People don't read! That was from 2006! Read my follow up! Holy $&@!
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Floridians: Go see DL, Boycott WDW
- Thread starter PeterAlt
- Start date
juniorthomas
Well-Known Member
I gave up reading in 2005. JUST missed it.
juniorthomas
Well-Known Member
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I was talking to you a you that was, in fact, 7 years younger. Apologies for the incredibly late snark.
The first time I went to DL was 2005. This was still the during the Cynthia Harris era. Litterally, nothing was open because this was soon after the BTMRR fatality. I did get to see PotC (before the movie tie-in upgrades), IASW, all of Toon Town and Fantasyland. By 11-something am, there was nothing left open for me to see. All the mountains were closed, Haunted Mansion was closed for its transformation. I was quite ed. So, I stormed into Guest Relations and demanded a free ticket to DCA. I told them that I flew all the way from Florida to see the other Disney park, only to find that nothing was open and that if I wanted to see anything I had to buy another ticket to be admitted into DCA.
Of course, the response I got was "Sir, we cannot help you. We post which attractions will be open or close ahead of time and that information is easily available to the public. You have no excuse for not checking..."
I demanded to see her manager. I got the same response. I demanded to see the manager above her. I don't remember how many levels up I got, but I went pretty much to the top of Disneyland's command chain to finally get the response I wanted: "We apologize for the closures. Please accept this complimentary one day one park ticket for admittance into DCA on our behalf and enjoy the remainder of your stay in California!"
Even with free admittance into DCA, it was still not enough to see in one day. I enjoyed California Screaming and Soaring Over California (before EPCOT's was even announced). Their version of Twilight Tower of Terror was under construction. I bragged to everyone there "wait until it opens... You guys will love it... It's one of my favorites rides of all four Florida parks!" Later I would learn that Disney cut $50 million off DCA's TZToT, namely the Fourth Dimension scene - the best part of the ride! So, two years later when TZToT opened there, I was made to look like a fool as my California friends wondered why Floridians made such a big deal over it!
Any way, despite the few rides I was able to see on my first trip there and the fact that Harris and Company were well into their campaign of raging havoc, I was really, really blown away by the scale of details, amount of ride content, life-like AA's, ambiance, story, suspension of disbelief, opening transition, etc. of PotC that is not found in the WDW version! I was equally impressed with their version of IASW - its que, its show building that's like a land within a land, and the fact that the DL version is long enough to actually relax on and rest your tired feet that's been walking all day! I thought I would never like IASW as much as I liked the DL version. I liked the WDW version as a kid, but as an adult the WDW version is a bit of a schlep with annoying music. I was even impressed with Toon Toon, as it looks as if it got a decent budget to work with!
I went back to DL in 2006 and took my sister with me this time. Everything was mostly open this time. We saw Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, the newly upgraded PotC with Johnny Depp, Haunted Mansion, Buzz Light Year, Matterhorn Mountain, etc. I just couldn't believe how much better Space Mountain was. I was amazed that all the special effects in Haunted Mansion had been modernized and working perfectly, in sync with the ride and the digital sound track. I was surprised that even Buzz Light Year was longer and more detailed than the WDW version. I was shocked that they had a great modern immersively themed perfect E-ticket - Indiana Jones - that isn't even found at any of WDW's four parks!
A few months later, my family - including my cousins - spent a few days at AKL. I could not enjoy the WDW attractions, like I did at DL. Space Mountain with its rough tracks and 70's technology... I was actually embarrassed for Disney about how bad the WDW version is. The effects weren't working and were out of sync at the Haunted Mansion then in 2006. Dolls and background sets were broken every where at IASW. Splash Mountain was the only MK ride I actually was proud of in Florida! It was some time after that trip when I posted the message that started this thread.
englanddg
One Little Spark...
Funny, because I literally just came back from DL last month, and I don't care to go back anytime soon, not for the cost. Though, their version of Pirates is far superior, the Park as a whole just doesn't do it for me.
However, I do think they still have many things going for them that seem to have been lost at late at WDW. Attention to detail and little things, like the Main Street USA vehicles, and characters were everywhere. I remember when WDW was like that.
But, overall, DL just couldn't win me over. Everything just felt small...like a first draft of WDW (Which, it was)...
I have a review due comparing DLC to WDW, and I'm doing my best to keep it unbiased...it's drug on the writing process dramatically.
Opinions, opinions.
However, I do think they still have many things going for them that seem to have been lost at late at WDW. Attention to detail and little things, like the Main Street USA vehicles, and characters were everywhere. I remember when WDW was like that.
But, overall, DL just couldn't win me over. Everything just felt small...like a first draft of WDW (Which, it was)...
I have a review due comparing DLC to WDW, and I'm doing my best to keep it unbiased...it's drug on the writing process dramatically.
Opinions, opinions.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
This thread began seven years ago. Don't you think the OP's opinions may have changed?
By the way, what is DLC? And DL was not a first draft of WDW. You guys make me laugh when you say things like that?
hiptwinmama
Well-Known Member
NIce idea... but I don't have an extra $2K sitting in my pocket to fly the entire family CA, when we live 7 hours from WDW.
I live on the West Coast and as a result have been to DL (5 times) more than WDW (2 times). In 2001, I went to WDW for the first time and was amazed. I went there again in 2007, and had an equally great time. And now again, I will be going later this year.
I have always like WDW over DL. Maybe it's because I don't go as often as some, but I am able to completely become immersed in Disney at either park. What I really like is the quantity that WDW offers. I have never noticed some of these details/issues that WDW has. I likely won't notice it when I am there this time either. But what I will enjoy is the amount of things to do. I can absolutely do everything I want to do at DL and California Adventure in 4 days, and then some. Where as WDW, I would miss so much if that was my time frame.
For me it's a matter of how many days of a trip do I have? If it's over a week= WDW, every time! For me on the West Coast the higher cost of airfare to Florida (over flying to DL) is compensated by the less expensive accommodations Florida offers. It is true that there is a different feel at DL, but to me much of that is size. And I would also say nostalgia, but not so much so that it would ever make me choose DL over being able to go to WDW.
Saying all that. PotC is much better at DL, and Indiana Jones is a very fun ride. However, WDW has tons of things that DL just doesn't.
I have always like WDW over DL. Maybe it's because I don't go as often as some, but I am able to completely become immersed in Disney at either park. What I really like is the quantity that WDW offers. I have never noticed some of these details/issues that WDW has. I likely won't notice it when I am there this time either. But what I will enjoy is the amount of things to do. I can absolutely do everything I want to do at DL and California Adventure in 4 days, and then some. Where as WDW, I would miss so much if that was my time frame.
For me it's a matter of how many days of a trip do I have? If it's over a week= WDW, every time! For me on the West Coast the higher cost of airfare to Florida (over flying to DL) is compensated by the less expensive accommodations Florida offers. It is true that there is a different feel at DL, but to me much of that is size. And I would also say nostalgia, but not so much so that it would ever make me choose DL over being able to go to WDW.
Saying all that. PotC is much better at DL, and Indiana Jones is a very fun ride. However, WDW has tons of things that DL just doesn't.
Mickey_777
Well-Known Member
I'd guesstimate there's at least one new "WDW vs DL" thread posted every week on average. But bumping a thread from 2006 is actually kinda' awesome. Carry on.