Trip Report From East to West … Two Besties Tackle Disneyland (LIVE 2/20-2/26)

It’s been a long 22 months. It’s been the best of times, and the worst of times. And it was during one of those “worst of times” that the promise of this trip began.

I remember the moment exactly. Me, bawling in a supermarket parking lot, just completely and totally overwhelmed by lockdown after lockdown after lockdown, and my Bestie @NYwdwfan promising that we will make this trip happen.

And here we are. Exactly 5 weeks out, God willing.

So much has happened since my last live trip report … not all COVID-related. Some gains - a brand new hip, and a puppy that is the light of our lives. Some losses - our 2020 WDW trip, and 50 lbs.

Here are the 5 W’s:

Who?
Me - JenniferS - Canadian, huge Blue Jays fan. After almost 2 years of spending every second together, I’ll be travelling without my usual ride or die Mike … aka Hubby.
I have been to WDW more than a dozen times, starting in 1991.

I will let Bestie introduce herself.
Ideally this will be a tandem trip report, with regular input and photos from her as well.

What?
A first time visit (for both of us!) to the OG park. We will cry the first time we walk down MSUSA. Guaranteed!

We have 5 day ParkHopper passes, and plan on utilizing both Genie+ and ILL,

Where?
Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa. I’m a Moderate girl, whereas Bestie has often stayed Deluxe at WDW.

When?
We arrive at LAX within 20 minutes of each other on Sunday, February 20th.
Park Days: 21st - starting at DL
22nd - starting at DCA
23rd - starting at DL
24th - starting at DCA
25th - starting at DL
26th - morning departures from LAX

Why?
Why not? Our original plan was to stay off-site, but an email discount code for GC was just too attractive to pass up.

If you’ve read any of my previous reports, you know I post live. Mike has always been a good sport about it. Hopefully Bestie will be equally accommodating.

We will eat well (oh boy, will we eat well), hit most of the rides (together and separately, because someone doesn’t like big drops or going boing boing), and will savour every second of our time together. It has incredibly been 3 years since we have seen one another in person.

I’ll share our dining plans in a separate post.

Me, ‘cause it’s been a long time!
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Mikey. Says he’s not sorry to have been excluded:
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And Daisy, the best thing to come out of all this COVID carp:
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JenniferS

JenniferS

When you're the leader, you don't have to follow.
Original Poster
Having only spent 5 days in DL parks vs well over 100 days in WDW parks, I will now offer my head to head impressions of comparable rides/attractions on each coast.

Ease of entering the parks and park hopping - Really, this has to be asked? Accessing MK via monorail or ferry and seeing the beautiful castle being unveiled the first time was jaw-dropping. Pretty cool the second time too. After that, getting into the east coast castle park is a giant PITA. The bus area is visually distracting, and you’re tired before you even walk under the train station. The blessing of size is not such a blessing here. (DL)

MSUSA - WDW visually; but DL wins for the quaintness of its various shops and the presence of Mr. Lincoln. (Tie)

Castle - Not even close! The walkthrough attraction at DL is cute, but the mosaics at WDW (when you can actually walk through) are stunning; as is the castle itself. In this case, size does matter. (WDW)

Indy vs Dinosaur - Again, not even close. Indy’s queue is amazing, and the ride is many, many times better than the incredibly dark/can’t see a bloody thing Dinosaur. Also, Mrs. Huxtable has always annoyed me. (DL)

RSR vs Test Track - Another easy one. (To be fair, I can barely even be bothered to ride TT since they removed the storyline and just Tron-ified it.) RSR is amazing, inside and out! Also the land in which it sits is a grand slam. (DL)

GotG: Mission Breakout vs Tower of Terror - This one is hard. No, maybe it’s not. Loved Mission Breakout. It’s fun, it’s high energy, it works in its land, and the Rocket AA is super impressive, but it’s no Hollywood Tower Hotel. Tower of Terror is perfect. From the moment you meet the creepy bellhops outside, as you wend your way through the mist-covered atmospheric gardens to that perfect lobby, I am totally transformed. The blessing of size rules here. There is room to build the story through music, effects, dilapidated, abandoned gardens …. Also, my dad and I rode this so many times together. He was blown away by it. I will never not think of my dad when I go boing boing. (WDW)

