Disneyland Vet, First time WDW

[mickey+minnie91]

What do I need to know about WDW that is different than Disneyland? I usually have a list ready of the order I want to ride the rides at DL , I havent seen much of that for WDW. At disneyland, we bounce around alot between parks and different lands. What tips and tricks do I need to know.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

A tip is to plan your trip carefully around holidays, school breaks and the like. WDW gets far fewer locals and far more international tourists, and the crowds can play a huge part in how much you enjoy your trip. Since WDW changes their ticket prices according to demand, you can search for the lowest cost dates and they should also be the lowest crowd dates! You might want to consider a Touring Plans subscription to come up with your daily plan, they take your walking speed etc. into consideration since you won’t be as familiar with distance across the park, etc.

 

[auntlynne]

The four parks are more different from each other than DL is to CA.

Travel between parks is usually limited to one hop per day - not like walking across the concrete at DL. I have visited 3 in one day, but was just doing a highlight day (not my first WDW visit). Travel time can really add up.

The monorail and Skyliner. It‘s like having two more rides.

Park hopping is a great idea until shows come back. Not everyone enjoys a full day at some of the parks (everyone has an opinion as to which parks are must do’s or can-skip). I visit them all, though don’t need a full day at any one.

The parks seem larger, more walking.

 

[auntlynne]

Florida weather. The humidity can be horrible for many months of the year.

 

[lovethattink]

The size of Disney World compared to Disneyland is very different. First time my mom came with us, she expected to walk from park to park. She was surprised by how spread apart each park is. And that you had to travel so far to park hop.

 

[Best Aunt]

The website www.touringplans.com can take what you want to do in a given day, and put it in order for you.

If you want to "hop" between parks, you need to purchase the right type of ticket. Park hopping was not allowed when the parks first re-opened after the pandemic. It is allowed now, but you need to know the rules (I believe you can only hop after 2:00 pm currently, that probably will change). Getting from one park to another takes time, so at most you will start the day at one park and end the day at another. If you try to hop more than that, you will be wasting too much time on transportation. You can walk between DHS and Epcot (my guess is that it would take 30 minutes but I haven't done it). You cannot walk between the other parks.

I don't know where you are planning to stay, but getting from hotel to theme park can take time. And if you are not using Disney transportation, getting to Magic Kingdom means going to the Transportation & Ticket Center, and taking a ferry boat or monorail from there to the park.

 

[CynBeth]

When are you considering visiting and for how long? Are you doing any other area attractions?

 

[KPeveler]

Plan to walk between 8 to 10 miles a day. It is MUCH bigger than you are used to.

 

[rebelthyroid]

I second most of what has been said. The scale of DL and WDW makes them apples and oranges. At DL, you can easily stay nearby, walk to the parks. Walk from DL to CA on a whim. At WDW, everything is spread out. Everything is bigger. Much more planning required, especially back in the days of FP+.

I'd plan on a park per day. Park hopping is obviously an option, but depending on the length of your stay and timing, you can easily plan on one park per day, especially if it's your first/only time.

Share specifics of your trip, and others can provide suggestions. I've done both and loved both. (Beauty of living in TX. Equidistant to both.) But they are different beats.

 

[Blondie58]

What do I need to know about WDW that is different than Disneyland? I usually have a list ready of the order I want to ride the rides at DL , I havent seen much of that for WDW. At disneyland, we bounce around alot between parks and different lands. What tips and tricks do I need to know.

I have only been to DL twice. To WDW many times. DL is much smaller and very compact compared to WDW. You can google what rides WDW has at each park: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. There are different lands/areas in each park but bouncing around from park to park takes transportation unless you walk (about 20 minutes) between the back entrance of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

 

[cdoc29]

1) As everyone has said things are much more spread out than DL/DCA

2) All the parks are physically bigger than DL/DCA

3) The park hours will be shorter than you are used (this is true even in normal times)

4) WDW has a better selection of sit down restaurants (and many are found outside the parks), DL/DCA has a better quick serve selection (IMHO)

5) If staying on property plan a resort day to swim, go play putt putt golf or actual golf, take in some of the resort activities offered such as movie under the stars, etc.... There is so much going on outside of the parks for onsite guests. We stayed at Disneyland hotel our one time out there in 2019 and it surprised us the lack of activities.

