When I'm wrong I'll admit it and never thought I'd say this but.....

[OrcaPotter]

I strongly suspect that there is this "idea" floating around WDW vet's minds about DLR being a disappointment repeated over and over again without thought...mostly by those who have never been to DLR!

This is true, if you talk to many folks around here. Only, most I've talked to have been to DL and still feel it was a "disappointment." I'm not sure if that's due to when they went (years, sometimes decades) but I've always wanted to go just to have a "new" Disney experience and see Walt's original park. It's still for these reasons I'm super excited I'm going this summer, fueled by my CM BF who went for the first time a few years ago and loved it.

I will say this, though. I'm glad it's DCA getting "Cars Land" and not WDW. Of all the Pixar films, that franchise is my least favorite and I can't understand it's popularity past little boys playing with Cars toys. So, I'm not bummed I'll be missing this attraction by going this summer!

 

[oumagic]

The allure to me of "Cars" were all those trips out west as a kid. It fits perfect into Disneyland. They really nailed the small town off of Route 66. The movie is beautiful and went well beyond boys who love playing with cars. Both sets of grandparents loved it mostly for the nostalgic factor and their trips west in the 50's. When I asked my son if he wants to go to Disneyland this fall, he said "No, I'll wait until Carsland opens!" Now that is LOVE. I told him we would go this fall and after Carsland opens. I really love Disneyworld and my wife and I went before kids. There are great restaurants and having Epcot where we could drink wine and relax was fantastic. The hotels there are also a major draw for us. We did really enjoy the Grand Californian but we LOVED the Wilderness Lodge. Living closer to Disneyland now, we can go more and love the intimacy of the smaller park. We were at Disneyworld for a week and just felt like we touched the surface. We spent a week at Disneyland and felt like we saw most everything.

My wife describes the two parks wonderfully, in my opinion. Disneyworld is like going to a fancy steakhouse with friends; it is nice and fun and something you enjoy and will happily do again. However, Disneyland is like having a homecooked meal with family; there is just something about it that can't be duplicated (as long as you like your family).

I have friends who don't really like Disney but have a blast at Disneyworld with the golf, dining, etc. Those friends will not enjoy Disneyland.

 

[ACDSNY]

We enjoy both WDW & DL, but like others have said DL is our magical happy place! I'm really looking forward to the completion of Cars Land.

 

[HydroGuy]

This is true, if you talk to many folks around here. Only, most I've talked to have been to DL and still feel it was a "disappointment." I'm not sure if that's due to when they went (years, sometimes decades) but I've always wanted to go just to have a "new" Disney experience and see Walt's original park. It's still for these reasons I'm super excited I'm going this summer, fueled by my CM BF who went for the first time a few years ago and loved it.

I will say this, though. I'm glad it's DCA getting "Cars Land" and not WDW. Of all the Pixar films, that franchise is my least favorite and I can't understand it's popularity past little boys playing with Cars toys. So, I'm not bummed I'll be missing this attraction by going this summer!

Having been to DLR decades ago does not count IMO. Anymore than having been to MK decades ago counts for a valid opinion about MK.

If someone says DLR will be a diappointment then they should have some kind of current knowledge - I would say in the last 5-6 years preferred but at least the last 10 years.

Yes it is true that some WDW vets today do experience disappointment with DLR. But when you dig a little you usually find out the disappointment is that DLR is not just like WDW. As if they want a WDW transplanted to California. Such folks are usually so focused on the differences between DLR and WDW that they blind themselves to areas where DLR clearly, unambiguously is better than WDW.

I read an opinion on the WDW forum a couple months ago when I was more active there (around the time we went to WDW in March) that - get this - Disneyland the park has "no Disney Magic". In fairness many other posters challenged this poster. But she was insistent that the only park in the world built by Walt Disney himself had no Disney magic. I was floored. She was so blinded by her "WDW is the only type of Disney resort worth visiting" that she missed everything magical at DLR.

 

[JennyN]

I agree with what a number of other dissers said, We love WDW, but DL has our hearts. Each time we walk into the park it's like being home. Words can't convey the feeling. The first time I walk into DL each trip I cry. (I know, the family tell me I'm a sook)

 

[mermaidwannabe]

I agree! It's strange for me because it seems like I'm supposed to like DW better, but I just find it easier to be in the magic at DL, perhaps because it's easier to get to and from the parks with the kids. I don't know? I do love DW and yes, their resorts and restaurants are great, but I just love the ease of it all at DL. I was one of those people shocked at the size of the castle in DL since I had gone to DW first, but it does seem more charming to me now. To sum it all up, when I miss Disney, it's DisneyLAND that I think of first, not DW.

