WDW vs DL...

[Babyfatt]

Hi all.

I live in L A so I've been to Disneyland several times. I wish I can go more often.

Anyway, I was just wondering, for those who are relatively frequent visitors to both coasts, what are WDW rides like compare to their Disneyland counterparts?

Just the ones at both parks like the Star Tours, Splash Mtn., Big Thunder Mtn., Jungle Cruise, etc.

I've seen aerial pictures of the exterior rides like most mentioned above and they do look better but what about Pirates and the Haunted Mansion?

 

[LeftCoaster]

I haven't done Star Tours at WDW because it's going to be the same exact movie. It just doens't have enough interest for me anymore to want to do it in Florida.

Splash Mountain at WDW is superior. Much more "fleshed out" than at DL.
Big Thunder is very similar but a mirror image. I got kinda banged up on this the first time I rode it. I'd be expecting to turn left but, it'd turn right, etc. etc.
Haunted Mansion was very bizarre for me in some parts. There are some noticeable differences but mostly identical. The one thing that bothered me is that the stretching room is not nearly effective.
Pirates.... ::sigh:: Abbreviated version where it seems like the bad guys win in the end.
Jungle Cruise is a bit nicer in WDW

 

[Michelle2]

Hi, I don't live in LA, but because of Disneyland I sure wish I did! You are lucky! Being from Las Vegas, I have frequented DL all my life and actually prefer it in some ways.
I do disagree with Leftcoaster about Splash Mountain. It is just MY opinion, but they are about the same except WDW has a different storyline, but it is still the same story of the Brers...hard to explain. DH thought that it was a little longer at WDW, and it could be...I enjoy both of them the same. Just different ways of telling the same story. WDW you sit side by side...DL behind each other.
DH thought that Small World was longer at DL, but I actually think it was longer at WDW. I love the Holday version Nightmare Before Christmas setting at DL. that is something that WDW does not have yet. (maybe soon!)
About Pirates, DL is 10 times better to me...it is longer. For me, I love the part when you are first launched and go through the old bayou, and pass by the blue bayou restaurant...hear the banjo playing and the old man on the rocker....love it. There are more drops in the longer DL version too...
Haunted Manion was to me the same. The exteriors are different, and I think that is about it, majorly.
Star Tours, and Jungle Cruise, exactly the same. Even though California Screamin (CA) and Rockin Roller coaster (MGM) are not in the Magic Kingdom parts of the parks, I love CS much better. If you have any other questions, just ask!

 

[iceskatejen]

POTC--much, much, much better at DL--the WDW version is about half of the DL version.
Star Tours--ride is exactly the same, line is a little different, building is way different.
BTM--Better at WDW--maybe because it gave me a few suprises I don't get on the DL version because I've ridden so many times.
Splash Mountain--Pretty equal to me, I think the WDW version might be a tad longer.
Jungle Cruise--I noticed several difference between the two--at WDW you go inside briefly for one. I think the guides are generally funnier at DL.
HM--I prefer the DL version. The walk-thru portion is a bit longer at DL. You do see some different stuff on the WDW version.
Although you didn't ask about them, I'll add:
Space Mountain: DL's is superior. WDW's is the Matterhorn in the dark for the most part. Very jerky.
TOT--Each has unique ride elements. DCA has a better drop sequence, MGM has the 5th dimension room, which heightens the anticipation. Considering these, they're equal.

Someone compared CA Screamin to the Rock & Roller coaster.To me they are too different to compare. I love them both. RNRC suprises me more, but it's in the dark and even in the front you can't see where you are going. Plus I only have 4 rides on this compared to 100+ on CS so CS can't suprise me anymore.

