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

[DLR29]

To me Epcot is the least magical and least "Disney" of all the WDW parks. Some people say it grows on you and I will say that after my second trip I liked it more than after my first. I really like DHS. That is my second favorite WDW park. It has a lot of energy. Then AK. And then Epcot.

I agreee about Epcot, although I loved Test Track and Illuminations. Maybe if I hadn't been on Soarin over at DCA so much, I would appreciate it more. However, for me, I like AK more than DHS. Probably because I grew up loving animals. But DHS has many good attractions. Ones that surprised me as being so good such as Rock n' Roller Coaster and Great Movie Ride.

 

[HydroGuy]

I agreee about Epcot, although I loved Test Track and Illuminations. Maybe if I hadn't been on Soarin over at DCA so much, I would appreciate it more. However, for me, I like AK more than DHS. Probably because I grew up loving animals. But DHS has many good attractions. Ones that surprised me as being so good such as Rock n' Roller Coaster and Great Movie Ride.

RnR is one of the best themed rollercoasters that Disney has built. And GMR gets a lot of yawns by WDW regulars but I really like it too. But we are getting off topic.

 

[Amy&Dan]

To me Epcot is the least magical and least "Disney" of all the WDW parks. Some people say it grows on you and I will say that after my second trip I liked it more than after my first. I really like DHS. That is my second favorite WDW park. It has a lot of energy. Then AK. And then Epcot.

I felt that same way about Epcot. I remember our first trip thinking I must be somwhat of an idiot not to love the park since its so popular. My kids were a lot younger then and so a lot of that park was a bit lost on them. But time has really done a number on me with Epcot. I now love it and so do my kids. Especially during Food and Wine. But I do think for many people, its defnitely an aquired taste. I think for me it started on New Years Eve in 2005 when we spend the evening there, it became one of our best family memories. But that was probably our fifth trip to WDW so it took some time.

I would love to see them spend some money at Epcot and update some of those Future World areas. And reopen the Wonders of Life pavillion into something really Disney worthy. Maybe when the economy picks up. I think Epcot cries out for updates more than any other Disney park, heck I think its Future World was about as deserving of a one billion dollar investment as much or more than DCA!

But honestly, the only time I ever dive really deep into all of this is when someobody posts these type threads. Because when I am at WDW or DL, I am just so happy to be there, so immersed in the detail and time with my family, well its all just too good to worry over size issues and comparing apples to oranges.

And to me, when you see a cm at DL (there is one guy I have seen many times over in Fantasyland, I think his name might be Stephen) that has worked there since the 60's, it just blows you away. I have had cm's at DL really go above and beyond with my family to tell us little details about the park and Walt Disney and there is no way you can get that at WDW. I've had wonderful cm's at WDW, but never encountered one who knew the history behind the park the way many of the DL cms' do.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

I love DLR. Like others have mentioned it is probably because of the emotional attachment developed from youth (a long time ago for me). I like WDW and am going there for the fourth time in November. To me, DL is superior in almost respects. I am one who thinks that CMs at DL are awesome. I love the close intimate feel of DLR. Overall DL just looks better than WDW. I honestly like nearly every attraction better at DLR. But there are exceptions. I think the Haunted Mansion and Peter Pan are slightly better at WDW. Of course there are a slew of things at WDW that we don't have here. I really like the AK, the world showcase and Mission Space. And finally I have to admit that Cindy's castle far out shines Princess Aurora's humble abode.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I love the WDW castle....for me it makes the Mk what it is. I mainly go to MK for the beauty of the castle, riding the TTA (and enjoying the castle) watching fireworks ( in back of the castle) sitting in the cool of the evening enjoying the changing light show on the castle. I have dozens of beautifull family photos posed in front of the castle. If the castle wasn't at MK, I would spend very little time there.

I love DL for it's entirety, and could spend days there. Photowise, the castle looks best when it also includes the quaintness of the hub.

so IMHO MK is a one castle wonder....but WHAT a castle! DL is a stronger park based on food, attractions, and emotional appeal.

 

[HydroGuy]

Judy, LOVE the pictures with the castles! It sures makes DL's castle look pathetic though, doesn't it? You need to show one with the Matterhorn in the background.

 

[RallyMonkey]

Judy, LOVE the pictures with the castles! It sures makes DL's castle look pathetic though, doesn't it? You need to show one with the Matterhorn in the background.

Oh I don't know. The WDW castle is a little odd looking to me because it is real skinny and exaggerated on top, and it's cold and uninviting looking compared it to Sleeping Beauty's warmness and charm. But yeah, I think it is what you are used to and grew up with.

 

[LuLusApple]

For me it's simple.
One is in a "World" where everything is bigger because well the world is big.
One is in a "Land" where everything is more cozy like hometown.
Each has their merits. I choose to live in the country where sleeping beautys castle would fit in scale. I choose to visit the city where cinderellas castle would fit in scale.
Cinderellas castle wouldn't fit at DL and vice versa.

 

[HydroGuy]

Judy, LOVE the pictures with the castles! It sures makes DL's castle look pathetic though, doesn't it? You need to show one with the Matterhorn in the background.

