WDW fan about to try DL, need help.

[PeoplemoverTTA]

The most noticeable non-FP attraction, compared to WDW is...

Peter Pan

I know, shocking! Believe it or not, the queue moves pretty quickly for DLs PP, and frankly, moves much more quickly than the PP queue in WDW.

Some of my favorite DL rides:

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Matterhorn
Autopia (better than MK's Speedway, IMO).
Indiana Jones, like everyone is sayin
Original Tiki Room
Space Mountain (simply amazing after the refurb)
Pinocchio (awesome dark ride)

Is Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln back? I haven't been to DL since 2006 and it was still closed for the 50th then...I love that show.

The monorail in DL picks up inside the park...in Tomorrowland. Also, no AC, they had windows that were half open (although I haven't been since they got the new monorails, but I'm pretty sure there's still no AC).

My sister and I took the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour at DL in 2003 and absolutely loved it - I highly recommend this tour, if you have the time and extra cash. Well worth the investment (I think we paid $60, and that included lunch).

One thing really interesting we noticed on all of our trips to DL (4 total)...in Critter Country (The Hungry Bear - my favorite counter service in DL), there are stray cats all over the place! And while waiting for the monorail in TL, we saw a mouse (the CM jokingly called him "Mickey."). Definitely different from WDW :lol:

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Is Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln back? I haven't been to DL since 2006 and it was still closed for the 50th then...I love that show.

Mr. Lincoln is definately back. And the attraction has been returned to all of it's original glory. :animwink:

 

[DarthGrady]

I had forgotten all about Mr Toad still being at DL! I haven't been on that ride since I was a kid! That is gonna be sweet! :sohappy::sohappy: Same with Tiki, I can barely remember what the original show was like without the lame character overlay.

 

[AEfx]

You'll have a great time, just remember that it's not WDW, LOL. It's much smaller in scale, and much more intimate. So you'll notice yourself much closer to things in the Haunted Mansion, for example, and a lack of open spaces.

Oh, and don't get your hopes up about Pirates. The biggest myth of Disneyland is that their Pirates is somehow vastly superior to ours at WDW. It's not. It is slightly longer, but the majority of that length is in the caverns before the ride starts - big, empty caverns. The treasure scene is in the middle (instead of the end) and slightly more elaborate, but that's really it.

The boarding area is very neat, but felt out of place to me. I didn't know why I was going into some New Orleans mansion and then the bayou to watch Pirates. Makes much more sense to go from a Pirate bunker into a Pirate adventure.

It's a great ride, don't get me wrong, but the main show scenes are wider and more epic in WDW's, so it's really a toss up between the two.

All that said, you'll certainly enjoy your journey - I greatly enjoyed my Disneyland visit and am going back in the spring.

 

[TP2000]

Is Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln back? I haven't been to DL since 2006 and it was still closed for the 50th then...I love that show.

Yup. With the latest in animatronic technology that uses electric motors instead of hydraulic pumps, and it's extremely impressive to watch. They also digitally remastered the original 1964 World's Fair audio and put it back in the reworked show.

The new Mr. Lincoln show debuted this past Christmas, along with a remodeled Opera House lobby and the new Disney Gallery adjoining the theater.

The general consensus is that it's the nicest version of the Lincoln show since Walt brought it to Disneyland in '65. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pp3C7ZCw0g&feature=related

 

[Disneyson 1]

I happen to LOVE the PotC they have there, and there's a lot more to the finale than there is here. It's also a lot longer and gets you in this mood that doesn't really exist in WDW.

Indy. 'Nuff said.

Jungle Cruise is a must, it's really great.

The Fland Dark Rides are fantastic (Alice is a must if it's re-opened by the time you get there). Even Snow White, which is arguably better in WDW, is getting better with new lighting effects they just added.

Space (with the new audio) is fantastic. Another must.

Try the Storybookland Canal Boats and/or the Casey Jr. Train. It's really fun to look at the models.

Try to fit in Autopia, it really is one of the most unique experiences in the park.

Other than that, Try to catch all of the nighttime entertainment they have to offer. The fireworks are great. You'll definitely feel the magic when you see Tink move BACK AND FORTH past the castle, and then watch DUMBO make another trip! It's fantastic. See Fantasmic! over there because it's got a lot of different scenes and newer effects than the ones we have here. The dragon in particular is fabulous. And of course, World of Color.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

Yup. With the latest in animatronic technology that uses electric motors instead of hydraulic pumps, and it's extremely impressive to watch. They also digitally remastered the original 1964 World's Fair audio and put it back in the reworked show.

The new Mr. Lincoln show debuted this past Christmas, along with a remodeled Opera House lobby and the new Disney Gallery adjoining the theater.

The general consensus is that it's the nicest version of the Lincoln show since Walt brought it to Disneyland in '65.

