Just back, not needing to go again for a while

[Gisele]

?

 

[evilprncess96]

I look at the cost of food a little differently. Has anyone gone to a state or county fair recently? That is what is closest to us and I budgeted as if I was spending my entire trip at the Fair when it came to food and beverages. As for the rest of the OP's trip I feel bad that she didn't feel the magic. I think she may have been disappointed in the tour BECAUSE of the problems with switching it around. Once something is soured about your experience you are going to have your eyes open for anything to go wrong. However, Disneyland is not for everyone, and if you can find your bliss at WDW then more power to you!

 

[Katiebell]

Well, the OP was just expressing her opinion, her last trip to DL was less than magical. I can understand her disappointment with the tour -- sounds like it was a real let down. How good a tour is really depends on the CM you get. And sounds like she had a lot of hassles changing the time for the tour, ran into a couple of cranky CM's -- thankfully, I've found those very few and far between. Prices were high -- well, that's the same at WDW or any other amusement park/entertainment venue. One of my co workers just told me he took his daughter to an ice show this weekend, and it was $6.75 for a box of popcorn, $4 for a 20 oz bottle of soda, and $10 for a "souvenier" bucket of cotton candy. And have you checked out food prices at a sporting event or concert lately? Holy cow...

We went to DL in Feb, WDW in September, and will make another trip to DL in December. They are both wonderfully Disney, but it's hard to compare them because there are so many differences.

WDW is huge, so much more to do and see, never could do everything in one trip, lots of different experiences. We love Epcot, HS, and AK. However, it also takes a ton of planning, ADR's 6 months in advance, we have to fly across the country to get there, and we find that the parks and resorts aren't as pristine and clean as we've experienced at DL -- that's IMHO only, I know that others may think that DL isn't as clean and perfect as it used to be, but we still find it wonderful. And we sure as heck wouldn't dream of going to Six Flags or Great America ever again ! But maybe they have an easier time on the upkeep at DL because the size of the whole place is smaller and more manageable.

DL is only a 6-8 hour drive for us, depending on traffic. We know the place like it's our hometown. We only need to plan just a couple of special meals (like Goofy's Kitchen or the BB), and the rest we can play by ear. We love, love, love, that we can just walk to DTD or CA, and don't have to wait for buses. And we've never had horrid humidity, or storms, or a threat of a hurricane, or icky lovebugs

So...love them both. Both WDW and DL have Disney magic...have both good and bad points, and we will keep going back.

 

[JaneJetson]

WDW is huge, so much more to do and see, never could do everything in one trip, lots of different experiences. We love Epcot, HS, and AK. However, it also takes a ton of planning, ADR's 6 months in advance, we have to fly across the country to get there, and we find that the parks and resorts aren't as pristine and clean as we've experienced at DL -- that's IMHO only, I know that others may think that DL isn't as clean and perfect as it used to be, but we still find it wonderful. And we sure as heck wouldn't dream of going to Six Flags or Great America ever again ! But maybe they have an easier time on the upkeep at DL because the size of the whole place is smaller and more manageable.

People are always saying how much planning goes into a WDW trip. I didn't really plan much more for our WDW trip than I do for Disneyland trips. Also we made no ADR's and still managed to eat three meals a day.

 

[grumpy's fan]

I agree with the "I prefer DL over WDW" people! I enjoy planning my Disney trips and have fun planning both DL and WDW..WDW is more planning intensive IMHO, but both can be fun. What I don't like about WDW is that hopping around is such a pain (to me!) I'd much rather walk across the esplanade, jump on a few rides at DCA and then high tail it back over to DL.

I got so tired of waiting on buses and monorails at WDW to get to another park. My DD is used to the variety of rides/attractions at DL and would often ask why Walt put everything so far apart

Yes the dining options at WDW are more varied and you can have some very interesting and unique food, but it seems harder and harder to just pop into one of the restaurants and not have to wait forever to be seated. Other than BB, there are lots of restaurants in the DLR that you can get into quite easily.

We prefer DL and visit several times a year, but we do go to WDW every few years.

 

[JaneJetson]

To the people that have problems with park hopping at WDW...

How many times in one day did you park hop?

 

[drakethib]

Just food for thought, we have been to WDW countless times and are going to DL in a few weeks for the second time ever (first time for my littleone).

Too much of a good thing is bad sometimes. We are going to DL for a change. yes Mickey Mouse, but still a change.

We are very excited and can't wait. We know the food will not be cheap and the room at GC, well, we could have went a different route as well.

If you think food at WDW is cheap and always wonderful, boy are you going to be in for quite the shock.

Sorry the trip was sour for you and maybe a break is a good idea. When we got sour after a couple of trips we went to other places and found that the flaws at Disney were not quite as bad as we may have thought.

