What could WDW learn from DL?

[jcdean]

With the 60th anniversary going on I assume a fair number of WDW regulars will be visiting Disnyland. So what, if anything, have you noticed in DL that you would like to see in The World? I'm thinking more about operations than actual attractions, but anything is fair game. And if there is anything from WDW that you think is lacking at DL feel free to mention that also.

To get things started, I'll mention free range characters. Turning a corner and seeing Mickey interacting with a small group of kids was fantastic. No handlers. No lines. Just a mouse playing with guests in his park.

 

[gortman65]

Your comment about Mickey rings true for us too. Although WDW regulars, we visited DL in early June and one day noticed the Wicked Queen walking alone near the hub. My DD9 (who loves the villians) approached her and was instructed to follow. Other visitors noticed and when the Queen stopped and began talking to DD, the Queen commanded, "Everyone get in line. I love lines!" It was definitely a cool and magical moment for my DD that happened because we were at DL.

 

[abyrd86]

I would love this to happen with the characters at WDW!!! Too formal for me right now!

 

[DisneyFive]

FP-

Dan

 

[AngiTN]

No way can WDW handle free range characters. It would be a nightmare. Too many visitors at WDW care about characters where in DL few do.

But one place I wish WDW would do what DL does is when it comes to BBB. The BBB experience at DL was so much better. From the way the cute little blue birds cover the mirrors during the make over, to the darling photo set up to the "presentation in Princess Fairytale Hall" for those that get the full package. WDW could do all of those things to improve BBB.

I felt nothing else I found, saw or did in DL should be done in WDW. I appreciate the differences in the parks and want them to remain different vs. copies of each other.


ETA - I have to take that back, one place I would like to see WDW "step things up" is to incorporate the Magical Ears in their night time programs. Not exactly like it's done in DL but at least do something with them.

 

[figment_jii]

This has nothing to do with the 60th anniversary, but I wish WDW didn't use the 180-day system for making ADRs. It seems silly to expect guests to know where they're going to be eating (and when) 180-days in advance! I'm not sure DLR's 60-day system is ideal either, but something closer to actual dates of the trip would be better to me than almost 6-months!

 

[jesster]

Free range characters! I was there with my SIL and 5-year-old niece from June 11-15. I nearly had to pick my jaw up off the ground when we walked into Disneyland park and immediately stumbled upon Snow White, just out in the open with a line of about 5 people neatly lined against the wall. It was magical. Then we moved over to Jasmine a few feet away. A couple days later my niece met Belle in the same spot Snow White had been. Maybe because the Princesses are always there there is less frenzy to see them?

We also met The Evil Queen, Mary Poppins and Bert, Pluto... argh and a handful of other characters my niece could list; I can't remember who all we encountered just walking through the park, none with lines more then 10 deep or so. I would love for this to be the case at WDW!

Overall I felt like a lot of things were just ... easier... at Disneyland. There is more to do in a smaller space - we easily walked between the two parks for two days. This can't really happen at WDW, maybe therein lies part the difference.

 

[jesster]

I felt nothing else I found, saw or did in DL should be done in WDW. I appreciate the differences in the parks and want them to remain different vs. copies of each other.


ETA - I have to take that back, one place I would like to see WDW "step things up" is to incorporate the Magical Ears in their night time programs. Not exactly like it's done in DL but at least do something with them.

ITA!

I really appreciated all the differences and how cool are those ears?

 

[AngiTN]

Free range characters! I was there with my SIL and 5-year-old niece from June 11-5. I nearly had to pick my jaw up off the ground when we walked into Disneyland park and immediately stumbled upon Snow White, just out in the open with a line of about 5 people neatly lined against the wall. It was magical. Then we moved over to Jasmine a few feet away. A couple days later my niece met Belle in the same spot Snow White had been. Maybe because the Princesses are always there there is less frenzy to see them?

We also met The Evil Queen, Mary Poppins and Bert, Pluto... argh and a handful of other characters my niece could list; I can't remember who all we encountered just walking through the park, none with lines more then 10 deep or so. I would love for this to be the case at WDW!

Overall I felt like a lot of things were just ... easier... at Disneyland. There is more to do in a smaller space - we easily walked between the two parks for two days. This can't really happen at WDW, maybe therein lies part the difference.

Not exactly, it applies to all characters, not just the Princesses. I did a good bit of research before our trip and I learned (and it was what I observed too) the locals make up the vast majority of the visitors to DL. Locals don't care much about characters so, as such, most characters have fewer people who are clamoring to meet them. Even those considered "rare" to those familiar with WDW. Because the avg. guest demographic at WDW is so vastly different a roaming character would never work. They would be mobbed. Doesn't mean I don't wish it could but I realize why it can't.

 

[AngiTN]

This has nothing to do with the 60th anniversary, but I wish WDW didn't use the 180-day system for making ADRs. It seems silly to expect guests to know where they're going to be eating (and when) 180-days in advance! I'm not sure DLR's 60-day system is ideal either, but something closer to actual dates of the trip would be better to me than almost 6-months!

