Just Returned from Disneyland!!

[TeamSy]

We just got back from our first trip to Disneyland and we LOVED it! After all that we've read and heard from friends who live in California, we were prepared to be disappointed. We visited the Disneyland in Hong Kong last year and were warned of its small size (it's tiny!!). All that park did was make us miss Disney World. Basically, we didn't go the Disneyland in California expecting much.

However, to our surprise, we loved it just as much as Disney World. They have their similarities, but are also so different we love them both in different ways! They have some really unique rides that we can't wait to go on again! We had only planned on one day in each of the two parks, and felt like we could have done two days in Disneyland (one was not enough for us). We were only in California Adventure from 10-8 and felt like we could've used a full day here too. We had to get to the airport and missed World of Color, which we would have loved to see. We didn't even have time to visit Downtown Disney, so a trip back soon is a must! The absolute only disappointment was the size of the castle. It was even smaller than I imagined! TINY! But other than that, I have to say I loved everything.

We received more Disney magic here than during our last few trips to Disney World combined! Our favorite was upon inquiring the wait times for some rides at the guest relations in the middle of the park, the lady asked how long we were here for and if it was our first visit. We happened to be leaving at 8pm that night for our flight home. Out of nowhere, she gave us a fast pass to the new Cars ride (which sold out of fast passes before we even got to the park that morning, and had a 120 minute wait the ENTIRE day)! What a great surprise and such a nice thing for her to do out of nowhere. She saved our day by not having to wait in such long lines when we only had a few hours to go! Thanks to her, we pretty much made it on everything!

We only had a chance to try a few restaurants - Blue Bayou and Carthay Circle. Overall (out of the two) we felt the food was better at Disney World, but the ambiance in Blue Bayou is unbeatable! We LOVED the Pirates of the Caribbean ride here!

We stayed at the Anaheim Marriott because of our elite Marriott status, and it was a quick and easy walk to the parks. We would definitely stay here again.

We are planning a trip to Bora Bora for next year and planned on getting Disneyland "out of the way" this summer (our goal is to visit them all), and doing something else during the stopover in LA, but to our surprise, we already can't wait to return. Maybe it's because the one in Anaheim is still so new for us, but I feel as though it will now be a tough choice for us on which park to visit - Orlando or Anaheim.

I still have to upload our pictures, but here a couple just so this post isn't totally bare. For those who are familiar with Disney World, and are unsure of Disneyland - GO!

 

[limace]

I love both disney parks-but have to say that Disneyland is my favorite . Love the feel of the parks there, the easy walk between them and to the hotels, all of it...so glad you had a good trip!

 

[PinkBudgie]

How fun! Thanks for reporting! My DH and I just got back from our first ever visit to WDW this summer! We loved it there too and found good things at both places. At DLR we always stay for 6 days and last summer it was 7 1/2 days. So we got 10 day parkhoppers for WDW.

Over all the CS is better at DLR. You can get quick meals of more than just burgers. At WDW, we kept running in to the same burger over and over at CS. But we did get a taco bowl at Pecos Bill. WDW had better themeing for TS than DLR. We loved the atmosphere of Sci-fi, Prime Time, at San Angel Inn! Why can't DLR do something unusual?

At WDW we stayed at POFQ and I can't stop talking about how beautiful and peaceful it was there! But WDW is way more expensive of a trip, so I know it will be at least five years before we go back.

Oh, I have to laugh about your castle remark. I never understood why WDW vets got hung up about the DL castle. Well, now I understand. I could not believe how huge Cinderella's castle was. I can now understand how ours would be quite a shock. However, I feel the DL castle is more approachable.

I always love to hear what WDW vets think of their first DLR visit. Visiting all of the other Disney parks would be amazing. Good luck with that! (I had wanted to visit Tokyo Disney but now that I have a seafood allergy, I'm thinking Japan probably isn't the best place for me to visit. )

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Glad you had such a wonderful time.

 

[letsgoreds]

Yeah! Your post made me happy. We are WDW vets and newly minted west coast residents, planning on knocking DL off of our to-do list soon. I don't have super high expectations, but am really excited to check out the two parks. Something about Saving Mr. Banks that made me want to learn more about Walt Disney and DL...the original : )

 

[Fargoman2]

Thanks for sharing! We are WDW vets who will be making our first visit to DL in 6 days!!!! You've helped build the anticipation!

Cheers!

 

[Pooh2]

Enjoyed your post and photos!

We are going in Sept for our first visit. Cannot wait!

 

[Butterfly123]

Thanks...that was a lovely report! Glad you got some pixie dust!

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

So glad that the OP had a great time! I love to see these kinds of posts. There is room in our collective hearts for both locales, they're both awesome in their own ways.

