Disneyland or WDW which would you choose ?

[quiltymom]

I just ordered the unoficial guide today, and I also got done booking my trip!! its final, I lost 150.00 re booking but its ok, I am so glad to go to WDW.
I am studying all there is so I can get a grasp on it all, and like anything, I will do what I can in the parks and not sweat the small stuff. I love to fly, so does my kids so the flight will be fun to. I want to see the differences of both parks, but I also want to ride the thrill rides in WDW. the yetti looks amazing and so does rocking roller coaster.
Thank you all, I did make my decision and I am beginning now to walk on my treadmill. to prepare me for all the walking :lol:

Here's my first big tip - you can't do it all. There's absolutely no way, unless you are planning on staying there for weeks. If you start your planning knowing this in advance, then you'll be fine. Read up, make lists of what looks good to you, then plan around it.

My second big tip - get to the parks at rope drop. You'll be amazed at how much you can get done within the first hour or so. We skipped the morning extra magic hour parks since they seemed to get more busy faster.

For our first WDW trip I tried to do all of the things that we couldn't see at DLR, since I knew that we'd be back there again way before another WDW trip. Then on our second trip I made notes of what we had wanted to see the first time and didn't, and made those items our priority.

Whenever we do return to WDW again (who knows when), we'll return to those things unique to WDW, those things we absolutely loved and adored, then will do the things we missed on trips one and two. It's great to have something to look forward to!

I am having an impossible time finding a 2008 december park scedule, but I am sure I will find one sooner or later.

It will come out 6 month prior, so be looking for the hours to be released in early Summer. You can always check out the DIS for the 2007 hours, which don't change much from year to year.

Have fun with all of your planning! That's half of the fun.

 

[Artoo]

I love WDW and would go there more often (if I could afford it ), but I've never been to DLR (until this September), so I really have nothing to compare WDW to!
I love WDW because of the hugeness of it. I am a huge EPCOT fan and love Typhoon Lagoon, too. I like the fact that WDW is pretty much it's own city, and everything you need is right there.
I am VERY excited to go to DLR (who wouldn't be?!?) in a few months. I am looking forward to riding the Matterhorn and my beloved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride that was taken away from WDW. I am always very excited to experience the spirit and magic of DLR. I read a Walt Disney biography last year and there was so much about DL....how Walt poured his heart and soul into the park and how he wanted everything to be perfect. I can't wait to experience the real thing. When my DH and I were talking about the anniversary trip there that we are planning, he was like, "isn't this pretty much just a smaller version of the MK in WDW?" and I said, "no, this is the original. This is where it started."

 

[DSNY4ever]

Although I love both parks and since I am closer to the DLR I go there much more often...but HANDS DOWN I PICK WDW. People say "oh it's not the original, or it's not Walt's dream, or it's too big." I have never understood the too big complaint...more magic right? And I love the fact that it is so big that when I stay inside the parks it is like I am traveling through a city and I never have to leave the magic or see the real world while I am on my vacation. It is also cheaper to stay on Disney property! In California I have to stay at the not so nice hotels around the park because that is all we can afford, and although it is fine because we spend all day int he parks (it honestly just isn't as magical). In WDW we can stay in the value or moderate resorts for really great prices and we get all of the perks of staying on Disney property- and really cool pools for break time! It really feels like a resort trip there- and that is what Walt wanted...and escape from the real world- not the line up of hotels/motels/chain restaurants on Harbor blvd. But they are different experiences- and I am grateful to have gone to both. I just love Disney in general- so I think everyone should experience both parks!

 

[keishashadow]

As what i consider a special treat, i chose Disneyland this summer

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I had that very choice this year for my honeymoon. I could go to WDW or DL.

When I was 9 years old, I took my first trip to DL and loved it. My next Disney tip was to WDW, 10 years later and we stayed a total of 10 days and loved it. Since then I went to WDW many, many, many times. 2 years ago, I had the opportunity to go back to DL and I honestly didn't remember much about DL and thought I was going to be disappointed because it wasn't massive like WDW and didn't have the water parks, etc. We had only been home 2 months from our WDW vacation, when we got this opportunity. We went at the busiest time of the year, huge signs that said parks would reach max so arrive early and when I saw those signs I just knew DL wasn't going to be for me since I always go to WDW at off peak times to avoid the crowds. Turns out DL swept my heart away and I loved it. Turned out to be the best vacation my SO and I ever had together. We still love WDW, but DL has an amazing feel to it.

We decided to go to DL for our Honeymoon this year and not WDW. It is just really hard for me to compare the two because they each offer something different to me.

 

[wkrider]

I like going to DisneyLand because it is so close to where I live but I absolutely LOVE WDW. When I am there I feel totally withdrawn from the real world being "on property". I just don't get that feeling being in Anaheim.

 

[Lou-Ann]

We are in AZ also and can get to DL so much easier. The parks are lovely and we feel so much of Walt there. I do so wish they had a Port Orleans and a Wilderness Lodge for the prices in Fla., however......

 

[TinkandPooh]

Ok so I am native to California so we are AP holders and do DL all the time so I really do love DL.................................................................. but because I have been to WDW as well I have to say that WDW would be my choice if I were able to get there all the time.
I really loved it so much that for the past 6 months my husband and I have been looking into homes in Florida and seeking a job transfer for him.
If we were able to secure the transfer and find a home there would be nothing stopping us from going to Florida and I am serious when I say we would have never considered a move there if it had not been for our trip to WDW. So we would be moving just to be near WDW. (some people think this is crazy, but for us no way!!!) I would get a job there and work the rest of my days for DISNEY
Now that's the SWEET LIFE!!!!
But that does not mean I do not still love DL!!!
I think what I loved about WDW is that there is so much more to do and to explore verses DL and they have many more onsite resorts that you can stay at each giving you a very different experience than the other.

Like I said though I am so thankful to have DL so close because I just do not know what I would do if I was not so close to DL.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

Well, since I average a trip to DLR every month or 2- and I just went to WDW for the first time in Jan- I'd like to go back to the World and experience the vacation/resort aspect of Disney. Our trips to DLR are usually 2 days max and quick, so for me, the vacation feel of the WDW trip is nice- however, getting a cheap flight out there from CA is usually not easy.

 

[Quest4Kingdom]

If I had to choose for once I would choose WDW since I've never been there yet. However, as far as prefence and obvious bias , I would definitely choose DL over WDW for the simple reason of memories ahhh reminiscing my childhood memories! and sharing them with my kiddos.
Although I am still open to creating new ones at WDW, they still would not be the same!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

If I had to choose for once I would choose WDW since I've never been there yet. However, as far as prefence and obvious bias , I would definitely choose DL over WDW for the simple reason of memories ahhh reminiscing my childhood memories! and sharing them with my kiddos.
Although I am still open to creating new ones at WDW, they still would not be the same!

I agree with you. I've been to WDW many times (and we're heading back in November for 7 days plus DCL!!) and love it, especially Epcot.

But if I had to pick one that is my favorite, that I'd go to again and again- it'd be Disneyland, hands down. My first trip to DL was in 1978. I had come to California to visit my grandparents, and they were so excited to take me to DL. I so clearly remember my granny's laugh as I screamed through Matterhorn... my grandpa trying to get me to ride Space Mountain (and I chickened out at the last minute!)...loving the Main Street Electric Light Parade. I've been just about every year since. My parents were and are big Disney fans as well, so we always made at least one trip a year.

But now I have so many wonderful memories of DL with my kids! It feels like "home" to us. I get excited every time we drive up.