Walt Disney World and Disneyland(s) Discussion

[Coheteboy]

Coheteboy,

Amazing pics. As a Disney head, I love it.

Couple questions...

1) What camera and/or lens are you using, especially to get some amazing night shots you've done?

2) Do you know if those Tom Morrow shirts are available online?

Thank you, PacMan3000, I'm glad you enjoy the pics!

Couple answers...

1) Canon 5d Mark ii , depending on the shot, it's a 16-35mm 2.8 (most of my pics) and then occasionally I snap a few with a 50 mm 2.5 macro.

For the latest batch of night shots I'd either just hold it still and take it quick with using ISO 800-3200, or I'd put it on a Gorillapod (adjustable mini tri-pod) ISO 100 with a long exposure.


2) I don't think the Tom Morrow shirts are online but you never know. There is a Parks merchandise section at the Disneystore.com but I haven't browsed in some time.

 

[PacMan3000]

Thanks for the answers.

I also have a Canon (Xsi) but am still trying to get more experienced with the lenses. I recently got a 50mm 1.4 for nice portraits, but will look into something else for wide angle, as well.

I should probably look into that portable Gorilla pod, too.

Have you been to Disneyland and Disneyworld? I've been to DW quite a few times (most recently a year ago) but only DL once--almost ten years ago. Unfortunately kind of had to rush through it.

If you've been to both, do you have a favorite?

 

[cokebabies]

No Tom Morrow shirts on disneystore.com (yet, anyway).

Theme Park section: https://www.disneystore.com/theme-park-products/mn/1001081/

They're mostly shirts you see every trip, modeled by surprisingly punchable-looking guys. I love the turkey leg shirt, but I don't actually ever get them. But if they ever make a Dole Whip or frozen banana shirt, it's mine.

 

[Coheteboy]

Have you been to Disneyland and Disneyworld? I've been to DW quite a few times (most recently a year ago) but only DL once--almost ten years ago. Unfortunately kind of had to rush through it.

If you've been to both, do you have a favorite?

I've been to Walt Disney World 3 times (1996, 2000, 2007), which essentially translates to 3 weeks.. or roughly the amount of time I would do Disneyland in a year (since my time at Disneyland is usually only a few hours here and there at a time).

My favorite is still Disneyland hands down. But not for nostalgic reasons or because I grew up with it. I didn't get to go to Disneyland all that often growing up but I was obsessed with ALL things "Disney". I would order those vacation videos about Disney World all the time (they were free) and I could pretend I was there and experiencing the cool things at EPCOT. I read into Walt the man. I watched the movies. I learned about Imagineering and all the cool things they've built and why they're successful.


When I finally got to WDW, it was now three parks and I was really saddened that while it was larger, there wasn't actually that much to do once you got there. Horizons was gone from Epcot. The rides that you could do at Disneyland were better maintained than the ones in Florida. And when it came down to it... there just wasn't enough rides, which is what I love most.

Magic Kingdom is WDW's flagship park and has the most rides out of the four but still not as many as Disneyland. So from that alone, I was bummed that it cost more in Florida yet I got less. The new Fantasyland will help but not enough.

Epcot... I LOVE this park, but I'm sad that it's a shadow of what it used to be. The entire "Wonders of Life" Pavilion is shuttered. I hated Body Wars but that was still an E-Ticket attraction that is now gone. I love Cranium Command... and now that's gone too.

Disney's Hollywood Studios -- Has the funnest thrills in one park (Tower of Terror, Rock n Roller Coaster, Star Tours, Toy Story Midway Mania) the funnest shows (Indiana Jones, Fantasmic!) and the funnest eateries (Sci Fi - Dine-in).... but that's it. There's not enough strong things to fill in the time otherwise. There's a TON of shows that I watched but don't need to do them again. I think this is one of the funnest parks but also the weakest at the same time. It needs a major expansion plan and better overall theme.

Disney's Animal Kingdom -- Great atmosphere, but not enough rides. Dino-rama is terrible as is Camp Mickey Minnie. Avatar Land? Meh.



