I Miss WDW More Than DL..

[Californian Elitist]

I think the reason they are updating Spaceship Earth is to make it “more Disney.” I don’t think it’s general TLC... WDW will never fix the Yeti. ToT seemed fine when I last went on it, so I can’t comment. In general, WDW is tourists and “once in a lifetime” guests whereas Disneyland’s customer base is largely locals. They have to do refurbs and update things at Disneyland to keep locals returning. At WDW, they don’t give two ***** if you come back - there will be some foreign traveler or Disney fanatic soccer mom to take your place and drop $10K (a budget I’m learning is normal in the WDW forum).

Locals and Disneyland fans as a whole continue to return to Disneyland annually, no matter what. They don’t do refurbs and updates for us.

 

[Mickeyboof]

@DABIGCHEEZ If you can convince your family, I highly recommend going even as a WDW veteran such as yourself. Disneyland is just amazing, and holds some of the best classic attractions Disney has ever made. A majority of my gripes lie in DCA and even they have Cars Land, the wharf area, and Grizzly Peak, but I wouldn't spend more than 1/2 of one day at California Adventure.

@Mickeyboof I think you have a great argument (except did you just say you prefer chase-a-baby to Aerosmith? ). Though on the contrary, I like that WDW is more open. I prefer the bus rides through the beautiful green forest areas than the heavy traffic of Anaheim. The hustle and bustle of Disneyland can at times feel a little more overwhelming, but I believe that's a side effect of it being the smaller park. WDW is overwhelming if you're a first timer, but even then I found it to be more relaxed.

I suppose I forgot to mention - I LOVE the environment of Orlando and the green in general. Everything looked clean when I was there.

@bryanfze55 I don't know how it is if we were to rent a car, but I was able to travel everywhere through bus / boat. I found that to be a bit more ideal than the parking situation at Disneyland. But I feel you - I couldn't take PotC seriously at WDW. The Winnie the Pooh queue felt like a giant mess. I'm not really a fan of the interactive elements. WDW doesn't do it like Disneyland (see Indiana Jones). Also, a lot of things at WDW felt like they needed a deep refurbishment. People have been complaining about ToT's broken elements for years. Expedition Everest was a vibration-riddled coaster and the yeti STILL doesn't work after a full decade. Dinosaur, the most interesting sounding E-ticket, was a horrendous joke.

Disneyland is indeed better than any of the 5 other parks, but put some TLC into what WDW has and it's a fierce competition.

I absolutely prefer the incredicoaster over most Disney coasters. I ignore the stupid baby.

 

[bryanfze55]

Locals and Disneyland fans as a whole continue to return to Disneyland annually, no matter what. They don’t do refurbs and updates for us.

Maybe. But then something has to explain all the little updates that DL gets that WDW doesn’t.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Maybe. But then something has to explain all the little updates that DL gets that WDW doesn’t.

Different management. Both may be under Disney but TDA and TDO operate differently.

 

[bryanfze55]

Different management. Both may be under Disney but TDA and TDO operate differently.

I just think there’s more to it than that. This has been a persistent issue - it’s not recent. Hopefully D’Amaro can spark something at WDW, but I’m not optimistic. I still stand by my belief that the “once in a lifetime guest” and forcing customers to preplan their trips via Fastpass+ are reasons that for instance, WDW can’t take Big Thunder Mountain down for a few months to insert the dynamite scene. They certainly won’t take Fantasmic! out of circulation to update it. It’s the exact same show it was in the 1990s. They also refuse to take Haunted Mansion or It’s a Small World down for the couple weeks it takes to do the holiday overlay (even though I personally dislike Haunted Mansion Holiday). Still, as a matter of principle...

 

[bryanfze55]

When WDW management somehow finds the energy to make a change, it’s something like ripping out Snow White’s Scary Adventures for a meet and greet. Ya know, a power play to get people to buy Memory Maker...

