Why Is Disneyland California Mostly Ignored By UK & Irish??

[BadPinkTink]

Funny how different people are we think the opposite. We would happily do 25 nights in DL in fact we have done. We add on San diego Zoo, Malibu Beach, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, The wine region North of San Francisco, the Big Sur, Las Vegas....

For us Orlando is a park trip whereas DL is a California trip with some Disney.

I guess this is exactly what I was trying to say. Im just amazed that so many Europeans have no interest in any other part of America. that going to Orlando is the be all and end all of an American trip, oh except for the shopping trips to New York.

America is such an amazing country, I guess I cant understand why people have no interest in seeing any other part than just the Orlando parks. My personal goal is to hit as many States as possible,so far I have been to New York, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and California

 

[wayneg]

I guess this is exactly what I was trying to say. Im just amazed that so many Europeans have no interest in any other part of America. that going to Orlando is the be all and end all of an American trip, oh except for the shopping trips to New York.

America is such an amazing country, I guess I cant understand why people have no interest in seeing any other part than just the Orlando parks. My personal goal is to hit as many States as possible,so far I have been to New York, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and California

I Think you will find many of us explore other parts of America (this past trip we visited 8 States and drove 2,065 miles) but this is a Disney forum. UK trip planning basically covers WDW and Florida. Nothing to stop posting about DLR but there is a specific forum for that area so you don't get a lot of talk about other areas.
Everyone in our Family prefers other parts of the US, we are the only Disney/Florida fans, we talk about our trips on here, they don't.
So maybe its just you don't hear about it rather than people not doing it.

 

[Minniesgal]

You are right, everyone likes different things. This next trip to Orlando will be no Disney parks, just odd day in SW & one in BG's. Can easily do 25 nts there without parks. Over in Cali, the last trip, we did 4 nts in Vegas then 9nts around DLR/Cali, OK but didn't enjoy the roads as much and didn't find people as welcoming. More city/busy feel rather than relaxed Orlando style hols we prefer.
We will return again one day as we want to explore more without DLR and go further up the coast to San Fran but it will be another shorter(14 nts) trip.
Now for a great welcome feel we have just returned for 15 nights around New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville & Smoky Mountains area, they do know how to make you feel welcome, amazing holiday.

Oh wow I'd love to do Nashville and New Orleans. Oh wait we have booked DL and WDW for next year as we want to redo our favourite meals etc

That's how it happens for us I want to go somewhere else but all it takes is for one of the family to go remember when and we get all nostalgic and end up retracing our steps

 

[BadPinkTink]

I Think you will find many of us explore other parts of America (this past trip we visited 8 States and drove 2,065 miles) but this is a Disney forum. UK trip planning basically covers WDW and Florida. Nothing to stop posting about DLR but there is a specific forum for that area so you don't get a lot of talk about other areas.

you are missing my point, I know this is a DISNEY forum, so of course the main topic is holidays to DISNEY. I'm talking about UK and Irish people in general. For example I went into a major Irish book shop to see if there was a travel book for Disney California, like I bought for Disney Paris. Non of the staff even knew Disney California existed, they tried to sell me a book about WDW!! Every Irish person I have spoken to in the last 6 years about my Disney trips from family to work colleagues to people in shops ALL assume I'm talking about Florida. When I tell people not only is it California Disney I go but also have been to many places in America, people are amazed.

 

[tennisfan]

you are missing my point, I know this is a DISNEY forum, so of course the main topic is holidays to DISNEY. I'm talking about UK and Irish people in general. For example I went into a major Irish book shop to see if there was a travel book for Disney California, like I bought for Disney Paris. Non of the staff even knew Disney California existed, they tried to sell me a book about WDW!! Every Irish person I have spoken to in the last 6 years about my Disney trips from family to work colleagues to people in shops ALL assume I'm talking about Florida. When I tell people not only is it California Disney I go but also have been to many places in America, people are amazed.