Thanks for posting this...I absolutely love this attraction (I did find the Steve Martin-hosted 50th video amusing, but it was not even close to a replacement for such a powerful show. )

I haven't been to DL since the 50th celebration (2 trips in 2005-2006)...can't wait to get back!

 

[TP2000]

Thanks for posting this...I absolutely love this attraction (I did find the Steve Martin-hosted 50th video amusing, but it was not even close to a replacement for such a powerful show. )

I haven't been to DL since the 50th celebration (2 trips in 2005-2006)...can't wait to get back!

Yeah, the Steve Martin thing was great fun for the 50th, but I'm glad Mr. Lincoln is back. The nice thing is that they incorporated some of the most succesful parts of the 50th lobby show into the remodeled facility. The lobby is split into two sections, the first part is a reworked tribute to Disneyland using some of the stuff created for the 50th show, but with some new additions. They put the big 1955 Disneyland model in a display case in the wall.

http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/89723-1/DisneyGallery-LLobby3-100309-AVP.jpg

Right inside the entrance now they have a 75 year old bench that used to sit near the merry-go-round at Griffith Park where Walt dreamed of building his own park where children and parents could have fun together. They claim that it's a bench sat on by Walt, and I'm not sure how they could know that, but it's at least one of the benches used in that part of Griffith Park so there's a decent probability that Walt sat on it eating peanuts while his daughters rode the merry-go-round. It's a clever concept to have in a Disneyland exhibit, that's for sure.

The back half of the lobby is now sectioned off by columns and draperies, and that part is a swankier pre-show for the actual Lincoln show. They've reinstalled the Capital building there too. They've created a new video that plays above the fireplace of Walt explaning his passion for President Lincoln, and why he wanted to do the Illinois Pavillion for the World's Fair. It's very, very well done, and much fancier looking than the previous version of that lobby installed in '65.

It's a really well done tribute to Walt, and Disneyland, and Mr. Lincoln.

 

[ScrapIron]

A thing about FP: DL is not as lenient with late returns as WDW is. I personally didn't experience this, but they don't always accept late FPs (just check over at Micechat and you can see very lengthy thread about it).

OK; 2 things.

1)I am not going to read 24 pages after having to drive past DL twice in 3 days without stopping. But I read the first and last page, and 3-4 random in between. ONE person, the OP, said a CM only let them in after making a stink about it. There is then a 24 page philosophical debate about whether it is a good or bad thing to enforce the one hour window.

2)Including that thread (and give me a post number if I'm mistaken) I have never, never ever ever seen a first hand account of anyone being turned away with a late FP. Once I was turned away at Indy at 9:15 PM because the CM thought I was early with a 9:40 FP, but waived me right in when I pointed out it was 9:40AM. Post 346 in the mice chat thread is from a CM who says he has no knowledge of any policy change. Like at WDW, CMs are trained to accept late FPs. Obviously the WoC is an exception. The detailed sticky thread about FP on micechat did not seem to have anything about a policy change.

Obvious as well is that Disney could, of course, start to be strict about it at any time on either coast; it was enforced when we visited DLP. That will just lead to "I was only late because of your parade, broken ride, slow waiter, blocked path by parade and on and on and they do not pay any frontline CM enough to put up with that all day. If they change it I'll adjust, but there does not appear to be any reason to think it has happened.

http://micechat.com/forums/disneyland-resort/139576-strict-rules-fastpasses-now-merged.html
http://micechat.com/forums/disneyland-resort/5720-joy-fastpass-details-secrets.html


A bientot.

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

We've never been turned away by a DL CM for a late Fast Pass. In fact, two different CM's have told me that late FP's are perfectly acceptable.

 

[Ryan120420]

Never once have I been (or seen anyone) turned away from using a "expired" fastpass at Disneyland or DCA.


I think its funny how one, ONE person gets turned away, and that sparks a 24 page thread on MiceChat, freaking hilarious.

 

[kino]

Money wise, I would wait till next year to come to California adventure, maybe even two. Cars land, ariel's ride, and all these adjustments now are being made. So about 1/3 park is being fixed up. But if it will be a long while till you come to california again, then take the time in both parks. 2012 will be awesome though (yet i keep thinking of the movie..)

 

[zifster]

Money wise, I would wait till next year to come to California adventure, maybe even two.

I agree. In it's current form, there is nothing unique or special about DCA. Basically, if you've been on most of the major attractions at the 4 parks in WDW, and you've also been to Six Flags and some carnivals,... then you've been to DCA. :lol:

 

[David S.]

DL compared to Mk:
better pirates
has Indiana Jones
soundtrack on space mountain
Autotopia
Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters
toontown is amazing
after that it's pretty much the same.

Well, for me, the BIGGEST (and BEST, from a DL point of view) difference is that DL has the far superior Fantasyland!

