Just back from DL (and DL hotel)

[Amy&Dan]

Oh man, you missed the Matterhorn too!

DCA and also right now MK are in a process of refurb, DCA in particular. Its great Disney updates and adds to their parks but it can stink when it happens when you are there! I went back into Fantasyland at MK our first night last week and was all set to watch Wishes back there (we like to watch it back there to avoid the crowds) and sit on the benches back near Dumbo and they were gone! So was Dumbo (its someplace but never did find it, our kids are older) for that matter! So we watched it anyway and also looked at the crane and the big wall. And of course Main Street is also weird right now at MK with these cloth draped things on some of the buildings. I will be so glad when the MK expansion is done. And so happy that DCA should be done when I go there in July!

If my husband could get into a WDW with his can of beer he'd be one happy guy!

 

[Keurigirl]

We feel opposite about the parks! I love Disneyland. I feel like I am more in a "bubble" at Disneyland, by far! I think it's because you are outside of a city... but once you're in the park you can't tell at all.

Disneyworld is just too big everywhere. I hate walking 20 minutes to get to the pool from my hotel room, or to get something to eat at my hotel. I hate using the stupid buses to get between resorts. I hate that you have to walk twice as much to see the same attractions at Magic Kingdom. So.. I pretty much feel the exact opposite of you! LOL

I don't really care much about the finger print scanners. What I DO care about is the fact that they aren't enforcing fastpass return times.... BIG BIG deal!

 

[LovintheLodge]

Thanks for your review Tinkerbellie16! My family has been to WDW several times and we plan on visiting DL for the first time this August. I have read through the whole thread and learned a lot. I have been researching and trying to figure out how many days we need to see and do everything. Thanks for all your details!!

Kerry

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

If my husband could get into a WDW with his can of beer he'd be one happy guy!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Thanks for your review Tinkerbellie16! My family has been to WDW several times and we plan on visiting DL for the first time this August. I have read through the whole thread and learned a lot. I have been researching and trying to figure out how many days we need to see and do everything. Thanks for all your details!!

Kerry

You are welcome! I'm glad the thread has been helpful!

 

[Disney_dreamer]

I love that DL is Walt's park too! Seeing the lamp in window above the fire station gave me chills.

We arrived on a Monday afternoon and left on Thursday morning. We spent the evening Monday at DCA, all day at DL on Tuesday, and mostly DL on Wednesday (with a DCA stop for Soaring and WOC). And in between our walks to/from the hotel, we spent some time at Downtown Disney. It was not enough time to do everything but it was plenty of time to enjoy ourselves. If you want to see and do a lot more attractions, I'd go for another day.

So the room had only enough space for the two (queen?) beds so there was no additional space for a chair (or daybed like the Poly). The bathroom was split into two pieces - one side for a toilet and shower and one side for a sink with a closet behind it. There was very little room to store our 4 suitcases! And the closet was a half size closet. I do not like split bathrooms though because I use a blow dryer/diffuser on my hair and it makes so much noise that when there is no door to muffle the sound, everyone else is annoyed. So the size of the room...I would compare it to a value, maybe even smaller. The decor was lovely and updated though and the hotel itself was very nice, clean, and had good amenities. I did not get a chance to go to Paradise Pier or California Adventure but I would try the latter on a future visit (in a 1 bdr villa). And honestly, many of the hotels/motels around the park looked very nice as well and would have been a lot cheaper (another option I would consider for the future). I would consider the kids suite at the hojo or even a large room at some of the other hotels in the area - many of them had larger rooms as well as their standard rooms and they were still cheaper than DLH.

Dining...At DL and DCA itself, there was much less indoor quick service dining. We ended up getting a lot of chicken nuggets/strips since these are really good in both DL and WDW. I did try the fried green tomato sandwich at Hungry Bear and did not find it very good although I did enjoy the sweet potato fries and the desserts (especially the bumblebee cupcake - cheesecake frosting!). I liked the Jolly Holiday Bakery with the cinnamon rolls and iced caramel macchiato. The Tomorrowland quick service (name of the place escapes me) had a fish sandwich that I was excited to try (since I love Contempo Cafe's mahi mahi sandwich) but this one had a LOT of spice on it and I couldn't eat it. I also tried the famous corn dogs at the red wagon and those were sooo good. I did have the Monte Cristo at the Blue Bayou and thought it was wonderful but it was so filling - I wish I had shared it (especially at $25). At DCA, we had a hard time finding food we all wanted but I wanted to try the food court spot they had with mexican, chinese, and southern food.

