My first...and LAST trip to Disneyland-A trip report

[staugielady]

I also am so sorry you had such a bad experience, but I think if possible you should give it another chance. I grew up in So Cal and so grew up going to DL. My sister and several friends are also cast members, so I may be a bit biased. However, I would not by any stretch of the imagination consider it dirty. Until I moved to Florida, I went to DL on average once a month. While I have run in to cast members who were less enthusiastic than others, I have never had one be outright rude.

Since I now live in Florida, WDW is now my "home" park, so to speak, but DL is where my heart is, and always will be. I LOVE WDW, don't get me wrong, but I miss little things. The Storybook Land Canal Boats. The Haunted Mansion and the Pirates of the Caribbean are TOTALLY different (and the DL versions are much better, although both versions are good). I miss the little side streets in New Orleans Square, like the one with the curving staircase just past Blue Bayou. The magnificent facade of It's A Small World. Things like that.

On the other hand, the resorts at WDW are wonderful, and there is more of a variety of things to do there. So both places have things to boast of. Just my perspective...

 

[Bunless]

I do have to agree with the OP on one thing...
I do like Dinosaur! more than IJA. I like that it's darker and scarier. Especially when they're coming for you--gets me every time.

 

[kxs401]

I love WDW, but my family decided to make our regular post-Christmas trip this year to SoCal instead of Orlando -- in part for some variety, in part to see my dad's parents, and in part to revisit the place my parents met, married and had their first child (that'd be me!) 25 years ago.

I wasn't consciously making comparisons between DLR and WDW, but it's impossible not to. My experience there a few weeks ago was that the cast members were ever-so-slightly less friendly, the park was spotlessly clean, some rides were better (notably Pirates and Space Mountain) and some rides weren't... they were just different experiences.

The Grand Californian was a lovely hotel, but not comparable to, say, the Beach Club Villas.

It was very cool to be able to walk all over the resort without needing to wait for buses.

California Screamin' may be my favorite Disney ride at either park.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed both resorts. For an 8-day trip, though, WDW does offer slightly more variety.

 

[c&m]

I am sorry to hear that your trip didn't go as well as you expected.

I think judging DL and CA on just one day is a tad bit harsh. I've never run into a rude CM at DL or CA in all the times I've visited the parks. A couple of your responses don't surprise me at all though: Tortilla Joes and DL Hotel.

Tortilla Joes have had bad reviews for a long time. I've never eaten there, and probably never will based on what everyone posts on the Disneyland boards tell me.

The Disneyland Hotel is the older hotel, and I've seen the room interior since my FIL and MIL stayed there before. I've also read reviews on Tripadvisor about this hotel. Those reviewers really tell it like it is. Based on those reviews, I would more likely stay at Paradise Pier because the decor and the reviews are more pleasing to me.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you had done a bit more research into where to eat and where to stay, you may have had a bit different experience.

 

[waltsgirl]

I went to DL for the first time last May after the PC crossing cruise. We stayed two days. My husband ad been there before and we were with several families that were from the west coast and DL was their hang-out. I say this so that you know that planning and not knowing what we were doing was not the problem.

I appreciated all the history of the park. All the things that have been mentioned we made sure we saw. We also got to eat in Walt's "private club" the name of which escapes me now, through friends. I have to say that was the highlight of the park for me. I love the history of the club and fact that if you don't know it's there you really don't know!

I too commented to my husband that I felt the CM's were not as friendly as in WDW. I also did not feel like I was at a Disney park when we were at California Adventure.

As for the castle, I was prepared for the size. I have to say it was still a shock.

I just like the feel of WDW and I think it is the feeling of being away from the rest of the world. I truly feel like I enter another world and can leave my worries at the gate. it is due to the amount of land that was available. I guess for me I don't like the feeling of being in the middle of town that I had at DL.

It is all what you are used to. I don't believe one is better, they are just different.

 

[tlynk]

I just like the feel of WDW and I think it is the feeling of being away from the rest of the world. I truly feel like I enter another world and can leave my worries at the gate. it is due to the amount of land that was available.

I agree with you 100% on this one! WDW does make you feel like you are away from the rest of the world. When inside DL I feel that way too, but once I step out- I'm back to reality.

 

[MainStMandy]

Well despite all of you disagreeing with me, thanks for the opinions.

Let me clarify by saying I didn't blame Disney for anything. I never said I had an awful time or that I hated Disneyland.

