Disneyland or Disney World?

[MickeyMcMouse]

Has anyone stayed at Disneyland on points and can you tell me the main differences compared to Disney World.

many thanks

David

 

[wdwendyd]

I grew up in Southern California and we went to Disneyland regularly. I even worked there for a few years. I love Disneyland. It is the original and has a lot of charm to it because of the smaller scale. Also, we live in Oregon and it is so much easier for us to get to Disneyland.
That being said, we always go to Walt Disney World! It is more of a real vacation because you do not have to leave Disney property to have a fantastic time. We go every year for 2 and a half weeks and do not go to other tourist attractions in Florida. When I lived in California (1957-1979), it was the ideal time for Disneyland. Southern California is overcrowded now and if you think the Magic Kingdom in WDW can get crowded, you will hardly believe what it is like there!
If you want to see other sights in So. California such as Hollywood, I still recommend WDW instead!
Okay, now that I got that out, I think every Disney fan should visit Disneyland at least once.

 

[stlrod]

We visited Disneyland twice last year and I was extremely impressed by the improvements to the surrounding area over our last visit 5 years ago. I really like the Disneyland resort. It is compact like Universal Florida and you can walk everywhere. I like the Downtown Disney area very much. Although I do not think it is aa week-long destination like WDW (3 nights is sufficient), it makes a great component of a Southern California vacation which has so much more to offer other than theme parks. As for points, I really don't think the hotels are worth the point requirements. The hotels are much less expensive due to the availability of other nearby hotels. Also, we stayed at all 3 hotels last year. I am not a fan of the GC (but probably in a distinct minority.)

 

[vcasey]

Just got back from our first trip to Disneyland over Easter and loved it. Although I still love WDW more becuase I just feel its more Magical becuase DL is in the middle of the city bussle still. We stayed at both the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian becuase we wanted experience both. We were planning to use points but then changed our mind and boy was I glad!! We had gotten pretty good AAA rates but then 1 week before hand Expedia was running a special if you pre-paid the room that saved us $100/night on DLH and $125/night on GC (An incredible surprise since we were there 5 nights) . So if you want to stay 'on-site' you still probably can find much better cash prices on Expedia and Travelocity than you would get values-wise for the points.

 

[MikeScott8]

I went to Disneyland back when I was a kid and they were having one of thier anniversary (not sure which one off hand). But every XX (the number of years they were celebrating) person through the turnstiles won a prize. I was one of the many lucky ones. I didn't win anything big, just a ticket to get into Disneyland on another visit. I still have that ticket and every time I see it when cleaning I check again that there is no expiration date, and there is not one as far as I can see, and I have looked lots of times!

So sometime in my life I plan on using that ticket, of course over the 20 (or so) years since I got it I am sure the prices have gone up (a buck or two )!

Now that I am in DVC (a few months) I plan on using points for the stay whenever I make it out there. It just isn't that easy to get there from NY when you are not a big flying fan and prefer see the sights driving.

Mike

 

[JonHM]

IMHO, Disneyland is fantastic from a historical perspective, and if you happen to be in Southern California for something else, is a really great thing to do. But I do not feel that it is the amazing completely immersive experience that WDW is. But at WDW, and *particularly* with DVC, you experience the Magic almost constantly and don't have to go off-site if you don't want to.
Remember, Disneyland is a theme park in the middle of a city. If you are choosing between a visit to one and a visit to the other, if that is the ONLY factor involved in your choice, I would *strongly* recommend WDW over DL. But again, DL is a *wonderful* place to visit if you're travelling to Southern California.

 

[raidermatt]

We stayed at the GC on points for 4 nights in August of last year.

Disneyland the park is the best of the 6 Disney parks in the U.S., in my opinion.

The Disneyland Resort as a whole has been greatly improved, with the additions of the Grand Californian, Downtown Disney, California Advneture, and other numerous landscaping and transportation improvements. Disneyland used to truly be a theme park in the middle of a city. Now, I would call it a mini-resort in the middle of a city, which is quite unique. As others have said, it is compact, and if you stay at the GC, everything is within easy walking distance. If you stay at one of the other hotels, DH or PPH, it still can be walked, or you can take Disney transportation. If you stay off-site, most hotels have some kind of shuttle that goes to Disney, or you can use a rental car.

That said, even a Disney fanatic would be hard-pressed to spend more than 5-6 days here without seeing everything. Disneyland takes 2-3 days, depending on how busy it is. DCA is anywhere from a 1/2 day to about a full day, depending on your tastes. Even at a leisurely pace, you will probably want to schedule some non-Disney stuff if you will be there longer than 5-6 days.

WDW is larger, and is more isolated from the outside than DLResort. MK is almost as good as DL (in my opinion), and Epcot and MGM are hands-down better than DCA. I would also say AK is much better than DCA, but some might disagree.

The WDW DD is larger and more scenic, plus there are two excellent water parks, 5 championship golf courses, more resort and dining options, and water activities like boating.

If your goal is to have the best Disney vacation, WDW is probably going to be your best choice.

 

[darner]

I'll share my two cents as we used DVC pts. for a 5 night stay at the GCHotel last month... It rivals the ambiance of the Wilderness Lodge, and it's location couldn't be better. Just go outside and you're in the park, literally!

You may notice "less" commercialism at DL (less is a relevent term when it comes to Disney)...***the only ride at DL Magic Kingdom that exits into a gift shop is Small World... Compare that to WDW MK and basically every ride exits right into a gift shop.

The improvements at the Disneyland Resort have been amazing... They have really made it a destination location worthy of more than just a day or two. The Magic Kingdom certainly reflects the nostalgia of Walt's original dream.

