MK vs DL - Which "version" of the rides are better?

[brocklesnar69]

DL Splash vs MK Splash
DL Space vs MK Space
DL Thunder vs MK Thunder
DL Pirates vs MK Pirates
DL Buzz vs MK Buzz
DL Autotopia vs MK Autotopia
DL Small World vs MK Small World
DL Tazan Tree House vs MK Swiss Family House
DL Haunted mansion vs MK Haunted Mansion

And all the ones I missed... Which park has the better version of the ride?

 

[WDWguru]

Which park has the better version of the ride?

DL Splash vs MK Splash = same ride
DL Space vs MK Space = DL has been refurbed and I personally like that version better
DL Thunder vs MK Thunder = same ride
DL Pirates vs MK Pirates = DL pirates is longer and better imho
DL Buzz vs MK Buzz = DL is better (guns come off the car)
DL Autotopia vs MK Autotopia = think these are the same (not sure)
DL Small World vs MK Small World = DL outside is better - ride is the same
DL Tazan Tree House vs MK Swiss Family House = think these are the same
DL Haunted mansion vs MK Haunted Mansion = personal preference, the rides are only slightly different (at DL you walk through the portrait gallery rather than ride, and some sound effects are different in the attic) - I like WDW's

 

[wdwishes1990]

This one is fun - IMHO:

DL Splash vs MK Splash = Same
DL Space vs MK Space = DL
DL Thunder vs MK Thunder = Same
DL Pirates vs MK Pirates = DL
DL Buzz vs MK Buzz = DL
DL Autotopia vs MK Autotopia = DL
DL Small World vs MK Small World = Same
DL Tazan Tree House vs MK Swiss Family House
DL Haunted mansion vs MK Haunted Mansion = DL

 

[bradk]

better in bold

DL Splash vs MK Splash (i think splash is longer at WDW, they also time the vehicles to enhance the effect, although DLR has a single rider line)
DL Space vs MK Space (although the comparable rides are Matterhorn vs WDW Space)
DL Thunder vs MK Thunder (actual attraction difference? not sure. it's themed better in DLR as I recall though)
DL Pirates vs MK Pirates
DL Buzz vs MK Buzz
DL Autotopia vs MK Autotopia (better theming)
DL Small World vs MK Small World
DL Tazan Tree House vs MK Swiss Family House
DL Haunted mansion vs MK Haunted Mansion (DLR is actually quite a big different now, unless WDW gets the same enhancements - it sounds like Kim hasn't been on DL's in a couple of years)

 

[WDWguru]

Brad, we do always seem to be on at the same time, don't we? We're always answering posts back to back.

Thanks for the info on HM at DL. You're absolutely right - it's been a few years since I was on it. Maybe the refurb this summer will even them up again? Though I was at Tokyo's in December and it's the same as DL's (even had the Nightmare overlay).

 

[bradk]

well i'll go on the record to say i lack a substance called life.

specifically, DLR features newer effects such as madame leota floating around in mid-air and a new bride to fit the retrofitted storyline (i posted photos of her earlier in another topic).

but even those aside, i do prefer the exterior of the mansion at DLR as well as the fact that you can walk down the hallway at your own pace, past the gallery and the 'library' as opposed to just getting on the vehicle immediately.

 

[DisneyDotty]

DL Splash vs MK Splash
DL Space vs MK Space
DL Thunder vs MK Thunder
DL Pirates vs MK Pirates
DL Buzz vs MK Buzz
DL Autotopia vs MK Autotopia
DL Small World vs MK Small World
DL Tazan Tree House vs MK Swiss Family House
DL Haunted mansion vs MK Haunted Mansion

--MK's Splash is much better--sit side by side on the flume, plus the build up/ride is longer
--DL's Space is awesome--again, sit side by side in the car, plus it just seems smoother/music is better
--No real difference on Thunder
--No Contest--DL's Pirates ROCK! Much longer ride--excellent beginning
--We prefer the guns on DL's Buzz--can take them out of the holder
--DL' s Autopia--we got cool plastic toy cars after the ride with our driver's licenses!
--As much as I cannot stomach this ride in general, DL's Small World was really cool--maybe cause part of it is outside?
--Didn't do the tree house at DL
--We loved DL's Haunted Mansion--we went to it when it was in Nightmare Before Christmas decorations--really cool!

