I got the chance last weekend to spend a day at DL after a business trip.
I live very close to WDW and get to visit quite often but I always enjoy going to DL and CA.
For me the first thing that always hits me when I walk towards DL is this is Walt's vision. I am always looking at all the little things that Walt had a hand in.
When I walked in last weekend the Disneyland band was playing. That immediately brought tears to my eyes. What a great welcome to the park. I stood there for awhile and listened to the music.
I always feel when I walk down Main St. it feels so familiar to me. If I had to decide which one I like better I couldn't when I compare it to WDW. I know I like the hub near the castle better at Disneyland. I like the trees that we don't have anymore in FL. But I like the castle better here in WDW. To me it seems much more grand in FL.
I always head toward New Orleans Square first at DL. I like this area and wish we had one in FL. I had my first breakfast of Mickey pancakes to put me in the Disney mood. It was wonderful sitting there watching the grand river boat float by. It doesn't seem right on the river at WDW without the boat.
After breakfast I headed back to Town Square to catch the rededication ceremony. Wow!!! That really brought tears to my eyes. I know it, I am a Disney geek. Another couple people around me were saying the same thing I was feeling. Boy I wish I could have been there opening day. The release of the doves was a surprise but it sure added to the ceremony.
After the ceremony I strolled over to Tomorrowland. I always get a feeling at DL that I know my way around because it is like WDW with a few extra areas.
Last weekend DL wasn't too crowded because everyone decided that they were going to California Adventure.
I am not a big ride person but I do have a few favorites. When I go to DL I try to ride those rides that started at DL and came to WDW and compare them. I also like to try the rides that only exist at DL now. I didnt have a lot of time this trip but usually I ride Mr. Toad, Peter Pan, Pirates of the Carib. (which I think is much better at DL), Small World (again I think it is better in CA.) I love, love, love the Indiana Jones ride at DL. I sure wish they had it at WDW.
I finally got my Dole Whip in Disneyland. The last couple of times we were there the booth was closed.
I walked around the park and then spent some time sitting in the hub listening to a jazz band playing for Magic Music days.
Disneyland also has the different types of transportation that can take you from Town Square to the hub like WDW does. I always try to ride one of them when I go to Disneyland and I think I like the horse drawn cart the best. Did you ever notice that the horse has a Cast member name tag on?
I then headed out of Disneyland since my time was limited and I was on a mission to see it all in one 8 hour day.
I headed towards Downtown Disney. I think I prefer Downtown Disney at WDW better. There is more to see and do in Florida. I found a new shop I will visit again this trip. It is the Anne Geddes shop. I love her photography and they have lots of it for sale.
Be sure you plan a breakfast at Storytellers at the GC. They always fuss over you there and the food is delicious. It is also nice to walk through and see the lobby at the GC. It is a beautiful hotel.
I like how you can enter California Adventure from the GC. I wish WDW had something like that. There is nothing like immediately being right in the middle of things in a park.
The first thing I always head for at DL is Soarin over California. This is my favorite ride. I think the theming is much much better at CA than WDW. WDWs version is nice but I like the feel of aviation history at CA. I always use the single rider line at DL but this time the wait was very long. Even though they had single riders waiting they were pulling some singles out of the regular line. I had never seen them do that before.
The lines were terribly long everywhere in CA on Sunday because everyone that had special tickets that expired this week hit CA. A CM said DL was very busy on Saturday.
Lots of people say they dont like California Adventure. To me it is like a mix of MGM, Epcot, and some things we dont have in FL. I think it is a great park since it has something for everyone.
Dont miss the Aladdin show. I am not one for stage shows but this one was fantastic. Be sure to get there early if you want a great seat.
I wanted to try out the Monsters ride but there was an 85 minute wait. I love the Pacific Pier area of the park. I dont ride any of the rides but love to sit and watch people on them. Also be sure to take the bread and taco tours. The food is delicious and I brought home 2 loaves of their sour dough bread.
I also caught the tail end of the Ugly Bug ball. I always try to watch it when I go to CA.
Be sure to save some time for the Beach Bash. I love sitting and listening to the music. The kids have fun doing the limbo. A few parents were doing it until the bar got too low. I wish WDW had something like this.
If you ask me which is better DL and CA vs. WDW I would tell you that I love them both. For me if you were planning a week long vacation I would choose WDW because there is so much more to see and do in FL. But for a 3-4 day vacation I would choose the Disneyland Resort.
I solved the problem by going to California for my summer vacation so I have the best of both worlds. I really enjoy Disneyland because that is what started all of this. My daughter took a vacation to Disneyland this weekend. She took the Walts tour and I will do that one the next time I go.
If you are driving be sure to figure out the parking. I came off the highway and pulled into the first theme park parking area I saw. I had a long walk to the park. We usually use the ART so I wasnt familiar with the parking. After a long day in the parks walking to my car wasnt real exciting.
So I guess my advice is you really need to see Disneyland, California Adventure and the parks in FL. You cant go wrong no matter which one you choose.
