just me or anyone else

[Pongo]

For me, WDW is just the icing on the cake. I mean, it has more to do than any other Disney resort, but there's still a bunch of stuff that I can't do at WDW, like the DL exclusive attractions.

That, and the fact that it was the only park Walt got to see open.There's something magical about that.

I have every intention of going to every Disney park in the world. It doesn't stop at WDW.

 

[jedimaster1227]

Having been to WDW hundreds of times (a product of living in Orlando my entire life and having a large family visit WDW everytime they came to Orlando) I was never really into the idea of going to Disneyland. It ended up that for a competition, I was to be flown with some classmates to Anaheim. In addition to competing, we were given free half-day parkhopper passes to DL and DCA. We went to DCA first, and the minute I walked up to the entrance, my jaw dropped. (I am probably one of the few that enjoys DCA.) Since we were short on time, we split up, doing California Screamin', Mullohand Madness and Grizzly River Run. After this, we left DCA to go over to DL. By the time we entered the gates of DL, it was nighttime on Mainstreet. This sight was something that I remembered seeing as a child in the sing-along videos that Disney made at DL, and I couldn't help but smile. Mainstreet was lit up and its music sounded. I actually felt like I wasn't in a theme park. We walked on to eat at Club Buzz, which was actually really good. Tommorowland is beautiful at night there! Next, we went to ride the recently refurbished Matterhorn. At night, the ride is scarier than any other ride in all of WDW. With the ride's sharp turns and openings in the mountain to look out at the rest of the world, you can't help but feel like you are going to fall out. Next, we went to ride the Indiana Jones Adventure, another amazing experience that WDW still lacks. After riding it twice and both times being shocked by the air/blowdart effect, we tried to run to Pirates of the Caribbean (long before the movie additions), but we were too late. The ride had just closed, so we ran to the Haunted Mansion, but as we began to see the mansion in sight, a CM walked up to close the gates. With no rides left open for us, we walked back to Mainstreet to explore the empty shops that were still open, and enjoy the ambiance of the street. I left telling myself that DL resort is in fact better in many aspects and that I would come back in a few years for a longer stay.

So, in conlusion of this long story, I think that you can't really judge the park unless you have been there. It is an amazing place (especially at night) and it is very different from WDW. It can't hurt to try!

 

[the-reason14]

I think that I may have always had the desire to visit DL, as well as the other disney resorts, but DL the most, all of my life. But I really started wanting to go there in 2004. Ive been to WDW many times, and I do think that DL will be somewhat of a letdown, but I still want to give it a try, and will hopefully be able to next year.

 

[Rora]

I've never had a huge desire to see DL until recently. But suddenly I want to see where it all started. I'd also like to experience the differences. Like DL being right in the city, DL being so much smaller, the claims that their Pirates is better, etc. On one of the travel channel shows on Disney, a travel expert said something like, "Disneyland is charming, but Disney World is magnificent". Hopefully one day I'll be able to fully understand what he meant.

 

[wedway71]

When I was stationed in Texas me and some buddies drove to DL-nice road trip too.I growing up in Fl never really had a need for DL but I felt since kinda close lets drive.It was awome!-It was kinda weird to be able to walk around in the same places that Walt himseld did back in the day.
some pros......
-great Disney history to the park.
-Neat to see a different Haunted Mansion
-chance to see different attractions

some cons.....

-alot smaller than WDW
-unlike WDW they didnt buy enough land to keep outside elements away so as you pull into the entrance you drive by grocery store,hotels,gas stations etc like on 192.

 

[dopey]

i was just wondering if anyone else felt the same way about dl as i do. i love wdw but have no desire to visit dl . my first visit to wdw was in 75 and we have been almost every year since 85. so you can see we love wdw but i just cant explain the lack of desire to visit dl. anyone else feel the same. next trip sept. 24 06 :sohappy:

Then don't go. Quite a few people enjoy Disneyland for various reasons. But a lot of people like lots of things that might offer no appeal to you. Take, for example, "The Wiggles."

Personally, I think you're missing out on a great time and an opportunity to experience a different type of Disney vacation. I love both. WDW may have Epcot, AK and Disney/MGM, but Orlando doesn't have an In-N-Out. Anaheim does.

That said, I don't think anyone at Disney will hold it against you.

 

[DisneyDragon]

While I love WDW, there's a lot about DL that makes it unique...

- DL Fantasyland is much better, and has unique rides (Alice, Toad, Pinocchio)
- DL HM is marginally better (and can claim the Nightmare overlay).
- DL POTC is vastly superior.
- DL SM is better than WDW

Plus, it still has the Walt feel to it. It is cramped but it's where it started.

DLP is also very nice (the Studios - meh).

In 2009, we're all heading to TDL and TDS (need the kids to be a little older)...but we're pumped about that. I'd like to go see DLHK, especially having lived in HK for a while, but wife doesn't want to go to China.

 

[ZapperZ]

I think that I may have always had the desire to visit DL, as well as the other disney resorts, but DL the most, all of my life. But I really started wanting to go there in 2004. Ive been to WDW many times, and I do think that DL will be somewhat of a letdown.....

You'll be surprised how wrong that could be. I certainly was prepared to be "underwhelmed" when I went, but I was definitely wrong. I had a good time, both at Disneyland and California Adventure. It needs to be experienced, especially during this past 18 months or so during the golden celebration.