The only good things about WDW are Animal Kingdom and the PeopleMover.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I just think there’s more to it than that. This has been a persistent issue - it’s not recent. Hopefully D’Amaro can spark something at WDW, but I’m not optimistic. I still stand by my belief that the “once in a lifetime guest” and forcing customers to preplan their trips via Fastpass+ are reasons that for instance, WDW can’t take Big Thunder Mountain down for a few months to insert the dynamite scene. They certainly won’t take Fantasmic! out of circulation to update it. It’s the exact same show it was in the 1990s. They also refuse to take Haunted Mansion or It’s a Small World down for the couple weeks it takes to do the holiday overlay (even though I personally dislike Haunted Mansion Holiday). Still, as a matter of principle...

TDO apparently doesn’t like spending money. In line for Indy, I once overheard some TDO bigwigs behind me talk about how TDA spends too much money and how the ways in which they conserve money.

This actually happened.

 

[bryanfze55]

TDO apparently doesn’t like spending money. In line for Indy, I once overheard some TDO bigwigs behind me talk about how TDA spends too much money and how the ways in which they conserve money.

This actually happened.

As you said, I’m sure TDA could spend much less than it does and the locals would still come in droves. I guess some people at TDA still take pride in their park.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

TDO apparently doesn’t like spending money. In line for Indy, I once overheard some TDO bigwigs behind me talk about how TDA spends too much money and how the ways in which they conserve money.

This actually happened.

Incredible. The people in charge just don't care.

 

[Disney Analyst]

It's definitely what you are least used to that drives the feeling of longing.

Disneyland is my favourite, and I miss it so. As I have now been to Disneyworld twice (once for 3 months on an ICP)... I just crave getting back to Disneyland so much more. The bubble is certainly nice, and more park options, but I think Disneyland is a far better value.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I totally understand why some people love WDW or find it better. I just think that overall, the in-park experience is so massively superior at Disneyland that I cannot understand why, if you are park-focused, WDW would ever pull ahead. At least, how it could ever pull ahead as it is operated today.

Animal Kingdom is indeed wonderful, and is in a league of its own. The others, though, not so much.

Magic Kingdom is the most aggravating castle park in the world right now. Massive crowds, horrific maintenance, not enough capacity for the crowds there, deliberately slashing capacity due to MM+ data, the hassle of getting into/out of the park if you're not being bussed in from a resort, shorter hours, mediocre food and entertainment.

World Showcase is still a fun place to explore, but Future World is a mess and I don't see how what Disney's doing now is going to give the park what it truly needs. The Disney IP infusion is a square peg in a round hole.

Hollywood Studios was a worthless lump of a park three years ago (albeit with redeeming values like the still-wonderful Hollywood and Sunset Blvds and what is still probably the world's best theme park attractions in the original Tower of Terror), but perhaps Galaxy's Edge will change my opinion.

Upcharges are numerous and ludicrous throughout the entire property.

I will grant you that it is probably the best in the world when it comes to full service dining, but more often then not their quick service is terrible. And really, that's a theme of WDW: generally speaking, you have to spend more to get an equivalent experience you would at the rest of the parks. The humidity, the crowds, the lack of capacity for the crowds made worse by deliberate operational choices made by WDW, and FP+ can make the parks seem like an endurance test. You can almost feel Disney calculating just how much they can get away with cutting without people noticing, and just how many hoops you will tolerate being thrown through.

I love the water parks, but they're not great at adding to them, and WDW's water parks have some of the dullest slide designs of any water park I've ever been to (although Typhoon Lagoon's older slides have now become retro-quirky because they're so unlike the slides being built today).

Disney Springs is much nicer than Downtown Disney, but at the end of the day it's a fancy mall, and I don't go to theme parks to walk around fancy malls.

