Disney Land Advice

[Californian Elitist]

Really? Happiest place on Earth, how could anyone hate it? (well, there are more than one happiest places on Earth) Well, ours is vastly different. I know you've never been to WDW (the Disneyland people complain about how much walking it is btw, so if you go, just be aware) but I really like both, though I prefer WDW. Could not spend 2 weeks in DL (or 19 days, our record trip. Wasn't supposed to be that long, something about a hurricane back home). But we just have way more to do, and part of the fun is just chilling, walking around and enjoying the ambiance. We've also got more hotels, water parks, Downtown Disney is about 3 times the size of DL's. There's really no reason to leave the property once you get there unless you're planning a side trip to Universal or someplace. And there are very few spots you can see outside of the property from (Top of Bay Lake Tower/Contemporary, top of Everest, top of Summit Plummit, balloon ride at Downtown Disney, there's more but I can't think of them right now) so you're very secluded from the outside world. At DL, you have no trouble getting back into the real world.

Personally, I like DLP better than Magic Kingdom. There's more rides and I like that it's more consolidated. If I lived in SoCal instead of on the east coast, I would be happy with DL. Our disney-nut friends (who we know from real life) all like DL.

Disneyland is actually the only resort to go by "The Happiest Place on Earth". You can't have more than on happiest place on earth.

Just a couple of days ago someone here said they hated Disneyland.

The difference between a DLR vacation and a WDW vacation is DLR is an attraction and WDW is a destination. California is a destination and the DLR is an attraction. You come and visit Disneyland, then you explore the rest of what California has to offer.

I can't wait to experience WDW for myself one day. I'm planning to go sometime after 2015.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Good. That's exactly what we did. Five day hopper, Grand Californian, we're set. Glad to know we're on the right track. Though last time we got a six day hopper. If I recall correctly, they don't offer those anymore. We chose GC last time because DL hotel was under renovation. I have asthma, and although they usually are very good at sealing it off, my parents didn't want to risk it. This time we chose GC because my mother likes how close it is to the parks. We still have dinner planned one night at Steakhouse 55 (my dad loved it) so we'll spend some time there.

Is Paradise Pier not as good? We didn't have the chance to walk over there.

Paradise Pier is a wonderful hotel. I've stayed there and I loved it. For some reason, a lot of WDW vets don't like it. That's why I didn't bother to mention it.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Disneyland is actually the only resort to go by "The Happiest Place on Earth". You can't have more than on happiest place on earth.

Just a couple of days ago someone here said they hated Disneyland.

The difference between a DLR vacation and a WDW vacation is DLR is an attraction and WDW is a destination. California is a destination and the DLR is an attraction. You come and visit Disneyland, then you explore the rest of what California has to offer.

I can't wait to experience WDW for myself one day. I'm planning to go sometime after 2015.

That's a good time. We're getting some new stuff, so it should be done. Right now, Fantasyland is still under renovation.

And yes, WDW is called the happiest place on earth. I definitely agree with you on the SoCal/WDW thing though. Which is why we're doing 6 days in SoCal, 5 at DL and one day at Hollywood (on an Adventures by Disney thing, so it should be better than a straight tour) then heading over to Aulani for 8 days. I still can't believe someone hates DL.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

We are thinking about visiting San Diego while we are there too. About how far is the ride?

It's like going from Baltimore to Philly. Or DC to Baltimore. (can you tell where I'm from? Lol). It's about 1 1/2-2 hours, but it's a really pretty drive.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Disneyland is actually the only resort to go by "The Happiest Place on Earth". You can't have more than on happiest place on earth.

That's a good time. We're getting some new stuff, so it should be done. Right now, Fantasyland is still under renovation.

And yes, WDW is called the happiest place on earth. I

Technically WDW is "The Most Magical Place on Earth".

 

[Californian Elitist]

That's a good time. We're getting some new stuff, so it should be done. Right now, Fantasyland is still under renovation.