Zz.

 

[Gospel Bill]

My 2 Cents

In my experience, both have their strong points. DL can't compete with the sheer size and scope of the world. However, the DL has more charm to me. The trees are older and the overall landscape is incredible. It's not as open as the MK in Orlando. Another positve to DL is it's convenience (epsecially if you stay the Grand Californian) you walk right into to the parks so for anyone with small children, that is a real plus.

The way I look at it is like this, if you have small children and you're just wanting to get away for 3 to 4 days DL is your best bet. If you're looking for the full tilt disney experience, it doesn't get any better than WDW.

I love them both and would be super excited to visit both.

 

[disneytati]

DLP is also very nice (the Studios - meh).

I've been there too, and I had a great time! But well, it's not the MK... I agree with the ones who said that it's a matter of what park you fall in love first.

 

[LudwigVonDrake]

I would like to visit Disneyland someday and walk down Main Street knowing Walt walked the same street

 

[xx_lilo_xx]

i love WDW but never felt the that i would like to visit any other DL, my class were ment to be going to DL pair's ( live in uk) in my last year of school and all my friwends thought i'd be over the moon about this, to there great supirs i told the i didnt want to got that WDW was the best one and i did like the others

 

[CoffeeJedi]

I went to DL once, about 10 years ago. I believe that there really is something more Magical about it than the MK. I think part of that has to do with the fact that Walt "grew" the park "organically" over 11 years. It didn't quite have the level of long-term strategic planning that WDW did, so you can see his influence in projects that he built simply because he wanted too. Not only is it the park that Walt walked, but its also the place where the 9 old men had their playground as well. The fact that the imagineers like Ward Kimbal would run the train himself or play trumpet (trombone?) in the "firehouse five plus 2" on main street have given it a friendly, local feel. Everything is smaller yes, but the entire place feels more "intimate". There's more hidden nooks and theming elements to discover. "Charm" is a word that's bandied about, but for good reason.

Unfortunately, it seems like alot of you were there during the horrible Pressler/Harris era, i was lucky enough to see it before their reign of terror, and from what i've read and seen on the web, Ouimet really got the place back in shape over the last few years. I'd love to see it now (if only for the chance to ride Indiana Jones again!)

 

[Astronaut Jones]

I would like to go to Disneyland but never in place of Disney World. From videos I've seen, Disneyland looks like a definate step down from Magic Kingdom in Disney World and I have little to no interest in The California park. Although, I am very interested in riding the Indiana Jones ride.

 

[the-reason14]

You'll be surprised how wrong that could be. I certainly was prepared to be "underwhelmed" when I went, but I was definitely wrong. I had a good time, both at Disneyland and California Adventure. It needs to be experienced, especially during this past 18 months or so during the golden celebration.

Zz.

I dont know, maybe your right, but I know for sure that I would never sacrifice a WDW trip to go to DL. Its like just going to MK at WDW and then some other theme park.

 

[ZapperZ]

I agree very much with what CoffeeJedi has said. If you are aware of the history, the place feels very special the moment you see it, and steps into the place. This is not something that comes across while watching a video or looking at the picture.

I certainly felt previlaged in having the opportunity to be there during their 50th's celebration, especially during the re-dedication ceremony. That moment will never happen again and I was glad I was there.

Zz.

 

[metscool]

DL is nothing. WDW is the better of the two. DL you could spend two days. In WDW you could spend as many days as you want.

 

[joelleharbert]

OK, I used to live in SoCal when I was younger, going to DL, and all I can remember thinking is,"Are you kidding me?" I'd already been to WDW and they didn't even compare. And this was well before Epcot, MGM, and AK. I just feel like DL is a small-scale MK. I guess if I went back to CA to visit family, I'd go there (I've actually been to DL twice as an adult, as well), but to go there in place of WDW? I don't think so. I guess I don't care enough that Walt hung out on the same street. For the amount of money Disney charges, I want the most bang for my buck and WDW does just that.

 

[CoffeeJedi]

What is everyone comparing though? All of WDW vs all of DLR? Well of course WDW comes out a clear winner.
but
To say its "nothing" is an insult to both DL and MK. For one thing, i think you're fostering a sense of "competition" that's ridiculous. You can have your opinion, but make sure that its informed, well thought out, and you can back it up.

If you do a comparison of The Magic Kingdom only to Disneyland, i'm afraid that DL comes out on top.

Things that are better at DL:
Indiana Jones Adventure
better PotC
Haunted Mansion's been given the rehab that MK's so desperately needs
better Space Mountain
original rehabbed Enchanted Tiki Room
The Matterhorn
New Orleans square is beautiful, Liberty Square pales in comparison on many levels
the Submarines are getting redone

The only thing that we really have that they don't is Mickey's Philharmagic and the Wedway Peoplemover, their's was removed and nothing is currently in its place. We also have Country Bear Jamboree, but they have Mr. Toad, so that's an even break. They have a few more things too, that we have in other parks like Star Tours and the Primeival World diorama.

 

[MMP]

I have nothing against DL but I'm used to what I'm used to and I'm used to WDW. I would love to visit DL once or twice but I'd always like WDW best.