I don't love everything Disneyland does, and it will be able to build, say, a Kilimanjaro Safaris. But I find almost every attraction and park that is DIRECTLY COMPARABLE is better at Disneyland, sometimes massively so. You can tell at Disneyland (and the internationals) that the main focus is still on the parks; at WDW, the parks are the reason people come but are almost operated as afterthoughts. At the end of the day, while it's fun to tour the resorts, and I'd love to do more of the non-park WDW exclusives at some point, I go to these places for the parks, and right now I find WDW to be simultaneously the most expensive and most cheap theme parks bearing Disney's name in the world.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Incredible. The people in charge just don't care.

I found a perfect GIF that perfectly shows what my face looked like as eavesdropped on their conversation. I was appalled, honestly.

 

[bryanfze55]

I found a perfect GIF that perfectly shows what my face looked like as eavesdropped on their conversation. I was appalled, honestly.

View attachment 440239

All the more reason for me to never give TDO my money again, honestly... although I think closing the Magic Kingdom early every other day from August through December for upcharge parties already convinced me.

I’m always tempted to return, because I can get there quite a bit cheaper than Disneyland. But I would prefer to just go to Disney less often and go to the resort that apparently still gives a ****

 

[Californian Elitist]

All the more reason for me to never give TDO my money again, honestly... although I think closing the Magic Kingdom early every other day from August through December for upcharge parties already convinced me.

I’m always tempted to return, because I can get there quite a bit cheaper than Disneyland. But I would prefer to just go to Disney less often and go to the resort that apparently still gives a ****

To be fair, this occurred a few years ago. Maybe things have changed.

A Disneyland trip could possibly be worth it for a WDW vet if they include other activities in California, including specific Disney things.

 

[bryanfze55]

To be fair, this occurred a few years ago. Maybe things have changed.

A Disneyland trip could possibly be worth it for a WDW vet if they include other activities in California, including specific Disney things.

Yes, it was occurring for awhile. But I eventually got fed up with it the more time went on.

And yes, every time we are in California, we try to do something like San Diego, Joshua Tree, Sequoia... a lot of people where I’m from in the Midwest have negative preconceived notions about California. I generally find these are unfounded and think it’s a beautiful state (albeit expensive )

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I totally understand why some people love WDW or find it better. I just think that overall, the in-park experience is so massively superior at Disneyland that I cannot understand why, if you are park-focused, WDW would ever pull ahead. At least, how it could ever pull ahead as it is operated today.

Animal Kingdom is indeed wonderful, and is in a league of its own. The others, though, not so much.

Magic Kingdom is the most aggravating castle park in the world right now. Massive crowds, horrific maintenance, not enough capacity for the crowds there, deliberately slashing capacity due to MM+ data, the hassle of getting into/out of the park if you're not being bussed in from a resort, shorter hours, mediocre food and entertainment.

World Showcase is still a fun place to explore, but Future World is a mess and I don't see how what Disney's doing now is going to give the park what it truly needs. The Disney IP infusion is a square peg in a round hole.

Hollywood Studios was a worthless lump of a park three years ago (albeit with redeeming values like the still-wonderful Hollywood and Sunset Blvds and what is still probably the world's best theme park attractions in the original Tower of Terror), but perhaps Galaxy's Edge will change my opinion.

Upcharges are numerous and ludicrous throughout the entire property.

I will grant you that it is probably the best in the world when it comes to full service dining, but more often then not their quick service is terrible. And really, that's a theme of WDW: generally speaking, you have to spend more to get an equivalent experience you would at the rest of the parks. The humidity, the crowds, the lack of capacity for the crowds made worse by deliberate operational choices made by WDW, and FP+ can make the parks seem like an endurance test. You can almost feel Disney calculating just how much they can get away with cutting without people noticing, and just how many hoops you will tolerate being thrown through.

I love the water parks, but they're not great at adding to them, and WDW's water parks have some of the dullest slide designs of any water park I've ever been to (although Typhoon Lagoon's older slides have now become retro-quirky because they're so unlike the slides being built today).

Disney Springs is much nicer than Downtown Disney, but at the end of the day it's a fancy mall, and I don't go to theme parks to walk around fancy malls.

