The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[WDW1974]

My wife and I just returned from our first trip to the Disneyland Resort and @WDW1974 kindly invited me to share some of my thoughts/observations here in his thread.

One of the first things I noticed while taking a stroll down Main Street was the number of transportation vehicles running simultaneously: two horse-drawn trolleys, a fire engine, an omnibus, and a jitney. Every one of these vehicles continued operating into the afternoon, even while Main Street was packed with people. They somehow manage to make it work there, while I haven't witnessed anything like this in WDW's MK in quite some time.

The quick service dining locations offered lots of variety, including tacos/burritos, fish, kabobs, gumbo, chowder in bread bowls, etc. In other words, not just the standard burgers and chicken nuggets. (Quick side note: Napa Rose at the Grand Californian was truly excellent and definitely a must do, IMO.)

Another thing I couldn't believe were all the characters we saw just wandering the parks throughout the day, including Pluto, the Mad Hatter and Alice, and even Mickey. When they were set up for standard meet n greets, the lines were extremely short, probably due to the number of other characters roaming the area. Also, there are a lot of entertainment offerings in both parks. I felt like every time we turned a corner there was something going on. It amazes me that WDW continues to eliminate what little entertainment remains in their parks, while in park entertainment continues to play a crucial role at DLR.

Now on to Cars Land... It is absolutely incredible. The big reveal as you walk into Radiator Springs from Pacific Wharf is amazing. WDI definitely hit a home run here. I just didn't want to leave Cars Land even after spending quite a bit of time there. The merchandise found in the land was unique and cool, and the food offerings weren't bad either.

Overall, I think DLR is top notch. The CMs were some of the friendliest and happiest we've ever encountered. Also, the commando mindset typically found at WDW appears to be largely nonexistent at DLR and everyone seems much more relaxed and laid back. Bottom line, anyone who loves WDW really should take a trip to DLR. You definitely won't be disappointed!

Now, since this post has been so positive (and this was just the tip of the iceberg...I left out a lot and could go on forever) I think it's only fair to mention a few things that weren't so positive... The park entry process is a little bizarre. First, a CM scans your ticket with a handheld device before getting to the entry gate. Then, another CM scans your ticket as you go through the gate. Why are two scans needed? Also, is the hand stamp when you exit the park really necessary? It's 2014... Every time we went back to the park later in the day it was after we went to the pool and showered so the stamp had washed off. The CM would pull out the light to look for the stamp and after we'd tell them it washed off they'd just say "OK" and send us on through. I just didn't understand the point I guess, but maybe I'm missing something here.

OK I've rambled enough. Any questions, just ask!

Glad you had such a great trip. Not surprised at all.

I can go over my own checklist from my May visit and so many of the items you list above would be on my Reasons Why DLR is Better Than WDW.

As to the ticket issue and handstamp? Yep. We had them as well. The entry has added the extra scan because of people trying to sell multi-day passes that have been partially used.

I also don't get what happened with the stamp fluid. Clearly, they've gone with a new formula either to save money or due to California's ridiculous 'Everything Will Cause Cancer AND KILL YOU!!!' regulations and what they now use is completely useless if you wash your hands more than once or swim or shower.

Where did you stay? Go anywhere else?

 

[WDW1974]

I drove across the country over a decade ago and stopped at a bunch of NPs. I don't know if I was there on a Friday afternoon or what, but the traffic driving around Yosemite was like Atlanta rush hour. Absolutely awful. I'm sure it's a great place when it doesn't feel like gridlock.

I loved the Southwest parks. Last year, I finally got around to visiting Big Bend NP in West Texas, which might be my favorite -- certainly a Top-5 entry. Gorgeous and remote.

Funny you mention Denali. Last weekend I was pricing a trip to Alaska and was shocked by the hotel rates around the park (and in some of the towns south of Anchorage). We visited Denali about 10 years ago and would love to go back, but the hotel rates look very Disneyesque.

Yosemite traffic is always bad in season. You just sorta deal ... or go to Sequoia, which is also amazing and not quite as popular.

