WDW vs DL - What's the deal with the castles?

[JustAKid]

Okay...I have never been to WDW, am new to the DISboards, and the last time I was at DL was 1986. Can someone please explain to me what is the big deal about the castle size difference? I can't help but giggle at the hostility about it! I mean, didn't anyone watch the Scream trilogy? I think the "rules of a sequel" should be noted.

Rule 1. Body count is always bigger - I think we can say that WDW has more attendance then DL.
Rule 2. Scenes are more elaborate - Alright, so WDW castle is bigger, more elaborate...maybe Cinderella had more money?
Rule 3. Never, ever, under any circumstances, assume that the killer is dead - While, obviously, there is no killer I think if we change one word, this rule applies: Never, ever, under any circumstances, assume that DISNEYLAND is dead

Just a little food for thought.

 

[CoolPool]

Bigger? Money? Dead? Sounds like you are talking about something other than castles.

 

[bumbershoot]

Comparing it to a sequel is hilarious. Then again, I'm feverish.


One castle is for Cinderella. One is for Sleeping Beauty. Different owners.

But I think we get used to what we're used to. So someone who is used to seeing big ol' Cinderella Castle looming over Main Street is going to be surprised to see the dainty SB Castle. And someone used to seeing Matterhorn and a castle to the left of it is going to be surprised by NO Matterhorn and a huge castle.

And I think we'd all faint to see SB Castle in France, where, I hear, there's a dragon?

 

[alvernon90]

I've often been surprised by how many WDW vets come here to discuss how underwhelmed they are by Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. Or at least I was surprised by it, until I returned to DL after a 10 year absence (with multiple WDW trips in the interim) and felt the same way. If you're used to the castle at WDW, the castle at DL is kind of deflating, and you're deflated right when you enter the park.

Equally surprising to me is that this very real and common phenomenon is often answered by the DL loyalists with some variation of "SB castle is the castle Walt built, whereas he never set foot in that vulgar monstrosity in Orlando." [Note: exaggerated for effect]

I think bumber's point is the correct one here: whatever you are used to, there is going to be something dramatically different at the other parks, for better or worse. But given the way the castle sits right at the end of Main Street and is basically the first big thing you see when you come through the tunnels, it's not surprising that the "tiny castle" reaction from WDW vets is more prevalent than the "hey, where's the Matterhorn?" effect from DLR vets.

 

[Quilter007]

I've been to WDW 3 times & will probably go again at some point. However, DL is our favorite and always will be. The things we liked about WDW have little to do w/ the castle, we like Animal Kingdom, the outside of Star Tours, Splash Mountain & Big Thunder being next door (wash & spin dry...) and the Kennedy Space Center, etc...also liked Test Track & Mission Space. Eating in the Castle was nice, but the food at other places was better & less expensive (Mango Pie in Animal Kingdom...mmmmmm) Frankly, I prefer the Sleeping Beauty castle, but right now I'm wearing a watch with the Cinderella castle because I got it for $15 since it was a special deal from our trip in July. So until I lose the dang thing, I'll be wearing it. By far the best thing about WDW is that we don't have any family in Florida to whine if we don't see them when we are in town so we can just focus on riding rides! Yes, I know I'm a bad in-law! They are S. Cal residents...it would be so much easier if they would just buy park tickets and come see us at the park! Bunch of cheap-skates!

 

[GrandBob]

So, I have to share the following exchange that took place on a non-Disney bulletin board, one dedicated to timeshares. But the discussion got on the topic of WDW and DLR...

Other Poster:
My children had been to Disneyworld several times before we made their one and only trip to Disneyland. I remember my kids looking at Cinderella's castle at Disneyland for the first time and asking why it was so small. I told them that it was Cinderella's starter home, and that when she got older she built her dream castle in Disneyworld.

To which I replied:
Cinderella's one and only castle is at WDW. The castle at Disneyland is Sleeping Beauty's castle.

And the original poster then answered:
I do stand corrected on the residents of the castles. I guess from the difference in the size of the accomodations that Cinderella is in a different tax bracket than Sleeping Beauty. I wonder if Cinderella negotiated a better deal than Sleeping Beauty or if there was something going on between Cinderella and Walt.

And I could only

 

[JustAKid]

And the original poster then answered:
I do stand corrected on the residents of the castles. I guess from the difference in the size of the accomodations that Cinderella is in a different tax bracket than Sleeping Beauty. I wonder if Cinderella negotiated a better deal than Sleeping Beauty or if there was something going on between Cinderella and Walt.

And I could only

Wonderful! Just wonderful.

 

[Quilter007]

OK -- well, if we are going down THAT road.......I'm working with the Boy Scouts on their Personal Management Merit Badge -- it's the one about managing $$$. So I've been trying to hammer home the difference between assets and expenses....on the subject of houses...the bigger your house is the bigger expense it is & it is NOT an asset unless it's a working ranch or a bed & breakfast or something like that. So, under those rules Cinderella has the worse deal since it costs her more to reroof, repaint, install holiday lights, property taxes, insurance, etc....I'm sure she is making money off the restaurant, but is it enough to cover ALL the maintenance costs for the additional square footage she has? It seems to me that much of the money from the restaurant is going to the food & servers. I'm sure she'll be hit up for contributions for the Fantasyland refurb as well! Actually, I think I'm going to use this in my workshop this week.... Did she have something more going on w/ Walt........ That is so NOT making it into the presentation....well not into the Boy Scout part anyway.....

