Thinking of Disneyland-what are your thoughts?

[SpaceMtnGirl]

We are WDW vets (live in TN so it is the closer park for us). Made our first trek to DLR in July 2015 right before the 60th anniversary. Absolutely loved it. I would not say I like WDW or DLR better, they are amazing in their own rights. I have to say the weather sure was better in CA vs FL in July. It was highs in the 70's most days. We needed a sweater early in the morning and at night! (Not to say southern CA doesn't have heat waves because they definitely do). Crowds were moderate as most AP holders were blocked. I will say this, we loved it so much we returned in May 2016 and realized our mistake, AP holders were not blocked during our trip and the crowds were STIFLING. Like, cannot move in the walkways stifling. We will NEVER go back to DLR when most AP holders are not blocked.

We stayed offsite both times, first at Park Vue Inn (great) next year got a better rate at Best Western Park Place Inn (preferred Park Vue). Both properties are directly across the street from the crosswalk entrance to DLR. There is NOTHING like being that close to the parks!!! Both properties had a good free breakfast which was a nice perk.

Site note: You do lose that Disney bubble staying on Harbor Blvd. It's surreal to walk outside the DLR gates and have a homeless person asking for change at the crosswalk. But, the properties we stayed at were actually closer than two of the onsite properties. Only the Grand Californian is closer and it is serious $$$$$.

Carsland and Radiator Springs Racers... WDW has nothing that can rival it!

Love the Paradise Pier area. California Screamin' is an AWESOME coaster!

World of Color... great show and they have a wonderful dessert party with alcoholic beverages and seating. Not sure if they still offer it but I 100% recommend.

Fantasmic at DLR blows WDW's version out of the water.

Space Mountain at DLR, less jerky and has cool soundtrack music that plays on the ride. Still prefer WDW though (nostalgia?)

Pirates at DLR -- much better than WDW

Grizzly River Rapids, amazing, makes Kali seem boring.

We spent 5 park days in DLR and still did not see everything.

ADR's, easy to make same day. The only one we made in advance was Blue Bayou. The rest, we just walked up basically and had no problems.

May sound like I prefer DLR but not really. DLR is missing AK and EPCOT, two of my favorites. But just showing that DLR is definitely worth a visit. Wish we could go more often but flights from TN to CA are usually about double what we pay to fly to FL. Maybe next year we will try to return!

 

[Haley R]

We are WDW vets (live in TN so it is the closer park for us). Made our first trek to DLR in July 2015 right before the 60th anniversary. Absolutely loved it. I would not say I like WDW or DLR better, they are amazing in their own rights. I have to say the weather sure was better in CA vs FL in July. It was highs in the 70's most days. We needed a sweater early in the morning and at night! (Not to say southern CA doesn't have heat waves because they definitely do). Crowds were moderate as most AP holders were blocked. I will say this, we loved it so much we returned in May 2016 and realized our mistake, AP holders were not blocked during our trip and the crowds were STIFLING. Like, cannot move in the walkways stifling. We will NEVER go back to DLR when most AP holders are not blocked.

We stayed offsite both times, first at Park Vue Inn (great) next year got a better rate at Best Western Park Place Inn (preferred Park Vue). Both properties are directly across the street from the crosswalk entrance to DLR. There is NOTHING like being that close to the parks!!! Both properties had a good free breakfast which was a nice perk.

Site note: You do lose that Disney bubble staying on Harbor Blvd. It's surreal to walk outside the DLR gates and have a homeless person asking for change at the crosswalk. But, the properties we stayed at were actually closer than two of the onsite properties. Only the Grand Californian is closer and it is serious $$$$$.

Carsland and Radiator Springs Racers... WDW has nothing that can rival it!

Love the Paradise Pier area. California Screamin' is an AWESOME coaster!

World of Color... great show and they have a wonderful dessert party with alcoholic beverages and seating. Not sure if they still offer it but I 100% recommend.

Fantasmic at DLR blows WDW's version out of the water.

Space Mountain at DLR, less jerky and has cool soundtrack music that plays on the ride. Still prefer WDW though (nostalgia?)

Pirates at DLR -- much better than WDW

Grizzly River Rapids, amazing, makes Kali seem boring.

We spent 5 park days in DLR and still did not see everything.

ADR's, easy to make same day. The only one we made in advance was Blue Bayou. The rest, we just walked up basically and had no problems.

May sound like I prefer DLR but not really. DLR is missing AK and EPCOT, two of my favorites. But just showing that DLR is definitely worth a visit. Wish we could go more often but flights from TN to CA are usually about double what we pay to fly to FL. Maybe next year we will try to return!

