WDW or DL?

[Mary.Poppins]

We are planning on taking a trip to WDW in October or Nov.
Having said that we have never been to DL. I would really
like to go to DL sometime. But...will we be disapointed with DL
if we are used to WDW? Also, if we decide to go to DL when
would be a better time to go? Mid October or early/mid November?

 

[princess@heart]

We are planning on taking a trip to WDW in October or Nov.
Having said that we have never been to DL. I would really
like to go to DL sometime. But...will we be disapointed with DL
if we are used to WDW? Also, if we decide to go to DL when
would be a better time to go? Mid October or early/mid November?

Well, I really don't have much to contribute seeng as how I haven't been to DL yet, but I have been to WDW 3 times now and we also felt the need to go see the "Original" park. I have been told by die-hard Disney fans that we will love it. I have been told by people who just "go to parks" that it's not all that great. I really think it depends on how much you love Disney and your attitude when you go.

 

[Laz]

I have been to WDW 15 times and DL twice. Trust me, you will LOVE DL! It has Walt's personal touch everywhere. You must go with the understanding that it is smaller, but that is another special feature. We stay in the DL hotel (you will be amazed at the size of the rooms you get for the price) for 4 or 5 nights. We include trips to Universal Studios and Knotts Berry Farm. I have not been to Southern Ca. during the months you mentioned, but it will be cooler than Florida.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Disneyland beats the Magic Kingdom by a mile. Disneyland has the Indiana Jones Adventure (similar to Dinosaur but with different themeing). Pirates of the Caribbean is longer. Peter Pan's Flight is better. They also have Fantasyland attractions that the Magic Kingdom doesn't, like Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio's Daring Journey. And Disneyland still has Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and the original Tiki Room.

You won't be disappointed.

 

[tinkermell]

Check out Lives4Disney thread. She was in the same predicament as you, and finally decided to try DL. She loved it! I think the thread is still lurking around on page 2. Good luck!!

 

[lilpixie]

I grew up in FL and lived right outside of Orlando -- so we were able to go to WDW a lot!! Last year DH and I took our 3 little ones to DL. I absolutely loved it! When I was in FL -- we loved WDW -- but it definately didn't feel like "our" park to us locals. As it grew and expanded it was almost overwhelming -- but of course, still fun. It is cool how the locals at DL really love their park -- it has a more intimate feeling to it. I don't know if that makes sense at all??? Anyways -- it is fun and magical -- but definately different than WDW. Try it out . . . you'll have a wonderful time!

 

[tinkermell]

I just bumped that thread up for you. Also forgot to mention a very important post form Hydro Guy. He did a whole article on WDW vets going to DL for the first time. Lurk around for it, and you wil find it. I would give you the link, but I don't know how to do that. If he finds this thread he will pipe in his info.

 

[Veovis]

Last summer I was fortunate enough to be able to visit DL a few weeks after my excellent vacation in WDW. I certainly agree with the previous posters on this thread, and there are a few things i noticed that I took away from my experience.

It is a smaller park, but honestly I feel that becasue the storytelling strength is much the same you aren't often considering the park's scale. I did also find that I enjoyed many of the attractions at DL better than their counterparts at MK. Original Tiki Room is great fun. Indiana Jones has a tremendous queue and is well themed, though the ride narrative isn't as strong, but still very good. I loved the refurbished Space Mountain in DL, I must have gone on at least 5 times. In MK I actually love to ride SM with my sunglasses, because it perfects the illusion of not being able to see the track and just see points of light. In DL that doesn't work because it's perfect already. I also did enjoy Pirates in DL a bit more, and the home for Small World is a spectacle.

The noticable difference is the total resort you miss in DL. The three other fabulous parks, water parks, resort attractions, grander execution and organization, add too much value to WDW that elevates it to the level of a real world in terms of DL being just a land. That does make WDW an overwhelming fantasy of a vacation, but DL doesn't deserve to be forgotten. Cali Adventure sadly doesn't add much to you seeing as the better attractions you've seen at WDW, and it's story construction is lacking.

DL is a great park, and it is a tough debate of deciding to try the adventure of this new Disney experience over the wide world of incredible pleasure that you already know. Tough choice, but having the chance to make such a choice is fabulous in itself.

 

[quiltymom]

No, you will NOT be disappointed in Disneyland!

What really puts a bee in my bonnet is when people say you will have to lower your expectations in order to go there just because it isn't the same sizw as WDW and doesn't have all the stuff, etc., especially if they've never been there. How would the know unless they go> Hummm...

You will love DL. I've not been to DCA yet so I cannot comment on that, but DL is wonderful. I just like to BE there, and the rides & stuff is just a bonus. I could go on and on and bore you to tears, but just remember that it is NOT Disney World, but something all of it's own.

We never went during the fall & winter months unless it was for a special reason (to see someone performing there or to guide an out-of-town guest). The hours are much shorter and it is when the rides go into refurb. Sorry that I cannot tell you what they hours typically are that time of year, but I'm sure someone else could. The big benefit is that there will be less people and the lines are shorter.

