WDW vs. DL - poss DL-first timer needs info/advice

[CalGal]

I agree with most of the thoughts have been stated already, but I might add a few (some repeated):
- The electric light parade: Something about it gives it a magic beyond any of the other incredible parades Disney has every done. It never gets dated in my heart.
- There are some cool and different rides at DCA. I love Soaring over California.
- Indiana Jones is still my favorite ride. Yes, it's a lot like Dinosaur, but much more spectacular in my mind. Perhaps it's the music.
- You can do DL/DCA fairly cheaply if you want. You can stay right across the street, walk everywhere, and not blow your kid's college education fund. But if you can afford it, you can still go for the Disney magic in one of the Disney Resorts (although they're not as nice as some of the WDW resorts).
- The summer weather is so much better in California. It can get hot in the middle of the day, but you can survive the afternoons and it is downright pleasant in the mornings and evenings most of the time. And no rain parkas to deal with.
- It is really fun to compare the rides. Most of them were done first at DL, so some enhancements were made at WDW; but sometimes the original is better. During my recent visit to WDW, Peter Pan himself told me that he prefers DL's version of his ride.
- You simply can't do it all without visiting both WDW and DL.
- Another original, Matterhorn Mountain. I love it more as the years go by.
- Goofy's kitchen. I've had some of my best character moment here.

I love WDW and would go back in a minute if I had the time and money, but I definitely think its worth visiting the original.

 

[msr709]

I just posted my trip report on the "Trip Boards" of my stay at HOJO across from DL. As you will see when you read it HOJO is very convenient and walkable! I have a bad knee and walked it to and from every day for 5 days and never complained once! Its actually more time efficient to walk than to take the shuttle and being so close it seemed like we'd waste more time waiting for a shuttle than walking back! The staff there is very friendly and helpful and the pools are wonderful!! Best feature of the hotel! But the rates can't be beat either! Make sure after you make your reservation to go to mouseinfo.com and check out the HOJO deals there. I would definitely recommend going! The differences between the two I think are relative to your own perspective. I've read that staying on site is a longer walk from the parks than staying off site, which I can only attest to since this was my first stay. If you have the means and the time I would definitely try DL at least once. Good luck and have a great time.

 

[Texan]

Just to add a few comments, DL is awesome. We went in Feb 2000 to DL, and in Feb 2003 to WDW. DL has a much more intimate feel, and you have different rides like the Matterhorn and Indiana Jones. And the Pirates ride is REALLY different at DL than WDW, much better. Space Mountain is down, but those two rides are different too. And the Alice in Wonderland ride is a real trip. You will definitely enjoy it. We didn't want to break our bank, so we stayed at the Fairfield Marriott and it was great. Like everyone said, we walked everywhere. And they had a desk at the Marriott where we bought tickets for transportation to Universal. It was a tour bus, and it was really reasonable for a round trip. Very comfy. Look into the tour buses, you might ask your hotel. Enjoy yourself!

 

[LoDivaLoca]

Ok Texan, how is it that I have 200+ more posts than you & the tag fairy hasn't visited me!???? j/k, of course

Thanks again to all for all the good info - I love it!!!!

 

[Tara8595]

I just went to DL/DCA for the first time last weekend, and I agree with most of what everyone here has told you. DL is far better than MK, though the castle is so much less grand, that it might freak you out when you see it for the first time. A few comparisons (remember - this is just my opinion, and is based on the experiences of two women age 25-35 with no kids...)

HM, better at DL, for the two reasons that the attic scene is more detailed, and there is a walk-through hallway that is missing from the MK version prior to the ride-vehicle part - plus, you actually walk into the front door of a 'mansion', so it's a little more believable. MK has the outdoor graveyard at the entry, so that gets a few points for that.

Pirates is far more detailed and longer at DL. They are currently running a display in the gallery upstairs, with storyboarding and exhibits from the original ride and the movie.

Winnie is far better at MK, longer, and has the 'storybook' theme with the big pages that are completely missing from the DL version. DL version has a longer heffalumps scene, but is completely missing owl's house.