This is a good review! Makes me excited to try DL sometime. I can't believe you used 5 park days and still didn't see everything. I didn't realize there was that much to do there with only 2 parks.

 

[AngiTN]

This is a good review! Makes me excited to try DL sometime. I can't believe you used 5 park days and still didn't see everything. I didn't realize there was that much to do there with only 2 parks.

I believe there are more rides in their 2 parks than WDW has in 4. At least until the expansions are finished in HS

 

[caribbeandream]

Carsland and Radiator Springs Racers... WDW has nothing that can rival it!

YES!!!!!!!! I could go to Carsland every.single.day and never tire of it.

 

[DLgal]

I believe there are more rides in their 2 parks than WDW has in 4. At least until the expansions are finished in HS

This is true. I think between the two, it's somewhere around 50 attractions.

I have been an Annual pass holder for 16 years and go like every other week, at least. I STILL have not seen/done everything.

 

[Texans_loyal]

LOVED DL!
no planning and no stressing out.
Indiana jones and pirates are amazing. oh and i also noticed the food is healthier.

the only thing is i didn't feel like there was a bubble.

 

[focusondisney]

We love WDW & go 2 or 3 times a year for the last 22 years or so. But we have also been to DL 5 times. We'd go more often if we lived closer. There is something Magical knowing you are walking around Walt's park. I get emotional every time I look up at that lamp in the window. It is the beginning, the birthplace of the Disney Magic. So we treasure being there. Sounds kind of sappy, but that is how it feels to us.

We also love the resort & escape from real life feel of WDW, so staying offsite at DL does not appeal to us. We did it the first time we went but have stayed at DL hotel every other time. So that helps keep us in the Disney bubble. Yes, it costs more than staying off site but we get the resort feel we prefer.

We last went for the 60th celebration. Will probably plan our next trip there in 2019. Go for it OP!

 

[patty57]

Uh oh...I think I'm going to give a different opinion on DL. We went in October 2016, and stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for three nights. Did the Halloween Party on Oct. 31st. Loved Carsland and Pirates. The rest I thought was fine, but felt three days was probably one day too many. I can go to WDW for a week and not want to leave. I was ready to leave DL after two days. I appreciated the history of it, but don't have any desire to return.

I realize they are short on space, but the attractions felt kind of crammed in...like an amusement park. It just didn't have the same feel for me at all.

With that said, you should go and try it out for yourself. From the posts here, I am probably in the minority in not loving it.

 

[MDH]

Our experience was great, but the differences are certainly there. People will often describe disney world as a resort feel, and disneyland as an amusement park feel. While there are some accurate comparisons in that, it doesn't do justice to disneyland.

1. The resort feel is not there. Unless you shell out to stay at grand californian.
2. Yes it's inside a city, but once in the parks, the city disappears. It's really amazing, once inside the parks, there is a very similar feel. Disneyland certainly feels more cramped. And I don't feel from a crowd level. To me things were just built closer together.
3. Crowds function differently. It's more of a weekends are busy, weekdays aren't compared to disneyworld where it's busy at certain times of year. There are of course exceptions to this for holidays.
4. It's a very different feel without magic bands. The paper fast pass system is very different, but let me tell you, if you can get good at it, you can have fast passes for days.
5. California adventure is amazing. And not just cars land. the whole thing. After Epcot it's our families next favorite park.

 

[AngiTN]

LOVED DL!
no planning and no stressing out.
Indiana jones and pirates are amazing. oh and i also noticed the food is healthier.

the only thing is i didn't feel like there was a bubble.

I noticed this too. Especially the QS. It is light years better. While I cautioned that I hate to compare WDW to DL I am going to compare the food and will give DL a winning mark top to bottom for food. Rides and attractions I won't compare, I urge to let those stand alone. I would love to see WDW up the food game a lot, especially the QS food. DL has it going on.

Something else I thought of reading other comments, the crowds were interesting to analyze. DL is a locals park, much more than WDW is. It makes the avg guest you encounter different. I also found the avg guest dressed up a lot more. Not that I felt out of place dressed as I would in WDW, just noticed that there was a difference. You see way more women in dresses in CA, at least I thought I did.

 

[nursejackie]

We are going June 2018 (last went as a child in 1981). We have many WDW trips under our belt and know all the planning tips/tricks, so after our Christmas WDW trip is concluded, I need to get clued up on all the tips/tricks for a great DL trip, I am a total novice

 

[AngiTN]

When we went in 2016 it was my first trip since I went as a high school student in 1978. One of the favorite things I did on that trip was locate some of the things I had taken photos of on that 1978 trip

 

[nursejackie]

When we went in 2016 it was my first trip since I went as a high school student in 1978. One of the favorite things I did on that trip was locate some of the things I had taken photos of on that 1978 trip

What a great idea! It will be tinged with sadness though reliving our 1981 trip as my dad is no longer with us

 

[Texans_loyal]

I noticed this too. Especially the QS. It is light years better. While I cautioned that I hate to compare WDW to DL I am going to compare the food and will give DL a winning mark top to bottom for food. Rides and attractions I won't compare, I urge to let those stand alone. I would love to see WDW up the food game a lot, especially the QS food. DL has it going on.

