My family (DH-41, DD-14, DS-12) and I have been to WDW 5 times within the last 9 years, but had always wanted to visit Walt's original park. This was the year we finally took the plunge! And I'm so, so happy we did. We just got back from a 5 day stay (5/22-5/26, with park hoppers) and had an amazing time. Because this board was so helpful to me in planning our trip (thanks especially to Hydroguy!), I thought I'd offer up my impressions of the park, especially in how it compares to WDW.
Lodging
Summary: I highly recommend Park Vue Inn
We stayed at the Park Vue Inn, in a room with a queen bed and two bunk beds. I cannot say enough about the benefits of being right across the street from the park entrance. At WDW, we generally stay offsite to save some money, and that means we all need to travel together to and from the parks, and agree on a general schedule. Here, when my daughter was feeling sick/tired, my husband was able to accompany her back to the hotel while my son and I stayed to enjoy the parks. This was huge for us. I went back a couple of times on my own just to enjoy Main Street and loved having that solo time to myself, without feeling like I was holding up the entire group.
Parking was free. WiFi was good. The mattresses were comfortable enough. The kids loved having their own bunk beds. The pool was small, but secluded, and the hot tub was relaxing. The free breakfast was excellent. I had scrambled eggs, home fries, fruit and yogurt every day. My daughter loved the waffle maker. They also had sausage, cold and hot cereals, bagels, etc. The coffee was decent as far as hotel coffees go.
Plus, Cold Stone Creamery was located near the lobby area, a benefit we took plenty advantage of!
Food
Summary: Delicious! 
We are pretty easygoing when it comes to meals. At WDW, we generally do a couple TS meals per trip but stick with CS for the most part. I had heard that DL was better for counter service and was eager to compare. I'll list the highlights below.
- Plaza Inn (DL): yes, the fried chicken is that good. We ate here our first night and loved it. I did think the green beans were a little tired, though. The mashed potatoes were fantastic, however, and the atmosphere was great, being situated right on Main Street.
- Carnation Cafe (DL): our best meal of the trip, all around. I loved the chicken fried chicken and the mashed potatoes. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the meat loaf. We all got a kick out of the fried pickles. Carnation Cafe edged out the Plaza, though, because of the grilled side veggies, which were delicious.
- Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta (CA): my daughter really liked the pasta here. The pizza was pretty average, but it wasn't too busy when we went. It's tucked back in the corner near Goofy's Sky School and is a little overlooked, I think. There was a band playing while we ate, which was nice and added to our enjoyment of the meal.
- Napolini (Downtown Disney): we were going to go to the TS restaurant, Naples, but were feeling tired and just wanted to grab something quick. This brick-oven pizza was pretty darn good. Not quite up to Via Napoli standards in WDW, but still--better than any other pizza we had on the trip. Relatively cheap, too. I wish it had been a little bit fresher, though.
- French Market (DL) is very inviting, with an ingratiating New Orleans feel about it. My husband liked their unique take on meat loaf, while I enjoyed the beef stew bread bowl quite a bit.
- Jolly Holiday Bakery (DL): wow, the eclairs here are so good!! This was my son's favorite thing to eat on the entire trip. I also loved the pineapple upside down cake. Mmm!!
- DD loved her S'more from Pooh's Corner (DL) in Critter Country. DS really liked his Tigger tail, too.
- We ordered the "secret menu" ice cream nachos in the Golden Horseshoe (DL), which our kids got a kick out of. The ice cream isn't all that exceptional, but it's a fun dish and I really liked sitting in the Golden Horseshoe, listening to the player piano in the background.
We didn't eat anything "bad," but I was a little underwhelmed by the one churro I tried. I guess my expectations were a little too high going in.
The same for Mickey's beignets at the
Mint Julep Bar. (The beignets at the patisserie in Epcot's France pavilion blow them away, imo) Also, the kids got sundaes at
Ghirardelli in CA and didn't think they were anything extraordinary--not enough to justify the outrageous cost, though it was nice to be handed a free chocolate as we walked in. Our meals at
Hungry Bear and
Smokejumpers Grill were pretty standard faire, but fine and filling. (I think WDW's veggie burgers are superior to Smokejumpers.) Two of us liked
Cocina Cucamonga in CA quite a bit (yay, tamales!), while the other two (the kids) would pass on eating there again.
Overall, I think we might give WDW a slight edge on dining, but it's a closer call than we'd have thought, and we certainly enjoyed our share of delicious meals and treats at DL.
