So, we're thinking of going to Disneyland...

[Stepharoonie!]

Just how different IS it from WDW? What can you guys tell me about it? I've been doing some research, but it's better to actually hear it from ya'll

 

[preshi]

Well it's a whole lot smaller. It was quite odd for me to go from Disneyland to the MK, you expect things to be in one spot and they are in a whole other spot.

 

[WDWLVR]

Disneyland is definately smaller than Magic Kingdom at WDW. To me the advantages to it are:

- it is truly Walt's park!
- it has the Matterhorn!
- it has the original Tiki room - not that awful remake!

It is very easy to do in a day and it doesn't seem to tire me out as much as Magic Kingdom does.

There is also California Adventure. kind of a cross between MGM and Epcot. I like it.

Hope this helps - got to run!

 

[Alice28]

Disneyland is my "home" park. Been there at least 30 times, and only been to WDW 3 times. This is how it is different:

A LOT smaller, yet a LOT more attractions (if you are simply comparing MK to DL). Attractions DL has that MK doesn't:
Matterhorn
Alice in Wonderland
Pinocchio
Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye (Awesome ride!)
Casey Jr Circus Train
Roger Rabbits Car Toon Spin
StorybookLand Canal Boats (a personal favorite)
The original Tiki Room

It doesn't have Buzz Lightyear, the carpet ride and Carousel of Progress/TimeKeeper and any sort of Alien Encounter. In fact, Tomorrowland is kind of in sad shape right now. But I think DL's Fantasyland ROCKS! So does it's ToonTown. They are building a Buzz lightyear ride and Space is down for rehab until 2005!!!

And not just smaller in diameter----the castle is smaller, the buildings on Main St. are smaller...it's not such a huge scale and doesn't take as long to walk from Adventureland to Tomorrowland for example.

There is no Liberty Square, but DL has New Orleans Square which is very pretty.

Fantasmic happens on the Rivers of America and has a few more very exciting sequences.

"Beautiful" (HA) Anaheim is RIGHT outside the park- no miles and miles of landscaping- you got Domino's pizza, McDonald's tacky hotels, liquor stores and 7-11's a stone's throw from the entrance. This is why I like WDW so much- it's truly another world.

California Adventure is right across the entrance- no bus lines to wait in. And it has some fun attractions- Soarin Over California, California Screamin, the River Rapid ride and Tower of Terror opens in a few weeks.

I think some of the rides at DL will blow you away when you compare them to MK- Pirates for example has several more scenes and is just more exciting somehow. Small World has a beautiful facade, not just stuck in Fantasyland like Snow White. Splash Mountain and Big Thunder are slightly different (although I think Splash is better at MK), and Fantasyland has a very old European feel, fantastic attention to detail- your daughter will LOVE it!

Not as many sit down restaurants as MK, but enough variety to be happy. No condiment bars like Pecos Bills or Cosmic Rays either.

I love both parks.....you *might* be disappointed with DL if the size distracts you, but I think you will love it. Plus there is PLENTY to do in So California!

 

[Dodie]

You should post your question on the Disneyland Board too. Those guys answer this question hundreds of times a year and they have some good information.

We went to Disneyland a couple of years ago and we LOVED it. Yes, it's smaller. Yes, the castle is tiny. But it's just so beautiful. Everything is just a little more detailed. The trees and plants are more mature - so the pathways are smaller. It just has more character. Plus, it's truly Walt's park. They have a nice tour, something like "Walk in Walt's Footsteps." It was really interesting.

We also liked California Adventure, although it's kind of like Disney Studios was when it first opened - just not a full day park.

 

[Alice28]

P.S. DL and DCA have lots of rides that you are familiar with in other WDW parks, like Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Star Tours, Millionaire, Playhouse Disney, It's tough to be a bug and more that I am probably forgetting.

 

[IloveDMB]

Just got back from my stay in Southern Cali yesterday. We went to Disneyland and California Adventure.

Being Spring Break, the place was packed! I think we only did 5 rides all day at Disneyland. The park layout is a lot different than the Magic Kingdom, so that was a tad confusing. Plus there is a lot of construction going on, and Tomorrowland looks a little messy.

We went back to go to California Adventure, and I know people don't like this park, but I enjoyed it. The lines were shorter, and the park was smaller. It was much easier to manage. Soarin Over California is an amazing ride.

After our night at Cali Adventure, we walked through the Grand Californian, which is beautiful. I love that there is an entrance to the park right in the hotel!

I had a nice time, but I'm sure it would have been better if it wasn't so crowded.

 

[CEDmom]

We were there in December. It is much different than WDW but we loved it. We were in the parks for 2 full days and probably could have used another day to see everything we wanted to. I think what we loved was the ease of going between the parks, DTD, MK and DCA. I think over the 2 days we went between the parks at least a dozen times to take advantage of showtimes etc. Your DD will love Toontown it's much bigger than at WDW and has more to do.

