Captainkidd76
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2017
- Messages
- 1,139
Hey all. Sorry for the delay. Don't have a ton of time, so this may jump around, but here's my report. As many of you know, I had been planning this trip off and on for years after 50 trips to WDW. I knew all about the differences between the resorts and was, I'll admit, questioning everything before going. So here's how it went:
The ride from LAX to Disneyland, quite frankly, is gross. Traffic wasn't bad, but just an ugly area (sorry Los Angeles). We took the Disneyland Express. My wife and kids thought we were staying at the Candy Cane Inn, but I had secretly booked the Disneyland Hotel. When we pulled up, they were completely surprised and so happy. Started the trip out beautifully! The hotel is very nice. I wouldn't put it on par with the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge or Polynesian, but the Disney feel is wonderful. Glad we stayed there, but definitely overpriced (which I already knew).
Downtown Disney could (or must have been) great. Rainforest was still open, so we went there the 1st night. Such a shame they're closing that area down for a hotel.
Food throughout the resort was just OK. Definitely not on par with WDW. We did the Plaza Inn, Cafe Orleans, Goofy's, Tangaroa Terrace, Naples, Rainforest and some other fast food spots. It wasn't horrible by any means, just nothing special.
One of my big concerns was whether we would feel in the "Disney bubble". The answer is, oh heck yeah. In fact, I never saw the outside world once on the trip. Amazing that the parks are in the middle of the city. You'd really never know it.
DCA was OK. Much like Hollywood Studios. If Pixar Pier has been open, it would have been great. We enjoyed everything we did there. Cars Land was amazing. Radiator Springs Racers is not just one of the greatest Disney attractions ever, but one of the greatest theme park attractions ever. The ride is fun, funny, thrilling and simply breathtaking. And I'm not even a Cars fan. I would say this ride craps over an Potter attraction. It was just wonderful.
Disneyland Park. What can I say? I fell in love with it. I got teary eyed walking through the gates for the 1st time, seeing Walt's apartment. I immediately was blown away by Main Street and the castle. Smaller than MK, but SO much to see and do. Charming on every level. The castle, though much smaller, is beautiful in its own right. It's quaint and charming on a level I wasn't prepared for. The crowds were heavy and definitely taxing in certain areas. I didn't care much for Tomorrowland's setup. Adventureland by the Tiki Room was way too crowded and tight. New Orleans Square was brutal with foot traffic as well. But I loved both areas. The area that won me over was Fantasyland. I fell in love with it. Pinnochio, Alice, Mr. Toad, Snow White, Storybook Land Canals, Casey Jr - All charming, classic and perfectly done in the Disney dark ride tradition. Toontown was wonderful as well.
Quick comparison of rides at both parks:
Space Mountain - Can't say one is better than the other. They're so completely different. MK is wilder with better drops. DL is smoother with far better special effects.
Peter Pan - MK version is better, though DL has better effects.
Splash Mountain - MK version takes the edge. DL's was great with more animatronic's, but the log moved too quickly through the ride.
Thunder - DL is superior with the mine scene and town at the end.
Pirates - LOL. DL is amazing. No comparison.
Haunted Mansion - Very similar. MK was slightly longer.
Buzz Lightyear - Actually preferred MK. I just couldn't get any points at DL. Not sure why. We all stunk at it.
But again, what separates the 2 is the charm and nostalgia of Main Street and Fantasyland. There's just no comparison at all.
The monorail at Disneyland was essentially useless. The line to get on from either DTD or Disneyland was way too long. The train itself felt cramped, and it was too hot with no AC. Wouldn't bother with it again. I didn't find the walk back to the DLH bad at all. Took us maybe 10 minutes if we didn't stop at any stores.
Didn't stay for Fantasmic. Kids were zonked. Did watch fireworks one night, and those were nice. We could actually see them from our standard view room at the Hotel.
Sorry for rushing through. Please feel free to ask any questions. Bottom line, obviously, DLR can't compete with WDW on a whole. I think that's kind of a given. But to me, it was always about how much I would like Disneyland Park compared to the Magic Kingdom, and I loved it. Everything I read is true. Disneyland Park, smaller as it may be (which it really didn't even seem to be) is superior to the Magic Kingdom. I would go back in a heartbeat, especially when Pixar Pier is open, and would love to stay at the Grand Californian. Both parks are beautiful, well maintained, and Disneyland especially, chock full of treasures at every corner.
