Just back-quick notes

[8caliace]

Just returned from a quick 2 day visit to DL. Overall, the trip was great.

Highlights:
1. Main St Electrical Parade: This is an all time favorite from my childhood. My DS (7) saw it last year while I was at an Angels game, but this was my DD's (1) first time. I cannot begin to explain how much joy I got out of seeing them watching the parade. I held my son on my shoulders while my brother held the little one up. She never stopped bouncing and pointing and laughing for one second. Truly priceless memories. I now have the song on our cell phone and she likes to hear it everyday.
2. Tower of Terror: Yes there are some noticeable differences between the DL and WDW versions, but we all enjoyed it just as much as the WDW ride.
3. Small World: again having to do with the same reasons stated in #1. My DD absolutely went crazy. It was a highlight also because WDW's version will be closed for our next trip.

Other info: CM's were great, did not encounter any negative CM's at all. Managed our FP's very well and got to do everything we set out to do and see.

Lowlights:
1. None really specific, but I think it is getting harder to go to DL after we have been to WDW several times now. I grew up close to DL so it is always great to go back. But now being a WDW veteran, DL seems to pale in comparison. I know it is not a fair comparison, but it is hard to view them as equals. I will always love aspects of DL better (Matterhorn, Indy, POC, etc). But I got to feeling boxed in at DL this time.

Overall, we had a great time and loved everything. If you have any questions about our trip or need info, please ask. Thanks.

 

[emmabelle]

Hi, we are going to DL in 13 days, just wondering how were the crowds for the non-fast pass rides and what days of the week were you there? Thanks!

 

[Firefly777]

Lowlights:
1. None really specific, but I think it is getting harder to go to DL after we have been to WDW several times now. I grew up close to DL so it is always great to go back. But now being a WDW veteran, DL seems to pale in comparison. I know it is not a fair comparison, but it is hard to view them as equals. I will always love aspects of DL better (Matterhorn, Indy, POC, etc). But I got to feeling boxed in at DL this time.

We like to go to both. They both serve their purposes for me. I go to WDW to get that escape feel and I go to DL to get my Magic Kingdom fix, as the WDW MK just doesn't do it for me atmosphere and attraction-wise.

Anyway, Glad you had a good time. I agree with you about Tower of Terror. I can't say I liked this version better, but I thought they were equally good.

 

[maci]

Hey we just got back last week and similar feelings as you. It is funny we drove...and drove right through your town! Hi neighbor .

emmabelle...we were there mon, tues, wed evening and friday..2 weeks ago. It was crowded with lines for non fast pass rides, like peter pan was around 45 minutes or so. If you get there early you can get tons done! The people didnt start pouring in til 10:30 of 11:00!
Have a nice trip!

 

[year2late]

We just got back as well, and go early with an agenda and use fastpasses wisely is my best advice.

Second best advice is to familiarize yourself with fastpass system at DL - with special attention to what fastpass machines are independent of the others - you will beable to get more fastpasses that way.

The parks were crowded - even DCA .

 

[emmabelle]

Hopefully it can't be as crowded as it was at WDW on the Sunday during Memorial Day weekend. We started off really well at MK, but then at 1:00pm the park had gotten so crowded that we couldn't get on any fast pass rides until 5:00pm so we park hopped to MGM which wasn't any better, fast passes not available until 7:00pm, so we then park hopped to Epcot which of course was about the same. After 1:00pm, the only attractions that we got on was Millionaire and the Mexico ride. It was actually kinda of comical, thankfully it was just my husband and I, because my kids would have been very unhappy. It was just like when you try to change lines at the supermarket, it never works.

 

[maci]

I dont know? Splash Mt., tower of terror, Indy and a couple of others were running out of FP's COMPLETELY for the entire day(park closed at 11pm) by around 1 or 2. Plus the walkways are smaller so it can feel even more crowded sometimes. Just expect the worst and you will be pleasantly surprised!

