Originally Posted By Christi22222 So I have been reading some interesting comments about DLR and how it compares to WDW, etc. Finally made it out to DLR Oct 17-19 for the Halloween festivities to see for myself. Haven't been since Sept of 2009, and have been to WDW Jan of 2010, so that's my frame of reference! Here are some quick comments from our trip..... World of Color is really a very good show and a lot of fun. A bit oversold by reviewers, but definitely good. The information on how to see it that is on this and other fan sites is invaluable. We did the dinner package at Trattoria and that worked great for viewing. However, I don't love the super limiting menu and the cattle call atmosphere of the WofC dining package. Great server, nice restaurant, just say no to the package. Regarding super sized guests at DLR v. WDW, and the supposed lesser numbers of them at DLR....not from what I saw. Honestly had never been overwhelmed by this before, but this time was. Guess it is probably individual experience that varies, and obviously no real conclusions can be drawn. Suffice to say that I was caught off guard by the number of folks being affected (on rides, using scooters, etc) by size limitations. Bummer. DLR's Tomorrowland is a travesty and I don't think it can actually be called a land. And I am not a purist. Just a jumbled hodge podge of attractions with poor traffic flow and limited theming cohesion. People mover was the first thing my son (12) asked for and was disgusted was gone. Wondered immediately why towers and platforms were still there. Bad show when a 12 year old boy notices. Cast members were quite amazing. Very fun, friendly, into it, and paying attention to making things work well and be a positive experience. Wasn't my experience at WDW last January. Saw lots of burn out and going through the motions. So this was a pleasant surprise. Rained non-stop. Bad for a vacation, good for crowds. Halloween party on the 19th was still fun despite rain, but definitely diminished. Short ride lines. Long but fast treat lines. Great and lots of candy. Amazing fireworks show. Great decorations. We don't do many meet and greets, but Jack and Sally were wonderful and positively made my son's day. Haunted Mansion overlay is truly fantastic and is really THAT good! Pirates is soooo much better in DLR. Splash is much better at WDW. Spooky Space Mountain isn't particularly creative or impressive, but the extra Halloween theming really is a lot of fun. Different really just adds a pop to some tried and true rides. Mr. Toad really is just fun and I miss it at WDW. Ditto for Alice. Matterhorn is a very basic ride, but is just fun to do. No special effects to speak of, old coaster. But adds to the whole park and is a fun ride. Please note this, Disney! Small World is really looking terrible on the exterior. Almost makes it a good thing that WDW doesn't have the real deal. Didn't step foot in Toon Town. Didn't want to. Had a very weak Jungle Cruise captain, so they happen in DLR, too! Why bother with the monorail anymore? It is never open, has super long lines, and doesn't go anywhere useful! Sad. DTD at DLR is getting better. Weird considering DTD at WDW's fate. DCA was a park with a fantastic feel and beautiful art. Why are they ripping out what worked to "fix" what didn't? Saw folks cleaning and picking up garbage everywhere, all the time! Just like the old days! So that's it. Definitely a mixed bag. Overall I'd agree that DLR is getting it right a lot more than WDW. However, the short sighted choices that TWDC is making at the resorts in general shows no matter what park you are in. Have decided not to do the annual winter trip to WDW this Jan/Feb. I'm visiting So Cal again in Jan and won't be doing DLR. Am going to Paris next summer and will be visiting DLP. Still love Disney, still hope they get the message that they have been failing the parks lately. What do you think? TSMM is a fun ride, but it really messes up the traffic flow of the Pier, which was weak to begin with. How hard is it to have wider walk ways? Really? Screamin' is just a fun fun coaster.
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin Thanks for posting. It’s interesting (for me at least). 1) Still haven’t seen WoC so I’m excited to do that someday. 2) I had hip bruises from getting in a couple WDW seats, and I’m not that big (I think). 3) DL’s Tomorrowland does need more. 4) We liked cast members at WDW too. 5) No rain at all for our eight days in October – a miracle? 6)We will never pay to go to the Halloween Party. 7) Pirates IS soooo much better in DLR! 8) I think I have to ride DL Splash again before saying WDW’s is better. 9) DL Space is superior to WDW Space. 10) We enjoy overlays, Mr. Toad, Alice, Matterhorn, and Screamin (sad I was afraid of it for so long).
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Seems like we noticed some similar things, WDWdreamin. Hope you get a chance to see World of Color soon. Very glad for you (and jealous!) that you got no rain. How did the crowds seem to you without the rain? Heard it's been insanely busy. You said you liked cast members at WDW, too, so did they seem equal to you on both coasts? Thanks for the insights!
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Didn't step foot in Toon Town. Didn't want to. << You went to DL and didn't ride the Roger Rabbit dark ride? For shame.
Originally Posted By GOB Thoughts: - We're considering the dining package for WoC in 2012, I'm glad to hear Trattoria was nice, however. The pictures looked delectable. - Total agreement on Tomorrowland. WDW's isn't perfect in any way, but Disneyland's is in the gutter. But at least their rides are nice and maintained here. - Agree on Splash, indifferent on Pirates. I love both for different reasons. - In our two visits, we never went in Toontown either. I wonder if it's worth it. - In my two rides, the Jungle Cruise skippers at Disneyland aren't up to par. We've never had a bad one at WDW.
