I think I'm starting to regret booking.

[sweetpee_1993]

@sweetpee_1993 Look on the bright side. At least you'll have Fantasmic! and Thunder Mountain.

Absolutely. I'm over the sweating what we'll miss. Whatever we get we will enjoy.

 

[flynnibus]

Wow no wonder WDW is in such horrible shape. That's how you keep a park up.

But a lot of this is not about 'keeping up the show' - but rather other backstage things like fall protection or finally getting to work they've been putting off (Alice). One should not look at this spring/summer of DLR as a model for anything.. except for 'chaos'.

DLR is alot better at REGULAR (aka... smaller, more often) rehabs... but they do well with planning and minimizing such wide overlapping closures. This spring... is just crazy and how things have been communicated is even worse.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

@sweetpee_1993
Ok, here was the closure list for my trip...I mentioned a lot was closed, but I had to go dig up the whole list so you'd get an idea...

Missed the Golden Horseshoe Review Limited Time Magic revival by 1 day
Fantasmic was closed (they had the Rivers of America drained for maintenance, new jet and effects installs)
Small World
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain
Muppets 3D
Mad Tea Party
Mark Twain
Grizzly River Run
Silly Symphony Swings
Cafe Orleans (a place I really wanted to eat at...I wanted a Monte Cristo!)

Spoiler: TR post at the time

Well, we are getting into the phase where we can start nailing down plans, as Disney is announcing final dates for things during our trip.

Some of the things I am going to post I have mentioned and discussed with AusDisneyFan (so no news to her), some I have mentioned in brief in other threads, and some are new...so, if I am repetitive, apologies in advance!

So, I want to talk about the stuff we probably WON'T be able to do. Not meant negatively, as I have said before, just another excuse to come back!

The first is something I just found about today.

For "Limited Time Magic" Disney has reintroduced the Golden Horseshow Revue. Now, I remember vaguely as a kid seeing this as the Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree (RIP Wally Boag). Today, the "seasonal opening" of that restaurant disappoints me still, and every trip I have been it is always closed...though I have read there is no longer a show, rather a lonely player piano and bad food. Every time I walk by the Venue with my kid on a visit, I look over and my heart pangs as I recall a vague childhood memory of dancing ladies in funny dresses, and comedians, and live music, and how much I enjoyed it. This may have been part of why I enjoyed the Hoop de Doo so much on my last trip (dirty tables aside). The show at WDW has been gone a long time.

Now, at DisneyLand, where the "mother venue" lives, the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, various shows ran up until 2003, and specialty events, like fundraisers, after that. Imagine my surprise when I saw this!



I was so curious! What were the dates? Would they re-enact some of Wally Boag's famous skits? Well, the answer to the latter is no, and the answer to the former is...we are going to miss it by ONE day! It ends on Feb 4, and that is when we arrive! Well, we could make it work.

I could change up my flight times...which I suppose I could do, and if we decide it is worth burning out AusDisneyFan on her first night in from Australia (which I don't think it is a good idea, jet lag and all, a grumpy and tired AusDisneyFan does not a good first impression make, no matter how much I adore her. I think we should take it easy and have a relaxed night on our terms, not Disney's schedule)

We could also decide that it is worth burning a day on our tickets or buying an extra day (that is a rather steep admission charge, nostalgia aside).

So, I suspect we will MISS it! Argh! Timing!

Second is Fantasmic.

I was really hoping to see the Disneyland version of the show, since I am wholly underwhelmed by the WDW version of the show. I do enjoy it, and have seen it multiple times with the kid, but it just feels a bit like watching a show with no heart or plot, all effects based. Sort of like a Michael Bay film. While the ampetheatre is large, I have seen high school football stadiums that were more attractive, and while the show is fun, I never found it breathtaking (like, say, Wishes) or magical (like say, Wishes) or even funny and fun (like, say, the Main Street Electrical Parade).

