Disneyland compared to WDW

[james'mommy]

DH is thinking that maybe we go to Disneyland next year. I've tried to explain the Disneyland is much smaller than WDW. Can someone tell me how big Disneyland is compared to MK.

 

[twokids0204]

Kinda like comparing a Watermelon (WDW) to a Blueberry (DL)

 

[rollecoasterfan]

In terms of size, there is no comparison. However, DLR is surprisingly great. I was recently in the same position as you, we had always been to WDW and had the option to go to DL. We ended up going and it was much better than expected. We concluded that the park DL is better than the MK, but DCA is worst of the "extra" parks (DHS,EPCOT, AK and DCA) So as a resort, I perfer WDW.
The nice thing about DL that you don't get in the MK is Walt Disney's magic. There is something different about it that makes it so much more special.
(if you do decide to go to DLR, then make sure to eat at Blue Bayou)

 

[claytonj20]

A good analogy to use to explain the difference to him- DL will fit in the Parking lot of the MK.

 

[Planogirl]

If size is all that matters (no comments! ) then DL is dwarfed by MK. But somehow the magicians at Disney pack so much into DL that scope wise I'd say DL beats MK a bit.

But then there's Epcot and DHS and AK compared to DCA. No comparison. However there's so much to see in California so that's not a big deal IMO.

 

[james'mommy]

I tried to line that it would fit into the MK parking lot but according to him that's a horrible comparison. He says he really doesn't know how big the parking lot is because you never get to see it all. And according to him the parking lot is huge.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

DL is smaller than MK in size, but packs in more attractions. Our family also prefers DCA to Epcot, AK or HS. --Soarin, ToT, Grizzly River Run, California Screamin' and TSM all in one park!? Awesome! We love the fact that the two parks are a stone's throw away from each other - easy to hop and no busses!

However, we also love the water parks and DLR has none. We can spend 3-5 days at DLR, do it all, and do our favorites multiple times. Obviously at WDW, you can spend a week and not do nearly all of it.

So, even though we prefer DLR, we usually just tack on a couple of days there when we're visiting friends and relatives in So Cal and spending time at the beach. When we plan a Disney-only vacation, we go to WDW just because there is more to do overall.

 

[dipity]

You definitely should do Disneyland at least once. There's just more magic at Disneyland. It's hard to explain until you go and experience it for yourself.

That said, we can do everything at Disneyland in 4 or 5 days and we're ready to go home.

We just spent two weeks at Disneyworld. We didn't do everything and left wanting to stay longer....

 

[cccdisney]

You really can't compare the two. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Two different experiences. I frequent DLR quite often since I live in Northern CA, however I also enjoy going for longer vacations to WDW.
DLR offers experiences that WDW does not offer: Indiana Jones, StoryBookCanal Boats, Casey Jr. Train, Mr. Toad, Matterhorn, Monsters Inc. Ride, California Screamin', The Aladdin Show and probably others. Pirates and Space Mt. are also much better at DLR. And DLR still has the original Tiki Room!
There is an awesome sticky on the Disneyland boards titled "DLR Guide for WDW vets". It's a good read for anyone thinking of coming out to DLR.
Oh, almost forgot! NO BUSES!!!!! All you need is your two feet! You can walk between the two parks and DTD in a matter of minutes!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

After numerous trips to WDW, we decided to head west to DLR this past March. We loved it!!!! It really is hard to compare the two even though they share some of the same rides. There are some rides we liked better at DLR and some better at WDW.

Here's my comparison (mind you, this is my OPINION):
Haunted Mansion - WDW Better
Pirates of the Caribbean - DLP Better
Dinosaur/Indy - DLP Better
It's A Small World - DLP
ToonTown - DLP 10xs Better
California Screamin' vs RNR - RNR Better
Space Mountain - DLP Better
Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters vs Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - DLP Better (You can actually take the laser gun out and move it around semi-freely. It was easier to shoot that the MK version.)
Downtown Disney - DLR Better (They need to put a BAB in DTD Florida. The smaller one in T-Rex isn't cutting it. The DLR BAB was BUSY!)