Something else I thought of reading other comments, the crowds were interesting to analyze. DL is a locals park, much more than WDW is. It makes the avg guest you encounter different. I also found the avg guest dressed up a lot more. Not that I felt out of place dressed as I would in WDW, just noticed that there was a difference. You see way more women in dresses in CA, at least I thought I did.

YES! my thoughts exactly! Some of the food at DW is greasy traditional cheap theme park food while DL has very good healthy food options. I laughed when i saw a line for grilled chicken on a stick.



the locals are very into Disney collectibles. From the bags of merch to the pins on their lanyards, they are very into Disney.

At DW I notice a lot of foreigners. while walking you can hear multiple languages at once. while at DL I noticed most spoke English.

 

[ktlm]

Go!!! We planned a single family trip to DLR so that DD could see the Aladdin show before it closed. That was 7 1/2 years and 8 trips ago! (They announced Aladdin was closing and then backtracked and kept it open for several more years before Frozen booted it). We alternate between coasts now. We love DLR. We love that everything is basically not more than a 10 minute walk away. We love park hopping there-- you don't even go through security between parks and the plaza that separates them is about the length of a football field. We are in the parks for about 4 1/2 days, and are never ready to leave. Radiator Springs Racers may be my favorite ride of any of the WDW or DLR parks. We usually FP it and then often single rider it multiple times. Carsland is amazing, especially at night (and we aren't Cars fans). RSR must be ridden both during the day and at night in our opinion. I'm not a Tower of Terror fan, but that new Guardians of the Galaxy ride is pretty amazing (sorry TOT purists that hate the change). I rode it twice and I don't think I have ever agreed to ride TOT twice on any trip- I will ride it once for DH, but that has been my limit. Guardians, I was having so much fun that I did not mind the drops as much. The Indiana Jones ride is a lot of fun. For a slower pace, there is the Alice in Wonderland Ride, the Monster's Inc. ride, Pinocchio ride, Mr. Toad etc. POTC is so much better at DLR than at WDW. I agree with the others that the CS food is far superior at DLR. I would go nuts eating CS for more than a day at WDW. At DLR, I could eat it the whole trip and be fine- I figure the better options are due to the local day crowd. Character interactions can be different and amazing too- all sorts of different characters and experiences pop up. For example Cruella and Snow White's Evil Queen have been regular daily characters for at least the past few years- you don't see them at WDW much outside of parties. Certain characters may just stroll around and interact with people instead of doing formal meet and greets. This past summer Peter Pan played hide and seek and red light/green light with DD and a group of kids for probably close to half an hour which DD still talks about. He told everyone that standing and signing autographs and taking photos was boring and it would be much more fun if they all just played--I think the kids agreed-they had a blast. World of Color is amazing- and if you want to splurge that dessert party is great. Ever since WDW went to FP+ DLR has felt so much more flexible and laid back.

My family agrees that the only thing we really miss from WDW when we are at DLR is EPCOT World Showcase. We haven't been to Pandora yet, so I can't speak as to what impact that would have on us. If you asked us to pick whether we liked DLR or WDW best, it would be like asking us to pick which of our children we liked best (for us not the most fair comparison since we only have 1, but you get the idea). Honestly DH might say DLR because he really enjoys that it is less hassle and more flexible... although he does love Biergarten. We also enjoy that where we go to WDW for 8 nights and never leave property, that we can do 4 nights and 4 1/2 days at DLR, and then go experience some other things in California for the rest of a vacation week (we typically head down to the beach and the San Diego area).