Overall, DL's Fantasyland is much better than MK's. But any day at any Disney park is better than reality!

 

[brenda1966]

I'm glad to see so much DL love here.

DL Splash vs MK Splash -- MK is better for us simply due to the side by side seating
DL Space vs MK Space -- DL is FAR superior. MK really needs to refurb theirs.
DL Thunder vs MK Thunder -- I don't see much difference
DL Pirates vs MK Pirates -- DL is better, it has 2 drops and is longer
DL Buzz vs MK Buzz -- DL is better because the guns come off and you can aim easier
DL Autotopia vs MK Autotopia -- don't see much difference
DL Small World vs MK Small World -- DL has a nicer exterior/loading area, but at MK I feel closer to the scenes (not sure if that's a plus to some people or not LOL)
DL Tazan Tree House vs MK Swiss Family House -- don't like either enough to have an opinion.
DL Haunted mansion vs MK Haunted Mansion -- DL is better, seems longer and I love the Nightmare layover

Some others:
DL Fantasmic vs MGM Fantasmic -- I like MGM for the simple reason of a stadium! Getting seating at DL is a nightmare. A real one.
DL Indiana Jones vs AK Dinosaur -- DL Indy is far superior
CA Tower of Terror vs MGM Tot -- MGM is better due to the variety of drops and elevator moving forward
DL Star Tours vs MGM Star Tours -- no difference

DL Fanatasyland vs MK Fantasyland -- DL wins hands down. Intimate charm and additional rides.

 

[bradk]

actually... i prefer

DL's Fantasmic! - seating aside (i've always gone for balcony), the intimacy is unrivaled and features both the columbia and the mark twain.

DCA's Tower of Terror - the 5th dimension is okay once. but let's get on it with already.

MK's Star Tours - it's themed better. the ewok village is great (hang out long enough and you'll hear them doing stand-up and humming the imperial march).

and i don't believe you can compare Indy and Dinosaur. same vehicle technology, totally different experiences. same reason why you can't compare Space Mountains. WDW's Space Mountain is older roller coaster technology, comparable to the Matterhorn, particularly with dual tracks.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

DL Splash vs MK Splash = K is a longer ride, side by side seats
DL Space vs MK Space = side by side seats, now DL has music
DL Thunder vs MK Thunder = Same
DL Pirates vs MK Pirates = hands down winner
DL Buzz vs MK Buzz = either or!
DL Autotopia vs MK Autotopia = never been on MK
DL Small World vs MK Small World = nothing says Disney like the top of each hour
DL Tazan Tree House vs MK Swiss Family House = do people do these?
DL Haunted mansion vs MK Haunted Mansion = I was there the day after it opened for the first time. I've been dying to go back ever since (hahaha)

Great questions! The only thing I really miss about DL when we are at MK is the Matterhorn...

 

[Camilo]

It's funny how most people think most of DL attractions are better than the DW ones.
Makes me wonder why that is the case if the DW attractions were built decades later with more new technology available and more land space.

 

[DisneyDotty]

It's funny how most people think most of DL attractions are better than the DW ones.
Makes me wonder why that is the case if the DW attractions were built decades later with more new technology available and more land space.

I'm not sure when the attraction was built matters as much as how it was built.
For me, DL has a charm unlike WDW. That helps create the bias!

 

[Tiffer]

Foremer AP at DL here.