I don't love everything Disneyland does, and it will be able to build, say, a Kilimanjaro Safaris. But I find almost every attraction and park that is DIRECTLY COMPARABLE is better at Disneyland, sometimes massively so. You can tell at Disneyland (and the internationals) that the main focus is still on the parks; at WDW, the parks are the reason people come but are almost operated as afterthoughts. At the end of the day, while it's fun to tour the resorts, and I'd love to do more of the non-park WDW exclusives at some point, I go to these places for the parks, and right now I find WDW what are simultaneously the most expensive and most cheap theme parks bearing Disney's name in the world.

Fabulous rundown. This is how it is for me too.

WDW is superior as a destination. In principle there should not even be a contest. DAK and EPCOT and Typhoon are beyond what DL can even dream of.
But TDO has a way of ruining everything. The resort has been paved over, all highways and parking lots now, the jungle retreat feeling is gone. EPCOT is dead. DHS always was better than DCA, but has been mostly ruined. DAK is least affected but under siege too. And I can't return to that sorry modern MK now after DL rubbed in how it's done.

Frankly I can't wait to go back to DL to regain my sanity.

DLP is a work of art, but the magic is simply not there for me. Plus outside of the castle park it's a dump.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

To be fair, this occurred a few years ago. Maybe things have changed.

A Disneyland trip could possibly be worth it for a WDW vet if they include other activities in California, including specific Disney things.

I spend five days at DL in August. Just DL, nothing else. And I was still short on time.

And that includes me having been before and being a bit bored in DCA.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I spend five days at DL in August. Just DL, nothing else. And I was still short on time.

And that includes me having been before and being a bit bored in DCA.

I personally can’t do more than two days in a row, but I understand it’s different for out-of-towners. I was speaking more for the guests who like to spend two weeks or more at a time at WDW.

 

[BrianLo]

Partially it is what you are less exposed to, but WDW I agree has some wonderful aspects. I think we all know the clear pros of Disneyland's Resorts' Exclusives and density...

WDW deserves credit, it has finally received actual investment and is heading the opposite direction from stale and mouldy.


But Animal Kingdom and World Showcase do provide a compelling counter argument. DLR doesn't quite have anything like those experiences. I do think Epcot as a whole, if you can turn off your brain a bit, will be pretty fun after the new wave. Without for the most part totally losing the remaining elements that survived the garbage heap the park turned into.

Weirdly Disney Springs is not a reason to go, but it's actually something the resort does astonishingly well.

If only the theme parks could actually pull off a transformation that drastic and dramatic.

 

[bryanfze55]

Partially it is what you are less exposed to, but WDW I agree has some wonderful aspects. I think we all know the clear pros of Disneyland's Resorts' Exclusives and density...

WDW deserves credit, it has finally received actual investment and is heading the opposite direction from stale and mouldy.


But Animal Kingdom and World Showcase do provide a compelling counter argument. DLR doesn't quite have anything like those experiences. I do think Epcot as a whole, if you can turn off your brain a bit, will be pretty fun after the new wave. Without for the most part totally losing the remaining elements that survived the garbage heap the park turned into.

Weirdly Disney Springs is not a reason to go, but it's actually something the resort does astonishingly well.

If only the theme parks could actually pull off a transformation that drastic and dramatic.

If there’s anything WDW does well, its shopping malls (Disney Springs and, lets be honest, World Showcase ), resorts, full service dining, and meet & greets (get people to buy Memory Maker).

I guess I’ve just realized I’m not a resort person. This isn’t exclusive to Disney. You won’t find me in Cancun either, or on a cruise for that matter. If guess if you are a resort person, I can understand the preference for WDW. But if you’re going for the theme parks, I just think WDW is subpar. None of the four parks have been built up to a capacity that make them enjoyable. Disneyland and DCA have so many rides that you can always find something fun to get on in 5-15 minutes. If you want that at WDW, you’re basically narrowed down to TriceraTop Spin and Journey into Imagination. Fun.