dmaxphil
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2013
As WDW veterans, we came away very impressed with both parks. In many ways, we prefer the Disneyland experience. Kids had an absolute blast and are begging to go back.
We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and it was amazing. Sort of felt like a hybrid between the Contemporary and Polynesian Resorts with a much more interesting history and better rooms. Did the Trader Sams thing and the experience is similar, but the bar is larger and a lot more friendly for walk-ins. Never had a bad meal/snack at Tangaroa Terrace. I think the food may be a bit better here than Capt Cook's - but it's close.
Big conventions going on during our stay, so lots of suits. Not a negative really, just not many families around with young kids. A difference I noticed from our stays at WDW.
It felt like all the best parts of the 4 WDW parks were basically crammed into 2. Just knowing your walking in Walt's footsteps was a pretty big part of the fun for me.
It never rained but couldn't help but wonder how Cali people deal with rain and all the open queues.
We were in several attraction lines where line position holders would have the rest of their group join them right before hitting the last segment of the queue. Peter Pan was the absolute worst. It turned what should have been a 20 minute wait into a 45. The folks doing this had it down to a science. Not saying its wrong or right, but it makes the lines and expected waits a bit deceiving.
It was a lot of walking. I wish there was a trolley or something running from the Disneyland hotel to the main gate. Getting from park to hotel was still much faster than hopping a bus at WDW, but more walking involved. May consider GCH next time to put us closer, even though we really like the DLH.
The "bubble" was different, but certainly still there when staying on site. Getting from LAX to the hotel is not quite as nice a drive as MCO to WDW. My GPS was a bit confused and I was a little concerned about taking a wrong turn into the wrong neighborhood. Now that I know how to get there it should help for next time. May look into the Disney branded shuttle for next trip.
3 days is not enough with a 5 and 8 year old.
We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and it was amazing. Sort of felt like a hybrid between the Contemporary and Polynesian Resorts with a much more interesting history and better rooms. Did the Trader Sams thing and the experience is similar, but the bar is larger and a lot more friendly for walk-ins. Never had a bad meal/snack at Tangaroa Terrace. I think the food may be a bit better here than Capt Cook's - but it's close.
Big conventions going on during our stay, so lots of suits. Not a negative really, just not many families around with young kids. A difference I noticed from our stays at WDW.
It felt like all the best parts of the 4 WDW parks were basically crammed into 2. Just knowing your walking in Walt's footsteps was a pretty big part of the fun for me.
It never rained but couldn't help but wonder how Cali people deal with rain and all the open queues.
We were in several attraction lines where line position holders would have the rest of their group join them right before hitting the last segment of the queue. Peter Pan was the absolute worst. It turned what should have been a 20 minute wait into a 45. The folks doing this had it down to a science. Not saying its wrong or right, but it makes the lines and expected waits a bit deceiving.
It was a lot of walking. I wish there was a trolley or something running from the Disneyland hotel to the main gate. Getting from park to hotel was still much faster than hopping a bus at WDW, but more walking involved. May consider GCH next time to put us closer, even though we really like the DLH.
The "bubble" was different, but certainly still there when staying on site. Getting from LAX to the hotel is not quite as nice a drive as MCO to WDW. My GPS was a bit confused and I was a little concerned about taking a wrong turn into the wrong neighborhood. Now that I know how to get there it should help for next time. May look into the Disney branded shuttle for next trip.
3 days is not enough with a 5 and 8 year old.
Next time I'll probably take a tripod and spend some time in the parks at night. The girls were so exhausted each evening, we didn't get to see WOC or Fantasmic. The only time we were in DL past dark was Sunday, as the girls did Bibbidi Bobbidi at 5pm.
