Just back from 1st visit!! April 2, 3, 4 @ VGC 1 bdr.

[mickeymom629]

We spent 2 nights in Tarzana with our son and then went to DL and CA with 3 day park hoppers and stayed 3 nights in a 1 bedroom villa at the Grand Californian! It was wonderful! We are WDW vets - it IS our home away from home.
At first DL was a little strange - first seeing the castle and then with attractions being in slightly different places, but by the second day, I was park hopping to get us fast passes and felt like this was our 2nd home away from home! The proximity of the parks and the resort was fantastic and, in that way, we preferred this resort. But now I love them both!

I had a great itinerary, but we had a hard time getting up early enough each day so we did end up waiting in lines longer than we are used to. It was crowded with spring breakers.

Here are just a few of my thoughts:

I liked Fantasmic! without the whole Pocahontas scene and we had a great seating spot at an empty restaurant porch (sorry, I forgot the name and I'm just typing this fast), which I got to maybe 45 minutes early. I'm not a big Fantasmic! fan so, now that I've seen it at both WDW (many times) and DL, I'm satisfied.
OMG, I love Wishes, but I think I loved Remember the Magic? fireworks just slightly better. Loved how Tinkerbell flies throughout!!

Saw WOC with Blue fps, but didn't get our place early enough and I had a hard time seeing. Might have been better from the resort 6th floor for me. I thought it was nice, but the fireworks show is still my favorite night time show of all. We saw that twice and had a great view from across from the front of the Plaza restaurant.

Saw Aladdin. We got there at 5:45 thinking that the show was starting at 6, but it started at 6:20, so we were in line on the street and got in the first group of seaters. My guys wanted to escape right when it was over, so we sat in the farthest back on the first level and saw it fine. I think we missed the carpet flying above, but it was great anyway. There was a baby crying through the whole thing and I couldn't believe the parents didn't leave. That was another reason why I was glad we had our far back seats!

Matterhorn was closed, so that was a bummer. I kept getting confused that Pooh was near Splash and BTMR was where the HM should be
Roger Rabbit fast pass was not linked to the rest (learned that here!) so we were able to ride that a few times. DH, DS(22) and DS (17) - not small! - squished into one car and had a blast spinning their first way through. I rode it with DS's girlfriend and we didn't touch our wheel and it was a ride just like all the other kiddie rides. My guys had to go again just to see what they had missed
BTMR fast passes were connected with the rest, which I thought I had read otherwise here.

With all the Carsland construction, I'm sure I didn't get a good feel of how that CA really looks, but I really enjoyed that park and it will be fantastic when it's done. I still wish it had stayed open later. We did lots (just about all) of the attractions there - TSM, Goofy, Swings, Soarin', Grizzly, Tot, Animation, Monsters, Muppets, etc. Forgot that TSM didn't have a fp, so we saw it the 3rd day rather than the 2nd.
Screamin' got stuck on our last night, so we weren't able to use our fastpasses but, luckily, my guys had been on it once. I don't know how the riders came down.

Cove Bar was closed (I was told), so no lobster nachos. But I sooo enjoyed a corn dog. Had frozen bananas. Line for Dole Whips were too long for me to wait and I've had them in WDW, so it was okay.

Loved how we could draw at Animation Studios (better in CA than HS, imo) and take our drawings back to the villa and run back down to the parks.

Didn't spend much time in DTD and didn't eat at any table service restaurants.

We did a lot and went on just about everything once or more, but like WDW, wish it could have been a longer stay. I'm sure I am forgetting stuff, but wanted to write a mini report.

In case anyone is interested, we stayed in a Manhattan Beach apartment (Sea View, great place I recommend) for 2 nights after. We saw the Griffith Observatory - a must for anyone who wants to see a fantastic view and great exhibits! Rented surf equipment. Went to the Farmers Market. Drove around Malibu and went to Malibu Canyon park. La Brea tarpits for a bit. Drove past many sites.

 

[KCmike]

Loved your report. How was Malibu? One of the few places in LA I haven't seen. Was it easy to get to the Griffith observatory?