I lucked out on Denali on my last visit. We didn't have any reservations as the trip was planned on about 3-4 weeks notice and while we got great deals all around Alaska, our three nights in Denali were going for almost $300 a night (so, see, still a better deal that WDW!) ... Finally, when we were in Fairbanks and headed down we called one more time (fully prepared to pay $300 a night) and guess what? Because it was late in the season and occupancy was down ... voila! ... the rooms were $75 a night! ... Imagine WDW doing that!)

 

[WDW1974]

I did a TR, but it is in french on another forum! I did not think there would be that much interest for a TR since I have a particular writing style and got odd tastes. I'll do observations...

Basically, this whole Japan trip was a spur of the moment booked two weeks before thing. My objectives were very simple:

1- Do a video game crawl through Akihabara and visit Artnia, the Square Soft store/Cafe next to their HQ in Shinjuku.

2- Go to Tokyo Disney, to clean my palate and get a real Disney experience, as my visit in november 2013 to EPCOT brought me back dark memories of the worst days of Six Flags in early 2000.

3- Go ride the Veil of Dark at Sega Joypolis.

I completed all those objectives in 4 days. I did two days at Tokyo Disney with a day at each park and spent my 3rd day visiting a friend, going to Akihabara and spending an evening at the Joypolis. I stayed at the very nice Comfort Hotel Kiyosumi-Shinagawa. Very good single rate (65$ US a night) that included a breakfast and convenient location. Great made from scratch Ramen noodles from the stand of a nice lady between the hotel and subway entrance. It is also right on top of a Family Mart, one of those awesome japanese convenience store.

To get to Disney from my hotel was 25 minutes with two transfers. Cost 6$ each way in subway and JR train tickets.

My first day was Tokyo Disneyland, since the great free english crowd calendar correctly predicted it would be slower at that park that day. I misread the website, so I arrived at 7:30am for a 9am park opening. I was the only one there and got in line for tickets. At 8 am, bought a two days magic passport (1 day each park for first two days, park hopper on 3rd and 4th day if you buy that much) for 110$ and was the 5th in line at a turnstile. Shortly before park opening, the characters come out on the park side of the gate and start doing mini shows and just goofing around. So much fun!

At 9 am, I ran to Monsters Inc. Ride & Go Seek and got a 10:30 am fast pass. So, I stayed on that side and rode Space Mountain (first ride was smooth, second ride was brutal. The ride itself got the best loading station, but it was interesting to ride old school with no music playing during the ride) and Star Tours 2 (Awesome waiting line and great Hitchhiking Droids gag!). I got a buzz lightyear fast pass at 10:30 am and rode it later... What a dissapointment! It is a poorer version than DL, DLP and HKDL. Too short.

Crowds were actually reasonable that day and Monsters Inc. did not run out of Fast Pass until mid afternoon. The line for it also died down to 15-20 minutes in the evening, so I rode it 3 times that day. I LOVED the attraction. The interaction complimented the ride and the animatronics are amazing. Boo is so life like!

Did Splash Mountain as a single rider twice later. Wow, what a tight fit! From what I could gather, they changed the lap bars from what it had originally, which are the ones that WDW retrofitted to their Splash Mountain, to Everest style individual lap bars. Problem is, I am 6'3 and got long legs and getting the bar to go over my knees was a challenge, but it was not uncomfortable. The best news through is that the ride has a 36 inches height restriction cause of the lap bars.

Did Big Thunder Mountain twice and the first time, gave a Fast Pass crash course to a nice family from Canada who were at the park. I ran into them later and they thanked me, as they cut their waits a lot with it. They through at first there was a fee for it. Big Thunder Mountain also got modified since my last visit in 2009. They added those feet guards that were retrofitted to all the others (after that incident at DL where a kid lost his foot because he tried getting out of the train before it was parked) and also added soft seat dividers to the seat. That effectively mean you can't ride 3 to a row anymore. Ride itself is still my favorite version, thank to its themed first and last tunnel and great drop at the end.

Pooh's Hunny Hunt and Jungle Cruise were closed for rehab.

