WDW or DL?

[judypriv]

OK, so I have always wanted to go DL but grandpa and hubby always insist there is no reason to go when we can go to WDW. We live in Jersey so WDW is easier per flight and costs but I sure would like to see DL at least once.

Your thought

PS - I like banana

 

[Dizneydaz]

We have AP to DLR and go there a lot. We've also gone to WDW many times over the past 10 years or so. (see siggie).

For us Disneyland is our first love. It's the original. It's one of the reasons why when we go to WDW we don't spend that much time at MK. DL is just so much better.

Since we basically have DLR in our backyard we get asked all the time why we go to WDW? When we go to DLR we just go for the day (or partial day). We don't stay onsite. We go home at night. If it's crowded (and it really can get very crowded) that's okay-we go home knowing that we can can back again soon.

DLR and WDW have some similarities and some differences. There are many threads that address this so I won't here. Well, just one.

Disneyland and DCA are really close together! You can walk from one to the other in a minute. Seriously! It means you can go back and forth during the day without taking a lot of time like PH does in WDW. We were just there yesterday and we went from DCA to DL to DCA to DL and back to DCA to end our night.

If you can swing it financially, I think Disneyland is not to be missed. If I had to pick the best time to go I would have to take some things into consideration.

#1-do you want to be there during lower crowds?
#2-if you go during lower crowds, are you okay with shorter hours and less entertaiment options?
#3-do you want to experience the summer experience?
#4-how about Christmastime at DLR?
#5-Halloweentime?

If I had to pick one time to go I would choose Christmas time. Early in the season, early December. DLR does a great job with Christmas. And unlike WDW you don't have to go to a hard ticketed event to experience special holiday touches (like the snow)

If you want to go during lower crowds Jan and February are good times. (not during President's weekends)

If you have any specific questions, just ask.

 

[Disneylander55]

Every WDW fan owes it to themselves to go to Disneyland

 

[judypriv]

I agree. I will have to talk the hubby into it. I have always wanted to go to DL and felt it was first so I should see it at least ONCE! We already have 2 WDW trips planned this year so I think I will have to plan a DL trip after.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I agree. I will have to talk the hubby into it. I have always wanted to go to DL and felt it was first so I should see it at least ONCE! We already have 2 WDW trips planned this year so I think I will have to plan a DL trip after.

Well, the new Carsland expansion at DCA is due to be completed in 2012. Maybe shoot for that....

 

[skiingfast]

I would say seeing you situation, living on the east coast wondering if you should even take the time to go to LA? That if you are considering you must do it. I would put in a broad California trip.

Even see San Fransisco and Las Vegas if you have never been all in the same trip.

 

[fhtpdw20]

How adventurous are you? Would you consider doing a solo trip? I did one to WDW last year. It was great to go at my own speed and not have to lug everyone's stuff around.

 

[mkarizona]

Why go to DL when you can go to WDW? For the same reason people on the west coast spend the money to fly to WDW--it is a different experience. The first time we went to WDW it was an interesting side trip on the way to somewhere else. We thought we would spend two or three days to see what it was like and never go back. We have now booked trip four and are planning trip five (around our DL trips of course!). I think we love them both because they are not the same.

 

[Petraman]

ditto to Disneylander55's comments.

We go to both in a somewhat alternating manner and the simple truth is they are very different experiences. Just because the rides are similar, the experience is different.

Just know that at WDW you feel like you must stay at least 6+ days to see it all.... we stayed at DL that long one time and it got old by the 5th day for us. We LOVE DL, but we usually stay in parks for 4 days max.

Hope you can convince them....

 

[judypriv]

I see everyone's points, all good. I have been to vegas but have always wanted to go to CA so maybe I can work it in then. I may be able to drag my sister along. She's not a WDW fan but I may be able to get her to go if a CA trip is there too.

 

[mrswh]

I think it's nice to have gone to both. We love WDW but we are seduced by the ease of DL! Of course we do live closer to DL so that makes it a bit easier, but it's the PH part that I find fantastic, especially with two small children. Maybe not everyone cares about DTD but I LOVE that it's right there at the parks - such a huge bonus. If we wanted to go to DTD in FL it was like going to another park, but with worse transportation options. Having it all together is great. I will say that at DL I don't feel quite as immersed in Disney as I do at WDW, but it turns out many of the hours of "immersion" at WDW are spent driving, walking, bussing, monorailing, boating, and tramming all over the place. You really can do and see so much more at DL in the course of a day.

On top of that, why not make a week of it and spend a couple of days at the beach or exploring San Diego or LA? Lots of fun things to do in SoCal.

