Disney World or Disneyland

[DisneyQueen1320]

So, I'm planning our vacation for Dec. I'm not sure what to do, I would like a change and experience Disneyland but I'm not sure.
I never experience DisneyWorld around the holidays.
Will I miss out if I go to Disneyland instead?

 

[kappyfamily]

You will get lots of responses on this one. I've been to DL about 8 times the latest being last weekend. I've also been to WDW 5 times and am going again in 25 days. To me and my entire family, there is no comparison. WDW by far is better in our opinion. DL is cute,but WDW is amazing. Everything is on a much grander scale. Now there are some exceptions, DL has Indy and I think pirates is better at DL too. Carsland is just ok to us. Radiator springs is still not better then test track. The area is nicely done though. DL is a 2 maybe 3 day visit. WDW is a week long vacation.

Again, you will have many different responses here especially the old "Walt walked in the park" comment with DL. That is not reason enough for us. I live in Oregon so it's much easier to get DL, but we choose to go all the way across the country. After DL this weekend we decided we don't need to go back for a long long time.

Again, just my opinion!

 

[Angel Ariel]

As you can see in my signature, I've been to both DLR and WDW many times. You will not miss out by going to DLR! Yes, there are only two parks, but you have to keep in mind that those 2 parks hold just as much, if not more than 3 of WDW's parks! DL has more attractions than MK and DCA has slightly more attractions than Epcot and DHS combined. Smaller is not lesser, in this case.

Also keep in mind that park hopping is much simpler and faster! It's a quick walk across the Esplanade to park hop, as opposed to buses and monorails.

If you are interested in going to DLR at all, I *highly* recommend checking out Hydroguy's A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. He is a very knowledgeable DLR poster, and his threads are incredibly helpful in planning the best DLR experience!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Do DLR. If you like it, you can put it on your list to do again sometime. If you don't, you're still at Disney and you'll get to experience all the different West Coast versions of rides you think you know from WDW, even if you don't go back again.

We're DLR vets. We did WDW last year and didn't like it as much as we thought we would. But we're still glad we went and we wouldn't not go back sometime. You really can't lose by going one time just to check it out. Just make sure you do lots of homework/planning first, because DLR and WDW are very different and feel very different. It helps to be prepared!

 

[chipdale1986]

After four visits to DLR and two visits to WDW I have to say that I am a big fan of WDW now. I don´t like DLR anymore.

For me WDW sets you more to the Disney mood as DLR does.
You have better rides, more parks and better entertainment there.
Moneywise you will get more for your buck.

DLR has a very small amount of advantages for me.
The two parks are in walking distance and it´s Walt´s own park.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

After four visits to DLR and two visits to WDW I have to say that I am a big fan of WDW now. I don´t like DLR anymore.

For me WDW sets you more to the Disney mood as DLR does.
You have better rides, more parks and better entertainment there.
Moneywise you will get more for your buck.

DLR has a very small amount of advantages for me.
The two parks are in walking distance and it´s Walt´s own park.

"Better" is subjective. Maintenance tends to be better at DLR, but definitely not always. Some DLR rides are generally accepted as better than their WDW versions. Some WDW versions are better than DLR versions. It's really a wash. There are also about the same number of rides and attractions in DLR's 2 parks as there are in WDW's 4 parks. Where WDW has an advantage is in the number of activities outside the parks. WDW is also no cheaper. It really depends on doing your homework between DLR and WDW and deciding what you'd like to experience on your next trip.

 

[ChrisFL]

Disneyland....because they don't have this FP+ debacle yet.

 

[johde]

After four visits to DLR and two visits to WDW I have to say that I am a big fan of WDW now. I don´t like DLR anymore.

For me WDW sets you more to the Disney mood as DLR does.
You have better rides, more parks and better entertainment there.
Moneywise you will get more for your buck.

DLR has a very small amount of advantages for me.
The two parks are in walking distance and it´s Walt´s own park.

I'm a big fan of both parks as someone with 38 years of going to WDW and 1 trip to DL I may see a few more advantages than you do.

One big one is nostalgia. DL has rides from my childhood that have been replaced at WDW. In fairness, the reverse is also true. Mister Toad and 20,000 leagues under the sea where a couple of my favorite rides as a kid. While not exactly the same rides (and nemo has taken over the subs) I did get a little nostalgic.

Another not really advantage but observation was DL seemed cozier. Some people would call it smaller. At Fantasmic, you feel closer to the action. The Dolls in IASW don't seem as far away from the boat as they do in WDW.

I'm definitely hoping to make it back to DL again. Although I'm thinking this next trip may be to WDW. If airfare and DVC rooms pan out though, who knows.

 

[siskaren]

Since you're interested in going in December, I would highly recommend subscribing to this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3215593

 

[JandLsMom]

So, I'm planning our vacation for Dec. I'm not sure what to do, I would like a change and experience Disneyland but I'm not sure. I never experience DisneyWorld around the holidays. Will I miss out if I go to Disneyland instead?

Anyone interested in DisneyWorld should turn to The Food Network right now! I just happened on a show about dining at Disney World!