Food wise, I had a great Calzone at the restaurant at the exit of Star Tours, which is the Pangalactic Pizza Port. Stuffed full of seafood and quite delicious! On the recommendation of a friend, I tried a slice of pizza from the Captain Hook Galley in Fantasyland. Not a large slice, but for the price and quality, I was satisfied. My last meal that day was at the Eastside Cafe in World Bazaar. This is a sitdown italian restaurant and I had their special "Easter Set Menu" where for 25$ US, I had a 3 course meal with non alcoholic beverages. I was a walk in and got seated right away. The food was pretty good with scallop-prosciutto appetizer, bacon-palm hearts spaghettini and a white chocolate mousse with Amaretto sauce as the dessert. It was the best meal I have had at a Disney park since I went to the Napa Rose in California in 2013.

The Disneyland Hotel is interesting. Pretty, but that thing is huge! It feels a lot bigger when you're inside then when you're looking at it from the monorail station.

Best daytime parade I have ever seen? Their temporary for 3 months Easter parade! "Hoppity Spring Parade" was full of energy, the floats were amazing, characters had custom costumes and the music was amazing.

Best parade ever? Still is the Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights. Nothing come close!

Next day was Tokyo Disney Sea. Crowds were a little heavier, but I managed to have a great day.

I arrived at 7:30am for a 8:30am park opening. I was a bit further inline, but I powerwalked and got a 10:45 am fast pass for Toy Story Mania! Line was INSANE for fast passes and in the morning, the street leading from Mediterranean Harbor to the ride was actually divided in 3. Left line for those leaving the ride, middle line for Fast Pass ticketing and right side for Stand-By. Ride is still very popular. For the ride itself, I through the ride portion was a little more themed than the US versions. The waiting line made more sense, as you transitioned through a large bedroom door and the ride "was under the bed".

Tower of Terror is better than even the WDW version for me. The haunting music and the creepy Shiriki Utundu won it for me.

The only ride merchandise I found at the resort were some t shirts and blue helmets at the exit shop of Monsters Inc. and some items at the exit of TOT. I bought great t shirts from TOT and even bought a small Shiriki Utundu bobble head.

Was great just walking up to characters and getting pictures. Loved the Steam Punk outfits for Goofy and Chip n Dale over at Port Discovery.

I'll continue later...

Thanks!!!

Will add comments later.

 

[Jose]

@WDW1974 do you know when MK will get its new castle show? (similar to OUAT)

 

[WDW1974]

Do you think Diagon Alley wasn't the success that Universal thought it was going to be at least attendance wise? For the past few weeks you can just walk into diagon alley and the reason because of Gringotts high wait times is because of the capacity issues. Like what you friends said, Gringotts is not the game-changer that some fanboys are making it out to be. Very anti-climatic

I don't know what UNI's internal projections were/are.

I certainly wouldn't call it disappointing. And please realize that UNI was built with a very high in park capacity originally. I don't recall the exact number, but that has only grown. Lots of people can be there and it doesn't look crazy crowded.

And I am sure that some (how many? who knows?) guests who wanted to visit Diagon Alley did postpone trips when UNI wouldn't announce an opening.

But it also seems safe to say that the area hasn't changed anything in the O-Town theme park wars ... yet.

You also don't base the success of a project of this magnitude on 3-4 weeks worth of data ... let's talk in 3-4 years.

 

[WDW1974]

China, another place Spirit loves, also has a terrible record when it comes to gay rights (or lack thereof).

It's good to have high standards when it comes to human rights, but few countries currently live up to them when it comes to LGBT equality. Even the US is pretty lousy in this area. No, people don't get killed and jailed under the law, but many states are still lacking in legal protections.

From a business standpoint, it does not make sense for large corporations to dismiss operating in countries just because of LGBT rights issues. They can however, set an example back home and lobby for change, as many top American companies have.

I haven't heard of any issues in China, although I don't doubt they exist.

And you are right, even here in the USA there are issues (less every day, thankfully, as this is one way we are actually evolving!).

But having 'issues' with LGBT equality is a far, far cry from nations where being gay can be an automatic death or torture sentence if anyone finds out. I think you'd agree with that?

That's largely the case in the UAE and all the amazing 'seven star' hotels and gleaming skyscrapers and Hollywood films that are shot there are not going to change the fact we are talking about Stone Age mentalities among the leadership. And that so long as they have oil, they'll have power and nothing changes.

