Talk me into Disneyland!!!

[Disney Mommy 3]

Okay--we have been to WDW in Fl. numerous times. It's our families favorite vacation spot! Kids are 13,9, and 6-(2 boys, then a girl)---we just went to WDW in Jan. We miss it already!!!! But, we keep saying that we live in a big world with lots of stuff to do and see----but we always go back to Disney!!! For those of you who do both places, should we give Disneyland a shot? I think it would actually be cheaper than spending a week in new york, or washington d.c.(We are actually contemplating trips there this summer). I just can't get away from Disney!!!!

What is so different at Disneyland that we should consider it. I am not familiar with it at all---our friends here all go to WDW. I know it's more doable in a few days than Fl., but is it true you don't have buses/it's all walking distance from those 3 resorts? Which resort is family-of-5-friendly?

I have checked airfare and I can get some really good deals for May/June & we could see a few sites around there if we wanted to. As you can see I am at a loss here!!! I would appreciate input from anyone!!!! Thanks!!

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

I haven't been to WDW since I was a young one! HOWEVER I did just go to DL and I have to say that it was absolutely magical. There is something special about knowing Walt Disney himself walked around the park. You can probably get a really good rate at the HOJO with the entertainment rate. You don't need to take as much time off of work to get the full Disney effect (as opposed to WDW)! You don't need to stay on the grounds making it MUCH cheaper as well!! (I think I mentioned this with the HOJO, but you get the idea)

 

[DizNee Luver]

I've never been to WDW, but I will say that everything is compact....so you walk from the 3 onsite or multiple Harbor Blvd resort/motels to the park(s). Disneyland & California Adventure are just a walk across the esplanade & DTD goes off from there.

We've found that a number of the motels on Harbor are actually a closer walk than the Disneyland Hotel & Paradise Pier Hotel. The Grand Californian has an entrance into DCA, & they are closer to the esplanade as well.

You can easily enjoy the park in a couple days, but we enjoy spending up to 5 days to take in everything & repeat favorites.

You also get a magical feeling walking thru the tunnel into Disneyland & knowing that Walt was here. You can still feel his presence as you walk down Main Street. They leave a lamp lit in his apartment above the firehouse to remind us of this great man.

We like that it is a smaller park (but from what I've read, only a tad smaller amt of rides), but that adds to it's charm. The weather is usually warm & sunny (no hurricanes here!!).

If you've never been, I'd say give it a shot......... It really is magical!!!!

 

[daannzzz]

Here is a view fro above so you can see how close everything is to each other. If you want to watch the budget there are some nice enough motels acroos the street, some of which are closer to the parks than 2 of the three Disney hotels.

http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html

 

[Disney Dreams]

As a lifelong DL'er, my DH and I went to WDW for our 10th anniversary last October. Talk about overwhelming in the planning arena! I understand your uncertainty, but at the same time find it slightly fascinating when WDW'ers are comparing DL to WDW. Let me try to help:

- WDW is 4 parks, 2 waterparks, and DtD.
- DLR is Disneyland, DCA, and DtD.

- WDW is several resorts and parks all on a MASSIVE amount of acreage requiring buses or cars to get from one to the next.
- DLR is all within a very close space, very capable of walking from each hotel to both Parks and DtD.

- WDW is 4 main parks.
- Most people would agree Disneyland is the main park and then there is also DCA.

The walk from the maingate of DL to the maingate of DCA is about 2 minutes. Really. The walk from either gate to DtD is less than 5 minutes. If you are staying at an on-property hotel (DLH, PP, or GCH), the walk to each park is minutes.

When Walt built Disneyland, everything built up around it. When he built WDW he learned and bought (almost) all the land all around and built all the hotels himself.

You have to compared DL to MK, not WDW. Disneyland has a charm to it that the Magic Kingdom does not. Some say it's because it had Walt's finishing touch, others say it's because it's the original. I don't know the reason, but I know it's true. There's just something special about it.

The castle's are different, there are rides DL has that don't exist at MK (ex: Matterhorn), there are rides that are similar, but different (ex: Pirates), and there are rides that are exactly the same. We have New Orleans Square, but we don't have Liberty Square. Like I said, the same, but different.

There is sooo much more, but I will end with:
If your family truly is made up of Disney fans, and you have never been to Disneyland, you must visit... at least once.

HTH,
Dreams

 

[Carrie in AZ]

We live in AZ and have been to DW four times and have stayed onsite all four times (POR and BC). We LOVE LOVE LOVE DW with a passion. I mean, we truly love it. We were just there in November and cannot wait to return!

We've also been to DL and have stayed at the DLH and GC and leave in one month to stay again for four nights at GC. We LOVE it there also!