6) Disney Springs is a shopping destination in its own right not a strip you walk down to get to your hotel or car.

7) Boardwalk...

those are the things off the top of my head

 

[Chupaca bruh]

Just because some rides have the same name, or similar, to Disneyland don’t skip them as there are differences to them. Sometimes big differences and sometimes small. It is fun to see what the Imagineers chose to change.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

You will find the food situation to be different. DL's restaurant strength is CS while WDW's is the sit down restaurants. WDW has a much better variety of sit down's. Take the time to research the restaurants.

 

[Mommy2cody]

SoCal Disneyland Vet here.... so the thing that threw us the most besides how BIG Disney World is, was the little amount of rides in each park. If your going at a low crowd time I recommend park hoppers. All the rides are spread out between 4 parks and we were so used to all the rides being in just 2 that we would do our favorites and then park hop.

The time change (if you are coming from Cali). HUGE game changer. Don't make early early breakfast ADR's until a few days into your trip.

Disney Springs is AMAZING!!! Its WAY bigger than Down Town Disney and MUCH better shops and restaurants make sure you check it out.

Disney transportation is easy to figure out just allow for time to get from place to place, especially of you are going to Magic Kingdom or one of the Magic Kingdom area hotels for a meal.

Make ADR's!!! This isn't as huge at Disneyland as it is at WDW. The food is much better than at Disneyland and its big portions!!!

Also, learned this the hard way but that 85-90 degrees in Orlando, is NOT the same as 85-90 degrees in SoCal lol!!

I stalked the DisBoards for YEARS before our first Walt Disney Tip and I will tell you that it is a lot more planning than just showing up to Disneyland on a Sunday and going with the flow lol!!

Be prepared to fall in love lol. We actually gave up our annual passes to Disneyland and now use that money to book a yearly Disney World trip!! We still LOVE Disneyland but Disney World is a whole different experience.

 

[jimmymc]

Kind of obvious, but there are 4 parks instead of 2, and none of them are walking distance to each other. With current restrictions, you need a park reservation for the first park you intend to visit each day, and park hopping is allowed after 2 pm. Hopping around lands in the parks is easy, but going from one park to another takes 20 to 30 minutes.

Some restaurants will fill up well in advance of the trip. If there is a restaurant you want, make a reservation 60 days ahead. If you're staying on property, you can make all reservations 60 days from your arrival day.

There are way more Disney hotels than in DL, and the off-site hotels are pretty far off-property. Far enough that you should expect to drive or Uber to the parks each day. If you're going to the parks for more than 2 days, stay on site. It's so worth the extra cost. And you can stay at a value resort for under $200/night.

On-site transportation includes the monorail, boats, Skyliner, and busses. Check out what your resort has. More expensive resorts are closer to the parks and can get you there faster.

Check the weather, because from June through September Orlando is HOT. Like Las Vegas in summer hot.

Once you enter property, you might not see the real world for days. This is what's magical about Disney World. No CVS across the street from a theme park.

Resort recommendations:

Pop Century for value
Caribbean Beach or Port Orleans for moderate
Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Beach Club, or Yacht Club for deluxe

 

[disneygirlsng]

Kind of obvious, but there are 4 parks instead of 2, and none of them are walking distance to each other. With current restrictions, you need a park reservation for the first park you intend to visit each day, and park hopping is allowed after 2 pm. Hopping around lands in the parks is easy, but going from one park to another takes 20 to 30 minutes.

Some restaurants will fill up well in advance of the trip. If there is a restaurant you want, make a reservation 60 days ahead. If you're staying on property, you can make all reservations 60 days from your arrival day.

There are way more Disney hotels than in DL, and the off-site hotels are pretty far off-property. Far enough that you should expect to drive or Uber to the parks each day. If you're going to the parks for more than 2 days, stay on site. It's so worth the extra cost. And you can stay at a value resort for under $200/night.

On-site transportation includes the monorail, boats, Skyliner, and busses. Check out what your resort has. More expensive resorts are closer to the parks and can get you there faster.

Check the weather, because from June through September Orlando is HOT. Like Las Vegas in summer hot.

