My Disneyland vs. WDW Opinion...what's yours?

[cococola44]

i think DL is better.

people always act like its small and dirty but the fantasy land is better, it still has toad, the matterhorn, club 33, better pirates, better buzz..i could go on forever baby.

not to mention Walt actually went to DL!

But that doesn't mean anything. Walt went to Disney world as well.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

But that doesn't mean anything. Walt went to Disney world as well.

Walt Disney died in 1966, the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 (I thought that was part of Traditions for CMs). Walt died before the park opened; although I guess you could technically make the argument he technically was on the property before he died. Regardless, Walt's presence was very much apparent in DL, as he would often stay in his apartment above the firehouse and enjoy the park.

 

[Fun2BFree]

But that doesn't mean anything. Walt went to Disney world as well.

Walt was a little too dead to visit WDW.

 

[discomouse131]

You want to talk about an UPROAR if they were to even lay one finger on DL's Castle?!?!?!
It's one thing to have the Christmas snow layover - but to think about adding on to the "original"...
That would be suicide on Disney's part - by anyone's standards. Unless they deem it structurally unsound - it will never be "redone".

I 100% agree here. Imagine being a kid growing up in the 1950's and taking a trip to DL. Now imagine coming out of the tunnel and stepping onto Main Street for the first time and seeing the castle at the end. Any kid in their right mind would have thought they were in heaven. At the time it was built, it was the most magical place on earth. Nothing like it had ever been done before. Now in 2008, it's still the most magical place on earth. No, it may not be as grand as its counterparts, but it's the original...the one built by Disney himself and a national as well as international icon. As quoted earlier, 'redoing' the castle would be catastrophic!:brick:

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

I hope to go to Disneyland some day, but it's trapped in a city...Disneyland/Magic Kingdom West is smaller and cramped together. Their tomorrowland has no peoplemover/rocket rods, astro orbiter is parked out front, an outdated HISTA, star tours, meh, Buzz is better there, and they have innoventions and we still have their CoP muwhahaha

Their castle is quaint but small, their fantasyland is nice as are many of fantasyland's dark rides. Their it's a small world will soon be character infested for all you folks that like that kind of stuff, we still have the rainforest.

We still have country bears, a nice quiet tom sawyer island, but they still have the canoes and the mark twain and the columbia.

Their pirates is awesome, and our HM well its very well done now, but I still love the idea of new orleans square over liberty square.

They still have the original tiki room, while we still have the swiss family, their junglecruise is awesome and they have indiana jones.

I think our castle is better, but I think their mainstreet is far more appropriate. Ours has become too commercialized into an 1890s world of disney store.

They have a very tiny Downtown Disney (obviously), the Disneyland Hotel is very aged and as many times as they have tried to rehab it, somehow going back to a retro vacation style would seem to compliment its nostalgic charm.

DCA is a concrete desert and will hopefully be better come its refurb.

 

[donniedisney]

But that doesn't mean anything. Walt went to Disney world as well.

Hmmm. lets do the math here..Walt died in 66. WDW opened in 71.

WDW would not exist if it wasnt for DL. does that make it better no but you can't ignore the fact that Walt actually walked through DL which is awesome.

If youre going to compare DL to WDW of course WDW will win because it has a lot more to do. If youre comparing the Magic Kingdom to Disneyland i'd say Disneyland is the winner.

To add to my growing list of why: Outdoor small world, toon town, uncovered tea cups, alice dark ride, pinnocchio dark ride, TOAD, better pooh, newer better peter pan, the better construction of the facades in fantasyland, non iago zazu tiki room, indiana jones. haunted mansion stretching portrait room actually goes down, haunted mansion holiday, submarines, matterhorn, better autopian. casey junior train, story book land.

PLUS you dont have to ride the monorail or a ferry boat to get to the park. I know lots of people LOVE seeing the MK approach them but i think it's safe to say that love is gone after wishes when youre waiting in huge lines to get on a monrail or ferry to get back to the TTC so you can wait in line to get on a tram...(well if youre not smart enough to ride the resort monrail)

Yeah it's missing the people movers...but i'll forgive them for that because it also doesnt have STITCH ENCOUNTER...i think that absence of that automagically makes DL the winner..

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Now, onto DCA...

I'm not saying this is my favorite park...but I'd say that it's definitely better than DHS!
It's a little "jumbled" and not easy to navigate.

