Will a WDW vet be disapointed with DL?

[Amber]

My wife and I have been to WDW numerous times and love it. This year we decided to try southern California and DL. Our big concern is that we will get out there and just be disapointed with DL after so many trips to WDW. A trip to WDW wold be far more economical, but we would like to give something different a try. Any thoughts?

 

[lntsmom]

ever heard anyone say that!

I'm not a typical DIS member...I'm 43 and have been to Disneyland twice and DisneyWorld once. So, take this as you will:

I enjoy Disneyland because it is so managable. I'm working on a trip to WDW in 5/07 and it frustrates me because there is no way you could ever see and do everything you'd like to.

If you plan, you should leave Disneyland feeling as if you've DONE it...or at least everything you wanted to do. To me the weather in CA is much nicer than that in FL...which adds to the enjoyment of the trip. In addition, it's set up so you can get a lot more done in a day because of the economical use of space.

However, my kids don't want to do most of the biggie rides and our family has no interest in fine dining or being pampered. If what you love about WDW is being treated like royalty by resort CMs or being able to schedule your day around fine dining, you might find DLR lacking.

The only thing I left feeling, "Dang, I wish that had been more like WDW" was Fanstamic. Everything else was wonderful as-is.

 

[LukenDC]

You will not be disappointed in DL. The park is smaller than the Magic Kingdom, but offers more attractions. Some of the attractions that are shared between the two parks are better at DL. These include Pirates and Space Mountain. California Adventure is interesting, but there is not enough there to occupy a full day.

 

[Amber]

Thanks for the input. I live on the east coast and can get airfare to orlando for about half the price of going to CA. There's 3 of us, so that's where my economical comment came from.

Indiana Jones and Space Mountain are 2 things I am really looking forward to if we head to DL, as well as just seeing something different. But we have always loved the feeling at WDW of completely escaping the rest of the world.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I havent been to WDW, so I can't compare the two. But, I can say that we can go to DL and escape the rest of the world. We usually take a shuttle from the airport to the hotel. We walk back and forth to the parks. We eat on site. Everything is close enough that there is no reason to see Anaheim unless you want to.

 

[spokanemom]

You will not be disappointed. And DL is Walt's dream!

 

[Dopey & Grumpy]

We're DW addicts but we've going to DL twice and are planning another trip in Sept. We enjoy DL very much. The park is smaller and, even though they have the same things, some are done differently so it's a different experience. I don't think you'll be disappointed. On the DL site, you can get 1 and 2 day park hoppers so you can visit both parks the same day. This gets you on TOT and Soaring' over California, which are our favorite rides. You don't need to waste a days ticket just for those. This is the first time we've done that so I hope it's as easy to get from DL to California Adventure as it is getting from Universal to Island of Adventure in Florida.

 

[funhouse8]

We're DW addicts but we've going to DL twice and are planning another trip in Sept. We enjoy DL very much. The park is smaller and, even though they have the same things, some are done differently so it's a different experience. I don't think you'll be disappointed. On the DL site, you can get 1 and 2 day park hoppers so you can visit both parks the same day. This gets you on TOT and Soaring' over California, which are our favorite rides. You don't need to waste a days ticket just for those. This is the first time we've done that so I hope it's as easy to get from DL to California Adventure as it is getting from Universal to Island of Adventure in Florida.

It can't get any easier than this. The two parks entrances are right across from each other.

We love WDW and were never disappointed in DL. They are both wonderful in their own right. Go there and enjoy the parks and try not to compare - Just let the magic happen!

 

[GailT]

My wife and I have been to WDW numerous times and love it. This year we decided to try southern California and DL. Our big concern is that we will get out there and just be disapointed with DL after so many trips to WDW. A trip to WDW wold be far more economical, but we would like to give something different a try. Any thoughts?

well I am in your boat too, I have just been to DW but looking forward to DL.....I will not be disappointed no matter what, this is going to be a whole new experience...I will compare but not get disappointed in any way shape or form

 

[CamColt]

Living on the east coast, I have made numerous trips to WDW over the years. I never had much interest in DL, for no real reason, just that I loved WDW so much and DL was twice as far. Due to some circumstances, I started planning our first DL trip for last summer, about a year earlier. I began researching and learning and was quite impressed.

I have now been 3x in the past 6 months and still love it! No, it is not WDW, but for what it is, it is just as magical in its own way. We have just as much fun there and actually prefer some of the attractions. Plus there is a more nostalgic feeling in DL.

 

[judimouse]

First there is great dining at DLR.

Napa Rose
Hook's Pointe
Granville's (my favorite)
Ralph Brenan's
Vineyard Room (Electrical Parade restaurant)

I am at Disneyland every week and I have been to WDW 8 times (9th this Dec) and I always tell people:

DL - Magic Kingdom. DL wins
WDW - DLR. WDW wins

DL is a great 2-5 day trip (depending on what you want to do)
WDW is for a longer period of time (my trips are at least 9 nights)

You can cover so much more ground at DL than WDW. First you can generally walk to the parks (unless you stay away from the DL Hotels or the local hotels on Harbor)

I love my Disneyland but then I grew up watching it begin built so it's always first in my heart.

