Yet Another DL for WDW Vets Post

[DetroitDisney]

Loved your post

We are WDW vets who go at least every other year. We did a hard core DLR visit in 2011 and were blown away, then when we went to WDW in 2013 we were fairly disappointed, especially with MK.

In 26 days we will go to DLR again and I will be interested to see how it compares to WDW again.

I think you'll be blown away again. The only advantage MK has is new fantasyland, and DL more than makes up for it.

Speaking of. I forgot to mention Fantasy Faire in my original post. I loved this area. The lighthearted and comedic shows are just so great.

 

[Diszona]

Epcot probably falls under the banner of nostalgia. Much in the same way that I didnt really enjoy the Matterhorn. Most of futureworld is pretty dumb, but I cant help but loving it way too much.

Yeah, I would agree with this. I know this isn't a popular opinion but The EPCOT Center of 25 years ago was probably my favorite park of all time. Now it is mostly nostalgia that leaves me with such a high opinion of it. The original continues to get distorted with Frozen taking over Maelstrom (though it will make my daughter happy the next time we visit).

 

[Mister Skellington]

I am very torn on the DL vs. MK discussion. I love the size of DL and it's proximity to DCA. Pirates as mentioned is far superior at DL.Fantasmic is superior as well. I do find myself missing Carousel of Progress, the "big" castle, and Mickey's Philharmagic! If I had to choose, DL wins even without the extra elbow room.


With regards to Epcot, my favorite of all Disney "events' is Food and Wine at Epcot. I too am disappointed to see the "toons" making themselves a home in the World Showcase.

My last trip to DCA, Cars Land was in the final stages of completion. We are headed down the end of the month to see it. WOC is AMAZING.
You really can't go wrong with either resort,but I will give an edge to Florida. Expedition Everest anyone?

 

[HydroGuy]

WOC is AMAZING.

You really can't go wrong with either resort,but I will give an edge to Florida. Expedition Everest anyone?

 

[DetroitDisney]

I am very torn on the DL vs. MK discussion. I love the size of DL and it's proximity to DCA. Pirates as mentioned is far superior at DL.Fantasmic is superior as well. I do find myself missing Carousel of Progress, the "big" castle, and Mickey's Philharmagic! If I had to choose, DL wins even without the extra elbow room.


With regards to Epcot, my favorite of all Disney "events' is Food and Wine at Epcot. I too am disappointed to see the "toons" making themselves a home in the World Showcase.

My last trip to DCA, Cars Land was in the final stages of completion. We are headed down the end of the month to see it. WOC is AMAZING.
You really can't go wrong with either resort,but I will give an edge to Florida. Expedition Everest anyone?

Expedition Everest is phenomenal. I'm looking forward to more fun in AK to make it a full day park.

I know this isn't the thread, but that stupid dinosaur ride needs to go extinct.

 

[Blue32]

I think you'll be blown away again. The only advantage MK has is new fantasyland, and DL more than makes up for it.

Speaking of. I forgot to mention Fantasy Faire in my original post. I loved this area. The lighthearted and comedic shows are just so great.

I'm not sure MK has the advantage with new FL either. I have not ridden the Mine Train yet but I have seen pictures and have seen the rest of MK's new additions and for me, they still don't stack up to DL's FL. I love the nostalgia of all the dark rides that don't exist in Florida, the exterior look of all these buildings, and the absolutely charming Storybook Land Canal Boats.

I agree about Fantasy Faire. Those short shows are great!

 

[larryz]

Expedition Everest is phenomenal. I'm looking forward to more fun in AK to make it a full day park.

I know this isn't the thread, but that stupid dinosaur ride needs to go extinct.

Between Dinosaur and Indiana Jones, Dinosaur is clearly the loser.

 

[princessmocha]

Reading your post makes me sooo happy. It has been 22 years since I was last at DL . . . I miss it. We have been to WDW several times and this will be my kids first visit at Christmastime. I get worried that they aren't going to enjoy it as much as I did a child. I have so many fond memories. I can't wait to be there again.

 

[Diszona]

Between Dinosaur and Indiana Jones, Dinosaur is clearly the loser.

Dinosaur clearly suffers compared to IJ, but I don't think it is a bad ride in and of itself. The biggest problem is half the effects don't work on it which really hurts the ride experience.

 

[Diszona]

Reading your post makes me sooo happy. It has been 22 years since I was last at DL . . . I miss it. We have been to WDW several times and this will be my kids first visit at Christmastime. I get worried that they aren't going to enjoy it as much as I did a child. I have so many fond memories. I can't wait to be there again.

You will have a blast. I grew up going to WDW and it will always have a nostalgic hold on me but if I am being honest I have grown to prefer DL and am glad that we live close enough that my kids are making memories there.

 

[Mister Skellington]

Dinosaur clearly suffers compared to IJ, but I don't think it is a bad ride in and of itself. The biggest problem is half the effects don't work on it which really hurts the ride experience.

Agree, when it is working I like Dinosaur better than IJ. I was such a huge Indiana Jones fan growing up and the ride to me just doesn't do it justice. I had such high hopes too.