Okay now looking back and the ride comparisons, I think we liked DLP better than the MK. However, the rest of the DLR resort can't compare with WDW. It is like night and day. They are two totally different resorts when comparing the size, hotel offerings, transportation, number of parks and restaurants. After visiting DLR, we still love our WDW and plan to continue going back year after year. With a few "side trips" to DLR. DH and are I going back to DLR in April 2010. Also, we may try and squeeze in a December 2010 DLR trip to catch the holiday decorations and see the Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion.

Personally, I think any WDW and Disney fan should visit Disneyland California at least once. It's where it all started afterall.

Jennifer

(FYI - I did a Trip Report for our DLR trip if you want to read it click HERE.)

 

[AStamm]

It's A Small World - DLP "exterior"

Curious when you went to DL...pre-Disney character additions to Small World, or post? I had mixed feelings about them adding the characters, but once we saw them in August, I was a convert to the DL version.

To the OP--you've got to head to DL, even if it's just once. It's amazing how much is crammed into the park and how different you feel at the end of the day...not completely exhausted from walking MILES and MILES like at WDW.

 

[tinarena2000]

Check out DisneyLand. I think you will be surprised. I really enjoyed it. There is a different kind of atmosphere there. It has many different things to check out. We loved it and would go back again.

 

[vettegirl]

DL is my favorite park out of all of the ones I have been too!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Curious when you went to DL...pre-Disney character additions to Small World, or post? I had mixed feelings about them adding the characters, but once we saw them in August, I was a convert to the DL version.

To the OP--you've got to head to DL, even if it's just once. It's amazing how much is crammed into the park and how different you feel at the end of the day...not completely exhausted from walking MILES and MILES like at WDW.

I forgot about the Disney characters inside. To be honest, it was distracting to me, but fun for the kids. It was like a hide and seek of Disney characters.

Jennifer

 

[quantumottle]

VERY important to remember, DL is 25% smaller than MK, but IT HAS 30% MORE RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS!!! For my family, that means we get to do more at DL than we do at MK and have to walk MUCH, MUCH less to do it.

Also, most of the complaints I see posted here in regards to rude people, declining standards, etc. You will see far, far less of that at a LOCALS park like DL than you will at a TOURISTS park like MK.

 

[jodeeb]

After numerous trips to WDW, we decided to head west to DLR this past March. We loved it!!!! It really is hard to compare the two even though they share some of the same rides. There are some rides we liked better at DLR and some better at WDW.

Here's my comparison (mind you, this is my OPINION):
Haunted Mansion - WDW Better
Pirates of the Caribbean - DLP Better
Dinosaur/Indy - DLP Better
It's A Small World - DLP
ToonTown - DLP 10xs Better
California Screamin' vs RNR - RNR Better
Space Mountain - DLP Better
Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters vs Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - DLP Better (You can actually take the laser gun out and move it around semi-freely. It was easier to shoot that the MK version.)
Downtown Disney - DLR Better (They need to put a BAB in DTD Florida. The smaller one in T-Rex isn't cutting it. The DLR BAB was BUSY!)

Okay now looking back and the ride comparisons, I think we liked DLP better than the MK. However, the rest of the DLR resort can't compare with WDW. It is like night and day. They are two totally different resorts when comparing the size, hotel offerings, transportation, number of parks and restaurants. After visiting DLR, we still love our WDW and plan to continue going back year after year. With a few "side trips" to DLR. DH and are I going back to DLR in April 2010. Also, we may try and squeeze in a December 2010 DLR trip to catch the holiday decorations and see the Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion.

Personally, I think any WDW and Disney fan should visit Disneyland California at least once. It's where it all started afterall.

Jennifer

(FYI - I did a Trip Report for our DLR trip if you want to read it click HERE.)

I agree with this! And if you havent been to DL you need to experience it.

You missed Splash Mountain. I think the ride experience in MK is better then DL but the boats in MK are much better. You sit 2 side by side instead of strattling a middle bench with the person in front of you leaning back on you.

