WDW pro's Disneyland review

[snikelfrizt]

AustinTink, you made me smile..
My family has been to DL lots and WDW only one time. I love them both but in completly different ways. There are things I don't really care for in both parks including some not so nice CM's but when people ask I try to tell them all the good things about both because , They should , if possible, go to both or all worldwide if possible!!
Paris and Japan here I come.....

 

[momjkm]

Does DL do the College student CM placement thing like WDW?? I was at WDW one January and the CMs (many college students) were awesome. Also, FLA uses younger retirees so different demographics for employment. I recently went to hershey park- a summer only place and the workers there were indifferent- summer help most likely and the same issue at DL???


I am a WDW veteran and going to DL next week for the 1st time... And I love the Paris/Rome comparison. though I have never been. But I am applying it to our DC trip last summer. I kept comparing it to NYC which I go to often. Can't do that. TWO different places. Not fair to either one.

DId I mention I am going next week??? SO EXCITED
Jill

 

[amjt660]

I have been lucky enough to go to both WDW and DLR more than 5 times each.

WDW is a full week, immersive experience. It is big, brash and proud of it. Food is for the most part better, more options for lodging on property to suit different budgets and overall more attractions to see.

DLR is smaller but more compact, has Walt's personal touch at the start and is much easier to get around (Park hopping is a breeze compared to WDW).

Both parks have great CM (especially the Epcot country reps) and not so great.

If given the choice (ie someone drops a free trip out the sky) I will almost always pick DLR because of the location (Cali vs Florida - no contest)

However if you want to see a well run/maintained park with almost perfect CM interaction please check out TDR. I was able to go for a day in 2006 and went to both TDL and Disney Sea. Amazing execution of a theme park.

This summer we are doing our first trip to Europe and will be going to DLP for 2 days. I have set the bar relatively low based on internet/travel book reviews.

Oh and if you want to go to Florida in the summer give your head a shake.
We do DLR in August and love the weather. One summer of hot, humid, sticky , uncomfortable, pool temp = hot bath water, was enough for us. Never again.

Enjoy

Max

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Sorry. But, really?? Summer in Orlando and summer in Anaheim are absolutely not comparable. Summer in Orlando is entirely unbearable. Summer in Anaheim= a light jacket in the morning and evenings and a high of 90 during the day.

I've been to WDW many times in the summer and I have to agree with you. It's not the temperature that gets you, it's the humidity. We were in Vegas and it was 108 degrees, but we were fine walking around. That Orlando humidity can really knock you out if you're not used to it. You just sweat standing still at 8 in the morning. Loved the DLR summer weather!

 

[kkmcan]

Maybe its about memories too??? I know that I feel something really special when I'm at DL because my kids have grown up going to DL. It's a pretty easy 8 hour drive for us. They have gone from toddlers to big kids. Our earlier trips meant we'd focus on Fantasyland and Toontown. We always started those trips with Dumbo and It's A Small World. We needed to ease them back into riding rides and not being scared. Now we head straight for Space Mtn and Indy. But we still absolutely love to ride Pooh, Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinocchio and Alice. We still occasionally see the Tiki Room as well.

We had a phenomemal time at Epcot, DHS and AK but I just didn't get the MK. It's layout is kind of funny and there's some weird unoccupied space there. It didnt feel magical at all to me. And I really wished I was in DL. There is something to be said about familiarity.

I feel totally immersed at DL especially in Adventure Land (love the music that plays in that area!!) and New Orleans Square.

My other favorite part of the park is Frontierland! Again, lots of good sounds over there with Big Thunder and the countryfied music.

It's fine if you didn't feel the magic. I didn't feel it at MK but I will still return someday.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

Does DL do the College student CM placement thing like WDW?? I was at WDW one January and the CMs (many college students) were awesome. Also, FLA uses younger retirees so different demographics for employment. I recently went to hershey park- a summer only place and the workers there were indifferent- summer help most likely and the same issue at DL???