Originally Posted By Bellella How are the Country Bears doing at WDW? We miss them very much over here in California. When I go over to Florida, I hope to be able to see them very much.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Bellella....we feel lucky to still have bears at WDW, but they are barely hanging in there. Hoping for a good refurb at some point. Haven't followed the news to know if one is on the books.
Originally Posted By Ohana I agree with a lot in the OP, but not that the monorail at DLR is "never open." Big exaggeration but I'll let it slide since the rest was spot on. All who agree, Please elaborate on why WDW Splash is better, I haven't been to WDW since they added it. Thanks!!
Originally Posted By Christi22222 @Ohana>> Yeah, you're right! I did exaggerate on the monorail. It was just really bad when we were there because all the rain caused more closure time. As for Splash, the difference isn't as big as with Pirates for sure. But the story inside the mountain is just more developed and seems to last longer. I don't know if it actually is longer, as I've not timed it. But you feel like you've done a complete dark ride with a full story before you even get to the drop. Still a very well done thrill ride on either coast, as most flume type rides simply take you to the top, and drop you! Think more subtle differences akin to the different Peter Pans.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: One thing that's better about the Florida version is the way they do the leaves on the trees. They look so much better than the streamer type leafing they do for the trees in the CA version. ORDDU: Also, the lighting is better in Florida. Whenever we ride Splash Mounatin in CA it just seems too dark. In FL you can actually see the sets very well. ORWEN: Now I will say that the CA version seems to have more animatronic figures than the FL version does. CA has the extra rabbits and possums that FL doesn't have. ORGOCH: The one in CA seems ta run ya through too fast, if'n ya asks me. The one in FL goes slower so's ya can enjoy the scen'ry a lot more. ORDDU: So there are some things better in FL and some things better in CA. But my sisters and I believe FL has the upper hand when it comes to Splash Mountain.
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin Oh, I was going to say that the WDW had more animatronics. Maybe it's just that you go slower, so there seem to be more. But I like the smaller drops at DL better than WDW. To me it seemed like WDW Splash was longer too. I liked sitting next to DH as well so we could point things out without yelling, but since I have gone to DL many times as a single rider, I was happy to sit alone. WDW POTC was so horrible to us, we didn't do a second time with 0-5 min wait.
Originally Posted By danyoung >DTD at DLR is getting better. Weird considering DTD at WDW's fate.< There's nothing wrong with WDW's DTD. It's Pleasure Island that's gone downhill (admittedly a part of DTD). But the rest of the area is still going great guns, and looking terrific as of about 3 weeks ago. >DCA was a park with a fantastic feel and beautiful art. Why are they ripping out what worked to "fix" what didn't?< Well, I think most people would disagree with you that there was much of DCA that really worked. The stuff they're taking out, like the entry area and the off the shelf Maliboomer, simply didn't live up to Disney standards. I'm really looking forward to the look and feel of the new entry. Now if they even THINK about touching the Animation lobby, I'll be UPSET!!!
Originally Posted By Christi22222 @danyoung>>It's certainly a matter of opinon, but I really used to enjoy the many different Disney type and other stores at the MarketPlace end of WDW's DTD. But they seem to be slowly merging into fewer stores, and being replaced by things that really don't interest me. Obvioulsy, other folks might like this new set up better! And I guess I don't think it is just PI. West Side is a bummer with stores closing and DisneyQuest being ignored and let go. So while there are certainly some very good stores and restuarants at WDW's DTD (which is why I didn't shred it and just said it is going the wrong way), I am just frustrated to see So Cal's version get better while WDW's seems to still be trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up. As for DCA, I would never defend anything like Maliboomer, and I could care less about the coaster re-theme. I am more bummed about the artwork being removed in lieu of more Disney-fied decor like the Sun Wheel now being Mickey's Fun Wheel. Also the letters out front and the mosaics at the entry. I just thought some of the California theme was a nice change from the synergy marketing/character stuff everywhere else. And no, I couldn't possibly think they would be crazy enough to change the Animation Lobby! But it was a park that I enjoyed the *feel* of, and it doesn't seem to be in the plans to preserve that.
Originally Posted By barboy2 ///the lighting is better in Florida. Whenever we ride Splash Mounatin in CA it just seems too dark./// Exactly ///better about the Florida version is the way they do the leaves on the trees. They look so much better than the streamer type leafing they do for the trees in the CA version./// Yep! DL's Splash Mnt. is too dark, dank and fast paced in its story. But the worst part is it has very, very bad seating arrangements. Magic Kingdom's version has proper side-by-side seating as opposed to Dl's terrible 1970's theme park ubiquitous "log ride" straddle style. And MK's sets look more colorful and detailed. Dl's version needs a huge overhaul in lighting, paint, details and sound---something far more reaching than just steady maintenance.
Originally Posted By mickeymorris1234 I like the darker mountain and how fast it goes. Slowing down the ride would be a shame, I think to much light for Splash would ruin some of the surprises that SM has hidden. Plus the ride's boats go so fast that putting more light on the surrounding scenery is not going to give you anymore time to look at it.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Funny, I've ridden both and didn't notice any difference (other than the seating).
Originally Posted By Dabob2 To me, WDW's is somewhat better (mostly due to the seating) but the difference isn't nearly as great as between the two POTCs or Space Mountains.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo The seating at WDW is poorer theming, but far more comfortable. I'll take WDW based on the seating.
