Disneyland v. WDW - a few thoughts. Maybe a lot of thouhts.

[hookedonears]

Just got back from 3 days at the Grand Californian at Disneyland and have a few thoughts about the differences between WDW and Disneyland/CA.

There’s absolutely no comparison in the weather. The weather in Anaheim was absolutely perfect. Upper 70’s for highs lower 60’s for lows. Paradise.

Convenience - WOW. Walk out of one door and you’re in California Adventure, Walk out of another and you’re in Down Town Disney, which, in my opinion is much nicer than Down Town Disney in WDW. The walk from the Grand Californian to Disneyland is just about the same distance as walking from the Magic Kingdom Monorail station to the front gates of the Magic Kingdom. Maybe 250 yards. The distance from Disneyland to CA is literally a football field. You walk out of main gates of Disneyland and it’s a little over a stones through to the main gates of California Adventure.

The attractions at Disneyland and CA are extremely close together. You can get from one side of each park in just a few minutes. There’s not nearly the amount of walking as there is at WDW.

Overall we felt that the food quality was a step above the food quality at WDW. Besides the fact that my Gumbo at Blue Lagoon tasted like and had the consistency of a Jambalaya and my shrimp and fish Jambalaya tasted like Shrimp Creole, it was all very good. All of our meals were good.

That’s where the goodness ends in California.

At WDW, Disney builds the experiences at not only the parks, but the resorts as well. We felt none of that at Disneyland, CA or Grand Californian. All 3 felt like nothing more than your basic amusement parks or state or county fairs. The Grand Californian was a very nice resort, but that’s all it was. Very similar to the Wilderness Lodge, though a little nicer. There seems to more of a grandeur at Wilderness Lodge, however. The Disney feel seemed to be completely missing at The GC.

To us, California Adventure was extremely small, and very limited. To us, it wasn’t Disney like at all. Many of it’s attractions were nothing more that fair rides. California Screaming is a very fun roller coaster (similar to Rock’n Roller Coaster, but out doors). We were able to ride it several times because the crowds were somewhat manageable. I had heard that the people in California don’t like the park, and that was evident by relatively small crowd. World of Color was extremely cool and a must do. Doing the dinner and show is a must unless you want to wait in line for hours, or get there early in the morning to get fast passes for the show.

The crowds at Disneyland were a totally different story. The narrow walkways and huge crowds made the park almost unbearable. I’d always heard about the puny little castle and we were not disappointed. It was even punier than we expected. All of the buildings and attractions are on a much smaller scale. Walkways, ques and attractions all come together and overlap. Getting on It’s A Small World and Winnie the Pooh out doors is really odd. Riding a ride and watching people walking down the walkways and standing in ques is very odd. At the Magic Kingdom, you get much more immersed in the experience of each land. We didn’t get that feeling at all at Disneyland. The words hodge podge kept coming to our minds.

We’ve always been exhausted and sore from all of the walking we do at WDW during each trip. At the end of each day, my feet were just as sore from all of the standing in lines we did at Disneyland as well. Would we ever go back to Puny World? The answer is highly doubtfull.

 

[lugnut33]

See, I've been to both several time and I prefer Disneyland. My kids prefer Disney World. To each his own.

 

[daneenm]

I love both WDW and DL for different reasons. Having said that, I would take DL over Magic Kingdom any day of the week. It has a better feel and many of the rides are superior versions, in my opinion. The fact that you can get to everything without walking for miles is a bonus. Of course the downside is that crowds feel bigger because of less space. We tour in such a way that we do not wait in line more than 20 minutes for any ride

Would we ever go back to Puny World?

I am a firm believer that no one thing is right for everyone, but I do often wonder why folks feel the need to resort to derogatory name calling. At any rate, glad you enjoyed the CA weather and the food. Have a great next trip to WDW.

 

[BriarRosie]

I think Disneyland overall beats the Magic Kingdom of WDW in charm and unique attractions not found at WDW. While I'm underwhelmed by the castle, I love the walk-thru attraction featuring Sleeping Beauty, but I'm biased in favor.

While the sum of DLR's parts don't equal the total of WDW's, I still think there's plenty there that is superior to WDW and wouldn't write it off. WDW is my first Disney park experience, but I was blown away by the West Coast versions of Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain. Indiana Jones is far superior (IMHO) to Dinosaur, even though they share the same ride system.

Main Street USA at Disneyland also puts WDW's to shame. The only downside being the castle.

 

[hookedonears]

Attraction by attraction:
Space Mountain: While we haven't ridden the updated version at the Magic Kingdom, the ride at Disneyland is great. Loved it much more than the old version of Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom.