Now, I have heard the exact opposite about the Disneyland version. First, this version, in keeping with the park tradition, is the original. WDW is merely a bad copy, and a six year younger "custom built" version to boot. The Disneyland version is done on the Rivers of America, the waters surrounding Tom Sawyer Island. And, the show designers had to work around the constraints of this, but had some amazing props at their disposal, like a life size pirate ship!

WDW looks fake and forced. Hence why I suspect we rarely see people ranting and raving about it in the forums. The show is good, worth seeing, worth doing the "free Fantasmic dinner package" for...but otherwise..."meh". (As the Internet would say). But, the Disneyland version looks truly awe inspiring.

So, it will not be playing during our stay, so something else we will miss.

For third, I am going to list ride closings, with a short blurb about each...

I preface this with a statement that, while some of these ride closings may upset me, I am fine with them. I am glad to see Disney giving TLC to rides. That just means they will be there next visit! And be a better experience than a broken down and poorly maintained monstrosity.

Top on my list of closed rides is Small World.

I am actually very upset this ride will be closed for refurb during our trip for two reasons, neither being the song that sticks on your head like caramel sticks to your molars.

The first is that the Disneyland version is the original. It has its own building, its own theme. It is not shoved into fantasyland, like a red headed stepchild, the way that the WDW version is, rather it is laid out in all glory, with an outdoor staging area, a universally unique building, and even the site of projection shows similar to "magic, memories and you" at WDW. It has an outdoor staging area and entrance, which lends a far more classic Disney "dark ride" feel to it...as if you are journeying into a cartoon or short film to take a break from real life, which I think is the key to the Disney idea of the "dark ride". While I suspect the interior ride is very similar, I was curious to see if I could spot differences.

The second is a bit more personal, since my travel partner, and my loving friend, is coming from so far away to join in this trip. I am not an easy commute either, but the flight to LA here from Sydney is airplane hell (for the record, it is listed on wiki in the top worst length flights in the world). I sort of wanted to experience the symbolism and deeper message of that corny, yet endearing, ride and song. We literally crossed the world to have fun together at Disney, and I thought a ride there would be oddly fitting for us to experience together. Alas, this will not be, at least on this trip.

Next is Splash Mountain.

It will be closed for our trip, which given the weather is ok, but I really wanted to compare the smaller logs to the larger logs at WDW that I have known all my life (WDW seats two abreast, even three sometimes, DLC is one, maybe two if the kid is small enough). Plus, I wanted to try and spot differences in the ride that the Kid and I love so much (note, it was her favorite ride until she was tall enough for Rockin' Roller Coaster in 2012). This is another Disneyland transplant to WDW where my Disneyphile heart really wanted to see the original in all its relative glory.

Number Three is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Now, this ride is not a favorite of mine, even though I love the ride. The Disney wrist watch I bought to remember the 2010 trip (a Skagen) was broken on the ride in 2011 at WDW, partially because the ride was so rough. Since then at WDW it went through a track refurb at WDW, and is now getting a queue refurb (good news, I remember those drinking water fountains in line from when I was a kid! Frankly, glad to see them go!). I assume the DLC version is going through a similar refurb. But, it is still among my favorite rides, I would like to experience the original...

Funny four (wacka wacka) is Muppets 3D

This will be closed during our trip, and while it wasn't high on my list, it does hold a distinction of being the first attraction on my list from WDW to be replicated at Disneyland. As opposed to the latter, this attraction appeared nearly a decade later on the West Coast! I will be sad not to see the show, but given the state of disrepair it is at HS, I wasn't optimistic. They being said, I LOVE the muppets, and really wanted to see this and compare and contrast the two shows, and their unique queues!

Fabulous Fifth is the Mad Tea Party

We will not be able to swing our cups around together, as this attraction will be closed. I doubt this will bother either of us much (though this post has been mostly about me, which it should be, I cant speak for her )...but somehow I doubt this is her sort of ride, unless it is a lazy twirl. Anyhow, I like tea, but she prefers coffee, so I blame AusDisneyFan for this ride outage. It is obviously her fault.

