What WDW does worse than the DLR

[jkl2000]

-POTC at WDW is the worst version of Pirate

POTC at Shanghai Disney looks pretty cool from the videos, but I prefer the old-school version at WDW. I probably went on POTC once at Disneyland in the 70s, but don't remember, and certainly don't know what it's like now so can't comment.

Maybe you just meant Disneyland's POTC is better than WDW's.

 

[jkl2000]

POTC at Shanghai Disney looks pretty cool from the videos, but I prefer the old-school version at WDW. I probably went on POTC once at Disneyland in the 70s, but don't remember, and certainly don't know what it's like now so can't comment.

Maybe you just meant Disneyland's POTC is better than WDW's. Could be - I'll take your word for it!

 

[Rich T]

My personal DL fan take on the WDW parks in their current state:

Magic Kingdom: Little interest, I think DL has better versions of everything except Splash.
EPCOT: No interest right now. It was once my favorite WDW park, back when it was great.
Studios: Several things I'd like to ride, especially after Runaway Railway opens.
Animal Kingdom: Would love to spend a couple of days here, exploring it top to bottom.

 

[Phroobar]

POTC at Shanghai Disney looks pretty cool from the videos, but I prefer the old-school version at WDW. I probably went on POTC once at Disneyland in the 70s, but don't remember, and certainly don't know what it's like now so can't comment.

Maybe you just meant Disneyland's POTC is better than WDW's.

POTC at MK is the worst version of Pirates in the entire world. It's the short cliff notes version of Disneyland's version.
Disneyland has the bayou, two waterfalls into the long pirate cave, longer final fort battle and the up a waterfall. It also has Walt's finger prints all over it.
Tokyo Disneyland is alot like Disneyland's except no pirate bed and the ending is not as grand as Disneyland's.
Disneyland Paris has the cool pirate sword fight, pirates swinging above you head and other animatonics.
Shanghai Disneyland is completely unique.

 

[jkl2000]

POTC at MK is the worst version of Pirates in the entire world. It's the short cliff notes version of Disneyland's version.
Disneyland has the bayou, two waterfalls into the long pirate cave and longer final fort battle. It also has Walt's finger prints all over it.
Disneyland Paris has the cool pirate sword fight, pirates swinging above you head and other animatonics.
Shanghai Disneyland is completely unique.

I'll have to watch a POV video of POTC in Disneyland.

BTW, can anyone remind me: in POTC in WDW, what was originally in that scene that now has Jack Sparrow sitting on a throne?

 

[dweezil78]

Yup. Corporate soulless.

Lol, and DLR doesn't have it's share of eyesores? There are people on this board who I think literally cried real tears over a new handicapped ramp last week. That still doesn't mean either place is corporate or soulless.

 

[Sharon&Susan]

I'll have to watch a POV video of POTC in Disneyland.

BTW, can anyone remind me: in POTC in WDW, what was originally in that scene that now has Jack Sparrow sitting on a throne?

 

[Californian Elitist]

Literally eating popcorn as I read through this wonderful thread.

 

[dweezil78]

Yes, the DCA carousel counts as it's technically just a cosmetic refurbishment of the existing ride. The Inside Out spinner doesn't count as it's being rebuilt and moved, and it won't be included in the ride tally until 2019.

But the Frienship Boats at Epcot certainly count, so I'll go back and add them. One more ride for Walt Disney World Resort! You go TDO!

I guess these don't count because they don't require admission -- but WDW also has a totally free monorail system, ferry boats of various sizes, as well as a skyway system in development. You don't need to put them in your attraction count, but I don't think all that stuff should be ignored either! All of them can be enjoyed as attractions or used for legitimate transportation services.

On that note, there are also 2 heavily themed water parks with their own unique rosters of attractions.

 

[The Pho]

I guess these don't count because they don't require admission -- but WDW also has a totally free monorail system, ferry boats of various sizes, as well as a skyway system in development. You don't need to put them in your attraction count, but I don't think all that stuff should be ignored either! All of them can be enjoyed as attractions or used for legitimate transportation services.

On that note, there are also 2 heavily themed water parks with their own unique rosters of attractions.

There are boats that run inside Epcot that do require admission. There transport you around World Showcase Lagoon. I believe that is what was being referred to, not the boats that transport from Epcot to MGM or around Bay Lake.

 

[dweezil78]

There are boats that run inside Epcot that do require admission. There transport you around World Showcase Lagoon. I believe that is what was being referred to, not the boats that transport from Epcot to MGM or around Bay Lake.