I am a WDW veteran and going to DL next week for the 1st time... And I love the Paris/Rome comparison. though I have never been. But I am applying it to our DC trip last summer. I kept comparing it to NYC which I go to often. Can't do that. TWO different places. Not fair to either one.

DId I mention I am going next week??? SO EXCITED
Jill

No, we don't have the college placement program. We don't need it. WDW needs significantly more CM's than DLR does. Plus since WDW is in the middle of nowhere, the nearby area from which to draw for CM's is not as large as both the Orange County and greater LA that DLR draws on to staff. Plenty of people apply to be CM's and get turned away.

Summer employment is like it is anywhere. DLR needs lots of extra CM's in the summer that they don't need year-round, and the ones who apply and are hired are the college students who are off for the summer. IMO, seasonal staff is never as good as year-round staff anywhere, but when you need an influx of CM's for the summer and ONLY the summer, then the seasonal employees are the ones who fill in, and high schoolers and college students are the ones who are available for just the summer.

 

[KCmike]

Okay I have to weigh in.
First of all there are as many rides and attractions in two parks at DL as there are in four at WDW. I am a WDW vet who has completely fell for DL and consider it to be heads and shoulders above WDW. The only thing we miss at DL is Epcot. Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and AK are just not equal to Disneyland park and DCA. I'm sorry but their not.

I can't imagine anyone not liking DL's fantasyland better, space mtn (which you said you liked), Pirates, IASM, Indy, Mainstreet with the penny arcade, Tiki room, Great moments w/Lincoln, parades, fireworks, Fantasmic!, and World of Color. I haven't even mentioned the Aladdin stage show. I also like that you get to see Billy Hill aka Hoop Dee Doo Revue at WDW for free!!! Again this is me only but everything but the food just seems head and shoulders above WDW.

My kids, who are picky beyond belief, agree that DL is best. We just came back from a return trip to WDW and after seeing DL so many times we were really disappointed with the resort. We got to stay in the Grand Floridian and it was amazing. The food too was great everywhere. The parks empty and lacking of emotion especially the magic kingdom. It was really sad because that was our playground growing up w/ the kids. Epcot seemed tired and rundown. Journey into imagination, Living Seas, and the new additions to Spaceship Earth failed to impress any of us. Why haven't they returned Journey into imagination back to its former glory yet? My favorite ride of all time at any park is Splash Mountain at WDW and there were several animatronics broken in the ride. It was just sad. Maybe they are spending all the money on the fantasyland expansion. It just didn't have the magic anymore for us. Wishes is so lame compared to RDCT and even Magical.

Sorry you didn't have a good time and I respect your opinion. If your reading this and thinking about going to Disneyland definitely go. It really is the only park Walt dreamed of, walked, and built with his dream and you can tell. We love how close and intimate everything is.

 

[KCmike]

Let me try to explain then what I mean by magic... Smiles and happiness and "have a magical day" on CM's faces. Yes, a lot of CM's waved and some smiled but to me it felt as though most were trying to just work their summer job. One CM was rude when rather then squishing all 6 (adults) in 2 rows we asked to sit in 3 rows. The 1 park is not enough for me, I like that there is a ton more to do in WDW, shows etc. The haunted mansion CM's gave no flavor to the ride...just get in the room.
And I have heard people say DL is the only park walt built... BUT that is a technicality. WDW was planned by walt but unfortunately he died before seeing his vision come to reality. He did have say in plans of WDW and land space to improve on the magic he originally created... Successfully in WDW.

Of course this is just my opinion so I am glad others enjoy DL.But for me, it just didn't do it.

Didn't he die something like five years before WDW's Magic Kingdom opened?
And his plan for Epcot was nothing like what Walt dreamed up. I wish he could have seen it through.

 

[Jynxed]

Are you off your rocker??!! Sorry. But, really?? Summer in Orlando and summer in Anaheim are absolutely not comparable. Summer in Orlando is entirely unbearable. Summer in Anaheim= a light jacket in the morning and evenings and a high of 90 during the day. Not the same at all. I think you just don't like DL at all and that's ok.

