CluelessDisFan
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 23, 2009
We're back from our long awaited trip to Disneyland. We've been planning for two years. I read all the pre-planning Disneyland essentials, mainly from Dis boards. Thanks to all the Disneyland Disers for there effort, and amazing threads. It really did help being prepared for RSR, and WOC madness!
I'll start with the positives, parts of the trip were better than Orlando. Like the obvious, weather. The weather was heavenly! Also everyone always points to the fact that Disneyland is smaller and there's more crammed into a smaller space. This is true, and this we did like. I liked the holiday version of HM that was pretty special. We loved World of Color and Radiator Springs Racers! Those are two very awesome attractions that are not at WDW, but should be! There was so much more we did not like, it really ruined Disneyland, and it will be a long time before we return.
So lets get into the negatives from a WDW vet's point of view. The biggest disappointment was food! We were actually prepared for this, combing over the reviews, lack of food porn on the Disneyland board, and menus prior to our trip. We were not really excited about the food. Simply put, it was sub-par to WDW. Of course there's a reason for this that many D-lander's love to point out, and that is, that it's a locals park, and they don't go for food. While this might have been the case in years past, it hasn't been due to the expansion. The attendance numbers have shifted, yet it feels like DLR is still only catering to locals needs.
Poor quality of food, and a lot of repetition.
Simply look at the menu for Blue Bayou than compare it to the menu for Cafe Orleans. Practically the same, and prices are double. I even listened to a CM point this out to a guest. Obviously Blue Bayou you're paying for the the atmosphere. Also most of the restaurants, simply have "American". Boy, was I missing Epcot! 
The biggest SNAFU at Disneyland I was not expecting at all, had to be that whenever we asked CMs about food ingredients, and preparation in regards to our children's food allergies. They were completely uneducated, and some even bothered by our concerns in a few incidents. This may not seem important to some people, but to put it in perspective for you. Walt Disney World is renowned among people in the food allergy community. And it is a fast growing community. Those with life threatening food allergies take their food, and it's preparation very seriously because we have to. Some do not take any vacations or go out to eat what so ever! And some ONLY vacation at Disney World due to their food allergies.
Whenever, we eat at a WDW restaurant we include on our reservations that we have two food allergies, and before any food is brought to our table a chef comes out to explain exactly what is safe or not for our children. They also make them special dishes separate from the rest. I did the same thing when making our reservations at DLR, yet not one chef was sent to our table, and every time food was placed on our table, and staff was scrambling in order to find out if they contained our children's food allergens. They were completely UN-prepared, and simply not educated the way staff at WDW is, and kitchens around the world need to be.
Lack of Photo Pass photographers. Seriously we were at DCA 3 days and not once did we find a Photographer at the Carsland entrance at Pacific Warf and this is the most fantastic view of Carsland. Seriously, then at the Halloween Party, there was not any photogs in front of the castle or any where on mainstreet. We spoke to a photographer about this he said, they were trying to blend in that night. Hmm... this was confusing because I just paid $150 extra to be there on top of the $70 for photo pass+, and you think it's your job to blend in?
Now this was our first party so I have nothing to compare this too.
Overall CMs were not as pleasant, or helpful. Which we found very off putting. We know we were not alone in this thought because at the exact same moment in the town square on mainstreet. A woman started complaining to a Manager, about the exact same things we were already thinking. She also was a WDW vet, and was their first time to Disneyland as well.
Taking your photo on the second day you use your ticket upon entering the park. This is the stupidest system ever. Total time, and money waster. They use twice as many CMs at the turnstiles. DLR needs RFID, and to switch to finger prints. That was just a plain stupid system. I won't even go into all the times they screwed up my ticket and had to give me a new one.
I hope by the time we go decide to go back. They will have have made some improvements on the place. It may be the orginal, but they need to remember there was a reason Walt started over with WDW, it was to be improved.
I'll start with the positives, parts of the trip were better than Orlando. Like the obvious, weather. The weather was heavenly! Also everyone always points to the fact that Disneyland is smaller and there's more crammed into a smaller space. This is true, and this we did like. I liked the holiday version of HM that was pretty special. We loved World of Color and Radiator Springs Racers! Those are two very awesome attractions that are not at WDW, but should be! There was so much more we did not like, it really ruined Disneyland, and it will be a long time before we return.
So lets get into the negatives from a WDW vet's point of view. The biggest disappointment was food! We were actually prepared for this, combing over the reviews, lack of food porn on the Disneyland board, and menus prior to our trip. We were not really excited about the food. Simply put, it was sub-par to WDW. Of course there's a reason for this that many D-lander's love to point out, and that is, that it's a locals park, and they don't go for food. While this might have been the case in years past, it hasn't been due to the expansion. The attendance numbers have shifted, yet it feels like DLR is still only catering to locals needs.
Poor quality of food, and a lot of repetition.
Simply look at the menu for Blue Bayou than compare it to the menu for Cafe Orleans. Practically the same, and prices are double. I even listened to a CM point this out to a guest. Obviously Blue Bayou you're paying for the the atmosphere. Also most of the restaurants, simply have "American". Boy, was I missing Epcot! The biggest SNAFU at Disneyland I was not expecting at all, had to be that whenever we asked CMs about food ingredients, and preparation in regards to our children's food allergies. They were completely uneducated, and some even bothered by our concerns in a few incidents. This may not seem important to some people, but to put it in perspective for you. Walt Disney World is renowned among people in the food allergy community. And it is a fast growing community. Those with life threatening food allergies take their food, and it's preparation very seriously because we have to. Some do not take any vacations or go out to eat what so ever! And some ONLY vacation at Disney World due to their food allergies.
Whenever, we eat at a WDW restaurant we include on our reservations that we have two food allergies, and before any food is brought to our table a chef comes out to explain exactly what is safe or not for our children. They also make them special dishes separate from the rest. I did the same thing when making our reservations at DLR, yet not one chef was sent to our table, and every time food was placed on our table, and staff was scrambling in order to find out if they contained our children's food allergens. They were completely UN-prepared, and simply not educated the way staff at WDW is, and kitchens around the world need to be.
Lack of Photo Pass photographers. Seriously we were at DCA 3 days and not once did we find a Photographer at the Carsland entrance at Pacific Warf and this is the most fantastic view of Carsland. Seriously, then at the Halloween Party, there was not any photogs in front of the castle or any where on mainstreet. We spoke to a photographer about this he said, they were trying to blend in that night. Hmm... this was confusing because I just paid $150 extra to be there on top of the $70 for photo pass+, and you think it's your job to blend in?
Now this was our first party so I have nothing to compare this too.Overall CMs were not as pleasant, or helpful. Which we found very off putting. We know we were not alone in this thought because at the exact same moment in the town square on mainstreet. A woman started complaining to a Manager, about the exact same things we were already thinking. She also was a WDW vet, and was their first time to Disneyland as well.
Taking your photo on the second day you use your ticket upon entering the park. This is the stupidest system ever. Total time, and money waster. They use twice as many CMs at the turnstiles. DLR needs RFID, and to switch to finger prints. That was just a plain stupid system. I won't even go into all the times they screwed up my ticket and had to give me a new one.
I hope by the time we go decide to go back. They will have have made some improvements on the place. It may be the orginal, but they need to remember there was a reason Walt started over with WDW, it was to be improved.