What I said was I was disappointed, and never said most of it wasn't my own fault. I am a big history buff when it comes to Disney and that was the main reason for my visit. Yes we only had one day, but I don't think that had anything to do with it. I found many CM's to be rude (not all, but most) and I didn't find it very well kept. Maybe "dirty" was the wrong word. Not garbage dirty but just not really kept up (paint chipping and such).

Would I go again? Yes. Would I go to California JUST for DL? No.

It was a great experience seeing what Walt created first hand, but past the history part, it just didn't thrill me.

I understand this is the DL section of the Dis but for those of you who think my judgment is unfair, who are you to say? I didn't blame Disney, I understand what I did and didn't do...I didn't blame anyone for our meal at Taco Joes, that was my own fault, but it was still terrible.

Obviously my expectations were to high..and in the wrong direction. But it is hard NOT to compare.

 

[Sherry E]

At least a couple of DIS'ers have gotten ill with food poisoning from eating at Tortilla Jo's, and Tortilla Jo's has also gotten bad reviews from lots of other people. You keep referring to 'Taco Joe's,' so then I began to wonder if maybe you went to another place to eat, and we were assuming it was Tortilla Jo's. IS there a Taco Joe's that I don't know of in that area, or are we all talking about the same place? I was just getting a little confused!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Happy to hear you would give it another try. Despite the crowds, the summer really is the best time to see DLR for the first time because most everything is up and running unless something breaks. Good use of FPs helps to make line waits not so long. Also, if you do come back, be sure ask us about good places to eat and stay and the best way to park hop. It will help you to know what to expect. I think maybe the problem wasn't your expectations were too high, but that you had wrong expectations? Things don't work the same here as they do at WDW. There are tons of details that history buff would enjoy, but you need more than a day to see them.

Take care!

 

[Teki]

DL is NOT dirty!! Go to the two other common parks in LA and you will know dirty!

I think because it is so blindingly Sunny in Florida, and so spread out everywhere may be brighter, nothing to do with clean.

DL is packed with Fun!!

Ours

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.


Your hybred castle, alot of ours on the bottom, Some tower of your own. But not much.

Cinderelle's Castle at Walt Disney World, Florida

I cant truthfully say having never seen cinderellas castle in person (well not sense the age of 2), but I have always loved sleeping beautys, when I was a kid looking at pic's of WDW I always thought it looked to pointy and over powering to much like the towers in london (which I have actually seen). I feel like sleeping beautys is the picture in my head as a little girl prtending to be a princess, theres nothign wrong with its size id venture to say for me its perfect. I know Ive alreayd commented about this, but seriously every time I read the word Dirty in your trip review it I honestly dont know want Mandy was seeing. Perhaps because the parks are under construction? its off season it happens. I dont know, but I hope you will try it again and maybe see it from a diffrent less harsh and cranky perspective.

 

[Czardas]

Ok a trip report should be you reflecting your experiences and your personal account of your day/stay whether it good or bad it is your record and we should respect that.
I live in Australia and last year was the first time I was able to realise my childhood dream and go to Disneyland (at 42, yeah me ). There were things I loved and things I didn't love but it all made for a collage of my memories.
One thing I couldn't get over was how clean the park was and the imaculate upkeep, so I find the comment about it being dirty a bit perplexing but you obviously found this a problem and maybe came accross things we didn't.

I stayed off site at Camelot Inn & Suites and found it pretty ordinary with the most uncomfortable bed I have ever slept in but it is now a memory that I have a laugh over. After a 14 hour flight, loosing a nights sleep with the international date line, I really needed a comfy bed lol, so this was important to me but may not be to others.
I found the food so incredibly fattening and loaded with grease or calories, again important to me but maybe not to others (oh & I am still wanting a corn dog to share when I get back there but will pass on the Monte Cristo thank you very much )
The moral to my story is that I will be back at Disneyland this September (staying elsewhere) because all in all the little things were outweighed by the wonderful time we had, to us it really was the "happiest place on earth".
Oh and being a major lurker on this forum I knew what to expect regarding the size of the castle but it was still magnificent in my childish eyes
Each to their own.............................

 

[MainStMandy]

Just wanted to add a link to my pics. We didn't take a whole lot because my mom HATES to be in them and gets bored while I take them, lol.

http://momandamandadisneyland2009.shutterfly.com/

 

[Tikiroom1963]

I agree with you RallyMonkey. I'm there on the average of two times a week and I have never seen any uncleanliness. The only rudeness I've experienced is from visiting guests. Oh well, I guess they hit the park on a bad day.

 

[All About The Mouse]

As the old saying goes, if at first you don't succeed, try try again.
Give DL another chance it will warm it's way into your heart.