I live very close to WDW and get to visit quite often but I always enjoy going to DL and CA.
For me the first thing that always hits me when I walk towards DL is this is Walt's vision. I am always looking at all the little things that Walt had a hand in.
When I walked in last weekend the Disneyland band was playing. That immediately brought tears to my eyes. What a great welcome to the park. I stood there for awhile and listened to the music.
I always feel when I walk down Main St. it feels so familiar to me. If I had to decide which one I like better I couldn't when I compare it to WDW. I know I like the hub near the castle better at Disneyland. I like the trees that we don't have anymore in FL. But I like the castle better here in WDW. To me it seems much more grand in FL.
I always head toward New Orleans Square first at DL. I like this area and wish we had one in FL. I had my first breakfast of Mickey pancakes to put me in the Disney mood. It was wonderful sitting there watching the grand river boat float by. It doesn't seem right on the river at WDW without the boat.
After breakfast I headed back to Town Square to catch the rededication ceremony. Wow!!! That really brought tears to my eyes. I know it, I am a Disney geek. Another couple people around me were saying the same thing I was feeling. Boy I wish I could have been there opening day. The release of the doves was a surprise but it sure added to the ceremony.
After the ceremony I strolled over to Tomorrowland. I always get a feeling at DL that I know my way around because it is like WDW with a few extra areas.
Last weekend DL wasn't too crowded because everyone decided that they were going to California Adventure.
I am not a big ride person but I do have a few favorites. When I go to DL I try to ride those rides that started at DL and came to WDW and compare them. I also like to try the rides that only exist at DL now. I didnt have a lot of time this trip but usually I ride Mr. Toad, Peter Pan, Pirates of the Carib. (which I think is much better at DL), Small World (again I think it is better in CA.) I love, love, love the Indiana Jones ride at DL. I sure wish they had it at WDW.
I finally got my Dole Whip in Disneyland. The last couple of times we were there the booth was closed.
I walked around the park and then spent some time sitting in the hub listening to a jazz band playing for Magic Music days.
Disneyland also has the different types of transportation that can take you from Town Square to the hub like WDW does. I always try to ride one of them when I go to Disneyland and I think I like the horse drawn cart the best. Did you ever notice that the horse has a Cast member name tag on?
I then headed out of Disneyland since my time was limited and I was on a mission to see it all in one 8 hour day.
I headed towards Downtown Disney. I think I prefer Downtown Disney at WDW better. There is more to see and do in Florida. I found a new shop I will visit again this trip. It is the Anne Geddes shop. I love her photography and they have lots of it for sale.
Be sure you plan a breakfast at Storytellers at the GC. They always fuss over you there and the food is delicious. It is also nice to walk through and see the lobby at the GC. It is a beautiful hotel.
I like how you can enter California Adventure from the GC. I wish WDW had something like that. There is nothing like immediately being right in the middle of things in a park.
The first thing I always head for at DL is Soarin over California. This is my favorite ride. I think the theming is much much better at CA than WDW. WDWs version is nice but I like the feel of aviation history at CA. I always use the single rider line at DL but this time the wait was very long. Even though they had single riders waiting they were pulling some singles out of the regular line. I had never seen them do that before.
The lines were terribly long everywhere in CA on Sunday because everyone that had special tickets that expired this week hit CA. A CM said DL was very busy on Saturday.
Lots of people say they dont like California Adventure. To me it is like a mix of MGM, Epcot, and some things we dont have in FL. I think it is a great park since it has something for everyone.
Dont miss the Aladdin show. I am not one for stage shows but this one was fantastic. Be sure to get there early if you want a great seat.
I wanted to try out the Monsters ride but there was an 85 minute wait. I love the Pacific Pier area of the park. I dont ride any of the rides but love to sit and watch people on them. Also be sure to take the bread and taco tours. The food is delicious and I brought home 2 loaves of their sour dough bread.
I also caught the tail end of the Ugly Bug ball. I always try to watch it when I go to CA.
Be sure to save some time for the Beach Bash. I love sitting and listening to the music. The kids have fun doing the limbo. A few parents were doing it until the bar got too low. I wish WDW had something like this.
If you ask me which is better DL and CA vs. WDW I would tell you that I love them both. For me if you were planning a week long vacation I would choose WDW because there is so much more to see and do in FL. But for a 3-4 day vacation I would choose the Disneyland Resort.
I solved the problem by going to California for my summer vacation so I have the best of both worlds. I really enjoy Disneyland because that is what started all of this. My daughter took a vacation to Disneyland this weekend. She took the Walts tour and I will do that one the next time I go.
If you are driving be sure to figure out the parking. I came off the highway and pulled into the first theme park parking area I saw. I had a long walk to the park. We usually use the ART so I wasnt familiar with the parking. After a long day in the parks walking to my car wasnt real exciting.
So I guess my advice is you really need to see Disneyland, California Adventure and the parks in FL. You cant go wrong no matter which one you choose.
to everyone here! Oooh, gotta change my ticker, huh?