Saying there are issues elsewhere only helps soften the problems in the UAE and that entire region. I'd rather keep the focus there myself.

 

[Cesar R M]

Because the smartphone path is cruising for a bruising. Notice how the article says Hilton hasn't even got a system to promote yet? And things are 1-2 years away?

The reason for doing something like the MagicBand is CONTROL. Disney doesn't want to invest all that time and money and be locked to vendors and products it has ZERO control over.

What happens when Apple releases a new phone that ditched the hardware you built your system around? Or releases a new version that breaks your app?

The smartphone life cycle is less than 4 years... and more like 2. Imagine trying to keep your entire infrastructure up to date and DEPENDENT on a technology that changes that quickly with zero input from you.

And let's talk about putting your system onto a smartphone that the user controls.. not you.

You don't base your business on consumer technology supplied by other people unless you are prepared to refresh your own products at the same rate.

A system like Hilton's would probably end up working via the network vs via the phone. Or they could do things like ultrasound, etc.

Imho, I find that as a very dumb excuse.

that's what STANDARDS are for.
if they use the same WIFI standards.. not need to upgrade.
if they use the same communication or http code (like the old my magic), you do not need to upgrade.
apple purposely sabotages their own systems with updates that cant run on older hardware to push their clientele to upgrade.

again.. thats imho.
but I agree on the control thing. Disney wants full control, full detail... something that they cant guarantee on every phone model in existence.

 

[flynnibus]

Imho, I find that as a very dumb excuse.

that's what STANDARDS are for.

Uhmm.. standards don't dictate who implements things, where, and for how long. Only that *IF* you do it, how it should interact.

How's that IrDa port on your smartphone working these days? oh wait... you don't have an IR Dataport on your phone anymore? Why not? It's standardized.

Imagine building out everything on property to work for the Mini-USB port because you built your new business processes around your customers bringing in their cool new blackberry... only to find out 6months later everyone switch to Micro-USB ports and no new phones going forward have Mini-USB ports. Where does that leave you? Up a creek.. that's where.

Why would you base such critical parts of your business on the WHIMS of other companies you can not control?

The only thing dumb here is people believing the industry as you know it today, will be the same tomorrow. If you can't absorb that change, don't count on it not happening.

 

[Cesar R M]

Uhmm.. standards don't dictate who implements things, where, and for how long. Only that *IF* you do it, how it should interact.

How's that IrDa port on your smartphone working these days? oh wait... you don't have an IR Dataport on your phone anymore? Why not? It's standardized.

Imagine building out everything on property to work for the Mini-USB port because you built your new business processes around your customers bringing in their cool new blackberry... only to find out 6months later everyone switch to Micro-USB ports and no new phones going forward have Mini-USB ports. Where does that leave you? Up a creek.. that's where.

Why would you base such critical parts of your business on the WHIMS of other companies you can not control?

The only thing dumb here is people believing the industry as you know it today, will be the same tomorrow. If you can't absorb that change, don't count on it not happening.

irdA is hardly a correct example to prove your point. As it was never fully supported by all manufacturers.
similar to how intel also shoved and claimed USB3 was a standard (despite them pushing only their specific instructions).. until all the other members of the USB group wanted their own implementations added and finally reached consensus later on.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Imho, I find that as a very dumb excuse.

that's what STANDARDS are for.
if they use the same WIFI standards.. not need to upgrade.
if they use the same communication or http code (like the old my magic), you do not need to upgrade.
apple purposely sabotages their own systems with updates that cant run on older hardware to push their clientele to upgrade.

again.. thats imho.
but I agree on the control thing. Disney wants full control, full detail... something that they cant guarantee on every phone model in existence.

Except that standards are upgraded all the time and not just by Apple, but by the entire industry.

 

[Cesar R M]

Except that standards are upgraded all the time and not just by Apple, but by the entire industry.

Yes, but most of the standards usually have a backward compatibility.

for example.. the N wireless format of the 2.4Ghz Spectrum, falls back to G if required.. and then to B if required.

I hope I am explaining well.

*edit*
sorry for derailing the thread. wont comment further on this.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yes, but most of the standards usually have a backward compatibility.

for example.. the N wireless format of the 2.4Ghz Spectrum, falls back to G if required.. and then to B if required.