As I stated its down to the lack of advertising of DLR in the UK and Ireland. WDW gets more customers so they put a lot of effort into advertising it. I suppose if your not a big Disney fan then there is a chance you don't know about Disneyland California where as you don't have to be a big fan to know about WDW as it gets more press.

There is probably loads of people who don't know there is a Disney park in Tokyo and Hong Kong because again it doesn't get the coverage in the UK

 

[CarolynU]

I spent most of my vacations at WDW for many years, although I had visited DCL in 1980. I loved WDW until all this micro planning arrived, and then wanted a change. In October I spent time visiting my son in Vancouver and we took a long weekend trip to California. Wow I was blown away by the parks.
California Adventure is now my all favourite park. It is stunning. All my favourite rides in the one park. No pre planning we just rocked up and got FP's multiple times for Soaring, Tower of Terror, California Screaming, Toy Story, Radiator Springs I could go on and on. No ADR's were essential for the restaurants, walk ins were welcome. The CM's were relaxed and happy. There was a whole load of street entertainment and fab parades.
It was like stepping back in time.
Consequently I have just returned from another visit and combined it with seeing LA, visiting Paramount Studios, Warner Brother Studios, Sony picture Studios, seeing the stars homes, etc etc. I'd go back to the parks in a heartbeat, and although I will visit WDW again even with all the necessary planning, my heart is now firmly at DCL.

 

[BagOLaughs]

At the end of the day WDW and florida is just easier. Virgin/Thomson will organise you're entire holiday to Orlando all you have to do is not miss the plane. I think thats the no.1 reason most people visit WDW.

BTW hello everyone long time disunplugged listener and i didn't realise the Disboards had a UK section. I'm dead happy

 

[pigby]

As you can see from my signature, we have been to both a few times.

It seems that Disney are corning the Australian market for Disneyland Resort as they have similar deals going on as we Brits have for WDW (eg relatively cheap length of stay passes) so Brits aren't the target market, I'm afraid. When we stayed there for a week for example the longest pass you can buy without buying an Annual pass is a 5 day pass so we went to Knotts Berry Farm on one day and didn't go to a park at all on the first day - so IMO DLR is missing a trick here. When we were there for 2 weeks, we bought an Annual pass. Probably Australians who want to go to WDW complain about the deals that we Brits get.

Other reasons - even travel agents get confused between DLR and WDW - pet hate is when people called WDW - Disneyland

As already mentioned - we need two planes from 'up north'

We first went to DLR in 2010 as we had had TS Fay in August 2008 and then next trip was in May 2009 when it poured down when it's supposed to be a relatively dry month - they were saying it was the worst weather since TS Fay - and we'll not even talk about Hurricane Wilma! Basically we got fed up of getting wet! Although we've been back to Florida once or twice since that.

But off again this Friday to Cabana Bay, Universal - wish me luck!

 

[SianBeau]

I personally really want to do DL however, I don't think (after talking to an american friend who grew up spending her weekends at DL) there would be enough to do to spend two weeks there. I could and would like to visit LA, San Fransisco, Vegas in the same trip but don't think it would be suitable until my very young children are much older, perhaps even teenagers.
For the time being we holiday in WDW where we know the kids know and love the place and there is always plenty for them to do.

 

[finchy3]

I really don't understand when people say there isn't enough to do @DL for two weeks, we are talking Southern California here, there is so much to see and do.
We have been going to DL for 10 years now and we always go for 17/18 days and we're always busy in that time.
The history behind DL alone (Walt's park) is amazing.
WDW gang don't know what their missing.

 

[BadPinkTink]

from the replies it seems that people go to WDW because its all a package and they can just pay the money, arrive, and stay for 2 weeks in basically the same place. Just like so many Irish and UK people love their 2 week package holiday to Spain. Whereas going to DL requires alot more planning and organisation. The parks in Florida are a self contained holiday, where as going to California is not a self contained holiday. Going to WDW is the only reason to visit Florida, where as DL is just part of the reason to visit California.

