Disneyland or Magic Kingdom

[boomhauer]

I was just curious, as I've never been to Disneyland. Please vote only if you have been to both Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Which of the 2 did you prefer? Consider all things, such as size, magical element, cleanliness, immersion, rides, attractions, atmosphere.

Thanks.

 

[Pea Picker]

I have been to both parks (Disneyland 4 times) and Magic Kingdom numerous times. I must say that Disneyland does offer rides that are not at the Magic Kingdom or within Disney World. And one of my favorite rides (Indiana Jones Adventure) in all of Disney is only at Disneyland, I still prefer the Magic Kingdom. The feel you get out of the Magic Kingdom is much stronger Disney wise (imho) than what you get in Disneyland. It may be because I have only been to Disneyland by myself and not with my family why I feel that way.

 

[Randy K]

Hi 1st time poster, several month lurker.
I prefer Disneyland because it has about 25%-30% more rides probably because it was built 16 years earlier and some of the rides like the Railroad and Pirates are much better at Disneyland. I grew up around Disneyland and have been there way too many times to count so that may effect my vote. I always tell everyone that if I had to chose one Disney Park out of the 4 in Florida and Disneyland and California Adventures in California to go to for one day I would chose Disneyland simply because its the largest as far as rides and things to do but for a vacation I would chose Disney World over Disneyland Resort.

 

[MissBubbles]

I grew up in So. California and have been to Disneyland more times than I can count. I've also been to WDW 4 times. I voted for Disneyland because:

1. The Original Park and the one Walt had much input on.
2. Different Rides - Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Alice in Wonderland, Casey Jr. Train, Storybook boats.
3. Some "old" rides that WDW no longer has - Mr. Toad, Main Street Cinema.
4. Interesting to see the differences in the parks - how much smaller Sleeping Beauty's castle is than Cinderellas, how much better (IMO) Haunted Mansion, Pirates and Small World is in California.
5. New Orleans Square - Replaced by Liberty Square in FL, I love this land. Be sure & try the fritters and mock mint julep punch! Yummy!!

I would have voted for Florida for a first timer, but you should try Disneyland at least once.

 

[Timmbco]

Every time I am in Magic Kingdom I am disappointed I'm not in Disneyland. FOR ME alot about Disneyland is better.....Tomorrow Land, Small World, Fantasy Land, Fantasmic, Pirates, Mr. Lincoln, New Orleans Square, Haunted Mansion, Indy, Tea cups ... I love how the monorail goes through Tomorrow Land and Downtown Disney. I love how you can walk around the back of Big Thunder to get to Splash. I love that the train makes 4 stops.
WDW is fantastic but MK is my least favorite park. Although I will say that when I fist saw the castle in DL I was like "Whoaa, that's small!"

 

[boomhauer]

Wow - Pretty even so far.

We've had a few responses on why people like Disneyland better, yet no explanations from the people that prefer Magic Kingdom....

 

[nhpooh]

I have been to both parks (Disneyland 4 times) and Magic Kingdom numerous times. I must say that Disneyland does offer rides that are not at the Magic Kingdom or within Disney World. And one of my favorite rides (Indiana Jones Adventure) in all of Disney is only at Disneyland, I still prefer the Magic Kingdom. The feel you get out of the Magic Kingdom is much stronger Disney wise (imho) than what you get in Disneyland. It may be because I have only been to Disneyland by myself and not with my family why I feel that way.

Ditto on this, I have been to DL 2 times. Once with my sister and cousin, and the last time with my family DH and DD(17). I love WDW FL.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Been to both and love both.

 

[Horizons16]

Though Magic Kingdom is larger and such, I would say Disneyland is better IMHO. To stand in the castle gates and think that Walt walked those same pathways... its just cool for lack of a better word.
Everything seems so magical there.

Dont get me wrong I love MK as well. I voted for DL though for the history factor.

 

[boomhauer]

Though Magic Kingdom is larger and such, I would say Disneyland is better IMHO. To stand in the castle gates and think that Walt walked those same pathways... its just cool for lack of a better word.
Everything seems so magical there.

I thought Disneyland was bigger than the Magic Kingdom?

 

[snowbunny]

I voted for Disneyland because:

1. The Original Park and the one Walt had much input on.
2. Different Rides - Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Alice in Wonderland, Casey Jr. Train, Storybook boats.
3. Some "old" rides that WDW no longer has - Mr. Toad, Main Street Cinema.
4. Interesting to see the differences in the parks - how much smaller Sleeping Beauty's castle is than Cinderellas, how much better (IMO) Haunted Mansion, Pirates and Small World is in California.
5. New Orleans Square - Replaced by Liberty Square in FL, I love this land. Be sure & try the fritters and mock mint julep punch! Yummy!!

I would have voted for Florida for a first timer, but you should try Disneyland at least once.

