Disneyland vs Disney California Adventure

[Indiana Joe]

Ok, I hope this doesn't become one of those anti-DCA threads, but lately I have been spending more and more time in California Adventure than in Disneyland. The last 3 trips I made to the resort in fact I only spent time in California Adventure and did not visit Disneyland.

Maybe it is all the new construction, maybe the new World of Color Show, maybe it is the booze, maybe it the wide pathways, but I think DCA is allready a much more awesome park than when if first opened. And in 2 more years it will be even more amazing!!! Nothing beats being able to have some beers while waiting in the viewing are for WOC. I might be going crazy, but I think I like DCA better than DL now.

Anyone else feel the same?

Let the flame war begin. (I can feel the heat now, telling me I'm crazy, lol)

[SoCalFan]

I semi agree. I do spend more time in DCA because of all the construction and it's just way more relaxing and has better food. I enjoy the rides and atmosphere there and it's such a nice break from constant crowds at DL. I love the PPP and it's a must see every visit(I do love traditional parades and Celebrate type parades). DCA has been noticeably more busy lately but it doesn't feel like in the walkways which is a huge deal maker for me. I've done the rides and if I don't wanna wait I won't but I love going to the DLR to escape and relax and the way DL gets sometimes I just can't enjoy myself. I love DCA for those reasons and I for one LOVE the California theme. However nothing will ever beat DL IMO just something about it. So I'm torn

[k_peek_2000]

Even though I hate on DCA all the time, last year I found myself in it probably 80% of the time I was at the parks. The construction definitely had something to do with it.

[Datameister]

I like it more than I used to, certainly. And I expect that trend to continue. But like it more than Disneyland? Hmmm...where's that flamethrower...

[DLFreak71]

I have to say on our last trip
We spent more time over in Disneyland than in DCA.
We do go to DCA for our usual rides: Screamin, TSMM, Tot and Soarin.
Hopefully when LM opens, we'll be adding that to our regular ride list.

[mainejeff]

Hopefully, more and more people will follow you guys to DCA so DL's crowds can thin out a bit!

[Uncle Bob]

I agree that it's becoming more enjoyable and now usually takes a larger percentage of my day. However, it's a really long way from competing with DL IMO. However, I could imagine it becoming close eventually, which I don't think most people believe is possible right now.

[Fish_in_water]

i do have high hopes for DCA.. i really hope disney doesn't blow it.. they threw enough money away with DCA 1.0 to build crap.. i hope they learned their lesson and will try to live up the the expectations we had with DCA 1.0....

Who else remembers when we were told DL will be the over-flow park?? -raises hand- Lets hope that the playing field is level once the park is done, and its a little more compact like DL offering more to do, and MUCH better themeing then the last DCA..

ON TOPIC: in all honestly DCA has some winners as far as rides go, but themeing needs to improve as well as E-ticket-to-land-ratio... for every E-ticket in DCA there are two A-tickets.. LOL but i do like the park and hope he grows into a good quality DL. dont put it past WDI to bring it up to DL standard. but do put it past TDA to give 'em the money

[MainStreetJake]

Just like the World of Color vs. Fantasmic! debate, you just can't compare the two. They're both the same, but different. I enjoy spending time in both for different reasons.
Disneyland: because it's the original, because the park layout is prime, has those iconic lands that EVERYONE loves.
DCA: to view all the exciting new changes, and to ride some of the more thrilling rides like Screamin, and Tower of Terror.
Granted, once the refurb is done, the park will be FAR better than what it started out as. But really, you can't compare them.

[DisneyDreams714]

Although my heart will always belong to Disneyland, DCA is a lot more fun than it used to be, and my kids love things like bugs land etc

[ChessurInWonderland]

I go to Disney California Adventure to see new attractions and changes, but it doesn't come close to Disneyland, and I don't think it ever will be as good, but no Disney land will be. If I was given the choice to go to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure for the day, with no park hopping, I would choose Disneyland in a heartbeat. Even now, we only really go to Disney California Adventure when Disneyland is too crowded, or there's a new attraction. It's just an "overflow" park to me.

