WDW Fanatic Tries DL

[englanddg]

I agree- I thought the train station, Main Street and the castle were all under-whelming. The buildings on Main Street seemed smaller?? Was that my imagination or are they actually smaller??

And I missed the opening ceremony that MK does-- always makes my cry cause it means I'm really there!!

Not your imagination. They are significantly smaller. That said, their Main Street felt more alive and vibrant (on my trip), with the main street vehicles out and about after 11a (they shut down early at our Magic Kingdom) and lots of streetmosphere...that, and their Main Street hasn't completely turned into an emporium/mall...yet...

 

[flynnibus]

I should have been clearer about this-- it was mostly at DCA that we struggled to find places. I think the rain situation also contributed because a lot of their food is served at a window with outdoor seating, and since it rained 2/3 days we were there a lot of those seating areas weren't open (not that we would have wanted to sit in the cold rain anyway...). But I think that is part of it.

Yeah, rain is a big difference there.. as they don't get much of it there so unlike WDW, there is more outside. Paradise Gardens, and the Wharf Area are the larger dining areas in DCA and both have outdoor plaza seating. The cafe/starbucks at the entrance USED to have more food

 

[imagineer boy]

Did you go on the Indiana Jones Adventure? What did you think of it?

 

[radiohost]

Did you notice at DL the photo pass photographers are almost non existent...We were their last year and only saw one by the castle, that was it...

We saw two at Caifornia Adventure near cars land.

 

[Bairstow]

Did you notice at DL the photo pass photographers are almost non existent...We were their last year and only saw one by the castle, that was it...

We saw two at Caifornia Adventure near cars land.

I saw quite a few 2 weeks ago.
All around the hub, up and down Carsland, and on the bridges near Paradise Pier and the water wheel at Grizzly Peak.
There was also usually one hanging out near any roaming character.

 

[KCheatle]

Did you go on the Indiana Jones Adventure? What did you think of it?

Yes!! And it is a fantastic ride!!

 

[KCheatle]

Did you notice at DL the photo pass photographers are almost non existent...We were their last year and only saw one by the castle, that was it...

We saw two at Caifornia Adventure near cars land.

We saw a few-- mostly with the character M&Gs

 

[EOD K9]

I've been there twice and stayed at GC. It is similar to WL in theme but you can literally walk out of your hotel and into the park. While BC and Y and BC are close, there is no comparison to having your own entrance. Additionally, when it comes to how compact it is, I try to describe it like this. To get to DCA from the main gate of Disneyland, walk to where the boat launches are. If you want to go to DTD, you would walk about as far as the monorail station. Its a great place and I hope to go back in a few years.

 

[corxxgold]

I really liked it, the most disappointing thing is turning on to main street and see the little itty bitty castle,, but they have all the things DHS lacks,, the Indiana Jones ride and Cars land. I also enjoyed all the Marvel Stuff they have at DL

 

[Pacha]

I thought Tony Baxter described the two Parks really well. He said (on a behind the scenes TV special), "Disneyland is charming, where Walt Disney World is spectacular."

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

I actually feel home on both Disneyland and Disneyworld. I think if you visit DL more often #1 will probably be addressed or less of an impact.

I don't miss Epcot when I visit Disneyland and I certainly don't miss California Adventure when I visit Disneyworld. I just feel that both have their own package.

I don't know if you would agree or not but I think the cast member in Disneyland is friendlier and more responsive, probably because of a smaller park compared to the world.

 

[KCheatle]

I actually feel home on both Disneyland and Disneyworld. I think if you visit DL more often #1 will probably be addressed or less of an impact.

I don't miss Epcot when I visit Disneyland and I certainly don't miss California Adventure when I visit Disneyworld. I just feel that both have their own package.

I don't know if you would agree or not but I think the cast member in Disneyland is friendlier and more responsive, probably because of a smaller park compared to the world.

You may be right about the not feeling at home. It was all so foreign to me, that maybe over time, I'd come to really appreciate the unique feeling you get at DL??

I was wondering if now when I go back to WDW I'll be wishing DCA was there? Not sure, but I won't be surprised if the question pops in my head about why DHS can't be more like DCA next time I visit.

I can't say one way or another on the cast members. I would put them about equal honestly?? I've never had a bad experience with a cast member at WDW, and I didn't have a bad experience at DL either. I felt they were about the same; which is way above the average customer service you get elsewhere.

 

[Sage of Time]

Those are the two most perfect words to describe DL....intimate and charming. I used both those words when talking to numerous CMs out there. Many of whom approached us because I was wearing a WDW sweatshirt.

Haha, I did the same thing. "where are you from?" "I'm from EPCOT!" It was like a cultural exchange.

 

[midnightsun]

For me, I grew up going to DL every year with family so it will always be home for me. We took two trips to WDW and I've been there twice now as an adult. I think "home" will be where you are used to and have more emotional memories invested. Both resorts have pros and cons, I think it's great for people to go to both just to get the different experiences.

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

 

[Chef Mickey]

I was impressed with DCA adventure as well and feel the potential for DHS and EPCOT to return to form is still there. DCA was terrible for a while and is wonderful now.

DL just isn't the same for me because of the lack of immersion and scale. I just didn't grow up going to DL as much.

 

[Disneysea05]

I agree- I thought the train station, Main Street and the castle were all under-whelming. The buildings on Main Street seemed smaller?? Was that my imagination or are they actually smaller??

They are indeed smaller. Built to Walt's specifications.

It's strange reading some things about the original park. Disneyland was famous for its immersion long before Walt Disney World even broke ground. The park would not have been a long term success without that vital element.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Thanks for posting. Your assessments have all been questions running through my head about our upcoming trip. We went a long time ago, so this trip will feel a lot like a first to me - and will be a first for our kids. I know we'll enjoy it, but since we've been going to WDW since the mid 80s and have been countless times, I can't help but wonder if we'll come out of this trip wit similar feelings. Still, I can't pass up the 60th festivities

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I love reading peoples thoughts after visiting the "other" park. Disneyland is my home away from home but I have my 2nd trip planned for WDW in January and can't wait to go back. My main memories from my first trip a few years ago were that I loved that everything was huge and isolated and I hated that everything was huge and isolated. I'm hoping with this being a 2nd trip I can take a more relaxed vacation and spend more time enjoying my vacation rather than exhausting myself trying to see it all.

 

[TP2000]

It was chilly in CA-- when you're used to heat and humidity, it can be shocking. I would've preferred a little more heat. It rained 2/3 days we were there.

Frank Sinatra actually sang a song about that... "She hates California, it's cold and it's damp, that's why the lady is a tramp"

Now obviously Mr. Sinatra wasn't singing about you @KCheatle because you seem like a lovely woman and mother and definitely not a tramp, but you aren't the only one to be surprised at California's cool weather. The weather you had last week was unusually cold for May and bizarrely wet in a drought year, but there you go.

I thought the merchandise selection was better at DL-- much more specific to the section of the park and/or ride you went on. For example, I picked up a really nice Soarin' coffee cup. I told my DD to just wait to buy something because we'd see it again in another gift shop, but that was not true. Some things overlapped, but the majority of things I would say were unique to that particular gift shop.

It wasn't always that way. 15 years ago the merchandise mix at Disneyland was dreadful. It got noticeably better during the 50th Anniversary, then started improving dramatically when the re-Imagineered DCA opened in 2012, and the last few years it's just been great. They really know their audience in Anaheim.

 

[Glasgow]

Great report, thanks! But there was no mention of the best dark ride on the planet - Indiana Jones Adventure! Ack!! lol. Maybe I missed it