We stayed at Paradise Pier. It's a nice hotel. Our room was clean and very big and included a free refrigerator. The pool wasn't much to write home about but we could have used the one next door at the Disneyland Hotel.

It's also not a bad drive from DL to San Diego so you could add a day at the zoo, animal park or Legoland.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Do hesitate to go! DL is not better or worse than WDW...it's just a little different. We have done both locations several times and enjoy them equally. For me, the perfect vacation is to split the week and do DL in conjunction with San Diego (which is about a 90-minute drive South).

Go for it -- you won't regret it!!!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

Do they have Park Hopper passes for DL and DCA? Is there such a thing as a 2-day PH?

We visited DL once, several years ago, before kids & we have a tentative SoCal trip planned for summer of 2005.

DW and I really enjoyed DL, but the memory has faded to the point that I'm not able to predict if our kids will be disappointed if they're comparing it to WDW.

As a midwesterner, if I get close to a coast, I feel obligated to spend at least a little time at the beach. I'm not an "ocean expert" but based on my experience, I prefer the Pacific to the Atlantic. And Anaheim is much closer the ocean than Orlando.

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by manchurianbrownbear
Do they have Park Hopper passes for DL and DCA? Is there such a thing as a 2-day PH?

Yes, we bought 2 day park hoppers when we checked into the Paradise Pier Hotel. I think they are also available at the ticket windows outside the parks.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I love both resorts but my home park is DL- I have to agree totally to the things are in the wrong place! I dont *like* Small World being in Fantasyland row I also *like* Pirates in New Orleans Square not Adventureland...

I think both parks have amazing offerings that are different- Id go to DL if ya had the chance -em

 

[daannzzz]

DL is in the middle of the suburbs. here is a link to a view of the area, along with some of the close motels. It is very compact and easy to get around but it doesn't quite have over all beautiful feel that WDW does until you actually enter the parks and hotels.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html

 

[Deb in IA]

Everything within walking distance. No waiting for buses.

I personally think the outside facades for Haunted Mansion and It's A Small World are prettier at Disneyland. Haunted Mansion, in particular, looks like an old Southern mansion.

Oh, the Blue Bayou restaurant is not to be missed. Really neat to eat your dinner INSIDE the Pirates of the Caribbean ride!!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

DL is my home park too: been to DL 40+ times and WDW only 3 times. Although I love WDW more than DL, I like DL better than MK. My all time favorite ride, Indiana Jones is there! Plus, Pirates, Space Mountain, and Small world are much better at DL. And I love Alice in Wonderland ride, Mr. Toad and the Matterhorn, which aren't offered at MK. The best restaurant, Blue Bayou, can only be found at DL. How awesome to be dining at a restaurant located inside the Pirates ride!

It is strange to have a Disney park right in the middle of the city. I love that at WDW everything is hidden in acres of forested land. And there is so much more at WDW. I love the resorts and all the parks. Epcot is my favorite. DL has lots less to do. But there are other parks in Southern California. You can go to Knott's Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, Sea World, etc. It makes for a great vacation and you should try it!

 

[Alice28]

Originally posted by Bbgrizzle
DL is my home park too: been to DL 40+ times and WDW only 3 times. Although I love WDW more than DL, I like DL better than MK. My all time favorite ride, Indiana Jones is there! Plus, Pirates, Space Mountain, and Small world are much better at DL. And I love Alice in Wonderland ride, Mr. Toad and the Matterhorn, which aren't offered at MK. The best restaurant, Blue Bayou, can only be found at DL. How awesome to be dining at a restaurant located inside the Pirates ride!

It is strange to have a Disney park right in the middle of the city. I love that at WDW everything is hidden in acres of forested land. And there is so much more at WDW. I love the resorts and all the parks. Epcot is my favorite. DL has lots less to do. But there are other parks in Southern California. You can go to Knott's Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, Sea World, etc. It makes for a great vacation and you should try it!

How could I have forgotten Mr. Toad's! (Forehead slap!)

 

[two4ruff]

What about the submarine ride??

I can't imagine Disneyland without it - does it still exist?

 

[Alice28]

Sadly the Submarine Voyage went away and of course, like 20,000 Leagues, they haven't replaced it with anything. There were rampant rumors of bringing it back a few months ago, since Tomorrowland is somewhat of a ghost town right now, but it hasn't happened. The lagoon just sits, empty.

 

[two4ruff]

Was always my favorite as a kid, as corny as it was...

 

[Alice28]

I know, it was a sentimental favorite of mine as well. I loved taking pictures of Tomorrowland when the People Mover was zooming around, the Skyway going through the Matterhorn, the Monorail looping around, and the submarines, snaking their way through the lagoon....and the cars putt-putting their way on the tracks of Autopia. Sigh. I sure wish at least the PeopleMover would come back! The track sits, just waiting for them!