Starting out in the Parks
Summary: Easier access than WDW, lower RD efficiency
We're the crazy people who go bagless at WDW, so I was a little disappointed that there was no bagless entry at DL. It wasn't a huge deal, though, as the lines for bag check weren't too bad. I wore a runner's waist pack tucked inside my shorts and didn't have to show it to security, though I did take it off for the metal detectors.
Loved the proximity of DL and CA to one another. That ease of going back and forth between parks (and to our hotel) cannot be overstated. I only wish they'd kept the two parks "disconnected" for fast passes, but oh well! Can't have it all, I guess.
They let us into the parks around 20 minutes before opening but held us at the rope drop points until the exact hour. WDW usually lets us in about 10-15 minutes early, so I missed that early jump on the day. Overall, though, I didn't think rope drop was too crazy at DL, except for Magic Morning, which we did last Tuesday. We went to Peter Pan first, and that was nuts. A toddler toppled out of her stroller when the wheel hit the train tracks, because her mother was pushing her too fast toward Fantasyland. The little girl started screaming--not a good start to your day at the Happiest Place on Earth!
One drawback was that we weren't able to get as much done for MM at DL as we do that first hour at WDW. We pretty much did Peter Pan and Matterhorn and that was it. Which leads me to...
Crowds
Summary: Felt more crowded than WDW, but the people were nicer
We got into DL around noon on Monday, which granted, is not the best time to show up at a theme park. Still, it was a shock to us how crowded it was. When we got into Tomorrowland, we could hardly move, people were so pressed up against one another. And this was a Monday! I think we only rode 4 rides that first day. (We were exhausted, though, and went back to our hotel around 5:30). It was not an auspicious start to our trip.
The rest of the week felt crowded to us as well--except for Friday! I guess AP holders were blocked out that day? It was so strange to me, having that WDW mindset, to experience a busier Tuesday than Friday, but there you go. Still, it made that last day extra special for us. DD and DS went on California Screamin' three times in a row that afternoon, with less than 10 minute waits in between.
The crowds bothered us more in DL than CA, which is more spread out, with fewer bottlenecked walkways to navigate. And, to be fair, we usually visit WDW at relatively low-crowd times and are RD people who maximize our use of FP plus. Once we adapted to the smallness of DL, and its more compact walkways, we just expected things to take longer and weren't too undone by the occasional snarl.
Grad night (Wednesday) did feel extra crowded. It's possible it wasn't, but just *felt* that way because teens tend to not pay attention to where they're going, and travel in packs, which makes walking around them more difficult. I didn't witness any overtly obnoxious incidents, though. In fact, I have to give the edge to DL guests for their behavior, in general. People seemed more easygoing and accommodating, as a rule. I think WDW requires so much planning that it makes (even good) people anxious and somewhat entitled in their behavior. I didn't see a single person freak out on a CM here, even with all of the ride closures. Which brings me to...
Rides Going Down
Summary: Not even close. WDW is the clear winner here.
I was surprised, if not shocked, by how often rides went down at DL. It was a constant issue throughout the week. I'm surprised anyone would set foot in the Matterhorn line when the wait time was more than an hour, as it seemed to shut down several times a day.
The worst experience we had was on Friday morning, right at RD. We headed straight for Indy, because it had just reopened after its refurbishment, but no, it was closed. No problem, we'll go to Pirates--but it was also closed (it had been closed Wednesday morning at RD, too, when we rode it the first time--that gobbled up a half hour of precious morning time). Okay...I guess we'll do Thunder Mountain, then. What?? Yep--you guessed it--closed. At this point, we were ready to pull our hair out. We didn't want to leave this section of the park because we wanted to be around when Indy finally reopened. So eventually, we decided to do Winnie the Pooh (after being escorted off that ride on Thursday due to a break down) and Splash again.
It was fine, in the end. Everything (except BTM) had reopened within 45 minutes, and we were able to ride all we wanted to. But just be aware: whatever plans you make need to remain flexible, because rides shut down all the time, and you'll need to weather those (small) storms with your humor still intact.
Weather
Summary: DL, DL, a thousand times DL!
We experienced a range of lovely temps, from low 60s to low 80s. Not a single drop of rain. There is no really no comparison to WDW's oppressive humidity and thunderstorms. California is far superior in this regard. I found I had more energy at the end of the day than I do at WDW as a result, which is a huge bonus. It's nice not totally sweating through your clothes, too.
