Top 5 things that are better at Disneyland than at Walt Disney World

[Angel Ariel]

I love both WDW and Disneyland but, in my opinion, they are significantly different vacation experiences. Comparing based on which has more rides and which rides are better at which resort misses what I think is the bigger point.

This thread is talking about what people like more in one park over another. Rides are going to be a part of that comparison, since they are a large part of the experience.

There are a couple of active threads about other activities at WDW like the water parks, mini golf, boat rentals, horseback riding at FW, visiting the themed resorts, etc, etc. that make WDW a much more diverse resort experience. Plus, things like the World Showcase at Epcot and the Animal Kingdom present what for me is a welcome change of pace to the chase to go on rides.

Conversely, DLR has a TON more street shows, and acts throughout the 2 parks to see than WDW. At least,.IME, they do. I think people who see DLR as only about rides are absolutely shortchanging that resort. It may not have the *same* options that WDW has, but there are still tons of things to do aside from rides.

don't see us ever scheduling a trip to California just to spend a few days at DLR. But, we frequently go to Florida to stay at WDW, and sometimes we never leave the resort grounds except to return to the airport.

The only reason we don't is because airfare is more prohibitive, and we are concerned about cross country flying with DD. I absolutely think DLR is worthy of a visit just to go there.

I highly recommend that any WDW vet going to DLR read HydroGuy's A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. They are different experiences, to be sure, but both are wonderful and special in their own ways.

 

[Suvadoo]

With all due respect to your opinion and experiences, I think 2 hours to get between parks is dramatically overstated.

There is obviously no question that it is a lot easier to go between DL and DCA than between any 2 WDW parks. DL and DCA are more like one huge park with multiple lands.

But, in our experience, it should almost never take more than an hour to get between 2 parks, and can take significantly less time, unless there is some major breakdown in transportation. And I am including time for walking from a park exit to the transportation (boat, monorail or bus), waiting for the next vehicle to arrive, the ride itself to the second park, walking to the entrance of the second park, and going through security before entering.

Now, if I had a dinner reservation at the second park, I wouldn't wait until the last minute to get to that park and would build in a big cushion for possible transportation problems. But, if I was just going, for example, to MK after spending the morning at DAK, I would expect to get there in less than an hour.

Last week we went from MK to Epcot on the monorail one day, and from DAK to MK on a bus another day, and in both cases the whole process took significantly less than an hour.

If I were park hopping for no other reason than to park hop I wouldn't care how long it took. But when I am park hopping for an ADR or a FP+ reservation, then I allow 2 hours. So with all due respect, I will stick with my original statement.

 

[BigCheese]

I'm curious, one of the things I'm most excited about seeing in WDW is the new Fantasyland. I've read several opinions of those who have experienced both DLR and WDW that they prefer DLR's Fantasyland. I love Fantasyland in DLR but when I look at MK maps I can't help but think MK's version is really spectacular. One of my main issues with DLR's Fantasyland is that it's cramped, not so much as it extends towards IASW, but at the heart of Fantasyland where there's 10 rides and A&E all in a small space, whereas it seems MK's Fantasyland has just as many attractions (maybe not as many rides though) in a larger area. For WDW vets, has the new Fantasyland lived up to your expectations?

 

[wisblue]

If I were park hopping for no other reason than to park hop I wouldn't care how long it took. But when I am park hopping for an ADR or a FP+ reservation, then I allow 2 hours. So with all due respect, I will stick with my original statement.

Now that you've qualified it, you are agreeing with my 4th paragraph.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm curious, one of the things I'm most excited about seeing in WDW is the new Fantasyland. I've read several opinions of those who have experienced both DLR and WDW that they prefer DLR's Fantasyland. I love Fantasyland in DLR but when I look at MK maps I can't help but think MK's version is really spectacular. One of my main issues with DLR's Fantasyland is that it's cramped, not so much as it extends towards IASW, but at the heart of Fantasyland where there's 10 rides and A&E all in a small space, whereas it seems MK's Fantasyland has just as many attractions (maybe not as many rides though) in a larger area. For WDW vets, has the new Fantasyland lived up to your expectations?

