What do you feel are the major differences between DLR and WDW?

KJay

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I'll be visiting DLR for the first time this year- all my previous experience is with WDW. I know there are several rides common to both DLR and WDW, but I'm interested in hearing more about the feeling/culture/vibe of the parks- what are the major differences, if any? I've heard lots of things, like the crowd demographic is different, or that the overall feel is different due to location and surroundings, etc. I'd love to hear what you think...:chat:
 
You are much closer to the outside world though you rarely see it from the parks.

The CMs I find much friendlier. They are almost all americans and not on college programs for half year internships.

The parks are really dense with richness. I find in WDW there is a lot of blank openess.

There is not a lot of sit down restaurants.
 
you can walk to both parks and DTD

for the most part I think the rides that are the same are better at DL, also I believe I read that DL actually has more attractions than MK

no need for tons of dining reservations

It's Walt's park and knowing that he walked around DL has a certain vibe in itself
 
you can walk to both parks and DTD

for the most part I think the rides that are the same are better at DL, also I believe I read that DL actually has more attractions than MK

no need for tons of dining reservations

It's Walt's park and knowing that he walked around DL has a certain vibe in itself

I've heard others say that the rides in common are better at DL (in particular, Pirates and Haunted Mansion)- in what way?
 

o The DL park itself is more self-reinforcing. Smaller spaces make for tighter theming.

o More locals on day trips at DLR. The mindset at WDW is that people are on vacation. The mindset at DLR is people are there for a day of fun.

o DLR's major shows are better (World of Color, Fantasmic, Remember Dreams Come True, Aladdin)

o Better weather at DLR. Californians are not big on going to DLR in the rain. Plus it rains much less.

o At WDW you feel more enveloped in Disney because of the large resort. At DLR you know you are in the middle of a city and you feel that much less.

o On the other hand, at DLR you feel the parks are much more accessible. You can walk everywhere. At WDW you feel like the parks are are more remote and harder to reach. Maybe more exclusive?

o At WDW it seems like WDW is a big fish in the small pond of Orlando. At DLR it seems that DLR is a small fish in the big pond of California.

ETA:

o The queues for rides are more often outside than inside like at WDW. Difference between not needing as much protection from rain and humidity and having less space.
 
I've heard others say that the rides in common are better at DL (in particular, Pirates and Haunted Mansion)- in what way?

For me I love the whole New Orleans area of Disneyland it's my favorite area of any of the parks I have visited.

For Pirates I like the architecture of the outside of the building, the Blue Bayou Restaurant, and it has more drops, and an extra scene

There is also Club 33 if you are lucky to dine there

Haunted Mansion, again I like the architecture of the house here better than WDW, for the most part it's the same ride as WDW but there are a few differences plus it gets the NBC overlay
 
you can walk to both parks and DTD

o On the other hand, at DLR you feel the parks are much more accessible. You can walk everywhere. At WDW you feel like the parks are are more remote and harder to reach. Maybe more exclusive?

This is the first thing that comes to mind for me. No buses between parks and, depending on where you are staying, no buses back to take a mid-day break. Less travel time means more park time and not as much planning since you can hop back and forth all day long on the spur of the moment.
 
To me people seem more laid back at Disneyland........they take time to talk to you and your kids and are not in such a huge rush.
Less Tour groups!!!!! at Disneyland
At Disneyworld I felted like when we left one park we were not going back because of distance at Disneyland we bebop back and forth from park to park.
The knowing that it was the original, looking up at the light above the fire station at night when you leave Disneyland, just feels like your a member of the family somehow,,,,, I know sooo Corney!!!!popcorn::
 
For me (a WDW vet) it feels different, yet still very familiar. Kind of like that feeling you get when you are dreaming about being in a place that you know very well, yet in your dream the place isn't quite like it is in "real life".

I would say it has more of a "small town" feel because it is so compact. It is a very cozy comfortable feel. Also, more of the guests are local and very familiar with the parks. Obviously, the most major difference is that everything is so close together- both parks and DTD. It makes it so wonderfully easy to get around.

As far as your question about in what way some of the the common rides are better, Pirates is longer (and if you have small kids note that it is also a little scarier). I don't know that I would rate Haunted Mansion "better" at either park. DL's Space Mountain is better- it is darker and the ride cars are different. Nemo is better because they use the old 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea subs/ride. Fantasmic is better- it includes a Peter Pan part.
 
As a WDW vet (and loyal fan), I was very hesitant to try DL. We decided to give it a shot since it's so much closer to where we live (6 hour drive). Now we've been 3 times since May and bought annual passes... obviously we think it's great!

Agree with what previous posters have mentioned. Also, we feel that we've had more spontaneous character interactions at DL. We've seen characters just roaming around, driving up Main Street, leading the band, etc.

With a young child, the more compact-style of the parks is easier to navigate than WDW.

We feel less hurried and don't feel a huge need for as much of a touring plan.

I think DL has a great sense of history to it, being as it was Walt's park. There's an old-time feel/nostalgia that I get at DL that I don't get at WDW's Magic Kingdom.

