Manifest Destiny: A Lifetime Walt Disney World Fan's First Trip To Disneyland

[Mike S]

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is chaotic, trippy fun. Our version was clearly better but you all know what happened with that. I can't wait to see what the updates will be like for this ride. Speaking of which........

Absolutely loved the added effects in this ride and it makes me wonder what further improvement could it possibly be? I guess that's just Disneyland going that extra mile.

The rides of Storybook Land were relaxing with some good scenery all around. They had the chance to give MK an equivalent in New Fantasyland but I guess they passed or never thought it was needed.

Frozen in Fantasyland?!?!?! Who could've thought of it being such a good fit there?!?!?!?!?!

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Loving the report so far. I'm living vicariously through you right now.

 

[Sage of Time]

Had no idea Lincoln was closed.

Nor did I. Any idea why?

MK's HM is also far more polished from a lighting and audio perspective (not even including the soundsound in the stretching room). Other than Splash and ToT, that's where I draw the line at WDW's superiority.

What's odd is that the rest of DLR's dark rides have really good audio mixes and lighting. Not sure why I always find HM there a bit off.

Because DL's HM goes down twice a year for the tacky HMH refurb, which messes with the 'default' settings of the ride and ends up leaving them stuck or broken for HMH. DL HM isn't refurbed when it gets the overlay... it just gets things changed around, which isn't good for the infrastructure of the attraction.

Blasphemy! The ride is not the whole experience. The brilliance of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion is that your tour group emerges into a long hallway leading into the unknown while the Ghost Host narration continues. WDW doesn't have this at all and completely misses the point with their little ride-through version of the DL hallway, which caused the dismantling of a classic unique scene.

Do things have to be so black and white?

I'd never say that WDW misses the boat with how we transition from the stretch room to load, but that shortened interlude makes the ride experience all the more in depth, longer, and believable.

That said, it's pretty cool that you get to stand around in some HM scenes in DL. That detracts from the time you see illusions and the real meat and potatoes of HM.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Well, with many of these duplicate attractions, it's a case of either way, you win. The only one that really stinks compared to its counterpart is WDW post-movie refurb Pirates.

 

[Mike S]

Next is It's a Small World.

Another ride that's superior to its WDW counterpart. It's longer, everything seems closer, and there also seems to be much more scenery in this version of the ride. Took pictures of the Sea Serpent for whatever reason. I guess I thought it was cool. I liked seeing all the Disney characters in their respective region. I thought it was a very nice touch. How fitting is that post card for my thread huh?

I didn't go on Submarine Voyage until later that night but I took this cool pic anyway. Couldn't get the Beatles song "Yellow Submarine" out of my head

Obviously it's much more elaborate than its omnimover dark ride counterpart in Epcot but Disneyland did have much more to work with. I really liked the ride especially the beginning. Wish I was old enough to ride and remember 20k in Magic Kingdom but there's always YouTube for that even though it'll never compare to actually being there. Next up I went to Main Street to eat a Corn Dog that was pretty good

I caught Mickey & Minnie dancing to a band playing in the background. They also just stopped right there on Main Street for M&G's. If this happened anywhere in WDW they would be absolutely mobbed. Just another difference here. I also saw Goofy just come strolling out.

 

[Figments Friend]

Yes, the character situation at Disneyland is far more open and relaxed.
Characters are always out just mingling in the crowd, particularly on Main Street during the daytime.
It is nice, as you can interact with them in a more personal, low key way.
Finding Bert on Main Street is always fun....

 

[Mike S]

Time for Tomorrowland.

I didn't ride anything on this first time through the land. We just got fastpasses for Space Mountain for really late at night. I will now post my huge coverage of Toontown since it's rumored to be leaving for Star Wars Land.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Nor did I. Any idea why?

Nope.

 

[Mike S]

Yes, the character situation at Disneyland is far more open and relaxed.
Characters are always out just mingling in the crowd, particularly on Main Street during the daytime.
It is nice, as you can interact with them in a more personal, low key way.
Finding Bert on Main Street is always fun....

I didn't really look for characters much and focused more on rides since we only had one day there. I'm sure there's plenty I missed out on this time around.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Wonderful photos!

 

[Figments Friend]

I didn't really look for characters much and focused more on rides since we only had one day there. I'm sure there's plenty I missed out on this time around.

I usually don*t go looking for characters when in the Parks, but at Disneyland they always seem to find me.
Whenever i am walking around on Main Street during the day, i usually literally run into Bert or other *face* characters out and about.
They are just strolling about...no Cast *bodyguards* or Greeters...just themselves walking among the people.
Such a nice change from the caged experiences on the other coast.

Character experiences at DLR are far more personal and ...well...i will say it - *magical*.
They are improptu surprises and fun unexpected moments.
Totally the opposite from *canned* performances at a typical M&G setting.

A example -
Once while cutting through the pathway that runs parallel to the Small World Mall on my way from ToonTown to Frontierland i had Peter Pan and Captain Hook following directly behind me.
Cast use this pathway a lot, and characters sometimes cut through here as there is a nearby backstage access area.
So as i am walking through here, i kept wondering why people standing along the walkway kept staring directly at me.
They were all smiling as if they knew me as a friend, and anxiously awaiting my approach. It was as if i had suddenly become a instant celebrity..or they had spotted one that was walking behind me.
It was a surreal little moment.
Soon however, i realized the REAL reason these strangers were so happy to see me.
I turned around as i too wanted to know who they were looking at and there was Peter and the good Captain trailing me.
Now it all made sense!

