DLR vs WDW

[Marijil]

Being a WDW veteran and having just returned from DLR, here are a few thoughts on how they compare....

Disneyland vs Magic Kingdom...overall WDW is run better and more "corporate", this is good and bad...there is an authenticity at DL that simply cannot be recreated. However, the folks in Cali have alot to learn from Florida when it comes to crowd control, guest services, dining, fast passes....

The fastpass situation (I was there over the holiday week) in DLR is abysmal. California Adventure opened at 8. When you walked in at 730 you could immediately see the line to obtain a fastpass for RSR.... the wait TO GET A FASTPASS for RSR was an hour...fastpasses where not available for several big ticket attractions at DLR including Matterhorn, Toy Story, Peter Pan...didnt make sense...people who had a fastpass for soarin still waited on a 45 minute line to ride...

The dining options in DLR are much fewer and poorer than WDW. The meal plan is basically dollar for dollar and doesnt make sense. Whatever you do stay away from the PCH Grill in Paradise Pier Resort...it was one of the few places you could walk into and I know why...

I walked into city hall in DL because i figured id pick up a Downtown Disney map...there were none..the cast member i talked to was polite but confused by the request....said she could go in back and print one off of her computer...????

But...key attractions like SW and Pirates and SM are far superior in California...more intense, detailed, longer and just better...and in my opinion Indiana Jones and the Aladdin musical are two of the best attractions ever...

Just one person's opinion

 

[Mickey_777]

Well I think they're both run in just as corporate a fashion as the other. A clear example of this is how they're making a DL Christmas a pay-to-get-in event next year ala MVMCP. They've never charged for the parade and fireworks up until now. Folks out there are not happy.

Lots of people are of the opinion that DL park is more authentic and intimate and charming etc...but I don't get any of that when I'm there because I feel those things at MK as well. But that's just me I guess.

My only gripe with FP's at DL is that (to me) you can't get into a flow or rhythm because of where the attractions are located. For example: at MK you can grap a FP for Splash then walk right next door to either Pirates or BTMRR. Worst case scenario you can cross over to HM and head back when it's time. And you can hit HoP also if there's still time. I always have a hard time getting into a ride rhythm at DL for some reason. If there was an attraction between BTMRR and Pirates in DL (besides RoA) I think I'd navigate better. The exception might be what I call "the strip" where Pooh, Splash, HM, Pirates, Indy, JC, and Tiki room are. But there are some serious and crowded bottleneck areas there that make it tough to get in and out. I don't know maybe I'm wierd.

My wife and I really, really like the dining options at DLR over WDW. Everything is right there within quick walking distance. Tons of choices especially given how DTD is right there.

I must say City Hall isn't a place I'd look when seeking a DTD map in Anaheim. I don't think I've ever seen a printed one out there. Well at least she was nice enough to print one out for you right?

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Overall, wait times for Peter Pan and Toy Story Midway Mania are vastly lower, even at peak times, than their counterparts at Walt Disney World. The only reason is because these attractions don't need Fastpass - it mucks up their operation and makes it harder for everyone to ride. There's no reason Midway Mania should have a 90 minute line on an off-season weekday - but it happens all the time at DHS. Never happens at DCA. The Matterhorn has no room for a Fastpass queue - nowhere to put it (and frankly, neither does Peter Pan).

There must have been some sort of issue with the attraction when you visited Soarin' - Fastpass usually doesn't subject you to much longer than 15 minutes there.

DTD has no map because it's not that big. It's just a long walkway.

The DLR Dining Plan just simply isn't - it's a waste of money and time. You're far better off just paying out of pocket here.

I will politely disagree with you on crowd control - DLR has crowd control down to a fine science, especially during Fantasmic and fireworks shows. WDW is often a free-for-all, which is neither safe nor conducive to a good guest experience.

Indiana Jones is awesome, huh? Glad you enjoyed your trip.

 

[TP2000]

Just out of curiosity, why did you want a printed map of Downtown Disney? They have basic mall directories throughout the mall there, but I've never thought about needing or wanting a paper version like you'd need to explore a theme park. It's just a long strip of stores and restaurants, so not sure how you could get lost.

But it was nice to hear the hostess was nice enough to offer to print one up for you off the computer.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

I've been going back and forth with planning a trip for early May. WDW, or DLR? It'll be me and my Mom, just a girls trip. As much as I'm loving the idea of several parks (to which I've never been to any) versus Disneyland (which I have been to- about 14 years ago!- was at DCA, if you want to count parking there ) but there's just something that's so tempting about DLR itself.

Distance wise, DLR is a lot more traveling, plane transfers, etc. than WDW would be.

I love reading comparision posts like yours, it's giving me a better idea of what to 'expect', more or less. Worse dining in DLR (ok with that, really. We're not "sit down" diners so much- forever on the move) and more compact... versus better dining options (but having to book in advance? that sucks) and spread out.. Hm. Tough call.

Thanks for posting your thoughts.

 

[Marijil]

Just wanted a map to see where a particular restaurant was.....wasn't worried about getting lost.....and yes they do have a map, unless the cast member drafted it on the spot. In wdw, downtown disney is also a "strip of stores and restaurants" yet you can get a map at every resort ......and city hall

I know it was a holiday week but both Peter Pan and Toy Story were over 75 minutes

Have to respectfully disagree on the dining...more quality options in Epcot resort area alone(Epcot, yacht beach and boardwalk) than in all of dlr.....

 

[flynnibus]

However, the folks in Cali have alot to learn from Florida when it comes to crowd control, guest services, dining, fast passes....

DL has largely shied away from Fastpass. This isn't mis handling.. but an explicit choice. They even took FP AWAY from attractions after putting it in initially. In the original DL, it has a lot to do with space. But even in new attraction additions, they do not add FP. They focus on efficency and in general the crowd tolerance for waits is less out there. Obviously being there during the busiest time of the year will lead to longer waits. Usually TSMM is only about 30-40mins.. and only the true marque attractions get over an hour. Longest we waited last week during 10/10 days was 75mins. The same period in WDW... there were many many attractions over 100mins.

The line at RSR has nothing to do with management either - it's because it's so dang popular and new. TSMM is the same at DHS.

The dining options in DLR are much fewer and poorer than WDW. The meal plan is basically dollar for dollar and doesnt make sense. Whatever you do stay away from the PCH Grill in Paradise Pier Resort...it was one of the few places you could walk into and I know why...

Dining is an area where DLR is lighter weight than WDW and most locals acknowledge that. That said.. you can get a reservation at nearly every DLR place on short notice.. and most places you can get into with just walk-ups. We were not able to get into the Wine Terrace resturant tho on walk-up.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

I love reading comparision posts like yours, it's giving me a better idea of what to 'expect', more or less. Worse dining in DLR (ok with that, really. We're not "sit down" diners so much- forever on the move) and more compact... versus better dining options (but having to book in advance? that sucks) and spread out.. Hm. Tough call.

If you're not really into sit-down dining, then DLR more than holds up against WDW. DLR has really been investing in their counter service places the past few years. My completely unsubstantiated theory is that this is to convince the locals to eat in the parks instead of stopping at the drive-thru on the way home. The only counter service food that I think you'll be missing from WDW is some of the World Showcase stuff... Japanese food (although there is teriyaki at Lucky Fortune Cookery), fish & chips, etc. Plus, the resort is so compact, you can basically pick from whichever restaurant you want on any given day.

Here's some menus:
Village Haus
Hungry Bear
Bengal Barbecue
French Market
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe

DCA:
Flo's V8 Cafe
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
Paradise Garden Grill
Lucky Fortune Cookery