I found it harder to find things I liked at DL and DCA but that was ONLY because I just wasn't used to their menus. At WDW, I KNOW my favorites and can count on them.

Hopefully that helps a bit!

Thanks so much, that helps a lot! I am thinking of spending about the same amt. of time at the parks, so that should work.... we will also be going the same time next year and I just started realizing (and you confirmed) how the weather will be (possibly chilly, but hopefully, sunny!) I am glad for your post because I just need to be prepared for things like.... possibly being disappointed with WOC (I also am not a huge fan of Fantasmic- it is just a little lame for Disney, IMHO)
I will have rethink the hotels.... I can't imagine shelling out the $$ for two rooms at DLH, I hadn't even thought of the villas at the GC..... hmmmm.
Also, thanks for your thoughts on the food.... I will make sure to split the Monte Cristo with DH! Oh, and I will have to find the corndogs too!

Also, your other posts about DH just wanting his beer made me smile - I have one of those too! We just got off a cruise a couple of weeks ago and they were selling a refillable beer cooler bag - I am pretty sure that made his trip!

thanks again

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Thanks so much, that helps a lot! I am thinking of spending about the same amt. of time at the parks, so that should work.... we will also be going the same time next year and I just started realizing (and you confirmed) how the weather will be (possibly chilly, but hopefully, sunny!) I am glad for your post because I just need to be prepared for things like.... possibly being disappointed with WOC (I also am not a huge fan of Fantasmic- it is just a little lame for Disney, IMHO)
I will have rethink the hotels.... I can't imagine shelling out the $$ for two rooms at DLH, I hadn't even thought of the villas at the GC..... hmmmm.
Also, thanks for your thoughts on the food.... I will make sure to split the Monte Cristo with DH! Oh, and I will have to find the corndogs too!

Also, your other posts about DH just wanting his beer made me smile - I have one of those too! We just got off a cruise a couple of weeks ago and they were selling a refillable beer cooler bag - I am pretty sure that made his trip!

thanks again

I don't know if you read another post from someone else about the DLH rooms but I guess I got the smaller room of the two they offer! Had I known, I would have requested the larger room. So perhaps they are large enough to have more space? I don't know though. I will say that the monorail slides and updated pool at DLH were what sealed the deal. However, had I thought about how chilly it could be, I would not have chosen the hotel (all based on the pool). We spent very little time enjoying the pool although we did relax on the lounge chairs a little. We spent a lot of our down time in the room so a bigger room would have been better. Or at least DH and the kids spent more time in the room, I would shop at DTD or get in one last ride at DL

Ah yes, the beer. My country husband who grew up on a farm and ranch and had 5 other people in his graduating class. He likes the simple things - including making his Disney nutty wife happy

 

[PetePanMan]

Been to both WDW and DL many times. Let's face it, both are absolutely great. MK is bigger and newer but there is just something about the look and feel of the original DL which tips the balance for me. With the addition of carsland in DCA I'm also thinking that it may (tbd) soon have edge over HS. WDW of course has so much more with AK, Epcot, water parks etc. but DL has DTD, DL and DCA all in close proximity. Great to have options on both coasts.

 

[stitch34]

Interesting to read everyone's thoughts and comparisons!

WDW vets, planning our first DLR trip for this year.

Me and kids have already said that we will probably end up missing stuff like the buses, the whole size of WDW - just pulling up to MK, seeing the monorails, ferry, the water - just such a grand entrance - compared to being in the middle of a city.

WDW is our home away from home - so do wonder if just won't feel the same to us at DLR. we KNOW it will be different.... and there are many DLR attractions we don't have at WDW that we really want to experience. Can't wait to take the kids on a REAL Small World ride - really, MK's is pathetically lame, just the entrance even! Or Nemo subs - ahhh, 20,000 leagues was my FAV ride as a kid!
So while we are curious to see the differences - we are going into it knowing it won't be the same trip we're used to

WDW and dining - well, going in June for 9 nights and have 24 ADRS - yes, that is typical for us.... we have so many favorite restaurants - some places we do twice each trip. DLR - I am actually looking forward to not spending so much on food, as we won't have all those great choices we are used to. Probably doing one character breakfast, maybe 2 (we're suckers for a good breakfast buffet!) - and McD's the other mornings before hitting the parks!

