WDW and DLR with a 2 weeks interval. Differences worth noticing?

[Dr. Bitz]

Hi everyone!
Very soon I will be visiting both WDW and DLR within a 2 weeks interval!
I know, I am crazy; But I live so far away, so I take the advantage of visiting both Florida and California.

Anyway, since I will be visiting both parks so close, is there any difference I should particularly notice?
I mean, like the upkeep differences of the Haunted Mansions, or different Jungle Cruise scenes? Maybe technology advancements in DLR's Buzz Lightyear?
I'll be glad to hear your ideas!

Dr. Bitz

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"Chisel please?"

[Micoofy Duck]

Wow. Talk about Disney Park dedication!

I'd love to do Paris & Tokyo parks back to back!

Maybe you might want to start taking suggestions on what to do if you feel "burnt out" in the middle of your Disney Park vacation! ;o)

[VeganPrincess]

Wow - you are very lucky!!! The shortest time span between my WDW and DLR trips has been 5 months.

It sounds like you are asking me to compare WDW and DLR?! That's like comparing apples and oranges.

Or....are you asking to compare DL and MK? That's a lot easier....

[flynnibus]

Anyway, since I will be visiting both parks so close, is there any difference I should particularly notice?
I mean, like the upkeep differences of the Haunted Mansions, or different Jungle Cruise scenes? Maybe technology advancements in DLR's Buzz Lightyear?

Why not try to enjoy both parks..?? and then afterwards figure out what felt lacking? If you go LOOKING for inferiorities.. you're going to focus on them, rather then enjoy the attractions for what they are.

I'd make sure you find the different ATTRACTIONS in the parks, so you make sure you can experience all the fun both parks offer. Make a list of unique attractions at each park to make sure you hit those, and which that offer different experiences (like HM in DL, POTC in DL, SpaceM in DL, Splash in WDW, ToT in MGM, etc etc etc)

I don't understand why you'd want to focus on the negatives before you even get there. Focus on what you'll will be able to experience by visiting both parks so close!

[RetroMousie]

The OP didn't write anything about looking for negative differences. I think that he is looking for information such as...the PotC attraction in WDW is much shorter and therefore the DL version has more scenes.

[Lost Boy]

What you will find when you enter "The Magic Kingdom" is the size difference of Main Street. The buildings in Florida are full scale so they are much larger. You will also notice that some things you might be used to in Disneyland, are either not there or in the "wrong" place. You will go around a corner expecting to see something that should be there and it's not. Toontown is in a different location and is totally not like DL's at all. Space Mountain is different (and nowhere near as good as ours). HM is also very much different. You will see Country Bear's as well, they weren't fired like Disneyland's Bears. Treehouse is still Swiss Family. Tiki Room is totally different, and much more annoying. Jungle Cruise is also different. Splash Mountain has more detail and projected images on the back walls inside the ride. Also look for Brer Rabbit to hop right alongside you boat at one point. It's an A/A figure not an image projection. The ride is the same story and route, just more stuff in there.

The Dark Rides in Fantasyland on the outside look like the old Circus rides that Disneyland used to have, but the insides are up to date, more or less. No Mr. Toad though, the replace him with Pooh. There is wall to wall water in Small World. There are no Pinocchio or Alice Dark Rides. The park is huge compared to DL so be prepared for a lot of walking.

EPCOT is even bigger. If you are going to be there for several days, and have Park Hopper Passes for all Parks, split your parks each day. One day do MK in the morning, have lunch then do EPCOT front part in the afternoon. Next day do MGM in the AM and then MK in the afternoon. One day spend at Animal Kingdom. Then see the back part of EPCOT in the AM and do MGM in the afternoon.

It all depends on how long you are going to be there. All the Parks are huge compared to DL so you will be very tired at night. YOu will have fun. I hope you have a great trip and there are a lot of things that are just totally different at Florida

That said, I prefer Disneyland. It's just where I grew up, it's smaller and the CM's are more family friendly. Forida is just too big for that CM family feeling. It's hard to describe. WDW is a great place to visit. But for a weekly Disney Park it's Disneyland for me.

[cstephens]

Since we're DL locals, it was interesting to note the differences on some rides on our first visit to WDW. It's not necessarily about better or worse (though in some cases, it is, but that's a personal opinion).