Space at DL stinks, I don't even ride it.
Splash = MK.
Small World= DL
ToT=MGM

I am a huge matterhorn fan too. Love DLCA also. California Screamin & Maliboomer are great.

 

[Tara8595]

I like the longer Pirates and walking through the first part of HM better at Disneyland (although I hate that everyone talks through the stretching room monologue there). I wish there was a way to see the DL fantasmic at MGM because Peter Pan and Capt Hook on the Columbia are far better than the Pocahontas scene... but that'd be tough to get that giant boat at MGM...

And I love Casey Jr. in Fantasyland at DL - but can you imagine the line if they had it in FL?

 

[bradk]

It's funny how most people think most of DL attractions are better than the DW ones.
Makes me wonder why that is the case if the DW attractions were built decades later with more new technology available and more land space.

Buzz in DL was constructed after WDW's. and DL's Space Mountain was completely rebuilt a while ago.

and POTC in MK was just a crummy rush job.

BTW.. Pooh is better in MK than DL too.

 

[brenda1966]

I do agree that the show aspect of Fantasmic is better at DL (who wouldn't love seeing Peter Pan and Hook fighting on that glorious ship), it's just the seating aspect that makes DL's show much more difficult. I love that MGM has a dedicated stadium.

And to the poster who doesn't ride DL's Space?! *gasp* Have you been on it since the rehab? It's fabulous.

I also find it interesting that people are saying we muast compare DL Matternorn to WDW Space. Were these built at similar times? Didn't DL Space come before WDW Space? The Matternorn is a rattle trap. LOL. I love looking at it more than riding it and I still haven't taken DD on it because I know the monster would really scare her.

 

[bradk]

well, i wouldn't say Space Mountain had a rehab/refurb. it was RE-BUILT.

and yes, the time that the roller coasters were built is one reason why you can't directly compare them. technology for roller coasters has changed drastically over the years, which actually starts with the Matterhorn which was the first tubular steel constructed roller coaster in the world.

but both matterhorn and wdw space are dual track systems. wdw has virtually identical tracks whereas matterhorn does not, but that's still a much stronger similarity than what the two space mountains have in terms of construction. the space mountains only share the theming and the fact that they're indoor coasters, but matterhorn is also partially covered.

in essence, comparing wdw space mountain to dl space mountain is almost like comparing the matterhorn to expedition everest.

 

[brenda1966]

Just when I thought I know everything about the parks I learn more! Thanks, that is really interesting and does make sense as to why DL Space is so different than WDW Space. Also tells me why DL Space was down for SO long. So, this means that WDW Space will just remain the way it is since they have other coasters at WDW??

If I had to compare DL Matternorn to WDW Space, I'd probably pick DL Matternorn, for purely nostolgic reasons. My mom took me on it at age 5 and scared me to death.

 

[bradk]

if i'm not entirely mistaken, what happened was that they were building Space Mountain for HKDL, so they basically ordered 2 sets of the tracks, one being for DLR.

I don't know if WDW will ever go through that. remember, DLR's Space Mountain was down for about 2 years. That'd be pretty painful at WDW, especially with it placing a larger load on Splash and BTM

DLR had plenty of roller coasters by the time Space was being rebuilt. Screamin, Mulholland Madness, Big Thunder, IJA (if you'll offer it that much).

and believe it or not, there are enthusiasts out there who prefer older coasters with that rickety feel, especially wooden roller coasters. i know six flags here which has like a dozen coasters just built the record-breaking el toro.

 

[MinnieFan]

It's funny how most people think most of DL attractions are better than the DW ones.
Makes me wonder why that is the case if the DW attractions were built decades later with more new technology available and more land space.

I think the difference was that Walt Disney was not around when most of the WDW attractions were built. I just finished a very interesting biography of Walt, and it was characteristic of him to spare no expense (even when he was out of money!) to get the effect that he wanted. You can see and feel his personal touch at DL in a way that is absent at WDW (but don't get me wrong - I LOVE WDW!)