 

[SILLYANDI]

The allure to me of "Cars" were all those trips out west as a kid. It fits perfect into Disneyland. They really nailed the small town off of Route 66. The movie is beautiful and went well beyond boys who love playing with cars. Both sets of grandparents loved it mostly for the nostalgic factor and their trips west in the 50's. When I asked my son if he wants to go to Disneyland this fall, he said "No, I'll wait until Carsland opens!" Now that is LOVE. I told him we would go this fall and after Carsland opens. I really love Disneyworld and my wife and I went before kids. There are great restaurants and having Epcot where we could drink wine and relax was fantastic. The hotels there are also a major draw for us. We did really enjoy the Grand Californian but we LOVED the Wilderness Lodge. Living closer to Disneyland now, we can go more and love the intimacy of the smaller park. We were at Disneyworld for a week and just felt like we touched the surface. We spent a week at Disneyland and felt like we saw most everything.

My wife describes the two parks wonderfully, in my opinion. Disneyworld is like going to a fancy steakhouse with friends; it is nice and fun and something you enjoy and will happily do again. However, Disneyland is like having a homecooked meal with family; there is just something about it that can't be duplicated (as long as you like your family).

I have friends who don't really like Disney but have a blast at Disneyworld with the golf, dining, etc. Those friends will not enjoy Disneyland.

Agree wholeheartedly about Cars..I guess you have to be from somewhere along Route 66 to appreciate it fully and...
Your wife it the nail on the head with her reference to fancy restaurant vs homecooked meal! My kids were the ones who pointed out to us the WDW is fun every once in a while but they are glad that they get to go to DL weekly/monthly because it just feels like home.

 

[mama2dutchies]

Having been to both DLR w/kids WDW w/o kids.. I think as long as my kiddo's are small we'll stick to DLR.. I LIKED WDW and I think it has a lot to offer.

I think the way WDW is set up, I would find it tedious with small children. At DLR it's easy to either walk to your hotel or hop ART. Sure WDW has bussing too but they flat out told me to expect 20-60 mins to go through the entire loop..

DLR has a charm that I can't place in WDW.. I will go back to WDW and hope to do so in about 4-5 years when my kids are older (11, 8,7) and my niece is 4-5.. but for now and the forseeable future I'll stick to DLR HAPPILY

 

[mmmears]

......DLR won me over. After being a WDW vet I couldn't imagine how DLR could take WDW's place in my heart (some of you know my doubts prior to the trip).....but it did! We had the time of our lives and cannot wait to go back! I still and will always love WDW but DLR has my heart. Just something about it. Perfect trip. Just perfect in every way - hotel (PP - fabulous), weather, crowd levels, food, rides....could go on and on.

Thanks to everyone here on the DIS! You encouraged me to go with an open mind and open heart and Walt's park won me over!

How wonderful! I love taking a long vacation at WDW, but Disneyland is extra-special in my opinion. There are so many special little touches, and so many more attractions packed into that little area. Plus it's lovely not to have to take a car or a bus (or even a monorail unless we feel like it) to get to any place -- it's just so nice that it's all walkable.

 

[GrandBob]

My wife describes the two parks wonderfully, in my opinion. Disneyworld is like going to a fancy steakhouse with friends; it is nice and fun and something you enjoy and will happily do again. However, Disneyland is like having a homecooked meal with family; there is just something about it that can't be duplicated (as long as you like your family).

I love Love LOVE this description! You, sir, are married to a very perceptive woman!

-Bob

 

[DebbieB]

I've been to WDW many times from 1994 to present. My first trip to Disneyland was 2006. I love both, why have to make a choice? They each have their own special points.

 

[tndislvr]

You know, since I went knowing the castle was much smaller I really wasn't surprised by that (but DH was!). It just seemed to "fit", if that makes any sense.

