Originally Posted By Nan I tend to jump around so forgive me in advance. Also I can't spell so umm well sound it out Being that we are WDW people (more times than I can even attempt to count) I sort of expected to do DL/CA and say "Yup...we did it. Let's go back to FL" WRONG! Instead of doing the day by day trip report let me just do what I found different. Good and bad. First good was meeting a family I've been playing online with for almost 4 years (well..the wife mostly but also her hubby and kids every so often) We had tons of fun together and wish we would of had more time. They live an hour away. OK that out of the way. We stayed at the Doubletree and for the most part (note THE MOST PART) had no bus problems. Walk it? Not this tourist! LOL I'm lazy and save my feet for the park thank you! Would we stay there again. Yes. A few problems (room change the 2nd night and not the bed type we wanted but not huge stuff) Nice place and within easy walking to get drinks/eat etc. Parks themselves. First of all I love the fact that you can just get dropped off in one spot and walk to where you want to go. Downtown, DL, DCA. Nice! Makes that park hopping thing much easier! Now I know it's not the same as when Walt started the park but it's what I had. Walking into DL for the first time and looking down Main to the castle my mind flashed back to the black and white films I have seen from opening day. Seeing the gate over the castle doorway and remembering....well, I'll admit a tear or two did escape! First thing? My choice. Mr Toad! (if anyone remembers I'm the one who owns a Mr Toad ride car from WDW) DL cars aren't as cool but the ride is pretty much what I remember! My 6 yr old, after the ride, kind of looked at me like "OK Mom....I don't get it but whatever you like..." LOL! Our goal was to do the different things and skip most of the same things that we can do in FL or have done a zillion times. For the most part that's what we did. Next up was Dumbo as my daughter insisted. On to the canal boats. Very cute but IMHO a one time deal. Glad we did them but nothing I'd stand in line for more than 5 minutes for. Loved loved loved Princess Fantasy Faire. I thought it was cute and my daughter could have stayed there all day! I would have been willing but we had things to do and places to go! (did grab one of each of the coloring pages to make copies for her to take to school for the kids when we got home)! We lucked out getting a couple of Princesses you don't see often...at least in FL. Never did find the Tink area now that I think about it? Pirates. Oh wow DL is soooo much better! Sure, there are many things the same but it's much longer with more stuff. The extra drop (which to me isn't always a plus but funny...these didn't bother my very sensitive stomach like FL does) Had to do this one twice...or was it 3 times? Hubby and kid did the Matterhorn with friends. Hubby did Indy while I took mine and friends kids back on Pirates. Skipped the mountains as we assumed they're the same. Rodger Rabbit was just having a soft opening last time we were in FL so we did that. Lots of fun! Had to hit Toontown with friends. The game we met on Had fun being goofy (us...not the character ) on all the things that are in the online game. Lots of trolley pictures Both Mickey and Minnie's homes are different along with most of the town itself. Better different! Haunted Mansion/Nightmare before Christmas! WHY don't they do this in FL???? LOL I never saw the movie (yet) but it was amazingly cool! Only thing we wanted to do but didn't because of lines or lack of time was Nemo/subs and I would have liked to do Mr Toad at least one more time. We did a few other things but they were WDW copies so no mentions. No great food things. A burger here...snack there. Ate our better meals outside the gates. DCA. Cute setting. Since I'm not really familiar with all things CA I can't comment on the decor but it was nice. Hubby/friends and my daughter did a lot of things (at various times) in Paradise Pier. Sadly no Calif Screaming. Bad timing on fast passes or very long lines. (friends and us had different days to do Halloween party and so it just never worked out) My daughters only real disappointment on the trip. Mommy's secret that's she's happy she didn't have to put her 6 (almost 7) yr old on the coaster Monsters Inc was cute! Grizzly River run was wet! LOL! Another that is better than it's counterpart at WDW. Really now that I think about it we didn't do a lot here. Spent most of our time at DL because we knew we'd be coming back for the Halloween party. Then at the Halloween party we only did Halloween things. Oh well...next trip? Things at DCA we wished we had done...besides CA Screaming....Aladdin show, Crush (yeah I know...same thing but kid likes it and it's cute), more just looking around. Downtown. What can I say. We hit Build a Bear just to grab a couple of things you can't get elsewhere and World of Disney (since I wasn't doing any shopping at the parks...GASP)! Other than that unless you're hungry....kinda blah. One plus FL has over CA! I was told by many people that have done both FL and CA that 3 days is a good amount of time to do CA. I disagree. We for sure could have used another day. Granted our last day was a Saturday so that limited the things we could have done due to lines. Didn't expect to be saying this before we left but I can't wait to go back! I want to be able to soak up a little more Walt magic, do a little more exploring and check out some more of the things we think are the same but may not be. All in all...for various reasons....I give both places an A! Hard to choose one over the other. WDW has so many memories and good friends since we use to live near there and we meet every year. DL I see new memories and now friends to share that with also! Guess we'll just have to take turns p.s. Can't compare either park to DL Paris since it's been so many years since I've been there and my memory is pretty fuzzy about that park. Then again it is Paris....might have to do a refresher
Originally Posted By Nan Hmmm can't edit my post. One more comment. As much fun (and candy)! we had at the Halloween party I do have to say that FL is better. Many more characters and things to do. Would be interesting to compare the Christmas party!
Originally Posted By dlkozy Nan, thank you for the trip report. It was fun to read! The one nice thing about DL's Christmas time is that there is NO charge! The parade, fireworks, are all included-you don't pay extra to stay until the park closes for the day either. DL does not offer free hot chocolate or cookies though-but you will save the $$$ for not having to pay to be there!
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin Thank you so much for the trip report! It's wonderfully detailed and upbeat. I love to read comparisons between the parks since I have been to DL so much and am still just dreamin' of WDW.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo thanks Nan. Personally I am not worried if I ever go to WDW again, but I do really miss Disneyland. even though I love our nearest resort (DLP), I would rather be in DL.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Skipped the mountains as we assumed they're the same.. The next time you go to DL, you have to do Space. Big Thunder isn't terribly different from WDW, but Space is quite different, and better at DL. Only one track, but it's better than either of WDW's, and the effects especially since the 2005 re-do are much better. There's also a soundtrack (I prefer the old silence, but it's another thing that makes it different and a lot of people love it.) Also, next time you should check out the Columbia - never much of a wait even on crowded days, they don't have it at WDW, and it's a much underrated attraction, with a great "below decks" exhibit of how people used to live on sailing ships. Also, if it's still there on your next visit, check out the 50th anniversary film in the Mr. Lincoln theatre - you mentioned getting nostalgic for the old DL, so it would be right up your alley. Billy Hill and the Hillbillies are another "only in DL" show not to miss. And if all your kids are old enough next time, don't miss Indy.
