Disneyland or Magic Kingdom

[Mickey99332]

Disneyland. Just got back from MK and was so disappointed. Everything is spread out, no Indiana Jones, no Matterhorn, Pirates was a disgrace, and the Fantasyland theming was boring.

Yes, the surrounding area is better at MK, but it is in the park where it really matters!!

 

[boomhauer]

Disneyland. Just got back from MK and was so disappointed. Everything is spread out, no Indiana Jones, no Matterhorn, Pirates was a disgrace, and the Fantasyland theming was boring.

Yes, the surrounding area is better at MK, but it is in the park where it really matters!!

Didn't you know there was no Matterhorn or Indiana Jones?

Being disappointed by that, wouldn't you be disappointed that Disneyland has no Epcot, MGM or Animal Kingdom?

 

[Mickey99332]

Yes, I knew those rides weren't teher. I was just disappointed in the MK in general. Yes, Epcot, AK, MGM were great, but I thought we were just discussing DL vs MK. In my opinion DL is a much better park. Just my two cents!!

 

[boomhauer]

Yes, I knew those rides weren't teher. I was just disappointed in the MK in general. Yes, Epcot, AK, MGM were great, but I thought we were just discussing DL vs MK. In my opinion DL is a much better park. Just my two cents!!

Yeah, we are. It just sounded like you weren't aware those rides weren't there.

Is DL bigger or smaller than the Magic Kingdom?

 

[DrTomorrow]

Here's a "MK is much better than DL" response.

First, I made my first 5 Disney trips to WDW (two of them in the early 70's, when all there was was the MK) then we visited DL, then 4 more WDW trips.

When we finally walked through the cheesy "There's Disneyland, there's California Adventure" entry area into DL, our first response was "Honey, someone shrunk the theme park!" It looks just like the MK, only smaller.

The whole "Walt's Park" thing ..... not so much. We're pretty pixie-dusty kind of folks - we bought into DVC so we can stay on-site year after year after year - but we just didn't get the fuzzy where every ride, every window, every fence was "put there by Walt". He designed the park - cool - but it's not like he's there beside us, providing a DVD-like commentary.

Did I love Indy? You bet - can't wait to see it at WDW. PotC? Longer == better. Matterhorn - eh, another minor Disneyfied coaster. Kiddie rides in FL? Well, Alice was a really tedious ride - no Philharmagic. But the whole place just seemed really cramped, the paths twisting and turning in unfortunate ways, and the castle - as someone else said, if I hit my green ball through the drawbridge, do I get a kewpie doll?

Don't get me wrong: we stayed at the GC and enjoyed both parks. We thought DL was cute, but we were glad to get back to our spacious MK.

Plus, don't forget: The MK is what Walt designed after he figured out what he did wrong with DL

Be well!

 

[snowbunny]

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

Very interesting...I could waste a lot of time with the google satellite pictures, already blew away serveral hours looking up my childhood neighborhoods. Better not go there now..

 

[wer14631]

Been to each park many, many times.

DL plusses:

1. Indiana Jones (best Disney ride in the U.S.),
2. New Orleans Square,
3. Superior Pirates ride, and
4. Toontown.

MK plusses:

1. Bigger/better castle and
2. More spread out and not so confining on crowded days.

Each have some rides and attractions that the other doesn't have, so this factor cancels itself out.

So why did I vote MK? As others have stated, when I'm at MK I feel totally immersed in Disney. At DL I am always conscious that on the othe side of the wall is the parking lot, the freeway, the beach, Hollywood, ... At DL, it would never occur to me to stay at a Disney hotel. At MK, it would never occur to me to NOT stay at a Disney hotel.

 

[mamacatnv]

My vote was for DLand, the question was specific to the preference of the 2 parks. Having been to both, I feel that DLand is better, 3 words as to why: New Orleans Sq. it does it for me. However, DLand does not have the whole WDW package; multiple parks, lots of themed hotels for all budgets, atmosphere, transportation and grounds that can be found in Florida, but that was not the question.

Just my 2cents....

