Rides completely different/unique than Disneyland

[maleficent55]

Coming to Disney World for my first time in November and spending many days but also realizing there is NO WAY I can realistically do everything. (Just another excuse to come back right? )

I live in California and Disneyland is my home park. I could walk it with my eyes closed. So the shock of Disney World will be extreme and I’ll be clamoring to see all the new and different things.

For each of the four parks, please tell me what are the absolute not to be missed attractions that are extreme from Disneyland. I do realize some are the same attraction but vary greatly.

Im just putting together a game plan a little and want to know what we should focus on first, before moving on with a more loose plan.
My husband qualifies for the DAS pass so we will be able to pre schedule a couple at attractions in each park, but I realize this will exclude some, like Guardians.

Looking for the most unique to Disney World. Thanks!

 

[GoingSince1990]

MK: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Jungle Cruise slightly better than DL. AVOID Buzz, very lame compared to DL version.

Epcot: Remy, Guardians, Spaceship Earth, Test Track (not as good as RSR but very different theme), Frozen, Imagination ride, Nemo ride, Three Caballeros ride.

AK: Everything in Pandora, Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur (don’t bother with Kali Rapids, it’s VERY disappointing if you’re used to GRR).

DHS: Mickey Minnie Railroad, Tower of Terror, Rock n Rollercoaster, Muppets 3D. AVOID Fantasmic- absolutely no comparison with DL version!

This is all off the top of my head and I may well have missed stuff so others feel free to chime in!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Actually- I like F! better at DHS because THEY HAVE SEATS!!! You can see the show without getting all up in many strangers business. Sure, the show wasn’t as good but they’re replacing a scene not seen in DLR with a new one!

OP, Google is your friend. If CA has the ride don’t do it in WDW basically. Except Dinosaur- that’s literally the Indy mechanism but themed to dinosaurs and sucks if you’re not into Dino’s.

 

[Kestryl]

I’ll take a stab at this.

MK: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, PeopleMover, Carousel of Progress. Monsters Inc Laugh Floor is fun, but we tend to skip it. Swiss Family Tree House if you’re into that thing. Whatever the fireworks show is, see it. The castle is bigger than Disneyland’s.

EPCOT: Like… the whole park? Minus Soarin’. Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land are classics. I really enjoy the Gran Fiesta Tour, but I love Donald. Mission Space if your stomach can handle it.

DHS: Tower of Terror (though I prefer Mission Breakout), MuppetVision, Slinky Dog Dash, and Rock n Roller Coaster. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is fun. Fantasmic has seats

AK: Again, like the whole park? We skip Kali River Rapids because we don’t like getting soaked. If I have to pick three rides, Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur. (Especially because Dinoland may be closing… eventually.) I haven’t seen the reimagined Nemo show, but the previous version was a delight. If you can, try to see Pandora at night. We tend to jump in line for Flight of Passage just before the park closes. Plus the tree lights up too.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Oh, DLR will get MMRR in the new toontown so I’d you’re going back to DLR in the next couple years you can skip it.

 

[maleficent55]

MK: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Jungle Cruise slightly better than DL. AVOID Buzz, very lame compared to DL version.

Epcot: Remy, Guardians, Spaceship Earth, Test Track (not as good as RSR but very different theme), Frozen, Imagination ride, Nemo ride, Three Caballeros ride.

AK: Everything in Pandora, Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur (don’t bother with Kali Rapids, it’s VERY disappointing if you’re used to GRR).

DHS: Mickey Minnie Railroad, Tower of Terror, Rock n Rollercoaster, Muppets 3D. AVOID Fantasmic- absolutely no comparison with DL version!

This is all off the top of my head and I may well have missed stuff so others feel free to chime in!

We don’t even love Buzz at DL! will do it if a slow wait, but never really that excited over it

We love GRR though…


Thanks for the tips!

 

[maleficent55]

Oh, DLR will get MMRR in the new toontown so I’d you’re going back to DLR in the next couple years you can skip it.

Definitely will be at Disneyland next year, so maybe I’ll wait? I don’t know, I’m pretty excited about it

 

[maleficent55]

I’ll take a stab at this.

MK: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, PeopleMover, Carousel of Progress. Monsters Inc Laugh Floor is fun, but we tend to skip it. Swiss Family Tree House if you’re into that thing. Whatever the fireworks show is, see it. The castle is bigger than Disneyland’s.

EPCOT: Like… the whole park? Minus Soarin’. Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land are classics. I really enjoy the Gran Fiesta Tour, but I love Donald. Mission Space if your stomach can handle it.

