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I boycot Disney whenever possible. I continue to have Mobb's original opinion of the very humorless Mickey Mouse.

It pained me greatly to watch 'Pirates of the Caribean.' Because I loved it, and bought it on DVD. :eek:

Peace,
 
If you get the chance, go to Disneyworld in Olrando instead. It sh*ts all over the Anaheim version. It's about four times bigger and in addition to the Magic Kingdom (which is what you get at Disneyland) you also get 3 more huge parks including the Epcot centre and another that has been added since I last visited.
 

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Originally posted by SonOfScray
What is the fast pass?
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There's now two lines at nearly all Disney rides. The standby line is the old style, line up for an hour, ride. The Fastpass line is where you turn up, collect a ticket (this is all free, btw), and the ticket says that if you return within a one-hour window, you basically walk straight on.

The best way to utilise this is to get your fastpass for a ride or two, then go on one without a line that doesn't require fastpass, then when you leave that ride, go get another fastpass for another ride, then stroll back and walk onto the one you got your first fastpass for. Queues are between 3 minutes and 20 minutes for fastpass, and usually between half an hour and an hour and a half for standby. Its also amusing to see the nuff-nuffs in the standby line while you're shooting past them.
 
Originally posted by Mobbenfuhrer
There's now two lines at nearly all Disney rides. The standby line is the old style, line up for an hour, ride. The Fastpass line is where you turn up, collect a ticket (this is all free, btw), and the ticket says that if you return within a one-hour window, you basically walk straight on.

The best way to utilise this is to get your fastpass for a ride or two, then go on one without a line that doesn't require fastpass, then when you leave that ride, go get another fastpass for another ride, then stroll back and walk onto the one you got your first fastpass for. Queues are between 3 minutes and 20 minutes for fastpass, and usually between half an hour and an hour and a half for standby. Its also amusing to see the nuff-nuffs in the standby line while you're shooting past them.
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Sounds like a good plan, Stan!
 
Originally posted by Mooster
I boycot Disney whenever possible. I continue to have Mobb's original opinion of the very humorless Mickey Mouse.

It pained me greatly to watch 'Pirates of the Caribean.' Because I loved it, and bought it on DVD. :eek:

Peace,
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Fantasmic turned it around for me, Mooster. So much so that I watched Mickey's Christmas Carol upon return and ended up in tears. I have been living a lie for far too long! :)
 
I was lucky enough to go to DisneyWorld in 1993 because my sister won a trip to america which included 4-day passes to DisneyWorld. Being 8 years old at the time I was stoked. Too bad that MGM studios had a bit of renovation work going on so we couldn't see a lot of that...but spending 1 day at the Epcot centre, 1 at MGM and the other 2 at the Magic Kingdom was absolutely amazing! Would recommend it to anyone!
 
I'm getting withdrawal symptoms while reading this thread! Our parks up north are closed down for the winter and I won't be able to get to Orlando for a while.

I've been to both Disneyland and Disneyworld a number of times and have enjoyed them both, but Disneyworld is by far the better of the two. I can't believe that's it's nearly two years since my last visit. Disneyland is basically the Magic Kingdom of Disneyworld with a bit more thrown in. Disneyworld is really a number of parks individually themed. You really have to have a multi day ticket to even come close to seeing it all. Disneyland should never be compared to any other theme park since it's basically for children, one of which most of us adults become when entering. The rides there are very tame compared to most other theme parks. If you want adventure, then Knott's is the way to go. Six Flags Magic Mountain is OK, but, of course, is not as good as our local Six Flags Great America, but I am a bit prejudiced! (Only four and a half months until Season Opening!