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

My bf and i were discussing visiting DL just the other day. There is a lot more planning required and the definite need for a car. Personally I hate the thought of driving in the states (but only recently passed) so it would be up to my bf to do so.

Theres a lot in California that I'd love to see and do but it'll be a 'big' holiday - probably once in a lifetime.
I also want to gage how much my bf enjoys WDW (his first visit) before realistically thinking about DL with him.

 

[Pyrotechnictigger]

I suspect this will be a recurrent theme from me, sorry if it gets a little repetitive! If you've never been to Disney in the US, you have no friends who have and you go to a travel agent, there's no advantage to going to Anaheim. Florida has lots of flashy theme parks, more Disney parks, nice beaches and beach resorts, Kennedy, it's nearer, you can fly directly from more airports, it's sometimes cheaper and plus, we see adverts for WDW all the time on UK TV.

Now with respect, I've not read the site rules and guides, I suspect that being very friendly maintaining good order and not kicking off a DL vs DW argument might be the key ones (a little forum experience cough mod cough).

So as Joe Punter, the UK holiday market is flooded with Orlando and Paris ( shiver ) with very little aimed at the west coast. To be honest, means cheaper flights for us, what's not to like?

 

[Jon84]

We went to Vegas, and did a 3 day road trip to LA to take in DLR and USH. One of the best trips and much preferred the road trip to Vegas itself!

 

[Pyrotechnictigger]

Vegas is my fav place on earth

 

[bigdreams]

I can only repeat what some of the other people have put above. Loads of people I know, myself included, are well aware of Disneyland California, im surprised that you have come across people who are not aware of it. Its just not well advertised over here, like Disneyworld and Disneyland Paris is which are so geared up with offers and deals which makes the whole process so much easier. If it try and book Disneyland direct it is all in Dollars wheras if I try to book Disneyworld it automatically comes up in Pounds etc. I go to Orlando to go to Walt Disney world and explore all the parks, which is the holiday I want next year...a complete overload of Disney wheras if I went to Disneyland it would be more of a trip to California exploring other places just not Disney.

 

[Pyrotechnictigger]

@bigdreams Thats because there's so much to do in California! We've been going for years and not seen anywhere near all the amazing things whereas we've done Orlando a few times and won't be rushing back. Disneyland is where the magic began and where it lives.

 

[bigdreams]

@bigdreams Thats because there's so much to do in California! We've been going for years and not seen anywhere near all the amazing things whereas we've done Orlando a few times and won't be rushing back. Disneyland is where the magic began and where it lives.

Its definitely on my bucketlist to go, don't worry

 

[Letterhead]

you are missing my point, I know this is a DISNEY forum, so of course the main topic is holidays to DISNEY. I'm talking about UK and Irish people in general. For example I went into a major Irish book shop to see if there was a travel book for Disney California, like I bought for Disney Paris. Non of the staff even knew Disney California existed, they tried to sell me a book about WDW!! Every Irish person I have spoken to in the last 6 years about my Disney trips from family to work colleagues to people in shops ALL assume I'm talking about Florida. When I tell people not only is it California Disney I go but also have been to many places in America, people are amazed.

I work in an office of 22 people. Only 1 other person has been to WDW, but 20 out of the 22 people have been to the states. If somebody doesn't know that DL California exists it's probably because they have no interest in Disney.

People assume you are talking about Florida because it's the norm. It's no different to if you said you were going to Boston, most people would assume Boston, Mass not Boston, England.

Also if people are amazed because somebody has been to America, they would probably also be impressed if they saw a blue car.

 

[Pyrotechnictigger]

I have regular arguments with people who are going to Disneyland. They ALL know the name but they always mean Disneyworld. "You mean there's another one? Why fly further if there's one in Florida?"