Scathing sixth is the Mark Twain

I have so many fond memories of doing the Liberty Belle as a kid and teenager...and yet as an adult I have missed it! In 2010 it was closed for refurb...in 2011 we just missed the last sail since the kid wanted to do Peter Pan, and in 2012 we also missed it as well! Now, I find out that Disneyland's riverboat, the Mark Twain, is going to be closed...I am starting to suspect a conspiracy!

Grizzly River Run, which seems like Kali River Rapids to me, seems nothing to do when the top temp is around 70 F. Though, I wouldn't mind shivering and having AusDisneyFan warm me up with a hot cocoa and a blanket, if we are both freezing and wet, it isn't quite the right mood

Silly Symphony Swings, which I am a tad upset about, as this is not a very common ride anymore, I quite remember as a child loving the "swivel swings" at festivals in Germany, where they were quite popular. I rarely see them now. So, boo that they will be closed...first time I had seen one in operations since my childhood.

Cafe Orleans will be closed as well, which is a creole food joint at DisneyLand Park that specialities in the Monte Cristo (a unique sandwich for one to try, if you have not ever had one, but I have had many, and many far better than Disney would provide I suspect)...no real concerns for us there.

So, after all this. I am tired of posting, I have more to share, and will do so, but this is it for tonight, as far as trip reporting is concerned. So, as stated before, any unique LA ideas, we would love to hear them! And of course any Disneyland ideas!

Goodnight!

Anyhow, all that being said...all that being closed...

I LOVED IT! And I would go back in a heartbeat (and probably will in 2015).

The vibe of the parks is different, and probably more what you remember from the less packaged and industrial nature that has become WDW.

Don't worry about closures. There is still plenty to do packed into that area. Rather, view it as a chance to go back!

Plus, you will LOVE the Disneyland Hotel (that's where you ended up, right?)

You'll have a great trip, and I can't wait to read the report!

I'm definitely over the shock of the closures. Plus, the list has evolved so we got a few back. I'm fine with it. Don't worry.

Yep, went with the DLH. Hubby pushed hard for GC but I held my ground. The number of rooms at the GC with the sofa conversions are very few. There's a lot more at DLH. With 2 practically grown boys I can't have them sharing a bed. They sleep so different: Brian wraps up like a burrito & is very active while Chandler spreads out & is very still. It's not a matter of if they'll fight, it's a matter of when. God forbid they wake Tracey scrapping it out. Then I'd have a full-on war going down. Nope, better to keep the peace from the get-go. I was hiiiiiighly tempted to go to the Fairfield off-property. It's a shorter walk to the gates & I'd get a 2 bedroom/2 bath suite w/free breakfast for $1k less for the week. But then we wouldn't have our full resort relaxation thing. We aren't going just to do parks. If we were we surely wouldn't stay on-property, you know?

Yeah, the sheer volume of people that WDW shuffles thru their assembly line o'magic is a deterrent for their parks to me. It feels so regimented. My older brother has been all but begging me to go again with him. Nope. He'll say it too, "y'all got spoiled to the lack of people 10 years ago". That's true. I'd love to go back to WDW but only if I knew without a doubt that only half or less the usual people were going to be there. That's not gonna happen, tho. Sooooo, I continue to 'just say no' to WDW. I can't even fathom it.

Just like the last dozen or so trips I'm going thru the whole debate whether or not to write about it. I prob will because I'm afraid I'll regret if I don't. I write more for me & my family then anything. Still, the reports section here has gotten super active. That's a very good thing for this site but, ya know, crowds ain't me so *again* it's a con on the debate list. We'll see. I may start anew and do this one book form for print for us.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Just found your thread. I think you do need to calm down, sit back, relax and enjoy your trip.