They have a whooping SIX rides not found in the MK or anywhere in WDW:

Pinocchio's Daring Journey (indoor dark ride)
Alice In Wonderland (indoor dark ride)
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (indoor dark ride)
Casey Jr. Circus Train (outdoor train)
Storybook Land Canal Boats (outdoor boat ride)
Matterhorn Bobsleds (mountain coaster)

These "missing six" as I like to call them, are what I am admitedly most envious of Disneyland about, so I just had to mention them!

Also, DL retains 6 of the 8 MK Fantasyland attractions, and a 7th (Pooh) can be found in Critter Country. So the only classic Fantasyland attraction Disneyland is missing is Mickey's Philharmagic, while MK is missing 6, and arguably 7 - because DL also has a charming walkthrough inside their Castle that tells the story of Sleeping Beauty. Although, it could be argued that our version of this is the beautiful Cinderella tile mosaics found inside our Castle, as they tell the story of Cinderella.

Also, the facades for the classic Fantasyland dark rides at DL have charming storybook architecture instead of the medieval "tournament tent" look found in the MK.

So they've definitely got the better Fantasyland IMO, which is important to me as that's my favorite "land".

Other than that, the biggest differences in favor of DL, IMO, are the larger Toontown, which includes a downtown section and Roger Rabbit dark ride, the ORIGINAL Tiki Room show instead of UNM, re-opened submarine ride, inclusion of the Indy ride, as well as a more kinetic river (with canoes and the Columbia), and the train dioramas (although the Primeval World one is similar to the dino scenes in Universe of Energy). Plus, their Main Street Cinema and Penny Arcade are still open!

However, there are a few things in the MKs favor, attraction-wise: Disneyland is missing four beloved, timeless, classics found at MK - the Country Bear Jamboree, Mickey's Philharmagic, Carousel of Progress and the Peoplemover. The Peoplemover track is still standing and the ride is rumored to be coming back, in some form.

 

[David S.]

Once I was turned away at Indy at 9:15 PM because the CM thought I was early with a 9:40 FP, but waived me right in when I pointed out it was 9:40AM.

That's actually happened to me at WDW, and I, too, got to ride with no problem when I pointed out that my FP was from the AM!

 

[TP2000]

I agree. In it's current form, there is nothing unique or special about DCA. Basically, if you've been on most of the major attractions at the 4 parks in WDW, and you've also been to Six Flags and some carnivals,... then you've been to DCA. :lol:

While I have never been a DCA cheerleader (see my critical DCA posts under this same handle dating back to alt.disney.disneyland usenet forums circa 1997 on this topic), that has to be the most overly-simplistic and inaccurate summary of DCA I have ever read.

World of Color alone is the most unique and special nighttime show I have ever seen in any Disney theme park from Tokyo to Orlando in recent years.

But you also have Monsters Inc., California Screamin', Disney Animation, Flik's Fun Fair, and Blue Sky Cellar as some key attractions worth a look. Anyone with more than a passing interest in Disney theme parks could now find a full 8 to 10 hour days worth of entertainment in DCA. Five years ago I would have pegged that time commitment at 4 hours, but now it's at least 8 to 10, especially with World of Color.

DCA now stands up to, or surpasses, any secondary Disney theme park except Epcot or DisneySea. But DHS, DAK, or WDSP? Easily an equal or superior to those three options.

 

[dweezil78]

DCA now stands up to, or surpasses, any secondary Disney theme park except Epcot or DisneySea. But DHS, DAK, or WDSP? Easily an equal or superior to those three options.

DCA is definitely improving that's for sure. I still think the park has a little ways to go before it has a SOUL though. That's what's missing for me there. They're doing ok in the overall # of attractions, but you never quite feel like you're escaping from reality in that park which to me is just as important as the rides. It almost feels like an extension of Downtown Disney rather than a separate park at times. It's like a Disney studios park on steroids at this point, but a far cry from the theming seen at EPCOT or AK.

That said, they're definitely making progress and doing a lot to change that. Between Carsland, the new entrance/Carthay Circle, and all the work being done around the pier we'll be in pretty good shape come 2012. Thematically, the weakest link in the park will end up being the area where Soarin' resides as that whole area has always come across as very cheap. It's almost like they said, what can we get away with by just using airplane hangars and a few buckets of paint??

 

[Wilt Dasney]

DCA is definitely improving that's for sure. I still think the park has a little ways to go before it has a SOUL though. That's what's missing for me there.

The changes seem to be heading in that direction. From the trolley car that evokes Walt Disney's Hollywood to the makeover of the GRR uniforms to the jazz/ragtime tunes at Paradise Pier replacing those bland Beach Boy MIDI renditions, DCA seems to be aiming for a "retro California" theme, with the early 20th century acting as the loose thematic glue. Even without all the new attractions, I think the park might have more of that "soulful" feel you're talking about if these changes turn out as good as they sound.