HM vs HM - This one is a little closer. I like the exterior of the FL mansion better, but the canopied approach is unimpressive and the cartoonish interactive queue portion is discordant. The first holding room at WDW with the fireplace and the Master Gracey portrait sets the mood better at WDW … when you actually get to experience it. My last few trips, we were rushed right through straight to the stretching room.
- I liked the “grounds” such as they were at DL better, and far preferred walking through the portrait gallery than riding through. The area just before loading the Doom Buggy was far superior. While the rides are similar for the most part, the HatBox Ghost and more festive graveyard scene tip the balance for me. (DL)

PotC vs PotC - Not even close. DL, all day long, beginning to end, sun up to sun down; stupid Ten for a Hen auction scene notwithstanding. (DL)

IaSW vs IaSW - Again, not even close. The tent facade exterior at WDW is not even in the same league as DL. Everything at the DL version is better. Everything. I also thought the IP integration was very well done, with the exception of Little Mermaid. (That scene was too large, and situated such that it was in full view far in advance of actually sailing past it. It should have been a smaller scene on the left hand side of the boat, in my humble opinion.) (DL)

Space Mountain vs Space Mountain - This one goes to DL too. It’s smoother, the light effects are better, the in-car music is fun, and the queue is better and cleaner! I love both versions, and would happily ride either all day long, so this is not a knock against the WDW ride, even though I do have to check my fillings when I’m done. (DL)

Jungle Cruise vs Jungle Cruise - Assuming the new/reworked scenes at WDW are the same as what we saw at DL, then WDW wins here, based on the sheer length of the ride and the music in the queue. (Love me some Albert Awol.) Both rides are good, and I would HATE for either to be removed. (WDW)

Buzz vs Buzz - Detachable shooter wins hands down. Cleaner queue too. (DL)

Star Tours vs Star Tours - Don’t care for either of them. I believe there are more variations at DHS, and the enormous AT-AT out front as well as the better outdoor portion of the queue tips this in WDW’s favour. In my never to be humble opinion, both coasts should re-theme their versions, given that neither is attached to their respective Star Wars Lands anyway. (WDW, by a hair, but mostly because I don’t care.)

Incredicoaster vs Slinky Dog Dash - Essentially a battle of the two outdoor launched coasters, although we could bring RnRC into the equation as well. Either way, WDW wins. Both SDD and RnRC are better than Incredicoaster. (WDW)

Little Mermaid vs Little Mermaid - Obviously the exterior and queue is SO much better at WDW (so much so that the ride is almost a let down after that impressive queue 😂), but the lighting in the ride is much better at DL. (Tie)

Autopia vs Tomorrowland Speedway - Really? (DL)

Pooh vs Pooh - DL’s is shorter, and is missing the “Hooray”. (WDW)

Matterhorn vs Expedition Everest - Both are visually stunning, outdoor, mountain themed, Yeti-integrated coasters … and that’s where the comparison ends. One is old and physically debilitating; the other screams of Joe Rohde’s love and dedication to theme and detail, offers breathtaking views (copious hair ties notwithstanding) and is great, great fun to boot. (WDW)

Peter Pan vs Peter Pan - I am not a modern proactive woman (if you get it, you get it), but I love this ride. Both coast’s iterations experience huge wait times for valid reasons. It’s fun, it’s nostalgic, it’s whimsical. DL is smoother and has better effects and lighting. (DL)

Downtown Disney vs Disney Springs - Again the blessing of size and the sheer abundance of top notch restaurants gives the edge to Florida. By a lot. Although the repurposed CA Rainforest Restaurant into a Star Wars SuperStore was pretty impressive. (WDW)

Food vs Food - Mike always says that he’s never had a bad meal at WDW, and that’s mainly because I research, research, and research some more. Same thing here. I watched tons of YouTube videos, read a crazy amount of reviews, and knew what and where I wanted to eat weeks in advance. It was all good. Some was exceptional. DL has better and more varied QS meals. (DL, but not knocking WDW food, if you can get beyond Cosmic Rays and ABC Commissary.)

Cannot compare the Splash Mountains, the Treehouses, or the Monorails, as all were under refurb during our visit.

Please feel free to agree or disagree, and let me know if I missed any obvious head to head comparisons.
 
NYwdwfan

NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
JenniferS said:
Having only spent 5 days in DL parks vs well over 100 days in WDW parks, I will now offer my head to head impressions of comparable rides/attractions on each coast.