Tower of Terror is not better in DCA. The building aesthetics are FAR better at the Studios as is that actual ride. The mirror was a nice effect and it definitely caught me off guard when it didn't "roll out" into the drop chamber. The "5th Dimension" room is part of the whole experience though.

Monsters Inc. I liked it. It's nothing special but it was nice to see a new dark ride. I wish the animatronics were better though. It would've been nice to see mouths move when they talked. The Randall effect was awesome.

Muppets is Muppets...nothing new here. The waiting area is better in DHS but the entry of DCA's is better.

Grizzly River Run was pretty good...a lot better than Kali...actually, Kali just stinks :lol:

Soarin' is Soarin'...much nicer area in DCA.

Paradise Pier...I don't know whether to really like it or really hate it. California Screamin' is an awesome coaster. That ride just doesn't let up (much better at night too!). The Sun Wheel is a nice spin on an old classic...I liked it, but I wish they had done at least one FULL rotation without stopping!!! Then you get to Mulholland Madness. Boring. Primeval Whirl, even if the theming is horrible, is at least fun when it spins... The Orange Stinger? Whuh? Maliboomer...huh? The Zephyr thing... Whassat now? You had two attractions with nice Disney flair to them...and then just plop up off-the-shelf rides that you can ride in any amusement park or traveling fair!

A Bug's Land was cute...but the theater under the Tree of Life works a lot better.

We had dinner in The Vineyard Room and had great food...just way overpriced for what you get.

Well, that's about it...overall I had a great time...DL was really crowded because it was spring break in CA but aside from that..it was fun and it was nice to finally be able to experience the things that I read about on a daily basis!

Why no Aladdin stage show while in DCA? You missed something special there.

Did you have a chance to catch the Sox vs Dodgers while in town?


PS If you think HISTA is out of place in Tomorrowland, you should have seen it when they had America Sings back there. The Disney purists would be ripping their hair out if it was like that today.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Why no Aladdin stage show while in DCA? You missed something special there.

Did you have a chance to catch the Sox vs Dodgers while in town?


PS If you think HISTA is out of place in Tomorrowland, you should have seen it when they had America Sings back there. The Disney purists would be ripping their hair out if it was like that today.

OMG how did I forget that! I LOVED ALADDIN!!!! It was an awesome show!!!

 

[WaltsApprentice]

i think DL is better.

people always act like its small and dirty but the fantasy land is better, it still has toad, the matterhorn, club 33, better pirates, better buzz..i could go on forever baby.

not to mention Walt actually went to DL!

If you think about it Walt actually went to WDW too...at least on the land but not when it was completed:shrug:

 

[sponono88]

I hope to go to Disneyland some day, but it's trapped in a city...Disneyland/Magic Kingdom West is smaller and cramped together. Their tomorrowland has no peoplemover/rocket rods, astro orbiter is parked out front, an outdated HISTA, star tours, meh, Buzz is better there, and they have innoventions and we still have their CoP muwhahaha

Their castle is quaint but small, their fantasyland is nice as are many of fantasyland's dark rides. Their it's a small world will soon be character infested for all you folks that like that kind of stuff, we still have the rainforest.

We still have country bears, a nice quiet tom sawyer island, but they still have the canoes and the mark twain and the columbia.

Their pirates is awesome, and our HM well its very well done now, but I still love the idea of new orleans square over liberty square.

They still have the original tiki room, while we still have the swiss family, their junglecruise is awesome and they have indiana jones.

I think our castle is better, but I think their mainstreet is far more appropriate. Ours has become too commercialized into an 1890s world of disney store.

They have a very tiny Downtown Disney (obviously), the Disneyland Hotel is very aged and as many times as they have tried to rehab it, somehow going back to a retro vacation style would seem to compliment its nostalgic charm.

DCA is a concrete desert and will hopefully be better come its refurb.

Interesting views...from someone who's never been there.. Especially regarding DCA.

As for the rest of the thread- I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.

 

[WaltsApprentice]

OMG how did I forget that! I LOVED ALADDIN!!!! It was an awesome show!!!

That was the one thing I really wanted to see at DCA!!!! That was one of the main reasons...