I could get behind that too. It rarely bothers me to make them at 180 days but it is a bit far out to deal with working the plans. I think the 60 days for FP and ADR would work fine. Not really sure why 180 days is what they picked for WDW.

 

[PlutoFan76]

As a DL annual passholder I am going to chime in here. I actually disagree about the comment regarding locals not caring about the characters. It doesn't have to do with being a local, but touring style. There is a vibe at Disneyland that lends itself to commando style touring. The majority of people are not staying for days. They are either locals there for one day (unless you have an AP this is one day a year at the most) or on a vacation where one or two days are spent at DL in conjunction with other California touristy things (Hollywood, San Diego, Yosemite, etc.). Their goal is to get the most bang for their buck in the short time they are there. Because DL is seen by the world as an amusement park not a resort, that means rides to them. The demand for FPs adds to this. I'm a local and my daughter has had a number of wonderful and unique experiences with the characters at DL. She had these for the exact reason that we are local AP holders. I don't feel the need to rush off to a ride since I can always do it on another trip. When we walked through the turnstiles first thing in the morning and Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum were gathering kids in a circle, I let her go see what was going on. They organized a game of Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Flamingo (aka Duck Duck Goose). My daughter and several other kids must have spent about 30 minutes with them. There were just as many tourists as there were locals bypassing the fun powerwalking to rides. Honestly, if WDW had old style FPs, how many of you would play Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Flamingo and how many would bolt to 7DMR for fast passes?

 

[bumbershoot]

To get things started, I'll mention free range characters. Turning a corner and seeing Mickey interacting with a small group of kids was fantastic. No handlers. No lines. Just a mouse playing with guests in his park.

I think what you see as free range, I see as "that's where they are supposed to be then". The difference is in the ways the characters get to where they need to be. At MK they have the Utilidoors. They don't have that at DL, so they walk from place to place. They still will end up having a line form, though.

Not since Jack Sparrow left have I truly seen a free range character.

It seems silly to expect guests to know where they're going to be eating (and when) 180-days in advance!

I agree with this since WDW can't figure out their OWN schedule along with it. If they set the schedule and kept it, 180 days is fine for me. But they change it and mess up ADR plans.

 

[crostorfer]

*cough* Old Fashioned Fastpass *cough*

I would love to see a show on par with World of Color somewhere on WDW property. It so far outshines every other show in all of Disney-dom. I don't necessarily want a carbon copy, just something as good in Florida.

 

[crostorfer]

Oh! And fresh, healthy and exciting CS food and snack cart choices. DL and DCA are so far ahead of WDW, even though they are getting better lately.

 

[jcdean]

I would love to see a show on par with World of Color somewhere on WDW property. It so far outshines every other show in all of Disney-dom. I don't necessarily want a carbon copy, just something as good in Florida.

Rivers of Color is coming to AK. I have no idea how similar the content will be, but the technology would seem to be similar.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Good old Fast Pass certainly comes to mind. I was able to get so much more done at WDW with FP than I can dream of with FP+. Beyond that, the number of attractions is also important. At Epcot, there are really only 2 rides that need FP+: Soarin' and Test Track. At DHS, there is Tower of Terror, TSMM, and Rock n Roller Coaster. At Animal Kingdom, you have Everest and the safari. Now, think about DCA. It has either these exact rides or an equivalent other than the safari and one of the roller coasters. It has Soarin', Tower of Terror, and TSMM. It has Radiator Springs Racers to take the place of Test Track (and is much better, in my opinion), California Screamin' to take the place of Rock n Roller Coaster. Then, add in Mickey's Fun Wheel and so much of Carsland and you see that there are just more attractions that are easier to access than at WDW.

 

[hiroMYhero]

My request is simple: more churro availability!

 

[soniam]

My request is simple: more churro availability!

In a similar vain, I wish they would sell the fried green tomato sandwich from Hungry Bear at DLP somewhere at WDW, probably MK. DS would agree with you about the churros. That boy can't get enough, even though we live in Texas, which is not deprived of churros.

 

[soniam]

ETA - I have to take that back, one place I would like to see WDW "step things up" is to incorporate the Magical Ears in their night time programs. Not exactly like it's done in DL but at least do something with them.

I think the ears, and now wands, are synced to Wishes. At least that's what it seemed like with my son's wand at MK in March. There are probably other shows too, ie Frozen fireworks and Fantasmic. I think it's just more obvious with World of Color, because of the sea of people with them. Not many people have started wearing/using them at WDW yet.

 

[Mikie]

I think the ears, and now wands, are synced to Wishes. At least that's what it seemed like with my son's wand at MK in March. There are probably other shows too, ie Frozen fireworks and Fantasmic. I think it's just more obvious with World of Color, because of the sea of people with them. Not many people have started wearing/using them at WDW yet.

Yes, WDW does offer "glow with the show" ears that respond in time to show music. Perhaps they are less used because everyone at WDW is a cheapskate like me who figured "wait. If I pay $20 (25?) for a heavy battery powered headband then put it on. . . I'm not even going to see what it does!" I don't know how they get it to catch on, but if not many do it, you pay the price and don't see the effects!