 

[mickeymom629]

Well, my son drove us and I didn't pay attention , but we left DL and drove to the Farmer's Market, then walked to La Brea, then drove to Griffith Observatory. I don't remember it being a very long ride and we went later in the day so the parking opened up along the street. We were there about 3 p.m. I think it might get a little crowded later, when the sun is setting, because people were driving up the mountain as we were leaving. The museum is free except for the planetarium, which we didn't do. Next time we will do that and see the bottom floor (which we didn't realize was there until we got home). My guys were in heaven with everything. We saw the Tesla Coil in action (once an hour). You could spend hours and hours there, if that is your thing. And it has a SPECTACLAR view!!

We just drove around Malibu and stopped at Mugu Rock (google it). Then we drove along the mountain highway. The weather was breezy and cool. We saw a good seafood restaurant, but we didn't eat there. We passed the entrance to Biggest Loser Ranch and saw beautiful houses along crazy, winding mountain roads. Saw the college, Pepperdine, driving by. M.A.S.H. t.v. show mountain was somewhere in the Canyon Park we went to. My guys jumped in the lake off rocks. It was beautiful scenery!!

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

Sounds like a really awesome trip! Great review- The only thing different- I would say was Fantasmic at DW was so much better with the Stadium seating..... wish DL had room to offer that and at WOC... maybe someday in 20 years..... they will....turn Tom sawyer island into a sweet little stadium area... and flip the show around.... except somewhere the would have to build a tower for Mickey to do his act on.... but not impossible to do IMO. They could even add a few shops, restroom area, and snack bars....

 

[Keurigirl]

It's so nice to hear a Disneyworlder say they loved Disneyland! I too often hear the opposite and sometimes I think they don't give Disneyland a chance.

 

[mickeymom629]

DL Resort is so pretty and I think it's awesome how all the great attractions (and then some!) are compacted into the two parks (except I missed Mickey's Philharmagic).

I love the beauty and atmosphere of WDW and the way the parks are spread out and themes of the resorts. Epcot and AK are my favorites to walk around, especially since I'm not much of a thrill-seeker when it comes to rides. However, I did do Indiana (like Dinosaur!) - I loved it!, BTMRR (have to do it once each trip in the night) and I made the mistake of feeling brave and doing SpaceM (UGH!!!)

It's all Disney, so I love it all and I'm happy to visit either, anytime, and for as long as possible!!!

 

[Robin"D"]

Hey Debbie,

We are going to DL for the 1st times ourselfs, adn so looking forward to it.
Kinda like going to the "holyland" of Disney.
Just wondering about the size of the 2 parks compaired to WDW.
Would DL be the size of the Magic Kingdom?

We are also staying @ GC, we are DVC members and very luck we got a room.

Thanks in advacne to your responce

Robin & Angel "D"

 

[mickeymom629]

Hi Robin,

Yes, I would say DL is comparable to the MK, but the attractions are in slightly different locations, so it's a little strange at first. Beyond Fantasyland, however, is ToonTown and you pass the Matterhorn on the right. Roger Rabbit is in ToonTown. We didn't spend a lot of time in Toontown because my kids aren't little and it was crowded, but it was a very cute area!!
I got a baked potatoe at Troubadour's Tavern which is near a Princess show right outside of ToonTown across from Small World (which we never rode). The Haunted Mansion is in a different area than in MK. And I kept missing the entrance for Indiana Jones when trying to get FPs - I would pass Tarzan's Tree House, then Jungle Cruise and be by the Dole stand which I knew was too far. I went back and forth so many times it was ridiculous. I don't know what my problem was.

California Adventure is a little like Epcot in the way it seemed to be "shaped" in my mind. Carsland was not open, so hopefully it will be open when you are there. Grizzly, Soarin, Muppets 3D (same, but much newer looking than in HS!), Monsters, Aladdin, Tot, Animation in one area and then you cross a bridge and there's a circle of attractions there. We went through the sour dough bread factory tour which was cute and empty.

Our 1 bedroom villa (which sleeps 5) had 2 bathrooms - #4507 - and faced the pool.

I don't really know the scale of the two parks and the hotel, but we were back and forth in all 3 for two of the days we were there. But I love to walk!

 

[Robin"D"]

Thanks for the info Debbie...
I thought by looking at maps that the size would be the same, but as you different.
We are so looking forward to this trip. We will be staying 2 days @ DL resort...Hope we can get a lot in this time.....Then off to the off to the Wonder for the Cruise to Hawaii.....

