New Zealand disneyworld trip

[Som]

Hi,

Quick question we are planing on going to Walt Disney World October/November(ish) 2013 for our Sons birthday.

Just wondering if it's worth spending the extra and going all the way to WDW or is Disneyland just as good. My biggest concern is we go to WDW and we spend all the time waiting in line (even with fast track) and we would actually end up doing more rides/activities at Disneyland.

The reason we are going for WDW is because we want to immerse ourselves in Disney for two weeks while we are planning on staying.

Thanks

(EDIT: I know the WDW vs Disneyland question is asked a lot, but I am more wondering about queues)

 

[battymum]

Hands down, go to wdw - if you want to spend two weeks immersed in Disney, I don't think you can do that in California, that's more a four or five day holiday. I don't thin crowds are bad at that time of year as long as you avoid thanksgiving, us schools are in, and the weather will be mild,

 

[Sugarglider]

I'm with battymum - for what it seems like you want to achieve WDW is preferable. The queuing situation really is the same at both. You won't do more at DLR than WDW. You have more to do at WDW and I am like you - I go for 2 weeks and I still don't get everything done. And with two weeks, if I miss a rope drop I can just do it another day. With only 4 days at DLR everything has to happen on schedule!

I went to WDW last year for halloween - last week oct/1st week nov. I HIGHLY recommend it. Weather was the absolute opposite to USA east coast this week (eek!) beautiful! low crowd numbers, Halloween party on, Christmas party started, I went to the 1st night of Osbourne lights, Food and Wine Festival still going. Low prices - worked really well

and - well - really - you've come to the right place - none of us here on the DIS queue for anything!

We do use Touring Plans and the Unofficial Guide and there's easywdw which give reasonably close crowd guides that help you to choose the quietest times of the year to go, and how to tackle each park and use fast pass to minimise your queuing time.

None of us is turning up without a plan!

 

[BecBennett]

I'm going to suggest Disneyland - not only do you spend more time in queues, but you spend so much time on transport just trying to get around. Whereas DLR everything is walking distance

I can easily immerse myself at DLR, but I find WDW takes a little more time to get into the swing of it.

 

[Andona]

For 2 weeks of Disney immersion I'd say WDW is the way to go

The queues can be bad at both WDW and DL in October,(depending on the day of the week and which park you go to) but there is heaps of great info around about choosing the right park and how to tour them so that you can minimise queuing, even on a busy day.

Andona

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I would say WDW, there is no way you could find enough to do at DL for that amount of time.

I think the queues would be similar and with some prior planning and that time of year you could avoid long lines.

Free dining might even be swirling around at that time of year also.

 

[BecBennett]

I would say WDW, there is no way you could find enough to do at DL for that amount of time.

Seriously?!? You're crazy!

 

[Franrose]

I have been studying crowd from touringplans.com for WDW and DL as though my life depended on it, lol, and tbh I think there could potentially be quieter times at WDW in Dec than at DL. What dates were you looking at particularly? I was also surprised that my stay at WDW has worked out significantly cheaper per night than my DL stay, although we do plan to be at DL actually *at* Christmas, which bumps prices up a little. The biggest extra expense with WDW is that flight over, but time it right (and get lucky with your flights) and you could break even (or better) I reckon.

NB I should add that this is comparing staying on-property at both resorts

 

[Marlea98]

I'll say WDW but only because that's where we're going next And we don't go over with a touring plan or dining reservations, we just go with the flow. We will probably concentrate on doing rides and things that aren't at DL first though. We probably won't park hop either as we didn't really do that last time at DL, but I'll never say never.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

If you want to stay at a Disney resort you might be able to find cheaper accom at WDW than DL as well. If you don't mind whether it is "on property" then I think there are great accom deals to be had at both.

Seriously?!? You're crazy!

I do seriously think I would get bored if we had 2 weeks at DL. I love the 6 nights we had there, it was amazing, but I definitely don't think I could fill 2 weeks.

But that is not to say that others couldn't fill that time beautifully Bec. I know how you love it there .

