Why you have to visit DL... [Archive] - The DVC Boards at MouseOwners.com - the place to talk DVC and Walt Disney World

AmyBeth68

01-18-2006, 08:59 PM

I was inspired by the missed WDW attraction thread. We visited DL for the first time this past November.

It is definitely worth the trip friends! I know all you DL fanatics, regulars and left-coasters already know this. But having never been there I was amazed and thrilled by what both Disneyland's MK and CA have to offer (yes I said CA...it has it's own merits).

So here is my list of essential DL attractions that are worth the trip alone!

1. Pirates of the Caribbean....I hate to say that it's SOOOO much better than the WDW version. But....eh.....it really is!
2. Peter Pan's Flight....not better, just different, cool to notice the differences.
3. Matterhorn....classic and while probably nowhere near as cool and updated as EE will be. Still it is a great ride....and the monster reminds me of the Bumble from Rudolph.
4. Small World and Small World Holiday....try to get to DL around the holidays (which for them begins in early November). Superior loading area....and the holiday version is soooo Magical!
5. My daugher would say that the ALice in Wonderland ride is worth it.....we rode it many many many times. Very cute!
6. Storybook Land Canal Boats....classic, adorable great for the young and young at heart.
7. The Aladdin Show. OMG. Seriously people....they could charge extra admission for this production. REALLY fantastic show. Hilarious!!!!
8. The DL MK fireworks show is insanely good. I adore Wishes....and this is as good (many will say far better). Just incredible how it is "staged".
9. Mr. Toad....you know I missed that crazy toad. It was so nice to revisit that ride. memories......
10. Dining at Blue Bayou...inside the POC ride. Good food....Amazing atmosphere.
11. Haunted Mansion Holiday....Nightmare Before Christmas. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOL! Especially if you're big fans of the movie....but even if you aren't OMG it's really great :cool: .
12. Space Mountain...it rocks. I mean really really rocks. I am really hoping that WDW decides to refurb SM in the same way. It is faster (I think), smoother, has headphones in the seats with really cool music, loads better...you name it. It's sooo good.
13. Buzz Lightyear...they've improved on a fantastic ride. It's got all the same stuff you'd expect but it's definitely been upgraded!

With all that said my heart is still in WDW. But DL is absolutely worth the trip for all of us crazy Disney fanatics. We did a great tour, met so many DVC folks while we were out there. It was hard to be at "Disney" without Epcot and AK but it is really magical to be at the original.

I have to say that WDW clearly handles crowds so much better than DL....there was a near stampede/crush that was terrifying one day. And the dining options are not nearly as good IMHO. But if you have the opportunity....you really must GO!

AFMom

01-18-2006, 10:23 PM

You skipped the Indiana Jones ride! It's one of my all time favorites! And I just love the Casey Jr Circus Train - I'll never outgrow it! We really like CA - The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is one of my kids' favorite places to hang out, and I think GRR is better than Kali RR. Alladin is spectacular, isn't it? Better than anything we saw at MGM.....We love everything you listed!
Grew up in CA and went about every other year - so going there will always be like going home for us. We'll certainly be going to WDW more now (what with DVC and living in FL)... but I can't see us going more than a few years in between DL trips!
Funny, though, after you've seen Cinderella's Castle at WDW, you go back t DL and see Sleeping Beauty's Castle - well - you just can't believe how small it is!!! But it's beautiful - charming.
So - if anyone wants some trip advice.... you know who to pm!

nono

01-18-2006, 10:41 PM

And the original Tiki Birds show is in DL!!!! And, you can walk among DL, DCA and Downtown Disney without stepping on a BUS! :woohoodan

Rozzie

01-18-2006, 10:54 PM

I wanna go! I wanna go!

DH and I were talking, DL is like a disneymecca, you really need to go once to pay your respects to Walt's Park. I hear just awesome things about DL!!!! :blueflowe

ps. no offense intended concering the mecca reference. :flowerfor

Leftcoaster

01-19-2006, 02:13 AM

Tinkerbells new flight path with the fireworks going off in the background and Walt's opening day speech is so poignant and special.
Also, Disney did an outstanding job with the new Monsters Inc. dark ride. It just opened recently.
I think the lobby of the animation building is among the most beautiful things Disney has done.
And lastly, in a year, the subs will have returned.

cobbler

01-19-2006, 10:49 PM

Call me retarded but I didn't know there was such a big difference in the two. I figured it was the same MK only on a smaller version.