Have a great one

Robin & Angel "D"

 

[HydroGuy]

Hey Debbie,

We are going to DL for the 1st times ourselfs, adn so looking forward to it.
Kinda like going to the "holyland" of Disney.
Just wondering about the size of the 2 parks compaired to WDW.
Would DL be the size of the Magic Kingdom?

We are also staying @ GC, we are DVC members and very luck we got a room.

Thanks in advacne to your responce

Robin & Angel "D"

Thanks for the info Debbie...
I thought by looking at maps that the size would be the same, but as you different.
We are so looking forward to this trip. We will be staying 2 days @ DL resort...Hope we can get a lot in this time.....Then off to the off to the Wonder for the Cruise to Hawaii.....

Have a great one

Robin & Angel "D"

The WDW parks are physically bigger than the DLR parks - but maps only tell part of the story. For example, some of DLR's rides (such as POTC) are largely underground and extend outside the park perimeter shown on the surface map. The guest will never know and it can't be easily done at WDW because of the high water table in Florida.

Here is another one I learned on a DCA tour a couple years ago. The ToT ride at DCA appears to be shorter than the WDW counterpart at DHS. Is it? Well, WDW rides can be 199 feet tall and not have any issues with the community or aviation limits. At DLR the limit is lower (like 180 feet).

So what to do? At DCA they built part of ToT underground so guests can have the same vertical drop. But the building is not as tall from ground level to be under that 180 feet. Interesting, isn't it?

Another thing to get your head around is that DLR has only two parks, both physically smaller than WDW parks, but DLR has more rides at those two parks than all four WDW parks put together! Some people call DL "intimate". Others call it "cramped". I personally think DL has done an incredible job with the space they have making all of the rides and lands reinforce each other. More so than at MK.

HTH

 

[Robin"D"]

WOW, thasnk you for the great info.....again Thank you very much!

Robin & Angel "D"

 

[mickeymom629]

Thanks for that info HydroGuy! Very interesting facts.

I agree with you - they did an incredible job putting so many attractions into the two parks (I only missed Philharmagic) and for that reason I liked DLR better than WDW (because I could see things more efficiently ). DL felt a little congested at times because it was spring break and I can't really comment on CA since the construction limited my "vision".

The only thing I didn't find appealing to my eyes was the Matterhorn so "close" to the castle and in the same line of vision. I feel like it should have been over by Splash.

I think DL Resort is great for seeing so many attractions in an "intimate" atmosphere!! But I love the beauty and theming of WDW.

 

[niklynn1]

Well, my son drove us and I didn't pay attention , but we left DL and drove to the Farmer's Market, then walked to La Brea, then drove to Griffith Observatory. I don't remember it being a very long ride and we went later in the day so the parking opened up along the street. We were there about 3 p.m. I think it might get a little crowded later, when the sun is setting, because people were driving up the mountain as we were leaving. The museum is free except for the planetarium, which we didn't do. Next time we will do that and see the bottom floor (which we didn't realize was there until we got home). My guys were in heaven with everything. We saw the Tesla Coil in action (once an hour). You could spend hours and hours there, if that is your thing. And it has a SPECTACLAR view!!

We just drove around Malibu and stopped at Mugu Rock (google it). Then we drove along the mountain highway. The weather was breezy and cool. We saw a good seafood restaurant, but we didn't eat there. We passed the entrance to Biggest Loser Ranch and saw beautiful houses along crazy, winding mountain roads. Saw the college, Pepperdine, driving by. M.A.S.H. t.v. show mountain was somewhere in the Canyon Park we went to. My guys jumped in the lake off rocks. It was beautiful scenery!!

Can you tell me how long the walk is from the Farmer's Market to the Le Brea tar pits? I'm thinking of taking the Grayline tour that makes a stop at the Farmer's Market, but would really like to see the tar pits too.

 

[mickeymom629]

Can you tell me how long the walk is from the Farmer's Market to the Le Brea tar pits? I'm thinking of taking the Grayline tour that makes a stop at the Farmer's Market, but would really like to see the tar pits too.

The walk was quite pleasant and was only about 1 mile one way. It's a place you don't need to spend a lot of time there, because it's looking at the tar holes and some statues of the animals they've found. I'm glad we went, but it's not a place to spend hours at, imo.