As @WDWFigment pointed out so eloquently ... DLR isn't WDW (thank whatever higher power you'd like). It doesn't require OCD planning.

And when you get there, you'll find a much more laidback group of visitors (not simply locals and APers, but even the tourists like you). While oozing real MAGIC, DLR is very easy to navigate and isn't overwhelming.

Also, to anyone planning upcoming visits I'd simply say you can't sweat what will or won't be open. This is a very unique year with unusual circumstances all coming together at one time. Take a trip in 2014 and chances are at least two major attractions will be down, the only question is whether they are attractions that you even care about and whether you'll let that ruin your MAGICal vacation.

I have a visit planned for this spring, although not on your dates and I know things I want to be open simply won't be. I'll live ... and return to ride another day.

I am sitting on my hands. As per @WDWFigment , I have not returned to his blog not even once. Oh wait, yes, once to show my mom the pic of the honey-something cupcake from Hungry Bear. I have stopped myself from all the YouTube videos. I had taken to watching park walk-thrus then going to maps to pick out which way I just "walked". My biggest fear has been getting there, one of my guys asking me about something, and not knowing. As if I can really learn everything without ever having been there. Completely irrational. I know. I think it's largely that mama-hen in me wanting to be able to take care of everything. It's not gonna happen. Like Tom said, we just have to go and discover. Together. It's not a bad thing. I know enough to manage logistics. We'll discover details as they present themselves. It's not fair to me to place these crazy unrealistic expectations of knowledge upon myself. So, I'm not gonna do that anymore!

I'm okay with the refurbs & closures. I like how simple yet eloquently you state it: we'll live to ride another day. So true! I really do think the forums sometimes can be a bad thing. As I've said before, had we just showed up out there & found something closed we prob'ly would've been bummed about it for all of 30 seconds until we found something else to do. When you sit at home reading about it, mulling the list, watching videos of what you won't see, etc. it has a way of festering on ya. Truly. Festering is the best word to describe it. It took me imagining the scenario of having never known what I do and picturing what it would've been like to be in the moment in the park(s) to start to grasp what I was doing to my trip before ever getting there. It's dumb. Again, gotta take a step back and relax with it all. Maybe we can make closures into a drinking game! Yessssss!!!

 

[englanddg]

I'm definitely over the shock of the closures. Plus, the list has evolved so we got a few back. I'm fine with it. Don't worry.

Yep, went with the DLH. Hubby pushed hard for GC but I held my ground. The number of rooms at the GC with the sofa conversions are very few. There's a lot more at DLH. With 2 practically grown boys I can't have them sharing a bed. They sleep so different: Brian wraps up like a burrito & is very active while Chandler spreads out & is very still. It's not a matter of if they'll fight, it's a matter of when. God forbid they wake Tracey scrapping it out. Then I'd have a full-on war going down. Nope, better to keep the peace from the get-go. I was hiiiiiighly tempted to go to the Fairfield off-property. It's a shorter walk to the gates & I'd get a 2 bedroom/2 bath suite w/free breakfast for $1k less for the week. But then we wouldn't have our full resort relaxation thing. We aren't going just to do parks. If we were we surely wouldn't stay on-property, you know?

Yeah, the sheer volume of people that WDW shuffles thru their assembly line o'magic is a deterrent for their parks to me. It feels so regimented. My older brother has been all but begging me to go again with him. Nope. He'll say it too, "y'all got spoiled to the lack of people 10 years ago". That's true. I'd love to go back to WDW but only if I knew without a doubt that only half or less the usual people were going to be there. That's not gonna happen, tho. Sooooo, I continue to 'just say no' to WDW. I can't even fathom it.

Just like the last dozen or so trips I'm going thru the whole debate whether or not to write about it. I prob will because I'm afraid I'll regret if I don't. I write more for me & my family then anything. Still, the reports section here has gotten super active. That's a very good thing for this site but, ya know, crowds ain't me so *again* it's a con on the debate list. We'll see. I may start anew and do this one book form for print for us.