 

[cdatkins]

I'm not sure MK has the advantage with new FL either. I have not ridden the Mine Train yet but I have seen pictures and have seen the rest of MK's new additions and for me, they still don't stack up to DL's FL. I love the nostalgia of all the dark rides that don't exist in Florida, the exterior look of all these buildings, and the absolutely charming Storybook Land Canal Boats.

I agree about Fantasy Faire. Those short shows are great!

I greatly prefer FantasyLand at DL, even with the improvements at MK. There is an intimacy and charm to FL at DL that just does not exist at MK. And, like, many many more rides and attractions to enjoy.

 

[knitster]

I took my husband and kids to DL for the first time 3 weeks ago (I'd been when I was 4 and 14) and I agree with every positive thing you said about DL/DCA. And DL being Walt's park needs to be on the list like 150 times - it makes such an immense difference that cannot be put into words.

 

[DetroitDisney]

Agree, when it is working I like Dinosaur better than IJ. I was such a huge Indiana Jones fan growing up and the ride to me just doesn't do it justice. I had such high hopes too.

Maybe I've never seen the ride working then. My main issue is that it's too dark and you can't see anything.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

Glad to hear you had such a good time. I agree with everything you said except I'd put DCA as my #3 park after DL and MK.

You picked a great week to visit, I went last week also and the parks were fairly slow with no majors down for rehab. The only negatives of last week were the temp and the limited nighttime entertainment, I think that was the hottest visit I've had all year.

The quality of the Matterhorn really depends on which side you get, the right side is pretty rough but is still very fun, the left side is downright painful and I don't find it fun. I wish they'd add a couple inches of foam on the bottom and side of each seat, the current seats have so little cushioning I think they could replace them with a piece of wood and people wouldn't tell the difference.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Dinosaur clearly suffers compared to IJ, but I don't think it is a bad ride in and of itself. The biggest problem is half the effects don't work on it which really hurts the ride experience.

That's actually a problem right now at Disneyland, too, thanks to 2013's DOSHA safety fines. It's the reason Splash Mountain is so dark and empty in places, as well as lack of normal illumination in parts of Haunted Mansion and I'm sure other rides. One of the usual-suspect fan websites noted that lack of fall protection is preventing ceiling lights and audio-animatronic characters to be fixed or returned to their correct places until refurb work is done.

 

[GatorChris]

Things I could do without:
1. Really limited showings of fireworks and things like fantasmic. I understand why, but it's still frustrating for someone that loves fireworks.
2. The Matterhorn. Wasn't impressed. Perhaps I just don't have the nostalgia to make up for the cracked ribs and back pain this ride causes.
3. DCA is clearly better than when it opened, but I still think the carnival rides of the boardwalk are stupid. This park is almost truly amazing. It's certainly #4 after DL, MK, and EPCOT.
4. Sorry DL folks, but I miss WDW's castle.

If California had EPCOT as a 3rd gate, I probably would be full time for DL resort. Since I love EPCOT and the disney bubble, I will probably continue to visit WDW regularly.

Definitely agree with this list. I like spending a week at Disney Parks, and we go in the off-season because holidays are when I'm busy. 1)So that means no fireworks everynight and no Fantasmic! every night. I miss that about WDW. 2) Don't get the Matterhorn facination - that ride hurts. 3) Carnival section really needs to go - totally lame. Think of the ride they could put in if they'd get rid of those pay-to-play games. 4) YES! WDW's castle is sooooo much better. It gives the entire park, the entire resort, a more majestic feel.

As for the Disney Bubble, I miss being in that at WDW. Even staying at Paradise Pier last year, I just couldn't get in that groove.

 

[GatorChris]

Maybe I've never seen the ride working then. My main issue is that it's too dark and you can't see anything.

That's the whole point of the ride. By being dark and having these horrible creatures sneaking around and chasing you down, it creates a primal fear that you could actually be eaten. I swear I got some DNA past down to me from some dude that ran from a lot of Dinosaurs. That last dino scares the crap out of me everytime!

 

[DetroitDisney]

That's actually a problem right now at Disneyland, too, thanks to 2013's DOSHA safety fines. It's the reason Splash Mountain is so dark and empty in places, as well as lack of normal illumination in parts of Haunted Mansion and I'm sure other rides. One of the usual-suspect fan websites noted that lack of fall protection is preventing ceiling lights and audio-animatronic characters to be fixed or returned to their correct places until refurb work is done.

I did notice at the start of the week that certain elements of pirates were not working, but most were functioning by the end of the week. Not sure if it's related or not.

 

[DetroitDisney]

So I wanted to take my recent experience and put it back in the direction of Florida. I was just comparing the maps and realizing how much really isnt in MK. I'm honestly really disappointed now, because I am realizing how much better DL really is.

I only say disappointed because I always viewed Florida as my home park. Literally, if Cali had Epcot I would probably never go back to Florida at this point.

I suppose to take the whole point of this trip (and ultimately this thread), was to see if what I had heard about DL (that it was smaller and less important) was true. I just cant imagine how people can honestly have visited both parks and find DL inferior in any way.

After further reflection, the only real "negatives" I can even muster are:
-No Epcot
-No Disney "bubble"
-Limited fireworks/parades

Compared to the positives, its not even an issue.