Disney Land(Cali) or Disney World?

[ntz4disney]

My husband and I went to DL back in January 2005, it certainly was nice, we stayed at the Grand Californian but it by no means is WDW in Florida. We went there knowing it was going to be different and it was. they have some neat rides in DL like Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, and it was nice to be on Small World to notice the differences between both rides. Also Buzz Lightyear was different too, the train ride around the park was great. In CA, we had a nice time too, not many rides for us to go on, more like a big boardwalk atmosphere, the things we liked at CA were the Aladdin stage show, it was terrific and also we were there when the new Monster's ride opened. We waited in line for 20minutes for that and it was OK, not worth much longer in line then that. We were there for 4 nights, 5 days and it was more then enough. We bought 3 day park hopper passes and it was fine. One thing is going into DL is more crowded too, CA opens later in the morning then DL so not much else to do but go to DL for abit then go across the walkway to CA. If youa re looking for a long weekend getaway its nice to be able to say you went there and saw it ... there is not enough there to keep you busy for 10+ days. Unless you are planning to go elsewhere during the trip. On the other hand think of how much you can see and do with 10+ days in WDW

 

[Foofness]

First let me say I've never been to DL... now let me say I don't think I ever will, and here is why...

I can not imagine going from four theme parks, two water parks, a huge DTD area including Pleasure Island with seven clubs, the Boardwalk, over twenty resorts to explore (most of which are themed), two mini-golf courses, and all sorts of other recreation and shows, not to mention over a hundred different places to eat, down to four "hotels", two parks and a DTD with only four attractions, including AMC theaters... I can watch a movie here at home... to me it seems like a MAJOR DOWNGRADE... There is so much to do at WDW you could stay busy for a month and not do the same thing twice if you didn't want to... plus there truly is "something for everyone" at WDW...

I know I would be highly disappointed with DL... I hope if you and your family goes you won't be... I would think that if this is the first Disney trip for any member of your family, The World would be the way to go... but these are just my opinions...

 

[EnnEss]

I think without having been there thats a really unfair opinion. As I said, and many reviewers have said, after going to DL, MK is generally a letdown in many ways. It has its plusses, but Disneyland does it better largely because they don't have the land WDW does, and most of the highly respected reviewers (in the Disney area) echo that. It has to be put in context though.

Interestingly, most all shows for instance, are created separately at DLR and at WDW. Over the past two years there are three examples of the execs seeing both and having the WDW scrapped in favor of the DLR ones. I'm not aware of, in the case of shows, it happening in reverse.

Qualifying the situation though and saying I want to spend 10 days somewhere means probably you want to go to WDW unless you want to see new places and other things. Not for everyone.

 

[KCmike]

My family has visited Disneyworld 7 times. We go just about every other year. We talked about going to Disneyland for about a year and a half. We went back to Disneyworld one more time befoer we said we just had to do it.

First of all let me tell you I did a complete trip report (my first ever) on this very subject under Disneyland trip reports...its title is WDW VET VISITS THE LAND.

We stayed outside the park for our hotel...something we've never done at the world. When walking to the parks it feels like visiting your local amusement park.
The trams are outside taking people in etc....

It is very weird to see both parks facing each other within a throwing distance. i love to look at the disneyland and disneyworld pics of the day. When i saw the front of Disneyland I imagined it to be as big as the world. Not even close. It is dinky to say the least. Small yet quite beautiful though.

The whole park seems very small. But this park rocks my friend. Let me further explain: Most rides at Disneyland are much more detailed and much more longer than the world's.

Pirates - Completely destroys WDW. It is so sad at the world. How could they have even built it like that. The land is about 5x longer and much more engaged. Two drops! the whole beginning of the fireflys and the restaurant (Blue Bayou off to the right) is tremendous.

Space Mountain - Completely destroys WDW. It felt like a first class roller coaster. Don't get me wrong, the World is my love and my family's second home. But OMG!

Fantasyland - Completely destroys WDW. It actually feels like a land. All the dark rides are together and are better that WDW. Pinocchio, Snow White, Mr Toads, and Peter...then you walk into the carousel, storybook land, mad tea cups which is outside and overlooking the matterhorn.

Matterhorn - Loved it. Not as advanced as Expedition but for a ride built in the 60's or was it 50's? It really is good.

Haunted Mansion - We saw the holiday overlay--- it rocked. I like the outside better at WDW but everything else was better there.

Splash - WDW is better. But I was surprised that I enjoyed it almost as much.

Big Thunder - Not as good.

Jungle Cruise - Better at the land. The greenery is so much more jungleish. Not sure that's even close to being a word. Watch out for the pirana's! sp?

Tiki room - Walt's original and it blows away WDW. It is sad how they ruined the WDW version.