Having walked the property, and stayed at DLH, I can say you won't regret if you went offsite and were more comfortable. However, DLH is a fantastic hotel (of all the Disney hotels I've stayed at, it's my favorite...even over Club Level at Contemporary).

I would certainly recommend a doing TR, even if you don't do it online or publically. I regret not jotting down my thoughts about the trips before my first TR in 2012...there are little things that come back when I go through old trip pictures that I wish I had my thoughts at the time documented.

I like being able to go back through my TRs and read them from time to time, and see where my mind was at and how I felt (and my kiddo felt) at the time.

In any case, you'll have a great trip, I am quite sure of that!

WDW is my home, and I'll always "represent"...but Disneyland is certainly the magical place those who love it proclaim it to be!

 

[flynnibus]

My biggest fear has been getting there, one of my guys asking me about something, and not knowing

Seriously... do that whole pre-game visualization thing... where you WIPE what you know about the MK from your brain. One of the biggest mistake WDW vets do when they visit DL is lean too heavily on their past knowledge of the park. Why is this bad? Because they end up frustrating themselves because 'things arent where they are supposed to be' or discount things because of that.

You hear the comments like "I hate where Space Mountain is..' - why? Because it's not where they thought it was supposed to be. The previous experience biases them against accepting the variations.

You have to go in with an Open mind... because there will be so much that is familiar, yet, strangely different. Don't fall into the trap of 'MK is how it was supposed to be' or 'MK was done later, so obviously it was 'fixed''. Things aren't that cut and dry

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Wow...

2 months from our trip and I am just finding out now that Pirates, Space Mountain, Alice in Wonderland (wife's favorite) and It's a small world (we have a 1 1/2 year old) will be down...

Yeah, I'm a little ticked off right now.

I understand how you feel. I say that in all honesty. Take a breath. It's still going to be an amazing time for your family. Focus on all that you will have and let go of the rest. It's not worth ruining the whole thing over. Look at the entire picture, not just the little smudges.

And I get rides getting refurbed, the whole nine yards ect... But when we booked this with airfare, hotels, car two months ago and knowing only Space would be down, yeah I think it's pitiful to announce these other refurbs two months from the start of our trip.

I hear ya. So totally do. I had our air booked before I found out, too, hence the title "regret". DL's refurb schedule is not only on the large side, it's been ever-changing. From what I hear, it's not the norm. I truly think with some things ignorance is bliss. I know without a doubt had I never known from reading forums I would've been a lot less upset about the closures. There would've been no time to have it fester. I'm a problem-solver by nature so in the moment in the park I would've shifted gears and moved on. I refuse to let these things impact my vacation with my family before I even get there. It'll be okay. It's frustrating now, especially when you feel locked-in by the air fare, penalties, etc. I fully understand. It's all part of the journey. You choose how this will affect you. It is what it is and we can't change it. I've chosen to move on & be excited as if I never knew a thing. The other option would've been to change plans & pay fees. That doesn't work for us. Choose what's best for you and rest assured, as @WDW1974 said, we'll all live to ride another day.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Seriously... do that whole pre-game visualization thing... where you WIPE what you know about the MK from your brain. One of the biggest mistake WDW vets do when they visit DL is lean too heavily on their past knowledge of the park. Why is this bad? Because they end up frustrating themselves because 'things arent where they are supposed to be' or discount things because of that.

You hear the comments like "I hate where Space Mountain is..' - why? Because it's not where they thought it was supposed to be. The previous experience biases them against accepting the variations.

You have to go in with an Open mind... because there will be so much that is familiar, yet, strangely different. Don't fall into the trap of 'MK is how it was supposed to be' or 'MK was done later, so obviously it was 'fixed''. Things aren't that cut and dry

I think having not spent much time in WDW's parks over the past 2-3 years will be advantageous here. Perhaps that's why I've been overthinking things: simply not confident in my parks navigation because I know I'm pretty rusty there. LOL!

The biggest fear I have for all of us is the size of the castle. Isn't that crazy?! I've seen so many pics of the look down Main Street in DL and where our brains look for a castle there's sky with a pretty castle underneath. That's the one moment I fear most. So many WDW vets say this was a stark moment of disappointment for them. I fear it. I want to love the differences. Bigger is not better...as DCL's ships have taught us. I look forward to things being different, really. I mean, if I wanted everything to be like WDW I'd just go there. Right? I want things to be moved around. I want it to be different. I've always firmly believed that different is not a deciding factor in right or wrong. It's simply different and means nothing more. But that adorable little Sleeping Beauty castle....that's the ooooooone difference I'm truly afraid for. I don't want any of us to see the sky above it and feel like something is missing. We need to see that sky and celebrate the glorious moment of sharing a beautiful day together in a place that's fresh to our collective eyes. I hope hope hope it's a happy moment. I really do.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

I think having not spent much time in WDW's parks over the past 2-3 years will be advantageous here. Perhaps that's why I've been overthinking things: simply not confident in my parks navigation because I know I'm pretty rusty there. LOL!

The biggest fear I have for all of us is the size of the castle. Isn't that crazy?! I've seen so many pics of the look down Main Street in DL and where our brains look for a castle there's sky with a pretty castle underneath. That's the one moment I fear most. So many WDW vets say this was a stark moment of disappointment for them. I fear it. I want to love the differences. Bigger is not better...as DCL's ships have taught us. I look forward to things being different, really. I mean, if I wanted everything to be like WDW I'd just go there. Right? I want things to be moved around. I want it to be different. I've always firmly believed that different is not a deciding factor in right or wrong. It's simply different and means nothing more. But that adorable little Sleeping Beauty castle....that's the ooooooone difference I'm truly afraid for. I don't want any of us to see the sky above it and feel like something is missing. We need to see that sky and celebrate the glorious moment of sharing a beautiful day together in a place that's fresh to our collective eyes. I hope hope hope it's a happy moment. I really do.

It will be - Sleeping Beauty Castle's scale works in tandem with the nearby Matterhorn mountain, which is roughly the size of Cinderella Castle. Have the expectation it's small - but know that it's Walt's castle. He wanted it intimate and charming as opposed to humongous and grand. Once you go through the Walkthrough attraction, you'll be in love.

 

[englanddg]

It will be - Sleeping Beauty Castle's scale works in tandem with the nearby Matterhorn mountain, which is roughly the size of Cinderella Castle. Have the expectation it's small - but know that it's Walt's castle. He wanted it intimate and charming as opposed to humongous and grand. Once you go through the Walkthrough attraction, you'll be in love.

I'll second that. The walk through is fantastic and lends and intimacy and charm that is not present at Magic kingdom. It is a do not miss attraction!

The Main Street Train Station is another story though!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

It will be - Sleeping Beauty Castle's scale works in tandem with the nearby Matterhorn mountain, which is roughly the size of Cinderella Castle. Have the expectation it's small - but know that it's Walt's castle. He wanted it intimate and charming as opposed to humongous and grand. Once you go through the Walkthrough attraction, you'll be in love.

I'll second that. The walk through is fantastic and lends and intimacy and charm that is not present at Magic kingdom. It is a do not miss attraction!

The Main Street Train Station is another story though!

Ah, the walk-thru! I'm so looking forward to that! As a little girl I used to gaze at the grand Cinderella Castle wishing with all my heart 'til it hurt that I could see what was inside. The tile mosaics could never touch what my heart so wanted to experience behind those windows. A restaurant is nice but it's not what my heart wanted. The suite that exists now is beautiful but it's just a glorified hotel room in a location that's the least ideal since you aren't free to explore it's surrounding environment freely. It's like a turret that a princess would be locked in. Beautiful & luxurious but a jail cell no matter how you decorate it. I'm absolutely delighted to have the walk-thru to fulfill my little girl fantasies of long ago where the castle is a home to a story with soul that I can actually see with my eyes.

 

[Californian Elitist]

@sweetpee_1993 The majority of WDW vets I've come across are always disappointed with our castle. One woman even said the size of the castle ruined all of Disneyland for her, which I thought was ridiculous.

If it helps you feel better, if you look at the concept art for Sleeping Beauty Castle (originally Snow White Castle!), you'll see it was never a super tall building. The art shows a fairly short, yet wide building, just like how it is now. Plus, as @GiveMeTheMusic already stated, Walt Disney wanted the castle fairly small and not huge. It's just as he wanted it. It also fits the scale of the rest of Main Street and the park in general. Plus, we can't have the castle dwarfing Matterhorn! It all works out. Plus, our castle is huggable and has a real, working drawbridge.

Concept art:

It really is Walt's castle. You can think of this photo every time you walk in to Fantasyland, under the drawbridge:

 

[flynnibus]

The biggest fear I have for all of us is the size of the castle. Isn't that crazy?! I've seen so many pics of the look down Main Street in DL and where our brains look for a castle there's sky with a pretty castle underneath. That's the one moment I fear most. So many WDW vets say this was a stark moment of disappointment for them. I fear it. I want to love the differences

The stark '' moment is legit. The castle at MK is so big.. it dominates the view as soon as you hit Main Street.. take away the trees like they have and it's like some huge stark nekid guy standing there you just can't unsee. It is the landscape, and of course it's impressive in it's own way.

Contrast that with Main Street in DL.. and you'll go 'what happened to the castle?' - it is small enough and obscured enough that it doesn't stand out like the nekid guy So that initial view on Main Street is so different... which helps Main Street itself in many ways.. but the 'big hole in their picture memory' is legit.

Then as you get up near the hub and the castle plays out... it's perfectly reasonable for people to go 'really??'. In pure mass and presence, they are worlds apart. Some people never get past that point... others look at it in the setting of DL and can appreciate it for what it is in that placement. It comes across as 'quaint'

It boils down to... can people look at the DLR hub and appreciate it on its own... or are they constantly comparing to Cinderella's castle.

The DLR faithful will defend the small castle to they die... I like it for what it is... but I like the MK castle better in most ways.

Bigger is not better...as DCL's ships have taught us. I look forward to things being different, really. I mean, if I wanted everything to be like WDW I'd just go there. Right? I want things to be moved around. I want it to be different. I've always firmly believed that different is not a deciding factor in right or wrong

Good, then don't feel bad about feeling tourist and needing the map or the app to find the food or avoid getting turned around.. or recognizing when to use Big Thunder Trail vs the hub, etc After a day or so you'll get the flow... but it's actually pretty amazing how different the park paths and locations really are given how similar they are.

I don't want any of us to see the sky above it and feel like something is missing. We need to see that sky and celebrate the glorious moment of sharing a beautiful day together in a place that's fresh to our collective eyes. I hope hope hope it's a happy moment. I really do.

You don't get that 'castle looming' sight lines in DLR. The matterhorn does that to a degree, but DLR is so much more condensed that you don't get a lot of 'distant views' over the rooftops. Things are closer to you making it harder to see over them. Those views you are thinking of looking back towards the castle in MK you don't really get in DL. But trust me, you'll find alternates. And the first time you see Remember... you'll be in Disney heaven.

 

[JillC LI]

Very interesting indeed! We were thinking of rearranging our Cali trip a bit to be at Disneyland on the 27th in order to ride POTC, but it would be great if it wasn't necessary.

Thanks for the updates. As of now, Grizzly River Run and Alice are the two I am a tad disappointed will be down when we're there in late May. The others don't bother me. I'm hoping that the 24 hour party is extra impetus for POTC to reopen on time so that we can ride it a few days later. In any case, I'm still psyched for my first DL trip!

 

[harveyt0206]

I think having not spent much time in WDW's parks over the past 2-3 years will be advantageous here. Perhaps that's why I've been overthinking things: simply not confident in my parks navigation because I know I'm pretty rusty there. LOL!

The biggest fear I have for all of us is the size of the castle. Isn't that crazy?! I've seen so many pics of the look down Main Street in DL and where our brains look for a castle there's sky with a pretty castle underneath. That's the one moment I fear most. So many WDW vets say this was a stark moment of disappointment for them. I fear it. I want to love the differences. Bigger is not better...as DCL's ships have taught us. I look forward to things being different, really. I mean, if I wanted everything to be like WDW I'd just go there. Right? I want things to be moved around. I want it to be different. I've always firmly believed that different is not a deciding factor in right or wrong. It's simply different and means nothing more. But that adorable little Sleeping Beauty castle....that's the ooooooone difference I'm truly afraid for. I don't want any of us to see the sky above it and feel like something is missing. We need to see that sky and celebrate the glorious moment of sharing a beautiful day together in a place that's fresh to our collective eyes. I hope hope hope it's a happy moment. I really do.

That was my biggest problem with our DLR trip. I felt soooo out of sorts because I just couldn't plan a darn thing other than "the park opens at X and closes at Y". It was highly frustrating for the trip planner in me. Even the van ride too and from the airport was stressful for me. I'm very spoiled by Magical Express. But looking back on our experience, I have to say that not having stringent plans did not impede us one little bit. And the castle is small...lol...no way around that one. Also, it's so weird to see characters just roaming around the park. No handlers or anything. They walk, take pictures, interact with the guests...it adds so much to the park experience. I caught the Evil Queen just walking around. This is a character I have missed every year at WDW. I loved the Disneyland Hotel. I'm so glad you are staying there. It's really cool. I don't know...I could chat about this all day!

 

[stevehousse]

I did not know they still let the characters roam free in DL!!! That's awesome! We r planning on finally going to DL next year and plan to stay at the DL Hotel!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Speaking of roaming characters, if you're lucky enough, you can catch Musical Chairs on Main Street with Alice and Hatter.



Sometimes with multiple characters:



@Cosmic Commando and I missed it by just a hair the last time we went. Unfortunately, there isn't a designated time for the Chairs.

 

[Figments Friend]

My biggest piece of advice for WDW vets going to DLR -

Do not 'compare Parks' and go with a open mind.
It is a mental trap many have fallen into to, but do yourself ( and your vacation ) a favor by resisting to compare Properties.
The two coasts are very different in character, and the same can be said about the Parks located on those coasts too!

DLR is absolutely wonderful in it's own right.
Stop yourself mentally when you start comparing the two properties.
Both have their own distinct character and DL is a charming, relaxing atmosphere.
It is indeed quite different, but this is one of it's many hidden blessings.

Just go and visit....and ENJOY.
Open your eyes and mind up to the joys around you.
Some of that is lost in the hectic rush and huge scale one feels at WDW, so SAVOR it here in CA.

At DLR, it is a completely different vibe...and one worth savoring.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Thanks for the updates. As of now, Grizzly River Run and Alice are the two I am a tad disappointed will be down when we're there in late May. The others don't bother me. I'm hoping that the 24 hour party is extra impetus for POTC to reopen on time so that we can ride it a few days later. In any case, I'm still psyched for my first DL trip!

Don't lose any sleep over GRR. It's a pretty raft ride - better than Kali, but nothing to write home about. The rockwork is gorgeous, but with Cars Land around the corner, you won't be missing much there.

 

[RandomPrincess]

My biggest tip is don't assume you know where a ride is. Most of the rides are in different lands or locations with n the lands then in the MK. I've gotten myself lost a few times have been to both so often.

For musical chairs I've read to ask the piano player before noon. They normally know what time it will be that day.