My first DL trip since 1986!
Three WDW trips since then...my thoughts and comments.
1 day at DL (6/23) and 1 day at CA (6/24) and 2 half days at Universal.
We arrived at DL at 8 am or shortly before and despite it being June and the 60th anniversary, we did everything we wanted to do by rocking the FP system!
Our longest wait was about 30 min for Star Tours, without a FP.
We rode Space Mountain twice (with FP), Splash (with FP), Indiana Jones (with FP), BTMRR twice, once 5 min wait and once w FP, Star Tours twice - once w FP and once with a 30 min wait, Buzz Lightyear, about a 15 min wait, Jungle Cruise, about a 20 min wait, PotC - near the end of the day - about 830 - with about a 10 min wait, Snow White 5 min wait, Pinocchio 5 min wait, Disneyland Railroad, explored Toon Town - saw Mickey Mouse, Saw Cinderella, Belle and Snow White at the Princess meet and greet, Tarzan tree house. Decided not to stay for Fantasmic since we've seen it at WDW and didn't feel like sitting on the sidewalk to watch.
Rides I like better at DL: Jungle Cruise, HM and PotC.
Despite the heavy June crowds, by getting to the park early and using FP wisely, we did everything we wanted (except Matterhorn - it was down twice that day and had a long line the other time we tried).
California Adventure - we found this park just so-so. We love Soarin - having ridden it several times at Epcot and it didn't disappoint. We did it using single rider lane and that worked great.
Loved Radiator Springs Racers. Got our FP upon entering the park at park opening as advised (couldn't find it right away) at had 10:20 FP I think.
We also rode Little Mermaid, no wait, and Screamin'. Good Coaster, but it's just that..a coaster. All in all, we found Paradise Pier not that exciting. Seems like an amusement park we could find anywhere.
We also did the Ferris Wheel, which was terrifying but fun!
Watched the Aladdin Show, which was great.
We left this park mid-afternoon and wandered around downtown Disney for a while.
As for Universal, our prime motivation there was the Back Lot tour. I had done it there years ago, before there was even a theme park there or in Florida. It was still good, but I felt like it missed some of the charm from by gone days. That being said, the 3D parts of the tour were VERY well done and enjoyable.
As for the rest of the rides at Universal, they all seemed about the same. Put your 3D glasses on, get in a car, get jerked around a lot, move up and down... Don't get me wrong, they're very well done and I enjoyed the Simpsons, Minions and Transformers, but it felt like if you rode one, you rode them all.
The Shrek movie was great and well done I thought, and also enjoyed the Water show.
Our passes were buy one day get one free, and since by mid day the lines were getting long we decided to leave and come back and did this over two days, but it could easily be done in one, if you don't mind the lines. There really isn't that much to do there.
My biggest advice to anyone visiting any of these parks, but your tickets online, look for deals, and that way you won't pay the California tax!
Three WDW trips since then...my thoughts and comments.
1 day at DL (6/23) and 1 day at CA (6/24) and 2 half days at Universal.
We arrived at DL at 8 am or shortly before and despite it being June and the 60th anniversary, we did everything we wanted to do by rocking the FP system!
Our longest wait was about 30 min for Star Tours, without a FP.
We rode Space Mountain twice (with FP), Splash (with FP), Indiana Jones (with FP), BTMRR twice, once 5 min wait and once w FP, Star Tours twice - once w FP and once with a 30 min wait, Buzz Lightyear, about a 15 min wait, Jungle Cruise, about a 20 min wait, PotC - near the end of the day - about 830 - with about a 10 min wait, Snow White 5 min wait, Pinocchio 5 min wait, Disneyland Railroad, explored Toon Town - saw Mickey Mouse, Saw Cinderella, Belle and Snow White at the Princess meet and greet, Tarzan tree house. Decided not to stay for Fantasmic since we've seen it at WDW and didn't feel like sitting on the sidewalk to watch.
Rides I like better at DL: Jungle Cruise, HM and PotC.
Despite the heavy June crowds, by getting to the park early and using FP wisely, we did everything we wanted (except Matterhorn - it was down twice that day and had a long line the other time we tried).
California Adventure - we found this park just so-so. We love Soarin - having ridden it several times at Epcot and it didn't disappoint. We did it using single rider lane and that worked great.
Loved Radiator Springs Racers. Got our FP upon entering the park at park opening as advised (couldn't find it right away) at had 10:20 FP I think.
We also rode Little Mermaid, no wait, and Screamin'. Good Coaster, but it's just that..a coaster. All in all, we found Paradise Pier not that exciting. Seems like an amusement park we could find anywhere.
We also did the Ferris Wheel, which was terrifying but fun!
Watched the Aladdin Show, which was great.
We left this park mid-afternoon and wandered around downtown Disney for a while.
As for Universal, our prime motivation there was the Back Lot tour. I had done it there years ago, before there was even a theme park there or in Florida. It was still good, but I felt like it missed some of the charm from by gone days. That being said, the 3D parts of the tour were VERY well done and enjoyable.
As for the rest of the rides at Universal, they all seemed about the same. Put your 3D glasses on, get in a car, get jerked around a lot, move up and down... Don't get me wrong, they're very well done and I enjoyed the Simpsons, Minions and Transformers, but it felt like if you rode one, you rode them all.
The Shrek movie was great and well done I thought, and also enjoyed the Water show.
Our passes were buy one day get one free, and since by mid day the lines were getting long we decided to leave and come back and did this over two days, but it could easily be done in one, if you don't mind the lines. There really isn't that much to do there.
My biggest advice to anyone visiting any of these parks, but your tickets online, look for deals, and that way you won't pay the California tax!