Hope your trip next time is much better.

PS. I am a DVC Member, Stock Holder, AP Holder, Disney Visa Holder as well.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We've had our experiences with CM's not being in the best of moods, and even messing things up. But we don't let it ruin our stay, it's just a blip really. Compared to all the good experiences we have with them.

As far as the chips? I can see asking them to not give them to you, since that would be a waste. But I'd never ask to have them lower the price of a meal to do so. I don't nickel and dime on trips. We also do a lot of eating outside of the parks so that we avoid things like $6 corndogs, unless we really want to have that. Then we chalk it up to being the prices at DL, because all places are like that I've found.

 

[Quest4fun]

I think Jane said it best earlier in the thread. If you go looking for trouble you're going to find it. There will always be shortcomings be it a cranky cast member fresh from being yelled at by a cranky guest, long lines, pricey food or anything else related to your experience. If that's what you're keeping an eye out for you're going to notice it.

Personally I tend to look for unusually friendly cast members, quick moving lines, and tasty food. I always spot these things and it really makes my experience a good one.

All in all the price of admission is pretty good. you're paying $6.90/hour for the average 10 hour trip. If you spend even more time there you're doing even better. Yeah the food costs maybe $2 more for each person per meal which costs a family of five roughly $20 to $30 more than if they'd have gone to McDonald's or Denny's which is an option. That $2/meal/person premium keeps you in the park and saves you the walk and time it would take to leave and save a few bucks. Once again worth it for me.

Turn off your "Cranky Radar" and try to focus on the good time you're having. If you're not the type of person that likes to have fun you should stay home and not ruin it for the people enjoying themselves.

 

[JaneJetson]

I think Jane said it best earlier in the thread. If you go looking for trouble you're going to find it. There will always be shortcomings be it a cranky cast member fresh from being yelled at by a cranky guest, long lines, pricey food or anything else related to your experience. If that's what you're keeping an eye out for you're going to notice it.

Personally I tend to look for unusually friendly cast members, quick moving lines, and tasty food. I always spot these things and it really makes my experience a good one.

All in all the price of admission is pretty good. you're paying $6.90/hour for the average 10 hour trip. If you spend even more time there you're doing even better. Yeah the food costs maybe $2 more for each person per meal which costs a family of five roughly $20 to $30 more than if they'd have gone to McDonald's or Denny's which is an option. That $2/meal/person premium keeps you in the park and saves you the walk and time it would take to leave and save a few bucks. Once again worth it for me.

Turn off your "Cranky Radar" and try to focus on the good time you're having. If you're not the type of person that likes to have fun you should stay home and not ruin it for the people enjoying themselves.

Your signature is distracting and makes it hard to focus and read your post.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

I think Jane said it best earlier in the thread. If you go looking for trouble you're going to find it. There will always be shortcomings be it a cranky cast member fresh from being yelled at by a cranky guest, long lines, pricey food or anything else related to your experience. If that's what you're keeping an eye out for you're going to notice it.

Personally I tend to look for unusually friendly cast members, quick moving lines, and tasty food. I always spot these things and it really makes my experience a good one.

All in all the price of admission is pretty good. you're paying $6.90/hour for the average 10 hour trip. If you spend even more time there you're doing even better. Yeah the food costs maybe $2 more for each person per meal which costs a family of five roughly $20 to $30 more than if they'd have gone to McDonald's or Denny's which is an option. That $2/meal/person premium keeps you in the park and saves you the walk and time it would take to leave and save a few bucks. Once again worth it for me.

Turn off your "Cranky Radar" and try to focus on the good time you're having. If you're not the type of person that likes to have fun you should stay home and not ruin it for the people enjoying themselves.

Your signature is distracting and makes it hard to focus and read your post.

What happened to your Ronald McDonald signature? That was hilarious! My 14 year old was laughing so hard and wanted to add it to his MySpace.

 

[Gisele]

Which signature was distracting? I do not recall.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

We thought Disneyland was rather expensive, too, our first trip back after a long hiatus (2007). However, that same year we went to Kings Dominion in Virginia and were very surprised to find the prices even more expensive than Disneyland! DH and I were both amazed at the higher prices at Kings Dominion - especially in correlation with the upkeep and general quality of the park. We both decided we don't ever need to go back to KD and it is about an hour from our home. We will save all of our pennies for Disneyland and we will enjoy spending them there!

 

[Gisele]

We will save all of our pennies for Disneyland and we will enjoy spending them there

Ah..... I think that is so cute! And I so can relate, I even have what I named my coin collection, to assist in saving for my next trip! he he! Seriously
I think that is so awesome! That in 2010, you will be attending the 55th anniversary Disneyland family reunion trip, boy wish I had a family like that!