Ease of entering the parks and park hopping - Really, this has to be asked? Accessing MK via monorail or ferry and seeing the beautiful castle being unveiled the first time was jaw-dropping. Pretty cool the second time too. After that, getting into the east coast castle park is a giant PITA. The bus area is visually distracting, and you’re tired before you even walk under the train station. The blessing of size is not such a blessing here. (DL)

MSUSA - WDW visually; but DL wins for the quaintness of its various shops and the presence of Mr. Lincoln. (Tie)

Castle - Not even close! The walkthrough attraction at DL is cute, but the mosaics at WDW (when you can actually walk through) are stunning; as is the castle itself. In this case, size does matter. (WDW)

Indy vs Dinosaur - Again, not even close. Indy’s queue is amazing, and the ride is many, many times better than the incredibly dark/can’t see a bloody thing Dinosaur. Also, Mrs. Huxtable has always annoyed me. (DL)

RSR vs Test Track - Another easy one. (To be fair, I can barely even be bothered to ride TT since they removed the storyline and just Tron-ified it.) RSR is amazing, inside and out! Also the land in which it sits is a grand slam. (DL)

GotG: Mission Breakout vs Tower of Terror - This one is hard. No, maybe it’s not. Loved Mission Breakout. It’s fun, it’s high energy, it works in its land, and the Rocket AA is super impressive, but it’s no Hollywood Tower Hotel. Tower of Terror is perfect. From the moment you meet the creepy bellhops outside, as you wend your way through the mist-covered atmospheric gardens to that perfect lobby, I am totally transformed. The blessing of size rules here. There is room to build the story through music, effects, dilapidated, abandoned gardens …. Also, my dad and I rode this so many times together. He was blown away by it. I will never not think of my dad when I go boing boing. (WDW)

HM vs HM - This one is a little closer. I like the exterior of the FL mansion better, but the canopied approach is unimpressive and the cartoonish interactive queue portion is discordant. The first holding room at WDW with the fireplace and the Master Gracey portrait sets the mood better at WDW … when you actually get to experience it. My last few trips, we were rushed right through straight to the stretching room.
- I liked the “grounds” such as they were at DL better, and far preferred walking through the portrait gallery than riding through. The area just before loading the Doom Buggy was far superior. While the rides are similar for the most part, the HatBox Ghost and more festive graveyard scene tip the balance for me. (DL)

PotC vs PotC - Not even close. DL, all day long, beginning to end, sun up to sun down; stupid Ten for a Hen auction scene notwithstanding. (DL)

IaSW vs IaSW - Again, not even close. The tent facade exterior at WDW is not even in the same league as DL. Everything at the DL version is better. Everything. I also thought the IP integration was very well done, with the exception of Little Mermaid. (That scene was too large, and situated such that it was in full view far in advance of actually sailing past it. It should have been a smaller scene on the left hand side of the boat, in my humble opinion.) (DL)

Space Mountain vs Space Mountain - This one goes to DL too. It’s smoother, the light effects are better, the in-car music is fun, and the queue is better and cleaner! I love both versions, and would happily ride either all day long, so this is not a knock against the WDW ride, even though I do have to check my fillings when I’m done. (DL)

Jungle Cruise vs Jungle Cruise - Assuming the new/reworked scenes at WDW are the same as what we saw at DL, then WDW wins here, based on the sheer length of the ride and the music in the queue. (Love me some Albert Awol.) Both rides are good, and I would HATE for either to be removed. (WDW)

Buzz vs Buzz - Detachable shooter wins hands down. Cleaner queue too. (DL)

Star Tours vs Star Tours - Don’t care for either of them. I believe there are more variations at DHS, and the enormous AT-AT out front as well as the better outdoor portion of the queue tips this in WDW’s favour. In my never to be humble opinion, both coasts should re-theme their versions, given that neither is attached to their respective Star Wars Lands anyway. (WDW, by a hair, but mostly because I don’t care.)