*Following The Leader*...indeed.
We should have been singing that song i guess...

 

[Mike S]

First wave of Toontown pictures.

After walking through this land it made me a little sad that it might be going soon. It's very detailed and I liked all the interactive stuff and of course Roger Rabbit.

 

[Mike S]

Second wave.

 

[Mike S]

Third wave.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

I usually don*t go looking for characters when in the Parks, but at Disneyland they always seem to find me.
Whenever i am walking around on Main Street during the day, i usually literally run into Bert or other *face* characters out and about.
They are just strolling about...no Cast *bodyguards* or Greeters...just themselves walking among the people.
Such a nice change from the caged experiences on the other coast.

Character experiences at DLR are far more personal and ...well...i will say it - *magical*.
They are improptu surprises and fun unexpected moments.
Totally the opposite from *canned* performances at a typical M&G setting.

A example -
Once while cutting through the pathway that runs parallel to the Small World Mall on my way from ToonTown to Frontierland i had Peter Pan and Captain Hook following directly behind me.
Cast use this pathway a lot, and characters sometimes cut through here as there is a nearby backstage access area.
So as i am walking through here, i kept wondering why people standing along the walkway kept staring directly at me.
They were all smiling as if they knew me as a friend, and anxiously awaiting my approach. It was as if i had suddenly become a instant celebrity..or they had spotted one that was walking behind me.
It was a surreal little moment.
Soon however, i realized the REAL reason these strangers were so happy to see me.
I turned around as i too wanted to know who they were looking at and there was Peter and the good Captain trailing me.
Now it all made sense!

*Following The Leader*...indeed.
We should have been singing that song i guess...

This is one of the biggest differences between DLR and WDW in terms of a tangible feeling you experience while you are there. There is a kinetic energy that you find at DLR that is absent from WDW these days. In additions to the characters interacting with guests in their "natural habit - aka the streets" you also will find all of the vehicles out during all hours of the day, Rivers of America is alive with canoes, rafts, boats. This energy is missing at WDW these days.

Turning a corner and running into a character makes you feel like you are immersed in the magic.

One of my favorite stories I like to share about characters at DLR is one I've shared before; but, it's typical for what you will find at DLR.

I've seen on more than one occasion at DL, Alice (and sometimes the Hatter) take a kid at the front gate and lead it by the hand and walk them all the way back to the Tea Cups and take them for a spin <pun intended>. It amounts to 20 minutes or so of character interaction that happens spontaneously. That would never, ever happen at WDW.

Of course, at WDW character interactions are unfortunately now counted as "attractions" complete with FP+.

Mike - be sure to catch a performance of the Musical Chairs while you are there.

 

[Mike S]

Fourth wave, the Roger Rabbit queue.

 

[Mike S]

Roger Rabbit queue continued.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I love that queue.

DL Vs. MK atmosphere...hmm, to me, DL feels more alive, vital, it OWNS itself.

I never even thought to compare the lowercase Epcot Finding Nemo ride to DL's. I remember riding the Epcot ride once and never wanting to do it again, which is the same reaction I've had to many of the newer WDW attractions. What an abysmal attraction. Submarine Voyage certainly isn't as cool as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which was a favorite of mine, but it's always a cool experience, and nothing you can do anywhere else. I find that I enjoy watching the submarines float by and pass through the waterfall more than riding, though.

 

[flynnibus]

The portrait section is not in the actual ride at Disneyland because the attraction was supposed to be a walk-through.

Had no idea Lincoln was closed.

The hallway is a by product of the show building location... Not really a holdover from the early walk through concept.

And i do like the walking hallway in dl... No so much the people who feel they must rush to beat the crowd exiting the elevator

 

[flynnibus]

Nice photo there Mike, with the train. Lookin' good!
I'm a big 'Thunder Mountain' fan so photography like this is something i can appreciate.
Last visit i shot a lot of photos of just this area.

While i tend to try to avoid 'comparing' the Parks and Attractions with each other between the two coasts, i cannot help but add some comments on something you mentioned.

I have to somewhat disagree with you regarding WDWs 'Big Thunder Mountain'.
Even if it eventually recieves the recent upgrades in the final lift tunnel that Disneyland's version now has, i would not consider it the more superior of the two.
I would still give DLR's 'original' the upper hand for overall experience.
Most certainly.

Why you may ask?
The queue.

Absolutely stunning and a lot more entertaining then WDWs....regardless of the East Coasts' 'interactive' elements that were added a couple of years ago.
I know it comes down to personal taste, but i feel like i am in the middle of the action when waiting in line at BTMR at Disneyland, but very removed from the action up above it all at WDW.

The difference was something i noticed and i liked the dynamics better in California.
The layout of the queue there i really like a lot.
Adds a lot to the experience and gives you a lot of eye candy to enjoy while waiting.

WDW's queue you are kind of removed from the action and feel like a herd of cattle waiting in a 'barn' while you look out from above towards the distance at what is happening away from you.
At Disneyland all the action is around you ..completely surrounding you...which creates a great dynamic atmosphere.
You are already right in the middle of the action even before getting to the loading platform.
I LOVE that aspect of the design !

I'm a big fan of both versions of this Attraction on both coasts, but i personally give DLR's the top spot of the two.
Now...i just need to get over to Disneyland Paris..and ride THAT version...and ride the truly great version.
One of these days...

I never liked the idea of waiting in the front yard like you do at dl's mansion.. (Well garden/side). I liked the standoff approach of the menacing manor of mk's. Tho entering on the porch in dl is nice. Now if they only respect the cycles there more when it comes to the speils and doors