WDW and DL are both fun and magical, but to me, now WDW feels like a copy of the original, and Epcot has replaced the Magic Kingdom as my favorite of the four WDW parks.
 
Ok here are my thoughts:

Famtasmic at DL way better I did not think it would be but boy was I wrong. Afternoon Paradae we liked better too.

Original Tiki Room-:thumbsup2

Space MTn. was better too, smoother & the sound system.

Indiana jones ride is better than Dinosar.

ToT way better at WDW.

We also as othershave said enjoyedhe general vibe at DL you can just feel Walt every where. We also liked the set up at DL's DTD alot. The Jazz Kichen was a great place to eat.

Kae
 
As both a WDW and DLR vet, both places have their advantages and disadvantages. As others have said, I really like the fact you can easily get from DLR to DCA to DTD without needing buses or cars.

To me, DL reminds me of MK, while DCA is like DHS (in terms of vibe). Until recently, DCA was a pretty empty park, but with WoC it seems like it's gotten busier. The rides are a mix of all of the parks.

For the rides that are the same/similar, I don't have any that I would say are much better at one park or the other. There are elements that I like better, but all have good parts. For the HM, I really like the staircase and footprints at WDW. Pirates is fun at both parks. I liked the loading of Peter Pan at WDW better, but the ride is pretty similar. Muppets and ToT (at least the ride itself) is the same at both venues. DL also has the Matterhorn (which is a bit bumpy), but I like that (it's much tamer than Everest), but has some great views of DLR. Also, DL still has Mr. Toad, which I really miss at WDW.

The weather is much better in DLR (mostly because I don't like high humidity).
 
I'll be visiting DLR for the first time this year- all my previous experience is with WDW. I know there are several rides common to both DLR and WDW, but I'm interested in hearing more about the feeling/culture/vibe of the parks- what are the major differences, if any? I've heard lots of things, like the crowd demographic is different, or that the overall feel is different due to location and surroundings, etc. I'd love to hear what you think...:chat:

umm well for starters.. WDW is bigger then DLR :rolleyes1 and that is all i know! RFLOL :lmao:
 
o At WDW you feel more enveloped in Disney because of the large resort. At DLR you know you are in the middle of a city and you feel that much less.

I'm a WDW vet that is getting more and more interested in trying out DL next year. I like a lot of what I am reading about it, particularly how close everything is together.

But the above concerns me. The thought of LA is intimidating to this small town Oklahoman. I do NOT like big cities (emphasis on the word NOT!). Should this really be a concern for me?

Please reassure me! ;)
 
I'm a WDW vet that is getting more and more interested in trying out DL next year. I like a lot of what I am reading about it, particularly how close everything is together.

But the above concerns me. The thought of LA is intimidating to this small town Oklahoman. I do NOT like big cities (emphasis on the word NOT!). Should this really be a concern for me?

Please reassure me! ;)

While DL is in a big city, it is super simple to get around the parks, and we've always felt safe there. If you fly in, take a shuttle, stay at a hotel at or near the parks, you'll be totally fine! It's not like you're in inner city LA!

Note: if you can afford the Grand Californian or the Disneyland Hotel, you'll feel even more immersed in the magic and would never know you were in a large city.

Go for it!
 
I'm a WDW vet that is getting more and more interested in trying out DL next year. I like a lot of what I am reading about it, particularly how close everything is together.

But the above concerns me. The thought of LA is intimidating to this small town Oklahoman. I do NOT like big cities (emphasis on the word NOT!). Should this really be a concern for me?

Please reassure me! ;)
Concerned? No way!:laughing:

DLR is better than WDW. And worse! Another way of saying it has its strengths and weaknesses. For more info read this lengthy post by...ahem...me. ;)

"A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

DLR rocks! :woohoo:
 
But the above concerns me. The thought of LA is intimidating to this small town Oklahoman. I do NOT like big cities (emphasis on the word NOT!). Should this really be a concern for me?

Please reassure me! ;)

I find that once I'm of the giant freeways I'm much better. The anaheim resort district is very nice, and obviously a special part of anaheim. It's very reasuring to me when I see the palm lined streets.

On the sidewalks outside of the park I feel just fine.

I noted in another thread that people told me about vagrants on Harbor drive which I hadn't seen before. So on my last trip I kept an eye out for them. I saw an old lady collecting cans on Katella. On harbor I would pass cans and bottles in every trash can. Normally in California at 10 cents a peace those are getting picked up very fast. I'm sure that anaheim removes bums from the area.
 
I find that once I'm of the giant freeways I'm much better. The anaheim resort district is very nice, and obviously a special part of anaheim. It's very reasuring to me when I see the palm lined streets.

On the sidewalks outside of the park I feel just fine.

