Must see, easily skipped, or depends. please rate DLP compared to DL & or DW

[auntyjenn]

I've been to DL CA and DW more than once and now I get to go see French Mickey! I am so excited to be even going to France at all.

Anyway, if we don't bring my friend's kids with us (and maybe even if we do) we will only have one day to see both parks so I need to know what is special about DLP that we have to see.

Please help if you can put the rides, shows, shopping, eating and other experiences into one of these catagories:

1. You must see the DLP version of this
2. This is basically the same everywhere (or really lame) you can totally skip it.
3. Depends (needs explanation)

Thanks!

 

[izzie-wizzie]

You have to see the DLP version of Big Thunder Mountain!! Its Amazing

 

[zinderella]

1. The dragon under the castle is a must see.

Have a great trip!

 

[Steve vRS]

I think the Star tours is the same so unless you are Star Wars mad, you could miss that out.

Phantom Manor is different so that is a must and Crushes Coaster is unique so do that too.

Steve

 

[wideeyes]

1.
.POTC is so much better at DLP, the queueing area is even an attraction.
. Peter Pan is better
. IASW is slightly different, the exterior is much better.
. Tower of Terror, it is creepier!
. Adventure Isle is a must do, there is nothing like it at MK!
. Themeing of Frontier land
. Buzz - the guns are hand held.
. Cinemagic
.Crush.
. Alice in wonderland labyrinth, unique to DLRP.
. The fantasia bar is a lovely place for a drink but expensive.

Walts American Restaurant - nothing like this at the American parks, you can eat your meal in a restaurant named after walt disney, rooms are themed to the park and also have a glass of wine with your meal on mainstreet!

2.
Dumbo
Snow White
The carousel

3.
Rock N Roller coaster is pretty much the same with a different story line, worth doing if you like roller coasters though.

The car stunt show is also pretty much the same as DHS and they have cut a lot of it out. It can take quite a bit of time out of the day so if seen before it is probably one that can be missed to save time.

The Art of animation is the same however it is in french so and you wear headphones to hear it in English. The french is loud and can be heard over the head phones so it is a bit distracting.

Space mountain - completely different ride, it is more extreme with inversions and a launch like rock n rollercoaster so depends if you like rollercoasters or not. It can be a bit of a shock if you expect it to be like the MK one.

 

[wmoon]

Really enjoyed Animaqiue and Stitch Live

Also thought ThunderMountain & Space Mountain were different to WDW.

Enjoyed Tower of Terror as well but love that anyway

Toy Story Play Land worth a look, although we only went on Slinky Dog which my 3 year old loved but maybe not that exciting for older kids.

Was not disapointed at all with DLP but then would not take my 3 year old to Florida yet.

Really enjoyed eating at Cafe Mickey, but we never did character dining at WDW

Enjoy

 

[auntyjenn]

Thanks so much! This helps a lot. I think I'll print it out even.

 

[EMom]

What's the storyline with DLP Rock n Roller Coaster?

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Love the DLP versions of:

BTMRR
POTC
TOT

usually also do - IASW, Peter Pan, Phantom Manor - Fantasyland at DLRP is especially lovely and Adventureland has a ship to explore. Don't miss the arcades in Main Street USA if you like creative details.

Enjoy Animagique and Cinemagique at the studios - plus Motors Action Stunt Show is good and impressive because they do it in two languages simultaneously.

 

[auntyjenn]

what about the studio tram tour. is it basically the same as other disney studios?

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

what about the studio tram tour. is it basically the same as other disney studios?

I remember it being very short - there is a gas tank bit and a London/Dragon bit - nothing like Universal Studios used to be in CA. I wouldn't wait for a long time to see it but if there wasn't a wait I'd do it.

 

[disney_princess_85]

What's the storyline with DLP Rock n Roller Coaster?

You're actually AT the concert, rather than travelling to it. I personally think DLP's version is a bit better than WDW's.

 

[stonfiesta]

i would say skip POTC........its still the old version and nowhere near as good as the newer WDW version. Although it does take a photo on one of the drops.

Peter pans flight is different to WDW i think........although the graffiti you will have to see when waiting to get on might ruin the disney magic a bit.