Disneyland -- Walt Disney's original park. Small, intimate, well-maintained, and packed from corner to corner with rides. My favorite park. (maybe until I go to Tokyo though)

Disney California Adventure -- the wicked step child of the Disney Parks in 2001 is slowly becoming a favorite thanks to the $4 billion they've invested in 2012. When it opened, it was often compared to Disney's Hollywood Studios because it lacked attractions and was lazy in its theme. That's changing dramatically with the new show World of Color and the new 12 acre Cars Land coming this summer.





In closing, I love what Imagineering can do and while Walt Disney World is bigger and does have more attractions overall, it hasn't wowed or charmed me because of its size. Taking a bus from park to park, walking long distances to get to the next attraction in the Florida humidity... it really took a toll on me. I personally would not have laid it out the way they did and would have added more Monorails too. For being the #1 Disney resort, they're not spending enough to make it feel like it is. I think what it is, is potential. Walt Disney World has the potential to be the very best, but it doesn't. It acts as if because there's 4 parks and a ton of hotels, they can rest on their laurels. They should be building something ALL THE TIME.

Walt Disney once said that Florida had the blessing of size and it can fit everything they can imagine. It's been a long time since 1971 and I don't believe they lived up to that dream.

Disneyland is the original and had the benefit of Walt's guidance for its first 10 years. Much of that has remained in tact while much of it has changed. But it has grown and is the one Disney park in the whole world that has the most attractions within its berm and keeping the Disney quality.

So, that's why Disneyland is my favorite. You get the most bang for your buck with what Imagineering can bring to you in one day. And it's also has Walt's original charm.





To get an understanding of what I mean, we'll take a side by side look at the two Fantasylands. (and w'ell pretend the international ones don't exist)

WDW Fantasyland
-Cinderella's Castle - pretty cool.. has a restaurant inside, unique to WDW
-Peter Pan's Flight
-It's a Small World
-Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - (better than Disneyland's version which is located near Splash Mountain in Critter Country)
-Mickey's Philarhmagic - cool 3D experience unique to WDW
-Mad Tea Party
-Carousel
-Dumbo - doubled in 2012
-Seven Dwarfs Mine Coaster - coming 2012 unique to WDW
-Little Mermaid ride - coming in 2012 (clone of Disney California Adventure ride but with Prince Eric's castle exterior)
-Great Goofini coaster (barnstormer) coming 2012 unique to WDW


Disneyland Fantasyland
-Sleeping Beauty Castle - walkthrough attraction telling story of the movie, unique to DL
-King Arthur Carousel
-Peter Pan's Flight
-Snow White's scary Adventure - now unique to DL
-Pinocchio's Daring Journey - unique to DL
-Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - unique to DL
-Dumbo
-Mad Tea Party
-Alice in Wonderland - unique to DL
-Casey Jr. Circus Train - unique to DL
-Storybook Land - unique to DL
-It's a Small World
-Matterhorn Bobsleds - unique to DL
-Princess Fantasy Faire meet n greet
-Pixie Hollow


I'm sure everyone will disagree and I'll be interested in other opinions too!

 

[PacMan3000]

Wow, thanks for that. Very in-depth.

I didn't know Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was even still around. I thought when they gutted it in WDW, that was it. I really enjoyed that ride. I also didn't know Snow White's ride still lives on in DL, either.

I'm on the east coast, so I'm not too privy to what goes on at DL much.

I've heard great things about World of Color, too.

Your take on the parks was interesting. Being someone who grew up always going to WDW, when I finally got to DL, I enjoyed it, but sorta had a "this is it?" feel. And although I stayed there overnight (in an amazing hotel with an INCREDIBLE view of the ferris wheel), I did sorta rush through the parks due to time. So maybe that's part of it.

But I do kind of feel that the park lacked that grand, magical, feel of wonderment. When you see the castle at WDW, it's massive. As well as the Epcot sphere. But at DL, I was quite surprised how small the castle was. I understand it dates back to the 70s so I get it, just was surprised.

But great comparison. I'd like to go back sometime, especially since it's been almost 10 years.

About how much time do you need to truly feel like you've seen and experienced everything DL has to offer?

 

[cokebabies]

PacMan, I'm a fellow WDWer, who lived in NY his whole life before moving to CO a couple years ago.

I agree that people who only know WDW can be in for a shock with DLR, with it's much, MUCH smaller size. But when you know what it is, and what to expect, I like the experience a lot. Granted, I still prefer WDW and the ridiculous scope of it. But for obvious reasons, Disneyland has more of a "stepped back into a nicer time" feel than anywhere in WDW.