You will be surprised by how many of the rides are better and knowing that Walt himself built that park. Yes it is smaller, but also its easier to get from place to place. It is also nice that park hopping is a matter of walking 100 yards or so from one park to another.

You may be disapointed in the size of the castle and Main Street is much shorter. Its also smack in the middle of Anahiem so the park is right there. Not quite as magical in that sence.

IMO DL will not disappoint you in having a Disney Magical Experience, but will have a different feel. You can definatly completely cover it in 5 days, including shoping in DTD and taking some time to enjoy your hotel.

 

[jenseib]

I would love to visit it once in my lifetime. My DH doesn;t want to fly that far though. LOL! Someday I'll get him to go.

 

[susieQzee]

Regarding DL, it's where the magic all began. It's where Walt saw his vision come true. That alone makes it a special place to visit.

If you're comparing size/acreage, WDW wins, hands down. Maybe taking a peek at Google Earth will help? WDW has loads of elbow room; DLR is surrounded by suburbia. However, once you pass through Main Gate, city life is a distant memory....for a little while, anyway.

I say visit the original!

 

[3_disprincesses]

I am quickly becoming a DL convert and I have never even been! The number one reason for me wanting to try DL is NO BUSSES! After reading on here so much about the attitudes of the people about ECV's and the attitudes of the people on ECV's that I am ready to walk to the parks...no wasted time in bus lines or on bus rides either. No one I have ever traveled with cares anything about Animal Kingdom - we just go for EE and Dinosaur then we're through but we can do without either of them. World Showcase gets pretty boring except for the food - yum! And the rides we enjoy from DHS are in California also. That leaves MK and I understand DL has much more to offer YAY! As much as we enjoy WDW, we will definately head to Sunny So Cal for our next Disney trip and all the family is excited about it! Gotta give it a try at least once.

 

[cgorn]

There are a few key "personality" differences between DLR and WDW. I know people talked about the size differences (much less walking at DL with more rides packed in), the lack of need for buses (DL and DCA literally across the esplande from each other, with DTD right next door; three Disney resorts next to that, and a TON of reasonable "Good Neighbor" hotels on the other side), and feeling "Walt's hand," and all these things are true.

But what I loved about DL -- and this is what I consider the pinnacle of "Disney Magic" was the random and unexpected character interactions. It seems that in MK, most character greetings are at certain places and at certain times (although I have read some great stories here about random meetings, but it hasn't been my experience).

Here are my favorite stories:

1. We had a character breakfast at the Plaza Restaurant. I think it was billed as "Minnie and friends," and even the cast member we made the reservation with didn't know who was going to be there. As I recall, random characters popped in and out, including: Alice, Tigger, Mad Hatter, Capatin Hook (who scared the laylights out of my by banging on the window behind me!), Fairy Godmother... And on our way out, we say Mary Poppins and the penguins coming in.

2. That same morning, in the beginning of Main St., we saw J. Livingston Foulfellow (from Pinocchio). People were trying to get his autograph and/or picture with their kids, trying to maintain a line, but he just kept going to whoever he wanted, whether they were in line or not. A little kid asked why he was doing that, and the cast member said, "because he's bad!"

3. The next morning -- an Extra Magic Hour -- when we were let in, hundreds of people rushed down Main St., but at the beginning of the street was none other than Mickey himself, with no line! It was like he was just welcoming everyone into his home.

4. At DCA, we saw Sorcerer Mickey come out from a backstage area, unaccompanied by a CM. A 20-year old guest ran up to him, linked arms, and skipped on down the road. I can't imagine that happening at MK.

5. Also at DCA, also unaccompanied, Cinderella walked from the same area towards wherever she was heading. No fanfare -- just another occupant of Disneyland.

Also:
-Awesome fireworks, with Tinkerbell flying all around the castle
-Grizzly River Run
-California Screamin'
-Mr Toad's Wild Ride
...and last but not least, MATTERHORN!!!

I do agree that DLR is a 3-day vacation, and WDW is a 5-7 day vacation, but there is so much to do in So Cal that you can really make a great time of it all.

Have a good time!