Contact me if you have questions or you need a Sunday tour guide LOL

 

[1000th happy haunt]

DL - Magic Kingdom. DL wins
WDW - DLR. WDW wins

judimouse is so correct about this. I hate when people compare WDW to Disneyland. It's not the same thing.

Disneyland is heads above the Magic Kingdom. They've got the Indiana Jones Adventure, they've got the Columbia (although it only runs at certain times), the Haunted Mansion has new and better effects, POTC is a longer ride, and the whole atmosphere of the park is different--friendlier and more intimate.

During more crowded times it may be difficult to get around. Around Christmas/NYE, they actually closed the entrance to Adventureland and made it an exit only. You had to enter Adventureland through Frontierland.

But most important, it was Walt's park.

Be sure to look for the lamp above the fire station. That's Walt's apartment. Whenever he was staying there, he turned on the lamp. It's turned on every day now to symbolize Walt still watching over his park.

 

[Now Mom of 3]

We just had the opposite experience. We have been to DL 3 times and just took our first trip to WDW this last Jan. My family and I just love DL. It is my first love. Now we really enjoyed WDW too, only differently. There were quite a few times I was disappointed a little with some things about WDW. Fantasyland there is just not as good as at DL. I was VERY disappointed with Pirates. It was so much shorter and did not have the drops like DL's. I was also somewhat disappointed with IASW, Peter Pan, and Big Thunder, thought I could not allways put my finger on why. Oh, and some of my favorite rides are only at DL, like the Matterhorn, Alice and Indiana Jones.

Don't get me wrong. We loved WDW too. DL just feels different to me in a way I like. I would suggest reading up on what special things it has because of Walt's personal touch, then looking for them when you get there. I'm sure you will have a great time. I might also suggest going to at least see the ocean. The CA coastline is just so beautiful. I regret missing out on that our last trip.

 

[judimouse]

My take on Fantasmic

Seating WDW - DL WDW wins

Show WDW - DL DL wins

I am lucky as I have a fellow co-worker that is a CM for Fantasmic Pyrotech so about 4 times a year I get to sit in area not available to the general public. Last time was two weekends ago and our names were not on the list but we did get to stand and watch for a great area. Co-worker was not happy our names were not on the list. LOL

As for the show DL wins hands down. The first time I saw WDW Fantasmic I started laughing at the end. What were they thinking with the Steamboat Willie Boat. Ok, I know they do not have the Rivers of America to work with but really. Once you see the Columbia and the Mark Twain in Fantasmic WDW really falls short.

Is the dessert balcony worth the cost. To me no, as I have been there done that way too many times. For first timers maybe. If you get to the Riverbelle you can usually find seating or at least standing room. The late show is not as crowded as the earlier show.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[sheryl0521]

Great thread - we are WDW veterans (just there last week) and taking a trip to DL for the 1st time in over 5 years in April. I was starting to think it was a bad idea, but I am now getting more excited.
Thanks for the posts!

 

[Chicago526]

I think the only thing that truely disapointed me is the castle at DL. It's just so...underwelming.

That said, DL is a wonderful park. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's better than Magic Kingdom, but it is just as good, with some aspects being much better. Fantasyland is much better designed, from a themeing stand-point, than MK for example.

DCA is, well, it's not bad, but it's not Disney's best effort, either. It needs more attractions, for sure. The rides they do have are quite good though.

I didn't get that "resort" feel from DLR, it's just too small and in the middle of a very well developed area. But it's still a fantastic time. Being from Chicago, my air fare is about the same to CA as it is to FL, so DLR is a great option for us when we need a Disney fix but are short on cash. We got a hotel on Harbor Blvd for $59 a night, the park tickets are MUCH cheaper, and since we don't need to stay as long, that cuts down on meals (and the hotel bill even further). I figure the same trip to WDW would run us at least double.

 

[ktulu]

Been to both, I prefer WDW as an overall Disney only vacation. I have family in the SoCal area, so I like to visit there. I'll take DL over MK anyday, the number one reason, LONGER POTC! Just keep in mind that DLR is not WDW, but the magic still exisits

darren

 

[Shawn]

I've timed Pirates and it's either 13 or 16 minutes at DL,
and is a wonderful ride. Heads up though, it is down
for renovation right now and will be til this summer sometime -- July? I'm sure others on here know. If you are flexible in your vacation planning, you may want to take that into account.

Also, the monorail is in 'shuttle mode' right now, due to rehabs at the lagoon.

We are heading there in May. You should not be disappointed in DL though. It's just wonderful.

-Shawn

 

[Amber]

Okay. I think I am feeling more comforable with th Disneyland thing now. I have a better idea what to expect. Sounds like it's not Disney World, but still Disney. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[sammatt]

I'm surprised noone has mentioned It's a Small World being SO much better at Disneyland. My DH laughed hysterically and called me "Small World snob" at WDW because I kept pointing out what was missing. The ride is longer and has much more to see in Disneyland. Plus, the exterior is so much greater, due to not needing to be sheltered from the storms of Florida.