PinkBudgie: we only go to WDW in the Spring. It's the best time of year weather wise. I'll never go in the summer again.

Maybe it was an off week for heat then, because the only time I took a jacket was in the A/C. I live in the east so humidity is something I may be used to. Past 90 you are hot, I don't care if it is 100 or 92, it is hot.

 

[dougsmom98]

Nothing wrong with a dissenting opinion.

I agree with this. We have our first trip to DL planned for next spring. I appreciate both the good and bad comments about DL, so I can go in knowing that not everyone loves it and so that I can have a more open mind when I go and not set my expectation too high or too low.

 

[DisMike]

Individual tastes. A lot of it has to do with expectations. I've only been to WDW once. Been to DLR, not a lot, but enough to know it well.

I enjoyed WDW. The one thing that I really enjoy about DLR is that if you want to do something you go do it. In WDW you have to plan it all out. You have to get transportation, wait, and waste time. And frankly, especially for a Disney vacation, time = a lot of money. Something I don't have an abundance of. (Don't have a lot of time either).

At DLR I can do everything I want, whenever I want and keep cost to a minimum.

 

[Disbabe]

Finding this thread interesting.

It's our first time to Disneyland in less than 3 weeks now

We are sooooo looking forward to it. We have been to WDW 7 times now and Disneyland Paris 5 times. I imagine it a cross between the two for rides, with the close proximity of the parks like it is in Paris.
I am very much keeping an open mind, but have no doubts whatsoever that we are going to absolutely love Disneyland. The thing we are looking forward to the most is going to the park that Walt himself help build - this for me is what magic is. Now I absolutely love WDW and I'm sure I am going to miss Epcot as that is my favourite park, but I'm sure I'll soon get over it!

Roll on 20 days then HoJo here we come!!

 

[A Small World]

Finding this thread interesting.

It's our first time to Disneyland in less than 3 weeks now

We are sooooo looking forward to it. We have been to WDW 7 times now and Disneyland Paris 5 times. I imagine it a cross between the two for rides, with the close proximity of the parks like it is in Paris.
I am very much keeping an open mind, but have no doubts whatsoever that we are going to absolutely love Disneyland. The thing we are looking forward to the most is going to the park that Walt himself help build - this for me is what magic is. Now I absolutely love WDW and I'm sure I am going to miss Epcot as that is my favourite park, but I'm sure I'll soon get over it!

Roll on 20 days then HoJo here we come!!

Hi

Yes you are correct DL is a cross between WDW and DLP. The 2 parks are very close like in Paris with Downtown disney like Disney village (shops and restaurants) - the main difference is the onsite hotels are all more expensive - there are no onsite cheap options like in Paris or WDW - however hotels like hojos are so close. We also stayed there for my first trip last october.
Let me know if you want anymore specific info about the parks in comparison with DLP

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

As you can see from my signature I have been to both WDW and DL several times. I love them both and honestly can't say I love one over the other, both are magical in their own ways. Yes you can see all of DL in 3 or 4 days, where as you can only scratch the surface of WDW in a week, but nonetheless just as magical if not more so at times than WDW.

 

[KCmike]

^^^^^It's funny after reading your post I was thinking you could easily add up the number of hours spent waiting/riding the buses at WDW and it might equal a full day (8 hrs.) if you spend 7 days there. Talk about scratching the surface.

And then I was thinking of all the things I still haven't seen at Disneyland after spending weeks there the last five years. I have to disagree with 3-4 days. You can do a lot but I find you would still miss plenty in that amount of time. Just my two cents.

 

[Belle Ella]

And then I was thinking of all the things I still haven't seen at Disneyland after spending weeks there the last five years. I have to disagree with 3-4 days. You can do a lot but I find you would still miss plenty in that amount of time. Just my two cents.

I was just thinking the same thing! Eve after all the times I've done DLR I am still blown away by what I haven't done and the things I can still learn/find when I'm there.