Indiana Jones: As said basically the ride and ride vehicle as Dinosaur and I agree, much better ride. I wish they'd replace the Disney Studio's IJ with the same ride at Disneyland.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Disneyland's is better than the one at the MK. Or at least it's much longer. My daughter timed it and she said it last about 20 minutes. I believe it. It's the longest ride I've ever been on. The front of the ride's facade is just an old wood framed house. It's just a totally different atmosphere.

Winnie the Pooh starting outside is totally strange and it's location in Critterland next to Splash Mountain is strange too. The ride, however is more open and I think is better than the one at WDW.

It's A Small World: Starting outside is strange, facade also needs some major updating.

Snow White Scarey Adventure: Really strange, there was no happy ending. The ride started happy, though half way though it was nothing but the wicked witch and the wicked witch was the last picture you saw. No riding off into the sunset.

 

[Iggipolka]

Wow. It always fascinates me how people going to the same parks, staying at the same resorts can have two totally different experiences and opinions. It's not a bad thing, just fascinating.

I got back from a 4 day trip to Disneyland on Tuesday (it's now Thursday) and stayed at the Villas at the Grand Californian. We had a wonderful time and while this was our 1st time at the Villas, we've stayed at the Grand Californian in the past and absolutely loved it. In fact, our love of the hotel is what made us buy into the DVC portion of the hotel. We find it to be beautiful, extremely comfortable with friendly staff and such a lovely walk through DTD to get to the Magic Kingdom or through the hotel's back entrance into California Adventure.

Thankfully, unlike Pete's horrible experiences, we had no problems with Bell Services and the package of baby necessities that I shipped to the resort, was waiting in our room upon checkin.

The food I pre-ordered through Disney wasn't in our room and did require two phone calls to bell services to locate the whole order. They delivered the stuff requiring refrigeration first, then the dry goods after I called a second time. However, they were really apologetic and comped us the stuff that they missed in the 1st delivery.

As far as Disneyland vs. Disney World...it's really apples and oranges. Walt learned from Disneyland to buy much, much, much more land in Florida to have the advantage of space. That being said, I enjoy the compact size of Disneyland. I love being able to walk from the resort to the parks w/o having to take a bus or boat or monorail. It's wonderful not having to fold up a stroller and carry a sleeping baby on a moving bus at the end of the day.

Having gone to DL more often than WDW I find the closed in line for Small World at WDW to be strange and love the open air line at DisneyLand. I like being able to watch people wandering by while waiting in line and it feels much less claustrophobic.

I like the themeing of the line at Winnie the Pooh at DL better than WDW. It's nice to stand in the lush green of the trees and grass and listen to the buzzing of the bees by the honey pots, than stand in the hot, inclosed, tight space at WDW.

Now, California Adventure, I have to agree is not my favorite park. Aside from California Screaming, Bugs Land, Monsters Inc, Soarin', Grizzly River Rapids and now World of Color, there's not much there currently. With the expansions in process of adding Arie's Underwater Adventure (or whatever it's called) and Car's Land (Test Track with a Cars theme), I think Ca Adventure is going to be much better.

World of Color is absolutely amazing and not to be missed. We did the picnic package and loved it. We also watched WoC one night from the viewing area on the 6th floor of VGC. Completely awesome.

I have always found the food at WDW to be exponentially better than at DL. It seems so odd to me that California is known for fresh, healthy, tasty food and yet, DL has such unhealthy, tasteless options. The food at DTD is much better and a short walk/drive off property offers a wide variety of cuisines with much lower prices.

We love DL and feel very lucky to live close(ish) to the park. It has it's drawbacks, but for us, the positives outweigh the negatives by a landslide. I guess it just depends on if you are a more frequent visitor to WDW or to DL.

 

[hookedonears]

Don't get me wrong. The Grand Californian is a very nice resort. To us it just didn't have the Grandeur and Disney feel that many of the resorts at WDW have. Being able to walk to the parks was great. The issues I have with DL are the narrow walkways and the changes from land to land occur so quickly and so seamlessly that much of the experience in each land is lost. The lands just seem to all run together in a hodge podge fashion. Also having rides and ques and walkway all running together takes away from the experience as well. Walt did learn from DL when building WDW and corrected many of the glaring problems that exist.
Sorry for the derogatory remark (Puny World). That Castle though....

 

[FireDancer]

I have only been to DL once while I have been to WDW many many times. I do prefer WDW because of the size and number of attractions and other things to do. Epcot is also my favorite park and there is nothing comparable at DL.

