1) For the people who have been to both DL and WDW: what should WDW vets who are DL newbies be looking out for? What can we do differently than someone going to any Disney park for the first time?
Be ready for a bit of size shock. The Magic Kingdom is on a grand scale. Disneyland is a more intimate scale. In many ways, it still feels very much like the park built by a father for his daughters.
Sometimes Disneyland has far more attention to little details than the Magic Kingdom.
Comparisons are inevitable. But as you work to appreciate each coast for what it does so well, you will find that you can have a truly great time at each coast for different reasons.
And if you have the chance, catch a movie at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. Disney refurbished it to look like a classic Hollywood movie palace when Eisner was CEO, and they've since bought the theater. So they only show Disney films, either new releases or classic films when they don't have a new release. They have an organist before the movie and it's a great experience.
Absolutely. El Capitan has hosted the world premiere of some of the biggest movies today. It was a Hollywood movie palace back decades ago and Disney has kept so much of that charm while also giving it the world class sound system and projection system. The organist who plays before the movie is so much fun. If you can swing it, it's definitely worth checking out.
Disneyland has Toon Town in the back near Small World, where Roger Rabbit and the new Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railway is. I think this flows to Star Wars land, but I haven't been to DL since 2016 and can't speak to that.
As of today, there is no way to walk from ToonTown to Galaxy's Edge. While you can absolutely see Toy Story Land from Galaxy's Edge in Florida, it's far more isolated out west. Inside Disneyland, it's often referred to as off planet.
Is it reasonable to expect that the 100yrs (and Wondrous fireworks) will be on for the race weeknd? Or the celebration ends in 2023?
Honestly, I'm not sure if they will. Disneyland started the 50th and 60th anniversary celebrations in May of 2005 and 2015. Starting this one off in January of this year is different.
The real question is: will they keep Rogers: The Musical running until January??
I’m trying not to get my hopes up
Strictly my opinion, but I think the "limited time" run of Rogers is dependent entirely on how popular the show is. If it's really popular, limited might be years and years and years.
I really only want the 10k logo pin, but I'm not planning on arriving until Friday. Should I just bite the bullet and buy the package?
Honestly, I would. I think there's going to be lot of merchandise craziness because this is such a highly anticipated race weekend. In 2017, I may have bought the last I did it shirt for the Avengers Half on Friday afternoon. They went to get me a "fresh shirt" off the rack instead of one on display and could not find any.
Kind of a last minute addition to the Disneyland tips. Batuu over by the Falcon is a great viewing spot for the fireworks when they’re going. The ones that go off from behind Toontown are visible (and loud) in that area
You do have to forego the music and projection, but it’s a lot less crowded
The fireworks are very loud. Very loud. The booms echo off the spires. If you're noise sensitive, that could be a problem.
As for me, I just like to put Star Wars music on my phone and provide my own music. But yes there are no projections. I love watching the fireworks with the Millennium Falcon right there and it gets my Star Wars heart all nostalgic. But if it's a special Disneyland fireworks show, you're missing out if you only choose to watch it once from Galaxy's Edge.
Thanks @FFigawi !
