Long time WDW guest visiting DLR for the first time

[maxime29]

Note: I wasn't sure if this went in the DLR discussion or the Trip Planning (it was under WDW). Mod can move if needed.

I'm going to be in Anaheim from February 18-24 for a photography marketing convention at the convention center. I will be able to sneak a day out to Disneyland Park on the 23rd (Tuesday). I'm doing my research on what the park offers and checking the refurb schedule. Only major attraction that I wanted to go on that is closed is Matterhorn.

What are the "Must See" attractions that are unique to Disneyland other than Indy, Subs? Should I still bother going on Mansion, Pirates, IaSW or wait till the end of the day for those?

What have the crowds been like historically? I'm guessing since I'm visiting on a Tuesday that the APs won't be in as much?

Is the Blue Bayou the only good sit-down restaurant?

Thanks for your help. Can't wait for February!

 

[Nicole220]

Pinocchio, Alice, now Toad, Casey Jr, and Storybook Land Canal Boats are also ones that you won't find at WDW. And definitely still go on HM, Pirates, and Small World. It's a totally different experience on this coast (and a much better experience, I must say).

I'm sorry Matterhorn will be down while you're there. All the more reason to plan another trip back to DL!

Park should be empty on Tuesday. Everyone is in school and there aren't any holidays that week.

 

[Laura]

Note: I wasn't sure if this went in the DLR discussion or the Trip Planning (it was under WDW). Mod can move if needed.

I'm going to be in Anaheim from February 18-24 for a photography marketing convention at the convention center. I will be able to sneak a day out to Disneyland Park on the 23rd (Tuesday). I'm doing my research on what the park offers and checking the refurb schedule. Only major attraction that I wanted to go on that is closed is Matterhorn.

What are the "Must See" attractions that are unique to Disneyland other than Indy, Subs? Should I still bother going on Mansion, Pirates, IaSW or wait till the end of the day for those?

What have the crowds been like historically? I'm guessing since I'm visiting on a Tuesday that the APs won't be in as much?

Is the Blue Bayou the only good sit-down restaurant?

Thanks for your help. Can't wait for February!

Yeah you probably couldn't have picked a more "dead" time to visit than Tuesday February 23rd. It'll be a ghost town. :lol:

Pirates, Small World, and Space Mountain and completely different (and way more incredible) experiences at DL. Don't miss them! And make sure you check out Alice in Wonderland (best Fantasyland ride ever). Autopia is also very cool in DL. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Captain EO will be open by then as well. I imagine you'll see just about everything there is to see that day though without any trouble, with the crowds being so low. Disneyland doesn't offer much in the way of sit down restaurants, but Blue Bayou is absolutely awesome. You MUST order the Monte Crisco. :slurp: You can get a Monte Crisco next door for way less money at Cafe Orleans, but then you miss out on the experience of eating inside Pirates, and you also won't get the bread and salad with it.

 

[prberk]

You will have fun, and it is also worth checking out DCA with a park-hopper for a day, which is easier to do there than in Florida. The two parks face each other. (DCA used to be the DL parking lot.) Everything fits within a city block, albeit a big one!

Space Mountain and Pirates both leave Florida's versions in the dust. The DL version of SM is completely renovated, and includes a soundtrack (unlike its WDW counterpart, which is only getting a modest refurb). Pirates in DL is lower (with a steeper hill), due to the lower water table, and it is a much, much longer ride.

I liked the New Orleans section. And you can take a tour, if you have time, that is called, "Walk in Walt's Footsteps," which gives you a peek into Walt Disney's personal apartment above the fire station.

They also have Club 33, which is an exclusive club that costs thousands of dollars to join -- but some tours may let you see at least the lobby. Look for its entrance, marked only by a round "33" on a door near the Disney Gallery, in New Orleans Square.

Fantasmic takes place on the Rivers of America there, and it makes the show make more sense. (It started there, using the existing ships, not ones brought in just for the show as they are at DHS.)

They just re-opened Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln with a brand new Abe Lincoln AA that actually has detailed facial movements! It is in the Opera House just inside the entrance to DL. The lobby, which they had used for the DL 50th anniversary celebration, still has some of the displays about the history of Disneyland, I am told. If so, they are also worth seeing.

And, of course, Captain EO is coming back.

Oh, and one more thing: I think they have a petting zoo farm in Frontierland, which we don't have.

