WDW and DLRP - a photo comparison

[bigAWL]

I saw a thread asking about Disney parks in other parts of the world, and it got me to thinking about a comparison of WDW to Disneyland Resort Paris (DLRP). We visited DLRP in June 2007 and WDW in May 2008, so I have fairly recent photos from each place. Here I'm going to post some photos making a direct visual comparison between different aspects of the parks.

For instance the biggest symbol of the parks - the Castles. WDW has Cinderella's Castle, while DLRP has Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty's Castle). DLRP was celebrating their 15th Anniversary and had special decorations.

Both have nice landscaping. I liked the touch at DLRP of the square trees matching the style of the original film.

At WDW, the castle has a series of beautiful mosaics telling the story of Cinderella. DLRP's Castle has a second level where you walk up and see a series of stained-glass windows, tapestries and statuettes telling the story of Sleeping Beauty.

DLRP also adds a related minor attraction: a walk-through dungeon where you can see the sleeping - and waking (audio-animatronic) dragon.

I hope some will find this interesting. I have more to come.

 

[karmakimmie]

Wonderful pics! I have been to DLRP just once a long time ago and it's wonderful to see some recent pics! I look forward to seeing the rest

 

[TDC Nala]

I was in DLRP in June 2007 also - my castle photo looks just like yours. Same cloudy sky and all.

more from the inside, I did like this tapestry they had up

 

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

What a great thread! I would love to go to DL..this makes me want to go more.

 

[Tumblwd501]

Very nice photos, I would love to see more! Thanks for sharing!

 

[bigAWL]

I should maybe qualify this thread for those who aren't familiar with DLRP. The two resorts aren't really "comparable." And by that I mean WDW has four major parks, two water parks, DTD, I don't know how many resorts, and covers I don't know how many acres. DLRP has two parks (Magic Kingdom and Walt Disney Studios), Disney Village (similar to DTD), I think six or seven resorts, and is all located on a pretty confined property.

Within those areas there are some pretty big differences: different attractions, different themed resorts, etc. But I'll focus on things that have direct counterparts.

Speaking of those resorts: the flagship resorts look somewhat similar. But while the Grand Floridian is located on the lagoon and close to the Magic Kingdom, DLRP's Disneyland Hotel is actually in the Magic Kingdom (it is actually the main gate to the park).

Other similar resorts include WDW's Wilderness Lodge and DLRP's Sequoia Lodge...

...and WDW's Yacht Club and DLRP's Newport Bay Club. This is not actually my photo of the Yacht Club (I borrowed it from elsewhere on the web), but I really wanted to include it since the NBC is where we stayed. The interior photos I've seen of the YC are very similar to the interior of the NBC - I would have a tough time telling the difference between some photos like inside of the rooms.

 

[GuardMusic]

Thanks so much for these. We are headed to DLRP for the first time ever in May! I welcome any & all tips!
Gayle

 

[TSMAMI]

This is very interesting. I always wondered what DL was like compared to WDW!

 

[bigAWL]

Thanks so much for these. We are headed to DLRP for the first time ever in May! I welcome any & all tips!
Gayle

I know you'll love it. If you haven't already, check out the DIS' Disneyland Paris board (http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=77&order=desc. Check out their sticky threads first - a lot of great information. And ask questions. There are some very knowledgeable (much moreso than I) and helpful people active there. Although, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have for me as best I can - I've only been there once for a three days.

Look for info on the Fastpass system there. They have some different rules, if I remember correctly.

 

[bigAWL]

Now for some of the rides. I have little girls, so we spent most of our time in Fantasy Land.

It's a Small World had a bit of a different look. From the outside WDW's is not very extravagant. In DLRP it has a prominant and elaborate facade.

On the inside it's much the same. Although I believe the WDW version has no USA scenes, while DLRP does. The song in DLRP is also sung in many different languages as you go through different sections of the ride.

Dumbo is pretty much the same. WDW and then DLRP:

Peter Pan is a very similar ride. But the ships are a bit different. WDW has a single bench per ship, while DLRP has double rows in each ship. The DLRP version also includes an interesting transition between the London scene and Neverland where you fly through a starry night sky.

 

[selina4disney]

Thanks for these! We are planning a trip to DLRP in the future so these are very interesting comparisons! I guess now we know where the 50th anniversary gold characters went after they took them off the castle at WDW!

The Disneyland Resort is beautiful! Not sure we will be able to afford to stay there but will definitely have to pop in a look inside!

 

[TDC Nala]

Dumbo is the same ride - but look at the surroundings they have in Paris. Quite different.

 

[bigAWL]

Oh, wow. I don't remember seeing Dumbo from that perspective. Thanks.

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

Ok, but I have a question to those that have been to both: Does DLRP have that Disney "feel"?? Or does it just feel like an amusement park?

Thanks!

 

[bigAWL]

Ok, but I have a question to those that have been to both: Does DLRP have that Disney "feel"?? Or does it just feel like an amusement park?

Thanks!

Definitely full of Disney feel. All the character meet and greets (not quite the variety of characters, I think), character meals, rides, shops, merchandise, and it goes on and on. I personally consider the DLRP Magic Kingdom (or is it called Disneyland Park?) a more visually stunning park than the WDW Magic Kingdom.

 

[TSMAMI]

Does anyone have main street comparisons? would love to see that.

 

[bigAWL]

I unfortunately don't have many good shots of either Main Street. I did get shots of the Main Street Train Stations. In WDW it's the primary feature at the entrance to the park. In DLRP, as I mentioned, the Disneyland Hotel is at the entrance. So the Train Station is a bit more subdued.

I don't know why I didn't get much of the WDW Main Street, but here's a shot looking back from the hub. And most of my DLRP Main Street photos are dominated by the 15th Anniversary banners. But I did snap this one while waiting for the afternoon parade.

 

[bigAWL]

They didn't change the look of BTMRR at all. My shots a a bit different, though, since I got a sunset shot of the WDW mountain. The actual ride in DLRP adds an interesting twist: the mountain is on an island in a small lagoon. You board from a loading station on shore and just as the cars get going, your shot into a pitch dark tunnel (it's loud in there) to reach the island for the rest of the crazy ride. I guess there's another tunnel to get back to shore, but I forget that detail.

I regret that I didn't go on either version of POTC (my 5- and 3- year old girls just weren't interested). But I did take photos of the outside at both WDW and DLRP, where they went for a completely different look.

Space Mountain is very different in style as well as substance. I find SM in WDW to be rather bland (sorry). But in DLRP it's very impressive on the outside and thrilling on the inside - complete with an inverted loop and corkscrew. Another attraction appears here from DLRP: the walk-through replica of 20,000 Leagues' Nautilus.

 

[mmmears]

Thanks for starting this thread!

I'm loving looking at all the photos, esp. since I've never been to DLP!

 

[bavaria]

Ok, but I have a question to those that have been to both: Does DLRP have that Disney "feel"?? Or does it just feel like an amusement park?

Thanks!

I actually far prefer DLRP to WDW; DLRP has far more detail and touches not found in the MK at WDW and is more reflective of DL in CA. To me the Magic Kingdom in FL has always had a rather cheap feel as if they constructed it very hastily, and it does not have a lot of the charm and detail found in CA or in DLRP. I still remember how disappointed I was at my first visit to Florida many years ago, after years of visiting Disneyland in CA.

Many of the rides are better at DLRP as well - Big Thunder, POTC, Space Mountain are all better than their American counterparts. Plus there are many attractions not found in America, such as Crush's Coaster and Stich Live.

The 'Magic Kingdom' park of DLRP is by the way the largest of any of the five around the world.