I went to DLR a few times as a kid, but since moving out here, I've been to DLR twice. Once for 3 days, once for 6. I think somewhere in the middle of that would be perfect.

2 or so days you can do everything, but you'll have that "do we have time to do that again? we still haven't done x, x, y, and z." Closer to a week is more of a "well, I guess we can do this for an eighth time." Not that I mind that, of course, but it can be overkill. 4-5 days is probably perfect, but slightly shorter or longer is fine.

And for me, the DLR-exclusive rides more than make it worth my while. Indy is the most obvious example. But lots of other little things, like Pirates' intro are awesome.

 

[PacMan3000]

Thanks Coke. Have you been there around Christmastime? Curious if they also have that Mickey's Christmas Party in DL like they do at WDW's Magic Kingdom.

I have also heard that certain rides in DL are better or more in depth than at WDW. Like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc.

 

[Coheteboy]

Wow, thanks for that. Very in-depth.

I didn't know Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was even still around. I thought when they gutted it in WDW, that was it. I really enjoyed that ride. I also didn't know Snow White's ride still lives on in DL, either.

I'm on the east coast, so I'm not too privy to what goes on at DL much.

I've heard great things about World of Color, too.

Your take on the parks was interesting. Being someone who grew up always going to WDW, when I finally got to DL, I enjoyed it, but sorta had a "this is it?" feel. And although I stayed there overnight (in an amazing hotel with an INCREDIBLE view of the ferris wheel), I did sorta rush through the parks due to time. So maybe that's part of it.

But I do kind of feel that the park lacked that grand, magical, feel of wonderment. When you see the castle at WDW, it's massive. As well as the Epcot sphere. But at DL, I was quite surprised how small the castle was. I understand it dates back to the 70s so I get it, just was surprised.

But great comparison. I'd like to go back sometime, especially since it's been almost 10 years.

About how much time do you need to truly feel like you've seen and experienced everything DL has to offer?

I think 2-3 days would be appropriate to experience everything once and then-some to do a few repeats.

What I love about the CA park is the option of making your own decision. I feel that at WDW, parks open and close in strategic ways to make guests go to the same park at the same time. Magic Mornings, Extended Evenings apply to EVERYONE in the entire resort. It doesn't really feel magical anymore if everyone else is there already. They have nighttime entertainment in each park, but they'll schedule them (sometimes) in such a way that you can't do more than one of them. You have to pick one, and as it turns out, it's the only show of the night so everyone else is there too.

I think this above is definitely why my time spent at WDW was not all enjoyable since I felt like a heard of cattle. Plus getting wrist bands for extended evenings meant having a Cast Member constantly yelling at you to show your wrist band. It was unpleasant and something I found very memorable.

So for the WDW regulars, what do you do to avoid this feeling? Or do you take it as part of the game? And in the summer, do they have entertainment in each park EVERY night? Perhaps my gripes are about peak season.


At Disneyland, in the summer, spring break, christmas breaks, the night time shows are every night and sometimes multiple times. Disneyland has 1 fireworks show a night and 3 Fantasmics (capacity isn't as high as WDW) and at California Adventure there's 2-3 showings of World of Color.

During the weekends there's usually Fantasmic, World of Color and fireworks as well.


And yes, Disneyland is VERY small and un-grand compared to WDW in many ways. But that's just how it came to be in 1955 so Californians accept it for what it is.

Thanks Coke. Have you been there around Christmastime? Curious if they also have that Mickey's Christmas Party in DL like they do at WDW's Magic Kingdom.

I have also heard that certain rides in DL are better or more in depth than at WDW. Like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc.

Disneyland currently does not have a Christmastime party but they do for Halloween.

Certain rides at DL are better and some in Florida are... my next post will cover that.

 

[Coheteboy]

It's cloned ride comparison time!! I'll start with the attractions found at both the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland only. It's also important to note which one opened first... so it's okay if the earlier version isn't as good. It's when the 2nd version isn't as good that hurts most.



