WDW vs DL? Anyone ever begin liking DL more and moe

[drakethib]

Just a question, while I do love WDW, each time I go, I really begin thinking how much more relaxing DL is for me.

Again don't get me wrong we always have a great time at WDW, but it just feels like the there is a bunch of hustle and bustle at times. Maybe the crowds are picking up or something.


Maybe I am just weird.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I think you are just normal.

I used to be a hardcore WDW goer before I moved to CA in 2000. 5 times a year to WDW.

This place has an intimacy and charm that is hard to have when something is so big and spacious. There are more of those little, relaxing seats, where you can hang and watch the world go by. And you can also have major moments in them. Like the Carnations Gardens - when the bands aren't playing, it's super chill. And Mary Poppins and Burt will come out and visit with folks there - Cinderella, too. And no on knows....

And with it being easier to get to your hotel - when staying on property, it's easier to grab some of those extra moments.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I 100% agree and I absolutely LOVE the fact that I don't have to use transportation to get from the resorts to the parks. You just walk right down and you are there.

 

[thunderbird1]

I'm weird, too! Although we live on the left coast, we hadn't been to DL for nearly 4 years, choosing instead to travel to WDW at least once, and sometimes 2 or 3 times, each year. But when Disney came out with the Premier Pass this year, we finally made it back and have fallen in love with DL all over again. We've already been twice since May, and are planning to go back again in November.

For us, DL is much more relaxing than WDW. The charm and intimacy that Nancy pointed out is a big part of that. It was actually feasible to go back to our hotel and take breaks throughout the day, whether we were staying on property or not. Because everything is so close, and because our DL stays are much shorter than WDW stays, it's been worth it for us to splurge on concierge level at the hotels, which adds another level of relaxation. I don't think we'd get the same value or use out of concierge level at WDW.

Another thing I noticed is that fastpasses are almost always available, and generally have reasonable return times. At WDW, FP's for the more popular attractions can be completely gone by early afternoon, but we never encountered that at DL. And we were there at some pretty busy times--Memorial Day weekend and the middle of July.

For my kids, it was all about the attractions. Of course they liked Indiana Jones, the Matterhorn and California Screamin', but they love, love, loved Roger Rabbit's CarToon Spin, Mr. Toad and Alice in Wonderland. Yeah, they're weird, too. Some of that was probably just because they've been to WDW so many times, but there really is something special about Walt's original attractions.

 

[NancyIL]

My most recent visit to Disneyland (Sunday and Monday, May 2 and 3) was SO crowded (esp. Sunday) that it will be quite some time before I return. It wasn't that crowded in March 2006, May 2003, September 2000, or October 1998.

 

[Jeff & Stacy in NYC]

Jeff and I have definitely fallen in love with DL! We would go to WDW at least twice a year; we were real hard core annual passholders. As time went by, certain things started bothering us. We needed a shot of pixie dust, I guess. That's when we discovered ABD in 2008. DL was just what we were looking for. We loved how easy it was to get from one place to another. Plus, we noticed how you really feel Walt's presence in DL.

Well, we haven't been back to WDW; we have been to DL every summer since 2008. And we are returning this coming summer for another trip with ABD and the podcast crew! Don't feel funny about changing over to DL; we feel the same way about DL. You are not alone!

 

[drakethib]

Thanks all

We just got back from a week a WDW and we did enjoy it, but it just seems like we were always on the go to get to the next place.

We stayed at The Treehouse Villas and Bay Lay Towers (split trip) and while these places were nice, I don't know, just fell like we were on a race all the time and had to plan our next step.

Our last trip to DL was so relaxing that I did not want to leave.

 

[JWren1234]

I feel the same way. I've been a WDW AP holder for about ten years, coming down twice a year from New Jersey. This past April, I went on the ABD trip with the podcast crew. This was my first time at DL in nearly 20 years. I fell in love with DL, even with the crowds I found it much more relaxing than WDW. I too love being able to walk to any park or any hotel at the resort. I am contemplating not renewing my AP as I'm doing the DIS ABD in April and possibly another ABD in the fall.

Jason

 

[msteddom]

I live 15 minutes away from Disneyland. I go all the time, and I love it, but I always have to go back to real life the next day. At WDW I can immerse myself in the magic for days at a time and really relax. So Disneyland is a great day, but Disney World is a great vacation!