Orlando is the capital of theme parks here in the states and heaven to roller coaster enthusiasts. Universal Studios and its Islands of Adventure is a must see. The Incredible Hulk and Dueling Dragons(Fire) are in my top ten coasters of the nearly two hundred I've been on. I enjoyed Sea World which I visited about four times in our last ten day trip to Orlando. Kraken is in my top five coasters. Busch Gardens in Tampa, as DonFan mentioned, is well worth the trip, though I liked Montu better than Kumba(roller coasters). A bus trip there is $5 return from Orlando, though we went for free since we visited the winter after Sept 11 when the parks were empty.

I also went on a cruise from Miami in Jan 2001. It was just a short one to Key West and the Bahamas, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I lost more than I had paid for the cruise in the ship's casino! My sister and her husband go on a Caribbean cruise every year.

I have to admit that the one thing I will miss most about leaving here is the numerous theme parks. I've been to over twenty in the last three and a half years from Six Flags Magic Mountain in California to Six Flags New England in Massachusetts. Cedar Point in Ohio is the most exciting in my opinion, though Kennywood in Pennsylvania and Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana are also favourites of mine.
 
I was told that Disneyland fits into the carpark of Disneyworld. The roads just leading into Disneyworld are like our Freeways!
Given the choice, it's Disneyworld for me.

I spent a FULL day in each park at Disneyworld and probably still didn't get to see and do everything.

As a kid I grew up dreaming of going to Disneyland (or World). It was everything I expected and more.
 

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Agree with you Mobben. I went two years ago (almost to the day) and cynical as I was, had a brilliant time. We were there from first opening to final closing and went on just about everything. How good is Space Mountain?

We also sussed out those Fastpass machines and laughed ourselves silly at all the dimwits lining up in the regular queues. That's almost as good as the rides.

We also got a good laugh out of wandering around Anaheim. It's unbelievably crap. It's like Disneyland has used up all the colour and excitement in Orange County and there's none left over for the actual residents.
 
Originally posted by blackers
How good is Space Mountain?
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I dunno ... it was closed :(

Originally posted by blackers
We also got a good laugh out of wandering around Anaheim. It's unbelievably crap. It's like Disneyland has used up all the colour and excitement in Orange County and there's none left over for the actual residents.
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Hehe, we only walked as far as HoJos, never saw Anaheim apart from the Disneyland part of it :)
 
Originally posted by Mobbenfuhrer
Considering that Disneyworld has so many additional theme parks in comparison to Disneyland, is that why Disneyland has recently tacked on California Adventure Park, do you think? Are the trying to compete?
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Good question that is rather hard to answer. I don't necessarily think Disney Corp's building of California's Adventure was to compete with Disneyworld, but rather to allow Disneyland to remain as is since the park is considered sacred to many in California even though many additions have been built since it opened almost 50 years ago. Rather CA seems to have been built to keep up with the increasing popularity of theme parks with thrill rides the past ten years. Disney Los Angeles seems to be trying to bridge the gap between its image as a children's fantasy park and the more "edgy" parks with hypercoasters and more intense flat rides. Knott's and Magic Mountain have added a few recently and Disney just wants to keep up. Unfortuanately CA just doesn't make it into either category and seems to be wallowing in between. It seems to have an identity crisis!

Sorry I didn't chime in about the older of the two parks in my earlier post. I was at Disneyland for its 25th anniversary before returning to Melbourne after spending Christmas 1979 with my family. I first visited Disneyworld back in Jan 1981 when it was basically just the Magic Kingdom. Boy had it changed by my next visit in Sept 2000!

Zeke, I'm sure you'll love your visit to Disneyworld. Make sure you get over to Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure if you can't get to the other fantastic Orlando area parks (Sea World and Tampa's Busch Gardens). And a trip to the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral would also be worthwhile. Have fun on your cruise... but stay out of the ship's casino! ;)
 
I'm a frequent visitor to the U.S.A and have visited both parks many times. Disneyland is the original and is quite small when compared to Disneyworld. The California Adventure is the Disney attempt to lure the 21-25 year old age group as it allows the sale of alchohol inside that area and has more roller coaster and young adult type rides.

