Just returned from a week in Southern California, stayed the entire week at the Grand Californian Hotel and went to the parks 5 days. Here are my thoughts:
A. Disneyland Park
1. General: In my opinion, this is a much better park than the Magic Kingdom in Florida. I love them both but if I had to pick a winner it would be DLR for the simple reason that there are just more attractions.
2. Space Mountain: Incredible. Fabulous. This puts its sister in FLA to shame. On board audio makes all the difference. Smoothness, speed, a shiny queue. Just a great, great ride and the highlight of the trip.
3. Buzz Lightyear: Liked this better than Florida counterpart as well but not by much.
4. Matterhorn: A little rougher and jerkier than I had hoped but still fun.
5. Characters: Where are they? One area where MK outclasses DL is in characters. We barely saw any and they were always moving somewhere. Florida is much better at this.
6. Fantasyland: It was great to ride Mr. Toad again and we were entertained by Alice and Pinocchio as well. Peter Pan is better in FL although the stars was a nice effect on the DL ride.
7. Frontierland/Critter Country/New Orleans Square: Both Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain are better in Florida although they were different enough to both be interesting in DL. Same with Haunted Mansion.
8. Adventureland: Loved Indiana Jones and it is better than Dinosaur for sure. Jungle Cruise was much shorter though we loved the piranha effect - This seems like it would be an easy addition to the MK version.
9. Parade: Frankly, I thought the parade was quite disappointing. It was all of 12 minutes long and nothing spectacular. Certainly not up to Spectromagic or the Halloween themed parade at MK.
B. California Adventure
1. In general: I really liked this park despite people's criticisms. I think the theming works. This park was pretty crowded every day we went though not nearly as crowded as DL.
2. Monsters, Inc.: I liked this and it is nice to see a top-shelf dark ride. It would be a little better if they could expand the use of the onboard video as that is a neat effect which is a bit different from other slow moving dark rides. This ride was crowded and without the opportunity for a fast-pass, we went right as the park opened twice.
3. Soarin: Rode it 4 times and really enjoyed it. All the smells were working.
4. Grizzly River Rapids: Best themed river rapids ride I've been on. I liked this.
5. 3-D Shows: Curious that Muppets 3-D and Tough to be a Bug draw almost no crowds unlike their Florida identical counterparts.
6. Golden Dreams: OK but its simply a movie with a single effect (projecting Whoopi's face on the statue).
7. Paradise Pier - OK. I was disappointed in the California Screamin because my on-board audio did not work. To me that makes all the difference. I'm amazed than anyone waits more than 5 minutes for Mulholland Madness. I liked the Zephyr as a walk-on only but it seems bizarre that the slightest wind could shut that ride down. Putting the swings inside a giant orange is a good idea.
8. Flik's Fun Fair: Well-themed area. Good for kids and since I have a 5 and 8 year old, they liked this.
9. Tower of Terror: Shame that the neatest effect from Florida - moving horizontally was not included. OK.
10. Aladdin Show - Like the concept of a longish theatrical production but really did not care for the current events humor at all.
11. Turtle Talk with Crush - Didn't care for this at all.
12. Block Party Bash: OK I guess. I'm really not a fan of "parades" that stop and interact. I would prefer a longer, moving parade.
C. Grand Californian Hotel/Resort:
I liked this hotel but wasn't blown away by it. Staff was friendly and helpful always which was appreciated. I think the Polynesian and the Floridian are more spectacular in Florida. Seems odd that instead of using your room key to charge items they give you this slip of paper that you have to carry with you in your wallet and show ID. The hotel could use a few more card key access exits to Downtown Disney - I would have to walk a substantial way just to get back under my window. Bottom line is I would stay there again. I will say that I was quite surprised by how crowded Downtown Disney got each evening.
Overall, it was a great trip (also did Hollywood, Universal, NBC Studios, Getty Museum, Santa Monica, Nixon Library and Museum) and we will certainly return at some time in the future though Florida will always be significantly more convenient for us.