We were even able to ride (paddle) the Davy Crockett Canoes (first time we'd seen them open at either park!) And the Indiana Jones Ride at DL is probably the best ride at any Disney park.

DL attracts its share of day trippers vs. the extended visitors to Orlando. If you can visit during the week, especially when school's IN session, you'll notice a considerable drop off of crowds and will probably enjoy your visit even more.

Calif Adventure is a good park. It has some great attractions (Soaring over Calif., Grizzly River Rapids, Sun Wheel, etc.). It's like a small sampling of MGM, Epcot, and amusement park. It's still in development and should only get better as they add more attractions.

Since we travel from the east coast, we've done other Calif. attractions after an extended stay at DL. (San Diego once, San Fran once, and this last time used DVC points through the Concierge Collection at Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica for the beach scene!).

In some respects, trips to DL are more relaxing since there's less to see and do vs. WDW... and the weather is practically perfect everyday (no pesky afternoon thunderstorms, although the distant smog isn't too appealing). Because of the lack of rain, the Teacups, Alice's adventure, and Small World have more open air access and even Main Street doesn't have as many canopies which gives it a more open feel.

 

[nezy]

I have been wondering about that hotel w/in the disneyland Park. Do you need a park pass to check in? where do you park your car? Can you stay at the hotel and not got to the park?

What is the set-up?

 

[ceejay13]

The Grand Californian is connected to DCA. We have used points once to stay there and are returning in 2 weeks for our 3rd stay. We think the points are a little high and with an AP, even our GC room are very affordable. The AP's are very affordable and with savings on rooms and food we feel it is worth the extra to go that route. As far as the logistics, there is self-parking directly across the street from the hotel or you can valet it at the front door which is opposite of the entrance into DCA. You do not need a park pass to stay at the hotel and don't have to visit the parks. I highly recommend a theme park view. On our last stay we were in a 3rd floor room directly over the entrance to DCA with a great view of Grizzly River Rapids. It is wonderful to watch the goings on throughout the day and night. Our first visit we had a DD view which was also fun. There is another exit out to DD, which is very nice and the monorail runs through the hotel but does not stop. I agree with darner and raidermatt that the resort is just great. They both did a nice job of summing up the feel of the resort since the changes of the last few years. As I have posted before, we go out once to San Diego once a year for business and always stay 4 extra nights at DL. It is much smaller that WDW but what a special place.

 

[stings]

I live a half hour from Disneyland and have since I was five. During the spring and early fall months it is truly magical. There are no crowds and the atmosphere is perfect.

Now, while my family and I love DL, and always will, there is still nothing like WDW in our opinion. Just last night we were deciding where to go on vacation next summer, Hawaii or WDW. The World won hands down, and we really enjoy Hawaii too.

We bought into DVC not so much for the resorts themselves, although we think OKW is the greatest, we bought because we truly believe WDW is even more magical than DL.

That being said, Disney is really trying to make the DL resort a "vacation" destination. California Adventure is slowly coming along, and to the first-time visitor can be a really wonderful day trip. Downtown Disney is very well done, and yes you can walk to all these place plus the three hotels in ten minutes easily. So, if you come to Southern California you can spend three days at Disney and the rest of the week you can see all the other amusements here the rest of the time. And there are many, many, wonderful places and things to see here.

Finally though if you haven't been to either WDW or DL before I recommend WDW. Either way I'm certain you will have a great time!

 

[ErinC]

I grew up in Florida, and have been to WDW too many times to count (mostly daytrips). We now live in AL and just bought DVC, we are taking our first trip with points in 3 weeks. Last November/December my DH had a conference in Las Vegas, and we went out to Vegas a week early. We rented a car, and drove to LA on Thanksgiving Day. We stayed in Anaheim for six nights at the Marriott Residence Inn, courtesy of Priceline ($33 per night for a studio room that included breakfast). We were a block away from the main parking entrance to DL. We loved DL. My DH kept saying" I hope your not going to be disappointed." I went with the knowledge that the two parks are different, and I just wanted to compare. We bought 4 day hoppers, and went for 4 1/2 day time periods. The tickets were much cheaper which was nice, so we didn't feel we just had to spend all day long for 4 days there. We went Thanksgiving day for 1/2 day, and even then I thought the lines were very manageable. Then we went on Mon, Tues, and Wed., and the lines were non existent. We walked on the everything. We have 2 DD's ages 5 & 2. The size of the park was great with small children, you don't walk yourself to death, like at the World. I can't comment whether or not it would be worth it to use points for the resorts, but they did look beautiful, especially GC. We did the character dinner at DH for Thanksgiving supper, so we did see a little of the hotel. From the outside, they are nothing to write home about. I'm a person who thinks the only way to enjoy WDW is to stay at WDW, but at DL, I don't think it's as important. If money is not an object or you just have extra points, you need to use, then try out the DL hotels, if not there are plenty of offsite hotels, just across the street, that are also within walking distance. I found a real love of DL that I wasn't sure I would have. We thorougly enjoyed our trip, and if we happen to go that way again, I would love to go back. I wouldn't make a special trip just to do DL when we are so close to WDW. If you do make a trip, there are many things in the area we enjoyed, like going to Hollywood, and driving up the coast. My husband also drooled at the Petersen's car museum we went to, so there are many great options, to add to your trip. Hope this helps, Erin

 

[MickeyMcMouse]

Thanks very much for info - looks like it might be a 4 or 5 night visit to the parks and then a week exploring the rest of the area.

David