 

[dsny1mom]

I just came back today from 8 days at DLR and I didn't do and see everything there. LOL

So much of making ones trip *magical* comes from within and the way one approachs DL or WDW.

Can you run from attraction to attraction and do them all in 3 or 4 day at DL? Sure but to me that would hamper the magical experience. There are so many magical elements at DL much is lost or overlooked by rushing.

Can you stay off property and save money? Sure but every day you *have* to leave the Disney bubble and the magic can easliy escape.

This July has been one of the hottest weather wise. Usually in the beginning of July the highs during the day are in the low to mid 80's and the early mornings and after sunset are in the mid to high 60's. There usually isn't the humidity they have had the past few weeks either. When the weather is as hot as it has been the best way to approach DL is to spend the mid days swimming at the pool. If you are only there for 3 or 4 days much will be missed if you leave the parks during the high heat of the day.

As far as shaded lines are concerned, I guess there could be more shade, but I came back with a wonderful tan from DLR.

I have gone to WDW over a dozen times and to DL too many to count.

Now I like to plan but I don't want to plan my trips around when I can eat at certain restaurants. There certainly are more restaurants at WDW but I don't care to make the trade off of eatting at my faves for having close to zero spontinaity. We had to alter several of our ressies at DL last week the day of ressies and had zero problem getting in later or earlier. At WDW that is a rarity at best.

There are only a few additional attractions available at WDW than at DLR. The best is packed into two parks at DL that are easy to get to and from as oppossed to 4 parks at WDW that can take an obscene amount of time to get to and from. Once Carsland opens the scale will tip towards DL.

As far a CMs go I have encountered outstanding and marginal at both locations. The biggest differance I have found is that the CMs at DLR actually know the basics, like were the restrooms are, etc., at WDW not so much.

The one thing I just don't understand is why WDW regulars are so put off by the size of the castle at DL. At least at DL you can actually go inside the castle without having to pay top dollar for marginal food.

dsny1mom

 

[skiingfast]

As far as shaded lines are concerned, I guess there could be more shade, but I came back with a wonderful tan from DLR.
dsny1mom

My perception on this point, that has come up a few times in this thread, is different.

DL was built in sunny California, WDW in rainy Florida. So many queues are ouside in DL, inside in WDW to protect you from the rain. Look at TSMM or BTMRR if you need some examples of this.

DL wasn't built for huge crowds and the paths are lined with tree and building shade producers. All the parks built after that DCA too, have wider paths further from the shade providers, they are meant to accomodate larger crowds.

The problem is at WDW, with bigger parks and lower attraction density, you are often walking under the sun in the wide walkways. If it wasn't for a lot of time being spent in line, WDW would seem to need more shade. And the waits are longer at WDW.

 

[dsny1mom]

Not sure if I was clear, but IMHO no additional shade is needed at DL. I got a great tan from just walking the parks for 8 days.

dsny1mom

 

[HydroGuy]

Wow, this thread really grew as I left town for a few days!

Regarding shade, really, if you are an out-of-towner it should not matter. You should not be in the parks when you need shade. You should be at your hotel a 5-10 minute walk away and getting ready for a swim or taking a nap. If you are at the parks in the afternoon during the summer then you are touring DLR with a poor touring strategy.

Yes, DLR has more outside queues. As Ski noted it is because DLR has less rain. I actually like the fact at DLR that you do not need the inside queues that you do at WDW. But it can bae a bear for day trippers who have no choice but to wait in those long afternoon lines.

Regarding CMs, I realized after visiting WDW and seeing an amazing amount of very well-intentioned misinformation, that at DLR I rarely deal with CMs because I know my way around. On my first WDW trip I had to deal with CMs a lot more and their shortcomings were more apparent. After my third visit to WDW I can say honestly that the quality of CMs at DLR and WDW is outstanding and comparable.

A PP mentioned the TDR CMs and that PP was spot on. TDR CMs are beyond outstanding.

But all the major resorts - DLR, WDW, TDR and DLRP are loaded with Disney magic IMO. But the best Disney park of all? That would be Disneyland. Easily.