Originally Posted By GMouse I've been going to WDW for the past 15 years and I just got back from my very first trip to Disneyland. After reading these boards for several years, I had high expectations for Disneyland. To be honest, I came back feeling a little disappointed. My impression is that WDW provides a far better experience than Disneyland. I really never felt immersed in the magic at Disneyland the way I do at WDW. Heck, the tram and monorail don't even have a Diney logo on them. I'm sure I have some bias because WDW is my "home" resort. My very first Disney experience was dinner at the Wilderness Lodge's Whispering Canyon Cafe. That day I became hopelessly hooked on Disney magic. Every time I go back I feel that same magic, but I just didn't feel that same feeling at Disneyland. I think the attention to detail on the attractions is relatively the same at both resorts. I loved the longer version of Pirates at Disneyland, but hated the cheap version of Tower of Terror (the elevator doesn't drive down the hallway). Haunted Masion seemed almost identical. Space Mountain was cool with the music. It's a small world was painfully longer. The caliber of cast members seem to be the same between WDW and Disneyland. Some are good, others are just doing the bare minimum of what's expected. The traffic signage isn't near as good as it is a WDW. It took me half an hour the first day just to find a parking lot at Disneyland. This is probably because they are public roads. In summary, Disneyland (to me) is just a very small version of Disney World. Is it worth the 5 1/2 hour flight from Baltimore to Los Angeles? I would have to say no. I'm so glad I live much closer to WDW.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Well, you certainly don't hear THAT everyday, and certainly not on these boards. I've never been to DL, but I'm anticipating it greatly. Interesting thoughts, though...
Originally Posted By leobloom When I used to visit both WDW and DL (in the days before DCA), I greatly preferred DL. More attractions, better dark rides, just seemed like a more complete park compared to MK. And I guess I would prefer one park filled to the brim as opposed to a few parks that seem malnourished and in need of more stuff to do. Not to mention with DL there's the rest of LA and Southern Cal to explore. Apples and oranges, I guess.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Oh lord, there's hardly anything around DLR worth seeing, so I'm really sick of hearing that "rest of the area.." crap.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer To be totally honest, there are 4 things that interest me in the LA area, 1) The Hollywood Sign 2) The Chinese Theater 3) A Taping of Craig Ferguesson 4) Disneyland (of course) All my other time spent in California in the future will be spent in San Fransisco.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Oh lord, there's hardly anything around DLR worth seeing, so I'm really sick of hearing that "rest of the area.." crap. << In all of Southern California? LA County Museum of Art, the Getty, Gehry's Concert Hall, Autry Museum, not to mention San Diego and all the state and national parks like Joshua Tree. Not to mention the other theme parks in the area, Knotts and Universal included.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<yes, but DL has Mr. Toad!>> And Indiana Jones. Dang it I want Indy in the MK...
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Toad, Indy, a REAL Space Mountain, a REAL FL... I just want Disneyland already.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Ugh - why group San Diego? SoCal are all nuts. San Diego is no closer to DLR then Tampa is to WDW. They're not really close and the vast majority of people wont visit one to see the other.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> San Diego is no closer to DLR then Tampa is to WDW. They're not really close and the vast majority of people wont visit one to see the other << I'm just commenting on your previous comment: >> Oh lord, there's hardly anything around DLR worth seeing, so I'm really sick of hearing that "rest of the area.." crap. << There are places around LA that are worth seeing. That's my only point. I agree with you that most visitors to WDW are coming to Florida primarily for WDW. Tampa, since you mentioned it, has places worth seeing, too, although most Disney tourists won't bother. Bottom line is Southern Cal offers a lot in addition to DL.
Originally Posted By GMouse I agree there's several things to do in the "relatvie" area. We drove over to Hollywood to walk down Hollywood BLVD and drove around Beverly Hills. We also drove up to the Hollywood sign as close as we could get, then had to set out on foot to get closer. I was amazed at how steep the terrain is out there. We also went to Griffith Observatory, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach and drove down Pacific Coast Highway which is an attraction itself. One of the best sights I saw out there was the cliffs at Palos Verdes that overlook the Pacific Ocean. That was absolutely amazing to see.
Originally Posted By Ursula <SoCal are all nuts.> Wow, I am so offended by you. And you are full of it. Tons of people visit Dl and SD in the same trip. I think your backside is talking, maybe you need to sit down for a spell.
Originally Posted By dshyates We drove to DLR 3 times from Denver and always included a couple of days either around SD (Hotel Del) or Dana Point. Taking a whale watching tour was a fantastic addition to our trip. We also included Universal or Knott's. And saw the Lion King twice at the Pantages.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think your criticisms of DLR are fair. While there may be individual attractions that beat out their WDW counterparts, DL has never been able to compare with the resort feeling of WDW, and it never will. However, things like a Disney logo on the transportation are where I disagree. I really like that DL doens't have corporate branded things all over the place. While WDW seems to be a place to fill up on exactly what the company wants to push with synergy, DL seems to have a wider variety of offerings. I think that's why Epcot is my favorite WDW park, since it's almost completely non-Disney branded. To counter that, I have a friend who is a SoCal native who hated Illuminations because it didn't have any of the Disney-branded-magic that the evening shows in DL have. It's just a different set of expectations. Aside from TOT and the non-resort-ness of it, how did the parks compare? Did they feel itsy bitsy in comparision to WDW? What's your opinion on DCA? Anything in either park (attractions or just theming) that you'd like to see in WDW?
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Oh lord, there's hardly anything around DLR worth seeing, so I'm really sick of hearing that "rest of the area.." crap. << All the leaves are brown And the sky is gray I've been for a walk On a winter's day I'd be safe and warm If I was in L.A. California dreamin' On such a winter's day Stopped into a church I passed along the way Oh, I got down on my knees And I pretend to pray You know the preacher likes the cold He knows I'm gonna stay California dreamin' On such a winter's day All the leaves are brown And the sky is gray I've been for a walk On a winter's day If I didnt tell her I could leave today California dreamin' On such a winter's day (California dreamin') On such a winter's day (California dreamin') On such a winter's day
Originally Posted By MPierce >> yes, but DL has Mr. Toad! << You need to get over that infatuation you have of Mr. Toad. Your husband might find out.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 The last time she rode toad, she was mid-teens. I fear she'll be disappointed riding it as 40 something. Things aren't always as good as you remember.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney When I was a kid we always included another SoCal attraction to our Disneyland trips. One year it was San Diego where we went to the Zoo and Old Town, one year it was Universal Studios and Hollywood --- heck we even went to Tijuanna one year.(I'm sure I spelled that wrong and feel too lazy at the moment to look it up!!). The beach is nice down south too, compared to up here in NoCal.
Originally Posted By GMouse >> Aside from TOT and the non-resort-ness of it, how did the parks compare? Did they feel itsy bitsy in comparision to WDW? What's your opinion on DCA? Anything in either park (attractions or just theming) that you'd like to see in WDW? << Yes, it felt very very small in comparison to WDW. DCA had parts that remind me of a local park called Hersheypark, not what I would expect in a Disney park. Aside from the WDW duplications I really didn't see anything that was a truly unique and immersive Disney experience. What would I like to see at WDW? Indiana Jones for sure, the full Pirates ride, the Space Mountain sound system, the fact that you actually get drenched on Splash Mountain. Oh, and Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue. I understand your point about the transportation, but still I would like to see something to identify that the tram belonged to Disneyland and wasn't just rented from the local tram-o-rama. Likewise I wouldn't like if WDW used plain old busses instead of themed buses. Just my preference.
