CarolynK
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2000
- Messages
- 1,106
We just returned from our week-long Legoland/Sea World/Disneyland trip. This was our 6th annual DL trip (though our first time venturing away from DL).
We really disliked Legoland (though my 7-yr-old son liked it). It was cheesy, poorly run, no employees around if you had a question, in short NOT even close to what we're used to in a theme park. We won't be back.
Sea World was very nice. Again, not DL, but it was clean, organized, and there were employees around everywhere. The theming was lacking on the attractions - the Arctic helicopter ride is no "Star Tours" except that it shakes you around the same way. All the shows were great. We got to go pet a penguin since my daughter answered the trainer's question correctly.
Altantis is practically in the parking lot. Compared to DL, where once you enter the park, you don't see much of the outside world, this was weird. It reminded us of Great America.
We were SOOO happy to get back to DL for the last three days of our trip.
A couple of disappointing things about DL...
The bag check line: there is no separate line for those without bags, like there is at WDW. My husband and kids had to wait in line with me. We spoke with a "manager" and complained about this. He hinted at upcoming metal detectors.
Our dinner at Napa Rose: we ate there last year, and were pleasantly surprised. However, this last visit was very disappointing. I don't remember the tables so close together. I had to take my dishes from our waiter since he couldn't make it between the tables. And it is ala carte and the entrees are very expensive. I don't mind paying for a meal that is worth it. This was not. And yes, we complained also.
DL is not WDW: we have gone to DL for the last 6 years, and enjoyed ourselves - it's where the magic began, after all
I do enjoy DL for that fact alone. Standing on Main Street looking at the castle (or in this case, tarp) I FEEL the magic. But this trip we realized (OUR OPINION!) that the magic FOR US is really in Florida.
We won't be back next summer to DL. We are glad to be home and are anxiously awaiting our November WDW vacation.
One CM encounter worth mentioning: a CM at the Disney Gallery (which is one of our favorite places to visit) took probably 30 minutes to talk to my husband and I about Walt Disney, some history about the park and the gallery (that it was used as an apartment by Disney and his wife), and showed us around the gallery. We really had a great conversation with her. It was one of the highlights of our trip.
We really disliked Legoland (though my 7-yr-old son liked it). It was cheesy, poorly run, no employees around if you had a question, in short NOT even close to what we're used to in a theme park. We won't be back.
Sea World was very nice. Again, not DL, but it was clean, organized, and there were employees around everywhere. The theming was lacking on the attractions - the Arctic helicopter ride is no "Star Tours" except that it shakes you around the same way. All the shows were great. We got to go pet a penguin since my daughter answered the trainer's question correctly.
Altantis is practically in the parking lot. Compared to DL, where once you enter the park, you don't see much of the outside world, this was weird. It reminded us of Great America.
We were SOOO happy to get back to DL for the last three days of our trip.
A couple of disappointing things about DL...
The bag check line: there is no separate line for those without bags, like there is at WDW. My husband and kids had to wait in line with me. We spoke with a "manager" and complained about this. He hinted at upcoming metal detectors.
Our dinner at Napa Rose: we ate there last year, and were pleasantly surprised. However, this last visit was very disappointing. I don't remember the tables so close together. I had to take my dishes from our waiter since he couldn't make it between the tables. And it is ala carte and the entrees are very expensive. I don't mind paying for a meal that is worth it. This was not. And yes, we complained also.
DL is not WDW: we have gone to DL for the last 6 years, and enjoyed ourselves - it's where the magic began, after all
I do enjoy DL for that fact alone. Standing on Main Street looking at the castle (or in this case, tarp) I FEEL the magic. But this trip we realized (OUR OPINION!) that the magic FOR US is really in Florida. We won't be back next summer to DL. We are glad to be home and are anxiously awaiting our November WDW vacation.
One CM encounter worth mentioning: a CM at the Disney Gallery (which is one of our favorite places to visit) took probably 30 minutes to talk to my husband and I about Walt Disney, some history about the park and the gallery (that it was used as an apartment by Disney and his wife), and showed us around the gallery. We really had a great conversation with her. It was one of the highlights of our trip.