FWIW here is a pic that might help those trying to picture the Matterhorn near the SB's castle. It was taken from the top deck of the Mark Twain in Frontierland.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Judy, those are such great pictures. And every once in awhile some post from some smart person finally turns the light on in my head! What you said about MK, the castle and TTA really summed up what MK does for me as well. TTA was down in June when we went to WDW and I must say, that entire park was just not doing it for me! Whereas at DL there is no one attraction that will make or break my trip, not even several as the whole entire park of DL combines to make it magical for me.

 

[kelmac284]

I am a CA native and to me Disneyland will always hold a special place in my heart because that is the first park that I went to and holds lots of wonderful childhood memories. It is also the first place I took my oldest daughter. I didn't go to DW until I was an adult.

Now don't get me wrong I LOVE DW and when I saw Cinderella's castle for the first time I was in awe. Esp this past Nov when we went during the holidays and saw it with the ice lights! AMAZING! I love both parks but for VERY different reasons.

To me DW is a real "getaway" destination vacation. Obviously it is all the way across the US but also when you go there it is off in its own little world. Once you go on property you are immersed in Disney. I like that when you go to MK that is ALL you see. There are no freeways or cars etc. It is JUST the park. I love how you can be at the Grand or the Contemporary and see the castle/park and watch the fireworks while dinning at Cali Grill or what have you. When we go to Disneyworld it is like going to a whole other world. You can imagine you are in Africa at the AK lodge or Hawaii at the Poly or what have you.

I LOVE all the themeing at AK and the countries at Epcot. Like some others have said I wasn't that wild about Epcot the first time I went but after my last two trips I have grown to really enjoy it. We LOVE to eat at all the different countries and we have stopped to enjoy the music and different activities that go on in each one and it makes it special.

Disneyland on the other hand is like going "home" as someone has said. Sure it is a vacation but it is almost like going to my families house. I have been there SO many times I feel like I know it like the back of my hand. Sure I love going on all the rides etc but now I just love going and sometimes just sitting on main street and just soaking everything up. Just BEING in my favorite place. It is the orig, walt's place and I just love it there. It is quaint to me and holds so many good memories and I just LOVE being there. When there are a lot of bad things going on in my life it is my "happy place".

I esp love it during the holidays and it warms my heart to see the castle all lit up and with the snow.

I just love them both for so many different reasons!

 

[mandac]

I am from the West, so Disneyland was always my thing. I have been to WDW and the MK a couple times, and I remember thinking the the MK was just so HUGE! It took forever to walk from Splash Mountain to Space Mountain. Sometime I just enjoy my little park. Besides that, I know where all the bathrooms are

 

[JoRo]

I have grown up at DL and have been to WDW about 5 times - I agree that DL is like home and WDW is grand large - but when you mentioned the holidays - going to DL at Xmas is so much better then MK/WDW! We did xmas at MK/WDW last year and did the party which was fun but DL does Xmas so much better, maybe its because its smaller but everything was better. THe castle the decorations, small world just amazing feeling at the holidays (of course crowds are getting huge now)

Now WDW/Disney Studios light show was AMAZING but that is a different park

Excited to see and walk through our Sleeping beauty castle in less then a month - yeah yeah!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I think one thing WDW does well is use there castle for emotional appeal.......

I find it very romantic LOL !

The castle is the emotional heart of MK.....there is nothing better than sitting on main st watching the "goodnight kiss" show , for a heart tugging moment.

DL has emotional appeal woven into it's fabric, with no single element standing out as dominantly as Cinderella's castle.

do you agree Amy & Dan?

 

[alvernon90]

I think one thing WDW does well is use there castle for emotional appeal.......

I find it very romantic LOL !

Hey, get a room! This is a family site!!!

[I tried to follow that with a "marital love" smiley, but none exists because it's a family site!]

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think one thing WDW does well is use there castle for emotional appeal.......

I find it very romantic LOL !

The castle is the emotional heart of MK.....there is nothing better than sitting on main st watching the "goodnight kiss" show , for a heart tugging moment.

DL has emotional appeal woven into it's fabric, with no single element standing out as dominantly as Cinderella's castle.

do you agree Amy & Dan?

I very much agree! Oh I love that picture of you and your husband!

To me the emotional thing is all over DL I guess because it was the first Disney park I went to. And the Walt factor is huge on my emotional scale. I walk through and think about how he saw that same tree, castle, mountain etc and it just gives me goosebumps. WDW cannot compete with that in spite of all its grandeur.

 

[GrandBob]

Hey, get a room! This is a family site!!!

[I tried to follow that with a "marital love" smiley, but none exists because it's a family site!]

Hey, where do you think families come from?

Seriously, Judy, that's a great picture. I agree with your observation about the romance of the castle.

-Bob

 

[Judy from Boise]

LOL.....no little mouskateers without romance . We have taken 3 anniversary trips to WDW and enjoyed them very much. Our schedules are built around EVENING extra magic hours !

 

[vettegirl]

My favorite castle is at DL Paris, it is so detailed and beautiful. I was truly impressed when I saw it, even more so than DW.
There is also a dragon underneath

 

[alvernon90]

We have taken 3 anniversary trips to WDW and enjoyed them very much. Our schedules are built around EVENING extra magic hours !

HEY-Ohh!

You think that all those people making out in the parks are just teenagers enjoying being away from parental eyes. But probably you're seeing Judy and her DH, enjoying being away from filial eyes!

There is a multi-billion dollar industry selling pills that do what the castle does for the cost of an AP!