New fantasyland is beautiful, and I do enjoy it, but if I had to choose one fantasyland over another, I'd choose DLR's. I love how many attractions there are in DL's fantasyland, and have thought for a long time that it would be a great.place to introduce my daughter to Disney. Sadly it is just toke expensive and far to go to ca

 

[Angel Ariel]

Now that you've qualified it, you are agreeing with my 4th paragraph.

She was specifically responding to someone who was talking about park hopping *for dining reservations*...it was pretty clear without her latest post that she was talking about park hopping when dining is involved.

 

[BigCheese]

New fantasyland is beautiful, and I do enjoy it, but if I had to choose one fantasyland over another, I'd choose DLR's. I love how many attractions there are in DL's fantasyland, and have thought for a long time that it would be a great.place to introduce my daughter to Disney. Sadly it is just toke expensive and far to go to ca

I hear you. My earliest and fondest memories of DLR was Fantasyland as a kid. I hope you're able to enjoy DLRs FL with your daughter in the future. That one point sums up one of the beauties of DLR in that there's a lot of attractions in a smaller space, and specifically in Fantasyland about 17 in a relatively small area. I'm looking forward to (hopefully) walking around MK's FL without it being wall to wall people. Hopefully it's not like that in Mid-Late October.

 

[wisblue]

She was specifically responding to someone who was talking about park hopping *for dining reservations*...it was pretty clear without her latest post that she was talking about park hopping when dining is involved.

That original post referred to going from a hotel to dining, not park hopping in general, so I didn't think it was clear. I apologize if I offended anyone by clarifying how long park hopping takes in general.

I also made it clear that I would allow more time if I had a reservation to get to.

So, to sum up, hopping between two parks at WDW generally TAKES about an hour or less. But, if you have a reservation to make at the second park, it is prudent to ALLOW more time to be on the safe side.

 

[Frozen2014]

I know this is slightly off topic, but what is the difference between

• DLR
• DL
• DCA

I thought it was just Disneyland that is one big park but I keep seeing different acronyms.

 

[mom2rtk]

I know this is slightly off topic, but what is the difference between

• DLR
• DL
• DCA

I thought it was just Disneyland that is one big park but I keep seeing different acronyms.

DLR is the entire Disneyland resort in Anaheim.

DL is the Disneyland park at DLR.

DCA is the Disney California Adventure park at DLR.

 

[Frozen2014]

DLR is the entire Disneyland resort in Anaheim.

DL is the Disneyland park at DLR.

DCA is the Disney California Adventure park at DLR.

Thanks. I always thought it was just one big park . Thanks for explaining.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks. I always thought it was just one big park . Thanks for explaining.

The 2 parks are pretty much side by side, but they are separate parks.

 

[Suvadoo]

I'm curious, one of the things I'm most excited about seeing in WDW is the new Fantasyland. I've read several opinions of those who have experienced both DLR and WDW that they prefer DLR's Fantasyland. I love Fantasyland in DLR but when I look at MK maps I can't help but think MK's version is really spectacular. One of my main issues with DLR's Fantasyland is that it's cramped, not so much as it extends towards IASW, but at the heart of Fantasyland where there's 10 rides and A&E all in a small space, whereas it seems MK's Fantasyland has just as many attractions (maybe not as many rides though) in a larger area. For WDW vets, has the new Fantasyland lived up to your expectations?

IMO DLR's Fanatasyland is a lot better than WDW. All of the buildings at DLR are the same architectural style, but at WDW itremains a mish mash. Some of the newer areas are stonework similar to DLR, but then in the older areas there's the tent theme from the Camelot era. Then there is another area that is Circus themed and that's where the Double Dumbos are located.
Also, I don't think you'll find WDW's Fantasyland any less congested than DLR's. I think they're both crowded and I try to get to both of them at rope drop in hopes of avoiding longer lines. But Peter Pan at WDW had legacy FP and now FP+ so that's one line you can avoid.
The Small World show building at DLR is wonderful with the clock and all of the moving parts. At Small World WDW, you enter the show building through another tent exterior.

 

[Roythe13th]

I see a lot of posts on this forum about people being done with WDW for one reason or another. Or burned out on it. Finding it boring. I always want to post in those threads "Have you tried Disneyland resort"? Airfare might be more expensive but I think if you go to WDW once a year or especially if you go more than once a year, it's not a budget breaker expense. Going to Paris, Tokyo or Hong Kong has obvious hurdles but if you are a Disney fan in the U.S., you have a whole different Disney vacation option on the west coast! It just is jaw dropping that so many people discard the notion.