 

[HydroGuy]

Here is the link that Tink was referring to: "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

I think the key thing to getting the most out of your DLR visit is to manage your expectations. Yes, WDW is much larger, has more parks, more dining, more Disney hotels, and more things to do outside the parks. WDW offers a much more encompassing vacation experience. It is tempting for someone accustomed to this to conclude "WDW is the only way to experience Disney". My response is, "Who says?".

DLR is not WDW and does not offer the full resort feel of WDW. But it does offer other things you cannot experience at WDW, and a type of experience that is different. If you can put aside the mindset that WDW is the only way to experience Disney, you will have a great time at DLR.

You are aware of areas where DLR falls short of WDW. Here are some areas where it exceeds WDW:

1. Close proximity of hotels to parks reduces transportation time to almost zero. No buses, no boats, no trams. Easy to take breaks. Easier to spend more hours inside the parks.

2. Close proximity of DL and DCA makes parkhopping easy and fast.

3. Better weather year round, especially in the summer. Less rain, almost no humidity.

4. Better shows, IMO. The Remember Dreams Come True fireworks/laser/special effects show is better than anything at WDW and far better than Wishes. The Aladdin stage show is excellent and better than any of the stage shows I saw at WDW in 2006. I have not yet seen Nemo at AK so cannot compare to that. Fantasmic at DL is better than the one at MGM, IMO.

5. Larger concentration of rides. DLR's two parks have almost as many rides, and almost as many headliners, as WDW's four parks put together.

Just be careful with the timing of your visit. At WDW you can go off-season and still have access to shows and fireworks. At DLR shows and fireworks are scaled back during off-season. Hence to see some of the excellent shows during off-season you will need to overlap a few days over weekends. But the crowd differences between weekends and weekdays at DLR is much larger than at WDW, so your off-season weekends will look a lot like high season. So in order to see the shows in off season you will need to overlap some high season-like weekends, which defeats the purpose of going during off season. So watch out for that.

 

[Hound 109]

DLR & WDW are different, but both are GREAT. Review these threads & others like it. Also:

Do read all of HydroGuy's Threads. And if you decide to go to DLR, PRINT them & employ his strategies.

 

[quiltymom]

Well, my feeble brain once again is failing me - what (if anything) replaced it? It boggles my mind that I can't think of it. And now when I'm at DL I don't think of looking where it was to see. Did they just remove the boats & leave it as is? Why I can't remember this totally insignificant fact has been bugging me for days. I even looked at old park maps vs. new ones and still -- nada.

I know someone out there in DISland will help me remember! Thanks!

 

[DangerMouse]

Well, my feeble brain once again is failing me - what (if anything) replaced it? It boggles my mind that I can't think of it. And now when I'm at DL I don't think of looking where it was to see. Did they just remove the boats & leave it as is? Why I can't remember this totally insignificant fact has been bugging me for days. I even looked at old park maps vs. new ones and still -- nada.

I know someone out there in DISland will help me remember! Thanks!

I think you meant to put this as a new thread. Ooops!

The motor boat cruise area is still there, just tucked inbetween the Matterhorn and It's a Small World. There's a little pavillion area that jets out onto the water with some tables for sitting. I also think there is a smoking area back there.

 

[quiltymom]

Sorry that I cannot remove it... I thought I hit the "new thread" button. I'll create a new post so just ignore this!

 

[quiltymom]

I think you meant to put this as a new thread. Ooops!

The motor boat cruise area is still there, just tucked inbetween the Matterhorn and It's a Small World. There's a little pavillion area that jets out onto the water with some tables for sitting. I also think there is a smoking area back there.

Thanks for the answer - . My brain really isn't working today!

Next time I'll try not to embarass myself like this!

 

[pigby]

I really really need to go - DL sounds much like DLRP (I have been to Paris 4 times now) - I love the fact that you can walk from the hotels to the 2 parks. Can you walk from the Disneyland hotel to the 2 parks? How far away is Universal Studios?

The big negative of course is the distance - I believe at least 12 hours - excluding waiting times at the airports. However we are always happy to visit WDW and that took us 18 hours one time, when we changed airlines at Philadephia, so still a possibility then

 

[HydroGuy]

I really really need to go - DL sounds much like DLRP (I have been to Paris 4 times now) - I love the fact that you can walk from the hotels to the 2 parks. Can you walk from the Disneyland hotel to the 2 parks? How far away is Universal Studios?

Yes, you can walk from the DLH plus numerous other hotels. Universal Studios is about 40 miles/60 km.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Let me put it this way. There is nothing at WDW that you can do over 3-4 days that will pack the joy, excitement, and fun that you will have at DLR over 3-4 days. The difference in rides and attractions at DLR's 2 parks vs WDW's 4 is fewer than one would at first think. And due to it's compact size, and longer hours, you can get to em all in 3-4 days in the summer. You simply cannot get to and do as much at WDW in that 3-4 days.

It is over long vacations that WDW's advantages start to show. The Water Parks, Other things in the parks besides of the extra space besides just the rides. More restaurants, a huge downtown Disney with Disney Quest not to mention the golf, tennis, and other activities they have.

At DLR, you'll have to go off site to supplement Disney for a longer trip.