I would highly encourage you to visit DL. I know you will love it! If you are use to staying on-site at DW, then I would recommend doing so at DL as well. Once you are use to the Disney-theme throughout your room and hotel, I think you will want to continue with that.

The things I love about DL are....
-It's nice to walk from your hotel to the entrances of the parks. Not having to wait for a bus or whatever is pretty darn nice!
-Some of the rides are SO MUCH better. IASM, Pirates and HM are three that come to mind. It's pure magic to ride on Pirates, see the people eating at the Blue Bayou as you pass by, then head on over there when you're finished to have YOUR meal! We love that! Also, there is the Matterhorn which is a terrific ride and the Nemo subs. And, you will LOVE being able to take your "gun" off and hold it in your hand in Buzz..the guns are locked on at DW.
-One thing that will shock you when you first walk in, is how small the castle is. It's beautiful, but for those who have been to the Magic Kingdom, it is a shock. But you get use to it, trust me.
-California Adventure is a very fun park. There is a lot of construction going on right now, but lots of it is up and going and I think you'd have a wonderful time. I like it more each time I go there.

I feel that visiting DL is a lot less stressful than a trip to DW. There aren't as many parks so there isn't as much to plan. Just a lot of magic time together!

I would be happy to answer any specific questions you may have. Post them here or PM me. Truly, I am happy to share my view.

Happy planning!

 

[Disney_Villain]

Two reasons to go to DL even if you love WDW:

1. DCA is unique. There is no Disney park anywhere like it.
2. Disneyland Park is very different than the Magic Kingdom - in many ways.

Here are just some of the attractions that the Disneyland parks have that the WDW parks don't:

• Aladdin show (DCA)!
• It's A Small World - a castle unto itself and not a cardboard frontage in Fantasyland. The ride is longer with more displays.
• Pirates is longer - more rooms - and the sequence of events is different.
• Indiana Jones ride! (Think Dinosaur in DAK, but better.) The queue alone is worth it.
• 150+ year old gaslamps on Main Street USA - running on gas!
• Space Mountain was re-habbed for DL's 50th . . . and it shames the one in MK.
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage! (Magic Kingdom paved over their submarine lagoon.)
• Buzz Lightyear - you can pick up your gun and actually AIM it.
• Storybook Land Canal Boats.
• Pixie Hollow.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds.
• The original Tiki Room!

Beyond the above list, there even more attractions found at DL and DCA that do not exist in the Magic Kingdom.

Hope that's enough to interest you.

 

[darph nader]

(puts on hypnotic glasses)

"You will go to Disneyland"
"You will go to Disneyland"
"You will go to Disneyland"

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

(puts on hypnotic glasses)

"You will go to Disneyland"
"You will go to Disneyland"
"You will go to Disneyland"

Ha!! I am going, I am going!
I really want to go---would love to check it out---especially since Walt was there!!!!Being the disney-fanatic that i am, I think we should go!!

Next question: How long is just right? I want to have time to do it all--and repeat the favorites. But, I don't think I need as many days as for WDW. What do most of you do-----and what should we see in the surrounding area that's a must.If I get hubby to do this, it will probably be a once in a lifetime thing. Oh--I am not really interested in Universal.

Crowd/weather--is this a good time, or should we look at a better time of year?

 

[teatime]

Ha!! I am going, I am going!
I really want to go---would love to check it out---especially since Walt was there!!!!Being the disney-fanatic that i am, I think we should go!!

Next question: How long is just right? I want to have time to do it all--and repeat the favorites. But, I don't think I need as many days as for WDW. What do most of you do-----and what should we see in the surrounding area that's a must.If I get hubby to do this, it will probably be a once in a lifetime thing. Oh--I am not really interested in Universal.

Crowd/weather--is this a good time, or should we look at a better time of year?

I would say if you really want to enjoy and do all that Disneyland has to offer at a nice pace and not overly crazy you can do the park in 3 days off season,5 days buisy season ( I say a week but Im the exception LOL )
Then you can go to the sand Diego zoo, Lego land, and so many other places that are not to far apart. I say if you have the money, and you want to go then go!! Staying on property during busy season is way to expensive ( again my opinion ) but there are motels right across the street from the park you can walk back and forth to . there is also lots of restaurants and fast food right out side the park gates. its nothing like WDW.I went there in November and I fell in love with the parks, they will always be very special to me ( the great movie ride for one) Disneyland is way much easier, not trains, buses and monorails to get you where you need to go. the Disneyland monorail is more for enjoyment and to get to down town Disney, but heck you can walk that. getting dining reservations are a snap and everything you need or want is right there, no trying to hop a bus at the end of the night, no trying to get to somewhere to eat, there are so many options right out side the gate. or the park food is good to

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

you can see it in 3 days 4 days if you want to repeat things you like or 5 days to relax and have fun.