Paul

P.S.: Go Tribe! I'm a W&M grad also!! And I have Cali friends who are, also. They are who I usually visit when I get out to DL. What a coincidence.

 

[TTATraveler]

I agree with what everyone has said so far and I would also add add Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin. The only 2 attractions that I thought WDW did better was Splash Mountain and Winnie the Pooh.

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

There is a great blog from Allears that compares DL to WDW.

Part One
http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2008/11/disneyland_vs_magic_kingdom_pa.html

Part Two
http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2008/11/disneyland_vs_disney_world_par.html

 

[Laura]

I have a REALLY long writeup on WDW vs. DL as well.

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/blog.php?b=541

 

[UnrealFire]

I have a similar situation and will also be going to Disneyland for a single day next Sunday. I'm only going to have about 10 hours to do everything. Should I just save California Adventure for another time so I can do more at Disneyland Park?

 

[Laura]

I have a similar situation and will also be going to Disneyland for a single day next Sunday. I'm only going to have about 10 hours to do everything. Should I just save California Adventure for another time so I can do more at Disneyland Park?

Yeah for only 10 hours I'd save the money and pass on the hopper.

 

[Ryan120420]

Take advantage of the Single Rider lines.

Splash Mountain
Indiana Jones Adventure.



Must Rides

Big Thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
Mansion
Pirates and Space Mountain (you will never look at the WDW version of these two rides the same again)
Alice in Wonderland
Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Rodger Rabbits Car Toon Spin
Autopia (Its actually really fun, especially at night)
Disneyland Rail Road (Tomorrowland to Main Street for the Grand Canyon Primeval World exibits)
ITs a Small World


And I would visit DCA. If you are by yourself you can easily get that park done in less than 2 hours using Single Rider Lines

California Screamin
Sorain Over California
Maliboomer
Grizzly River Run
Mulhollen Madness


All those ride have Single rider lines and the ride that don't (Tower of Terror and Monsters Inc) will not have long lines at all. The only ride that will have significant wait is Toy story Mania.

 

[maxime29]

Thanks for the advice so far!

Two new questions:

1. Where's the best place to buy tickets? At the park? Hotel (Staying at the Hilton across the street)? Online?

2. Related to travel - What companies should I research for van transportation from LAX to our hotel? Would rather not use a taxi, and we won't need a rent-a-car for our trip.

 

[Number_6]

We're making a trip out that way as well and it looks like we'll be leaving as you're arriving. We're heading out on the 13th-18th of February. Never been to DL, but have been to WDW so very many times, especially since we used to live in Orlando. The kids still think we're going to Philadelphia, which we were originally considering doing, then we saw how much our tax refund was going to be and decided there was enough that would be left over after paying things off that we could surprise the kids. We're very much looking forward to the looks on the kids faces when we head for the connecting flight in Philly.

 

[nemofinder22]

Thanks for the advice so far!

Two new questions:

1. Where's the best place to buy tickets? At the park? Hotel (Staying at the Hilton across the street)? Online?

2. Related to travel - What companies should I research for van transportation from LAX to our hotel? Would rather not use a taxi, and we won't need a rent-a-car for our trip.

-I would defiantly try to buy tickets prior to getting to the resort to maximize your time in the park sometimes the lines at the ticket booths can be very long but a Tuesday in Feb you might be good at the ticket booth. But if the hotel sells them there I would buy from there.

-As for shuttles Mousesavers has 2 listed.
http://www.mousesavers.com/shuttle.html#dl

-For Table Service dinning, theres also Carnation Cafe on Main Street as well as Cafe Orleans across the street from Blue Bayou. DL also has places like Plaza Inn, Rancho, French Market, Redd Rockets(chicken fulussi!) (not really table service but the food it pretty good, better than the standard burger and fries) that serve up better food than places like Hungry Bear or Village Haus.

-I think a general rule of thumb says if all the AP's are blocked except the Premiums then it will be really busy but I think you'll be good.

We're making a trip out that way as well and it looks like we'll be leaving as you're arriving. We're heading out on the 13th-18th of February. Never been to DL, but have been to WDW so very many times, especially since we used to live in Orlando. The kids still think we're going to Philadelphia, which we were originally considering doing, then we saw how much our tax refund was going to be and decided there was enough that would be left over after paying things off that we could surprise the kids. We're very much looking forward to the looks on the kids faces when we head for the connecting flight in Philly.

Hope you have a great time! what a great surprise!!!