Will I like Disneyland?

[Figment632]

I have been to wdw a lot but have never been to DL. I have always been worried that I would be dissapointed moslty due to the fact that compared to wdw its very small. I love moslty everything disney and thats where it all started and ive always wanted to ride the matterhorn, I just dont want to be dissapointed. So I might be planning a trip this summer but I also heard that CA will be going under major renovations. Is this true and if it is should I wait till they are done.

 

[rbrower]

After many trips to WDW, I was worried about the same thing. However, when I went, I appreciated the size of Disneyland. It's very easy to get around without having to ride any buses or trams. Most of the rides are at least on par with Disney World, if not better! I'm not sure about the major renovations, but I hope that I helped.

 

[CaesarBoxFan]

Disneyland is a more intimate setting that WDW. It is easier to get around, you don't have to ride buses or change monorails, etc. It is less of a hassle than what you usually have to go through at WDW.

 

[dxwwf3]

Disneyland is a very different resort, but even after being to WDW on 40+ trips before my first DL visit, I came away feeling like I had been going there all my life. Disneyland park itself is easily the best theme park in America, IMO. DCA is not as bad as the internet hype makes it out to be, although it is the weakest Disney park in the States. And the Disneyland Hotel is very convenient and has a great atmosphere.

 

[disneychic71]

I visited DL in spring of 07 with my kids and my DH (all of whom had never been there). I warned them that it would seem small, especially the castle, but we were all enchanted by it. They loved to ride Mr. Toad, and of course we all adored the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Best of all, the Indiana Jones ride was phenomenal--we went three times despite long lines. New Orleans Square is just beautiful, and the differences in the Haunted Mansion and Pirates rides are fun to discover. Finally, you'll get to ride the submarines, which are now Nemo themed (under construction during our visit). I can't wait to go back!

 

[JLW11Hi]

Imagine all the awesomeness of WDW crammed into 2 parks and you've got the Disneyland resort. I love it! I think you'll love it too.

 

[rbrower]

I visited DL in spring of 07 with my kids and my DH (all of whom had never been there). I warned them that it would seem small, especially the castle, but we were all enchanted by it. They loved to ride Mr. Toad, and of course we all adored the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Best of all, the Indiana Jones ride was phenomenal--we went three times despite long lines. New Orleans Square is just beautiful, and the differences in the Haunted Mansion and Pirates rides are fun to discover. Finally, you'll get to ride the submarines, which are now Nemo themed (under construction during our visit). I can't wait to go back!

Not trying to be negative here, but if you are trying to fit everything into your trip, I suggest either running like you're in the Olympics to Nemo in the morning or skipping it during your trip. It is very similar to the Nemo ride at Epcot, the only difference is that you're in a submarine. The line is still insanely long and I personally feel that the ride isn't worth it.:shrug: You could probably ride 5-10 other rides in the time that you are waiting in line for Nemo.

 

[Figment632]

Well Thanks guys now i a little more excited and do you think 5 days is long enough to do everything?

 

[disneychic71]

We did DL in two short days and felt like we did everything there, and our favorites multiple times. We did not visit DCA, however, so I can't speak for that.

 

[dxwwf3]

I spent 5 days at the resort on my trip and I could have easily stayed longer. I like to repeat attractions multiple times and enjoy the details.

 

[grunter]

Not trying to be negative here, but if you are trying to fit everything into your trip, I suggest either running like you're in the Olympics to Nemo in the morning or skipping it during your trip. It is very similar to the Nemo ride at Epcot, the only difference is that you're in a submarine. The line is still insanely long and I personally feel that the ride isn't worth it.:shrug: You could probably ride 5-10 other rides in the time that you are waiting in line for Nemo.

I could not agree more with rbrower's assessment of the Nemo & Friends subs. Just skip it altogether. It's just not worth the time or effort. Spend the hour or two you would normally spend in the submarine line to go back on Indiana Jones again.

 

[TP2000]

The wait time for Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has declined dramatically in the last six months. It still gets up to an hour long in the late morning through late afternoon, but it drops rapidly in the evening.

The best strategy is to swing by the Submarine lagoon 15 or 20 minutes before park closing when the line is only 10 minutes or less. Last night Disneyland was a mad house, and at 11:30 PM the wait time for Nemo was posted at 10 minutes and it actually only took 4 minutes before we were climbing the stairs down into the submarine.