I hope I am explaining well.

Usually. Eventually the old standards will be dropped.

 

[thehowiet]

Glad you had such a great trip. Not surprised at all.

I can go over my own checklist from my May visit and so many of the items you list above would be on my Reasons Why DLR is Better Than WDW.

As to the ticket issue and handstamp? Yep. We had them as well. The entry has added the extra scan because of people trying to sell multi-day passes that have been partially used.

I also don't get what happened with the stamp fluid. Clearly, they've gone with a new formula either to save money or due to California's ridiculous 'Everything Will Cause Cancer AND KILL YOU!!!' regulations and what they now use is completely useless if you wash your hands more than once or swim or shower.

Where did you stay? Go anywhere else?

I had a feeling my Reasons Why DLR is Better Than WDW would have at least some overlap with a certain Spirit... As I mentioned to you before, I saw so many little things at DLR that reminded me of my trips to WDW in the 80s.

A few other DLR observations:
- DL is packed full of details EVERYWHERE you look. It truly is amazing.
- DL's Fantasyland is so much nicer than MK's (even with New Fantasyland).
- DL's Hub is such a great place to sit down on a bench (yes, they have benches) in the shade (yep, they have shade too) to relax for a bit.
- It's amazing how much simpler everything is at DLR. I'd hands down recommend DLR over WDW to friends and family looking for a Disney parks fix (especially those friends and family members with children). We went to both parks, shopped at DTD, and had drinks at Trader Sam's in the same day with very little effort and without feeling exhausted.
- The feeling of energy and kinetics all around you can't be beat...especially from things like the MS vehicles (I know I already mentioned these), SS Columbia, Mark Twain, canoes, DLRR, Monorail, Red Car Trolleys, etc.

We stayed at the Sheraton Park Anaheim. It wasn't bad, but there are definitely better options in the area for less so I highly doubt we'd stay there again when we return. Since it was our first trip to DLR we spent a lot of time there, but we also made time for other things.

Some other random highlights of our SoCal trip:
- Laguna Beach: spent a lot of time on the beach, shopped, relaxed at a local coffee shop (Laguna Coffee Company) checked out some local art galleries, and tried a few restaurants.
- Costa Del Mar: spent a morning on the beach (wife loves the beach).
- Fashion Island: spent an afternoon shopping (wife loves to shop).
- Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf: made a couple trips here for a pick me up and to just get away from everything DLR for a moment (wife loves CBTL...noticing a pattern yet? LOL)
- Del Taco: I'm not embarrassed to say I love Del Taco (Ok, maybe just a little..but the turkey tacos with Delfirno sauce are tasty).

Thanks for your clarification on the bizarre entry/re-entry process. It was definitely a small price to pay to experience a superior product. I also really enjoyed DCA. It blows my mind that a one day ticket to DHS is almost the same price as a one day ticket to DCA. DHS isn't even in the same league, IMHO.

 

[Mike S]

I had a feeling my Reasons Why DLR is Better Than WDW would have at least some overlap with a certain Spirit... As I mentioned to you before, I saw so many little things at DLR that reminded me of my trips to WDW in the 80s.

A few other DLR observations:
- DL is packed full of details EVERYWHERE you look. It truly is amazing.
- DL's Fantasyland is so much nicer than MK's (even with New Fantasyland).
- DL's Hub is such a great place to sit down on a bench (yes, they have benches) in the shade (yep, they have shade too) to relax for a bit.
- It's amazing how much simpler everything is at DLR. I'd hands down recommend DLR over WDW to friends and family looking for a Disney parks fix (especially those friends and family members with children). We went to both parks, shopped at DTD, and had drinks at Trader Sam's in the same day with very little effort and without feeling exhausted.
- The feeling of energy and kinetics all around you can't be beat...especially from things like the MS vehicles (I know I already mentioned these), SS Columbia, Mark Twain, canoes, DLRR, Monorail, Red Car Trolleys, etc.

We stayed at the Sheraton Park Anaheim. It wasn't bad, but there are definitely better options in the area for less so I highly doubt we'd stay there again when we return. Since it was our first trip to DLR we spent a lot of time there, but we also made time for other things.