I actually have had no desire to visit because of this thinking.

Now I will have to think it over and see if somehow we can get out there someday.

It will probably have to take a lot of saving because airfare would be horrid. Driving might be nice (I know weird, but I have never been west of Missouri so I could see a lot).

Hmm :scratchch

AFMom

01-20-2006, 01:43 AM

It may be a bit more compact - but they pack in a heck of a lot more at DL than is in the MK. In fact - in the 2 parks at DLR - almost all the major rides are packed it that are spread out at WDW. The only major loss is Epcot. Well - and there aren't any water parks. Sure wish they could find a way to incorporate that! Even then - the 3D Honey I Shrunk the Audience is in Tomorrowland.... RNR is replaced by CA Screamin, Dinosaur is completely blown away by the Indiana Jones ride!
It makes for very efficient touring! My kids were actually a bit disappointed in the MK at WDW because there wasn't as much to do there as there is at DL! I was thrilled wth the Peoplemover, though! Wish they had kept that at DL.

gracelrm

01-20-2006, 01:53 AM

AmyBeth68

01-20-2006, 04:24 AM

I forgot about California Screamin'. I really LOVED that coaster...it's great fun!

Yes...they pack tons and tons into the two Disneyland parks. I was really amazed how much time you could spend there. Again...I totally missed Epcot and AK but that's what makes WDW special. What makes DL special is that their MK is really loaded with great rides....and many times better versions of some of the same rides as WDW. That was really shocking and surprising to me.

But it clearly makes the trip worthwhile! I would HIGHLY recommend the trip to anyone!

tjkraz

01-20-2006, 04:52 AM

I'm hoping to get the family out there in the Fall of 2007. Over the past year I've really spent a lot of time reading about DL. Prior to that I'd largely discounted it due to a number of factors:

* DCA (blech!)
* More parks at WDW
* DCA (blech!)
* WDW is closer
*DCA (blech!)

(really I could do this all day)

Anyone looking for a fun read should check out David Koenig's book "Mouse Tales." It's basically an unauthorized look at the history of DL. Lots of fun Cast Member stories and a great overview of the park. A few months back Amazon was selling a special edition of the book that included an audio CD with a virtual park walk-through as it was back in 1955. I saved it for a 6-hour business drive--it was a fun way to kill some time.

Leftcoaster

01-20-2006, 06:44 AM

We're going in June so this thread is good news for me. We have friends that go to CA every year for a business trip and often take their kids to DL. They know how much we love WDW and told us they thought we'd be disappointed - so in the back of my mind, I've worried about that. Glad to hear that we'll probably love it too! My DS, who is five, is concerned that with only two parks, we'll have no fun - looks like he's in for fun after all.

The thing to keep in mind is that Disneyland is not WDW and vice versa. Both places have their strong points, and special points, but they are not the same. They may be siblings but, they are not twins.
With younger kids, DL's compact size will make it so much easier to tour. You don't have far to walk and if you need to rush back to the hotel because it's meltdown time, you can be back in your room in 15 minutes.

nono

01-20-2006, 12:23 PM

The thing to keep in mind is that Disneyland is not WDW and vice versa. Both places have their strong points, and special points, but they are not the same. They may be siblings but, they are not twins.
With younger kids, DL's compact size will make it so much easier to tour. You don't have far to walk and if you need to rush back to the hotel because it's meltdown time, you can be back in your room in 15 minutes.

Leftcoaster,

You nailed it. People who go expecting the exact same experience are in for disappointment!

As for DCA, we LOVED it. [Me an Eastcoaster, and my husband (CA raised) and his best friend (CA raised)]. Pardon that lack of grammar! It's a fun park IMO.

Do you guys remember when EPCOT (caps on purpose) opened? Oh, the terrible things that were said about it for years!!! I think the DL crowd is going through the same thing with DCA -- shocked that the second gate is VERY different from the original.