The big lines from the Summer of '07 for the submarines are gone. The ride is still popular, but if you time it right and wait until after dinner you only wait 10 minutes or less.

 

[disneychic71]

I could not agree more with rbrower's assessment of the Nemo & Friends subs. Just skip it altogether. It's just not worth the time or effort. Spend the hour or two you would normally spend in the submarine line to go back on Indiana Jones again.

Thanks for the tip! I miss the old submarine ride, but probably just for nostalgia's sake. If I go back to DL, I'll be sure to spend my extra time on Indy--the most fabulous ride EVER!

 

[dxwwf3]

I waited 90 minutes two times for the Submarive Voyage in the Summer of '07 and I would GLADLY wait that long again to ride it any time in the future. I was blown away by the attraction and it certainly is a huge step up from the attraction we got at Epcot.

 

[Philo]

The wait time for Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has declined dramatically in the last six months. It still gets up to an hour long in the late morning through late afternoon, but it drops rapidly in the evening.

The best strategy is to swing by the Submarine lagoon 15 or 20 minutes before park closing when the line is only 10 minutes or less. Last night Disneyland was a mad house, and at 11:30 PM the wait time for Nemo was posted at 10 minutes and it actually only took 4 minutes before we were climbing the stairs down into the submarine.

The big lines from the Summer of '07 for the submarines are gone. The ride is still popular, but if you time it right and wait until after dinner you only wait 10 minutes or less.

Thanks for the info. I was reading my Unofficial Guide the other day and I was amazed at the descriptions of the queues. I was planning on getting there first thing but I think I'll wait till the end of the day now.

 

[TP2000]

Thanks for the info. I was reading my Unofficial Guide the other day and I was amazed at the descriptions of the queues. I was planning on getting there first thing but I think I'll wait till the end of the day now.

Do Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland and Matterhorn Bobsleds first thing, and save the submarines for close to park closing. You will make much better use of your time.

 

[grunter]

I waited 90 minutes two times for the Submarive Voyage in the Summer of '07 and I would GLADLY wait that long again to ride it any time in the future. I was blown away by the attraction and it certainly is a huge step up from the attraction we got at Epcot.

You were "blown away" by yet another alternate re-telling of the Nemo film as shown through a 12" porthole that still has the slobber and nose-prints of the last who-knows-how-many guests smeared across it?

Really?

:lookaroun

 

[primetime52]

Not sure what the haters are talking about, because I was also extremely impressed with the Nemo Submarines on my last visit. It blows Epcot's version away, believe me. After riding the DL version, I haven't had any desire to ride the Epcot version on recent visits. At least give it a try, even if the line is long. With long lines it might not be the type of ride you will do over and over again, but it's definitely worth trying at least once.

To respond to the OP, you will not be disappointed by Disneyland. Disneyland is basically Magic Kingdom on steroids. It has all of MK's rides plus some great extras (ie Matterhorn and Indy) and most of the duplicate rides are better at DL's version, like Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Like you, I was a bit skeptical about my first visit to DL, but it exceeded all of my expectations, and I plan to make yearly DL visits for as long as I can afford to pay these rising airfare prices. :lol:

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

You were "blown away" by yet another alternate re-telling of the Nemo film as shown through a 12" porthole that still has the slobber and nose-prints of the last who-knows-how-many guests smeared across it?

Really?

:lookaroun

Ah now, don't be a spoilsport.

 

[KeithVH]

While I'd like to agree with everything said previously, to us, it's kinda apples and oranges. To us, the experiences are so different that comparing them straight up is tough - each has a ton of good and bad points. We're here right now and having a blast. Except for mid-afternoons, waits are short. We walked onto Indy this afternoon and several other rides. Storybook Land was our loongest at 15 minutes (load/unload sucks there). We left at 5:30 and Splash was the only thing more than 15 minutes.

The one sad thing is the cut in fireworks. Tue, Wed, and Thu are all dark nights for October. Not sure next month. And what we find really odd is that, as far as we're concerned, its really busy. Couldn't tell from the ride times but the parks are packed. Curious for a middle week in October.

Will post pics and a report next week.