That being said I don't really don't think it is fair to compare the two as though they are different versions of the same thing. DL is a smaller, more intimate experience then WDW. Even if you just compare DLP and MK the two, while similar, really are two different experiences. Many of the rides they share are not exactly the same and in the case of Splash Mountain, they are only the same ride in name. I found the layout to be quite different in many ways to WDW and really enjoyed it for what it was instead of comparing it to WDW.

I think any WDW people going to DL for the first time (and the other way around) should try their hardest to look it not in comparison to the other resort but as a totally new experience. DCA really did seem to me as a half Disney half generic park. I am hoping all the money they are spending on the current refurb will fix much of that. Just like many people thing DCA is not a complete park there are people who thing AK is not a complete park. They both don't take an entire day to do (at least not for me) and both have a section of generic amusement park rides.

I like them both for different reasons. WDW for it's scope and memories of when I was a kid and DLR for it's compact intimacy and the feeling that Walt walked there (which I do realize is pretty Disney hack but it is what it is).

 

[BriarRosie]

The other thing that struck me at Disneyland that I don't see as much at the Magic Kingdom were the street vehicles and live entertainment. I thought Disneyland's Main Street was bustling with them moreso than the MK. And I'd see a band in Town Square, or musicians in New Orleans Square, and even pirate musicians at Tom Sawyer Island.

DCA used to have a comedy troupe that I enjoyed, but the group has long since been gone from there. I would spend my day going to their shows than much of the park.

 

[Miss SD]

I am a firm believer that no one thing is right for everyone, but I do often wonder why folks feel the need to resort to derogatory name calling. At any rate, glad you enjoyed the CA weather and the food. Have a great next trip to WDW.

I agree completely. I grew up in SoCal and we love our Disneyland! And to call it "Puny World"?! Not nice. I know WDW lovers hate when we say this, but Disneyland is the original. Without it, there would be no WDW, which became kind of the "master planned" Disney experience.

 

[auroralark]

I've only bee to Disneyland once. I went in there, thinking there was no way I was going to like it as much as WDW. I'm happy to say, I was wrong.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Disneyland. I've been to WDW over a dozen times and love, but there truly is something extra magical about Disneyland that's hard to describe. Especially the Fantasyland area. It's just better themed, I guess. There are more rides in DL than at the MK. Even my DH, who is so-so on WDW, did not want to leave DL. I was shocked by this, because he is not a big Disney fan. And he says he can't wait to go back! So you know there has to be something special about DL. As for the castle, when I first saw it I was shocked - it was smaller than I even expected, but you know what? It grew on me. I love it now. Not as much as Cinderella's castle, but it has it's own charm, and it's still beautiful.

Now California Adventure is another story...we didn't care for it at all. Having said that, we went back in January when there was a lot of construction going on and lots of the shows weren't running because it was the off-season. We'll give it another chance.

Honestly...I grew up going to WDW. I'll continue to go to WDW more, just because I live on the East coast and also WDW has 4 parks vs only the 2 out in CA, but...I actually kind of prefer DL park to the MK. Not that I don't love MK - it's still my favorite WDW park, but...like I said. DL's just got something extra.

 

[WebmasterPete]

I agree with almost everything you posted. I find the fast food inside the parks to be a step down from WDW - but that's always a matter of personal taste. I also love California Adventure, but I completely understand why a lot of people don't. If World of Color is any indication of the effort and creativity they'll be putting into the rehab of that park, I think we're all in for a great experience. I do agree that the 'off the shelf' attractions leave something to be desired. I'm hoping Disney learned their lesson with that and won't repeat it again, but that remains to be seen.

You're take on the GC is spot on, IMO. I spent the last week saying "nice, but completely unexceptional"

You're also right about the crowds at DL. That is my absolute least favorite thing about the park - it always seems crowded. I put up with it because I'm attracted to the fact that its the only Disney theme park Walt ever walked in, and theres a sense of history and nostalgia to that park that I can't get in any other Disney theme park. With that said, when I get home from DL and walk into our Magic Kingdom, I'm thankful they made it larger

Pete

 

[safetymom]

I posted this on the DL board after a trip in 2006.

My thoughts about the diff. between DL and WDW

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I got the chance last weekend to spend a day at DL after a business trip.

I live very close to WDW and get to visit quite often but I always enjoy going to DL and CA.

For me the first thing that always hits me when I walk towards DL is this is Walt's vision. I am always looking at all the little things that Walt had a hand in.

When I walked in last weekend the Disneyland band was playing. That immediately brought tears to my eyes. What a great welcome to the park. I stood there for awhile and listened to the music.

I always feel when I walk down Main St. it feels so familiar to me. If I had to decide which one I like better I couldn't when I compare it to WDW. I know I like the hub near the castle better at Disneyland. I like the trees that we don't have anymore in FL. But I like the castle better here in WDW. To me it seems much more grand in FL.