 

[Royal Consort]

I'm planning a trip to DL Paris, but I'm actually quite nervous about it!! I hear people talking about drinking and smoking all over the parks and that meet & greets are only for kids - and I'm like WHAAT! I hear other stories about WDW and again i'm thinking - How can they do it!
I think I will try to see all the Disney parks over the world as individual parks - with their own things and ways to run the park But hey - of course you can't visit two Disney parks without comparing, that would be naive to think but if I scould compare i'm affraid it would ruin a lot of my visit, cause 'Why is it not like at DLR.. They're not doing it right!!'

It became a long post about comparing - sorry
I think you tried to give a pretty objective and good trip report! Thanks

I'm often gob-smacked by what people say about Disneyland Paris. It has the most beautiful castle, the most intricate theming, every land has its own story (i.e. Thunder Mountain is linked to Phantom Manor), and it has a brick lined main street!!! What's not to love? It's Disneyland... in Europe... where the fairytales are from.

I think people expect the park to be run with the same level of service as the American parks. The French don't work that way. People should know the French don't work that way and have some understanding of the culture before they visit the country. What you may find annoying is perfectly acceptable for another culture. You are, after all, guests to the foreign land. Judging by the standards of a completely different country is misguided in my opinion. However, in saying that I've not had a bad experience in Disneyland Paris and found CMs to be happy and helpful. They won't dote on you so you shouldn't expect that.

As for characters; we're two adults and had our photos taken with multiple characters. Minnie was such flirt with me!! We got massive hugs and had a wonderful time taking snaps with all our favourites. I suspect people just get hung up on DLRP not being DLR or WDW (and from this thread we know that people are varied on what they expect from both American parks too!).

I think that everyone keeps his first Disney park in a special place in his heart. My first one was Disneyland Paris, and while most Americans consider it inferior to the USA parks, it's special for me and I was slightly disappointed by Magic Kingdom.
However I loved all the WDW and other Orlando area so much that I bought a few DVC points to be able to go back every few year!

However next May I'll go to Paris and I'm really looking forward to go back to my first love

It's interesting to hear you say that. We're taking our first WDW trip this year and after seeing videos and pictures of the MK my first reaction was "it looks more commercial and .... what? An asphalt Main Street?!"

I think I'd agree with you zavandor that Paris is 'my' park too (and I live 20+ hours flight from it). Though I'm really looking forward to what WDW and DLR offer me too! I don't want them to be anything like Paris because the joy is having a new experience and not just a replica. I think that's the true beauty of the Disney parks. Disneyland isn't WDW, WDW isn't Disneyland, no park can provide an equivalent to Disneyland Paris and DisneySea is something entirely new.

PS: The new Disney Dreams made me want to go back to Paris again so I was thinking maybe I shouldn't have booked for the States. haha. Nah, I'm happy.

 

[robandkelly13]

Thanks for the review. We are WDW regulars and having been contemplating a DL trip...never been! THinking I may want to wait and do this as a part of a California trip instead of just flying to the opposite coast for DL...

 

[HydroGuy]

Being from Pennsylvania, I've only been to WDW... but I have given thought to going to Disneyland. But I've been worried that because I'm used to the size and layout of WDW I'd be disappointed with Disneyland.

Does anyone think that it's necessary to do MORE than go to Disneyland when going there? I mean, like perhaps going to Hollywood and do other tourist related side trips? Suggestions?

When I go to WDW, I love that it's all there - I stay on site, use Disney transporation, I go to the 4 parks, I eat, think, sleep and dream WDW. I love that it's a world of its own.

I'm worried that Disneyland may seem like a park to visit... not a world to get lost in.

Thanks for the review. We are WDW regulars and having been contemplating a DL trip...never been! THinking I may want to wait and do this as a part of a California trip instead of just flying to the opposite coast for DL...

The idea of whether you can get "lost" in DLR is a bit complicated. So much depends on your attitude and what you value at Disney parks.

For example, last year there was a WDW vet on the DLR forum here who claimed that DL the park has "zero Disney magic". Really? The only park that Walt Disney personally built has zero Disney magic? That comment is rare but to me it was clear that when she said "Disney magic" she meant something else entirely than most of the rest of us. In other words, she values something about WDW that (to her) DLR does not have and to her that meant DL did not have Disney magic.