 

[scanmom]

I have a ? for you...what kind of cell phone do you have, and where did you get the Disney music to download... I would LOVE to do this and am getting a new phone later this week! Thanks for any info!!! P.S---I grew up in Long Beach, and we went to DL all the time. I didn't go to WDW until I was 34 y/o!!! I hear you about feeling "boxed in" at DLR. After going to WDW 4times, there doesn't seem to be as much to do at DLR! But, like you, I will always love the "real DL"!!! DL is soooo much better than the MK at WDW!!!

 

[8caliace]

Emmabelle: We were at DL on a Mon/Tues. I have to agree with others in that by getting there early and doing FP's, we were able to knock a lot of the big rides. I really expected there to be more people in the parks early, but it was pretty empty for the first couple of hours which ws great. By afternoon, it was definitely a bit crowded. I think most lines for the more popular rides were averaging about 45 minutes. I don't know if you have kids or not, but we got a kid swap pass for every ride we could. If we didn't want to use it again right away, we saved it for later in the day. Some rides my wife won't go on, so it was nice to ride Matterhorn in the morning, and then come back later in the day to use the kid swap pass. And it definitely seemed like the CM's at DL were pretty loose with giving them out. I remember some instances at WDW where the CM's actually wanted my DW to sit in a certain area and they asked to see the kids. I walked up to several at DL and they just handed them out to me upon asking.

Maci: Hi to you too neighbor. We flew and we came right to your town.

Scanmom: I have a Samsung V1660 through Sprint. I found a website called 3gupload.com. They have a ton of stuff (ringers, screensavers, etc) I found a long version of the Main St Parade and downloaded it. You can go in and do a trial offer on their webiste. I believe it was $5.99 for 6 months of unlimited downloads. It is pretty simple to do once you get set-up. You choose the items you want, and it sends a text message to your phone with instructions for downloading the items.

 

[emmabelle]

8caliase I do have kids, but they are 12 and 14, just picturing doing kid swap with my 14 yr old son would be hilarious. If he acts up at all, I'll have to check it out. We are going to be there on a Thurs-Sun, I didn't know any better when I made the plans, I'm used to DW where it is crowded every day in the summer. I would have planned differently, mid-week, oh well it's something I'm used to since we always do DW in the summer.

 

[sters]

Originally posted by 8caliace

I grew up close to DL so it is always great to go back. But now being a WDW veteran, DL seems to pale in comparison. I know it is not a fair comparison, but it is hard to view them as equals. I will always love aspects of DL better (Matterhorn, Indy, POC, etc). But I got to feeling boxed in at DL this time.
.

That's so funny, I feel the SAME way! As a child, I took a day trip there every year and long to take my children someday. But, I felt disappointed returning there as an adult (before kids) after so many WDW trips. Disneyland seemed very cramped compared to the lushly landscaped and more spread out arrnagement at the Magic Kingdom in WDW. And it seemed very unshady. I like a sit down mean, which at the time I went to DL was nonexistant. I'm glad to hear that there is at least one, the Blue BAyou, to sample if I ever get out to the West Coast.

But, it's still DISNEY, so how can you go wrong?

 

[Firefly777]

Originally posted by sters
That's so funny, I feel the SAME way! As a child, I took a day trip there every year and long to take my children someday. But, I felt disappointed returning there as an adult (before kids) after so many WDW trips. Disneyland seemed very cramped compared to the lushly landscaped and more spread out arrnagement at the Magic Kingdom in WDW. And it seemed very unshady. I like a sit down mean, which at the time I went to DL was nonexistant. I'm glad to hear that there is at least one, the Blue BAyou, to sample if I ever get out to the West Coast.

But, it's still DISNEY, so how can you go wrong?

I'm the opposite. I've always found Disneyland to be very lush and the MK seemed more open and unshady to me.

I'm confused about your comment about the Blue Bayou. It has been there since the 60's. There is also another sit-down restaurant called the Carnation Cafe on Main St.