Just returned: thoughts from a first-timer/WDW vet

[ezonline]

Loved reading about your experience! We're headed there in August, and just went to WDW for the first time last October. Thanks for sharing!

 

[wahoostampingirl]

Loved your report! We are heading to DL for the first time in less than 3 weeks. We've been to WDW 10 times, but can't wait to experience the original park.

 

[scottmel]

THanks for such a great report. We did Adventures By Disney Backstage Magic in 2015 b/c being from the East Coast we would NEVER go to CA again. HA. We leave in July! Question for you as when we toured with ABD, we were in a group, given ride priority etc. and I really felt DONE with the parks after 2 days but again this was us moving with cast members. This trip will be DH, DD18 and myself. I originally booked 2 days at the parks - do you think I need 3? Was just doing 1 day per park and planning on exploring a coastal town the other day near DL. Any thoughts on if 3 days really make a difference over 2? I too felt that disappointment with Storybook Canal...but I still like the old world fantasyland!!!

 

[Boku41]

Disneyland could make a fortune by replacing the smoking area outside of the Matterhorn with some chiropractors that pop your back into place after the ride!

 

[AshClan]

Thank you for this GREAT report! It was very informative, and I know all your experiences will help my friends and me (all WDW vets) when we head out to CA in just 18 days!! Nice job

 

[HydroGuy]

THanks for such a great report. We did Adventures By Disney Backstage Magic in 2015 b/c being from the East Coast we would NEVER go to CA again. HA. We leave in July! Question for you as when we toured with ABD, we were in a group, given ride priority etc. and I really felt DONE with the parks after 2 days but again this was us moving with cast members. This trip will be DH, DD18 and myself. I originally booked 2 days at the parks - do you think I need 3? Was just doing 1 day per park and planning on exploring a coastal town the other day near DL. Any thoughts on if 3 days really make a difference over 2? I too felt that disappointment with Storybook Canal...but I still like the old world fantasyland!!!

I cannot imagine 2 days at DLR unless doing a quick trip. Sort of like a 4 day trip to WDW.

I will start with the easy ones. In 2015 they switched World of Color to a 60th anniversary version. The original is back and I can't wait to see it again next month! It is much better than the 60th.

Second, the fireworks show which started in May 2015 was Disneyland Forever. Which was really good. Now they are back to Remember Dreams Come True. Also really good. And the newly updated Fantasmic! is rumored to be starting some time in July. That is three nights right there.

I would strongly recommend a minimum of 3 days. In general I recommend 4 days FWIW.

Hope that helps!

 

[Laundress]

THank you for a lovely TR. Appreciate all the info.

 

[Nohal]

Loved your review. I agree with everything you wrote as a WDW vet. We stayed at Park Vue Inn last year and also loved it. Ate at almost the same places as you and had the same opinions. We also went in May last year and hit some grad nights - parks were mobbed. DL walkways are so much smaller and cause bottlenecks in many places.

 

[WDBRDWLK]

Great trip report. We were there from May 20-27th and noticed the rides breaking down. We were on Pinocchino's and sat there for about 10 minutes before a CM came to unlock the car so we could get out. Funny thing is, it was difficult to get out due to the ride vehicle stopping at the point where the doors open to the next screen. I barely squished by but my DH had to climb over the seats of the ride vehicle. LOL

 

[Spintopbeach]

Great report; I've been to wdw 7 times and I'm sick of tiers and them changing hours after I've made all my plans. I went to dl last year and fell in love with it (and no fp+). The two parks are so close and this time I'm staying on site and my dh will be with me so I'm def hoping he falls in love with it too! Thanks also for Matterhorn reports...I hate jerking so will leave that alone.

 

[adelaster]

Interesting read! We visited the MK (for one day) the first time last year, & also visited DL (no DCA) in May (Park Vue) for two days.

I loved Disneyland. Shockingly, my husband prefered WDW.

Totally agree that the people are more laid back, nicer, less militant. As someone who is nervous around people that was barely an issue there. People were overall extrordinarily kind, and I loved how characters just walked around and engaged with visitors. I actually got to sit and experience the ambience on main street & the hub-in multuple places. I heard and saw street entertainment- something I anticipated at WDW but never actually happened. You could hear people talking in the upperstories of main street. I even saw the MSEP! (It was supposed to show on our visit to WDW but they for some reason had no dates.)

I prefered the DL fastpass, but it would never work at WDW. I also only ever saw one (unscheduled) ride down, whereas many rides were down for most of our rainy WDW visit. The day I arrived at opening I walked on most rides-wuth the exception of Peter Pan. That line was always a crowded miserable hour so I sadly only did it once. I didn't get to try as much food as you- but I did have my first churro, my first dolewhip, and breakfast mickey waffle at Carnation Cafe- a reservation I made late the night before even!

There were so many more rides I liked, too! The history was so cool, and the CM's were great. I am basically more eager to return to DL then I am for our planned trip to WDW in December! Alas, the over nine hours of transit dissuades me.

Disneyland was everything I had hoped the Magic Kingdom would be, but a thousand times cooler. The purple trees! The flowers! The locals! Still dizzy on pixie dust.

Edit to add: Disney Springs & the alcohol available on WDW property were much better, but I think the best drinks in California are at DCA. Regardless, west coast Trader Sam's was a letdown to me.

 

[adelaster]

Just a warning: if you have any kind of serious back trouble, be wary of riding the Matterhorn. The track is quite bumpy, and the seats have very little padding. It helps to bring a jacket or sweatshirt to use as a cushion.

My knees were bruised for weeks!

 

[Winnowill]

I prefered the DL fastpass, but it would never work at WDW.

WDW used to use the same type of system, so it did work there for a long time. I vastly prefer DL's system.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

BIG THANKS we help lots of folks and never hear from them so this was very nice to read.

 

[adelaster]

WDW used to use the same type of system, so it did work there for a long time. I vastly prefer DL's system.

Maybe you're right! With as particular as some of the WDW planners are on these boards, and the volume of vacationers WDW gets, it just seems like there might be more issues than there are with DL which draws a different kind of crowd. That's my polite attempt at saying the crowds at WDW were much more aggressive on my visit. Pushing, ditching, etc. Makes me anxious to think about how it would go down.

 

[Chuckers]

Maybe you're right! With as particular as some of the WDW planners are on these boards, and the volume of vacationers WDW gets, it just seems like there might be more issues than there are with DL which draws a different kind of crowd. That's my polite attempt at saying the crowds at WDW were much more aggressive on my visit. Pushing, ditching, etc. Makes me anxious to think about how it would go down.

No, it worked just fine at WDW. However, many attractions would run out of FP's with in an hour of opening. Soaring, TSM, and RnR were a few that come to mind.

 

[CAbryan]

Very nice review, I felt your excitement through the screen! I think it proves if you go to any of the parks in the right state of mind (Like Hydro said) then you will have a great time.

 

[jessrose18]

thanks for the report! we are wdw vets thinking of taking the dl plunge for the first time

 

[LoverDisney]

Great review. We are going to DL for the first time in August after going to WDW many times. I feel like I need to book something, because I am so used to going to WDW. I can't wait to experience the uniqueness of DL.

 

[mom2ryandy]

Thanks for sharing! We are also frequent WDW visitors but heading over to DL this summer. My kids have never been, my husband and myself visited DL as a child so theres lots for us to experience. I really appreciate your detail- it's helping for us to decide what we NEED to do and what we want to do We tend to spend 10 day long trips at WDW but only have 6 days for the DL area so we know we may miss some attractions/restaurants. Thanks again!