 

[crzy4mk]

There have been many threads similar to this one (WDW vs. DL or MK vs. DL) and I typically don't chime in, but this time I think I will.
I've been to DL twice (once this past summer for the 50th anniversary) and it was wonderful! I love the many different things that are there that are not present at WDW. The weather is great, and there are some neat sentimental things about it being Walt's first park that make it special.
I've been to MK and WDW several times, and love it sooooo much! I would go several times a year if my job and budget would allow it. There is so much to do (just in the MK) and so many things that make it unique.
So, having said all that, I don't think you can honestly say "this park is better than that one". I understand that the OP just asked a question of "which do you prefer" which is legitimate, but both parks are so unique that it does them each and injustice to constantly compare them to one another. My philosophy is this: enjoy DL & MK for what they are . . . not what they are not.

 

[Randy K]

Everyone I talk to in California that grew up with Disneyland and then goes to Disney World for the 1st time seems to come back with the same impression. They love Disney World because of the whole experience: multiple parks, water parks, on-site resorts etc. but they always seem to be really dissapointed in The Magic Kingdom because it is missing so many rides from Disneyland and the ones that are the same are not as good as the Disneyland versions with the exception of Splash Mountain. As I said previously if I had to pick one Park it would be Disneyland without a 2nd thought but if I was picking a vacation spot for a week or so it would be Walt Disney World without a 2nd thought.

 

[LoriMistress]

There are pros and cons to MK and DL.

DL

Pros: Smaller, more intimate, more rides (Alice in Wonderland, Matterhorn, Space Mountain is redone, Pinochio, etc.) It is Walt's original park...there is nothing like it. POTC ride personally, is much better. Plus the Blue Boyuo Restraunt is delicious. Characters in the park are a bit more free. They can roam around whenever, and enteract with the children more than just posing and signing an autograph book.

Cons: Too many rude people (I know there are rude people everywhere regardless where you're from but I think a lot of it where the locals of the suburban parents, city folks, who has this "me" menality), Spash Mountain was shorter and the story just seemed very jumbled and was attempted to be thrown together. You don't feel like at times that you're in a Magical Place...as soon as you step out of the park you are rush into commericalism and lots of crappy and some-what seedy motels/hotels. (And there are some nice hotels/motels around that are affordable, but you just don't feel like you're in a magical place like WDW.) It almost felt like you were at an amusement park, not Disney. I've noticed that CM at DL arn't as friendly at WDW. It's nearly impossible to have a CM to say hello to you, but half the time they try to ignore you if you have a question. It's a bit frustrating.

WDW

Pro's: The park is bigger but not as many rides as DL, though, they have added a few attractions to make it stand out a bit like Mickey's Philomagic. Cinderella's Castle is amazing (compared to Sleeping Beauty it looks like a minature golf course castle). The staff are always friendly, helpful, and they make you feel special. Also, when you step out of the park you are still in the Disney Magic.

Cons: Space Mountain needs to be updated...badly. (I'm sure this will happen shortly, but it's slow, boring, and almost pointless to ride compared at DL). Characters are not as free as DL. They just pose quickly and sign an autograph book. Not too exciting. '

 

[denisekayt]

I've been to both DL and WDW this past year...and this is a really tough call for me! I like both of them, for different reasons, but in the end I went with Magic Kingdom. Here are some breakdowns of my thought process

- Splash Mountain is MUCH better at WDW in my opinion..not only is a longer ride, but the one in DL seems to "float" faster. You don't seem to have as much time to slowly float and view all the stuff in the logs at DL, and I like the side-by-side seating in the WDW ride better than the single seats at DL.

- I also liked that Splash Mtn and BTMR are next door to each other in WDW. These were 2 of my son's favorite rides and we had the best time riding them over and over again during the parades/fireworks when there were no lines. Since they are spread apart from each other at DL that's not an option there.

- One thing that I LOVE about DL, and really missed in the Magic Kingdom is New Orleans Square. I really like that area and Liberty Square just isn't a substitute.

- POTC is better at DL hands down

- The castle at Magic Kingdom rules! I'm all for bigger, more peaks, etc.

- DL IS more doable than WDW. I DO like it that there is less walking and you feel like you can do more in a day there than Magic Kingdom (not that you really can it just feels that way )

- I preferred Mickey's Country Fair to DL's Toon Town, probably because there was better shopping

- One of our favorites at DL is the Matterhorn...no substitute at Magic Kingdom

- No Mickey's Philharmagic at DL

- I like the outside of DL's Haunted Mansion (the building itself) better than the WDW version, but WDW has a much better cemetary area than DL's, overall this is probably a draw between the two

- I prefer DL's Fantasyland area....WDW's just seemed too straight and narrow for some reason, DL's feels bigger and more rounded (i.e. it feels more like a land instead of a strip)

- DL's railroad is better, I was shocked that WDW's railroad doesn't allow you to stop at all the different parts of the park like DL's does!!