Go visit! Expect it to be totally different, and relax and enjoy it. No reason to commando in DL! There's no "commuting time". :idea:

TW1

01-20-2006, 02:06 PM

DL was my first Disney experience, back in '96. I was sold - hook, line and sinker after that.

To the list of differences add Alice's ride, which was my first Disney ride ever, (You never forget your first time do you?)

And I like Toontown better in DL, better layout and the Roger Rabbit ride was fun.

Original Tikis? I'll take that! Iago and Zazu really get on my nerves.

PoohsPal

01-20-2006, 02:16 PM

First trip in 1980. All I really remeber are teh boats, teh train and not gettign to go on IaSW. Have slides of it though. ;)

I'm trying to subtly convince dh he wants to do teh DL half innaugural half marathon (castle medal).

Do you think I can convince him to do that and an add-on without him knowing?

TW1

01-20-2006, 02:33 PM

Do you think I can convince him to do that and an add-on without him knowing?
No doubt. As DW would say..."we have our ways..."

cobbler

01-20-2006, 03:26 PM

OOOH, a castle medal?? Wow, that sounds like fun!! I think I want one of those :) :)

tjkraz

01-20-2006, 04:53 PM

As for DCA, we LOVED it. [Me an Eastcoaster, and my husband (CA raised) and his best friend (CA raised)]. Pardon that lack of grammar! It's a fun park IMO.

For a long time I kinda wondered what the big deal was with the DCA bashing. Last May I purchased the new souvenir book at WDW that has photos of most of the rides from the Disney parks worldwide. Seeing some of the--sorry, I gotta say it--junk they settled on for DCA really put the bashing into perspective.

I hate to fall back on the old "Walt wouldn't have liked it", because, hello, Walt has been dead for 40 years. But my take would be "Disney can do better."

I've grown up 45 miles away from Cedar Point, a park highly regarded by coaster enthusiasts worldwide. If I want things like the big ferris wheel and the orange swingy thing, I can spend a lot less to go to CP.

I'm sure there are areas of the park that I will really like. But other areas and attractions just seem so lacking by comparison.

AmyBeth68

01-20-2006, 05:04 PM

But it truly does have its merits. California Screamin is actually a very good coaster....not thrill-junky coaster.....but an attempt to make a metal coaster feel like a wooden. And I swear they accomplished it!

DCA has ToT....which is a slightly different version than MGM (I think MGMs is a better ride but it's still good at DCA).

DCA has ALaddin....which I promise you guys is THE BEST REASON to visit that park. Trust me :Pokepoke: .

Grizzly River Rapids is just as fun as Kali.

The original Soarin is there...yeah we can now see it at EPCOT. But I really wish they had taken the Soarin Over CA concept....but changed the movie. ANybody else with me on this? Maybe Soarin Over the USA....or something? I dunno. It was really the center piece of DCA IMHO. But I digress....

The park has its merits....could use some more big rides....and the carnival/amusement area isn't the whole shootin' match there.

Also....Ariel's Grotto is a SUPER character meal. I forgot to add that to my first post.

I have to humbly argue that DCA does not detract in any way from the DL experience.

nono

01-20-2006, 05:19 PM

For a long time I kinda wondered what the big deal was with the DCA bashing. Last May I purchased the new souvenir book at WDW that has photos of most of the rides from the Disney parks worldwide. Seeing some of the--sorry, I gotta say it--junk they settled on for DCA really put the bashing into perspective.

I hate to fall back on the old "Walt wouldn't have liked it", because, hello, Walt has been dead for 40 years. But my take would be "Disney can do better."

I've grown up 45 miles away from Cedar Point, a park highly regarded by coaster enthusiasts worldwide. If I want things like the big ferris wheel and the orange swingy thing, I can spend a lot less to go to CP.

I'm sure there are areas of the park that I will really like. But other areas and attractions just seem so lacking by comparison.