Okay for the not so good------

California Adventure - all but a few rides and Aladin musical (Beats any stage show at WDW).

No wedway peoplemover. No carousel of progress.

Monorail is not air conditioned and doesn't really go anywhere.

Dowtown Disney - Miniature scale and really doesn't offer much.

Fireworks and parade - Not as good. Wishes destroys the land....Fantasmic at the world is better...sorry landers.....parade of dreams was short and not so great...spectromagic blows it away.

Wasn't really bothered by Sleepy's castle. Found it it be nice.

We went to the ocean one day and wanted to go to San Diego and do the Hotel Del Coronado but it was when the fires were raging and people were evacuating.

We did hollywook Blvd (dirty and not worth it) but it was good to say we've been.

LA traffic can be a nightmare. i am a pretty good drive through traffic and avoiding delays but driver beware here. Don't get stuck on a major highway after 3pm.

Disneyland is far and away better than the magic kingdom at the world. but with that said we missed Epcot, AKL, and MGM. We usually stay at Port Orleans Riverside and missed that coming home to a resort feeling.

We did walk over to all the hotels at the land and found the Disney hotel would be the one we would try if we go back. The walk from just about anywhere is so short and that is a wonderful advantage as you get older.

I will tell you that the ocean is so much better on the Pacific than the Atlantic or the gulf. It was great to see surfers and walk the boardwalks and piers.

Disneyland ranks right up there for me. I really want to go back next year but the kids/wife are saying it's time to go home. The only thing i don't like about the world is that there is basically one good ride per land at each park and it lacks the attention to detail that the land gives. Adventureland feels like your walking into something special. Same with fantasyland.

Good luck on your choice. i will say that is was nice to do something different and experience something new. It is Walt's first park and it is what everything else is measured up against. Don;t you want to say that you've been?

Mike in KC ... Good luck!

Don't forget to check out that trip report with pics...
----WALT DISNEY VET VISTS THE LAND ------

 

[Kdog]

KCMike-Thank you for such a fabulous and professional comparison. I have always been curious about DL, and now I know I will have to add it to a future CA trip. Thank you!

 

[Skroops]

I can't really beat the last post, but I have to say that comparing WDW to DL is like comparing apples to oranges. Just the size difference should let you see why most say that DL is a shorter vacation than WDW. That is, if you are just going to Disney, and not comparing a so-Cal trip.

I absolutely love DL, but WDW is a different vacation. I think every Disney fan should see both. Oh, and see all of the Disney parks! I've been to Tokyo and Hong Kong parks, and I will get to the Paris one someday too. They ALL have the magic!

 

[slenderella]

My family went to DL after we went to WDW for the first time. Not what I would have expected, especially after being at WDW. It isn't bad. Just not a very long vacation. We did, however, go to Seaworld for a day. And that was great.

 

[mad hatter fan]

I just have to put my 2 cents in. We have been to Disneyland four times and WDW once and are planning our second trip to the world. Disneyland was my first love. Our first trip we went 3 days and left wishing for more. The next time we went 5 days and the 3rd time 7 days. We were never board. We are not the kind of people who want to only do something once and be done. My kids loved that we were able to do their favorites every day. I love Indiana Jones, DL's Pirates, Alice in Wonderland, Matterhorn. In CA I love Soarin', Screamin' (my favorite coaster ever), and the Aladdin musical. (which in my opinion is so much better than any of WDW's shows except the Lion King one -though I haven't seen the Nemo one yet) I love the attention to details that I see in DL.

When we went to WDW for the first time, I was soo disappointed in the MK. It is by far my least favorite park. It just doesn't have the same feeling to me, and many of my favorites are missing or are disappointing. (Pirates) That said, I loved our WDW trip. I love our DL trips. I enjoy both of them. I just know that they are different, and plan our trips around that. I can be disappointed while planning one that I am not going to the other.

I think it would be a shame if you missed out on ever seeing Walt's original park just because it isn't the same or as big as WDW. It is a wonderful place. Southern California has a lot to offer as well. San Diego is beautiful and has many things to do from Seaworld, an awsome zoo, the wild animal park, and Balboa park which is full of museums, etc. Legoland can be fun as well. My family has a tradition of checking out the tide pools every California trip.

Oh, and CA will not be staying a partial day park. They are putting an awsome amount of money into that park over the next few years!

Have fun whichever you choose!

 

[Foofness]

I think without having been there thats a really unfair opinion.

But that is just what it is... an opinion... and exactly why I stated first and foremost that I've not been to DL... and still, after all these reviews, never will...

 

[DisneyRulz07]

My family has visited Disneyworld 7 times. We go just about every other year. We talked about going to Disneyland for about a year and a half. We went back to Disneyworld one more time befoer we said we just had to do it.

