Fell in Love with Disneyland

[nickcapp]

Let me first preface this by saying I've been to Disneyland once before on a short trip, but I am an avid Disneyworld goer. I get there at least twice a year from NJ. I own a DVC membership and I live and breath Disneyworld.

That being said, we headed out on a direct flight fromm good ole Newark Liberty. Flight was nice and smooth we arrived around 8:30 PM easter Sunday and took in downtown disney. I must say, I enjoy the one over in disneyworld better but understand the space issue. This didn't mean I didn't absolutely love the atmosphere.

The next day began with my wife and I going into Disneyland. We started out very smug, comparing every little thing and making fun of the "little castle." We went on the welcome to Disneyland tour and got a bunch of fastpasses which was cool. The day ended with priorty seating at Blue Bayou and preferred viewing of The MSEP over at CA. You couldn't tell from the first day, but we caught a bug. We hit Pirates, and Indiana Jones. As well as space mountain and the matterhorn. We rushed through the day and never really got time to appreciate the "little things."

The next day we went on the Walk in Walt's foot steps tour. That was it. This is when I realized, we were in Walt's park. No matter how much I love Disneyworld, DL is and always will be Walt's park. We heard stories and saw liitle things we took for granted. I truly felt as if Walt was still there, alive and well.

My biggest surprise came when our guide Jack told us that we needed to see the fireworks. I was skeptical thinking, how could anything beat the MK's Wishes or Epcots Illuminations?? Well it did, and then some. The bits of history scattered throughout the Remember Dreams Come Trure show brought me to tears of joy. Not an easy thing for this 27 year old hockey player. We watched it almost every night that remained. I did not want to leave.

Disneyland is pure magic and its pure American history. I love Disneyworld and always will. But Disneyland is truly a place above all else. I cannot wait to get back. Oh, and that little castle? It has since replaced Cinderella castle on my desktop. Disneyland does not need a huge centerpiece. It is a centerpiece. Its humble castle is a metaphore for everything that is great about Walt Disney's Disneyland.

[TennesseeTink]

Wow! I've never had much of a desire to visit Disneyland. I always thought of it as the "starter park". I never thought it could compare to the ultimate, WDW. But after reading about your experience, I will have to add Disneyland to my list of "Disney must-dos".

So glad to hear you had a wonderful trip!!

[NotaGeek]

Thanks for a WONDERFUL report, well written and definitely ! I love when people GET IT, there is no way to compare Disneyland and WDW. The magic is totally different!

[Melanie]

How impressive that you captured "it" in just a few paragraphs. Thanks for sharing your trip to Walt's park with us.

[faline]

Everyone who loves Disney World should visit Disneyland at least once!

We did the Walt's Footsteps tour last fall. It's a great way to get acquainted with Disneyland!

[ChipDale]

Yay, another person who "gets it" about Disneyland!

I admit when I read this: "We started out very smug, comparing every little thing and making fun of the "little castle." I was going to lay into you something fierce! I'm glad that you came to the realization that Disneyland Park is something beyond compare!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Disneyluvr2]

^ You took the words right out of my mouth ChipDale! My feathers were getting a little ruffled when I first started reading this trip report but I actually teared up at the end when I realized that that you felt the Disneyland Magic! I love the way you put it...."Disneyland does not need a huge centerpiece, it IS a centerpiece". Very well put! Glad you enjoyed the experience!

[Lucille]

Thank you for the wonderful trip report.

I grew up going to WDW and we're DVC owners, but Disneyland is where my heart is.

DH and I are also hockey fans, we booked our "dream vacation" a couple years ago, following our Blackhawks from San Jose to LA, to Anaheim and then spending a week at DL. Unfortunately, that was the year of the lock out.

I hope you'll be able to visit DL again soon, I believe it really does get better with each visit

[Christine]

Since Intercot West came over, I have been sneaking in here and again to see what the hub-ub is about.

Everything I have read about DLR has peaked my interest, but this trip report has made me actually buy a DLR book and gotten me to look at dates when we could possibly go!

What a beautiful report and I am so glad you had a magical time!

[nickcapp]

Its amazing that a few weeks after my trip ended. It only got better.

I am so happy everyone here enjoyed the trip report I wrote.

But in all honesty, it is all of you I should be thanking. You folks here are just great and make all of our Disney trips wonderful.

You all help the time between trips fly right by!

[BrerGnat]

Nick, I'm glad you enjoyed Disneyland so much!