DHS: Tower of Terror (though I prefer Mission Breakout), MuppetVision, Slinky Dog Dash, and Rock n Roller Coaster. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is fun. Fantasmic has seats

AK: Again, like the whole park? We skip Kali River Rapids because we don’t like getting soaked. If I have to pick three rides, Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur. (Especially because Dinoland may be closing… eventually.) I haven’t seen the reimagined Nemo show, but the previous version was a delight. If you can, try to see Pandora at night. We tend to jump in line for Flight of Passage just before the park closes. Plus the tree lights up too.

I can’t wait for the Carousel of progress! And the people mover
Will want to do Swiss family, was bummed when that changed at Disneyland

My daughter remembers tower of terror from when she was younger and is super excited to ride that version

 

[gottalovepluto]

Definitely will be at Disneyland next year, so maybe I’ll wait? I don’t know, I’m pretty excited about it

Do it and then you’ll be able to compare!!

I’m happy to be an enabler

 

[tobikaye]

I am going to add Astro Orbiter as at WDW it is still up above and gives interesting views. I did not even do in DL since it is more ground level.

 

[gharter]

MK: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Jungle Cruise slightly better than DL. AVOID Buzz, very lame compared to DL version.

Epcot: Remy, Guardians, Spaceship Earth, Test Track (not as good as RSR but very different theme), Frozen, Imagination ride, Nemo ride, Three Caballeros ride.

AK: Everything in Pandora, Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur (don’t bother with Kali Rapids, it’s VERY disappointing if you’re used to GRR).

DHS: Mickey Minnie Railroad, Tower of Terror, Rock n Rollercoaster, Muppets 3D. AVOID Fantasmic- absolutely no comparison with DL version!

This is all off the top of my head and I may well have missed stuff so others feel free to chime in!

Agree except:
I enjoy DL Jungle Cruise more. Buzz, no comparison, DL kills it.
EPCOT agree except 3 caballeros would not be good except the wait is next to nothing.
HS- agree that DL Fantasmic was MUCH better.
AK- agree that Kali Rapids is no where near Grizzly River Run. (not even close).

 

[holden]

You've gotten lots of great suggestions here. WDW is a completely different animal from DL even though some attractions are the same. Just getting around the area is an adventure sometimes. Don't forget to allow plenty of time to get from park to park, hotel to park, etc. WDW suggests to allow 1.5hrs from door to door. As crazy as that sounds, it is sometimes true.

Enjoy!

 

[Landry]

I wouldn't recommend skipping something that's similar but slightly different. The inside of WDW's Haunted Mansion is different, and IMO better than Disneyland's. WDW's Pirates is also different, but not as good. They're both worth checking out.

Edit: Don't miss out on Country Bears in Magic Kingdom. While not a ride, it's definitely unique.

 

[Kestryl]

I am going to add Astro Orbiter as at WDW it is still up above and gives interesting views. I did not even do in DL since it is more ground level.

Ah, yes! This one can be challenging wait-time wise, but it is a super cool view.

 

[gharter]

I wouldn't recommend skipping something that's similar but slightly different. The inside of WDW's Haunted Mansion is different, and IMO better than Disneyland's. WDW's Pirates is also different, but not as good. They're both worth checking out.

Edit: Don't miss out on Country Bears in Magic Kingdom. While not a ride, it's definitely unique.

Agree that I like WDW HM better except when they have the Nightmare before Christmas overlay. That is so fun.
Forgot about Pirates. Love the firefly scene that we don't have and the restaurant.

 

[maleficent55]

Ah, yes! This one can be challenging wait-time wise, but it is a super cool view.

My husband qualifies for DAS so that really helps

 

[maleficent55]

You've gotten lots of great suggestions here. WDW is a completely different animal from DL even though some attractions are the same. Just getting around the area is an adventure sometimes. Don't forget to allow plenty of time to get from park to park, hotel to park, etc. WDW suggests to allow 1.5hrs from door to door. As crazy as that sounds, it is sometimes true.

Enjoy!

We are staying at POR Riverside and are planning on mostly using Lyft.

For MK we are going to use the Minnie Lyfts. It’s worth it since my husband walks on prosthetics.

 

[holden]

We are staying at POR Riverside and are planning on mostly using Lyft.

For MK we are going to use the Minnie Lyfts. It’s worth it since my husband walks on prosthetics.

That's great. We always use Lyft/Minnie Vans too. I'm not a fan of the buses.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I'll add Festival of the Lion King at AK - it is wonderful. I know DL has the newish LK show, but it isn't the same. And DL doesn't have anything like AK or Epcot overall - I would just soak it all in

I like the drop sequence on Mission Breakout better, but I like the theming of Tower of Terror better. Pirates is definitely better at DL but I like the WDW version too.

 

[philharmagic fan]

My husband qualifies for DAS so that really helps

I don't think there's DAS at Astro Orbiter - I thought it was only offered at attractions that have a lightning lane, and this one doesn't. I could be mistaken...