[Ckelef1]

Im spending more time in DCA. In 3 years DCA has managed to improve a lot. Its not as good as Disneyland is, But as already proven, it has the potential to be, with a little faith, trust, and pixie dust

off topic, but i like the wide pathway. It makes World of color much less of a hassle than Fantasmic because its not stuffed like frontier land walkways or main street.

oh god, thinking of main street at night makes me miss Disneyland.....

[JiminyCricketFan]

I applaude all the new changes for DCA. They certainly are all in the right direction. The new entrance, Little Mermaid, and Carsland will all be great.

But the real problem with DCA is it does not achieve the magic of taking me to a different place and time. Because the sight lines are all screwed up in the park, one can never fully believe you are in a different locale. Condor Flats should remind you of desert with an air strip. But the entrance is lined up with a clear view of the Tower of Terror, a real problem for navigation. Hollywood backlot still has so many side buildings that reveal you are not in Hollywood of the 1930's. Quaint, victorian Paradise Bay amusements look over at rundown, rusting Wharf. One cannot escape to any place of DCA without being reminded it is all fake.

But at Disneyland, you cannot see Fronteirland from Tomorrowland. You can walk around NOS and feel like you are in the old South. Main Street feels like small town America. Walt themed "Lands" to create an illusion of new places. DCA themes buildings but does not follow through with the same theme for buildings within eyesight. DCA is just a shopping mall.

[DLFreak71]

I applaude all the new changes for DCA. They certainly are all in the right direction. The new entrance, Little Mermaid, and Carsland will all be great.

But the real problem with DCA is it does not achieve the magic of taking me to a different place and time. Because the sight lines are all screwed up in the park, one can never fully believe you are in a different locale. Condor Flats should remind you of desert with an air strip. But the entrance is lined up with a clear view of the Tower of Terror, a real problem for navigation. Hollywood backlot still has so many side buildings that reveal you are not in Hollywood of the 1930's. Quaint, victorian Paradise Bay amusements look over at rundown, rusting Wharf. One cannot escape to any place of DCA without being reminded it is all fake.


But at Disneyland, you cannot see Fronteirland from Tomorrowland. You can walk around NOS and feel like you are in the old South. Main Street feels like small town America. Walt themed "Lands" to create an illusion of new places. DCA themes buildings but does not follow through with the same theme for buildings within eyesight. DCA is just a shopping mall.

very nice post

[DLandFamily]

I applaude all the new changes for DCA. They certainly are all in the right direction. The new entrance, Little Mermaid, and Carsland will all be great.

But the real problem with DCA is it does not achieve the magic of taking me to a different place and time. Because the sight lines are all screwed up in the park, one can never fully believe you are in a different locale. Condor Flats should remind you of desert with an air strip. But the entrance is lined up with a clear view of the Tower of Terror, a real problem for navigation. Hollywood backlot still has so many side buildings that reveal you are not in Hollywood of the 1930's. Quaint, victorian Paradise Bay amusements look over at rundown, rusting Wharf. One cannot escape to any place of DCA without being reminded it is all fake.

But at Disneyland, you cannot see Fronteirland from Tomorrowland. You can walk around NOS and feel like you are in the old South. Main Street feels like small town America. Walt themed "Lands" to create an illusion of new places. DCA themes buildings but does not follow through with the same theme for buildings within eyesight. DCA is just a shopping mall.

You can thank eisner for that. He was in a rush rush mood to build. It is the same with the dolphin and swan hotels in WDW. He allowed them to be built, and was told that their visibility from epcot would break the epcot feel, he said "nah" and let them be built anyway. Sure enough, they are visible and break the feeling of the lands.

It goes back to details. When space mountain was originally planned, you could see it from main street, that was unacceptable, and they built it down into the ground several feet so it would not be visible from main street. Sadly that attention isn't there anymore....