I always head toward New Orleans Square first at DL. I like this area and wish we had one in FL. I had my first breakfast of Mickey pancakes to put me in the Disney mood. It was wonderful sitting there watching the grand river boat float by. It doesn't seem right on the river at WDW without the boat.

After breakfast I headed back to Town Square to catch the rededication ceremony. Wow!!! That really brought tears to my eyes. I know it, I am a Disney geek. Another couple people around me were saying the same thing I was feeling. Boy I wish I could have been there opening day. The release of the doves was a surprise but it sure added to the ceremony.

After the ceremony I strolled over to Tomorrowland. I always get a feeling at DL that I know my way around because it is like WDW with a few extra areas.

Last weekend DL wasn't too crowded because everyone decided that they were going to California Adventure.

I am not a big ride person but I do have a few favorites. When I go to DL I try to ride those rides that started at DL and came to WDW and compare them. I also like to try the rides that only exist at DL now. I didn’t have a lot of time this trip but usually I ride Mr. Toad, Peter Pan, Pirates of the Carib. (which I think is much better at DL), Small World (again I think it is better in CA.) I love, love, love the Indiana Jones ride at DL. I sure wish they had it at WDW.

I finally got my Dole Whip in Disneyland. The last couple of times we were there the booth was closed.

I walked around the park and then spent some time sitting in the hub listening to a jazz band playing for Magic Music days.
Disneyland also has the different types of transportation that can take you from Town Square to the hub like WDW does. I always try to ride one of them when I go to Disneyland and I think I like the horse drawn cart the best. Did you ever notice that the horse has a Cast member name tag on?

I then headed out of Disneyland since my time was limited and I was on a mission to see it all in one 8 hour day.

I headed towards Downtown Disney. I think I prefer Downtown Disney at WDW better. There is more to see and do in Florida. I found a new shop I will visit again this trip. It is the Anne Geddes shop. I love her photography and they have lots of it for sale.

Be sure you plan a breakfast at Storytellers at the GC. They always fuss over you there and the food is delicious. It is also nice to walk through and see the lobby at the GC. It is a beautiful hotel.

I like how you can enter California Adventure from the GC. I wish WDW had something like that. There is nothing like immediately being right in the middle of things in a park.

The first thing I always head for at DL is Soarin over California. This is my favorite ride. I think the theming is much much better at CA than WDW. WDW’s version is nice but I like the feel of aviation history at CA. I always use the single rider line at DL but this time the wait was very long. Even though they had single riders waiting they were pulling some singles out of the regular line. I had never seen them do that before.

The lines were terribly long everywhere in CA on Sunday because everyone that had special tickets that expired this week hit CA. A CM said DL was very busy on Saturday.

Lots of people say they don’t like California Adventure. To me it is like a mix of MGM, Epcot, and some things we don’t have in FL. I think it is a great park since it has something for everyone.

Don’t miss the Aladdin show. I am not one for stage shows but this one was fantastic. Be sure to get there early if you want a great seat.

I wanted to try out the Monsters ride but there was an 85 minute wait. I love the Pacific Pier area of the park. I don’t ride any of the rides but love to sit and watch people on them. Also be sure to take the bread and taco tours. The food is delicious and I brought home 2 loaves of their sour dough bread.

I also caught the tail end of the Ugly Bug ball. I always try to watch it when I go to CA.

Be sure to save some time for the Beach Bash. I love sitting and listening to the music. The kids have fun doing the limbo. A few parents were doing it until the bar got too low. I wish WDW had something like this.

If you ask me which is better DL and CA vs. WDW I would tell you that I love them both. For me if you were planning a week long vacation I would choose WDW because there is so much more to see and do in FL. But for a 3-4 day vacation I would choose the Disneyland Resort.

I solved the problem by going to California for my summer vacation so I have the best of both worlds. I really enjoy Disneyland because that is what started all of this. My daughter took a vacation to Disneyland this weekend. She took the Walt’s tour and I will do that one the next time I go.

If you are driving be sure to figure out the parking. I came off the highway and pulled into the first theme park parking area I saw. I had a long walk to the park. We usually use the ART so I wasn’t familiar with the parking. After a long day in the parks walking to my car wasn’t real exciting.

So I guess my advice is you really need to see Disneyland, California Adventure and the parks in FL. You can’t go wrong no matter which one you choose.

 

[gkrykewy]

Interesting impressions. We're heading to DL for the first time at the end of september for a week in a studio at VGC.

 

[hookedonears]

To cut DL a little slack, it really was the first of its kind. And there were and are major space constraints that can't be overcome. Also my worst day in the world at DL, or WDW is a wonderful day.