 

[alvernon90]

I'm sure she'll be hit up for contributions for the Fantasyland refurb as well!

That's the thing about central Florida: the HOA dues will eat you alive.

 

[PinkBudgie]

So, I have to share the following exchange that took place on a non-Disney bulletin board, one dedicated to timeshares. But the discussion got on the topic of WDW and DLR...

Other Poster:
My children had been to Disneyworld several times before we made their one and only trip to Disneyland. I remember my kids looking at Cinderella's castle at Disneyland for the first time and asking why it was so small. I told them that it was Cinderella's starter home, and that when she got older she built her dream castle in Disneyworld.

To which I replied:
Cinderella's one and only castle is at WDW. The castle at Disneyland is Sleeping Beauty's castle.

And the original poster then answered:
I do stand corrected on the residents of the castles. I guess from the difference in the size of the accomodations that Cinderella is in a different tax bracket than Sleeping Beauty. I wonder if Cinderella negotiated a better deal than Sleeping Beauty or if there was something going on between Cinderella and Walt.

And I could only

Well, she was right on one part. Sleeping Beauty's castle is a starter home. If you watch the movie, the two fathers are talking about the castle. The prince's father says he has already built the couple a new home and he calls it a starter cottage.

 

[Briarmom]

And I think we'd all faint to see SB Castle in France, where, I hear, there's a dragon?

DLRP has a beautiful castle. They had to make it extra special since people there see real castles on a regular basis.
And yes, there is a dragon. My kids always made sure to go into the Dragon's Lair on each day of our trips.

 

[HydroGuy]

I think bumber's point is the correct one here: whatever you are used to, there is going to be something dramatically different at the other parks, for better or worse. But given the way the castle sits right at the end of Main Street and is basically the first big thing you see when you come through the tunnels, it's not surprising that the "tiny castle" reaction from WDW vets is more prevalent than the "hey, where's the Matterhorn?" effect from DLR vets.

I am loving this thread and basically agree with everyone!

I would, however, take a small exception to what the Matterhorn means to a DL vet. My guess is that Al is aware of my point here. When I was a kid the Matterhorn was THE thing to look for when approaching DL. It was every bit as much of an icon as Cinderella's castle at MK. No one I knew ever thought the castle was the icon at DL. It was just the castle. The Matterhorn was the icon.

In any case these days the point is mostly lost on my kids. Last month as we drove up to DLR we were trying to see who would be first to see: Yes, the Matterhorn, but also Space Mtn, Tower of Terror and California Screamin. So I suspect the Matterhorn iconic status is a bit lost on today's younger generation.

The broader point being made is still the right one: we get used to what we see more frequently. From there it is not hard to impose that expectation on other parks and set ourselves up for disappointment. I mean it would be a bit boring if DL or MK or whatever was better in every respect. They both have strengths. I think the point more often lost on WDW vets is that bigger does not mean better in every situation. DLR has some real advantages over WDW. I think true Disney lovers enjoy both equally but not always for the same reasons.

 

[HydroGuy]

DLRP has a beautiful castle. They had to make it extra special since people there see real castles on a regular basis.
And yes, there is a dragon. My kids always made sure to go into the Dragon's Lair on each day of our trips.

Love, love, love the DLP castle. Better than the American castles by a wide margin. Love the dragon too. Love the detail outside and inside of the DLP castle.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Just wanted to thank the various creative posters on this thread for the smiles. Cute take on what I think is a silly debate. People are used to what they know. But the creative views on the castle size differences is fantastic!

 

[bumbershoot]

...the bigger your house is the bigger expense it is & it is NOT an asset unless it's a working ranch or a bed & breakfast or something like that. So, under those rules Cinderella has the worse deal since it costs her more to reroof, repaint, install holiday lights, property taxes, insurance, etc....I'm sure she is making money off the restaurant, but is it enough to cover ALL the maintenance costs for the additional square footage she has? It seems to me that much of the money from the restaurant is going to the food & servers. I'm sure she'll be hit up for contributions for the Fantasyland refurb as well!

Poor Cinderella, no wonder she has the restaurant..she has to! She just never did get out of the whole "serving others" part of her younger life, did she? Poor girl, having to work like that just to keep her big place.



So at WDW, is there an actual *back* to the castle?

 

[JustAKid]

Poor Cinderella, no wonder she has the restaurant..she has to! She just never did get out of the whole "serving others" part of her younger life, did she? Poor girl, having to work like that just to keep her big place.



So at WDW, is there an actual *back* to the castle?

I never thought about this funny "coincidence"(?? maybe not).

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

Oh my, you all are too funny!!

 

[got2travel]

Just thought I'd share my video of the dragon in Paris, sorry its so dark but hey, it's a dungeon



click to play

 

[alvernon90]

Wow, nice dragon. It really drives home how lame Disneyland's tiny little castle really is.

*ducks*

 

[JustAKid]

Wow, nice dragon. It really drives home how lame Disneyland's tiny little castle really is.

*ducks*

You know, Alvernon, more often then not I uses the little smilies to signify that I understand the joke, or that someone ELSE should notice my light tone, and for other things in this general area. I swear, when I read this I almost spit water out of my nose. I'm using the smilies this time because I really am laughing out loud.