We do 5 days it a little much but when we come home Im ready to go again lol.

 

[Hound 109]

Alot of info & links for the WDW vet (DLR newbie) were discussed & provided in this recent thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2158037

Have a great time planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[mystic_path]

Well Disneyland is totally magical. It is the original park, it is the first park ever created and it would be fun to see the Original park. If it werent for DL, then you wouldnt have WDW. It has a totally different feel to it, but just as magical. There are rides that WDW doesnt have and others that it does but are somewhat different. It would be fun to compare the 2 parks and see what you like more.

DL is much smaller as it is compact and its less travel time, but there is still TONS to see. You dont need shuttles to get from land to land, everything including DTD is walking distance. You can see the park in about 4-5 days, where WDW you need at least like 10

Also about an hour away is LA where you can take in Hollywood and Universal Studios. You can get tours that take you to Universal then around LA to the Hollywood walk of fame, Chinese theatre where the footprints and hand prints of the stars are, Disney Concert hall, Melrose Ave, San Blvd. Etc. Its a full day but its also incredible as you can do some shopping in LA during all this.

 

[KCmike]

If you can swing it I would do this:

Fly into LAX and immediately drive down to San Diego. Get a hotel on the beach (Hotel Del Coronado if you have the money) and just enjoy that beautiful city. You could do SeaWorld or San Diego Zoo if you wanted or you could just relax. Then drive back up to DL and spend at least four days there. Go on a weekend if your not going in the summertime so you can enjoy the fireworks etc...

Things at DL that WDW doesn't have
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Pirates of C that blows away WDW
Original Tiki Room - Walt would turn over in his grave to see WDW version
Matterhorn
Indiana Jones
Pinocchio
Storybook Canal boats
Casey Jr Circus Train
A great Toontown
Alice in Wonderland
A much better Fantasmic! - you need to see it to believe it
Monsters Inc
Aladdin Spectacular musical - blows away all WDW plays
Walt Disney artifacts - he built, lived there, and played with his family there.

We were lifelong Disneyworld fans until we went here. Warning---you will love it. Weather is awesome. 20 minutes away from the beautiful pacific ocean. 90 minutes from san diego. 5 hours from Yosemite Natl Park.

I'll leave you with this and please don't get me wrong WDW is awesome and I enjoy it:

There's an answer the old timers at Disney like to give when asked to compare the Anaheim and Orlando main parks, and to me it still applies as to how they are currently run: Disneyland is a park designed by a father for his daughters, while the Magic Kingdom is designed by a committee for the hordes.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Thanks to everyone who has responded!! I am seriously considering it. We have been checking airfare to see what's reasonable right now.....We are leaving out of Houston, and the cheapest for the most distance at this time is Philadelphia. Which we have been studying in History. so, we just need to decide what the total cost for these 2 polar opposites will be, and how much time we actually are looking at.

Next question: at the Disney parks, which hotel has the best deal for a family of 5? We stay at the Deluxes at WDW, we would have to do All Star Family suites or adjoining rooms at the other resorts....then it would be lots more buses and such. anyway, if any of you have more than 2 kids, where do you like to stay and why? How do the $$$ for rooms at DL compare to WDW? Ya'll are amazing!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Here is another map, can not get my family to go to WDW..
http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

Jack

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Thanks Jack! Awesome map! I am just amazed at how small and compact it all looks compared to WDW. I could definitely do without the animal kingdom, but we love the world showcase over there. We usually eat supper in a different country every night. What kind of food places/options do we have at DL.?

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thanks Jack! Awesome map! I am just amazed at how small and compact it all looks compared to WDW. I could definitely do without the animal kingdom, but we love the world showcase over there. We usually eat supper in a different country every night. What kind of food places/options do we have at DL.?

Go to this link..http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072276 and read eveything noteing Hydroguys advice about the WDW traveler.

Jack

 

[podsnel]

Well, OP Disney Mommy 3, I am completely glomming on to all your thread's advice- I too am in the very early planning stages of a DLR 1st time visit, and your thread is PERFECT!! Thanks for asking such great questions, and thanks for everyone who gave such insightful answers! I'm convinced- now to work on DH!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Thanks again Jack!

Podsnel~ glad to have somebody on board!! I am sooo well informed about WDW, but totally clueless about DL. All I know is the stuff about Walt, and that it's in Ahaheim! I definitely wouldn't get any trivia points!