Originally Posted By Mr X BAD quote...I should've said "the blessing of size". And it really is a blessing, EVEN today though they've squandered some of the awesomeness with gaudy advertisements along the roadways and more than a touch of the outside world (huge McDonalds, anyone!?). I remember MY very first visit to Disneyland 20 years ago, and a subsequent visit a few months later...after having been a "WDW Kid" who first visited the resort some 35 years ago (yeah...I'm OLD okay!?), and again when Epcot was opened in the early 80's for a week...WDW was all people talked about but *I* being a devoted Disney geek actually pined for and wished to see Disneyland. When I got there, a few things struck me. For one thing, the parking lot in front of the place was just uncool, compared to the monorail/ferryboat goodness of the WDW Magic Kingdom. I also noticed that the Disneyland Hotel, iconic though it was, just seemed a big gaudy and "big box" compared to the lovely WDW resorts I was used to. AND, I noticed right away that the monorail was far more an attraction and far less a "means of transit" compared to my Florida "home". Plus there was no Epcot. Though things have gone downhill for BOTH resorts since that time (with the notable exception of Animal Kingdom), it's still hard for me to look at Anaheim as anything more than the prototype that WDW would finally flesh out and realize in terms of what Walt Disney was going for. And I realize that's way off topic, so I'll shut up now. Sorry RT.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***But X - back then we had the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Nevada Mountains on our door step, all not too far away from DL. The other parts of WDW were pointless to us*** That doesn't make Disneyland any more "all-inclusive" or WDW any less so...the point is, you can go to WDW and stay there and explore around and feel as though your entire vacation is THERE. Not so in Anaheim. Even today (NOR Tokyo for that matter). Sure, there are tons of incredible experiences to be had in Southern California with Disneyland being one of them. But in Orlando you can really *live* a Disney vacation and that's what's so cool about the place and going back historically it has always been so (mostly because Walt himself was smart enough to purchase a BOATLOAD of land all earmarked for expanding on the dream he dreamt up in Anaheim...which has occured in some ways and not so much in others, but you know what I mean anyway).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I think it does depend on what you grew up with. To me, the whole lagoon set up is kind of cool at WDW but I hate that it takes forever to get anywhere around the resort (being used to driving up to the gate of DL). My fav model is DLP which is an awesome hybrid, where everything is walkable and there is immersion of the theme (the street vendors near the station and poor maintenance aside). I always loved the intimate feel of DL, whereas the MK always felt wrong to me, especially the military style castle. DLP once again got the balance spot on. But I do think looking at what coast you grew up on making a difference. That said, Sarah's first resort was DLP (1999), then WDW (2000) and then DL (2002). Her favorite resort overall is DL.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***especially the military style castle*** I love the castle. Seems so sweeping and grand compared to DL's squat, unimpressive one. Not to mention they copied the Florida version in Tokyo (yay!), and Hong Kong got stuck with the cheap West Coast version (lame!). I would agree with you that the France version is a nice hybrid of the two (even though I haven't seen it myself). While I appreciate the fact that Tokyo was a copy (they had no clue whether the place would be a success or not...they did their best to copy "the best of" both American resorts all around the place), I am SO disappointed in the Hong Kong cop-out. How cool would a NEW castle design have been!? (aka Paris...an excellent and ORIGINAL Disney masterpiece). But the Disneyland Castle will always be short and rather unimpressive in my eyes.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>But the Disneyland Castle will always be short and rather unimpressive in my eyes. <<< That's what I mean. I think it depends on which one you went to as a child first. To me the DL one is perfect, storybook like, and it feels like a toy. The one in Orlando is too boxy and imposing. And I can empathise how you can feel too. What is always interesting is seeing what people who come to the parks for the first time as adults think. Though in 2002, Sarah had been to 8 Disney parks at DCA was her fav, so maybe we shouldn't go there ;-)