With that aside, I think a mistake that some WDW vets make coming to DLR is that they want to "try something different from WDW" and then they are perturbed every time something is actually different. Sort of like an uninformed American who visits Europe and can't get over the fact that the food is different. Well, what did you expect?

IMO the key to enjoying DLR for WDW vets is that they:

1. Know there will be differences and embrace them - DLR is not a vacation resort destination the same way WDW is. But DLR is a Disney Magic destination. In spades. Do you want a vacation or a magical experience?

2. Do enough research to understand the strengths of DLR and focus on those

3. Visit DLR at the right time of year for your priorities and that time of year may very well be a different time of year that you normally visit WDW.

In case either of you have not found it yet, I try to cover all this in detail in this thread:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

With regard to the question whether one should plan activities outside DLR to make a trip worthwhile, once Cars Land and Buena Vista Street open at DCA this June then DLR will really be a resort that needs a minimum of four days to experience it properly. So plan 4-5 days at DLR.

Now is 4-5 days enough to justify a trip across the country? Maybe, maybe not. Fortunately DLR is located in California which means you have a ton of things to do outside the resort. Way, way, WAY more than Florida. One could easily spend a month in California (and nearby Las Vegas and Grand Canyon) and still only scratch the surface of the variety of activities.

So with that, I will post an excerpt from the DLR Guide I linked above that lists areas where I think DLR is stronger than WDW. Just food for thought!

22. Areas Where DLR Exceeds WDW

Let me come out and say it right upfront - WDW has many things about it better than DLR. However, not everything about WDW is better than DLR and there are several areas where DLR exceeds WDW. That is what makes each resort special. Here is my list of areas where DLR exceeds WDW:

1. Weather - IMO the weather at DLR is better than WDW on average, and especially in the summer. Less rain and less humidity. See "Comparison of Weather For WDW and DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1711098

2. Ride concentration - One would think that WDW would have twice as many rides as DLR since it has twice as many parks. Nope. DLR's two parks have more rides than WDW's four parks put together. DLR has lots more rides packed into those little parks!

3. Entertainment - as of today DLR's top four shows are better than their counterparts at WDW. That would be World of Color, the Remember Dreams Come True fireworks/laser/special effects show (shown seasonally), Fantasmic and the Aladdin stage show

4. Accessibility - everything can be reached on foot and park hopping takes about 1 minute. The walking distance hotels makes for a different experience.

5. Longer park hours - along with #4 above makes it easier to spend more time in the parks.

6. Much less need for planning - for those accustomed to choosing parks and ADR's 6 months in advance you can forget about that. You can't make dining reservations until 2 months in advance and even then they are in much less demand than WDW. Even if you wait until a week before your trip many dining reservations are still available. And since it is so easy to parkhop there is no need to commit to parks on given days. Finally, if you stay at a walking distance hotel there is no need to plan for transportation.

7. Seasonal makeovers - Because DLR caters less to out-of-town vacationers they are more free to change their rides. So every year three rides get seasonal makeovers: From September-January Haunted Mansion is converted into "Haunted Mansion Holiday". From November-January It's A Small World is converted into "It's A Small World Holiday" and from September-October Space Mountain is converted into Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. This keeps the parks more dynamic and interesting. This does require taking down the rides to install and remove the makeover elements.

8. Extended trip touring outside DLR - as discussed in the next section, there is a lot to do in California if you stay longer than DLR - natural, cultural, historical, entertainment, sports, etc. More of a variety and more interesting things than Florida. Fabulous National Parks such as Yosemite and Sequoia, within reach of the Grand Canyon in adjacent Arizona, accessible to Las Vegas, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Wine Country north of the Bay Area, Monterey, Big Sur coastline, and Death Valley. Then there is Hollywood and the entertainment industry, aviation history, a real Universal Studios that is not just a theme park, Spanish mission history, mountains and skiing, and whitewater rafting. The list goes on and on and on. Florida is not without opportunities outside WDW but the list is much shorter.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Interesting to read everyone's thoughts and comparisons!

WDW vets, planning our first DLR trip for this year.

Me and kids have already said that we will probably end up missing stuff like the buses, the whole size of WDW - just pulling up to MK, seeing the monorails, ferry, the water - just such a grand entrance - compared to being in the middle of a city.