Yeah! Your post made me happy. We are WDW vets and newly minted west coast residents, planning on knocking DL off of our to-do list soon. I don't have super high expectations, but am really excited to check out the two parks. Something about Saving Mr. Banks that made me want to learn more about Walt Disney and DL...the original : )

Fantastic. One of my favorite things about DLP is the history. There are, of course, any number of books on the subject. But for a quick fix there are a number of great videos on youtube about Disneyland's history as well, including the full opening day broadcast, which is kind of a trip. It's interesting (to me at least) because of the snapshot of the park at opening but also because of realities of live television in the 50's and what appears to be general pandemonium which, as I understand it, is pretty indicative of DLP's opening as a whole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuzrZET-3Ew

 

[GatorChris]

I know what you mean on the size of the castle. It's almost laughable once you've been to Orlando.

Glad it was a good time. We feel the same way as you - it's the "newness" of the parks for us. We got APs so that once we do our trip this fall, we can keep coming back (living only 6 hours away). As for comparing Orlando to Anaheim.... I may be Californian, but Orlando is waaayyyy better for us. The hotels, the eats, the rides, EPCOT! But DL is a good fix for what we're missing back in Florida. Besides, we can go to DL anytime of year and be comfortable. WDW.... that place has good weather about 3 months out of the year.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Something I like to keep in mind about the castle at Disneyland- without that first castle to begin the dream... there would have been no others.

When I think of that, it makes me thankful that even though Walt did not have the giant budget to create the huge castle when Disneyland was created, he still accomplished something that hardly anyone believed was possible making the Disneyland castle all the more special.... and that is what led to the next castle... and the next... and so on.

 

[DDhunter]

I know what you mean on the size of the castle. It's almost laughable once you've been to Orlando.

Glad it was a good time. We feel the same way as you - it's the "newness" of the parks for us. We got APs so that once we do our trip this fall, we can keep coming back (living only 6 hours away). As for comparing Orlando to Anaheim.... I may be Californian, but Orlando is waaayyyy better for us. The hotels, the eats, the rides, EPCOT! But DL is a good fix for what we're missing back in Florida. Besides, we can go to DL anytime of year and be comfortable. WDW.... that place has good weather about 3 months out of the year.

I slightly bristle at the word "laughable." Bigger doesn't mean better. Frankly, with the size of WDW, in theory it should be 1000 times better than Disneyland in every way, and yet it isn't.

 

[Tyggress]

I slightly bristle at the word "laughable." Bigger doesn't mean better. Frankly, with the size of WDW, in theory it should be 1000 times better than Disneyland in every way, and yet it isn't.

AGREE~!
And, since DL has the Matterhorn (which WDW doesn't)...it would look ridiculous to have such a large castle and have it dwarf what is supposed to be a mountain.

 

[conniehar90]

We are here now and my family definitely laughed at the castle when they saw it! It is pretty though!

We have been having a good time but both DH and I both agreed on our first day that we felt that the CM's in WDW are way more friendly and helpful. That was on Tues at DL. Today we went to DCA and everyone was very nice with one Photopass guy even going out of his way to get about 12 different shots of us in different areas of Carsland. Maybe Tues was a bad day at DL - we are going back Sat so we shall see if it is any better. We also had a ton of trouble finding the bathrooms in DL - horrible signage - but no trouble today at DCA.

We really enjoyed noticing the differences in the rides and experiencing the new rides that they don't have at WDW!

 

[707MickeyGirl]

Something I like to keep in mind about the castle at Disneyland- without that first castle to begin the dream... there would have been no others.

That's a wonderful perspective.

 

[edit1]

I'm glad you were able to experience the Disney magic. Can't wait for our next trip to DL!

 

[minniecarousel]

Funny about finding bathrooms. I've been going to Disneyland for 50 years and know every bathroom in Disneyland. I think I know all of them at Calif Adventure too.

I don't think that there are many themed full-service restaurants because you're right in the city of Anaheim - with many restaurants just outside the gates. I think there are more locals at Disneyland too. They're less likely to spend time eating.

Going to WDW is quite a project from the West Coast. I guess no matter where you live, it requires more planning. But that plane ride - ugh!

 

[ButterflyKisses77]

Something I like to keep in mind about the castle at Disneyland- without that first castle to begin the dream... there would have been no others.

When I think of that, it makes me thankful that even though Walt did not have the giant budget to create the huge castle when Disneyland was created, he still accomplished something that hardly anyone believed was possible making the Disneyland castle all the more special.... and that is what led to the next castle... and the next... and so on.

Absolutely! I agree 100%!!

 

[krisbars]

I have been to WDW many times and never The DL. We have booked our first trip, and I'm so glad to read how much you enjoyed it! I'm getting really excited.