Buzz lightyear srs is slightly different to the wdw version also, a must do ride imho.

 

[stonfiesta]

Was not disapointed at all with DLP but then would not take my 3 year old to Florida yet.

whats the reason for not taking 3 year old to wdw if you dont mind me asking?

 

[disney_princess_85]

i would say skip POTC........its still the old version and nowhere near as good as the newer WDW version. Although it does take a photo on one of the drops.

You're the first person I'm aware of on here who prefers the WDW version! Personally, I think POTC at DLP is fantastic: it's a much longer ride and it has more drops than its WDW counterpart, plus the photo op you mentioned. By the way, Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones are going to be added to the ride in time for the 20th anniversary in 2012.

 

[Jonjo]

i would say skip POTC........its still the old version and nowhere near as good as the newer WDW version. Although it does take a photo on one of the drops.

The Paris verison of POTC is my favourite. The WDW version has become Boy Scouts of the Caribbean, all the real pirate action that Walt and the origonal Imagineers designed was been removed from it.

 

[ben1993]

Must Do
Disneyland Park: Big Thunder Mountain, Phantom Manor, Adventure Isle, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dragon in the castle (and admiring the castle itself, it is so unique), Alice's Labirynth, Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain.

Walt Disney Studios: Animagique, Cinemagique, Crush's Coaster, Tower of Terror, Rock n' Roller Coaster.

 

[sleepysox]

Stonfiesta,
I know you didn't ask me, but I'll answer anyway!

Personally I wouldn't take a child to WDW until they are old enough to appreciate it.

We took DS1 when he was 4 to WDW. He was brilliant on the two flights, but was totally over awed by the whole experience of the MK, Epcot and the Studios. (We didn't even do Universal or the water parks- we just stuck to the 3 I mentioned). Every night he had massive melt downs because he was too over loaded, (despite the fact we only spent about 3- 4 hours a day at the parks, had plenty of rest days, naps etc). He loved meeting the princesses, Tinkerbelle etc and loved the rides, but it totally blew his mind and ended up ruining our holiday TBH. He had a massive temper tantrum in one of the shops and couldn't deal with the whole experience, despite us preparing him well, and taking it at his pace.

In the end we hardly saw anything and I now wish we had waited until he was this age- almost 6. It's alot of money to spend if it doesn't work out. We had saved for 5 years for this trip and I am still disappointed with how it all turned out and wish I'd waited, as it's a lot of money to blow on a holiday.

We do have some fab photos of Ds with the characters, and he got to drive the monorail, steer the Jungle Cruise etc, and I do have some brilliant memories, so it wasn't a total waste, but it could have been sooo much better if I'd been patient and waited 2 years more.

Also, at 3 he wasn't 100% potty trained, so I wouldn't have risked the flight.

I guess it just depends on each individual child.

I should just add, we've been taking him to DLP since he was 14 months old, and he loved every minute of it.

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Must Do
Pirates (as much as I love Cpt Jack, I love the fact that he has not infiltrated this version yet!!)
Big Thunder Mtn Railroad
Space Mtn
The dragon under the castle
Visit the upstairs of the castle and look at the lovely tapestries retelling the story of Sleeping Beauty
The arcades that run alongside Main Street
Alice's labyrinth
Phantom Manor
Crush's Coaster
Cinemagique
Animagique (think Voyage of the Little Mermaid version of Mickey's Philharmagic)
It's A Small World


Easily Skipped
Kiddie rides (the ones you can see are easily the same Dumbo, Astro Orbiters etc)
Armageddon. Just don't do it, it's just ridiculously lame.

Depends
RnR it's better IMO than its WDW counterpart but its essentially the kind of deal.
ToT, again a few differences here and there but essentially it's the same.
Peter Pan, I can't pinpoint any differences from its WDW version, apart from its lack of queue at DLP
Pinocchio, go on it if you like storybook rides and or Pinocchio. It's one of my favourite films so I always want to go on it, but know others that don't.

Enjoy your trip, take in the beautiful surroundings and have a magical time!

 

[markpsych]

Cinemagique