I think DLR overall is just better. If they dropped the Peoplemover and Expedition Everest in DLR, I wouldn't care if I ever went back to WDW.

Haunted Mansion is my favorite ride and I do like the extra room at WDW and the new gift shop but the Haunted Mansion exterior drives me bonkers. It looks like a little dollhouse to me. You can't get a good pic of it because of the awning and it drives me crazy that you basically enter through the basement door or garage. Ugh. I LOVE at DLR that you walk the Haunted Mansion grounds and you walk right up on the front porch and through the front door of an actual house. I never get tired of that.

And yes Pirates does have some blank spaces at DLR but it has so many more skeleton/grotto scenes. Spectacular ones. Plus the Blue Bayou swampland section. And 2 drops! I normally only ride Pirates at WDW a couple of times a visit because it feels so rushed to me.

And with Fantasyland...WDW new fantasyland is very nice but DLR fantasyland from 1983 still looks great. I love having all the dark rides at DL. I missed that when I'm in Florida.

I just think even if you love WDW, if you go every year, why not change it up and try a different Disney experience?

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

But the caves at DLR have vignettes. Like the pirate skeleton lying in bed looking at a piece of jewelry through a magnifying glass. He's surrounded by all of his booty and there's a parrot skeleton on a perch beside the bed. I love the details. I want that parrot!

I like them just not their placement on the ride after the drop. it just calms down too quick whereas in WDW you go down the drop right into the battle scene.

 

[Angel Ariel]

That original post referred to going from a hotel to dining, not park hopping in general, so I didn't think it was clear. I apologize if I offended anyone by clarifying how long park hopping takes in general.

I also made it clear that I would allow more time if I had a reservation to get to.

So, to sum up, hopping between two parks at WDW generally TAKES about an hour or less. But, if you have a reservation to make at the second park, it is prudent to ALLOW more time to be on the safe side.

No offense taken

I just found that the conversation that was happening was mainly discussing the fact that it takes less time to park hop at DLR than it does at WDW. Regardless of if you're talking 1 hr or 2 at WDW, park hopping at DLR takes *way* less time.

To get this thread back on track, the ease and proximity for park hopping at DLR is definitely something we find better than at WDW.

 

[mom2rtk]

I see a lot of posts on this forum about people being done with WDW for one reason or another. Or burned out on it. Finding it boring. I always want to post in those threads "Have you tried Disneyland resort"? Airfare might be more expensive but I think if you go to WDW once a year or especially if you go more than once a year, it's not a budget breaker expense. Going to Paris, Tokyo or Hong Kong has obvious hurdles but if you are a Disney fan in the U.S., you have a whole different Disney vacation option on the west coast! It just is jaw dropping that so many people discard the notion.

I think there's a large contingent of people here who live in the east coast and are more put off by the additional cost and time involved in traveling to the opposite coast.

We live in the Midwest and defected to the west for ourselves last year.

 

[Suvadoo]

I think there's a large contingent of people here who live in the east coast and are more put off by the additional cost and time involved in traveling to the opposite coast.

We live in the Midwest and defected to the west for ourselves last year.

I think it's also hard to give up the park resort you are most familiar with. My family loves the immersion of WDW. You enter the resort and the outside world is gone.
But now with FP+, the amount of advanced planning, coupled with the adherence to a particular park based on FP+ reservations, and then maintaining a schedule for using the FP's; I no longer feel like I am escaping the outside world. It feels like my daily work life.
Even though the DLR resort is right in the middle of Anaheim and there is no buffer, it still feels like the outside world disappears once I enter the parks because I am not trying to adhere to a schedule that I planned 2 months ago. We can do what we want, when we want.
Some posters have complained about the smog and I can honestly say we have lucked out. Every time we've been over the past 10 years the skies have been clear! I was born and raised in Pasadena, so I know how bad the smog can get. I am always amazed when there's no smog!
Before FP+ I was willing to pay a lot more for a WDW vacation, but I think the trip we have planned in April will be our last. I used to value the WDW bubble, but now not so much.