From WDW to DL

[xtimMOOthyx]

Hi guys. I am an avid visitor of WDW (6 times in 2006) and will be traveling to DL March 2-6. For anyone that has been to both WDW and DL, what can I expect from DL? What are/were your feelings after visiting the DLR parks? I absolutely love WDW and am afraid that I will be disappointed. Also, suggestions of any sort are appreciated. Thanks guys!

P.S. I don't know how I will feel going to Disney and not being able to visit my FAVORITE park, Epcot!

 

[MainSt1993]

A lot has been written on this topic already, but I'll share a few thoughts of my own. First, people tend to prefer what they grew up with. The two resorts are very different places. The World is totally isolated from the outside world, which enhances a lot of the magic of being someplace very different from the outside world. DL, is stark contrast, sits on about 6 city blocks, where everything is in walking distance.

DL fans will site it's incredible attention to detail compared to her larger MK sister in FL. Many of the attractions, when placed side by side, are considered better at DL. Imagineers describe DL as charming, and MK as spectacular. For instance, you won't even see Sleeping Beauty's castle until you're about halfway down Main St. It's not quite the icon that MK's Cinderella's castle is.

Each resort has a charm of its own, with pluses and minuses. Expect to see differences, and you will have a wonderful time!!

Some things to not miss (* indicated something unique to the west coast):

Fantasmic!
Remember, Dreams Come True Fireworks*
Mansion
Pirates
Peter Pan
Alice in Wonderland*
Storybookland Canal Boats*
Casey Jr. Circus Train*
Mickey's ToonTown*
Space
Monsters Inc.*
Tower of Terror (different show effects than WDW)
Soarin' (exact same as WDW, but still awesome)
Screamin'*
Block Party Bash*

If you purchase a 3-day park hopper, you get early entry to Fantasyland and Mickey's ToonTown Morning Madness. We were able to litterally ride everything in Fantasyland and see everything in ToonTown before these areas opened to the general public with this service.

I hope you have a great trip!!

 

[iubigman]

Different! Not better or worse, just different!

I grew up going to DL, and have spent the last 7 years going to WDW, Just 3 weeks ago I made my first trip back to DL since 1999, when DCA was under construction. The addition of the Downtown Disney area (while nothing like the WDW one in scope), has given the area a much more WDW feel, especially if you were to stay in one of the "on property" hotels.

Disneyland park is NOT the Magic Kingdom. In my opnion, the Magic Kingdom captures the feel of Main Street U.S.A., and does a fine job in recreating much else about DL, but does not fully capture it, which is fine, nothing could. There is a magic to DL that is unlike anything else. As for attractions, here are a few that either don't exist in WDW, or differ, that you will enjoy:

Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye: (amazing attraction, my all-time favorite Disney attraction)

Small World: (techincally the same, but the building and Topiary make it a more special experience.

Pinocchio's Daring Journey

Snow White's Scary Adventures: (not the same ride from WDW, although very similar. MUCH SCARIER!)

Alice in Wonderland

Matterhorn Bobsleds: (Old School, but great)

Space Mountain: The ride feels and looks great after the LOOOONG rehab

Haunted Mansion: Mostly same on the inside, but outside is beautiful

Pirates: I had forgotten how much better the DL one was. The one in WDW seems silly after I rode this one again.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: Nothing needs to be said

Roger Rabbit's Car-Toon Spin: Great dark ride in ToonTown

Storybookland Canal Boats: Hard to explain, but a must-do if you are a true Disney fan.


There are problems sure, like crowd control in the more confined spaces of DL, but you will love it.

Go to DCA with an open mind. I enjoyed the park a lot, but it lacks a lot of Disney feel.

 

[xtimMOOthyx]

Thanks for the responses so far, guys.

I am really looking forward to checking out the different things that DL has to offer. However, I recently found out that Splash Mountain will be closed, as will Mr. Toad! Not only that, but Space Mountain has been turned into Rockin Space Mountain. I wanted to see Space in its true form, and I have not been on Mr. Toad since before it closed at WDW, and wanted to see how Splash Mountain compared to the WDW version. I guess I'll have to make plans for another trip!

 

[Leighbert]

Last year, I took my DD (age 5) to WDW in April and to DL in October. We loved both experiences. We had fun in both resorts. I grew up going to WDW so I enjoyed the novelty of going to DL. DL had been spruced up for the Happiest Homecoming and really looked its best. We also really liked the Pixar block party over at DCA.

Bottom line: You'll have a great time in either park. After all, you'll be spending your time at Disney.

 

[MainSt1993]

I guess I'll have to make plans for another trip!

OOOHH!! You should consider the Disneyland Half Marathon over Labor Day Weekend in September! Fun race, the parks aren't that crowded that weekend, and everything is still in full summer mode. That, or Christmas at Disneyland, with Haunted Mansion Holiday and Small World Holiday.

 

[davewasbaloo]

Hmmm, I have a hard time with this one. As a Disneylander first, I was very disappointed with the lack of magic of the MK in WDW. But many WDW feel that way about DL. They both are great in their own way. A few things for DL:

Main Street - be sure to see the Marching Bandand the flag retreat in the evening. I find the scenery on the train to be better too.

Adventureland tends to have better JC skippers, the original Tiki Room and the awesome Indy. Also, check out the differences of Tarzan's Tree House.

NOS - my favorite land in any MK style park. Personally, I prefer PotC and HM by far to their Floridian counterparts. Don't miss the nice Disney Gallery above PotC and be sure to eat at the Blue Bayou. Fantasmic here makes that thing in FLA seem like a joke.