The ride from LAX to Disneyland, quite frankly, is gross. Traffic wasn't bad, but just an ugly area (sorry Los Angeles). We took the Disneyland Express. My wife and kids thought we were staying at the Candy Cane Inn, but I had secretly booked the Disneyland Hotel. When we pulled up, they were completely surprised and so happy. Started the trip out beautifully! The hotel is very nice. I wouldn't put it on par with the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge or Polynesian, but the Disney feel is wonderful. Glad we stayed there, but definitely overpriced (which I already knew).
Downtown Disney could (or must have been) great. Rainforest was still open, so we went there the 1st night. Such a shame they're closing that area down for a hotel.
Food throughout the resort was just OK. Definitely not on par with WDW. We did the Plaza Inn, Cafe Orleans, Goofy's, Tangaroa Terrace, Naples, Rainforest and some other fast food spots. It wasn't horrible by any means, just nothing special.
One of my big concerns was whether we would feel in the "Disney bubble". The answer is, oh heck yeah. In fact, I never saw the outside world once on the trip. Amazing that the parks are in the middle of the city. You'd really never know it.
DCA was OK. Much like Hollywood Studios. If Pixar Pier has been open, it would have been great. We enjoyed everything we did there. Cars Land was amazing. Radiator Springs Racers is not just one of the greatest Disney attractions ever, but one of the greatest theme park attractions ever. The ride is fun, funny, thrilling and simply breathtaking. And I'm not even a Cars fan. I would say this ride craps over an Potter attraction. It was just wonderful.
Disneyland Park. What can I say? I fell in love with it. I got teary eyed walking through the gates for the 1st time, seeing Walt's apartment. I immediately was blown away by Main Street and the castle. Smaller than MK, but SO much to see and do. Charming on every level. The castle, though much smaller, is beautiful in its own right. It's quaint and charming on a level I wasn't prepared for. The crowds were heavy and definitely taxing in certain areas. I didn't care much for Tomorrowland's setup. Adventureland by the Tiki Room was way too crowded and tight. New Orleans Square was brutal with foot traffic as well. But I loved both areas. The area that won me over was Fantasyland. I fell in love with it. Pinnochio, Alice, Mr. Toad, Snow White, Storybook Land Canals, Casey Jr - All charming, classic and perfectly done in the Disney dark ride tradition. Toontown was wonderful as well.
Quick comparison of rides at both parks:
Space Mountain - Can't say one is better than the other. They're so completely different. MK is wilder with better drops. DL is smoother with far better special effects.
Peter Pan - MK version is better, though DL has better effects.
Splash Mountain - MK version takes the edge. DL's was great with more animatronic's, but the log moved too quickly through the ride.
Thunder - DL is superior with the mine scene and town at the end.
Pirates - LOL. DL is amazing. No comparison.
Haunted Mansion - Very similar. MK was slightly longer.
Buzz Lightyear - Actually preferred MK. I just couldn't get any points at DL. Not sure why. We all stunk at it.
But again, what separates the 2 is the charm and nostalgia of Main Street and Fantasyland. There's just no comparison at all.
The monorail at Disneyland was essentially useless. The line to get on from either DTD or Disneyland was way too long. The train itself felt cramped, and it was too hot with no AC. Wouldn't bother with it again. I didn't find the walk back to the DLH bad at all. Took us maybe 10 minutes if we didn't stop at any stores.
Didn't stay for Fantasmic. Kids were zonked. Did watch fireworks one night, and those were nice. We could actually see them from our standard view room at the Hotel.
Sorry for rushing through. Please feel free to ask any questions. Bottom line, obviously, DLR can't compete with WDW on a whole. I think that's kind of a given. But to me, it was always about how much I would like Disneyland Park compared to the Magic Kingdom, and I loved it. Everything I read is true. Disneyland Park, smaller as it may be (which it really didn't even seem to be) is superior to the Magic Kingdom. I would go back in a heartbeat, especially when Pixar Pier is open, and would love to stay at the Grand Californian. Both parks are beautiful, well maintained, and Disneyland especially, chock full of treasures at every corner.