Fastpass
Summary: I prefer Fastpass+ at WDW
I found the original Fastpass system to work fine at DL, but I think I slightly prefer the newer magic band/Fastpass+ system at WDW. Although I dislike the "tiers" at WDW, I do prefer being able to do everything through the
MDE app, without having to run all over the place and cut through crowds (or go to another park before we're ready to) to secure my next Fastpass. I also like the greater freedom of being able to choose a wide availability of times for our party than whatever is available at the machines just then.
In this case, I think the greater planning required at WDW pays off for our family.
California Adventure
Summary: Beautiful park that surpassed my expectations
I cannot say enough good things about this park! I definitely liked it better than Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios at WDW. Each land is so unique, yet there's a lovely "flow" to the place. Weirdly enough, my favorite section might have been Grizzly Peak. I loved its "national park" feel and so did DS. We really enjoyed the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail! The rope bridges and climbing walls were so much fun and a nice break from waiting in lines. They even have a little zip cord area for smaller kids. Sometimes, the best experiences are the things you don't really plan for.
Of course, Cars Land and Paradise Pier were awesome, especially lit up at night. We didn't do as much in Bug's Land because our kids are a little old for it. Hollywood Land was also not a priority, as we left right before the opening of Guardians (much to my son's dismay).
Rides
Summary: Old favorites and New Experiences
Too many wonderful rides to list here, so I'll just go with our highlights:
- Radiator Springs Racers at night: riding this after sundown boosted my enjoyment of the ride by at least 50%. The cliffs are just so beautiful lit up at night. Feels faster, too. Try to time your FP for the evening at least once to enjoy the extra atmosphere.
- California Screamin': the best pure rollercoaster Disney's done, in my family's humble opinion. Just a lot of fun.
- The original dark rides at DL: it was so wonderful being able to ride Mr. Toad and Snow White, etc. Though none of them individually blew us away, they all had that "classic" Disney feel and were lovely to get to experience, at least once. (Crazy that Mr. Toad gets sent to Hell at the end, though!
)
- Hyperspace Mountain: so much fun with the SW overlay! And so much better (and less jerky) than WDW's SM.
- BTM's final hill: enjoyed the addition of the dynamite and "sparks," though they are pretty loud for those sensitive to noise.
- Grizzly River Run: not a phenomenally themed ride, but plenty fun. Be prepared to get wet. We rode this one late in the day so we weren't walking around with wet underwear.
- Soarin' Around the World: I was nervous about this ride, since I loved the original so much, but I thought it was beautifully done and a worthy successor to Soarin' Over California. The CGI didn't bother me at all. Maybe my favorite ride, because I love the wonder and uplift of it. If you can get a spot in the first row (without any dangling feet in your way), all the better.
- Haunted Mansion: loved the addition of the Hatbox Ghost! I also like the exterior of the mansion here better than at WDW. It really adds to the beauty of New Orleans Square.
- Pirates: wow, those early sections are amazing! I loved seeing the Blue Bayou tables lit up as well. Our kids really enjoyed the drops--they added a little adrenaline to the experience. A fantastic, immersive ride, all around. I'm so glad we got to do this one twice.
- Buzz: we appreciated the greater control of our blasters compared to WDW's version
- It's a Small World: gorgeous exterior, with interesting interior differences from the WDW version, including the inclusion of more Disney characters
- Toon Town: okay, not a ride, but this is a land that DS and I really enjoyed. He's almost too old (12) for it now, but we really loved hunting for hidden Mickeys here and grabbing a bite to eat from Pluto's. Such a fun, whimsical place to hang out for awhile with little ones. Saw more smiles here than anywhere else, I think.
- Tarzan's Treehouse: I had zero expectations for this, but enjoyed it, maybe even more than the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse at WDW. Again, DS and I kept our eyes out for hidden Mickeys.
Small disappointments:
- Splash Mountain was definitely better at WDW, but we knew that going on and adjusted our expectations accordingly.
- I actually liked PP better at WDW. The large room in DL's version felt a little sparse to me, somehow.
- DS was disappointed in the Storybook Land Canal boats. I think he got his hopes up seeing that big whale's mouth and thought it would be more exciting within. Still, a cute ride for little kids. Our CM was kind of phoning it in, though.
- I really, really, really wish they had a People Mover here still in Tomorrowland still. Like, really.
- Don't bother with Goofy's Sky School or Gadget's Go Coaster unless you have real little kids and there are short lines for these attractions. The zephyr ride was also pretty ho-hum (though the Symphony Swings were a lot of fun--if brief).
- Mickey's Fun Wheel: luckily, there was no wait on Thursday morning for this. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother getting on this one again. You don't really get to go around very much (though the view is nice at the top). It's mostly start and stop, loading and unloading. We did get a swinging car, and it didn't really bother us. It's a little disconcerting that first time at the top, sliding across the bar, but otherwise, I was a little underwhelmed, given the many ominous reports of Mickey's "Death Wheel" I'd read on here.
