In some ways, comparing DL to all of WDW is almost like comparing apples and oranges. The biggest difference is the size. DL isn't even as large as WDW...I think it's about the size of MGM. So WDW has a LOT more to offer in sheer number.
HOWEVER, nearly everything at DL has a lot more charm than it does at WDW, and because of that, DL will always be my favorite
I'll start with your specific questions since I got a little long-winded comparing the parks...
I tend to fly into LAX and either take the Airport Bus or ride with friends to get to Disneyland. I'd say it's roughly an hour's drive from LAX to the park. John Wayne is a bit closer, but I've had a hard time finding airlines that leave from my home airports and go to John Wayne so I just go to LAX.
In the matter of hotels, you won't find anything anywhere close to what you'll find at WDW (with the possible exception of the new Grand Californian Resort which is just now opening, in January if I'm not mistaken). The Disneyland Hotel is rather neat with all it's Disneyland memoribelia, and Goofy's Kitchen is fun (rather like Chef Mickey's, only with more of a Goofy theme), and the pool area is nicely themed, but other than that it's "just" a nice hotel. The only other option is the Pacific Hotel, which is being renamed the Paradise Pier Hotel, which I've only seen in passing. Other than that, you'll just find your average run-of-the-mill hotels all around. I personally prefer the Best Western Park Place Inn as my hotel of choice because of it's cost (less than $100/night) and it's location...it's 5 minutes from the driveway of the hotel to the gate to Main Street. There's no theming to speak of in the hotel itself, but that's true of almost all of the Harbor hotels (Harbor is one of the streets that runs alongside the park) and its proximity to the park makes up for the lack of theming.
As for best time to visit...during the week is the most I can really say. I've been for a full week in May and it wasn't bad, though it was rather warm. However, the crowds were very irritating on Saturday. The rest of the week they were comefortable once you got past the gates (though I hit more crowds waiting to get in during the week than I had on the weekend). I've been twice in May and would go again at that time, though my preferance really is January. I haven't been in December in recent memory, so can't compare. All I can say is that for overall crowds, Saturday is definitely the most crowded.
Now, I'll try comparing the parks... Steve has already done a good job of listing the attractions you'll only find at DL and the differences between the attractions found at both, so I'll go land-by-land:
Overall: Things at Disneyland tend to be smaller in scale. Like the Castle...it's really only 3 stories tall (or is it 2?) so compared to the giant Cinderella's Castle, it's tiny. But it's supposed to be a storybook castle, so I like it
That's the only place I tend to hear WDW veterans are disappointed in Disneyland.
Main Street: Everything on Main Street at Disneyland has been designed using what they call forced perspective. I've heard that in part it was done that way to make Main Street seem longer if you're walking from the entrance to the hub (make the magical entrance seem longer, perhaps entice you into the shops and eateries), but shorter if you're walking from the hub to the entrance since tired people don't want to have to walk so far. Everything is at a certain scale, but I forget if it's 3/4ths or 4/5ths. Whatever the case, Main Street at Disneyland always feels to me to be more of a dollhouse Main Street than the full-scale thing at Disneyworld.
On Main Street you'll still find the original (with some upgrades, but essentially the original) Great Moments with Mister Lincoln. I highly recommend this oft-overlooked attraction if only for the history of the park it represents. In the waiting area, you'll find a couple of mock-ups of Walt's offices, which I found quite interesting, and it's just downright amazing what they were able to do with their first full-scale audio-animatronic.
You'll also find the Main Street Cinema as it was originally presented, rather than converted into a shop.
Furthermore, there is a wider variety of shops along Main Street, including a music shop where you'll find piano/guitar/songbooks as well as CDs, DVDs, and the make-your-own CDs, and a magic shop. They haven't yet all been converted to the generic Disney merchandise that most of Main Street at WDW has become.
And don't forget the Main Street entertainment, such as the Dapper Dans. I know they exist at both WDW and DL, but I've only stopped to watch their show at DL and would do so again.
Also, don't miss the masters at the keys, Rod and Alan. They're down on Coke Corner, and either separately or as a duet are absolutely amazing at playing old rag-time piano. The other pianists I've seen are pretty good, too, but they don't hold a candle to Rod and Alan.
Can anyone point to a picture of Rod so they'll know who to look for?
Hub:
Not much different here than at WDW, other than again the scale.