You are certainly entitled to this opinion, and I'm not even going to try to sway you. Here's what I found from being there: I live in a resort town that has 5 piers of rides on the boardwalk, including a giant ferris wheel. Guess what? My daughter can't go on it until she's about a bazillion inches longer than she is now...but in DCA, she could ride, because of the mesh around the cars! And despite her petite stature, she's a daredevil, so that one ride alone (and watching the other cars that go "freeform" on it) was one of the highlights of our trip. I'm grateful for the "average" rides that DCA provided that have a bit more thought put into them. I simply look at them as bonus features. :sunny:

Leftcoaster

01-22-2006, 05:51 PM

I think originally, they missed the mark with DCA by going cheap. Some of the new things they're doing i.e. the new "placemaking" of Hollywood Pictures Backlot is going to make a huge difference with this park.
You've had some beautiful areas and then blandness and stucco. If they continue to fill in the nothingness, it'll complete the feel of the park while they add attractions.

nono

01-22-2006, 06:25 PM

Hey, indulge me...here's a picture of us "practice screaming" on the ferris wheel...

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d51/nono_33/practicingscreamingonbigferriswheel.jpg

jiggerj

01-22-2006, 06:33 PM

Oh nono! What a great pic!!!!! I love it! :) :) :) Thanks for sharing you made me smile today! :)

PoohsPal

01-24-2006, 04:55 PM

Great pic nono!

They have "nothingness" at DCA? Well, we all should have been there a long time ag0! ;)

deedeedos

02-12-2006, 08:15 PM

onecdn

02-12-2006, 09:38 PM

We truly enjoyed our visit to DL in October 2005. We did a whirlwind California tour. Flew into Santa Ana, stayed at GCH at CA for four nights, visiting the parks at DLR for five days then :coolcar: to Yosemite NP for two nights, then :coolcar: to San Francisco for 3 more nights. Got in a side trip to Monterey Aquarium. All in all it was an amazing trip. DL and CA are both wonderful parks. We traveled with our two young DS's, so there wasn't as much emphasis on going on rides. Met lots of characters, especially in CA. The character meet and greet experience was a little different - the character was just there left to fend for themselves with the crowd, usually CM's are there helping keep the experience a bit more organized at WDW we have found. We were sad to find we were too early for the Monsters Inc. attraction, it was not open then. Saw where they are working on the Finding Nemo submarine attraction from the monorail. It will be huge! It was so convenient to be able to walk everywhere. The scale of the parks is not as overwhelming as at WDW. If we needed to we could walk back to the hotel in less than 15 minutes. The hotel was also part of DTD so I could pop out and check out the stores. We could return from the parks an hour or so before supper and squeeze in a quick half hour swim and still not be late because the restaurant was in the hotel too (or just across the road, or just down the way in DTD). Oh and one thing I didn't see mentioned so far - the monorail is more of an attraction at DL, not a mode of transportation. You can take it from DL to DTD, but walking directly will not take much more time, because the monorail has lines, plus it loops around to see various parts of the park. We did get to sit in the front at DL (something we haven't yet managed at WDW). Also, I should mention our room at GCH was right over the monorail (it travels right through the GCH building). The culture at DL is different partly IMHO because the parks are frequented by many many locals who come there for the day. I think there are not so many people there that are having their very first Disney experience. So it's magical (that's why so many people go there - believe me even in early October it was very crowded) just not the same flavor of magic:dust . There is more history there. If you love Disney and :mickeymou, I think you will love DL. Hopefully we will be back some day. With all the DVC emphasis at DL (they had a ton of DVC info booths there), and recent changes to accomodate DVC members from CA, :idea: don't you think they will open a DVC resort there some time relatively soon?

Leftcoaster

02-12-2006, 10:21 PM

Hey all, thanks for the post and thanks for all the great information

Heading to Arizona in August (ds#2 entering University of Arizona) so we are making it a family vacation trip and have been trying to decide wether to cut dl stop but now i think we'll keep it on our itinarary.