 

[Diznygrl]

Great pics, Mandy. Thanks for sharing.


It's been a while since I've stayed at the DLH...I LOVE those new shampoo bottles! They're adorable!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Sorry things went so poorly-definitely give DLR another try-maybe after all the remodeling is done at DCA.

I've always loved DL and DLR but then I grew up with it. We take our time, do some rides, and talk to CMs. I've even made friends with a few of them recently. Sorry you found a few of the rude ones who don't get, or spread, the Disney magic. I also love WDW but for us it's a vacation destination. Disneyland is like playing in our own backyard, with friends.

Here's some for your next trip

 

[goofycathy]

You are so much nicer than me. I'm readin' and thinkin' WOOHOO, one less person at my park Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it was a pretty harsh judgement on a pretty narrow experience.

Amen....

"Dirty and boring" The last two words in the english dictionary I would use to describe Disneyland....and what I wouldnt give to be there now!
To the OP....you can keep WDW!

 

[bluedoll]

I haven't read all of the responses yet. But I wanted to respond to the original post.....

Let me start by saying that I LOVE both WDW and Disneyland. I love them each for various different reasons. You cannot directly compare a vacation at DL to a vacation at WDW. They are COMPLETELY different experiences. You can directly compare each magic kingdom and various rides. You can also compare cast members and cleanliness.

My comparisons.....
WDW was much, MUCH dirtier to us. The bathrooms were nasty. So many of them had clogged, overflowing toilets. I saw blood on the floor once too. Overall, it was disgusting. And I rarely saw CMs cleaning the restrooms. At Disneyland, I always see CMs in the bathrooms. I rarely, if ever, encounter overflowing toilets and filth in Disneyland bathrooms. I also noticed much more trash on the walkways around the parks at WDW. And overflowing trashcans.

Do you enjoy Space Mountain at WDW? Because it's just as jerky (if not more so) than the Matterhorn.

I like the size of WDW's castle. But the color and details of the castle at Disneyland are much, much better. Very pretty. Bigger doesn't equal better.

I have encountered rude CMs at all of the parks. They are human, afterall. I have not noticed more rude CMs at Disneyland though. I actually think the CMs at Disneyland are happier and more bubbly. The CMs at WDW just don't stand out to me. (CMs I recently encountered at Disneyland that were awesome = Maynard!! And Cameron...working at Big Thunder and Indiana Jones.)

I like both Dinosaur and Indiana Jones. You realize they are the same exact track, right? I think there's much more to look at on Indiana Jones.

Overall, if you go into a new experience and immediately start comparing it to something else...you'll be disappointed. There's no doubt about that.

And I seem to notice that the rude, unhappy people are more likely to encounter "rude" CMs and have a generally lousy time.

I'm glad I visit all Disney parks with an open mind and a smile on my face. Because even when there are bumps in the road, I manage to have a good time. Do I get frustrated sometimes, sure....but I get over it and enjoy myself.

 

[bluedoll]

I guess you have to grow up riding the Matterhorn to really appreciate it. I mean it was the first ever tubular track roller coaster ever built. It is over 40 years old. Yeah, it's going to bumpy and jerky, but it's historical and magical and a lot of fun and unique to any other disney park in the world.

I didn't go to Disneyland or ride the Matterhorn until 2004 (at the age of 23.) And I LOVE Disneyland and I love the Matterhorn.

 

[bluedoll]

I've got mixed feelings about this. At first I was kind of in agreement with the "wow" statement and thinking that the OP may have not given Walt's original park a fair shake.

HOWEVER, what the OP experienced at our beloved DLR is a big reason why I haven't and don't plan to go to WDW. I'm scared of having a completely disappointing experience and feeling like I wasted money. And then what if I wanted to share about it?? Well, I certainly wouldn't do it on the Dis WDW boards. I'd be virtually tarred and feathered!

Regardless, the OP's experience was HER experience and you can't begrudge her for feeling bad about it. Should she come on a DLR board and say how much she hated it? Only if she's willing to taste a few feathers.

My husband grew up going to Disneyland. We took a trip to WDW last year. His first trip there (my 4th but I hadn't gone since I was a teenager.) He went with the mindset that it will be a different experience than disneyland. He didn't go in comparing the parks. Sure, we discussed the differences and decided things we liked better at each park. But we both had a great time there. We love both DLR and WDW. We plan on making trips to each over the years.

I think if you go into the experience looking for a good time...you'll have one. So I recommend giving WDW a try some day. But plan for at least a week in the parks to get the full experience. And stay on-site.