Jungle Cruise - Magic Kingdom vs Disneyland
This is an attraction that dates back to 1955 when Disneyland first opened. Florida benefits from a longer river including a scene inside a ruined temple. The bengal tiger in the temple is actually one of the first animals seen in Disneyland's version. Overall, it's a ride that is the same amount of fun in either coast and entirely dependent on your skipper. Disneyland has added some new effects in the past few years including a piranha attack and water explosions from the Gorilla with the gun shooting gun powder barrels. I don't know if these additions have been added in Florida.



Pirates of the Caribbean - Magic Kingdom vs Disneyland
The original opened at Disneyland in 1967, several months after Walt passed away. It was the last attraction that Walt had saw nearly to completion so we know that it was almost the way he wanted it.

at Disneyland, the bulk of the ride exists outside of the berm (boundaries of the park) and also had to get passed the Disneyland Railroad. Thus, you board the boat and go on two drops underground through various tunnels and caverns. In florida, because of the high water table and no-need to go underground, there's only a small drop and overall shorter attraction. The pluses is the queue, modeled after a Spanish prison of some sort. Disneyland's in New Orleans Square does not have an exterior that exactly matches the excitement within... but that might have been Walt's intended vision anyway.



Haunted Mansion - Magic Kingdom vs Disneyland

Again, Disneyland opened theirs first in New Orleans Square to match the southern plantation style. You actually go in the front door of the mansion, enter the elevator with the stretching room, walk down the hallway of changing portraits to board your doom buggies.

In florida, they didn't need to go underground so, the stretching portrait room stretched UP while you remained on the same floor. Then walking into the queue to board, you'd pass by additional scenes like a library with the changing portraits and the Escher room with the stairs (so glad the giant spider is gone) and a music room or something to that effect.

The actual ride in Florida is top notch better than Disneyland's and some will prefer the gothic looking mansion. I however, prefer the exterior of Disneyland's for being more simple and also its location. I prefer to enter the front doors of the mansion rather than going in the servants quarters or something to that effect.

Where Disneyland may win some points, however, is its seasonal change into Haunted Mansion Holiday. Since 2003, it has featured Nightmare Before Christmas overlay and it actually works really well. The change doesn't please everyone but brings in more people to the parks and sells more merchandise. I think it's great because it gives them reason to go in and fix things on a more regular basis. It didn't start with an Oogie Boogie animatronic but because of its popularity over the years, they have been able to spend more on it as years go by.

Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - Magic Kingdom vs Disneyland
Florida wins. Florida's version boards small honey pots and through a series of scenes and retains its fantasyland dark ride charm. In Disneyland, they kicked out the country bears and shoe-horned a bunch of scenes together... some, like Owl's house, were eliminated entirely. The bone-headed executives in charge of Disneyland at the time also thought that the ride would be SO popular that they designed these large honeycomb vehicles that fit 6 people at a time. The CA version is so unpopular that it's rare to see a wait longer than 10 minutes. Or perhaps it's the high capacity vehicles?

Disneyland's vehicle:

More later!

 

[SHOCK-Advised!]

...currently waiting for Mickey's Soundsational Parade near Walt & Mickey's statue. My daughter & I sure love DLR!

 

[cokebabies]

ggggggggggg

I'm not going to quote individual stuff, since your post is about three inches north of mine.

POTC's outside is one of those things where I think both parks win. MK's gets you in the mood off the bat, with the great outside theming. But I also really like DL's unassuming entrance. It's like a cool club, you wouldn't know something awesome is going on inside, if it weren't for the line. But for the ride itself, DL in a landslide. Two drops, the beginning bayou / longer cave sequence, and the ending part where you ascend kills it.

I'm the same way with HM's exterior. I do prefer MK's, but I do like the plantation look. In scale, it's almost like a haunted house vs a haunted castle. But each have their own strengths.

But the NBX theming is a double edged sword. It is cool, and a change for people who have been on HM a lot. But it also means the ride is closed for a LONG time. Granted, they do get some fixes in, like you mentioned. But I can speak from experience (I was there 9/10), that it really sucks when it's closed when you're there. Not only is one of the best rides closed, one of the biggest destinations isn't available meaning more people wandering the park. Although it is a quieter time, so that's less of a loss. Plus, I think it would stink if your first time on HM ever was with the NBX theming. It's cool and all, but some people just want classic HM.