At WDW we typically stay deluxe and have stayed moderate and loved it as well. I will say that at DLR, we really like staying on property. We typically stay at DLH because there is nothing like it at WDW. We do feel like we are completely in the bubble once we arrive at DLH until we leave for good. We never leave Disney property, and the only time we see the outside world at all is from the top of Mickey's Fun Wheel. From DLH it is a nice walk through DTD to get to the parks in the morning. DLR vets will make it sound like it is a long walk, but by WDW standards it is nothing. It is a 10 minute walk. I think it is slightly shorter than walking to the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary resort, and slightly longer than walking to the EPCOT International Gateway from the Yacht Club resort. We stayed one night off property at the Fairfield Inn in 2016 when we wound up coming in the morning before we were supposed to arrive and DLH Was full. The Fairfield was fine and the staff there was great, but being outside of the Disney bubble was a bit of a culture shock. It was crowded and crazy. Plus, I don't know how security is on that side now- but last year it was a nightmare compared to security from the Disney Hotel side. The Disney Hotel side security was even better this year because now they have extended security to include the entire DTD area, so if you are at DLH or CA, you have security right as you exit the resort into DTD. It eliminated the bottle neck when it used to be at the edge of the park plaza- as there are more security points now. We all decided that for us, as WDW vets, the extra expense of being in the bubble was worth it. Plus, it sure is nice when DH bring a drink from Trader Sams up to the room for me after a long day in the parks. I would not hesitate to stay at the Fairfield Inn again if money was an issue, but we sure prefer that bubble and so far have been willing to spend the extra money to have it.

 

[Haley R]

We also enjoy that where we go to WDW for 8 nights and never leave property, that we can do 4 nights and 4 1/2 days at DLR, and then go experience some other things in California for the rest of a vacation week (we typically head down to the beach and the San Diego area).

This is what we want to do. We want to drive over to that part of California and experience DL, but we also would like to go to a Kings game and then drive up the coast of California. If I'm going all the way across the country I better get to experience a little more than DL. I love Disney, but there is just more to see that I am excited for (San Francisco, redwood forest, Pacific ocean).

 

[McNs]

We have had 4 DLR visits over the last 4 years and finally made it to WDW this year. I love both places but if I had to choose I would still go for DLR. It is interesting how they are the same but different, each offering something different and unique to the others.

In the DLR camp, the proximity of everything really is great. On site or off site you can be 10 minutes walk door to door. Some WDW resorts seem like a 10 minute walk to catch the bus... One time coming back to BC from MK took nearly an hour, 40 minutes just waiting for the bus. There is sooo much to do in each park - we were really surprised with both Epcot and especially DHS just how few attractions were in each park. And there is so much amazing stuff to do within a small, medium or long drive in California.

In the WDW camp, space management and crowd control in the parks is way better. Magic Bands are awesome. The scale of the place really needs to be experienced to be appreciated. And the selection and quality of the resorts is far better (though DLH and Grand Californian are equal to the top WDW resorts).

At the end of the day there is only one way to find out if you like it and that is to go!

 

[lynnfitz]

Thank you everyone! The flying cost is a big factor, right now the cost to fly for summer is quite high. I keep running the numbers, if not, I'm trying to switch up our trip to dw, try new resort etc, we usually rent points, so maybe we'll try new experiences if we can't make it to Disney land due to cost. It is fun though checking it all out, just have to see if it's doable financially, I hope so!!

 

[Haley R]

Thank you everyone! The flying cost is a big factor, right now the cost to fly for summer is quite high. I keep running the numbers, if not, I'm trying to switch up our trip to dw, try new resort etc, we usually rent points, so maybe we'll try new experiences if we can't make it to Disney land due to cost. It is fun though checking it all out, just have to see if it's doable financially, I hope so!!

That’s exactly what’s holding us back too. It’s expensive for us to fly to California but pretty cheap to go to Orlando. We’ve decided if we do go to DL we will probably drive and stop at places along the way.

 

[larie21]

We went to DLR last summer (for the first time since I was a kid & after several WDW trips). I think they both have their pros and cons. We LOVED our time at DLR. There are so many rides packed into just those 2 parks. it was hard to do it all in only 3 days.

I was hesitant to stay at an offsite hotel but it ended up being a great experience. It was so nice to be able to walk to the parks & take breaks with out it taking forever to get back to the hotel (like at WDW). I did miss staying in the Disney bubble onsite, but if you know that going into it, its not a big deal.

We enjoyed the old school paper fast passes.. We didn't enjoy running all over the park to collect them, but it was really nice to not be limited. Also, you could hold FPs in DL & DCA at the same time. This may have changed with MaxPass though.

Loved DCA! It never felt crowded, even when DL did. The theming was great. Carsland was amazing!

One thing I will say about the difference between the two....I feel like WDW does a better job at making the entire experience magical. When at WDW, I always feel like the CMs are there to make it a magical experience for everyone. WDW's customer service is stellar. On several occasions at DLR, it felt like the CMs were workers at a local amusement park. We saw face characters coming out of character, CMs standing around complaining about their day, etc. Now this may have just been our experience, but even my kids noticed it. Will this make me not go back? Of course not. I still want to go back again but IMHO the overall Disney experience was better at WDW.

Also, Disneyland Daily on FB has great tips for visiting DLR.