I can't pinpoint what we liked best (well, DH would probably say the weather!) but I think it was a combination of things. We loved Paradise Pier Hotel - room was great! The character meals we attended were amazing. We loved the convenience of everything being so close together. And we honestly felt that most of DLR's versions of rides were better (POTC, Winnie The Pooh, Grizzly River Run, Nemo, and others). Don't get me wrong - I will always love WDW.....and did miss the resorts and restaurants offered there - DLR just seems a little more special to us. To share a bit of DLR "magic" - I have to say that I have never paid attention to the statue of Walt and Mickey at WDW but when I caught my first glimpse at DLR I got all teary, immediately took a picture, and then took a picture of DS and DD with Walt and Mickey. Must be Walt's presence that lured me!

 

[MK4ever]

DLR rocks! I would pick it over WDW if it was not as far away.

 

[ND Disney Daddy]

My wife describes the two parks wonderfully, in my opinion. Disneyworld is like going to a fancy steakhouse with friends; it is nice and fun and something you enjoy and will happily do again. However, Disneyland is like having a homecooked meal with family; there is just something about it that can't be duplicated (as long as you like your family).

Chiming in that this is awesome.

I haven't been to WDW, so I can't make a fair comparison, but it seems to me that Disneyland offers more of a choose-your-own-adventure experience. You're free to stay and dine off-property if you choose. You can walk to any attraction in the resort any time you feel like. It's easy to sprinkle in visits to other SoCal attractions during your vacation. I guess I prefer that independence over the spoon-fed immersion that WDW offers.

Plus, Disneyland is Walt's park. 'Nuff said.

 

[Piglet99645]

Happy to read this.

I love all the Disney parks, but DL is special to me, as well.

 

[CrazyDuck]

My wife describes the two parks wonderfully, in my opinion. Disneyworld is like going to a fancy steakhouse with friends; it is nice and fun and something you enjoy and will happily do again. However, Disneyland is like having a homecooked meal with family; there is just something about it that can't be duplicated (as long as you like your family).

I don't agree with that... I think Disneyland is the fancy steakhouse, and WDW is Golden Corral (a smorgasbord of mediocre to poor)!

Another thing that I don't like about WDW is how spread out things are. At DLR you can spend 5-7 days and do everything you want and feel content! At WDW if you only spend 5-7 days you leave feeling like you are missing out on somethings. If you have the time WDW is great, but for those of us who can't afford to take 2 weeks off of work at a time DLR is perfect!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at the Original Magic Kingdom, and saw just how special it is.

I appreciate both parks for what they offer. Though my ♥ is at DLR, I enjoy going to WDW, too. It is a wonderful destination with so much to offer.

I love oumagic's wife's description of the two, and though Walt didn't personally have a hand in WDW, I believe that the Disney imagineers did their best in bringing to us his vision for a place where a family can immerse itself in a fun world for awhile.

 

[HydroGuy]

Chiming in that this is awesome.

I haven't been to WDW, so I can't make a fair comparison, but it seems to me that Disneyland offers more of a choose-your-own-adventure experience. You're free to stay and dine off-property if you choose. You can walk to any attraction in the resort any time you feel like. It's easy to sprinkle in visits to other SoCal attractions during your vacation. I guess I prefer that independence over the spoon-fed immersion that WDW offers.

Plus, Disneyland is Walt's park. 'Nuff said.

Many WDW vets would be horrified at the thought of dining off-site. So that is a perk to penny-wise folks but not to many WDWers.

 

[Huff]

For a 7 to 10 day vacations WDW wins hands down!! We love enjoying 1 or 2 parks each day along with far better restaurant variety for lunch and dinner daily. Just a relaxing time for a long vacation and plenty to do without ever being bored.

We visit DLR far more than WDW, mostly because its closer to us. DLR has far better attention to detail in the buildings and rides. POTC, Grizzly, Space are superior and it looks like Carsland will offer a better version of Test Track. We too enjoy the ability to park hop, shop and dine without having to spend the time on a bus, boat or monorail.

So for us, DLR easily wins for shorter 2-4 day trips. WDW for longer vacations.

 

[HydroGuy]

For a 7 to 10 day vacations WDW wins hands down!! We love enjoying 1 or 2 parks each day along with far better restaurant variety for lunch and dinner daily. Just a relaxing time for a long vacation and plenty to do without ever being bored.

We visit DLR far more than WDW, mostly because its closer to us. DLR has far better attention to detail in the buildings and rides. POTC, Grizzly, Space are superior and it looks like Carsland will offer a better version of Test Track. We too enjoy the ability to park hop, shop and dine without having to spend the time on a bus, boat or monorail.

So for us, DLR easily wins for shorter 2-4 day trips. WDW for longer vacations.

I would have to agree.