Critter Country - sadly, Splash and Pooh are poor relations to their WDW counterpart.

Frontierland is a little lacking compared to WDW, but Billy Hill in the Golden Horseshoe are a great act (don't miss), I prefer DL's Big Thunder and the fort at the front is cool.

Fantasyland - compared to the joke at WDW, this place is nirvana. Check out Pinnochio and the coll differences to the other dark rides. IASW is much better IMHO. And Casey Jr and Storybookland Canal boats are cute. Alice is ok. But the Matterhorn is so much fun - the left side goes a bit faster.

Toontown has seen better days, but still better than FLA's IMHO. Roger Rabbit is a fun dark ride.

Tomorrowland - OK, WDW is better here, but I do prefer DL's Buzz and Space Mountain. Plus you may get a kick out of seeing Star Tours and HISTA in DL as opposed to three seperate parks in WDW.

The parade and fireworks are better at DL in my opinion too. Also, there is a lot of live entertainment everywhere, and if you are there at the weekend, check out the big band and swing dances near the castle.

To me, DL is amazing, attention to detail and jam packed with entertainment and attractions. It's much cleaner too. However, some WDW vets are disappointed with how small it is, and items like the Castle are smaller.

 

[davewasbaloo]

DL gets very crowded too, and about 2/3s of the people are locals so that changes the feel somewhat too.

 

[davewasbaloo]

We love DCA as it mixes the vibe of MGM, World Showcase and some of DAK. Sadly, most of the headliner attractions are now at WDW too, but there is some uniqueness.

In Hollywood Pictures Animation is better than MGM's IMHo, and you can check out Turtle Talk here instead of Epcot. Muppets is essentially the same. Monsters Inc is a fun unique dark ride. Playhouse Disney is essentially the same as WDW's. Check out the fun differences between the ToT's. Aladdin is an excellent musical - do not miss it!

Bugs land is cute, and we really love the queue of It's Tough to be a Bug - no tree of life, but the queue is really well done. The show is the same though.

In the Golden State, we love Soarin' - same ride as Epcot, Grizzly River Rapids (much better than Kali), and Golden Dreams (great film on the history of California - similar in scale to some of the Epcot films). The Tortilla and Bread factories are fun little diversions. And we do recommend the wine tasting sessions at the winery followed by viewing the film Seasons of the Vine - all about how wine is made.

In the Paradise pier serction, the Corn Dogs are great. Also, Screamin' is a fun ride - a real blast. I can take or leave everything else in that area.

For great food at DCA, check out the Trattoria or Ariel's.

We love DCA in our family.

 

[davewasbaloo]

oh, and if it's on, don't miss Disney's Electrical Parade for great nostalgia.

 

[davewasbaloo]

Other don't misses for the resort:

The Grand Californian is beautiful. Peter Dominic is the architect, famous for also designing the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. This is my favorite Disney Hotel anywhere. Be sure to take the free tour, ask the concierge for details.

Also, the Napa Rose is Disney's finest restaurant - better than Victoria and Albert's or the California Grill in WDW IMHO. Awesome food and wine on offer.

The Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier hotels are nothing to write home about, but we did have our best character meal ever at Goofy's Kitchen at the DLH - better than any in FLA. Also the carp ponds and waterfalls are fun.

In DTD - House of Blues is a fun venue, especially the Gospel Brunch, as well as seeing a band at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Cafe. The Food at Catal's is excellent as well. The RFC is very impressive here and the arcade at ESPN Zone is a blast.

So there is not as much to do at DL as WDW, but everything is within walking distance and of a high quality. I am sure you will have a great time and I cannot wait to read your thoughts.

WDW is huge. DL is magical.

 

[Ms. Tinkerbell]

While, I love WDW, I just adore everything about Disneyland....and DCA also. I think you'll really enjoy your trip there. I think just about everything of the don't miss has been covered, so I won't repeat except to say, definitely watch Golden Dreams and Aladdin. They are great. All the attractions that were mentioned are. My husband absolutely loves Indiana Jones. Our last trip we spent the first 90 minutes, just doing that ride over and over Ariel's Grotto is great for a character meal. It was so much fun, and so much interaction. There were lots of characters too as I say that, I remember how amazingly fun Goofy's Kitchen was too. Lots and lots of fun, tons of characters, and interaction. We celebrated my dd's bithday there and it was so magical. When Donald came out with her lighted cupcake everyone was all smiles. We enjoyed most of the rides at DCA with the exception of the Ferris Wheel...oh gosh, that was so slow, but you get plenty of time to look around as you are standing still most of the time as it takes forever to load.
We never did get to do Space Mountain at DL as it was being refurb. both trips we made. We haven't done POTC yet at WDW because they were adding Jack, but POTC at DL is amazing! Have Fun!!!

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Two things not to missirates is FAR superior at DL (I'm sorry to say, I'm a HUGE WDW fan!) and the Indiana Jones ride is one of the best ANYWHERE. Be sure to catch it before you leave.Try not to compare too much. Let yourself get lost in the magic, and enjoy the ride! HAVE FUN!

 

[xtimMOOthyx]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I am really looking forward to my trip. Only 43 days! I cannot wait!!

 

[MainSt1993]

oh, and if it's on, don't miss Disney's Electrical Parade for great nostalgia.

I actually really dislike that MSEP is now at DCA. It doesn't fit. I think they need a new nighttime show/parade. Something with hi-tech effects, hi NRG like Block Party Bash, that captures the spirit of Californians. I cringe any time I see my beloved MSEP over there. It belongs on Main St.