So is there enuf to do that you'd spend one full day at MK then one at DCA?? Which park could you complete (see most of) in the shortest time (only planning on two days in this area).

thanks again
deb

There's definately enough for a full day at each park. One thing to note is that all multi day tickets at DL are park hopper tickets. So, due to the close proximity of the parks, you can really think of it as one giant super park. On the rare occassion that I spend a full day at DL resort (I'm only 15 minutes away so, my visits are generally spur of the moment and short), I park hop a lot more than I would at WDW.
It's much easier to grab a fastpass and take a nap and then go back to use up your fastpass, etc. August will deifnately be veyr crowded so, plan on getting there early to get a lot done fast, and then maybe leave for a lazy lunch and nap and then return.

deedeedos

02-12-2006, 11:12 PM

Thanks Leftcoaster for the advice. The good thing for us is all of our boys are older, 20, 18 and 15. So if someone gets cranky they can just take themselves back to the room for a nap.

nono

02-12-2006, 11:25 PM

We do DL in the morning, and DCA in the afternoon and DD in the evening for each day of our visit. The "commute" among the 3 areas is about 5 min. on foot. We :beatinghe DL! Don't miss the Block Party Bash and Electrical Light Parade at DCA. :sunny:

AFMom

02-13-2006, 06:23 PM

I would say if you only have 2 days - you won't be able to completely see either park - but you can definately get all the highlights of DCA, and the biggies in DL. DL is geographically smaller - but it packs a whallop of a punch! You could maybe skip the rides that are duplicates of WDW, although a lot have minor differences. I'm sure we could come up with a great list of "not-to-be-missed" attractions.
DCA has less attractions - but I still think it has more to do than say, MGM. Electric Light Parade and Alladin can take up quite a bit of time! You could possibly do it in a day if you really try, and if you skip Bugs Land - mostly rides for little ones, and they aren't so great - long lines, short rides, kinds boring. Maybe walk through to see the cute theming.
Have fun!

DVCerLee

02-20-2006, 01:41 AM

I'm a California Native and I Love DLR. Yessirree, and DCA too. Didn't think I would, and I didn't want to , but I do!
I am the opposite of most of you, I know DL like the palm of my hand, and WDW like the palm of your hand!

If you have a chance, GO. It'll be different. Enjoy the differences! Look for them.

If you go to New Orleans Square, get a fritter and a Mint Julep, virgin, of course.
If you're there for breakfast, get a MM pancake at River Belle Terrace.:chef:
The shakes at Taste Pilot grill are out of this world
The Corn Dogs are fabulous!

I am now officially homesick :tearsaref

Lee

doombuggy

03-13-2006, 05:45 PM

I went to DLR for a weekend in 2002 (mother's day weekend, actually) with two of my cousins (we drove from Las Vegas, or rather I did). We spent most of the first day at DCA, catching the Electrical Parade (a DO NOT MISS) and then going over to DL for the remander of the evening. We got up the next morning, headed to Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast, and spent the rest of the day at DL before I had to dive back to Vegas that night.

We loved DCA. No Tower of Terror or Bug's Land at the time, but we loved what we went on. Calif Screamin' was great, one of the best coasters I have been on. We had a great time on the ferris wheel! What a laugh! I think the Paridise Pier section reminds me of going down the shore back in the day, playing the arcade games like skee-bowl and stuff. One thing I don't think nono really came out & said was, yes, these are like the rides & stuff you see at the pier in places like Wildwood, but I'll bet they are ALOT safer.

lenshanem

03-13-2006, 06:13 PM

We're using our DVC points and staying at DLH in June.

My DH and I have only been to DL twice - pre DCA.

My girls are excited about trying something new and are really excited about flying since we drive to WDW. (I'm scared to death to fly!)

We're going for 4 nights. We arrive on Monday and plan on swimming, going to DTD and then eating at Goofy's Kitchen. Tuesday we plan on DL, Wednesday DCA, Thursday DL again and then finally flying out Friday.

Think we'll have time to cover it all?

And recommendations on meals with the girls?

POTC will be closed! :mad: along with Blue Bayou, so we're looking at Goofy's, Storyteller's Cafe, Plaza Inn and is it Ariel's Grotto?

I'm leaving this trip to DH to plan and I'm a tad worried. :bitemylip (I usually do all the planning, but this trip is his baby.)

Disneymooners93

03-13-2006, 08:01 PM

Shan, I saw on the calender that we are there at the same time. We're in GC for 5 nights, Sun-Fri, our first time at GC.