Originally Posted By Mr X ***but I hate that it takes forever to get anywhere around the resort*** Well that goes along with my complaint about the whole "magical bus ride" thing, BUT back in the 80's after Epcot opened it didn't take "forever" to get ANYWHERE around the resort...it took just enough time to enjoy the whimsical travel experiences. Disneyland LACKS that sort of scope...I suppose you could see it as a positive OR a negative if you choose to, but I wouldn't equate "walking distance" to something impressive IF you could build a magical kingdom like WDW had in the 80's where everything was but a magical monorail or boat ride away. Compare THAT to Disneyland (or Tokyo, or Hong Kong for that matter), where a brisk walk will take you RIGHT OUT OF THE RESORT within minutes. Weak!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***To me the DL one is perfect, storybook like, and it feels like a toy*** You mean like this <a href="http://retardzone.com/uploads/2008/10/naradreamland/castle-n.jpg" target="_blank">http://retardzone.com/uploads/...le-n.jpg</a> Yeah...feels like a toy is right!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Compare THAT to Disneyland (or Tokyo, or Hong Kong for that matter), where a brisk walk will take you RIGHT OUT OF THE RESORT within minutes.<<< Ah, but there again is the lovely contrast. To me, it makes Disneyland seem more magical that one minute you are in a semi urban environment, the next you are in a jungle. WDW just feels like sprawl to me. Sure, in 1983 staying in the Poly may have been cool, but it still wasn't Disneyland across that water. It felt like an imposter to me. I do not get that same feeling in PAris. I really do not know what it is that I hate about the MK. Now Epcot and DAk, they are super cool, as are the water parks and some of the hotels. But this thread is not talking about that. This thread is focusing on within the berm of DL vs. the MK. I used to rag on MK's Fantasyland and Toon Town, but in theory, that is being taken care of. But we will see, I am not convinced.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmmm MK - has a dull Main Street with a mall feel and little uniquity save the Barber Shop, which is cool. Adventureland - while the JC is cool, the skippers are poor in my experience, the carpets do not belong, and do I need mention Gilbert Godfried? Let alone the cliff notes PotC with a modern (circa 1970's) escalator. Still, Swiss Family Robinson tree house is a saving grace.
Originally Posted By Mr X Just kidding, by the way... I KNOW exactly what you mean (although I have a certain fondness for the DL castle that you obviously don't share as far as the MK/TDL one...one of my favorite pictures I looked at again and again was the one with Walt Disney walking through HIS castle, hands in pockets...). <a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/themeparks/1/5/F/E/DLhist1.jpg" target="_blank">http://0.tqn.com/d/themeparks/...ist1.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Frontierland is wierd here, seems to not have a heart or focal point. CBJ is still cool, but it has a weak BTMRR and no live entertainment (unlike DL - Billy Hill anyone?). LS - ok, not as great as it once was, but still cool, I won't rag on this part. Fantasyland - let's move along shall we? Nothing to see here. IASW is the biggest disappointment here. Tomorrowland looks cool in the main, shame about the toonvasion. I do like the People Mover and CoP, but miss Star Tours. Train - not much to see here either.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Ah, but there again is the lovely contrast (of reality being just steps away)*** Now YOU'RE stretching just as much as RoadTrip was trying to claim that having the Haunted Mansion "open" all year long in Orlando was somehow a PLUS compared to the Mansion that was "closed for overlay" in California for several weeks every year. You say "sprawl", I say "total Disney experience". Sorry,but I don't think we'll see eye to eye on this one too much (we can agree on quality issues til the cows come home, though lol)...for me, WDW will always be "the ultimate Disney destination", and the place I would gladly send ANY friend who told me they've never been to a Disney resort and would like to go there on their next vacation. Without hesitation.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep, we will never agree on that...I doubt ever. I can't do it in good conscience. The MK is too poor.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo If DLP has DL's weather, maintenance and entertainment standards, then Paris would win for me (though I could be swayed by TDL perhaps, though the design of TDL has always worried me, TDS looks bloomin' amazing).
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I can't do it in good conscience. The MK is too poor*** See, I feel the same way recommending California or Paris...both second parks are "too poor", and imho WAY more pathetic than the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. YES, I'm commenting on a park I've never seen (Studios Paris), but still... I mean, if you want to go into "in good conscience" and all that. FRANKLY, and this is pretty blunt but that's the way I roll, there are only TWO resorts on the planet that boast at least 2 incredible theme parks...Orlando and Tokyo. So there you have it.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***If DLP has DL's weather, maintenance and entertainment standards, then Paris would win for me*** Jeez Dave, could you be any more equivocal?? And if I had a paint brush, I'd be an artist! Aside from weather (pretty much unavoidable once you decide to build the place), aren't maintenance and entertainment KIND OF important as far as Disney parks are concerned? Just sayin...
Originally Posted By wahooskipper While I think WDW still lacks in transportation I think the "sprawl" is important in that you don't feel boxed in by the crowd. I'd love to know how many guests and cast members are on property on a given day. During peak season I'd have to guess it is 200,000 or more. That is a pretty large City but when you are moving around the property it doesn't seem claustrophobic. It has been a LONG time since I was at Disneyland. I grew up out there so my memories of it are "huge" but I'm sure I would be taken aback by the small size of the place looking through the eyes of an adult.