Snapper Bean
A. Disneyland Park
1. General: In my opinion, this is a much better park than the Magic Kingdom in Florida. I love them both but if I had to pick a winner it would be DLR for the simple reason that there are just more attractions.
2. Space Mountain: Incredible. Fabulous. This puts its sister in FLA to shame. On board audio makes all the difference. Smoothness, speed, a shiny queue. Just a great, great ride and the highlight of the trip.
3. Buzz Lightyear: Liked this better than Florida counterpart as well but not by much.
4. Matterhorn: A little rougher and jerkier than I had hoped but still fun.
5. Characters: Where are they? One area where MK outclasses DL is in characters. We barely saw any and they were always moving somewhere. Florida is much better at this.
6. Fantasyland: It was great to ride Mr. Toad again and we were entertained by Alice and Pinocchio as well. Peter Pan is better in FL although the stars was a nice effect on the DL ride.
7. Frontierland/Critter Country/New Orleans Square: Both Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain are better in Florida although they were different enough to both be interesting in DL. Same with Haunted Mansion.
8. Adventureland: Loved Indiana Jones and it is better than Dinosaur for sure. Jungle Cruise was much shorter though we loved the piranha effect - This seems like it would be an easy addition to the MK version.
9. Parade: Frankly, I thought the parade was quite disappointing. It was all of 12 minutes long and nothing spectacular. Certainly not up to Spectromagic or the Halloween themed parade at MK.
B. California Adventure
1. In general: I really liked this park despite people's criticisms. I think the theming works. This park was pretty crowded every day we went though not nearly as crowded as DL.
2. Monsters, Inc.: I liked this and it is nice to see a top-shelf dark ride. It would be a little better if they could expand the use of the onboard video as that is a neat effect which is a bit different from other slow moving dark rides. This ride was crowded and without the opportunity for a fast-pass, we went right as the park opened twice.
3. Soarin: Rode it 4 times and really enjoyed it. All the smells were working.
4. Grizzly River Rapids: Best themed river rapids ride I've been on. I liked this.
5. 3-D Shows: Curious that Muppets 3-D and Tough to be a Bug draw almost no crowds unlike their Florida identical counterparts.
6. Golden Dreams: OK but its simply a movie with a single effect (projecting Whoopi's face on the statue).
7. Paradise Pier - OK. I was disappointed in the California Screamin because my on-board audio did not work. To me that makes all the difference. I'm amazed than anyone waits more than 5 minutes for Mulholland Madness. I liked the Zephyr as a walk-on only but it seems bizarre that the slightest wind could shut that ride down. Putting the swings inside a giant orange is a good idea.
8. Flik's Fun Fair: Well-themed area. Good for kids and since I have a 5 and 8 year old, they liked this.
9. Tower of Terror: Shame that the neatest effect from Florida - moving horizontally was not included. OK.
10. Aladdin Show - Like the concept of a longish theatrical production but really did not care for the current events humor at all.
11. Turtle Talk with Crush - Didn't care for this at all.
12. Block Party Bash: OK I guess. I'm really not a fan of "parades" that stop and interact. I would prefer a longer, moving parade.
C. Grand Californian Hotel/Resort:
I liked this hotel but wasn't blown away by it. Staff was friendly and helpful always which was appreciated. I think the Polynesian and the Floridian are more spectacular in Florida. Seems odd that instead of using your room key to charge items they give you this slip of paper that you have to carry with you in your wallet and show ID. The hotel could use a few more card key access exits to Downtown Disney - I would have to walk a substantial way just to get back under my window. Bottom line is I would stay there again. I will say that I was quite surprised by how crowded Downtown Disney got each evening.
Overall, it was a great trip (also did Hollywood, Universal, NBC Studios, Getty Museum, Santa Monica, Nixon Library and Museum) and we will certainly return at some time in the future though Florida will always be significantly more convenient for us.
Snapper Bean
