Disneyland vs Disneyworld: The Castle Battle

Castle Battle: Sleeping Beauty vs Cinderella

Photo by  my Wife @

http://blondepixalsphotography.com/

I’m a Disneyland Pass holder so if you have noticed I’ve trended in the direction of the California parks in this attraction battles so far.

This battle in my opinion there is a clear winner.   
Let’s take a look at the two castles.

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle:

Disneyland’s Castle is a total icon.   It is the first Castle and one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.  Disneyland’s castle uses forced perspective to make it look further away as you enter the park.  It is a scaled down version of a castle.  The castle opened in 1955 and was inspired by an actual castle in France.

Cinderella’s Castle:

 When you have grown up visiting Disneyland’s castle and see the one at Disneyworld for the first time it is a shocking site.  Disneyworld’s Castle is well a Castle.  They had a lot more space when they built this castle and this time they went for wow factor.  This castle is over 100 feet taller than its counterpart in Disneyland.

Photo by  my Wife @

http://blondepixalsphotography.com/

Disneyland’s castle has a walk through Sleeping Beauty attraction that features dioramas like those seen in the windows on Main Street – that tells the story of Sleeping Beauty.

Disneyworld’s castle has a restaurant and a dream suite.
That is right people have actually been lucky enough to stay in 
Disneyworld’s Castle.

The Restaurant -known as Cinderella’s Royal Table is located on the second floor of the castle.   I ate there over 15 years ago and it was a really cool experience that should be done on one of your visits to the park --if only so you can say you ate in the castle.

The Winner:  Cinderella’s Castle

Photo by  my Wife @

http://blondepixalsphotography.com/

So despite being an icon Disneyland’s castle can’t handle a candle to Disneyworld’s.  I guess Sleeping Beauty married the wrong Prince

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Disneyland vs Disneyworld: Battle of Buzz Lightyears --Which is better

In this weeks coast vs coast ride battle ...I give you Buzz Lightyear.

The original Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1998.   Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters opened in Disneyland in 2005 replacing the always broken Rocket Rods. 

Both rides are family friendly mobile shooting galleries that take full advantage of the Omnimover ride system (most notable from the Haunted Mansion).   The ride system gives you a joystick to maneuver around with as you shoot at colorful targets throughout this dark ride.  It is like a real life video game.  The ride keeps score as you make your way through an environment full of space aliens and robots.    You and the kids can help Buzz and the Little Green Men defeat the evil Emperor Zurg as you compete for top score.

When comparing these two rides there is a clear winner.
Visitors used to the Disneyland version will easily become frustrated at the older Magic Kingdom version.   I really don't know why they haven't updated this one fatal flaw in the Orlando Version....  I'm talking about the guns.

The guns on the Disneyland version came out of the holster and are attached by a cord allowing the rider to freely move them around and aim and shoot them.   The Space Ranger Spin version is stuck to the front of the ride vehicle and much more difficult to use,  Both rides are fun and have cool environments --but the gun issue is hard to get past when comparing them.   

The Winner:  Disneyland 
Disneyland clearly has the better BuzzLightyear ride.

Of course both rides pale in comparison to Toy Story Mania which is the next leap forward in this type of ride.

Which ride do you prefer??

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Magic Kingdom Picture of the Week: Big Thunder Railroad

I'm still slowly working my way through all of our Disneyworld Pictures.

Here is my Magic Kingdom picture of the Week from I-Phone while waiting for Big Thunder

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Monsters Inc Laugh Floor: Magic Kingdom Family Attraction Review 8 out of 10

One of our first stops at the Magic Kingdom was Monsters Inc Laugh Floor.  It is one of the attractions unique to Magic Kingdom that we don't have on the West Coast.    Monster's Inc Laugh Floor is an attraction meant for the entire family that is based on the technology used previously in Turtle Talk where the animated characters interact with you in real time.   Like Turtle Talk this allows for a slightly different experience on multiple visits as the interactions with the audience can take the show in different directions.

If you recall the events at the end of the original Monsters Inc the company is no longer powering the city with screams -but now laughs.  Well this lends itself to a perfect setting for the attraction as the Monster comedians are trying to gather power from the tourists by making them laugh via a stand up comedy act.   The humor is aimed at kids and is family friendly --but the comedians pointing out and making fun of the audience adds to the fun.  My whole family enjoyed the attraction and if it was out on our home coast park Disneyland we would definitely head back for another show.   It is a much better  family experience than Stitch's Great Escape across the way.  This attraction will have the kids laughing --where as Stitch may still scare some of the smaller kids (Although it isn't scary at all).

Here is a quick clip of the Attraction from You Tube to give you a taste of what to expect if you haven't visited the attraction before. The part with the telepathy is great.

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Walt Disneyworld Photo of the Day: Be Our Guest Restaurant

The first of over a thousand pictures coming soon from our Disneyworld trip.   Stay tuned to my Disney Facebook page for all of the pictures and blogs from my recent trip to Orlando.

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Planning a Trip to Disneyworld: Part 3 in a Series: Anticipation!!

My family Disneyworld trip is approaching and I find myself thinking about it often.  (okay all the time)

I have been to the theme parks and hotels in Disneyworld 3 times before, but it has definitely been awhile.    

(Here is me years ago hanging out with a Giant Troll that will probably be replaced by a Snowman in the next year)

My wife and her kids have never been there before….and it is killing me that they are missing out on one of the best parts of the trip.     The thrill and excitement of the anticipation before the trip.

I’ve been planning the trip:  
What days we will go to each park
The main things we should see while there
What to do on the days we aren’t at the park, etc….

I asked my wife “What are you most looking forward to?”

Her answer “I don’t know I’ve never been there before”

I know they are going to love it when we get there.  I’m just sad that they are missing out on the planning stage—which is almost as fun as actually going.  When I was a kid their age I would have been out of my mind excited about this trip.  Currently I’m the only one that is thinking about it as far as I can tell.

I want her son to be thinking about Dinosaur, Test Track, Expedition Everest, and Rocking Rollin Rollercoaster.

I want her daughter to be excited to see the New Fantasyland, to see the animals of Animal Kingdom and have fun in The Living Seas with Nemo and Friends.

(Here are some old Pictures of Kilmanjaro Safaris in the days before Digital Camera)

And I want my wife (who is a photographer) to see Epcot and be able to explore all of the shops and have a glass of wine in the Italy Pavilion,  Have drinks at the Polynesian and much, much more.

I really wish we could take 2 separate trips: 

One trip with the kids and one just the 2 of us.

There is really that much to do there and I know I’m going to want to go back again as soon as this trip is over.  This trip is definitely going to be aimed more for the kids ---but I want to show my wife all the cool resorts and restaurants and spend all day just touring the countries in Epcot.

Does anyone else get almost as excited about their trip while planning it?    Let me know and follow my new Disney Facebook page for future blog posts about everything Disney

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