It's something how it "gets" people like that.

I don't even remember my first two trips to DL...I, too, was an avid WDW fan, and the first time I visited DL was in 1996, with my high school's Grad Night (I grew up in NJ, moved to CA when I was 16). I have NO recollection of that night. I visited again in 1998 and was still unimpressed. We did a whirlwind day, all the big rides, laughed at the "little castle", etc. All the standard "skeptic" stuff.

When I got married and moved to Southern CA in 2001, I bought a DL annual pass *just* because I was living so close. For the low price of $129 for a PREMIUM annual pass (those were the days), I started to visit regularly.

I have now been an AP holder for almost 6 years, and currently live close enough to be in Disneyland 20 minutes after I leave my house. Disneyland is like my second home. I know the place like the back of my hand, and although WDW holds its own appeal, I find the Magic Kingdom there to be "cookie cutter". I don't "feel" Walt there. I get this certain peacefulness when I'm at Disneyland that I don't feel anywhere at WDW. It's truly a special place.

I am trying to enjoy it all I can. I know the day will come (eventually) when I have to move away from here. It's just a matter of time (DH is military, and we've managed to stay here for longer than we should have). I have two sons now who have been visiting DL regularly since they were born. They pretty much consider it "the best playground in our neighborhood". It will break my heart the day we have move away. I feel extremely lucky to be able to visit so often.

I wish more people would visit Disneyland, and give it more than one day. I know I didn't "get it" until my third visit, when I really took the time to realize WHERE I really was.

[HndrdPrcnt]

Thanks for a WONDERFUL report, well written and definitely ! I love when people GET IT, there is no way to compare Disneyland and WDW. The magic is totally different!

Very well said!! Why does everyone have to compare and not just enjoy each destination for its own uniqueness?!?!?!?

[nickcapp]

I don't understand why there is always a comparsion involved. I guess it just comes natural. Maybe it has something to do with being territorial? I don't know.

I do know that I cannot wait to get back. I have to be in LA next year to jump on the Disney Panama Canal cruise. You can bet I'll be tacking an extra day or two to spend more time in my new favorite place!

[tinkwest]

A wonderful report!!

It seems your report has inspired some to give the Disneyland Resort a try.

Hope you are able to visit more often now that you have been bitten by the Disneyland bug.

[disneydrmr]

Thanks Nick for sharing your report! I have only been to WDW, but my best friend is treating me to a long weekend at DL in November. A few WDW enthusiasts have 'warned' me that I'll be disappointed.. but after reading your report and WONDERFUL reminder that DL IS Walt's park - well, I KNOW I'll be able to go with eyes and heart open and see the park for the beauty it is in itself! Thanks Nick!

[Nicki'sMom]

I am so excited to go in a couple years and take my daughter. DL seems like it has all the good stuff from all the WDW parks in just two parks and I can't wait to see it all.

[Carol]

I am so glad you got "it", Nick.

I went to Disneyland for the first time in November. I too fell in love with the place. It is so much more relaxed and your sentiment about Walt is so true.

I am returning this Summer and cannot wait to introduce Disneyland to my youngest.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[Chescat]

Great report. I have never like the comparisons of the parks either. Each park has their own unique thing and the discovery of new things each time I visit any of them is just so awesome. I have always been a Disney nut and anything associated with Disney just puts a big smile on my face.

I grew up going to DLR. My first trip was in 1962. I've been blessed to watch all of the changes over the years. I think I do feel the presence of Walt through the park since I would watch him on Wonderful World of Disney describing things in the park and we would go. Everytime I enter the park, I always look at the firehouse to see the light burning in his memory where his apartment is.

Every ride has a memory of something I had done over the years. When I had very sad times when I lost my dad, I went to the park a couple weeks later and cried my way down main street. But I felt the memories of my dad at the park and made me feel so good inside. After 9-11, we went to the park a week later and said to ourselves, the terrorist are not going to blow up our happiest place on earth. We will not be scared by these people and they are not taking our safe place away.

I think that's the disney experience anywhere. Not just the rides, food place, etc. but the memories you have with your families and friends in these parks that makes the disney experience so special.

[ChipnDaleGal]

What a wonderful report, Nick! You put in words exactly what it feels like for a die hard WDW fan to fall in love with Walt's Park. I don't like comparisions either, WDW and Disneyland are such different and amazing experiences. But I am so glad that you were able to get that "tingly", delightful feeling of falling for Disneyland's charms. Thank you for sharing that with us.