 

[magicalfoursome]

Hi from your neighbor in Pa! My family just returned from an awesome trip to DLR!! I have been to WDW many times and I love it but like you I always wanted to go to Disneyland. DL is different in some ways and similar in other ways. Our favorite ride in DL-- Indiana Jones-- and our favorite Disney park stage show-- Aladdin. Walking from our hotel to both parks was wonderful!! The weather was terrific too!! Sunshine everyday with no humidity. We needed sweatshirts in the morning and evening. Some people thought we would be disappointed in DLR after WDW but no way!! We spent three days in the parks but I wish we had stayed 4 days. We spent part of our vacation in San Diego. I love San Diego!! We stayed in Coronado Beach-- a beautiful beach and Coronado is a beautiful town. Great food too!! Can you tell I loved my California vacation??!! I still love WDW but now I love DLR too!!

 

[HydroGuy]

OK, so I have always wanted to go DL but grandpa and hubby always insist there is no reason to go when we can go to WDW. We live in Jersey so WDW is easier per flight and costs but I sure would like to see DL at least once.

Your thought

PS - I like banana

This link may help:

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

 

[jlmarr]

OK, so I have always wanted to go DL but grandpa and hubby always insist there is no reason to go when we can go to WDW.

Maybe you can work in an Angels or Dodger game if DH or DGP are baseball fans. Angel Stadium is about 3 miles from DLR, and Dodger Stadium is in LA, about 35 miles away.

 

[Dobie]

Disneyland is way less work than WDW. You don't have to plan which park which day, you don't have to plan ADRs 6 months out, you don't have to plan transportation.

Plus, Disneyland is much more attraction dense than WDW, which means more time enjoying attractions and less time walking toward the next one.

The weather in Disneyland is much, much better than in Florida. Even when it is hot, it is not usually humid. Summer is delightful, with cool evenings and mornings.

Disneyland opens earlier than WDW, too. It opens at 8 during high season, at 7 on MM days, and since many people don't want to get up that early while on vacation, the early mornings are peaceful and uncrowded, even during high season.

Grizzly River Rapids at DCA is beautiful and twice as long as Kali Rapids at DAK. Soarin' is right by the entrance of DCA and is easy to get to, with a much better queue and fewer line jumpers.

Finally, the Disneyland Fantasyland is a delightful, whimsical portion of the park, choc full of attractions, while the WDW Fantasyland is, we must face it, a stroller parking lot.

 

[rn448698]

Another East Coaster here (yes, NE Ohio is more like the East Coast versus the Midwest), and you owe it to yourself to go to Disneyland. Simple.

Spend 3 days at the parks. And do some other touristy things in SoCal.

There are tons of threads comparing DL and MK so you can read those, but I'll just share that I liked DL more. It's much more relaxing and I found the CMs to be friendlier. Plus, Fantasyland rocked.

 

[judypriv]

This is a lot of good news and information. I may be able to talk him into it. I appreciate all your opinions. I just think a Disney fan ought to go to the original at least once since that's where it began. I could always wait a few years and just take the kiddies and leave the old man home!

 

[skiingfast]

This is a lot of good news and information. I may be able to talk him into it. I appreciate all your opinions. I just think a Disney fan ought to go to the original at least once since that's where it began. I could always wait a few years and just take the kiddies and leave the old man home!

You could, but Fantasyland in DL blows Fantasyland in MK out of the water. Don't let the kids get to old to enjoy it. If you go you will see why MK is so dire in need of that expansion. They just aren't keeping up with the Joneses on that one.

 

[judypriv]

WOW and holy cow! I just checked out Fantasyland at DL and you are right. Holy freakin' Mr. Toad! Mr. Toad is my favorite ride ever and it's been gone from WDW for some time now. I watch it on my old VHS tapes to relive the ride. I will most definately be making a plan to visit DL. Thanks all.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Every WDW fan owes it to themselves to go to Disneyland

Exactly. We love WDW and its not saying a bad thing about it to say we also love DL!

Its the original, its compact (everytime I trek out to my bus stop at WDW after a long day I miss DL) and can be done very well in 3-5 days depending on your time of year and the pace you like to take. Combining DL with other Southern Cal attractions and destinations is a wonderful vacation.

Its got a charm and history that WDW can't rival because its Walt's park. The Southern California climate is also hard to beat!

I'll also add that in most cases, rides that have duplicates in WDW are better in DL. Once you ride Pirates at DL, you'll never feel the same about the MK version again. And Fantasmic is so much better and uses the real Mark Twain instead of the plywood one at DHS. If I could drop DL's Fantasmic inside the Hollywood Bowl at DHS, it would be perfect!

Mr. Toad still resides there as well! All of Fantasyland in DL is incredible, they have several rides that MK doesn't so to me that land is better.

Give it a try!