That said, we haven't been back to Disneyland since before our kids were born. With all the wonderful things listed above, especially the Matterhorn and Mr. Toad, Disneyland sits in a parking lot amidst the sprawl that is Anaheim. Much of Disneyland is on a smaller scale...the buildings, the public spaces. There isn't room for more. Disneyland seems miniaturized compared with the Magic Kingdom (not necessarily a bad thing, but it is easy to understand why Walt began quietly buying up huge tracts of cheap land in central Florida for WDW).

 

[boomhauer]

When you say it sits on a parking lot, how do you mean?

Magic Kingdom is beautifully landscaped and feels nothing like a typical amuesement park. Is Disneyland not like that?

 

[snowbunny]

When you say it sits on a parking lot, how do you mean?

Magic Kingdom is beautifully landscaped and feels nothing like a typical amuesement park. Is Disneyland not like that?

Well yes, Disneyland is like that, inside. But you do not have the same sense of entering the realm before you actually get in the park that you do at WDW. Disney owns so much land around WDW parks that there is a buffer that doesn't exist at Disneyland. Picture if you can driving down International Drive in Orlando past the motels and fast food places, seeing the big sign, "Disneyland" - I love that sign - and in the middle of it all, simply turning into a sea of parking places, in the midst of which is the magic kingdom.

I'm not sure if this conveys the sense of it. I do love Disneyland but Southern California is one of the most densely developed places in the United States. In the 1950s, Anaheim was a sleepy farm town...that all changed and I suppose a lot of it had to do with Disneyland among other things.

 

[#1_Donald_Duck_Fan]

Never been to Disneyland I have always gone to Disneyworld since I was a baby living in Florida. So I would have to go with Magic Kingdom at Disneyworld

 

[NMAmy]

I chose Disneyland simply because Disneyland was the first park I've personally ever been to and so, to me, it seems "right."

Certain things at the MK are jarring to me after many visits to DL--It's a Small World is just wrong at the MK. It's so non-descript on the outside compared to the wonderful version at DL. I prefer PoC at DL and I love things like the Storybook boats and the Casey Jr train, Mr. Toad and the Alice in Wonderland ride.

I have a great time at both but DL will always have a special place in my heart.

 

[darner]

my vote, Disneyland...

a couple of things that set these two apart:

1) Weather: you don't get the daily rains in So.Calif. so you can have more outdoor rides: Tea Cups, Alice in Wonderland, Storybook Canal Boats, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Small World queue, etc.

2) MK in FL is in-your-face commercialism... about every ride in Florida exits into a gift shop. Compare that to DL and maybe you can say that Small World exits into one, but you don't have to go in/through. Sure, maybe Disney got it right in their minds in Florida, but it's much nicer atmosphere in Calif.

3) The guests... I'd bet the majority of DL guests are more frequent visitors, day-trippers or multi-day visitors... vs. FL "week-long" vacationers (in general)... the results of these differences are noticable in souvenier purchases, picture taking, and overall competativeness between guests... or maybe it's just the laid back attitude that comes with So.Calif.

4) Walkable... walk to all the hotels "on-property" in Disneyland or across to Calif.Adv. Think of all the time "wasted" waiting in line & riding boats, buses, monorails between parks and to & from hotels...

5) Indiana Jones ride... one of THE best... Dinosaur (Countdown to Extinction?) at AK doesn't match up.

6) New Orleans Square... while Liberty Square has HoP, the overall appearance of New Orleans Square is one of the most relaxing & inviting location along the River of America.

just my 2 cents...

 

[jlovesee]

This is a tough question, I voted for Disneyland as that is where my Disney experience started (My mom took me to Disneyland when I was 8 and I feel in love), and its just pure classic. Plus Haunted Mansion and Pirates of Carribean are better rides at Disneyland obviously because they are the originals.

The only negative I can think about is the castle at Disneyland my husband likes to call it the putt-putt castle as it looks like its out of a miniature golf course its so small!

Jennifer

 

[boomhauer]

We've got 9 more people who prefer Magic Kingdom, but still, only descriptions from the people that like Disneyland better.

Magic Kingdom fans - Let's hear your reasons.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I prefer Disneyland because it was Walt's park. I love looking up at the light on in the window of Walt's apartment above the firestation. Gives me a lump in my throat every time. I also love New Orleans Square, Indiana Jones ride, the Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Blue Bayou restaurant inside that ride, Space Mountain (way better since the refurb, no comparison), and Fantasyland. Fantasyland at Disneyland is much more lovely and charming and has several rides such as Alice in Wonderland, Storybookland Canal Boats, Casey Jr. Circus Train, the Matterhorn and Mr. Toad. I can spend a whole day just in Fantasyland! But I love WDW because I love the 4 parks, all the onsite lodging choices, water parks, more sitdown dining options and just a more removed from the real world feeling. But in comparing MK to Disneyland, Disneyland wins hands down to me. One thing I think MK does have over Disneyland is Mickey's Philharmagic. If they could find a way to add that at Disneyland or DCA I would be in heaven!

 

[boomhauer]

Check out this page. Very interesting. It has 2 images from the same distance - One atop of the Magic Kingdom, and one atop Disneyland. Really interesting.

http://www.mickeynews.com/Columns/PrintColumn.asp_Q_id_E_287