We've made 9 trips of 3-6 nights from 2001-4 and we've never felt like we've done it all:hammer: . But it's been a year and half since we moved away:worried: . There's lots to keep you busy for 3 days/4 nights, that is a good length even though I prefer at least one more day.

I wouldn't get locked into doing only one park each day, they are literally right next to each other and park hopping is as easy as going from Future World to World Showcase. DCA has a lot of great rides/attractions but the atmosphere at DL just draws me. So, every day we spend most of the day at DL, but take a short stop into DCA for a few quick rides. We'll do this even more now that we'll be at GC.

:chef: Ariel's Grotto is nice but fairly expensive. Storyteller's for breakfast is a must. Plaza Inn and Cafe Orleans are where we eat the most (counter service for sit-down food), it is fast, reasonably priced, and portions are large. Goofy's Kitchen is fun as well. We've always liked Naple's in DTD, although forum reviews are mixed. These are the one's we do pretty much every trip. I'd like to try the Jazz kitchen and/or the House of Blues this trip. ESPN and Rain Forest are the same as the rest of their chain's.

Get the Honey Pot apples at Pooh's Corner, if you like caramel apples!! :thumbsup: :yummy:

Okay, now I'm getting excited!!:hyper:

lenshanem

03-13-2006, 11:37 PM

That's cool Disneymooners that you'll be there the same week as us! :woohoodan

Couple more questions -
Does Ariel's Grotto have princesses at dinner? Or did I imagine I read that?

Plaza Inn has a buffet at breakfast with Pooh?

And about those apples... do you remember if they have nuts on them? Cause if so we can't buy them - DD has a peanut / nut allergy. :(

Disneymooners93

03-14-2006, 01:17 AM

I think they have changed Ariel's since we have last gone in 2004 into a Princess character meal. It was just Ariel in the lobby and Minnie, Goofy, Chip, and Dale wandering the seats the times we were there. Lunch and dinner were character, I think we've only done lunch.

The Plaza Inn has a "Minnie and Friends" breakfast, not sure if Pooh is there. We've not done that. We've only eaten dinner there.

The Pooh greeting area is next to Pooh's Corner, behind Splash Mtn. They have a whole smorgasborg of apples (and other candied items), some including nuts. The Honey Pot is caramel, dipped in chocolate, drizzled in caramel (honey) and a frosting bee.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e354/disneymooners93/DSC09753crop.jpg

ghost1000

03-14-2006, 06:31 PM

It's Walt's park, the only one he built. That's a good enough reason for me to visit.

AmyBeth68

03-14-2006, 09:25 PM

Ariel's Grotto had princesses for lunch.....it was a wonderful character meal and good food as well! It's a really cute restaurant! I am sure they have a Princess meal for dinner as well! It's really popular and was booked solid when we were there in early November. You will definitely want to make reservations in advance!

Also don't forget to make your Fantasmic reservations for the dessert buffet IF you want to do that. Here's a hint, as I learned my lesson the hard way. It is not exactly 30 days out for reservations...it is the same date the previous month. For instance if you plan to be there on August 15th you would make the reservation on July 15th. Small detail...but it sells out VERY quickly (the same as Cinderella's Royal Table at WDW)....and could make a difference. I lost out on the Fantasmic dessert buffet b/c I went by the exactly 30 days prior rule. Ugh! :(

My whole family really enjoyed Goofy's Kitchen! We thought the food was great and the character interaction was wonderful! `

ghost1000

03-14-2006, 10:10 PM

Also don't forget to make your Fantasmic reservations for the dessert buffet IF you want to do that. Here's a hint, as I learned my lesson the hard way. It is not exactly 30 days out for reservations...it is the same date the previous month. For instance if you plan to be there on August 15th you would make the reservation on July 15th. Small detail...but it sells out VERY quickly (the same as Cinderella's Royal Table at WDW)....and could make a difference. I lost out on the Fantasmic dessert buffet b/c I went by the exactly 30 days prior rule. Ugh! :(

Boy did I learn that the hard way. I wanted to make NYE reservations for the Fantasmic Buffet. We started calling on December 1st about five minutes beforehand. My husband was using the regular phone and I was on my cell phone. When I finally got through and said it was for New Year's Eve, the CM on the line told me that had sold out the day before.

lenshanem

03-15-2006, 01:53 AM

Thanks for the pic Disneymooners. That looks yummy!