And yes, WDW is called the happiest place on earth. I definitely agree with you on the SoCal/WDW thing though. Which is why we're doing 6 days in SoCal, 5 at DL and one day at Hollywood (on an Adventures by Disney thing, so it should be better than a straight tour) then heading over to Aulani for 8 days. I still can't believe someone hates DL.

No. The DLR is referred to as "The Happiest Place on Earth". That has been it's nickname since forever. WDW is officially referred to as "The Vacation Kingdom". The people who refer the DLR as "The Happiest Place on Earth" are people who don't know any better.

It sounds like you have a great trip coming up!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Technically WDW is "The Most Magical Place on Earth".

I think Magic Kingdom is referred to as that.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Paradise Pier is a wonderful hotel. I've stayed there and I loved it. For some reason, a lot of WDW vets don't like it. That's why I didn't bother to mention it.

Ironically, we're not used to characters being in our hotels unless we're at a cheaper resort. Characters are usually no where to be found. Paradise Pier looks like it's covered in characters from what I've seen of it. We liked GC better than DLH for that reason. Plus we like the shorter walks. We get spoiled out there, even though it's a normal walk to Paradise Pier comparatively. And if you use the monorail, it's shorter. We'll probably check it out while we're there.

That's the other thing we're not used to. The Monorail. You don't need a pass to ride it in WDW, and it functions more as a mode of transportation. You get between 3 hotels, parking, MK, and Epcot with the monorail. The DL has two stops, and we found it generally useless. It seems more like an attraction than anything. It helps that ours dumps us in front of the parks and not in the middle of Tomorrowland. We complained that we've never waited so long for a Monorail ride. We had to wait 30 minutes. The only time you have to wait that long in WDW is closing time. Our trains are also longer since the track shape doesn't twist like it does in DL.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Ironically, we're not used to characters being in our hotels unless we're at a cheaper resort. Characters are usually no where to be found. Paradise Pier looks like it's covered in characters from what I've seen of it. We liked GC better than DLH for that reason. Plus we like the shorter walks. We get spoiled out there, even though it's a normal walk to Paradise Pier comparatively. And if you use the monorail, it's shorter. We'll probably check it out while we're there.

That's the other thing we're not used to. The Monorail. You don't need a pass to ride it in WDW, and it functions more as a mode of transportation. You get between 3 hotels, parking, MK, and Epcot with the monorail. The DL has two stops, and we found it generally useless. It seems more like an attraction than anything. It helps that ours dumps us in front of the parks and not in the middle of Tomorrowland. We complained that we've never waited so long for a Monorail ride. We had to wait 30 minutes. The only time you have to wait that long in WDW is closing time. Our trains are also longer since the track shape doesn't twist like it does in DL.

The Monorail is an attraction at DL.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I think Magic Kingdom is referred to as that.

Right now it's getting referred to more as "Let the memories begin." The whole place is "Where dreams come true". I know in the past they've called in the Happiest Place on Earth. Courtesy of my brother, I've seen the old Disney planning DVDs enough times to know that.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

No. The DLR is referred to as "The Happiest Place on Earth". That has been it's nickname since forever. WDW is officially referred to as "The Vacation Kingdom". The people who refer the DLR as "The Happiest Place on Earth" are people who don't know any better.

It sounds like you have a great trip coming up!

It used to be (like I posted just now) but they're getting away from it. Yes, we do have a great trip! I just wanted to go back to Disneyland since I'm graduating and this is MY trip, but then my dad says, "Hey, you wanna go to Aulani?" And who am I to say no? We own there, so it was easy to get in. I like Aulani better than Honolulu. I'm really excited to go. I haven't been in four years. We wanted to go back last year but couldn't get a room on points, so we went to Hawaii instead. I'm also really excited to get grad gear while I'm there. And the celebration pin. I was so happy to get one of those first visit pins when I went last time. It hangs on my wall. I'm way beyond WDW first visits.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

The Monorail is an attraction at DL.

Definately. Which WDW people don't like. But it is a nice way to get a view of the resort.

 

[RandomPrincess]

I think Magic Kingdom is referred to as that.