Peter Pan is better at MK in my opinion, just because it follows the story more closely. DL lacks the mermaids, a small but important omission. Didn't see the shadow at DL either.

Indiana Jones is just awesome. Takes certain scenes straight from the movie, so the more familiar you are with the series, the more sense it will make and the more fun it will be. The Indiana Jones animatronics are some of the most realistic I've seen at any of the 6 parks I've visited.

Matterhorn is kind of cheesy and definitely old. Be prepared for really sudden whiplash-inducing stops at the end when you go from 20 to 0 in an instant. I didn't dig it too much.

I would say that BTMRR was better at Disneyland, but since someone died there while I was on vacation, I guess I'll take that back.

Fantasyland has way more rides than at MK, and It's a Small World is gigantic in scale compared to the one at MK. With all that extra space in FL, you'd think they'd have done the layout a little better instead of leaving such a narrow path between Peter Pan and IASM. I digress...

DL Fantasyland has Pinocchio, Alice, Casey Jr (loved this!), and Storybook land (a boat ride through miniature sets of Disney films). All are really cute and fun to ride. Again, why not recreated in FL?

DL has Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln - which uses the same technology that is in the rainforest attraction at Conservation Station (Rafiki's Planet Watch) and Sounds Dangerous, to put you into the Civil War story as an enlisted man in the Union Army, where you get to meet Matthew Brady, and the President, and other things that would spoil it for you. Then you get to see Lincoln, a la Hall of Presidents, but it's the first part that is really cool.

Tarzan's Treehouse is better than Swiss Family Robinson - perhaps because the characters are more familiar as is the music. There is a story too, and the scenes in the treehouse reflect scenes of the Tarzan movie. Cool.

Tiki room is the original, but is really boring compared to MK version. I understand that it is kept for historic value, but the updated one at MK is more fun.

There is a smaller version of Innoventions in Tomorrowland at DL which is neat, and more easily navigated than at Epcot, though Epcot has far more to see and do.

And Fantasmic kicks butt. The Peter Pan segment on a huge sailing ship to scale made the DL version a must-see for any Disney fanatic.

Everything else at DL was either the same, or I didn't experience it.

For DCA - Many people give it a bad rep, but I really liked this park. California Soarin is absolutely awesome and though I get motion sick on most simulators (Star Tours, and even Honey I shrunk the audience), the motion and visuals are so well-coordinated, that it was just a complete treat to ride.

Aladdin is a great show - and long, and funny.

Screamin is really a fun coaster, we only got to ride it once, but it was really great.

The food tours - Tortilla factory, Boudoin bakery, and wine presentation, were really different and fun.

The skyline of the Paradise Pier area at night is very fun and cool to see - very reminiscient of the Santa Monica Pier near where our hotel was on the first part of our vacation.

Animation exhibit at DCA was really neat, especially the Beast's library which changes from the Pre-Beast aura to the era of the Beast aura while you're in there, complete with ripped picture of the prince. Also there's a room where you can add your voice to a famous Disney movie scene, either sung or spoken - that's pretty funny.

Grizzly Peak was a blast - best raft-ride I've ever been on anywhere, and long.

Everyone was so laid back about parades compared to WDW. Though I was there in the off-season, it might explain it, but even so, we encountered front row/curb location seating for all the parades up until the parade began at every parade at least somewhere along the route, though some areas were more crowded than others.

Disneyland hotel has a cool little 25 minute 'Fantasy Water Show' which happens (I think) twice a night at 8pm and 9pm on the grounds off to the back corner of the Neverland pool area. Don't miss it - it's really a lot of fun and takes you through a lot of classic Disney music.

Sorry for the length of my posts, but I just wanted to be detailed.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[LoDivaLoca]

Thanks Tara for all the good info! Yea, I'm in the same age-range, so I'm sure there would be some shared opinions anyway (and no kids!)

Thanks again to everyone for all the good info!! (I REALLY hope we can go!!!)

 

[Amy]

Thanks for the detailed info, Tara! We've been to WDW 3 times and are heading out to DL next summer, so I'm excited to see the differences between the two parks. Can't wait!