I really think Pooh is just not as popular at DL, larger capacity vehicles or no. Simply because the ratio of wait time difference is so ridiculously different.

PacMan: I was there last Christmas. They don't have a separately ticketed event, but there is a ton of Christmas theming, a different parade, different HM theming, and more. The downside was that when I went, it rained the ENTIRE week.

 

[Coheteboy]

While it's totally true that it's kind of a bummer when attractions close for any reason, I think it's also due to the majority of the visiting population. At Disneyland, it's a very local, very immediate audience. If something is closed, they can just come back later. Not so with Walt Disney World where many are there for their first time. It's kind of why the Yeti in Expedition Everest remains broken. They just don't want to fix it and disappoint all those guests. But at Disneyland, they know they'll get MORE complaints if they see something broken than if it were closed. And plus, there's plenty of other attractions to do so no big loss... which isn't the same story at WDW.

If Disneyland's Haunted Mansion forever stayed the same, it would become less popular over time. Changing it up keeps it fresh, and it allows me to truly appreciate the original version as well. I think it's important for DLR to provide more reasons for people to come back and try something different.

And I agree with you on POTC comparison. It is rather cool that you enter this building and bam, awesome pirate adventure.



Moving along...

BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD -- Magic Kingdom vs Disneyland
This is probably one where I'll probably be alone on this one. I think the one in MK is rather dull. Each time I went, it felt really slow and lacked turns. There seemed to be a lot of stretches where you just go straight. Maybe it was my imagination?

Disneyland's Big Thunder seems to be on more compact space so there's more turns and thus, feels faster.





SPLASH MOUNTAIN -- Magic Kingdom vs Disneyland
MK's Splash Mountain

Disneyland's Splash Mountain

The original Disneyland attraction opened in 1989 and was an immediate success. Plans for Florida's came after with a few slight changes. The ride would be longer (point for Florida) and the logs would be side-by-side seating so there's higher capacity (point for Florida). Since the ride was longer, Florida was able to add a few new scenes that involved Brer Frog (another point for Florida).

But because Disneyland's Splash was populated entirely from a defunct attraction America Sings, almost every creature was re-used. In Florida, they did not have this luxury so the scenes were more sparsely populated (point for Disneyland). In the long run though, this is one of those attractions that is still enjoyable regardless as they are virtually the same. But me personally, I love that the location is not connected to Big Thunder at Disneyland (point for Disneyland) and I personally prefer the single-file logs as it's more appropriate to ride a log that way, not in rows (point for Disneyland).

Disneyland's single file drop:

RIVERS OF AMERICA -- Magic Kingdom vs Disneyland
MK's Rivers of America

Here's something that perhaps the WDWfrequenters can answer. What attractions are on Rivers of America and how is Tom Sawyer's Island? Last I went, there was only the steam boat (above) and nothing else. It felt really dead.

At Disneyland there's a lot of activity with the Mark Twain and Columbia Sailing Ship and the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. And the rafts to Tom Sawyer's Island. Gone are the Mike Fink Keelboats that added even more traffic to the river.

more later

 

[cokebabies]

OH MY GOD. I need this.

https://www.disneystore.com/tees-clothes-waves-mickey-mouse-tee-for-adults/mp/1295574/1000228/

 

[Coheteboy]

I've never seen that. Want me to hunt it down too?

 

[cokebabies]

I've never seen that. Want me to hunt it down too?

Apparently it's super brand new, since the slew of music-site articles, basically summed up by "what the hell?", only went online last night.

But if you see it, definitely yes please. Otherwise, I'll probably have to overpay on laughingplace or eBay.

I'm hoping the "Sold Out" online is only because they don't have their inventory set, but who knows. It's already in a few gift shops, unless this is just how laughingplace photographs the stock they have:

https://www.laughingplacestore.com/Product-15887.asp

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

it's in the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney, been there since early December.

 

[cokebabies]

Interesting, I guess it took a little while for people to take notice of it / what it actually was.

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

when i first saw it my jaw dropped and i immediately bought it.

 

[cokebabies]

when i first saw it my jaw dropped and i immediately bought it.

When I first saw the shirt's art, I thought it was amazing. But when I found out it was an official shirt, I had to laugh. Just so strange.

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

agreed, for the 5 people out there who actually get this it is pretty amazing though.