Prioritizing Duplicate (WDW) Rides...

[mickeyfan0805]

We are headed to DLR in mid-June. We are WDW vets who love all the rides but are ready and willing to pass up some of the standbys if the lines are too long (we know we will be back). We have 3 days at DLR, so we will focus our energies on rides that don't exist at WDW. In addition to those, however, I'm wondering what opinions you all have on other rides that differ enough that they should be seen as a priority for us as well.

Thanks!

 

[FCDub]

Can't help with all of them, but Pirates is MASSIVELY better at DLR. I think Space Mountain is better at DLR too, while Splash is worse.

Soarin' is the same except for the final scene.

 

[Winnowill]

I second the recommendation of Pirates and Space. I'll add IaSW - DL's contains characters from the movies, and it's just cool seeing Walt's original. Buzz is also better at DL, because you can take the gun out of the console and aim it better.

Star Tours is identical at WDW, and I think TSMM at DCA is, too.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

DL just completely revamped Splash Mountain, redid all of the drops, cleaned up the animatronics and the lighting - and the seating in the flume is different from WDW. You'll want to do Space Mountain - it's very different from the WDW version and will have the Hyperspace Mountain overlay while you're there. Big Thunder Mountain is different here, also recently refurbed. I'd also recommend it's a small world, as it's in the big outdoor castle, much cooler than the WDW version, and depending on your dates Pirates of the Caribbean may or may not be open - we've got a 6-week down (starting last week).

Duplicates to skip - Toy Story Mania is exactly the same as WDW, Soarin' is the same, Haunted Mansion was designed for WDW simultaneously with DL so while it's slightly different in exterior appearance, there aren't major differences to the attraction and there isn't a historical component of DL's being original. Star Tours is the same. Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise here aren't anything special. Don't waste your time in Tarzan's Treehouse. And although we did just beautifully refurb Dumbo, I wouldn't say that any of the spinning rides are a must-do at DL, they're the same concept as the WDW counterpart.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We visited DLR for the first time last summer and I found most of the "duplicate" rides had better versions at DLR. Haunted Mansion, IaSM, Pirates, Space Mountain...all SO much better at DLR.

I found the actual TSMM rides to be identical, but the queue at WDW is significantly better than DLR. I suspect Soarin' and Star Tours are similar as well but I hadn't done either at WDW in many years so I couldn't compare.

 

[Liljo22]

We are headed to DLR in mid-June. We are WDW vets who love all the rides but are ready and willing to pass up some of the standbys if the lines are too long (we know we will be back). We have 3 days at DLR, so we will focus our energies on rides that don't exist at WDW. In addition to those, however, I'm wondering what opinions you all have on other rides that differ enough that they should be seen as a priority for us as well.

Thanks!

This is tough because most of the duplicates are tweaked enough that you really miss something that you wouldn't see at WDW.

Pirates - Longer plus two drops
HM - Has the Hatbox Ghost
BMTR - Has the dynamite scene in the second lifthill
Space - Smoother, different seating config, and music
IASW - Has the Disney characters

These are the ones that are exactly the same or tweaked so little that it doesn't matter:
Soarin - End scene is DL instead of Epcot
TSM - Identical
Buzz - Only difference is the gun is mobile.
Star Tours - Same

If you utilize MaxPass, I think with 3 days you should be able to get more done than you think.

 

[ArielRae]

Just got back from my first Disneyland trip and found their buzz to be better then the WDW one. Not only does the gun remove but they have different targets. They have triangles, diamonds, squares, and circles that all the different point values and get even more points if they are lit up. WDW just have all circle targets and they range with points. I have gotten the 999,999 Galactic Hero on the WDW version plenty of times and I enjoyed the Disneyland one better. Loved the different targets and being able to shoot 360 degrees from the car. So you can be shooting one direction while the other person in the car can be shoot the complete opposite direction. I also love the rewarding lights and sound they play when you hit the targets unlike WDW.

 

[agamble]

If you can, ride everything. LOL.

My biggest disappointment when I visited WDW was Small World. It just felt wrong shoved into the main area of Fantasyland. So give Small World a ride through.

No one mentioned Mermaid. That wasn't in WDW when we visited, but I believe the ride itself is identical. However it is often a walk on at DCA, so riding it shouldn't be an issue. They say Pooh is better at WDW, but it's another ride with a short wait.

Don't skip Grizzly River Run, it is different than Kali Rapids and a lot better.

You may find that in 3 days you can ride everything.

 

[mickeyfan0805]

Thanks everyone - we plan to do MaxPass and rope drop, so I hope to be able to accomplish a lot. I appreciate having this better sense of some of the distinctions, though, as there are likely a few that we just won't bother with.

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, if you have time, I would try to fit in:

• Pirates of the Caribbean - DLR's version has a longer cursed treasure sequence and two drops. It also has a different ending scene.
• Haunted Mansion - DLR's ride version is shorter (it starts with the Endless Hallway), but you can see the changing portraits better (because they're in part of the queue after the elevator) and the Hatbox Ghost is worth a look.
• Space Mountain - I think they might still be offering HyperSpace Mountain (which is basically Space with Star Wars theming).
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters - Same basic concept, but the blasters are easier to move and these scenes are different. You can also email the ride photo to yourself for free.
• It's a Small World - Disney characters have been added, plus it has some different scenes (and a much better exterior!)
• Jungle Cruise - Same basic concept, with many of the same jokes, but some different scenes (shorter, I think because there is no temple sequence).

If I saw short of time, I would probably forgo the Little Mermaid (it's often walk-on in DCA, but it does not have the interactive queue), Autopia (same basic idea, but a different course), Star Tours, and Soarin' (different ending, but otherwise the same).

 

[Minniemouse07]

Just an FYI, make note of when sundown is and one night get to Cars Land about 10 minutes before. They do a great reenactment of the scene in the movie when all the neon lights are turned on...complete w/ Sha Boom and a bunch of the vehicle characters.