The advantage of LA is that you also have Universal Studios, Paramount studios Venice Beach Hollywood Boulevarde Knotts Berry Farm and can travel down to Las Vegas and Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Universal studios has several rides and attractions and like most USA parks opens a new one every 2 years. It also has the Universal Studios City Walk at the front gate with its various restuarants, live shows, shops and the Universal megaplex.

Knotts Berry Farm has added several roller coaster rides but Magic Mountain certainly has more thrill rides but is approx. an hour by car south of LA towards Las Vegas. There are several other shows very close to the Disneyland Park including the Wild West Show, Medieval Times, the original Planet Hollywood etc.

The delays at Disneyland and at most theme parks in the USA can extend up to 4 hours during peak periods. This is one of the reasons the lines have a fine mist spray over them during summer months as well as roving musical and other entertainment and they have instigated the fast pass scheme.

Disneyworld has broken the sections of the park into separate amusement parks with Disney-MGM, Disney Animnal Kingdom, the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, plus 2 water parks ( used to be 3). The streets are twice as wide and the queues better laid out because of the extra space so the crowds aren't so closely packed.

Plus down the road is Universal Studios Orlando and Universals' Islands of Adventure as well as Busch's gardens and Sea World.
 
You're very lucky to be going during the Christmas period as from December 1 all the parks and hotels etc have their Christmas decorations out and it is very special. The quietest and best time to go during this period is from December 1 to 17 as all the rides are open for the peak period and the American schools have not yet finished for the year. You will also find that the early opening is advantageous and is even available from some non Disney accomodations. Weekends are always busy.

If you're going to Orlando it is well worth it staying on the Disney property although they do make it difficult to go to the other parks ( Universal or Busch's) or to the outlet mall.

Of the moderate resorts I have found Port Orleans Riverside (previously called Dixie Landings) to be very good. Although it does depend upon what your requirements are and how long you are staying. Apart from the restaurants it has a kids game room and store as well as its own laundry and this is a very handy thing. At some of the hotels they charge $5 U.S. for laundry of each item of underwear so wherever you decide to stay check this out via the net.

At the outlet mall ( a quick taxi ride from the park) you can save about 30-50% off the cost of Disney souvenirs, t-shirts etc.

My kids ( 10years old) did not find the NASA tour as interesting as I did and would much rather have stayed an extra day in the park.

As you will be there after 17th December the park will be full and it will pay to go early and get on the most popular rides and get a fast pass ticket. If you're in early then try the rides that are furthest from the front gates and then have a break riding the less popular or seeing the live shows until late afternoon and then try and catch up with the other rides. A good time for some of the most popular rides is during the street parade.
 
I went there in late 96 and loved it. Splash Mountain was my fave ride but they're all good, except for 'Its a Small World'.

We went in November, so the lines were small, and we were lucky to still get good weather. Its probably the best place I've ever been too. And I don't think I'd care what age I was, I'd still go if I was 60
 
Originally posted by Zeke
I'm off to Disneyworld in Orlando in a couple of weeks... Anyone know what the difference is beteen Disneyland and Disneyworld?
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Disneyalnd was the first coming of a Disney park.
Disney World is a huge complex.
First there is the Magic Kingdom.
That is where most of the good rides are.
You end up with about four big differnt theme areas here.
Adventure land is on the left as you end up at the end of main st.
Then Frontier land, fantasy land, tomorrow land.

Then another big area is Epcot center. They have some rides here - stay away from body wars. Mostly theme areas of different countries. Great eating place.

MGM Studios. Great rides and back lot information. Staw Wars and Indiana Jones here.

Animal park - only open 2 years.

Also Pleasure island complex. Nightime area.

They have four water parks. But Blizzard beach is the best.

Get a Disney and surrounding area guide and look it over before you go.

Within easy distance is Universal Studios and Sea World.
Another place to visit is International drive.

There are plenty of hotels near or on the Disney property.

No matter what you will have fun.
 

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