First of all let me tell you I did a complete trip report (my first ever) on this very subject under Disneyland trip reports...its title is WDW VET VISITS THE LAND.

We stayed outside the park for our hotel...something we've never done at the world. When walking to the parks it feels like visiting your local amusement park.
The trams are outside taking people in etc....

It is very weird to see both parks facing each other within a throwing distance. i love to look at the disneyland and disneyworld pics of the day. When i saw the front of Disneyland I imagined it to be as big as the world. Not even close. It is dinky to say the least. Small yet quite beautiful though.

The whole park seems very small. But this park rocks my friend. Let me further explain: Most rides at Disneyland are much more detailed and much more longer than the world's.

Pirates - Completely destroys WDW. It is so sad at the world. How could they have even built it like that. The land is about 5x longer and much more engaged. Two drops! the whole beginning of the fireflys and the restaurant (Blue Bayou off to the right) is tremendous.

Space Mountain - Completely destroys WDW. It felt like a first class roller coaster. Don't get me wrong, the World is my love and my family's second home. But OMG!

Fantasyland - Completely destroys WDW. It actually feels like a land. All the dark rides are together and are better that WDW. Pinocchio, Snow White, Mr Toads, and Peter...then you walk into the carousel, storybook land, mad tea cups which is outside and overlooking the matterhorn.

Matterhorn - Loved it. Not as advanced as Expedition but for a ride built in the 60's or was it 50's? It really is good.

Haunted Mansion - We saw the holiday overlay--- it rocked. I like the outside better at WDW but everything else was better there.

Splash - WDW is better. But I was surprised that I enjoyed it almost as much.

Big Thunder - Not as good.

Jungle Cruise - Better at the land. The greenery is so much more jungleish. Not sure that's even close to being a word. Watch out for the pirana's! sp?

Tiki room - Walt's original and it blows away WDW. It is sad how they ruined the WDW version.

Okay for the not so good------

California Adventure - all but a few rides and Aladin musical (Beats any stage show at WDW).

No wedway peoplemover. No carousel of progress.

Monorail is not air conditioned and doesn't really go anywhere.

Dowtown Disney - Miniature scale and really doesn't offer much.

Fireworks and parade - Not as good. Wishes destroys the land....Fantasmic at the world is better...sorry landers.....parade of dreams was short and not so great...spectromagic blows it away.

Wasn't really bothered by Sleepy's castle. Found it it be nice.

We went to the ocean one day and wanted to go to San Diego and do the Hotel Del Coronado but it was when the fires were raging and people were evacuating.

We did hollywook Blvd (dirty and not worth it) but it was good to say we've been.

LA traffic can be a nightmare. i am a pretty good drive through traffic and avoiding delays but driver beware here. Don't get stuck on a major highway after 3pm.

Disneyland is far and away better than the magic kingdom at the world. but with that said we missed Epcot, AKL, and MGM. We usually stay at Port Orleans Riverside and missed that coming home to a resort feeling.

We did walk over to all the hotels at the land and found the Disney hotel would be the one we would try if we go back. The walk from just about anywhere is so short and that is a wonderful advantage as you get older.

I will tell you that the ocean is so much better on the Pacific than the Atlantic or the gulf. It was great to see surfers and walk the boardwalks and piers.

Disneyland ranks right up there for me. I really want to go back next year but the kids/wife are saying it's time to go home. The only thing i don't like about the world is that there is basically one good ride per land at each park and it lacks the attention to detail that the land gives. Adventureland feels like your walking into something special. Same with fantasyland.

Good luck on your choice. i will say that is was nice to do something different and experience something new. It is Walt's first park and it is what everything else is measured up against. Don;t you want to say that you've been?

Mike in KC ... Good luck!

Don't forget to check out that trip report with pics...
----WALT DISNEY VET VISTS THE LAND ------

Thanks this was just what I was looking for. I respect all the opinions and appreciate the help. Thank you all.

 

[jimmiej]

DW & I went to DL after several trips to WDW. The main purpose was to see the "original." We knew going in it was smaller & less isolated from the real world. WE stayed on-site at Paradise Pier. We spent 2 1/2 days doing the parks & DTD. Then we spent one day at the San Diego Zoo & another day touring Hollywood. We booked these side trips through Disney Travel & it all worked great. All in all, it was a fun trip & we hope to go back again.

To answer the OP, I would say, if you're taking a large group, go to WDW. If it's just you & your husband, DL and the SoCal area would be fun for you.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

First let me say I've never been to DL... now let me say I don't think I ever will, and here is why...