You are right it is the MK not all of Disney World.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Right now it's getting referred to more as "Let the memories begin." The whole place is "Where dreams come true". I know in the past they've called in the Happiest Place on Earth. Courtesy of my brother, I've seen the old Disney planning DVDs enough times to know that.

Clearly that was a mistake. If both DL and MK were the happiest place on earth, the slogan would read Disneyland: One of the happiest places on earth. There's only one happiest place on earth, and that's the Disneyland Resort.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Clearly that was a mistake. If both DL and MK were the happiest place on earth, the slogan would read Disneyland: One of the happiest places on earth. There's only one happiest place on earth, and that's the Disneyland Resort.

I saw a commercial for WDW today. It showed The Astro Orbitor at DL, the Jedi Training Academy at DL and the Tea Cups at DL. But they voice over kept saying Florida and Walt Disney World. Yes all of those thing exist in WDW but they don't look exactly the same. It seem Disney doesn't care about keeping each park straight. I can see where tag lines are being used in both parks.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Clearly that was a mistake. If both DL and MK were the happiest place on earth, the slogan would read Disneyland: One of the happiest places on earth. There's only one happiest place on earth, and that's the Disneyland Resort.

They were doing it for a while. I questioned it when I went to DL for the first time. I think we outsmarted them and they took it away. I still have my planning DVD from 2003. I should pull it out because I believe they call it the happiest place on earth on there. DL does deserve the slogan more because Walt called it "this happy place". But you know, how can you beat dreams coming true? When they did DL's 50th anniversary, they did the Happiest Celebration on Earth at WDW too, and while they were at it, they gave every park a new ride (A show at MK, Soarin' at Epcot, Lights, Motors, Action at DHS, and Everest at Animal Kingdom, which was slightly delayed), the point of which was that every ride minus Everest came from a different Disney theme park. They also did parades from around the world as well that year.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I saw a commercial for WDW today. It showed The Astro Orbitor at DL, the Jedi Training Academy at DL and the Tea Cups at DL. But they voice over kept saying Florida and Walt Disney World. Yes all of those thing exist in WDW but they don't look exactly the same. It seem Disney doesn't care about keeping each park straight. I can see where tag lines are being used in both parks.

They do that with all of their commercials! It irritates me. At least shoot in the right place! I'm glad I'm not the only one who that bugs.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I saw a commercial for WDW today. It showed The Astro Orbitor at DL, the Jedi Training Academy at DL and the Tea Cups at DL. But they voice over kept saying Florida and Walt Disney World. Yes all of those thing exist in WDW but they don't look exactly the same. It seem Disney doesn't care about keeping each park straight. I can see where tag lines are being used in both parks.

I think they do that simply because it's easier to film at Disneyland. Nobody's vacation will be ruined (LOL) and DL is on California, where the majority of the Disney company is stationed.

 

[Californian Elitist]

They were doing it for a while. I questioned it when I went to DL for the first time. I think we outsmarted them and they took it away. I still have my planning DVD from 2003. I should pull it out because I believe they call it the happiest place on earth on there. DL does deserve the slogan more because Walt called it "this happy place". But you know, how can you beat dreams coming true? When they did DL's 50th anniversary, they did the Happiest Celebration on Earth at WDW too, and while they were at it, they gave every park a new ride (A show at MK, Soarin' at Epcot, Lights, Motors, Action at DHS, and Everest at Animal Kingdom, which was slightly delayed), the point of which was that every ride minus Everest came from a different Disney theme park. They also did parades from around the world as well that year.

Yes, I remember the 50th. It was a fabulous time and we received the best firework show ever.

I'm glad each park got something new, too.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Yes, I remember the 50th. It was a fabulous time and we received the best firework show ever.

I'm glad each park got something new, too.

50th year was awesome! I made it to DL 3 times during the 50th and WDW once. It was an expensive year - lol. My poor husband put up with it though. He knows the love of DL runs deep. It's funny because at the he start of the 50th I didn't think I would make it to DL at all.