I noted in another thread that people told me about vagrants on Harbor drive which I hadn't seen before. So on my last trip I kept an eye out for them. I saw an old lady collecting cans on Katella. On harbor I would pass cans and bottles in every trash can. Normally in California at 10 cents a peace those are getting picked up very fast. I'm sure that anaheim removes bums from the area.
Actually, they don't seem to remove the homeless from the area, and we are very saddened by the fact that there is such diversity in the wealth (day to day living styles) amongst many of them. My son and I are working on his Gr,. 8 Social Studies course now, and realize that many years ago, the Brazilian Tribe, the Tumpinambas, were horrified that there could be such a difference between those in France who were 'the haves', and those who were the 'have-nots' - those who struggle for day to day life - in a tribe, obviously, they would have felt that everyone should work together for equality.... my family has seen several homeless people over the few years in the Disneyland area to and from the parks, and sadly, the same ones over and over during the entire week we stay there (the last time was a man who sat at the bus stop with his shopping cart, apparently re-living stats and radio announcing baseball games or something like that!) He seemed highly intelligent, but so sad how his life had turned. :( We thought of him often, as well as an elderly lady, who sat on the benches the year or two prior, as well as another lady who had been there the year prior - always, day after day these people sat there. So sad. We had phoned the BWPPI to see how the Grandmotherly lady was doing, but had heard only that she had moved on, and they didn't know where she was, either. The saddest thing to see, is someone who looks like your Grandmother, put on toques and gloves in Nov., and lay her head on her little suitcase cart to go to sleep for the night AT A BUS STOP. In Canada, we also see the same differences, so it's not just in Anaheim - my son and I saw a homeless man in our town while we went through a drive-thru restaurant, and bless his heart, he didn't want to think this was so - he declared that he was 'well dressed, so he can't be homeless.' I didn't mince words, letting him know I was pretty sure that the man was homeless. We make sure to donate food, money, etc., but it's never enough, is it. (?) Sorry to be such a downer, but it really is sad, that the Happiest Place on Earth is only 'Happiest' within the gates.

I am editing this to add that in no way did we ever feel our safety was compromised when walking down Harbor Blvd- I felt more at risk from the time share sellers yelling out at us asking how we were doing, and did we want 'free' this or that (sigh), as well as the people selling glo-sticks non-Disney variety, @ 3 for $5. ;)
 
I'm a WDW vet that is getting more and more interested in trying out DL next year. I like a lot of what I am reading about it, particularly how close everything is together.

But the above concerns me. The thought of LA is intimidating to this small town Oklahoman. I do NOT like big cities (emphasis on the word NOT!). Should this really be a concern for me?

Please reassure me! ;)

Fellow Okie here, but for a disclaimer an OKC girl, not a small towner. If you fly into John Wayne Airport (AKA Orange County Airport or SNA), and rent a car and drive to DL (about 12 miles-- it is a smaller airport and closer to DL than LAX) you should be fine. We went to CA for a week this summer and never set foot in LA. We got in on a Saturday morning and drove to DLR, and there was no traffic between the airport and the park. We stayed at DLH. We drove there, parked the car, and never left Disney property or got in the car for the next 3 days. We felt completely immersed in disney. From there we went down to see friends in Carlsbad, and do the beach and some stuff in San Diego and the surrounding areas. We stayed off the highway during rush hour times, and only hit traffic once the entire week. I never got that big City feel like you get in places like New York, Chicago, or even Dallas (I do like big cities). I think you would be fine! I love WDW, but DL is great too! We will definitely be going back!
 
Here are my thoughts in a thread I started after our first trip to DLR: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2514316.

Disneyland vs. Disney World
Rides vs. Atmosphere

Yes, both parks have both rides and atmosphere. But, I think DL has the edge on rides and WDW has the edge when it comes to atmosphere.

As a WDW vet, it's easy to get caught in the trap of saying, "At DL, I only want to experience everything that is different from WDW." That is where I started. However, once I started experiencing the attractions, I realized that many of the rides that seem the same (Peter Pan for instance) are in fact just a tad better at DL.

Also, due to sheer volume, DL takes the prize in terms of attractions. I read that DL has only 10% fewer rides than all four parks combined at WDW and I believe that to be true. However, I don't think that is an automatic slam dunk in terms of comparison of the two parks.

Because DL is almost entirely all rides, you miss out on a lot of the atmosphere that you get at WDW. Disney Imaginers are masters at taking places that many of us will never experience and transporting us through time, space and across oceans. Be it the Maharajah Jungle Trek and Pangani Trail at Animal Kingdom or the country pavilions in the World Showcase at Epcot. These experiences and many more like them, transport you to another time and place without stepping foot onto a ride. With the extra real estate, WDW is able to create a place where you don't even have to step foot on a ride to feel the Disney Magic.

This is especially true of the WDW resorts. Each resort transports you to a completely different time and place in a way that only Disney can. Wilderness Lodge is an excellent example. With all the details put into that resort including a lifelike geyser that erupts every hour, wildlife and being surrounded by Bay Lake, it's hard to imagine that The Magic Kingdom is just a short boat ride away.

Both WDW and DL are special in their own ways, and I encourage everyone to experience both if you can.
 

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