I'm confused. I thought I could make ADRs to DL 60 days out, not 30? Help!

dvcconvert

03-15-2006, 02:34 AM

It's Walt's park, the only one he built. That's a good enough reason for me to visit.

I agree -- but I don't want to discount Walt's involvement in planning out "the florida project"
Walt was truely the driving force behind the MK, MK resorts, the essence of Epcot and even hinted at AK and MGM. :)

lenshanem

03-15-2006, 02:48 AM

I'm getting very confused. I found this on the DIS -
Priority Seating reservation can be made 6 weeks advance for dining located within Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure parks and 60 days in advance for Resort Hotel dining by contacting your travel agent or by calling 1-714-781-DINE (3463)

We've decided on -
Goofy's for dinner on arrival day
early Storyteller breakfast Tuesday
Ariel's for late lunch Wednesday
late breakfast (after using our one early park option) Plaza Inn w/ Minnie on Thursday

I just don't know when to call for anything! And I gotta get with the program, I just looked and 60 days is a few days after we get back from WDW spring break! I'll be overwhelmed for sure!

(And the week after is 180 days out for DH and mine F&W trip! I haven't even given that a second thought! We sound insane, don't we?!?)

I looked into the Fantasmic dessert thing and that price seems so high! And we'd probably not be able to eat much of anything given DD's severe nut allergies, believe me I know from past experiences with similar things at WDW.
DH agreed if we missed Fantasmic we wouldn't be that upset. I remember years ago it being so packed you couldn't see anything and we're not wasting hours to get a spot.

I don't recall - is it very similar to MGM's?

Thanks everyone! :dancingba

Leftcoaster

03-15-2006, 03:48 AM

carolina_yankee

03-15-2006, 12:48 PM

I love WDW and there's no changing that, but my first visit to DL last summer convinced me of its charms and own uniqueness.

Well, it was my first time since I was 2- and I was amazed at how I fell in love with it. You can tell that it's Walt's park - it feels more organic than centrally planned. I particuilarly loved the foliage, winding pathways, and nooks and crannies that you tend not to find in the MK. There's also more of a community feel. The Main Street stores have greater personality and I don't think New Orleans Square can be beat, anywhere

In my opinion, Fantasyland in DL is the best - it goes on forever and has so many more attractions. I'm just not a fan of the medieval faire atmosphere of MK, but I love the village look in DL. Adventureland is awesome, too. I'm not a fan yet of the original Tiki Room, but I understand now why the "New Management" could use a little plucking.

As for the nightime shows - I can't see Fantasmic at Disney/MGM - the DL version is just so much better. The croweded, intimate setting doesn't bother me becuase it really is easy to see and there are a few tricks to get a good spot. Plus, I love paying the big bucks for the dessert seating!! ;) And, after seeing Tinkerbell for "Remember, Dreams Come True," her slide down the wire in Florida just isn't as exciting. The girl really flies!

When it comes to Tomorrowland, I think DL is really off mark now. The loss of the WEDway was a big mistake, IMO. However, Buzz and Space are great, and having Star Tours and HISTA in TL makes so much more sense, IMO, than in their Florida locations.

DCA is going to take awhile to grow on me. Visually, I think it's wonderful. I don't think you judge it by the boardwalk type attractions in Paradise Pier because that's the them - a celebration of California's seaside. But there's more to the coast than rides. CA has wonderful lighthouses, and none of those are represented, and they could have created a mini-art colony like at Carmel, etc.

Having said that, I think the E Ticket attractions it has are among the best Disnesy can offer (except the ToT knock-off). I just hope the re-develop the park in a way that makes it a 9 - midnight experience like DL is.

Anyway, courtesty of DVC - we're going back this July , and we get to stay onsight! No more 15 minute walks to HoJo - just 15 minutes walk to the DL Hotel. :jumpingbe

Dirk

lenshanem

03-15-2006, 12:56 PM

Thanks for the tip Leftcoaster on the viewing spot!