Adventureland:
The two adventurelands of DL and WDW couldn't be more different in overall atmosphere. I personally prefer DL's version, but I know others who disagree. DL is much smaller in scale than WDW once again, but that just increases its charm to me.
In Adventureland you'll find the Tiki Room, complete with the Tiki-God garden and show in the waiting area. They're fun, and I was highly disappointed in the one at WDW when I saw it didn't have the Tiki-garden. DL's Tiki Room as already mentioned is very close to the original and IMHO is more charming. I'm not fond of WDW's version.
There's also Aladdin's Oasis, where you can frequently find Aladdin, Jasmine, and/or the Genie. It's got a nice little corner where you can sit down, though it's possible that's been turned into a smoking area -- can one of the locals confirm that?
The shops in DL's Adventureland are a little more memorable than those in WDW IMHO.
Jungle Cruise is shorter at Disneyland, and IMHO this is one place WDW has DL beat. It's still worth a ride, though, especially after dark. Try to shoot for the very last ride of the evening if you want a more entertaining ride...that's when I've run into the most hillarious guides almost every time.
And then there's the absolute best ride Disney has ever done, IMHO...Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye (aka the Temple of Mara). This one's worth a wait even without FastPass, and if you're a fan of the Indy series, it's not to be missed!! It's similar in function to the Dinosaur/Countdown to Extinction ride in Animal Kingdom, but is VASTLY superior in theming.
There's also Tarzan's Treehouse, which is worth a quick walk-through if you liked the Tarzan movie. This used to be the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse as they have it at WDW, but was changed over last year.
New Orleans Square
This is one thing missing at WDW that adds quite a bit of charm to DL. There are really only 2 attractions here: Pirates, and the Haunted Mansion (both IMHO better than their WDW counterparts, though several people disagree about the Haunted Mansion..most agree Pirates is better). But the charm of New Orleans Square is in it's character, shop, and street entertainment rather than it's rides. Well worth a walk through, and take time to explore the neat shops and watch the jazz performers at work.
Also found in NOS is the Disney Gallery above Pirates...a must-see if you're interested in Disney history and memoribelia.
Critter Country
This is very much like the back corner of Frontierland in WDW. You'll find Splash and Country Bear Vacation Hoedown here. WDW's Splash is much better IMHO, but DL's is still worth a ride, and ditto on the Country Bears. The shows are very different between the two and both are worth seeing, but my favorite is the one in WDW.
Frontierland
Frontierland is rather lacking in much to do at DL...here you'll find Thunder Mountain (which just had a refurb and I've heard is looking great, and which IMHO is just slightly better than it's WDW counterpart), Tom Sawyer Island (quite charming, but more of a distraction than a must-see IMHO unless you have young kids), and the river rides Columbia and Mark Twain Steamboat. If you only take time to see one of the two big boats, I recommend the Columbia because if its uniqueness and the nice museum below-deck. Then there's the Golden Horseshoe Review, which is a cute show. Other than that, you'll find mostly just shops and counter-service eateries (though one such eatery, the River Belle Terrace, has the best breakfast in the park IMHO)
Fantasyland
Rather than going through every attraction in Fantasyland, let me just say that Disneyland's Fantasyland has WDW's version beat hands down. Much more character, many more rides, and other than Snow White, every one of the Fantasyland rides I've been on that can be found in both parks has been better at DL. If you have the time, don't pass *any* of them by...they're all great
Toon Town
WDW's Toon Town just doesn't exist compared to DL's. The scope and scale of DL's Toon Town is vastly superior to what WDW has to offer, and is well worth a trip to the back of the park just to soak in the atmosphere whether you ride any of the rides or go through the houses or not. As I recall, the houses themselves are pretty much the same inside, but you have to stop back there to take a look around whether you go through anything or not...their presentation is just so much more
Tomorrowland
Here is one land that I'm really torn on...in some ways, I like DL's version better in theming, in others, I prefer WDW's. I couldn't pick a favorite if I had to. The only thing that I can highly recommend if you're a coaster fan, though, is don't miss Space Mountain. DL's Space Mountain blows WDW's out of the water. It's so much better!!
So is DL worth a trip if you've already been to WDW several times? Definitely!!
-Rajah
cdrtrisal@aol.com
Rajah and VonDrake's Honeymoon
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