Smiling Cheshire Cat
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2009
- Messages
- 6,459
We just got back from a 9 day stay at DL. Thank you to all the friendly and helpful DISers here on the Disneyland forum. You really helped make our trip so special.
We flew into Orange County airport and it was so easy to navigate and quick to get to DL from there. This was great advice to chose this airport.
We stayed our first 4 nights at the Sheraton Park since DH had a conference there. It was about a 10 minute walk to the front of Disneyland. Being a frequent WDW visitor I was suprised that you are in downtown Anaheim and then morph right into to Disneyland. I like the immersive experience at WDW of staying on property and living and breathing nothing but Disney for my whole vacation. I would get this feeling when we moved to the GCH, but really I can't complain at all about the Sheraton. We requested and were given a theme park view room. It was a good ways away but you could see the back of Tower of Terror and Paradise Pier and it was a very good view of the fireworks because we had a high floor.
DH and I had bought Premier passes on a previous trip to WDW. We bought DS a Premier pass at DL this trip. When we bought the pass, the CM told us we might have problems getting discounts and that the CMs would need to enter the numbers manually. Most of the time, DS' pass would work but mine never did. However all the CMs knew what to do to get us the discount. I really like that DL gives these discounts and perks to their passholders, particularly on food, table or counter service. I wish WDW would take a cue from them here.
We found the crowds to be very manageable. Staying so many days we were able to do everything we wanted to do several times. Most of the classic rides that DL and WDW share really are better themed at DL. We also really enjoyed the Space Mt. Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion changes for Halloween. I loved the way the characters go to and fro without handlers. I understand the need for the handlers and wished at times that they were around when people tried to skip some lines, but it gives the feel that the characters really live there and want to interact with the guests.
We went to the Halloween party on Tuesday, 10/26. While we enjoyed the party I still wish Disney would sell less tickets to these events. The line to meet the villans was all the way from the Fantasyland meet and greet area to the entrance to Tommorrowland off Main St.
The people in the parks were also very nice. Most that we met were locals who go to the parks frequently and they gave us tips about where to sit at shows or parades. I did notice a lot of line jumping that you don't see as much at WDW. I'm talking about when you had been in line 10 or 15 minutes. This was especially bad at Toy Story Mania. I think WDW has more CMs working the rides which may be why we haven't seen as much line jumping there. Many times there were only a couple of CMs working a ride and rarely was there a CM at the beginning of line rides unless it was a FP ride.
DCA does seem like a mess right now but I'm looking forward to going back and seeing what it is like when it is done. We did enjoy Screamin and World of Color and we preferred ToT at DCA to the one we have at Hollywood Studies. I thought it told the story better instead of just relying on the suspense.
I have to say WDW has definitely got the edge on food over DL. Our favorite meal we had was at Steakhouse 55. The creme brulee was excellent. I also really enjoyed my salad at Blue Bayou but the rest of the meal was forgettable. We preferred the breakfast at Storytellers Cafe over Goofy's Kitchen, but the characters were so excellent at Goofy's it helped make up for the lackluster food.
I am absolutely in love with the GCH. We had a standard view room on the fourth floor. The interior of the rooms is absolutely beautiful. Much nicer than any of the deluxe hotels we have stayed at WDW. The convienence to the parks can't be beat. This was the Disney immersive experience that I was looking for, walking straight from our hotel into DTD or DCA.
Sorry so long, but I wanted to share and say thanks for all the help making our vacation so wonderful. Being from the East we had planned on this being our once in a lifetime DL trip, but after visiting I now know we must someday go back. I can't wait!
We flew into Orange County airport and it was so easy to navigate and quick to get to DL from there. This was great advice to chose this airport.
We stayed our first 4 nights at the Sheraton Park since DH had a conference there. It was about a 10 minute walk to the front of Disneyland. Being a frequent WDW visitor I was suprised that you are in downtown Anaheim and then morph right into to Disneyland. I like the immersive experience at WDW of staying on property and living and breathing nothing but Disney for my whole vacation. I would get this feeling when we moved to the GCH, but really I can't complain at all about the Sheraton. We requested and were given a theme park view room. It was a good ways away but you could see the back of Tower of Terror and Paradise Pier and it was a very good view of the fireworks because we had a high floor.
DH and I had bought Premier passes on a previous trip to WDW. We bought DS a Premier pass at DL this trip. When we bought the pass, the CM told us we might have problems getting discounts and that the CMs would need to enter the numbers manually. Most of the time, DS' pass would work but mine never did. However all the CMs knew what to do to get us the discount. I really like that DL gives these discounts and perks to their passholders, particularly on food, table or counter service. I wish WDW would take a cue from them here.
We found the crowds to be very manageable. Staying so many days we were able to do everything we wanted to do several times. Most of the classic rides that DL and WDW share really are better themed at DL. We also really enjoyed the Space Mt. Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion changes for Halloween. I loved the way the characters go to and fro without handlers. I understand the need for the handlers and wished at times that they were around when people tried to skip some lines, but it gives the feel that the characters really live there and want to interact with the guests.
We went to the Halloween party on Tuesday, 10/26. While we enjoyed the party I still wish Disney would sell less tickets to these events. The line to meet the villans was all the way from the Fantasyland meet and greet area to the entrance to Tommorrowland off Main St.
The people in the parks were also very nice. Most that we met were locals who go to the parks frequently and they gave us tips about where to sit at shows or parades. I did notice a lot of line jumping that you don't see as much at WDW. I'm talking about when you had been in line 10 or 15 minutes. This was especially bad at Toy Story Mania. I think WDW has more CMs working the rides which may be why we haven't seen as much line jumping there. Many times there were only a couple of CMs working a ride and rarely was there a CM at the beginning of line rides unless it was a FP ride.
DCA does seem like a mess right now but I'm looking forward to going back and seeing what it is like when it is done. We did enjoy Screamin and World of Color and we preferred ToT at DCA to the one we have at Hollywood Studies. I thought it told the story better instead of just relying on the suspense.
I have to say WDW has definitely got the edge on food over DL. Our favorite meal we had was at Steakhouse 55. The creme brulee was excellent. I also really enjoyed my salad at Blue Bayou but the rest of the meal was forgettable. We preferred the breakfast at Storytellers Cafe over Goofy's Kitchen, but the characters were so excellent at Goofy's it helped make up for the lackluster food.
I am absolutely in love with the GCH. We had a standard view room on the fourth floor. The interior of the rooms is absolutely beautiful. Much nicer than any of the deluxe hotels we have stayed at WDW. The convienence to the parks can't be beat. This was the Disney immersive experience that I was looking for, walking straight from our hotel into DTD or DCA.
Sorry so long, but I wanted to share and say thanks for all the help making our vacation so wonderful. Being from the East we had planned on this being our once in a lifetime DL trip, but after visiting I now know we must someday go back. I can't wait!
It is always refreshing to see when someone grasped all the things about DLR they should grasp - and noticed and appreciated its strong points. And gave an honest assessment of DLR's weak points (relative to WDW). I agree with all your observations. 