 

[suffieldhockeymom]

IMHO DL is a more relaxing trip than WDW. The 2 parks are closer, no bus to wait for to to go between the parks or hotels. It's hard to compare DL and WDW because they are so different. We went at Easter and I was surprise by the difference in the crowds.

 

[Cibahwewah]

We've been to both in the past year.

Disneyland:
What I liked: Less walking, tons of attractions, good mix of standby and fast pass. 3 days was plenty to do everything. We walked from our hotel (HoJo).
What I didn't like: Big crowds even in the middle of the week, but even so there were no parades or fireworks because it was midweek. We felt priced out of Disneyland hotel and Grand Californian--looked and looked for discounts and couldn't find any for "onsite" hotels. Walking back to our hotel at night had me feeling a bit nervous, as the panhandlers were rather aggressive.

Disney World:
What I liked: The Disney "bubble"--the vacation starts with Magical Express. The resorts theming and service make you feel you're someplace special. You can spend a whole week and still not do everything, there's still something for the next trip.
What I didn't like: AK, Epcot, and HS feel like they need more rides/headliner attractions. With the parks being so large and spread out, they could really stand to have more rides! Also it takes precious time to get from point A to point B, which really sucks up part of your day and makes you reconsider the value of that midday break.

Hope this helps.

 

[pjpoppins]

I highly recommend checking out DL. We went for the first time in September (we live in CT so always do WDW). We are trying to figure out how to go back to DL in the near future. The proximity of the 2 parks is really cool. We stayed at the DL Hotel and never rode a bus once like WDW. The thing that really got me about DL was the weather. It was so amazing not packing ponchos or worrying about when the storms would come in. After 2 days there I stopped watching the weather. We literally didn't see a cloud (not one) in 6 days and there was no humidity. The sun was strong but as soon as you hit the shade you cooled off (it was really wierd riding IASM without blasting AC). And I really enjoyed DCA, I thought it was really great theming and think California Screamin' is the best roller coaster I've been on at a Disney park.
And yes we went for 6 days. People thought we were crazy but we still felt like we didn't see everything.
So I vote for checking out DLR. Don't get me wrong, WDW is my home away from home and I miss it (going in August after a 20 month hiatus due to DLR) but I was so impressed. Especially after so many people saying "Oh its nothing like WDW you only need 2 days there."

 

[agavegirl1]

You mentioned yourself you have been WANTING to go to DL. So, you should. I went in 2012 and hadn't been there in over a decade prior to that. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was less walking and the place was jam packed with attractions. We used park hoppers and went back and forth multiple times depending on our mood. Both WDW and DLR decorate extensively for the holidays. Unless you have your heart set on seeing a particular Christmas display only available at WDW, you should be very happy at DLR.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

You may want to visit a popular superthread from the DLR forum, A DLR Guide for WDW Vets. It lays out the differences between the two resorts and the things you can expect at DLR very well.

I would also disagree about three days being enough time to do DLR. The rule of thumb in the DLR forum is to give yourself four days at a bare minimum, with five days being a comfortable target for doing everything you want to do while going at your own pace. Disneyland by itself is impossible to complete in less than two days (there's a lot more to do there than at MK), and that's still with a lot of rushing around. DLR may be smaller, but it's also much more densely packed than anything you're used to at WDW.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I think my signature says it all.

You should definitely check out DLR if you are a Disney fan. Like others have mentioned, it's like a greatest hits of WDW there and it's much easier to navigate. This will be our second trip there in the last 5 years (we used to go 2-3 times a year to WDW for the last 10 years).

One of the main factors for not visiting WDW again is the direction we feel they are headed. FP+ is a huge factor in our decision, but then if you know me, then you already know that.

You need to check DLR out at least once....seriously. Now if I could just get used to that tiny castle.

 

[lovedworld]

I have been to both places, WDW and Disneyland in the last two months. We were in WDW in November and Disneyland two weeks ago. I love both places but I love Disneyland and DCA a little bit more. The MK at WDW just doesn't compare to Disneyland. I don't think you will be disappointed if you go to Disneyland ,it is just more magical. I do love Epcot though and the dining options are better at WDW, especially if you have free dining.

 

[Jay1992]

Ive been to WDW three times and last year went to DLR for the first time -I much prefered the closeness of the parks, not so much time wasted [park hopping. The park felt much more intimate and original and had a totally different atmosphere from WDW. I also liked the CMs much more in DLR- They seemed just a little bit more focused and friendly, not that WDWs arnt.

WDW is still an amazing place and I'm going back there this year, But I still like DLR better and am so glad I went! I think POTC is much better at DLR And the Matterhorn Bobsleds are there too which are awesome!! Try It- At least you would have been to both USA Disney Parks.

 

[ktlm]

We love both DL and WDW. WDW is beautiful at the holidays. We have been there several times. BUT, will also say that I really really want to go to DL at the Holidays and see the the Christmas overlay on Small World and the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay on Haunted Mansion. I really want a DL holiday trip!!! My friend was lucky enough to have a DL holiday season trip this year, and she said the decorations in the parks were beautiful! I don't think you can go wrong!

 

[V2000]

Have you ever been to Dinseyland? If not, then yes go there.


If you have then I would choose DW during the holidays for sure. Go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! Going to DW during the holidays is awesome but be sure to do your planning and check crowd calendars.