Unexpected DL Resort Trip and Surprises

[smitty-78]

Well a trip to Disneyland is always good no matter what.
But I hope next time you go it will be better.
And thanxs for the report

[Pinocchio85]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

[mark]

Good points, everyone.
I didn't see opne character either- and I guess along with no entertainment, that changes things.

[HIlovesdisney]

No characters at all? Were you hunting them down, or just going through your day normally?

[smitty-78]

I sometimes TRY to miss them but there is always at least one around.

[Nftysqrt]

we are the complete opposite we always stalk the characters lol

[viigduckman]

Quickly-
On April 2, our second flight completing our trip from Honolulu to Denver was delayed by a day, so we ended up with a day in Orange County at the last minute April 3. While my wife and her friend shopped, I took our two boys (14 and almost 16) to DL and DCA.
Hadn't been for almost 16 months.

What I noticed:

DTD- Looked great.
Grand Californian- Beautiful.

DL- Space Mountain was cleaned up and smoother but not equal to the hype. Tiki Room looked terrific! Leota floating head worked but Mansion overall seemed too bright- and the graveyard trees with the faces cartoonish. Splash Mtn needs alot of paint inside. Indy was great as usual. As was BTM.

I did not think the park looked as spectacular as it did in pics. I thought DL looked really old, actually- and that surprised me alot.
Very disappointing.

DCA- DCA was packed. ToT great fun but still too bright. Monsters was very well done with a 45 minute line all day. Easily equal to any darkride in DL. The Placemaking redo for the backlot was simple and effective but didn't create the atmosphere I expected. Still better than the old "concreteland", however. GRR over too fast. The earlier braking zone on Screamin ruined the end of the ride. The layout of DCA is awful- and we were tired of all the walking. San Fran area looked ok but nothing special- like most of the park. Paradise Pier needs help.

DCA still looks like a hodgepodge of well themed areas and poorly themed areas. Attraction mix is poor. Placemaking needs to come fast- but the park is still horribly short on longer running attractions that are not films or stage shows. I've had my fill of DLR for awhile- and DCA for a longer while of 3 years or so.

We had fun-yes- but nothing felt fresh.

I think your just hung over from A trip to The Islands,spend a day at Elitch Gardens Or better yet Lake Side Amusment Park and you will appreciate DL alittle more .(I lived in Denver for a few years)

[viigduckman]

I agree- the unexpected piece was great fun.
As far as the "not fresh" thing, maybe it was the lack of live entertainment (didnt see any) or the scale of the parks versus those in FL or Paris. Maybe just too many visits to the resort. I mean, I have been going for almost 40 years now.

Go to DL during the summer next time,I have been to Orlando in the off season and WDW was pretty tame as well this time of year.And Paris is the lamest of the parks in my opinion,very boring and bluh.

[viigduckman]

Hey, I finally hit 200.Took me long enough.. huh?

[cinder]

Yay! Congrats, viigduckman!