Has anyone been to Disneyland?

M

MamaHook

New Member
We've not done Disney for a long time, but when we have its always been to WDW & we've loved it.

Just wondered however if anyone's been to Disneyland & how it compares?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
sweetpee_1993 said:
Yes. I loved it. There's several trip reports for DL on the trip report board. I don't have mine linked to my signature but it's the one titled "Go West they said..."
Click to expand...
Howdy Pee...

Ya'll had fun, didn't ya...DIDN'T YA!

(told you you would like it...and, I am ashamed to say, while I devoured your cruise trip reports for details, I haven't finished your DL one...need to do so)

But, you all had FUN, I suspect!
 
Upvote 0
sweetpee_1993

sweetpee_1993

Well-Known Member
englanddg said:
Howdy Pee...

Ya'll had fun, didn't ya...DIDN'T YA!

(told you you would like it...and, I am ashamed to say, while I devoured your cruise trip reports for details, I haven't finished your DL one...need to do so)

But, you all had FUN, I suspect!
Click to expand...
We did but also found we may be too old & crabby to deal with parks. :D
 
Upvote 0
Tinkerfan4ever

Tinkerfan4ever

Well-Known Member
We LOVED Disneyland! There is so many similarities but yet so many differences between DL and WDW.

Loved that you could walk everywhere. Walk from our hotel (Paradise Pier) to Downtown Disney and both California Adventure and Disneyland. And at most it was a 8 min walk. Love that. Park hopping was so easy as well, a 2 min walk from one park to the other.

Loved that we didn't have to make dining reservations and could eat almost anywhere we wanted. We ate at many table service and quick service restaurants and only had 1 TS that we would have had a 30+ min wait for, so we decided to eat somewhere else.

Loved that even though the parks were crowded when we were there (Aug 2013)... they didn't feel anywhere near the crowded levels we have experienced at WDW.

Loved the rides that were different from WDW. Cars Land was absolutely amazing. Mater's Junkyard Jamboree was DD7 favorite ride and she still talks about it a year later. DD13 loved California Screaming and rode no less than 10 times while we were there.

Loved that some of the rides that are the same at WDW sported much shorter wait times. 15min wait for Soarin... yes please. 10 min wait for Toy Story Midway Mania... we rode it 3 times.

There were a couple things that stood out to us as things we definitely missed from WDW, but we really don't count them as negatives.
  • When you are at WDW and stay on site you are completely immersed in Disney. At Disneyland, you don't have quite the same feeling. You can see the highways right outside the parks. You can see gas stations and grocery stores from your hotel windows. Not necessarily a bad thing, because it can be an added convenience, but different from what we are used to.
  • We really missed Epcot and World Showcase. There is nothing like that at Disneyland.
  • We missed Magical Express. I know not everyone uses it, but it is such an added convenience for us in getting to/from the airport, we missed not having that opportunity at Disneyland.
You can't go wrong with a Disneyland vacation. Do your research, don't expect it to be WDW, and enjoy it!
 
Upvote 0
G

GrammieBee

Well-Known Member
Smaller, can walk everywhere, crowded, but less crowded than the Magic Kingdom, great seeing and/or trying the different rides and attractions and comparing the differences from the same attractions at WDW. For example; (in our opinion) Pirates better at Disneyland, Haunted Mansion better at WDW.
The Disneyland Hotel is surrounded by Disney landscaping, but upper floor rooms can have city views. If you want to save money there are many hotels and restaurants within walking distance of the parks.

Highly recommend. Just as magical as WDW, but a one week visit is more than enough as it is not a large resort like WDW.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
zurgandfriend

zurgandfriend

Well-Known Member
I visited Disneyland the first time circa 1959 my father drove the family cross country sort of like the Griswolds. We picked route 66 up in Chicago and took it all the way to California. I sat and lay down and slept in the back of a station wagon the whole trip with no seatbelts in those days. I have been a few times since then and its fun but I prefer WDW.
 
Upvote 0
W

Wisconsin

Active Member
Agree with the above, the "immersiveness" is the biggest difference. Also, DL is cool because it's actually the park Walt walked around in, so there's that. They have really made improvements to DCA, CarsLand at night is jaw dropping. If you're flying into DL, try the Santa Ana airport (SNA). Much closer than LAX. About a 20 minute taxi ride. Let's face it, they're both great in their own way!
 
Upvote 0
RMichael21

RMichael21

Well-Known Member
We just got back from our first DL trip as WDW veterans. DLR is much more intimate then WDW and there is much less walking involved. There are so many rides that are loads better at DL. Some examples are POTC, Space, BTMRR with its new ending, Peter Pan, Astro Blasters and so much more. In addition, DL has SOOO many unique attractions. Indy, Cars Land, Mr. Toad, Alice, CA Screamin, and Matterhorn Bobsleds. No matter which way you do DLR, you'll have a great time.
 
Upvote 0
coachwnh

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
We just returned a few weeks back from DL. We have been WDW AP holders for more than 5 years, and last year decided to get APs for both DL and WDW. We had been to DL the previous two summers and couldn't wait to go back again this past June to make it three in a row! As @RMichael21 said, there are so may things that are similar in DL to WDW, yet they are different. They are not the same parks. Thats what makes being in DL so exciting if you are a WDW veteran. There are so may different things to see, even if the ride has the same name. I hope you get the chance to see DL! You won't regret your stay there. Have fun.
 
Upvote 0
Minnie1976

Minnie1976

Well-Known Member
I have only been to DLR twice 1985 and 2013. I really enjoyed it both times and hope to go back one day. We stayed at a Disney Friends hotel or whatever they call them. It was across the street from DLR and we walked to DLR everyday. From our hotel room you could see the MK. It was great no waiting for the monorail, boat or bus.
The monorail is more an attraction than transportation, and you can still ask to ride in the front. Right across from the MK is California Adventure. Then Downtown Disney is right there too.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom