omg im so impressed w/ disneyland. the only thing that sucked was splash mountain. at first i didnt like the idea of music on space mountain but after i actually went on it it is awesome. the fireworks show was better then wishes IMO. california screamin was awesome. and i think the ppl there are som much more friendly than at disneyworld. and nemo had a 4 hour wait everyday. i only got to go on it cuz i had early entry and rushed there as soon as they let us in. it was great and brought back memories of 20k leagues under the sea. i like how everything was close and within walking distance and IMO i thought the downtown disney there was better even tho it was smaller than in disneyworld. all in all i loved the entire trip.
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just got back!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter lilphil6487
- Start date
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
Yea! I'm glad you had fun!:sohappy:
:sohappy: 
DAKOTADISNEY
Active Member
I like Downtown Disney at Disneyland a little better as well. It just seemed more convenient and had fun shops and restaurants. My girls loved the "Build-A-Bear Workshop" there.
CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your update - nice to see you had a good time
Nicole220
Well-Known Member
I don't get the hate either. I like DL's a lot more than WDW's. Yes WDW's is longer, but it felt so empty. I also like the logs at DL better.
coasterphil
Well-Known Member
I don't get the Splash thing either, there isn't a big enough diference IMO to say that WDW's is so much better.
I'd also disagree with the assessment of the CMs at DL. I thought they were well below those at WDW and just chalked it to the park drawing more of a typical amusement park employee demographic. DL doesn't have the same type of draw that WDW does so you aren't going to get as many CMs that are truly excited about the Disney Magic. You get locals looking for an interesting place to work.
I'd also disagree with the assessment of the CMs at DL. I thought they were well below those at WDW and just chalked it to the park drawing more of a typical amusement park employee demographic. DL doesn't have the same type of draw that WDW does so you aren't going to get as many CMs that are truly excited about the Disney Magic. You get locals looking for an interesting place to work.
Disagree wholeheartedly, on several counts.
First, there is a HUGE difference between the DL Splash Mountain and the one at WDW. For one thing, the logs are single file at DL and side by side at WDW. It makes for a noticeably different experience. The WDW version is also much more thoroughly themed. At DL, one thing that always annoyed me about Splash is the fact that if you look up at any point during the ride, the whole illusion is ruined. All you see is a ceiling with stage lights. It's obvious you're in a warehouse-like show building. At WDW, they've themed the ceiling much better by adding "vegetation" and making it appear much more like you are actually traveling along a river through the woods. The WDW version also has scenes that the DL version lacks.
As far as CMs are concerned, DL's far surpass those at WDW. I used to feel exactly the opposite, so maybe you just haven't been to one, or both, of the parks in a while and are not able to make an accurate and up to date comparison. Your description of why WDW CMs are better used to be true. Because WDW is more of a complete vacation destination, as opposed to DL being more of a locals attraction, it would stand to reason that WDW would have higher quality CMs who would know how to deliver top notch service. As I mentioned, that used to be true, but it no longer is. Because WDW expanded so much several years back, adding new hotels, theme parks and attractions, they simply weren't able to meet the demand of hiring top quality people. Their hiring standards became much more loose in order to fill all the necessary positions. In order to get the new hires "on stage" as quickly as possible, they also dramatically cut back on their guest service training. The result was a noticeable difference in the WDW CMs of today versus a few years back...and it's been getting gradually worse.
Meanwhile, DL has been slower to expand and build new things. More thought seems to go into adding new things to DL and they seem to be able to take more time focusing on quality, hiring and training. The result is happier CMs, more camaraderie and a sense of "ownership" on the part of those CMs, and comparatively lower turnover.
MainSt1993
New Member
Both resorts have had significant trouble hiring and retaining their human resources. Simple reason, they're no longer the best paid positions for that type of work. If you can make more money at an easier job, wouldn't you want to take that? The thing that annoys me is that prices keep going up, but they're not rewarding their front-line staff accordingly. :fork:
Nicole220
Well-Known Member
DL CM's, for the most part, are usually pretty happy and helpful. Occasionally I come across the moody ones and wonder, "Who p e e d in their cheerios?"
DL offers very little medical insurance, days off/ holidays, preferred schedules, and some of the worst pay ever. If you work for them, they believe they "own" you. They believe that working there is your top priority and that they can call you on your day off, early in the morning to see if you can come in early the next day.
I'm now very glad that I got declined to work there. I'd have no life, something I would like to take advantage of before I go off into the real world.
I'm not sure about WDW, but DL's biggest problem with CMs is that they cannot keep people working there. Just yesterday, I talked with a lady I know who has worked at DL for 10 + years. She said they cannot keep people working there. One day, she saw her friend who trains the new people and asked where all her trainees were. She said they all quit.
DL offers very little medical insurance, days off/ holidays, preferred schedules, and some of the worst pay ever. If you work for them, they believe they "own" you. They believe that working there is your top priority and that they can call you on your day off, early in the morning to see if you can come in early the next day.
I'm now very glad that I got declined to work there. I'd have no life, something I would like to take advantage of before I go off into the real world.
wow i honestly didnt think i would spark such a discussion i was just giving my opinion on DL. Splash mountain was ok but i thought it was just so short and like the other person said you look up and the illusion is ruined. and the animals werent really singing much. I stick with what i said about the cast members. they all seemed pretty excited about the "magic". Especially the girl who worked at the 50 years of magic show. She seemed to know everything there was to know about DL and was so happy. Everyone you walked by said hi or asked how you were where at WDW they barely even look at you unless you ask them a question. Like i said its just my opinion. you dont have to agree.
I agree with you 100%!! I think anyone who can honestly say they think WDW's CMs are better probably has gone several years without having visited both parks, and can therefore not make an accurate up to date comparison.
KCBroadway
Member
Glad to hear that you had a good time! My husband and I took our first trip to DL last Sept. for the Inaugural 1/2 marathon. We LOVED it. We are WDW regulars and were very impressed with a number of things. A few things we really liked about DL (better than WDW) -
- Everything is close together and there is no need for buses. We stayed at the Grand Californian and had the ability to walk directly into California Adventure and Dowtown Disney.
- Space Mountain at DL blows WDW's version out of the water.
- Fireworks - AMAZING!! DL's show was incredible.
As far as Splash Mountain - I definitely agree that WDW's version is so much better. I prefer the side-by-side seating and I just thought the ride moved very quickly. I feel that WDW's version is slower and you can enjoy the scenery more. Also - I prefer the WDW version of the song played in the ride.
We're heading back Labor Day weekend to race again and are really looking forward to it!
- Everything is close together and there is no need for buses. We stayed at the Grand Californian and had the ability to walk directly into California Adventure and Dowtown Disney.
- Space Mountain at DL blows WDW's version out of the water.
- Fireworks - AMAZING!! DL's show was incredible.
As far as Splash Mountain - I definitely agree that WDW's version is so much better. I prefer the side-by-side seating and I just thought the ride moved very quickly. I feel that WDW's version is slower and you can enjoy the scenery more. Also - I prefer the WDW version of the song played in the ride.
We're heading back Labor Day weekend to race again and are really looking forward to it!