Is there any other landmark that would indicate where this spot is or will it be pretty obvious when we walk up?

Leftcoaster

03-16-2006, 03:57 AM

Thanks for the tip Leftcoaster on the viewing spot!

Is there any other landmark that would indicate where this spot is or will it be pretty obvious when we walk up?

It should be pretty obvious. In front of that lighting tower, you'll have the "control" people that run the show. The tower itself is basically in front of the Cafe' Orleans.

Disneymooners93

03-16-2006, 05:29 AM

I wouldn't get too stressed about your Disneyland PS's. You don't have the same insanity as you do with booking at WDW.

I agree. I've had troubles getting into Goofy's kitchen without PS, but still got in, just had to wait or go a different day. No problems with Storytellers or Ariel w/o PS, but if you know when you want to go it is just that much easier.

greenban

03-16-2006, 11:18 AM

DL:

I was presenting at a conference in the GC back in '03, and we fell in love with IASW, and Redd Rocketport, which had the MOST AWESOME oriental chicken salads (listed as 'Special Salad'). Seriously, the best salad DW and I ever had, and at a very reasonable price.

However, the Monorail was down, and parked on a track alongside the GC. CMs said it had been down for a while, and had no idea when it would move again!

Did they ever fix the monorail?

One downside, at night (IMHO) the crowds get much rowdier, with packs of roaming teenagers. My DD was hit by a group racing in abandoned wheelchairs, so hard that they knocked her foot out of a tied sneaker. We sought Disney Medical Aid (Yawn, so-so), and at 11;45PM, the Nurse gave here a front of the line pass for IASW. Which was closing at Midnight.

Before you flame, I was happy DD's ankle wasn't broken, and even though she limped for 2weeks, I wasn't expecting anything, but being given a head of the line pass, when there are no lines, and the park is closing in 15 minutes?

BTW, we had reported 4 groups of teenagers having wheelchair races prior to our incident, and were greated with bewildered smiles.

While we like DL, becareful near closing, during the hours of darkness. Hold you little ones tight. (BTW DD was 10 at the time, and holding her Mother's hand!)

-Tony

carolina_yankee

03-16-2006, 12:29 PM

DL is definitely a "locals" park, but I think that's part of its charm. We had a lot of fun talking with people who come almost every other day while waiting for the fireworks to start. There's a real community there.

DL has also had its problems with teenagers on grad nights, and even gangs in the past, including a full-fledged takeover in the early '70s by college students who wanted to start a new nation on Tom Sawyer Island and liberate Minnie Mouse from capitalist and sexist oppression! DLs "customer comes first" policy had the park president negotiating all day with leaders of the students for acceptable behavior and all was pretty peaceful until late in the afternoon when someone went a little too far. Then, Anaheim SWAT emerged from the castle and flushed the park around 6 pm. That would have been a sight to see . . . Everything opened again the next day with not a single smudge in the pixie dust.

Seriously, though - we were there open to close for 4 days last June and never saw anything we didn't see in Orlando. I don't remember any particular rowdiness, but there's always potential in any large, crowded situation. Just as the CMs who staff WDW for Nights of Joy! At the end of the day, the immediate neighborhood is safe, and even rowdy groups tend to like and respect the park.

Dirk

dgaston

03-24-2006, 03:13 PM

I attended a huge conference at the Anaheim Convention Center Dec 9 thru 12 and was able to visit DL and DCA several evenings. I agree with the first post about many of the DL attractions being superior to WDW and also with the posts that experiencing each is different and your expectations are probably the most important piece.

No one has mentioned California Dreams, a film with Whoopi Goldberg in DCA that I think is a must see. I love Soarin', California Screamin' (which has a single riders line that took me a while to find) and even Maliboomer (the ride that gave me the courage to ride Dr. Doom -- well my brother too).

I did find CS meals to be extremely slow. There were several windows open and only 1 "runner" to collect food from the kitchen so lines were terrible. Also crowd control was much less visible. I was astounded that people sat down on the pavement in the hub to wait for Wishes. And since it was Christmas, getting to IASW was a huge gridlock mess. Perhaps those are seasonal issues but they did detract from my park experience.