Things to note in both resorts:

Space Mountain
Star Tours queue
Monorail system
it's a small world
Toontown/country fair (or whatever it's called at WDW)
Big Thunder Mountain
Tiki Room (vastly different)
Haunted Mansion
Pirates
Pooh
Splash Mountain
Fantasmic (though to bias you first, DL's is *far* superior)
Tower of Terror


There are also the attractions that don't overlap between the two resorts (this is not an exhaustive list).

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (DL)
Matterhorn (DL)
Indiana Jones Adventure (DL)
Country Bear Jamboree (WDW)
Rock n Roller Coaster (WDW)
MTA (or whatever it's called at WDW that is like the PeopleMover was in DL)
Test Track (WDW)
Screamin' (DCA)
Monsters, Inc. (DCA)
Expedition Everest (WDW)


The atmosphere is also different because the DL resort is much smaller and closer together. The WDW resort is expansive, so park-hopping is a much different endeavour at WDW than it is at DL.


Have a great time!

[Dr. Bitz]

Guys!

RetroMousie was completley right, I am not looking for negatives, I am looking for an objective comparison, I like both parks.

And I mainly ment to compare DL with MK of course. Maybe also some other specific attractions (DL's Fantasmic vs. MGM's, DCA's Soarin' vs. Epcot's, MGM's TOT vs. DCA's, you get the idea).

I hoped it will be understood from my post (or my nickname), but I already know both parks. I have been to WDW 3 times, and DLR once.
(Yeah I know it's not much in the terms of the people who read micechat, but hey, I have also been to Paris twice! )

Anyway, I'm looking for those nice differences only serious fans will notice, like Madame Leota's movements. Not the obvious ones, like having a Seven Seas Lagoon instead of a Disney's Floria Adventure infront of MK's gates.
(Please don't start a debate on such a park ... It's a bad idea and you know it )

Lost Boy's example of the jumping Brer Rabbit was exactly what I mean!

Thanks!

Dr. Bitz

______________________________________
"Chisel please?"

[nemofinder22]

One that would be cool to compare are the Nemo attractions that are opening soon well in a bit.

Dont forget Indy and Dinosaur at AK since they both use the same layout and vehicles.

Oh the attic scene on HM is very different at DL than it is at MK, and the opening and closeing of the fireworks look for the difference in the type of pyro used, as there are huge and i mean huge! ones at the end of Wishes.

[almandot]

I went to DL's pirates soft opening and flew to wdw the next day so i couldn't help but be in a mood for noticing differences, especially when their pirates had a soft opening during that week. But try and forget about noticing differences, just have a good time and let them come to you and get excited about something being different when you notice it. =D

[Dr. Bitz]

This is "having good time" for me. I love finding the little details. It's like these "Find the differences" puzzle drawings I had when I was a kid!

Dr. Bitz
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"Chisel please?"

[RooBear]

Also, make sure you make note of the things not inherent to Disneyland and WDW, but the people, attitudes and cultures unique to Florida and California.

Cuban sandwiches and other tastes change from locale to locale. I also found that the employees are vastly different (but in a good way!) from WDW to DL. Again, I've done no scientific study, but merely casual identification. You'll find, for example, a more local CM crowd with younger ages at DL then compared to Florida's.

Temperatures are different. Tourists are more international in Florida. Technology has been updated in California.

So keep your mind open. The differences will become apparent...and not only on the rides and attractions.

Peace out,
Roo

[dsnylndmom]

Have a great time and notice the little things about each park.
Both times we've gone to WDW as a family we've done a trip to DL within a month prior to leaving. It's so fun to do both so close together

Have a wonderful magical trip, on each coast!

[NavyCopSB]

No matter where you are there is very little shade. Magic Kingdom park is built on the second floor with the Utilidors built on the first. Large trees can't be planted or be allowed to grow as large as those in Disneyland.

[flynnibus]

No matter where you are there is very little shade. Magic Kingdom park is built on the second floor with the Utilidors built on the first. Large trees can't be planted or be allowed to grow as large as those in Disneyland.

I disagree.. there is plenty of shade.. and the tress in Frontierland, etc are all plenty big for their needs (remember the Utildors don't cover the entire area).

In fact, I'd say just the opposite, because you find many of the queues are outside in DL w/o shade. Most in MK are covered