California or Florida which one?

[team harris]

We have started to think about next year's summer holiday. We have 2 DS who will be 15 & 12 this time next year. We have been to WDW/Paris 10 times in the past 21 years - five times with our boys. We are perusing all the brouchers and can't bear the thought of another Spanish holiday and keep coming back to the Florida brochures as they appear to tick all the boxes for us - weather, white knuckle rides, parades, shows - you all know the score! The new dilemma is:

"Do we go to Disneyland in California?"

How does it compare to WDW?

Would we need more or less spending money than in Florida?

Can't seem to find any brochures offering a package deal for next Aug for under £5K - any ideas?

 

[willibobs]

Personally I think it depends on how much Disney time you want to do. California is good but there are not as many parks to do (Magic Kindom/Universal/SeaWorld/Nottsberry Farm) and I think they are smaller, but there are a lot more places to visit if you want to travel about a bit like LA, Vegas, and my favourite city San Francisco. You will love both places so just need to decide what your after from the holiday.

 

[wickesy]

We have just got back from a trip to San Francisco and Disneyland and I have started my trip report.

Disneyland resort is a lot more compact than WDW - you can walk between Disneyland, California Adventure and Downtown Disney - and I would say that the five nights we had there were just about right. If you did decide to do Disneyland I would suggest you do what we did and combine it with another city such as San Francisco, San Diego or Los Angeles (where you could do Universal Studios).

 

[Chilly]

We did LA, Las Vegas, San Fran, a few years ago and it was a great holiday.

 

[alisonbestford]

Our first ever Disney experience was at Disney Land in 1998

We spent a week there and one in San Diego - taking a day out to drive to Hollywood and Universal Studios.

I'd suggest that it's a much more 'laid back' holiday than Florida but nothing to compare park wise
Saying that I know there was a fair bit of building work going on, at Disney, when we were there

I'd, also, admit that I found it more expensive than Florida (not so many food 'deals' etc) which, travelling with two growing kids, made it a bit of a struggle.......

Saying all that I'd love to do California again
We flew with Virgin Holidays

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

We was thinking the excact same thing,but seeing the replies Florida it is for us,purely as our children are still young 3 and 8,and travelling to different places NOT disney and seeing people NOT characters I dont think would appeal.
But I would love to go,and see more.

Hope you decide on where to go.

 

[team harris]

Thanks everyone for your tips. Still in two minds, tending to lean towards Florida, but can't help thinking the world is such a large place, it seems a shame to always visit the same corner! Perhaps we should keep fingers crossed for our lottery numbers to come up and then we wouldn't have such a problem! I guess as problems go this is a nice one to have!!

Thanks again!

 

[Snowy-girls]

Florida for me everytime.I visited California way back in 1990,1997+1998.When i first visited i was 15yrs i thought it was fantastic-knew no different at that age.Went back when i was 22yrs and thought,this is'nt as great as i remember,and nowhere near as fantastic as WDW(which i had visited by then).I went back the following year when i was 23yrs+that was it,decided not to go back again.We did do trip's to Hollywood,Hollywood Bowl,Chinese Theater,Walk of Fame,Ride around the famous stars homes etc..DisneyLand(california adventure hadn't been built then).Universal Studios,San Diego Zoo.DisneyLand just did'nt 'do it' for me,i had been spoilt with WDW.For me there was'nt enough to do in the evenings also,maybe it's because of where we stayed but there was nothing around us.Grandad never took the car option on all 3 trips so that did'nt help.
Also more expensive than Florida.x.

 

[Lizzybear]

We're visiting California for the first time this year and can't wait Looking at it as a different holiday to Orlando.. Some theme parks but mostly sightseeing. We're starting in San Francisco, on to Hollywood then Anaheim and finishing in Las Vegas with other places along the way We want to see more of the world while we're a young couple without kids as when we do it'll probably be less frequent and/or cheaper holidays Although our Orlando and California holidays have cost pretty much the same to book I get the impression (from restaurant menus) that California is more expensive once you're there.

 

[Frances999]

It's down to personal preference, really. You've visited WDW before so you know what it's like -- if you feel you could visit again and have a similarly great trip, why not go for it? If you want to try something new, then give DLR a try. It's smaller - just two parks plus DTD, all located next to each oher - but it's just as well themed and many of the attractions are better than their WDW counterparts. There's also lots of "non-Disney" things to see - Universal Studios Hollywood, San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, beautiful beaches, Hollywood, the movie studio tours, shopping....the list goes on. Have fun choosing!

Grandad never took the car option on all 3 trips so that did'nt help.

That might be one reason why you didn't enjoy the CA trips very much, IMO it is absolutely essential to have a car when visiting Disneyland and Los Angeles - even more so than at WDW.

 

[Snowy-girls]

That might be one reason why you didn't enjoy the CA trips very much, IMO it is absolutely essential to have a car when visiting Disneyland and Los Angeles - even more so than at WDW.

Exactly,that's one of the reasons i believe also.I still think after experiencing it myself,that for young children Florida is much better,so much more there.x.