I can not imagine going from four theme parks, two water parks, a huge DTD area including Pleasure Island with seven clubs, the Boardwalk, over twenty resorts to explore (most of which are themed), two mini-golf courses, and all sorts of other recreation and shows, not to mention over a hundred different places to eat, down to four "hotels", two parks and a DTD with only four attractions, including AMC theaters... I can watch a movie here at home... to me it seems like a MAJOR DOWNGRADE... There is so much to do at WDW you could stay busy for a month and not do the same thing twice if you didn't want to... plus there truly is "something for everyone" at WDW...

I know I would be highly disappointed with DL... I hope if you and your family goes you won't be... I would think that if this is the first Disney trip for any member of your family, The World would be the way to go... but these are just my opinions...

Wow...if that's the kind of attitude you have it's probably better if you don't go to the happiest place on earth. The Disney property in Anaheim may not have all of the things you listed for WDW...but Southern California does have tons of things to offer. Besides just Disneyland and California Adventure there are other theme parks (Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm.) Of course there are a ton of beaches that are quite fun. Many with cool boardwalks and piers and stuff. A little farther south there's Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. Farther north you can go to L.A. and check out Hollywood Blvd. There may only be a few (sort of expensive) Disney resorts but there are so many different hotels to choose from. They aren't themed but they are close to the parks.

So maybe you can't spend 10 days in the Disney parks, you can easily spend 10 days or more in the area.

When I was little I went to WDW three times. 1987, 1991, and 1995. So I always considered WDW to be MY park. But then in 2004 I went to Disneyland. And in 2005 I moved to Orange, CA. So since 2004 I've been to Disneyland over 100 times. Maybe around 150 times or so. So now I don't really consider either park better than the other. I could never choose one. They both have pros and cons (Mike stated many of them.) I think it's fun to go to both.

My husband has never been to WDW. His first trip will be next month. He grew up going to Disneyland so it'll be interesting to see what he thinks. I also haven't been there since I was 14 so I'm excited to see how my perspective has changed.

 

[bumbershoot]

she told me that we would probably be a bit disappointed in a Disneyland trip.

Of course, I asked why. She said that our family could probably see and do everything Disneyland had to offer in 3 to 4 days. What would we do with the rest of our time?

That is so sad that she said that!

Our little family had one-day trips to DL, while visiting my brother in San Diego, once a year for two years. In September, we planned a bigger trip, and stayed 6 nights. We had 5 day parkhoppers, and upgraded to APs. Ended up spending 6.5 days, almost the whole day IN the parks each day (except for the last, when we had to hit the road), and still yearned for more time.

So much so that we're going back tomorrow...DS and I will be there tomorrow through Sun, and DH is joining us on Thursday, then brother and SIL will join us on Sunday. We love it!

Have I been to WDW? Nope. Will I? Yep. Do I consider them to be one or the other forever and ever? No; different vacations at different times! Same with Hong Kong, Tokyo, and maybe even Paris (not much urge to visit France...other places in Europe call me more).

First let me say I've never been to DL... now let me say I don't think I ever will, and here is why...

....down to four "hotels", two parks and a DTD with only four attractions, including AMC theaters...

Why the quotation around hotels?

3 DLR hotels, not 4.

Staying on site is NOT vital for a good time at DL like I hear it can be considered at WDW. In fact we started with 4 nights at an onsite hotel, then switched for 2 nights offsite (HoJo at a faboo $54 rate) and loved OFF site better! The way we walked from the onsite hotel to the parks was actually longer than walking from HoJo (I have since found out there's a different, shorter, way), and the energy I got walking with everyone along the street, surging across the crosswalk, was incredible. FAR better energy than the oddly surly-seeming folks walking through DTD in the mornings, and the craziness at night.

And what does "only four attractions" at DTD mean?


To the OP...I'd try Disneyland! It's not like you'll never ever take another trip ever again... It'll partially be as good as you make it, and there are plenty of WDW vets who absolutely adore DL! Come on over to the DL boards, and especially seek out hydroguy's posts (I think someone might have linked one of his posts for you).

 

[Disney Anna]

Disneyland is definitely the greatest Disney park. Apples to apples, the MK just cannot compare.

WDW is terrific, a great all encompassing experience. But again, Disneyland, the park is incredible. I would not do 10-days at DL, nor would I at WDW. I have found that a 6 night trip works best and sometimes that is a bit too long. 4 days would be a good length for a first time who was just doing the Disneyland Resort.

 

[GalDisney]

Me again with more. if you like the Mk, you will fall in love with Disneyland. Disneyland is the original and walt's dream come true. if not for Disneyland, WDW would not exist. I lived the first 40 yrs of my life in Anaheim and practically lived at Disneyland. I am sure I have spent more time at Disneyland than anyone on these boards. The Mk is great but it does not hold a candle to Disneyland, i miss it so much. You owe it to yourself to visit, it is a wonderful place.

 

[KCmike]

Disneyland is a very special place. It doesn't have the resort feel but it has Mr. Disney's special touches.

My family really loved it.