Incredicoaster vs Slinky Dog Dash - Essentially a battle of the two outdoor launched coasters, although we could bring RnRC into the equation as well. Either way, WDW wins. Both SDD and RnRC are better than Incredicoaster. (WDW)

Little Mermaid vs Little Mermaid - Obviously the exterior and queue is SO much better at WDW (so much so that the ride is almost a let down after that impressive queue 😂), but the lighting in the ride is much better at DL. (Tie)

Autopia vs Tomorrowland Speedway - Really? (DL)

Pooh vs Pooh - DL’s is shorter, and is missing the “Hooray”. (WDW)

Matterhorn vs Expedition Everest - Both are visually stunning, outdoor, mountain themed, Yeti-integrated coasters … and that’s where the comparison ends. One is old and physically debilitating; the other screams of Joe Rohde’s love and dedication to theme and detail, offers breathtaking views (copious hair ties notwithstanding) and is great, great fun to boot. (WDW)

Peter Pan vs Peter Pan - I am not a modern proactive woman (if you get it, you get it), but I love this ride. Both coast’s iterations experience huge wait times for valid reasons. It’s fun, it’s nostalgic, it’s whimsical. DL is smoother and has better effects and lighting. (DL)

Downtown Disney vs Disney Springs - Again the blessing of size and the sheer abundance of top notch restaurants gives the edge to Florida. By a lot. Although the repurposed CA Rainforest Restaurant into a Star Wars SuperStore was pretty impressive. (WDW)

Food vs Food - Mike always says that he’s never had a bad meal at WDW, and that’s mainly because I research, research, and research some more. Same thing here. I watched tons of YouTube videos, read a crazy amount of reviews, and knew what and where I wanted to eat weeks in advance. It was all good. Some was exceptional. DL has better and more varied QS meals. (DL, but not knocking WDW food, if you can get beyond Cosmic Rays and ABC Commissary.)

Cannot compare the Splash Mountains, the Treehouses, or the Monorails, as all were under refurb during our visit.

Please feel free to agree or disagree, and let me know if I missed any obvious head to head comparisons.
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Agreed - mostly because we discussed it non-stop while we were there. 😂 Although I think I preferred WDW's Peter Pan (I'm not a modern proactive woman either) just for the moving traffic when you fly over London.

People can come at me all they want but I didn't feel the charm or "Walt's park" feel. I was disappointed by the 5 step long main street and the lack of focal point castle. I expected to be wow-ed. I was not. But I grew up on WDW. I went yearly starting when I was 4. You can't displace those core memories.

One other comparison - DL railroad far superior to WDW's railroad. The fun Grand Canyon and prehistoric scenes and the incredible view of the esplanade while parked at Main Street station. See right there - that my eyes were drawn towards the entrance and DCA rather than the castle at the Main Street Station highlights the lack of focal point.
 
Sbk1234

Sbk1234

Well-Known Member
JenniferS said:
Please feel free to agree or disagree, and let me know if I missed any obvious head to head comparisons.
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As a lover of both resorts, I often find myself comparing attractions from the two. Then I try very hard to stop. I try to love both for what they are and relish all of the differences. Both resorts are two very different experiences, and that's wonderful.

That said, I do agree with most of your assessments. The only thing is I wouldn't even compare Indy and Dinosaur as comparable rides, despite the same vehicle and track layout. To me, what you're seeing on both rides makes them each unique experiences unto themselves. The same with RSR and TT, although I definitely prefer RSR.
 
MickeyCB

MickeyCB

Well-Known Member
JenniferS said:
Cars Land might just be the best, most fleshed out land in any domestic park. I know people go on about how beautiful it is at night, but I actually preferred it during the day.
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I've only been able to go to DL one time, but Radiator Springs Racers is seriously my favorite ride in either Disney park. (Maybe a tie with RoTR).
But, my assessment was if given the opportunity, the best of both worlds is to experience Cars Land in both the day and night. They are totally different experiences. And I also advise people to watch the first cars movie before you go. I think it makes a huge difference in the experience.
 
NYwdwfan

NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
MickeyCB said:
I've only been able to go to DL one time, but Radiator Springs Racers is seriously my favorite ride in either Disney park. (Maybe a tie with RoTR).
But, my assessment was if given the opportunity, the best of both worlds is to experience Cars Land in both the day and night. They are totally different experiences. And I also advise people to watch the first cars movie before you go. I think it makes a huge difference in the experience.
Click to expand...
Completely different day and night. I screamed much more at night. And yes I screamed on RSR - much to the dismay of my stoic roller coaster junkie travelling companion.
 

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