BUT EVERYTHING YOU SAID is excatly what I thought when i went to DLR!! Being WDW fan all my life I had to do it...yet My feelings were the same as yours...and I really enjoyed DCA! What did you think about their Animation Studios?? Pretty cool and well themed...I love their Socerer's Apprentice area! Very well themed. Turtle talk was just not the same not being at the living seas! But Over all I like their Studio better than areas...:wave:Thanks for your review I'm glad to see that you had the same feelings as I did and that I'm not that crazy

 

[Fun2BFree]

To add to my growing list of why: Outdoor small world, toon town, uncovered tea cups, alice dark ride, pinnocchio dark ride, TOAD, better pooh, newer better peter pan, the better construction of the facades in fantasyland, non iago zazu tiki room, indiana jones. haunted mansion stretching portrait room actually goes down, haunted mansion holiday, submarines, matterhorn, better autopian. casey junior train, story book land.

Allow me to make a rebuttal on those bolded attractions:

1-IASW is only partially outdoors, and with the Florida weather, you'll be glad due to rainstorms and high temperatures.
2-Mad Tea Party for same reason as IASW.
3-Since the sensation of the stretching room is identical in both parks, I fail to see how the fact that it travels down makes any difference. It actually shows the lack of space in Disneyland, a negative. The Magic Kingdom has the blessing of size.

 

[paul436]

I was in DL in February for the first time in 15 years and agree on practically everything you pointed out. Especially the castle. My most anticipated and special moment at WDW for me is turning the corner onto Main Street and seeing the castle. Tears practically come to my eyes. I had the same anticipation as I entered DL and was somewhat disappointed. But I took a picture any way.:lol:

Splash Mountain is much better at WDW; Space Mountain is much better at DL.

I think I need to ride Indy a few more times to catch more details before I put it above Dinosaur.

Toontown at WDW is an embarrassment compared to DL. DL's Toontown is immersive.

Paradise Pier didn't make me feel like I was in a Disney park like all of WDW does but California Adventure was a lot of fun. I somewhat compare it to Animal Kingdom in that there is more to do if you take the time to see the "hidden" attractions.

 

[dandaman]

Walt was a little too frozen [sic] to visit WDW.

:lookaroun

 

[Fun2BFree]

:lookaroun

Now now, you and your misinformation. Let me correct that:

Walt's head [sic] was a little too frozen [sic] to visit WDW.

 

[timoteo]

Architecture and overall design
Scale integration / set design
Planning, circulation and layout
Detailing
Lighting
Ride effects and ride systems integration
Show design and human performance
Preservation
Upkeep.
Management

There is no room for any other opinions unless you have a better degree.

 

[dandaman]

^^ :lol:

As I've never been to California, I wouldn't be able to have an unbiased opinion on this.

 

[paul436]

i think DL is better.

people always act like its small and dirty but the fantasy land is better, it still has toad, the matterhorn, club 33, better pirates, better buzz..i could go on forever baby.

not to mention Walt actually went to DL!

What good is Club 33 when (what seems like) less than 1% of guests can enter it.?

 

[Disneyfanman]

Having been to both many many times over the years, I was fascinated by the poster's opinions. It's been so long since I was a newbie at one of the resorts. I am always caught up in the nostalgia of DL, and wonder what it would have been like if I had seen WDW first. In any case, I have always enjoyed a day at DL more than the MK. Always and forever. But they are my two favorite parks.....period. So how do you really choose anyway. On a ride by ride, here is my opinion:

Star Tours.........same.

Space Mountain. DL just rocks.

Buzz. I haven't seen the DL version.

Matterhorn. Rough and Rocky, but fun. Nothing like it at WDW.

Small World. Unbelievably better in every way at DL. Even after the refurb.

Haunted Mansion. Now much better at WDW. Used to be DL.

Pirates. No comparison. DL just blows WDW away.

Dark Rides. I really like the WDW versions better except that I liked Toad at DL. Now only DL has it. Also Alice is a really fun little ride that was never copied. Overall a tie.

WDW has Philharmagic. IMHO one of the best Disney attractions ever.

Splash. Much better at WDW.

Jungle Cruise. Much better at WDW. I haven't seen the enhancements at DL, but it was made much too short with Indy added.

Indiana Jones. Nothing like it at WDW (Dinosaur is fun but not in the same league). Very very cool.

BTTM. Fun and about the same at both places.

In the end, I come away from Disneyland Park happier than MK. But I love them both!!!!! Can't I have both?

 

[ChrisFL]

I prefer DL in many ways to MK at WDW...

one note about the Matterhorn, we need to realize that this was by far the first steel rollercoaster ever made, and I appreciated it as such and actually it was slightly scary due to its roughness but still fun.