No I know -- I was prefacing the list of other similar non-admission attractions I spouted off in my post.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Maybe I missed it, but none of the World Showcase films were included in an attraction count.

 

[Sharon&Susan]

Maybe I missed it, but none of the World Showcase films were included in an attraction count.

He's only counting rides.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Ah, rides only. Thanks!

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

It'd be nice at DL to duck into the artsy fartsy France movie, but there's nothing as avante garde as that.

 

[Figments Friend]

My 'home' Park here on the East Coast was WDW.
From my first visit in the late 70s, to living in Florida in the early 80s when EPCOT Center opened and blew me away, to the many years i loyally kept returning yearly even after moving back to the Boston area.
It was 'it' for me.

Then, something happened.

I visited Disneyland for the first time during a trip to California in 2007.
I had been wanting to check it out after watching from 3,000 miles away the 50th Anniversary celebration two years prior.
That campaign really got my attention and made me want to experience ' Walt's Park' after all of these years.
Well, I finally did....and it intrigued me.

I came back a few years later on my own to better immerse myself in that unique environment and Disneyland left quite a impression.
I was 'hooked' and soon after in the following years I was absolutely 'spoiled rotten' by the Park experience.
Everything felt like such a step up from Florida.
I even liked the Castle better.
( "size matters not!" - Yoda, Jedi Master 1980 )

So now, Disneyland is 'it' and I am constantly recommending it to people I know who are thinking about 'going to Disney'.
Even after experiencing WDW again this September after a five year hiatus, I still prefer the Disneyland experience.
So much so, I'm heading back in January with a friend I convinced to 'do California' instead of the Florida property.



Here are my own personal observations regarding the two properties, and how very different they feel to me on each coast.


At WDW, I feel like a number being 'processed' in a giant cog wheel of automation.
There is very little personal interaction.
At Disneyland, I feel like a 'guest' that was invited by Walt to come visit for the day.
Cast welcome me by name into 'his' Park and the interactions in general throughout the day feel more personal.

Disneyland has a far more laid back and relaxed atmosphere.
WDW is the complete opposite, with people rushing about in a crazed 'commando touring' state of mind.
The clientele, and different audiences, have a bit to do with that...but even when I have been at a sold out event at Disneyland Park the crowd never feels as anxious and crazy as a afternoon at WDWs Magic Kingdom these days..

Disneyland has great entertainment options.
Roaming characters, roaming musicians, roaming randomness.
WDW has some good entertainment, but lacks the spontaneous 'unexpected surprise' element I am constantly finding at DLR.
This 'unexpected' element truly sets them apart in my mind.

Disneyland - eat off of real ceramic dinnerware and metal cutlery, even at a counter service, during any time of day.
WDW - eat off of branded paper plates and plastic cutlery, even at said Signature resturant 'Be Our Guest' ( breakfast / lunch )

Disneyland - far superior versions of the 'classic' Attractions, some fantastic 'exclusives', and in general, upkeep of said Attractions.
WDW - some of THE best Attractions it had are now long gone...and those that remain often have issues.
A few gems remain however.

Disneyland - 'Fantasmic!' with a incredible 'real' fire breathing, fully moving, gigantic dragon.
Brand new score and show ( might be a 'minus' )
WDW - 'Fantastmic!' with the 'dragon head on a stick' ( use your imaaaagination..!)
Original show score ( a plus ) and East Coast version of original show ( a minus )

Disneyland - Walk in the front gate on a whim, and decide spontaneously what you feel like doing and just do it.
No major advanced planning really needed.
WDW - Decide six months in advance where you want to eat, and three months in advance what you want to ride long before you attempt to walk in the front gate.


I enjoy both properties on both coasts, and both of them are very different beasts.
That is what I like about them.
Each has it's own 'character' and flavor.
Both have fantastic highlights, and both have questionable low points.

If I were to choose just ONE Park out of them all however based on the current Guest Experience, Disneyland Park wins hands down for me.
No contest.

Can't wait to get back there come January!


-

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

I

You rang, old friend?

Let's just say that anyone born and raised from Santa Barbara to San Diego says "Disneyland" and means both parks, if not the entire property including the three hotels and Downtown Disney. Because not only are they less than 100 yards apart and all fit within the same space as Epcot, but because most people consider the entire walkable property as one entity. Kind of like how East Coasters say they are "going to Disney" and mean Walt Disney World, because TDO has devolved the once vaunted Walt Disney World brand into just the word "Disney" in a corporate fit of blandness. But I digress.