Some other random highlights of our SoCal trip:
- Laguna Beach: spent a lot of time on the beach, shopped, relaxed at a local coffee shop (Laguna Coffee Company) checked out some local art galleries, and tried a few restaurants.
- Costa Del Mar: spent a morning on the beach (wife loves the beach).
- Fashion Island: spent an afternoon shopping (wife loves to shop).
- Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf: made a couple trips here for a pick me up and to just get away from everything DLR for a moment (wife loves CBTL...noticing a pattern yet? LOL)
- Del Taco: I'm not embarrassed to say I love Del Taco (Ok, maybe just a little..but the turkey tacos with Delfirno sauce are tasty).

Thanks for your clarification on the bizarre entry/re-entry process. It was definitely a small price to pay to experience a superior product. I also really enjoyed DCA. It blows my mind that a one day ticket to DHS is almost the same price as a one day ticket to DCA. DHS isn't even in the same league, IMHO.

Comments like this make me wish I could make time go faster. Just 6 months to go till Disneyland............

 

[WDW1974]

Yes, it is very hard for multinational corporations like Disney to not do business with nations that have less than stellar human rights records. HOWEVER, Disney/Lucasfilm is taking money from the Abu Dhabi government to shoot there. Taking money from repressive governments to make them look better is different than say opening up a Disney store or screening Disney movies.

It's a rather large difference.

China doesn't give members of the LGBT community the death penalty simply for being who they are.

Look, I get that with all that oil/blood money that the UAE can toss it at whomever they like. I just have a problem with Disney being so money-grubbing, that despite having a huge LGBT community in their employ, that they'd stoop to taking it. And giving Abu Dhabi and its regime the veneer of social acceptance. Period.

 

[WDW1974]

Great post. I don't have an issue with tax incentives because as you pointed out in most cases you'll see local benefits outweighing those taxes lost. Benefits ranging from permenant jobs in the area (those people are now paying income taxes in places where there are such taxes), increased local business and increased tourism.

However, production companies should absolutely vet the host location before accepting these funds. Companies like Disney can and should be a force of change (see what I did there) by adding outside pressure and influence on countries like Abu Dhabi. The human rights violations are not an issue you should turn the other cheek to. Corporate responsibility is required and these countries shouldn't be rewarded. Take even the fact that the World Cup will be hosted in Qatar, a country that has a similar track record as Abu Dhabi. Now there is talk that Qatar corruptly bought the votes for the World Cup and FIFA is considering moving the Cup. I hope they do because they don't deserve money when their people have minimal rights and harsh punishments. Besides if they move the Cup it will likely get moved to the US.

Those decisions are just as bad. Look at giving Russia the Olympics when they should have been in Austria. Vlad got the veneer of acceptance from the world community, despite his behavior on everything from LGBT rights to deciding he'd like to recreate the old USSR.

If money decides any/every thing, then we are all (blanked). Royally. Not in the fun way!

 

[WDW1974]

Dead on. Disney had to have control over MM+.

You are right. But to be fair, Disney thinks it needs to have control over everything!

 

[WDW1974]

@WDW1974 do you know when MK will get its new castle show? (similar to OUAT)

Looks like 2016.

 

[John]

Hypocrisy is the new black.

 

[danlb_2000]

Uhmm.. standards don't dictate who implements things, where, and for how long. Only that *IF* you do it, how it should interact.

How's that IrDa port on your smartphone working these days? oh wait... you don't have an IR Dataport on your phone anymore? Why not? It's standardized.

Imagine building out everything on property to work for the Mini-USB port because you built your new business processes around your customers bringing in their cool new blackberry... only to find out 6months later everyone switch to Micro-USB ports and no new phones going forward have Mini-USB ports. Where does that leave you? Up a creek.. that's where.

Why would you base such critical parts of your business on the WHIMS of other companies you can not control?

The only thing dumb here is people believing the industry as you know it today, will be the same tomorrow. If you can't absorb that change, don't count on it not happening.

The great thing about standards is that there are SO MANY to choose from.

Even if we put the changing technology piece aside, not everyone has a smart phone, especially if you have a family with a couple kids, so you will still need some other way for these people to be identified.