Disneyland Vs. Disney World

[emma'smom]

So...we just returned from our first (and probably only) trip to Disneyland. I have to say that we were very disappointed. We're avid WDW travelers and just didn't feel the magic at DL. The park was very cramped and tight and very, very dark in the evening. Also, the guests seemed to be much more "diverse" in their social behavior (one woman took her socks off and put her feet on the window on the monorail). Also, we just felt nickle and dimed the whole time and the surrounding area outside of DL was very expensive, but not really very nice.

I respect the fact that others love DL, but we were sadly disappointed.

Give me WDW and my lovely DVC and I'll be happy!

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

Comparing the two resorts is like contrasting Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but I can't honestly put one above the other.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

It's too bad you didn't enjoy Disneyland.

I've never been and I'm looking forward to going someday.

Where did you stay? I've been looking at the Candy Cane Inn and thinking that may work for us.

 

[MPwifey]

lol, I felt the opposite when I went to WDW!!! It just seemed so crazy and hectic. There jsut seems to be too many choices for everything, so people were going 5000 ways at once. Plus, to me planning ADRs 180 out is crazy, normally at DL besides 2 restuarants you can call the week of or even the day of and still get a reservation. However, I will say that it is completley different and even thatsome of the same rides are different at each park.

PP- we stayed at the Candy Cane Inn almost every time we went, and we absolutely loved it. They are within walking distance, but having the shuttle at the end of the night is great too. They have a good breakfast layout and are conviniently located next to a 711 and souvenir shop in case you need anything ( like a slushie at 10 PM!) I am looking at surprising DH when he gets home with a SoCal trip that would include CCI and 2 days at DCA/DL.

 

[Shock13]

I always get a little miffed when I hear someone putting down DL because I grew up going to that park. But after I visited WDW I could see why someone who is a WDW vet could be disappointed. But like Billy said each park has their strengths and weaknesses.
As much as I enjoy Epcot and Animal Kingdom at WDW, I absolutely dislike Magic Kingdom finding it no comparison to DL. I also think California Adventure is better than Hollywood Studios.
Some may agree or disagree but I think going to a new park without such high expectations could mean a world of difference...so to speak.

 

[momtotaryn]

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your DL trip. We've been there many times, and we always come home feeling like we experienced all the magic Disney has to offer.

That said, I know a lot of people from Hawaii and the West Coast who have been to DL first, then visited WDW. Almost every single one says that it is hard to go back to DL, because WDW offers so much more. Since I've never been to WDW, I can't share any personal opinions, but I do understand where they are coming from. I can just imagine those who experience WDW first, then DL, thinking how small DL is. I just hope that I will still love DL, even after our first trip to WDW.

 

[vettegirl]

I am sorry it was a letdown. I love both WDW, DL, and DLP. However my favorite is still DL, just something about that place that does it for me.

 

[dres40]

Comparing the two resorts is like contrasting Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but I can't honestly put one above the other.

So which park is Hepburn and which is Davis and why?

 

[Pjimmeyer]

Comparing the two resorts is like contrasting Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but I can't honestly put one above the other.

I'm with Billy. Our family really loves both and I'm glad there are differences.

At any rate at least now you can say you have tried both emma'smom. Thanks for your report!

 

[grits98]

I'm with the OP. DH and I grew up going to WDW. Going to DL was a colossal let-down. We stayed at the Grand Californian and it was nice to walk into the park, but that was the best part of our stay. Other than IASW, we much prefer the rides and less cramped spacing at the WDW parks. It's just a very different (and much more costly) feeling at DL. Someone told me that people seem to prefer the park they first attended. I could see that being true.

.

 

[Planogirl]

We visited DL once and I personally think it's a better individual park than any at WDW. To me it's more charming and detailed and it's Walt's park. Of course, WDW overall has much more to do but we were pleased with DL and VERY pleased with California in general. San Diego was wonderful and we enjoyed some of those other places we had time to see such as Knottsberry Farm and Queen Mary.

However to each their own.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We also just got back from a 9-day stay at DL. While I still prefer WDW, we had a great time and are looking forward to returning some day. I agree that the park was dark, but we didn't find it any more cramped than MK. It took us a few days to get our bearings so I was glad we had an extended stay to judge by, not just a couple of days. Also, we had primo accomodations at the Grand Californian that I thought was nicer than any of the deluxes I have stayed at WDW.

We were pleasantly surprised by how nice everyone at the parks were to us. We are from the South and our accents generated some interest. Most of the people also were locals and were helpful in telling us were to sit at shows or where good parade spots were.

DL was more expensive than WDW. For instance bottled drinks were $3 as opposed to the $2.50 we paid on our last trip to WDW. But we bought the annual passes that get us into WDW and DL and the passholder discount was much better on food than you get at WDW.

So just another perspective for someone that is considering DL...

 

[MelissathePooh]

Funny - we just got back from DL Saturday night after a week in a studio at VCG. We adore DLR and all the charm, coziness and intimate feel it has. DCA is a work in progress, but is getting better and really has some fun things - particularly for little ones.

DL itself - while Main Street and the Castle seem kind of small compared to WDW MK, Fantasyland is just so beautiful in DL and we really preferred so many of their attractions (Space Mtn, POC, Mr. Toad, Alice, Pinocchio, Indiana Jones). To be fair WDW just doesn't have some of those, but overall DL blew MK away, IMHO.