This thread is a perfect time to update that famous old list of rides at Disneyland (ahem, Resort) vs. Walt Disney World. WDW has had a long overdue building spurt of late, they've added at least four new rides in the last two or three years, and just a few months ago they closed A Bug's Land and shuttered four DCA rides.

For those who are new to this game, we count any ride where you get in a vehicle and it moves you somewhere. Theaters, shows, movies, walk-thrus, elaborate meet n' greets, and exhibits, don't count as rides, except Carousel of Progress counts as a ride because it revolves. We lump all the Main Street Vehicles into one "ride" (because on any day each park may run a random collection of "vehicles", although Disneyland runs more for longer but we just give a tight smile to Magic Kingdom Park and keep moving through the list), but we count Horse Drawn Streetcars as a separate ride. So here's the list as of October, 2018. Ready?

Disneyland Resort = 52 Rides

Disneyland Park = 35 Rides
(Main Street Vehicles, Horse Drawn Streetcar, Disneyland Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Explorer Canoes, Winnie The Pooh, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Snow White's Scary Adventure, Peter Pan's Flight, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Teacups, Carousel, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Matterhorn Bobsleds, it's a small world, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, Gadget's Go Coaster, Submarine Voyage, Monorail, Autopia, Space Mountain, Star Tours, Astro Orbiter, Buzz Lightyear)

Disney California Adventure = 17 Rides
(Red Car Trolley, Monsters Inc., Guardians of the Galaxy, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, Luigi's Roadsters, Radiator Springs Racers, Incredicoaster, Carousel, Midway Mania, Pixar Pal-Around, Symphony Swings, Goofy's Sky School, Jumpin' Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, Little Mermaid, Grizzly River Run, Soarin')

Walt Disney World = 51 Rides

Magic Kingdom Park = 26 Rides
(Main Street Vehicles, Horse Drawn Streetcar, WDW Railroad, Magic Carpets, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Liberty Belle Riverboat, Haunted Mansion, it's a small world, Peter Pan's Flight, Winnie The Pooh, Little Mermaid, 7 Dwarves Mine Train, Dumbo, Carousel, Teacups, Goofy's Barnstormer, Speedway, Space Mountain, Astro Orbiter, PeopleMover, Buzz Lightyear, Carousel of Progress)

Epcot = 10 Rides
(Friendship Boats, Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, Test Track, The Seas with Nemo, Soarin', Living With the Land, Journey Into Imagination, Gran Fiesta Tour, Frozenstrom)

Disney's Hollywood Studios = 6 Rides
(Star Tours, Midway Mania, Alien Swirling Saucers, Slinky Dog Coaster, Rock n' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror)

Disney's Animal Kingdom = 9 Rides
(Kilimanjaro Safaris, Wildlife Express Train, Kali River Rapids, Expedition Everest, Primeval Whirl, Triceratop Spin, Dinosaur, Flight of Passage, Navi River Journey)

Oh my gosh, Disneyland/DCA still has 1 more ride than all of Walt Disney World combined. I'm genuinely surprised, as I hadn't kept up on this list in the last couple years and... WDW has opened several new rides, even an all new land, while Disneyland has done nothing but close an entire land that had four rides. Talk about a thing that WDW does worse than DLR!

I got to disagree with you guys in one respect. when I say 'DISNEYLAND' I am referring to just Disneyland. California Adventure is not included in that in anyway. California Adventure is such a mis-step and inferior of a park I don't associate it with Disneyland. I will never call it Disneyland Resort no matter how they market the area. it is Disneyland plain and simple. I visited California Adventure just 1 time in my life and have nooo desire to ever go back. whole thing can be done in a half day where I can spend days at Disneyland and not do everything I want. I would rather spend all day and night at Disneyland than step in that cheap park. but again that is me. It is a pet peeve of mine when people include California Adventure when they say "Disneyland". no it is Disneyland and that other park to me. also I hate when people abbreviate California Adventure when talking to someone in person as DCA. I get you want to shorten it when you are typing in a forum such as this and it is ok but when that place opened EVERYONE just called it CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE. saying "DCA" when you are having a conversation about it is soooo pretentious to me.

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

I guess I like soulless then?

View attachment 321765

nothing like a soulless artificial tree

 

[dweezil78]

nothing like a soulless artificial tree

As opposed to artificial mountains, bodies of water, animals, presidents, space ships, and castles? What exactly is your point? We’re talking about theme parks, not national parks.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I wish the billions spent on AK since the mid-90s had been invested in the other three WDW parks.

Magic Kingdom would be more on par with Disneyland. Epcot probably would have been less dated/negelected. Heck, we might have had 10 rides in DHS before Star Wars was built.