OK, I guess I'll stop now! As stated above, overall if forced to choose I pick Magic Kingdom over DL, BUT I still have wonderful times on our trips to DL and for us since DL is so much closer and cheaper we'll definitely have vacations there.

One last story...after going to WDW I thought I might not enjoy DL quite so much when we went in October...I was WRONG. I had forgotten, the magic still lives there. Sure, the park isn't as big, our ultimate fav Splash Mtn isn't the same, but there's still MAGIC!

We enjoy the intimacy of the DL parks...I can't put it into words just right, but the ability to quickly walk from our hotel room to the entrance of either park at DL and also the feeling that we accomplish so much in our 4 or 5 days there (WDW is so much bigger that I just don't ever get that "completness" feeling...not that I'm really complaining about that loudly mind heh heh heh).

If I had a choice and money was no object? Yes, I'd go to WDW most of our vacations, but for us this isn't an option so we'll enjoy both places...and try to remember after our giant, big WDW vacation that we still love our 2nd favorite vacation spot DL

 

[crzy4mk]

- DL's railroad is better, I was shocked that WDW's railroad doesn't allow you to stop at all the different parts of the park like DL's does!!

Great job comparing and contrasting what you like about each park! But the WDW railroad does have stops in different parts of the park. I know it stops in Frontierland and Mickey's Toontown, and there may even be one more other than Main Street.

 

[boomhauer]

Great job comparing and contrasting what you like about each park! But the WDW railroad does have stops in different parts of the park. I know it stops in Frontierland and Mickey's Toontown, and there may even be one more other than Main Street.

Nope - Train only stops in Toontown, Frontierland and Main Street USA. I like it like that though. I wouldn't want it to stop in every land. It would take away some of the feel for the train ride. Plus, it's not necessary.

 

[crzy4mk]

Nope - Train only stops in Toontown, Frontierland and Main Street USA. I like it like that though. I wouldn't want it to stop in every land. It would take away some of the feel for the train ride. Plus, it's not necessary.

I thought that's what I said. And DL's train doesn't stop in every land either. It has 4 stops (counting Main Street) to MK's 3.

P.S. Also meant to add . . . I actually enjoy DL's railroad a little more just for the theming (the trip through prehistoric times). While it is very dated, I think that's what I like about it. It has a certain nostalgia.

 

[denisekayt]

Nope - Train only stops in Toontown, Frontierland and Main Street USA. I like it like that though. I wouldn't want it to stop in every land. It would take away some of the feel for the train ride. Plus, it's not necessary.

It was the Tomorrowland stop that I really missed while we were in MK...it would have been convenient for us a few times. I think it was also more the shock that since Magic Kingdom is bigger I was anticipating the train should make just as many if not more stops!

I too like the theming of the DL train...and found the MK one not quite as fun.

 

[kristenhh]

I have been to Disneyland many more times than the MK. I just returned last week from WDW and my family did agree the following rides were better at WDW:

Peter Pan
Winnie the Pooh
Splash Mountain

They also had Mickey's Philharmagic which was great.

We decided the rides that are much better at Disneyland are:

Space Mountain (WDW's really really sucked. It was like the Matterhorn.)
Small World
Pirates of the Caribbean

Plus DL also has and MK does not:

Mr. Toad
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Storybook Canal Boats
Alice in Wonderland

They are all favorites (okay not Mr. Toad) with us.

I like both, but Disneyland wins.

 

[crzy4mk]

It was the Tomorrowland stop that I really missed while we were in MK...it would have been convenient for us a few times. I think it was also more the shock that since Magic Kingdom is bigger I was anticipating the train should make just as many if not more stops!

I too like the theming of the DL train...and found the MK one not quite as fun.

When you go back to MK, get off at the Toontown depot. There is a little "back" pathway that will lead you straight to Space Mountain. It is very close to Tommorrowland.

 

[oogie boogie]

Here's my opinion and we r at Disneyland EVERY weekend!! I like MK better. Just more of everything and the rides seem longer and better. My 9yo daughter feels the same way.

 

[denisekayt]

When you go back to MK, get off at the Toontown depot. There is a little "back" pathway that will lead you straight to Space Mountain. It is very close to Tommorrowland.

Thanks for the tip crzy4mk! We'll have to try that out next time