WDW is our home away from home - so do wonder if just won't feel the same to us at DLR. we KNOW it will be different.... and there are many DLR attractions we don't have at WDW that we really want to experience. Can't wait to take the kids on a REAL Small World ride - really, MK's is pathetically lame, just the entrance even! Or Nemo subs - ahhh, 20,000 leagues was my FAV ride as a kid!
So while we are curious to see the differences - we are going into it knowing it won't be the same trip we're used to

Well, after all that I've said to upset people, I suppose I shouldn't post this too...but I have to be honest - I thought Small World was worse than WDW's small world. Oh, I bet I'm going to be beaten for that one! Again, just goes to show you how everyone's opinions are different. I do recommend that you check out Hydroguy's tips and others thoughts and recommendations but remember that you are the one that needs to be happy with what you do. I suppose one of the things that I was not prepared for at DL was feeling the way others do about certain rides and such. In fact, many of the things people said they didn't like, I did like and vice versa! We had a great trip and you will too!

Thanks for the review. We are WDW regulars and having been contemplating a DL trip...never been! THinking I may want to wait and do this as a part of a California trip instead of just flying to the opposite coast for DL...

We flew into San Diego, stayed for a couple days, then drove up the coast to Laguna Beach and then over to Anaheim. I HIGHLY recommend this! It was great to experience San Diego and then drive to the beach and THEN go to Disneyland. It was like all these mini-vacations in one!

With that aside, I think a mistake that some WDW vets make coming to DLR is that they want to "try something different from WDW" and then they are perturbed every time something is actually different. Sort of like an uninformed American who visits Europe and can't get over the fact that the food is different. Well, what did you expect?

IMO the key to enjoying DLR for WDW vets is that they:

1. Know there will be differences and embrace them - DLR is not a vacation resort destination the same way WDW is. But DLR is a Disney Magic destination. In spades. Do you want a vacation or a magical experience?

2. Do enough research to understand the strengths of DLR and focus on those

3. Visit DLR at the right time of year for your priorities and that time of year may very well be a different time of year that you normally visit WDW.

In case either of you have not found it yet, I try to cover all this in detail in this thread:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

With regard to the question whether one should plan activities outside DLR to make a trip worthwhile, once Cars Land and Buena Vista Street open at DCA this June then DLR will really be a resort that needs a minimum of four days to experience it properly. So plan 4-5 days at DLR.

And I am so grateful for your tips and posts! It definitely helped me to plan!

I really would like to go back after DCA is all gussied up! Maybe not right away since it is sure to be busy, but eventually. And this time, I'd like to add on more time around LA and the beaches to the north. But I am not going to LA without visiting DL

 

[yensidfan99]

Tinkerbellie16-Thank you for a thoughtful and honest review. As you have said each resort imparts its own bit of magic and every person will find something about each that they like better than the other.

We are lucky enough that we will get to be in both resorts and compare in Sept. We are going for 8 days to DLR when I run the Half-Marathon and after that trip was booked my DW found out she has a conference to attend in WDW the following week so after coming home and doing laundry and resting for 2 days we will be heading to WDW where my DD and I will get to explore the magic while DW conferences. We are then ending that week with a 3 night DCL cruise on the Dream.

I am very excited at the prospect of comparing and contrasting the different parks and rides

 

[LindaBabe]

My first park was DL, back in 1987 for 1 day while we were stationed at George AFB. I expected to love it, but actually liked Knott's Berry Farm better.

1994 went to WDW for the first time and loved it.

2006 made a return visit to DL and liked it better than the first time. LOVE It's a small world, and Toontown, haunted Mansion, the storybook boats and Alice in Wonderland. I DID NOT love Blue bayou (lousey service and the Monte Cristo - yuck) or the difficulty making dining reservations.

2011 back again. DL doesn't seem to be as ECV friendly as WDW. I LOVED dinner at Arials, but I Did NOT love the WOC. Unless you're in the front row you can't see that much and the accessable area is behind a whole section of standers and not elevated, so if you need to sit or are confined to a wheel chair you don't see any but the high fireworks. The second night we were invited to the private balcony at GC and that was better. I enjoyed eating at Downtown Disney more than in DL.

2012 we find our selves on the west coast for the Hawaii cruise and will be going to DL again, because my husband hasn't been since 1987. I even booked Arials and the WOC package so he could see it. I'll enjoy the dinner