#1 - DLR is beautiful at Christmas time and am very glad we got to experience all of that
1st You have to remember you went at Christmas, which is just busy busy. Second, DL does cater more to Locals.. but you can use that to your advantage sometimes like early hours, etc.
I have always felt the origional is soooo much more charming. And although we had fun at WDW if I had to pick one of them to do on my last day on earth DL hands down!
#2 IT WAS REALLY REALLY BUSY LAST WEEK!! except Wed when it rained in the am then everything was walk-on - kind of proves that a lot of people are day travelers - that day was forcast rain in am all week - still did not wait more than 30 minutes for anything with good plan and FP's
We are from the NW and usually go off season. Bad weather keeps locals away and that's always good for us! We were there the week it was 80 a few weeks befor Christmas. While we loved the sunshine we were kinda hoping for it to feel more like winter weather.
#3 - you do not have enough FP rides in your parks compared to WDW...seriously do not understand why more things do not have FP..mostly TSM...
ALthough I totally agree about TSM - new research is showing the FP don't actually help spread out crowds... it's a new debate. But we do love and use the FP the best we can.
#4- best part of staying at the GC was being walked over to TSM in the morning at 945 before rest of the park let in - was frustrating however to be in DL in the early AM and want to get to the GC entrance for early entry there at 9:30 - had to walk all the way around again - it is a long walk!
#5- need more "shows" - no castle show. more things like Lion King, Nemo, laugh factory, carosel of progress (I know it is not a show). lights motors action etc... to keep you busy between rides -
You have to remember DL really compares just to MK not to MGM and such. I do think this is one of the best parts of WDW. We loved MGM (or whatever it is called now) and I think they have brough some of that feel into DCA.
#6- need to be better at disseminating information- example - the whole WOC thing - I read and re-read all the advise here so knew so much more than the average Joe waiting in the mass of people - depending on who you asked you got totally different info from CM - where to stand and when to stand and what would happen when - they really have had enough time to figure this out and distribute some info - the parks are so crowded together they cannot accommadate a line forming - so they just do nothing - very frustrating as everyone is milling in the area waiting for a line !!
WOC was just made to give people something extra to do in that park in the evening. It was becoming a ghost town. They had no idea it would be so popular and planned poorly. We went twice in September and I thought they managed crowds, etc. really well. BUT I hated the games you had to play and how it was hard to find specific info. We bought a dining package to avoid the hassle... but won't everr do that again because the food wasn't worth it. maybe next time we'll try the other restaurant. I wish Napa Rose or Storytellers would count! The second show we just lucked out and checked in later in the afternoon and ended up getting in on passes... then ended up in a fine section, view not much worse than our reserved had been with the dining package. obviously it's a work in progress.
#7- sorry , I know I read this here before we left, but your food offering really are not as good - I missed that
We usually just do snacks and one good meal a day at blue bayou, storytellers, etc. SO food for us isn't an issue. THer eis also a lot of choices in DTD... and of course NAPA ROSE is amazing!
#8- if you have young kids finding characters at WDW is much easier - and why do those poor characters not have handlers helping them come and go - the crowds were crazy and they were weaving in and out of people trying to get away - weird...
This must be a busy CHristmas thing because characters have often chased US down! LOL! (again we go off season usually)
#9 - we could not figure out the "animation academy" I think it was called - no direction at all in there...a sign or two to explain the place would seem in order - and I am a smart cookie - seriously
Oh, you sooo missed out! that main area is just to walk through to get to the lines for turtle talk or Animation Academy, which is every 1/2 hour i think and a lot of fun for kids. My son could have gone through over and over again all afternoon,b ut we stopped him at 2. It's a class, the give you pencil paper and really teach you to draw the characters. it's amazing at the great job the kids can even do based on their "system"
#10- a comment for those who say everything is close and can walk - well that is true - but coming from WDW where although you may have to take a bus or monorail they almost drop you at the front door...staying at the GC I found the walking to be a lot more thatn I expected...through the hotel to DTD then down to park entrance - we were the closest - so if coming from the DL Hotel much farther and I do not even know where "Harbor Ave" was - never saw it - so although walking is possible - I wouldn't want to do it with a kid younger than 6 without a stroller...I think the difference with the walking and buses/monorail/boats at WDW you walk all day in the park - get a rest for a minutes during the ride then walk some more to your hotel - at DLR it is walk all day then walk home...just saying it was very doable - but further than I anticipated...
We rarely parked hopped at WDW because we didn't want to waste time driving around on buses
#11 - if going at a busy time the only way to see WOC is with the preferred dining and getting down to that front railing - amazing! and doing dessert for Fantasmic was the best....Holiday tour with front row for parade and walk on 2 busy rides was the best $ we spent!
#12 - I don't really get the midway section and the roller coasters and ferris wheel etc..seemed more like a 6 flags than disney with exception of TSM...
Yeah, no one gets it, which is why they are redoing it! DCA was a quickly put together park and didn't have much in it when it opened. THey were going for a whole santa monica pier or midway thing over there origionally. ... it think it will e better after the redo. remember DL grew over time. imagine how boring we might think the origional few attractions today!
glad we did it to have the experience...but, actually prefer WDW - probably because I am more familiar with the park - but feel like WDW has more of a Disney immersion feel and has more Disney touches that if you take the time to notice can make it that special touch - didn't see as much of that at DLR
See i totally disagree... WDW felt like less touches, and more stroller parking or simply walls. DL is just soooo much more charming to me.
another thought - you all are much nicer about the line cutting thing than they are in WDW - everyone it seems it cutting in !! weird - but then again I even noticed on the freeway that people will let you in to change lanes where as in NYC that is not happening !!
great trip all in all - lots of people watching! ended the week in Pasadena for the parade and game 0 once in a lifetime trip - Thanks for all your help!!
. 
), so that you can really experience it to its fullest. 