Once you enter property, you might not see the real world for days. This is what's magical about Disney World. No CVS across the street from a theme park.

Resort recommendations:

Pop Century for value
Caribbean Beach or Port Orleans for moderate
Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Beach Club, or Yacht Club for deluxe

Epcot to/from HS is within walking distance, and one of my most favorite paths on property. But of course, not as close as DL to DCA.

 

[Tasmen]

Another DL lover, WDW frequenter here.

For me, the main difference is the amount of planning required and where to stay. When we've gone to DL, we didn't think a second about staying offsite. Everything is close by and walking distance. I would HIGHLY recommend staying ON site for WDW. As others have said, you cannot just walk across a courtyard to go back and forth between both parks. You'll need/want to use Disney transportation.

Right now, the ADR time is 60 days in advance, basically the same as DL. But once things shift back to whatever the new 'normal' is going to be, they may go back to 180 days in advance for ADRs are WDW. Do not take this date as a joke. Serious damn business. Book your ADRs as soon as your date opens (be it 60 or 180 days out). Others sure will and if you have a particular restaurant you want (Like Be Our Guest), you'll need to be snappy with it or risk not getting the ADR of your planner dreams. NOTE: The ADR date is 60/180 days from the START of your trip for the WHOLE of your trip. So if you arrive in 4/1 and stay through 4/8, you can book ALL your adrs 60 days before 4/1.

Plan for breaks. Because of needing to take transportation (depending on the resort you are at), it may take time to get back to the resort to rest/swim/etc. Make sure to consider that when planning things.

Layout of MK versus DL are not the same. Thunder Mountain is near Splash Mountain in the MK and the Haunted Mansion is in a different place as well. Sometimes when my auto pilot goes on, we end up in the wrong place. Ooopsie!

Going to WDW has a 'destination' feel to me more than going to DL. This is probably due to the huge size of the overall resort and that you are insulated from the outside world (hello Disney bubble) when within the body of the overall resort.

 

[CarolynFH]

@mickey+minnie91 -

NOTE: The ADR date is 60/180 days from the START of your trip for the WHOLE of your trip. So if you arrive in 4/1 and stay through 4/8, you can book ALL your adrs 60 days before 4/1.

Note this is if you stay onsite. If you stay offsite, you have to book each ADR 60 days before the date you wish to dine. For very popular restaurants (e.g. Topolino’s breakfast) having the length of stay advantage may be the difference between getting that ADR and not.

 

[CarolynFH]

What do I need to know about WDW that is different than Disneyland? I usually have a list ready of the order I want to ride the rides at DL , I havent seen much of that for WDW. At disneyland, we bounce around alot between parks and different lands. What tips and tricks do I need to know.

Depending on your length of stay, you may need to skip some attractions. If you’re curious about the ones that are duplicated at DL and WDW, here are my impressions and opinions from recent trips - emphasis on “impressions and opinions,” and I’m sure there are people who would disagree!

Pirates at DL is much better than at MK in WDW. After riding the one at DL, WDW is a letdown. Peter Pan is similar but not as dramatically different, and the standby queue for PP in MK is a lot of fun!

Indiana Jones at DL and Dinosaur in AK are the same vehicles and tracks but otherwise are totally different experiences. Same for RSR in CA and Test Track at Epcot. I wouldn’t skip them.

Soarin’ Across the World is the same in Epcot as in CA. If you’re like us and don’t like SAW, the Land Pavilion is still worth a visit for Living With the Land and the backstage tour of their gardens.

Space Mountain in MK is quite different from DL’s version; I can’t remember about Splash and Thunder Mountain!

Hope this helps! PS I agree with others recommending an onsite hotel. Transportation between offsite hotels and the WDW parks pretty much requires a rented car or rideshare, if you don’t want to be at the mercy of inconvenient schedules.

 

[Tasmen]

@mickey+minnie91 -

Note this is if you stay onsite. If you stay offsite, you have to book each ADR 60 days before the date you wish to dine. For very popular restaurants (e.g. Topolino’s breakfast) having the length of stay advantage may be the difference between getting that ADR and not.

Oh yes, good point. I admit, I just always stay on site when at WDW I didn't even think about the differences there if you did not.