 

[WAMUMOF4]

I am going to say Disneyland, not sure how old your son is turning but most boys would love carsland we spent not quite 8 days 6 then 2 on our last trip and it was nowhere near enough for us we would of loved to have longer there.
I dream of having 14 days to explore Disneyland

 

[Aussie Wendy]

I'm another vote for WDW - especially if you plan to stay on site. We had 8 days there in early December in 2008 and queues were fine, we had all the fantastic Xmas decorations and experiences like the Osbourne lights, Candlelight procession etc. Most of all though we loved the variety of options. Animal Kingdom is as much a zoo as a theme park and very different to Magic Kingdom which is different again to Hollywood Studios which has a lot more show options as well as rides. Then there's Epcot with its different rides, mini "science centre" style attraction in Innoventions and Imageworks and all the different countries in World Showcase to explore. Add on Downtown and all the other hotels to explore which often have different attractions kids will enjoy as well as the fun of riding the monorail and boat links. Have fun deciding though-you'll enjoy whichever you choose and there's other attractions in California you can add on to fill in days.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I realise that your main concern is over queues, and sorry, I can't answer that. However, I been to both DL and WDW, (albeit quite a few years ago) so can compare them somewhat.
If Disney is your main priority for two weeks, then I too would choose WDW.

I don't think I could ever spend 2 weeks at DL (or even in the wider L.A. area for that matter). It just seems too much to me. However, 2 weeks in Orlando seems a great amount of time when you consider how many theme parks (not just the Disney ones), water parks, and outlet shopping malls are in the immediate area.
My next trip will involve 3 nights at Universal and 11 nights onsite at Disney. We don't intend on spending more than 2 days at any one park and yet I still don't think we are going to be able to fit in all the little extras on our wish list (airboat ride, manatee swim etc).

I also have to agree that the cusp of Oct/Nov seems to be a great time to travel to maximise all the special events that happen at WDW. I wish I had this time to travel as an option.

 

[Minniemum]

Hi Som,

Welcome! A trip in Oct/Nov is a great time to visit either DL or WDW. If you time your visit right you could experience both the Halloween and Christmas parties (both DL and WDW) as well as see the Osborne Family Lights (WDW only).If you chose WDW, be mindful that one of the water parks, usually Typhoon Lagoon, will be closed for it's annual maintenance. Queues at WDW and DL are comparable.

Without knowing the age of your child but knowing you have 2 weeks, I'd suggest WDW. To break up the long flight you could also have a stopover in LA and do a day or 2 at DL/CA taking in Carsland.

Happy planning!

 

[coco392]

no brainer - wdw for sure

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Hmmmm, did we scare this person off do you think? I thought we gave lots of amazing detailed feedback for them to consider.

 

[Ozdisneydreamin]

I'm another one voting for Disneyland. But I have a very big soft spot for the original !

 

[Som]

Cheers all for the feedback it sounds like WDW maybe the way to go, our son will be 5 at the time.

We are thinking of aiming for the end of October start of November to try and get the Halloween party and the start of the Christmas season if we time it round.

It's a long flight from Auckland so thinking the first day would be a write off anyway and may just be fun at the pool/water park instead of going out to park.

 

[Saskiwi]

Cheers all for the feedback it sounds like WDW maybe the way to go, our son will be 5 at the time.

We are thinking of aiming for the end of October start of November to try and get the Halloween party and the start of the Christmas season if we time it round.

It's a long flight from Auckland so thinking the first day would be a write off anyway and may just be fun at the pool/water park instead of going out to park.

I am going to go against the majority and say DEFINITELY Disneyland for your first visit- especially with a 5 year old. You won't get the total immersion experience that comes with staying at a WDW resort but he will be so bowled over by everything he really isn't going to care where he is staying, as long as it has a great pool! (Check out Hojos for a great water playground that our boys love)

We first went to DL with a 6 day pass which was fine. then last year we got a 14 day pass, thinking we would never use it all, but we still managed go to the parks on12 of those 14 days! and that was before Carsland opened! with a 5 year old you will still be wanting to take a break most days and head back to your hotel for a rest in the afternoon. this is much more easily done at DL thanWDW where the distances are so much greater.

Save yourself the extra flight and expense and start with DL- it's Walt's original, after all! save WDW til he is older and can cope with the bigger distances and longer days.

 

[Caroline NZ]

We have had a similar experience to Saskiwi (hi Saskiwi ), 2 visits to DL staying at Hojos both times.
Both trips were amazing, and the first one so special and magical ( children were aged 4 & 7).
We are planning on going to WDW in 2014, but I love Disneyland, and we are heading back next year ( though not staying at Hojos this time, though we have loved it in the past the children are growing up and we are trying a vacation home this time)