WDWer's 1st trip to DL. NOT a WDW vs DL thread.

[WaDiWo]

Hi everyone,

First of all, I want to make it clear that I don't intend to resurrect the age old WDW vs DL question about which is better etc. I expect that, to Disney park fans, both are incredibly magical.

I do need your advice, however. My family and I have been WDW AP holders and DVC members for years. We really want to see DL though, knowing the great history and knowing that it's where it all started.

We will be in the Anaheim area in a couple of months and frankly we will only have ONE day to spend in DL. My question is, is one day enough for the DL park? We will probably have to skip DCA. We have a 2-year old toddler. I know I know I know that Disneyland is not the same as the Magic Kingdom, but what attractions at DL are close enough to the WDW version that we can skip (God forbid) if we don't have time?

Thanks!
WaDiWo

 

[daannzzz]

There really isn't time in one day to see it all so choosing the main attractions that are not at WDW is important though if you can fit in some of them that are similar would be good (Peter Pan for one).

For everyone you could try Pirates of the Carribean, Nemo, Alice in Wonderland and Pinnochio. The olde version of the Tiki Room is here and good for toddlers (except for the thunder!). Depending on when you go the remodeled Sleeping Beauty Walk through may be open inside the castle. Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin in Toontown would be fun as well.
If you are able to fit a few rides in for the adults. Indiana jones is the big one not to miss. The Matterhorn Bobsleds are fun and Space Mountain is Great...way different than at WDW. The Autopia is pretty different as well.

 

[B9erSteve]

First, don't worry about skipping DCA, not much there that will catch the fancy of a two year old that DL can't top. DL can be done in one FULL day mostly due to the compactness of the park. Moving from one land to another is just a few minutes walk.
I've heard but not experienced that PotC is better in DL than MK so you will want to go there (fortunately the lines to that are rarely long) I don't believe that HM is much different at all though. (However I heard that MK has made some improvements that may make it better than ours) It's a small world is the same. (but ours is closed right now.) Your child may want to do Toontown but It's kinda a dead zone right now. (I wish they'd revamp that.) Tom Sawyer Island is totally different. Frontierland is literally a ghost town now.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I believe you need 2 full days to properly experience Disneyland itself. Don't worry about DCA since it only has one Disney style attraction(Monsters, Inc) that you don't have in WDW(DCA's is very different from Laugh Floor).

Disneyland may be smaller than the MK, but it has more attractions than the MK. Since I believe that 2 days is necessary for the MK, you defintely need 2 days for Disneyland itself.

If 2 days isn't possible, than focus on the unique attractions to Disneyland, and keep in mind that just because WDW has the same name for an attraction, it may not be the same attraction.

 

[avalon451]

One of your best resources is going to be Hydroguy's tips thread, a sticky at the top of this forum. It has several articles on the differences between WDW and DL, and how the rides compare: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483

What are your dates? There will be several rides down for refurb this fall.

 

[tofubeast]

This is a difficult one!

If time is a crunch, I would say skip...

Winnie the Pooh
Autopia
Astro Orbitor
Buzz Lightyear
Tarzan's Treehouse
Star Tours (queue is diff..but ride is the same)
Mad Tea Party
Honey I shrunk the kids


I would go on all the rides that are not at WDW...like Nemo, Casey, Storybook land, Toad, Alice, Matterhorn, Indy, Golden Horseshoe stage to see the Hillbillies show....

And even though these rides exist at WDW... you should not miss

Pirates (the ride is twice as long at DL, it is a must!)
Space (re-done.... supposed to be amazing. I can't wait!)
Disneyland Railroad (neat scenes from NY World's Fair)
Tom Sawyer island (pirates lair)


Check out this link:

http://allears.net/tp/mk/mk_dl.htm

 

[tidefan]

We are WDW regulars and we just got back from 4 nights at the DLH. We loved it, but we spent 3 1/2 days in both parks and still didn't get to see it all. If you just have one day, spend it in Disneyland just to enjoy it. I'd skip Fantasmic as it is similar to the WDW show (some differences except they use the ships on the Rivers of America at DL), but the traffic is a nightmare. I'd see the fireworks instead...

 

[PixieDust742]

I am a WDW'er myself, and will be in Anaheim in 23 days. (YAY!) There will not be any children traveling with me so it will be a slightly different experience than what you are looking for, but like you, I won't have much time (only 1.5 days). I will be sure to post when I get back (or possibly from California) and let you know how it goes!

 

[HydroGuy]

With a two-year-old in tow then one day at DL will be fine and lots of fun. And skipping DCA will not be a big deal. As other have said, for the general visitor then three days is considered to be the minimum to visit DLR and four days is better. And DCA should be visited by the general visitor.

If you do decide on one day at DL only and have flexibility on choosing days, here is some food for thought.

1. Lodging - if you stay at one of the DLR hotels you can get Magic Morning (MM) entrance on Sun/Tue/Thurs/Sat. If you plan to stay at a DLR hotel make one these days of the week be your day.

2. If you are not staying at a DLR hotel and will not have MM, then make your day of the week be a non-MM day. In other words schedule your visit on Mon/Wed/Fri. Better yet, skip Friday if possible and visit Monday or Wednesday. The one caveat here is that it sounds like your visit will be Sept or Oct and mid-week will have reduced entertainment offerings during those months. If there is a show you want to see then you may want to visit on a Friday.

Regarding attractions, here is my two cents:

Attractions at DL but not at WDW

- Alice in Wonderland
- Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
- Pinnocchio
- Snow White
- Casey Jr. Railroad
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

and for older kids and adults but not for two-year-olds

- Indiana Jones
- Matterhorn
- Roger Rabbit's Car-toon Spin

Attractions at DL also at WDW but still worth doing

- Peter Pan
- Mad Tea Party
- Tiki Room
- Jungle Cruise
- Small World (under refurb until November)

and for older kids and adults but not for two-year-olds

- Pirates of the Caribbean (longer and better than MK version)
- Space Mtn (much better than MK version)
- Haunted Mansion
- Splash Mtn
- Big Thunder Mtn RR