We loved the laid back atmosphere, characters just wandering around without massive lines, no one climbing over each other to get anywhere. DCA - the difference in TSM was astonishing!!!!!!! Everything being close together - park hopping took 5 minutes, no buses or transfers...we loved it as a break from the competitive, self preservation chaos that has become WDW.

None of that means I don't still love WDW - I just really appreciated how much more personal DL felt. WDW has just gotten so big I think its lost some of its charm.

 

[MelissathePooh]

We also just got back from a 9-day stay at DL. While I still prefer WDW, we had a great time and are looking forward to returning some day. I agree that the park was dark, but we didn't find it any more cramped than MK. It took us a few days to get our bearings so I was glad we had an extended stay to judge by, not just a couple of days. Also, we had primo accomodations at the Grand Californian that I thought was nicer than any of the deluxes I have stayed at WDW.

We were pleasantly surprised by how nice everyone at the parks were to us. We are from the South and our accents generated some interest. Most of the people also were locals and were helpful in telling us were to sit at shows or where good parade spots were.

DL was more expensive than WDW. For instance bottled drinks were $3 as opposed to the $2.50 we paid on our last trip to WDW. But we bought the annual passes that get us into WDW and DL and the passholder discount was much better on food than you get at WDW.

So just another perspective for someone that is considering DL...

We were pretty blown away by the friendliness of the DLR CM's too. We didn't have an AP, but were able to use our DVC at almost all of the food locations. GC exceeded our expectations as a DVC resort.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

We took our first trip to DLR this past July and we all really enjoyed it. I agree that each has it's charm and find it hard to compare. We stayed at Paraside Pier and loved being able to walk. And since we usually to to WDW in August we truly loved the California weather!

I thought DL was charming but did have a hard time with the small castle. We actually enjoyed DCA more than we thought we would.

Really looking forward to going back to WDW next year but I also hope that we can get back to DLR in the future, especially with the huge expansion going on now.

 

[mommy2mrb]

I have been to DLR over 30 times since 1975 and will be visiting WDW for the 6th time in March.....I love both parks....to me WDW is a "Destination" vacation needing many more days to experience most of it...as DLR can be done very well in 3 days if you've never been before....
it is a dark park at night, but I enjoy that feel, seems more "hometown" to me, many people don't like DCA, but it is a fun park and with all the additions being made it will be that much better.

as far as the surrounding areas, yes it is very crowded, but you need to remember the area has grown considerabling since DLR was built and Walt didn't have the area to buy more acres as he did in FL.

if you go to DLR after WDW expecting it to be the same, you will be disappointed, go with an open mind and enjoy the differences, the ability to park hop and go to DTD just by walking a few minutes.

 

[lovealatte]

If you've only known WDW then go to DL, I can see how you can feel like this. But I feel quite the opposite.. yes, DL may be smaller, but it's the original, it's Walt's true "brainchild". DL is very nostalgic, and I appreciate it for that. It may not have all of WDW's glitz and glamor but it's where the magic all started!

Don't get me wrong, I love WDW as well. DL just has that something special.

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

So which park is Hepburn and which is Davis and why?

Now that's a question! I guess it's really a question of scale and vulnerability. Both actresses could at one moment terrify you, and at another, break your heart. They both played at fooling audiences into believing that they wouldnt shatter. Off the screen, they could both talk a good game about never letting their guard down or giving in to other people's ideas of who they should have been. But we know that despite their long an unparalleled careers in Hollywood, they were both very human and very delicate underneath it all.
So then let's go to idiosyncrasies. Who was a corporation and who was just a small-town girl? Who showed her vulnerability faster than the other? Who welcomed innovation and who preferred to live away from the fracas?

Davis is Disneyland. Hepburn is WDW.

 

[Lou Holtz]

Now that's a question! I guess it's really a question of scale and vulnerability. Both actresses could at one moment terrify you, and at another, break your heart. They both played at fooling audiences into believing that they wouldnt shatter. Off the screen, they could both talk a good game about never letting their guard down or giving in to other people's ideas of who they should have been. But we know that despite their long an unparalleled careers in Hollywood, they were both very human and very delicate underneath it all.
So then let's go to idiosyncrasies. Who was a corporation and who was just a small-town girl? Who showed her vulnerability faster than the other? Who welcomed innovation and who preferred to live away from the fracas?

Davis is Disneyland. Hepburn is WDW.

Billy, this is the gayest paragraph in the history of the English language.

 

[emma'smom]

Where did you stay? I've been looking at the Candy Cane Inn and thinking that may work for us.

We started out at HoJo's...but moved over to the Fairfield Marriott because the pool/pirate park at HoJo's were closed. We should have stayed at a DL resort---but I was there for a convention.

you can call the week of or even the day of and still get a reservation.

This was a nice change. I did call in the afternoon and got an evening reservation at Big Thunder Rance.

I just hope that I will still love DL, even after our first trip to WDW.

You probably will.....I do think people have an allegiance to "their" park. I now know I do! I especially found having everything in a different place than I expected disorienting....it was like being in an alternate universe =)

We were pleasantly surprised by how nice everyone at the parks were to us.
DL was more expensive than WDW.

Oh...the CM's were very pleasant and helpful. They always are if they are Disney CM's wherever we go (Hilton Head too).

.... were able to use our DVC at almost all of the food locations.

Yes..we liked this too!