon copies of the WDW versions, and all dark rides at WDW really need to be tried. The one beautiful thing about Disneyland is that it makes our Fantasyland look sad by comparison, as they have several more dark rides than we do. (Alice is awesome!)

Astro Orbiter?

See "Dumbo".

Space Mountain?

Brand-spankin' new and much more elaborate at Disneyland. I'm so jealous - I haven't ridden it yet!

Have a great trip!

NewEnglandDisney

 

[denecarter]

Which one would you rate as scarier? (IJ or Dinosaur)

Dinosaur is MUCH darker. There is a LOT more light in IJ... more eye-candy, too. DD18 didn't want to bother riding Dinosaur in July... she said IJ blew it out of the water and she didn't want to ride it this trip.

So, to answer you question... personally, I think Dinosaur is "scarier" for a kid.

Would be interesting to know why the decision was made years ago to shorten the ride substantially for WDW. Cost decision or physical limitations or what?

We were told on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour that when WDW opened, they didn't have POTC. Several guests kept asking where it was, so they put one in. The area of the park is different (New Orleans Square vs. Adventureland). I think it was a little of both... cost and physical limitations.

From riding in DL last summer, I think the major differences are at the beginning (they bayou), the male pirates chase the women, and there was a section where it looked like we were riding under burning/burned timbers. Otherwise, the basic scenes were still there. There were different characters hiding in the barrel, but since Captain Jack Sparrow is now in the barrel, that difference is gone.

 

[schmitty]

I really wish WDW would go back to the classic tiki room. Much better.

 

[Albertan mom]

Pirates in Disneyland is a better and several minutes longer ride than the WDW version. With all the room to work with in WDW I wonder why the attraction is that different. Would be interesting to know why the decision was made years ago to shorten the ride substantially for WDW. Cost decision or physical limitations or what?

Phrank

I was just reading on this. Here is from The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom:

POTC was a instant classic upon its unveiling in DL in 1967, but it was not slated to be opened at the MK. It was thought by the company that guests in Florida would not be as interested in stories about the Caribbean, due to its relative proximity. But overwhelming Guest requests prevailed, and it made its appearance in 1973. Just as quickly as the original, it became one of the most popular attractions in the park.

Disneylands POTC features two drops rather than WDWs one. While both are required to move Guests out below the Parks Railroad tracks, the Florida version cannot go as deep because of the extremely high water table in the area.

I would recommend that book to anyone, it tells you lots of little insider things to watch for. Every little detail down the the color of the sidewalk, the plants they used, there is a reason for EVERYTHING. Every name on every window, every brick layed, every picture hanging in attractions is all very thoroughly thought out and planned. Down to the last detail. It is truly amazing!

 

[Yookeroo]

Disneyland's just got updated with new effects - it's a must see! Mme. Leota's head floats around the room now...the exterior is also completely different and well worth multiple rides.

The attic got a huge upgrade. The DL version definitely has the edge now.

 

[studentmom]

Great thread. I had similar questions as well.

 

[Robo]

We were told on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour that when WDW opened, they didn't have POTC. Several guests kept asking where it was, so they put one in.

Its funny how these stories get "twisted" over the years by the new CM's.

I'm sure several guests asked where the MATTERHORN was, too!
They are STILL asking!

We were THERE the first year of WDW.

Pirates was planned for WDW from ths start.
You'll notice how BIG and LONG the queue area is for PotC in WDW because at that time, PotC was the most popluar attraction in DLR.
But, Pirates was still being BUILT... several rides where still under construction... when the WDW MK park first opened.

I remember looking at the bare "ride building" of POTC that first time and wondering when they would finally get it open.
Then, being disappointed when it finally DID open, becasue it had so much less "to it" than the one at DLR that we had enjoyed so much.