 

[msr709]

I just went to DL last year for the first time, having done WDW 5 times in the past 5 years. I liked it, but I love WDW! I did find Pirates was much better at DL for the reasons mentioned in the above post. I've got to say that I found CS to be totally different from RnR (one of my absolute favorites) since one is an inside roller coaster but CS was a lot of fun. I was very glad to hear that Soarin is coming to WDW, that was my favorite ride at CA, which we also enjoyed. I find that Fantasmic is better at WDW, even though we saw it from the Gallery, the private balcony thing, and we enjoyed it, I find watching it in the MGM theater was better some, and it seems longer at MGM. This visit to DL was the first time I rode Dumbo anywhere and loved it, can't wait to try it at WDW. JMHO!

 

[iceskatejen]

I didn't add to mine that I think Fantasmic is far and away better at DL. The WDW version is missing all my favorite things about Fantasmic, esp the Peter Pan sequence. I go nuts every time I see it. And I much prefer that DL has fewer villians. I don't think the MGM version is at all longer than DL--both about 25 minutes. The MGM version to me had loooooong boring spots--what was with the characters' faces going up in those bubbles? And though I like Pocahantas, that sequence was just too long w/o much action. DL fits in several sequences within the time those 2 sequences take. While I admit that had I never seen the DL version, I would have been completely blown away by the MGM version, since I've seen the DL version so many times, the MGM version simply does not compare.

 

[alliecats]

Originally posted by Michelle2
About Pirates, DL is 10 times better to me...it is longer. For me, I love the part when you are first launched and go through the old bayou, and pass by the blue bayou restaurant...hear the banjo playing and the old man on the rocker....love it. There are more drops in the longer DL version too...
Haunted Manion was to me the same. The exteriors are different, and I think that is about it, majorly.
Star Tours, and Jungle Cruise, exactly the same. Even though California Screamin (CA) and Rockin Roller coaster (MGM) are not in the Magic Kingdom parts of the parks, I love CS much better. If you have any other questions, just ask!

Hey! I totally agree with Michelle2 about almost everything she said, esp. Pirates at DL. There is just no comparison--leaving out that first part really loses a lot of the ride. The HM is much cooler looking on the outside at DL, in my opinion. But Jungle Cruise is not exactly the same unless they have changed it at DL in the last little while. DL does not have the Cambodian/Angkor Wat scene where you go in the ruins like WDW does.

Also, Space Mountain at DL you used to sit two by two--not sure if this is still the case, but at WDW you sit one by one--three in each little car. And at DL Splash, you used to sit boggan-style (kinda like the matterhorn). Again, not sure if that is still the case, but at WDW you are two-by-two. Small World seems longer at WDW to me, too.

I am sure you are aware of this but Star Tours is not in the Magic Kingdom area across from Space as it is in DL--it is actually at MGM.

Have fun comparing!

 

[iceskatejen]

Yes--DL's Splash are 5 seat logs (used to be they could easily put in 7 or sqeeze in 8, but they changed them to have 5 seperated seats. WDW's Splash is the only log flume I've ever seen with side by side seating. I hope DL's Space Mountain will still be side by side. I do know the track config will be the same (just much heavier track which required new foundation, which is why it's taking so long for them to finish it), so there's no reason to think that they'll change that aspect, though it will have new trains. They haven't changed the Jungle Cruise at DL at all other than occasionally taking out some of the figures to give them a little refurb.

 

[rlduvall]

Been to both and generally agree with all the comments. POC is so much better at DL it's shameful. BUT, to get the exact differences between WDW and DL attractions, check out a copy of Unofficial Guide to WDW or Unofficial Guide to DL by Bob Sehlinger, at your local library or bookstore. I love his irreverent and honest travel books and always hope my next vacation destination is one he wrote about.

 

[Sabor]

Been to DL many many times but last one was about 7 years ago.
Since then have been to WDW 12 times.

POC - I agree much better at DL
Small World - Much better at DL
Tea Cups - Like that they are covered in WDW
Haunted Mansion - I like the exterior at DL better but all in all pretty equal.
Space Mountain - I like the cars better at DL
Big Thunder - I like the WDW version.
Splash Mountain - equal

It is strange if you have been to one alot then go to the other as you think you know where everthing is and they are not quite the same.