Melissa

 

[rocio]

I get you Melissa. I also grew up near Disneyland so to me that holds a special place in my heart. It's nostalgia, it's childhood, it's where we went every May to celebrate our birthday. I don't have that with WDW because I just went for the first time in 2009. But that was a vacation and very different from when we go to DL. Even though I live in the midwest now, if I go to DL it's because we're visiting my folks and staying with them. This conference I just got back from was the first time I got to visit the DLR more as a tourist. I enjoy going to both.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Each park offers something special for me.

Disneyland / California Adventure
I enjoyed walking from the (non-Disney) hotel to the parks and downtown Disney and I liked that I had food choices along the walk to and from the hotel.
It felt more relaxed, especially the workers in the off site restraunts.
I Prefer the time zone much better, as I get an extra hour of sleep.
I wish WDW had the Matterhorn and the HM Halloween overlay.

WDW;
More parks, which not only means more rides, but more shows. more fireworks, and more to see and do. I like Animal Kingdom and The Studios, and there is nothing like Epcot! (and the water parks too.)
The park is set up better for guests with disabilities and the workers in the parks seem much more friendly/outgoing/helpful towards guests with disabilities.
With Magical Express I can go do WDW and I don't have to worry about getting lost or stressing over transportation. I really appreciate this and it makes WDW one of the only places I feel comfortable enough to travel alone.



My future trips will be mostly WDW, just because it offers more to entertain me. (If DL had Epcot instead of California Adventure, my choice might be a little more difficult.)

 

[drakethib]

Thanks again for the comments.

I think our next Disney Vacation will be at DL if we dont go on a cruise.

 

[hookedonears]

The fact that there's much less walking added a lot to the feel of being more relaxing, though the narrow walkways and the claustrophobic crowds took a lot of that relaxing feeling away.

 

[two-foxes]

If I was asked today to go on a 4 day trip to either WDW or DLR, it would be DLR hands down.

Not even sure I can really articulate why, but it has always been my favorite. Always.

Unfortunately, DH doesn't feel the same. I have convinced him to shave off his mustache, but I am yet to convince him our next Disney trip needs to be back to Disneyland....

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We are leaving for our first DL trip on Wednesday. I haven't been there in almost 20 years and the rest of my family has never been. I've had a hard time getting everyone excited about the trip. WDW holds such a special place in our hearts (we moved to the west coast two years ago).

I hope we find a new "home" in DL. The trips would be so much easier and economic.

 

[Justin Jett]

We are leaving for our first DL trip on Wednesday. I haven't been there in almost 20 years and the rest of my family has never been. I've had a hard time getting everyone excited about the trip. WDW holds such a special place in our hearts (we moved to the west coast two years ago).

I hope we find a new "home" in DL. The trips would be so much easier and economic.

I have been to Disneyland one time, in August of 1993. While it meant alot to me to see Walt's park, it really wasn't the same for me, personally.

I had the anticipation of the monorail ride into the park, and was really let down when we just walked in from the parking lot.

I liked it, but it was not like the feel of Walt Disney World.

That said.....I would like to do the ABD trip someday, and I really do want to see "World of Color."

 

[PinkBudgie]

Someday I hope to go to WDW to compare for myself. I really look forward to seeing Epcot.
One mistake I have seen WDW vets make is they think because DLR isn't as big as WDW they don't have to plan or research their trip. Then they arrive expecting it to run the same way as WDW. When it doesn't work that way they are disapointed or frustrated.
For example:
Yes, the castle is smaller...
It is better not to use the dining plan.
Staying off property is much cheaper than on and can still be walking distance.
The monorail is more of a ride to us, not transportation, but does go near the DLH. However, I still suggest walking in. I wish it was transportation like at WDW!
No one decorates their room out here so you don't have to haul all that stuff with you.
Find out what rides have FPs ahead of time. From what I can tell, many rides that have FP back there, don't out here.
Don't forget to look for the window to Walt's apartment.
Plan on parkhopping several times a day. Don't think in terms of one day for each park or you won't see much.

2014 is our year for going to WDW, we hope. That gives me a few years to learn what I can about it. Growing up I always thought all of Epcot was inside that giant ball because that was the picture I always saw. It wasn't until I was an adult that I slowly began to realize that wasn't the case.