The castle is SMALL!

[Pugdog007]

No one warned me of this! It is not the park's anchor as it is in DW. It actually competes with the Matterhorn as the focal point. We could not get over how "un"impressive it seems when you first see it.

This was our only disappointment in DL. Had a great time. If anyone has questions, please ask as we just returned.

 

[Firefly777]

Ehh. . . yeah it's small, but I'm used to it. I've always thought the Matterhorn to be the focal point of DL, instead of the castle. The castle is just the entrance to Fantasyland.

It's funny that you say you weren't warned. I swear whenever someone says they're going to DL for the first time, someone else always "warns" them about how small the castle is.

 

[year2late]

Originally posted by Firefly777
It's funny that you say you weren't warned. I swear whenever someone says they're going to DL for the first time, someone else always "warns" them about how small the castle is.

I am the guilty party. I swear the first visit to DL after we came back from WDW I was drop jawed, I must have asked 3 cast members when the rehab on the castle would be complete. Finally one said ---- "you just went to WDW, didn't you"

 

[Firefly777]

Originally posted by year2late
I am the guilty party.

LOL. It's probably not a bad idea either. If people expect Cindy Castle or something similar and see that it's not, they'll be disappointed. Case-and-point above.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Well you know what they say, size isn't everything.

 

[Pugdog007]

Originally posted by Amy&Dan
Well you know what they say, size isn't everything.

 

[justmestace]

I always try to remind people that there's a reason the castle is smaller.
Walt wanted it to be smaller than the Matterhorn so that it would seem realistic.
And, yes, someone once said that the Matterhorn wasn't built until much later...but it was already planned. It was Walt's plan.

 

[jlmarr]

Originally posted by Pugdog007
No one warned me of this! It is not the park's anchor as it is in DW. It actually competes with the Matterhorn as the focal point. We could not get over how "un"impressive it seems when you first see it.

This was our only disappointment in DL. Had a great time. If anyone has questions, please ask as we just returned.

So you went all the way to DL and all you want to share with us is that the castle is small? With all due respect, it sounds like you wasted your money.

 

[dcfromva]

The castle is SMALL! No one warned me of this!

Pugdog007,

I don't think anyone can prepare you for that. LOL. The first Disney park I went to was DL and then we moved to the east coast and we went to WDW a few times... I knew the castle was smaller, but it still catches me by surprise everytime we go back. (It is just another one of those unique things about DL that I enjoy so much.)

-DC

 

[Scratch42]

I know that the dining is also different from WDW.

Where would you recommend? Anything that wasn't worth the time or effort?

Details, more details!

I am also preparing myself for the fact that the castle is smaller!

Scratch

 

[Pugdog007]

Scratch42:

The only big dining regret I have is the character brunch at Goofy's kitchen (Disneyland Hotel.) It was $19.99pp, and the food was not very good at all. Bland, cold

I had 2 bad experiences at fast food counters in DL:

Pinnochio's in Fantasyland had terrible service. Food was ok.

Pizza/pasta place in Tomorrowland also could use some service tips. I accidentally picked up a piece of garlic bread from the buffet that was to go with the kid's meals. When I got up to the counter to pay, the CM said I couldn't have the garlic bread (with my spaghetti). She said it was only for kid's meals. I said, "Well sorry.. what would you like me to do... can you just charge me extra for it?" She grabbed it from my plate and threw it away I couldn't believe it. The spaghetti was pretty good though, sans garlic bread.

Good dining experiences:

We really enjoyed the Rain Forest Cafe in DD.

The hotdog place in CA was very good (don't remember the name but had all kinds of hotdogs & toppings). However it was $15 for 2 hotdogs & 2 cokes

The Blue Bayou looked good but we didn't eat there.

jlmarr:

We had a great time! Attractions that are better than DW, or that DW doesn't have and you shouldn't miss:

1. Toontown
2. TOT
3. Indiana Jones
4. Matterhorn
5. POC
6. Soaring over CA (In CA)

 

[Scratch42]

We will be travelling next year so this is good to know since this will be our first trip!

It's a good thing Hot Dogs are off our list! $15.00!LOL

Garlic Bread ~ And she actually threw it away! Unbelievable!



It looks like it will be Blue Bayou for most of our meals then!

Thanks again!

Scratch

 

[Firefly777]

We will be travelling next year so this is good to know since this will be our first trip!

Don't let one bad CM experience stop you from going to the Pizza Port. I have had many good meals there myself and would recommend it.

I also would recommend the Gumbo served in New Orleans Square. Delicious!

 

[Scratch42]

Did you say

GUMBO?

I will definately have that!

Thanks, I'll add them back on our list of places to eat! But if a CM tries to throw away Garlic Bread! Look Out! DD will ream her! Nobody messes with Garlic Bread!LOL

Thanks

Scratch

 

[Alice28]

Do they still have the Cajun chicken sandwich at French Market? DH and I had one a few years back and it HUGE- a grilled breast, not fried. This was several years ago, and we skipped this restaurant the last two times.

I miss Casa Mexicana.....

 

[GoofyDisney]

1. Regarding the castle: We had been to WDW a zillion times, and then spent three weeks at DL last year. Three weeks still is not enough time to get used to the size difference. Both the castle and Main Street are shorter...made me feel like a giant. I think I even walked a little slower (I think I walked slower and different...I am sure I looked like Godzilla stepping through Japan)

2. At DL you MMMUUSSTTTT have the Corn Dogs at the right end of Main Street! WOW!!!!! They are too die for!

You never get used to the size of the castle or the Corn Dogs!

 

[Firefly777]

Originally posted by GoofyDisney
1. Regarding the castle: We had been to WDW a zillion times, and then spent three weeks at DL last year. Three weeks still is not enough time to get used to the size difference. Both the castle and Main Street are shorter...made me feel like a giant. I think I even walked a little slower (I think I walked slower and different...I am sure I looked like Godzilla stepping through Japan)

LOL, never heard that before.

I am the opposite. When I visited the MK for the first time, the Main St. buildings felt too big to me. I guess it's all what you're used to.

 

[jlmarr]

Originally posted by Firefly777
I am the opposite. When I visited the MK for the first time, the Main St. buildings felt too big to me. I guess it's all what you're used to.

Ditto here. The castle seems too big also - it seems to dominate Main Street, which seems wrong to me. I like the use of forced perspective in DL which seems missing in WDW/MK. But hey, they've got the space, so why not build everything full size . For me it lacks the fanciful element, but as you say it's all what you're used to .

 

[GoofyDisney]

When walking through the castle at DL, I found myself instinctively hunched over for fear I may hit my head on the low ceilings!

P.S. or walking like Gulliver through Lilliput

 

[Horizons16]

Originally posted by Firefly777
Ehh. . . yeah it's small, but I'm used to it. I've always thought the Matterhorn to be the focal point of DL, instead of the castle. The castle is just the entrance to Fantasyland.

It's funny that you say you weren't warned. I swear whenever someone says they're going to DL for the first time, someone else always "warns" them about how small the castle is.

HAHA its the truth