- Indy: I hesitate to include this, as it was a good ride (and amazing queue), but we purposely added a day to our Park Hopper tickets just to ride Indy after it reopened. I guess I expected the story to be stronger and more reflective of the films. It just didn't "wow" me like I was hoping for. My husband felt the same, but the kids (who only saw the first film) were perfectly happy with it (though not clamoring to ride again).
- Probably our biggest disappointment was the Matterhorn, I'm sorry to say. It's just not a very interesting ride. I liked the Yeti quite a bit, but the parts in between were lackluster and dare I say--boring. It's also a slow-loading ride prone to closure, which makes it a gamble if your time's at a premium. Definitely Fastpass this one.
Characters
Summary: Spontaneous sightings, for the win!
Our kids have never been that into character meets (both a little shy), but we did really enjoy happening across so many characters in both DL and CA. I saw 4 or 5 princesses headed down Paradise Pier together, Belle and the Beast, along with Alice and the Mad Hatter and Captain Hook, cutting through Fantasyland, and all the classic "biggies" on Main Street or in Toon Town, at one time or another. We did see a couple Storm Troopers in Tomorrowland, too, and Woody in Frontierland, along with Captain Jack Sparrow in Adventureland. It was always a little thrill to see them come out of nowhere and interact with the people streaming by. Great to see kids' faces light up in wonder like that. I definitely appreciate the spontaneity of DL's character appearances more than WDW's more controlled interactions.
Entertainment
Summary: Big or small, DL has it all
I regret that we didn't see the
MSEP. I tried to get my family to stay for it a couple of times, but we were still on Eastern Time for the most part, and the kids couldn't hack it.
That said,
World of Color was everything I'd hoped it would be, and more. I went by myself on Thursday night, having secured a "Blue" section FP earlier in the morning. My position was good, but not ideal, as I had a somewhat obstructed view. It didn't matter once the show began. I loved everything about this show and the technological innovation that made it possible. Personally, I didn't feel like the Dessert Party would have been worth it, as I didn't mind standing for less than a half hour before the show started.
I enjoyed the "small" entertainments we witnessed throughout our stay at the parks as well. I loved the bands on Main Street and in New Orleans Square, the ragtime piano player at Refreshment Corner, and Five & Dime at CA. Again, that feeling of spontaneity and having a more intimate encounter is really a lovely thing to experience in so big a place. I think it forges a more personal connection to DL. We had two bands playing while we dined as well (at French Market and Boardwalk).
Main Street
Summary: The original can't be beat
Last but not least, I think making the extra trek to DL was worth it just to experience Walt's original vision of Main Street, U.S.A. I could have lingered there for many more hours than I did. There's just something about seeing Walt's lantern lit up in the Firehouse and walking through the magic shop and Penny Arcade there that makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. The shops are uniformly lovely and interesting (I especially loved the art/animation one on the right as you enter the park). I loved seeing the original park bench where Walt came up with the idea for DL, too. I also appreciated eating at both Carnation Cafe and the Plaza Inn for their locations on that iconic street.
Make sure you stop and watch the window displays at the Emporium. These classic Disney stories are so beautifully wrought and their attention to detail stunning.
Final thoughts
I honestly can't say whether I prefer WDW or DL, and I don't feel the need to rank them in that way. Both are unique, immersive experiences, and both are infinitely worth doing. We'll probably continue going to WDW in the near future, as the airfare (and flight time) make more sense for us, living in Ohio.
But when I originally envisioned going to DL, I really thought it was a one-time trip for us. I'm not so sure of that anymore. We had such a fun time at DL and CA and found the benefits to far outweigh any drawbacks. I thought 5 days might be too much, but it really wasn't. We rode a couple rides for the first time on our very last day, and were able to ride favorites like BTM, Star Tours, TSM and California Screamin' 4-5 times throughout our stay.
I think, most importantly, this trip really refreshed our love for all things Disney, as WDW was starting to become a little too familiar to us.
Final thought: If you're wavering on whether to give DL a chance, just go already!!
Okay, I went on longer than I thought I would, but I know I enjoyed reading people's thoughts/reactions upon their returns, and wanted to provide the same experience for others. Thanks for reading and for all the great information I gleaned from this board over the past few months!!
Great to hear your recent experiences as we are headed back in 23 days, and I am especially psyched for that gorgeous SoCal weather!
