Disneyland VS. Disney World

[tsjm4]

For those of you who have been to both places, we are trying to decide where to go next. We went to WDW last Sept. and absolutely loved it. We're trying to decide if we should go for something different and do DL and the San Diego Zoo or if we should just go back to WDW. Our trip is going to be an extended driving trip from South Dakota so it's about the same driving time either way.

Any input is welcome, but I'd prefer opinions from those who have been to both places. I'd like to know about cost comparisons, weather, & overall experiences of one vs. the other.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Snurk71]

We visit both WDW and DL. After many trips to WDW, we decided to try out DL. Loved it, too!!! Do you have children? One thing that I find at DL is that it (at least for us) seems like a more "relaxed" vacation with our DD3, mostly because there's only 2 parks and a smaller Downtown Disney (i.e. not as much to do as WDW). Don't get me wrong, we still never leave DL grounds just like we don't leave WDW during out stay. We just don't feel as crammed to get things in. As far as prices, I'd say pretty comparable. The park passes seem like a steal compared to WDW - again, not as many parks, no water parks, etc. so there is no reason to charge as much. Hotel prices are comparable, but there's only 3 actual Disney hotels. There are a lot of neighboring hotels, but I do not know anything about those. Great parks at DL, just like at WDW. After seeing Cinderella's Castle at WDW, Sleeping Beauty's at DL is really tiny but still magical. Some rides are the same in both WDW and DL, while each has rides you won't find at the other. Dining options seem more limited to us (especially character dining) at DL than at WDW - which is a good thing because, again, we don't feel the pressure of squeezing in every favorite restaurant and stuffing ourselves silly!

Be sure to check out the DL threads on this site. There are many helpful people who can add tons more. Some other good sites to head to are www.mouseplanet.com, www.mouseinfo.com, and www.laughingplace.com.

The good thing is that whichever you decide, you know you can't go wrong! Good luck!

 

[cheermom]

We traveled to DL last May for an awards banquet and I really disliked it. The kids (13,11) thought it was good. I would not return. You know how you go to WDW and everthhing is green and pretty and tropical and...pretty. To me, DL was in a dirty, ugly area. The park, itself, was not dirty. Just the area surrounding it. We stayed at Disneyland Hotel and were extremely disappointed in the staff and the dirtiness of the room, hotel corridors and rude employees. That is a whole different story.
But, just my opinion, I did not experience the feeling of being in a beautiful area, away from thr world, like I do at WDW.

 

[HappyLawyer]

why not just do both, well not in the same year but, we rotate
dis land one year and dis world the next, disney land is less expensive but you can get through it in like 3 days, this year my dtr gets lucky two weeks at disneyworld, with the cruise seaworld and universal then off to CA we go for my little sis wedding so why not hit disneyland while we are there we have days to kill....
If finances permit i would say disneyW first choice all the way
but having disneyland as a second choice is not that bad either

i know i was not helpful-lol
good luck

 

[MemphisDad]

My family has been to WDW many times and we went to DL in 2001. Don't bother going to DL for the Magic Kingdom. The one in WDW is better by far - there are few things they have in DL that aren't present in WDW, like the Matterhorn, but I wouldn't make a trip out there just for that. As for California Adventure, it was great, but again it has only a handful of things you can't find in WDW. You can find something comparable or exactly the same at one of the parks in Florida. They both have tower of terror, a river rapid ride, It's Tough to Be a Bug, a power launch roller coaster, etc. The things CA has that WDW doesn't aren't worth the effort. They have a great hangglider simulator ride called Soarin' over California, but I wouldn't trade it for Body Wars, Star Tours, and Mission Space.

If you will be there for a while and want to go to the San Diego Zoo and sight see in LA, that's great. The La Brea tar pits are great, you can shop in Beverly Hills, see Hollywood, there is a ton of stuff to do out there. If you drive from Anaheim to San Diego, take the Pacific Coast Highway and you can see some great scenery along the way. But, don't go for Disney. You'll have a much better Disney experience in WDW. The park as a whole is so much better. Better hotels, better location, in my opinion better food AND better service, and many more options. In DL, you just kind of have to take what is available. Being from the Midwest, I was looking forward to it because I'd never been to California before, but I was disappointed because there is really no "SoCal" feel to the Disney area. The highlight of the trip for me was finally seeing the Pacific ocean.

The weather is pretty much the same. California doesn't get quite as hot and it doesn't rain as much, but for the most part both places are comfortable year round. The prices are comparable. Both admissions are around the same amount, and souveniers and food are standard whichever one you choose. However, you don't have a choice of price ranges in hotels in DL if you want to stay on property. You have expensive and more expensive. There are no value or moderate resorts.

For me, I'd choose WDW every time, just because of the variety. DL doesn't have anything like Epcot, which is my favorite, they only have 3 hotel options, and only a handful of restaurants, whereas WDW has something to please any taste in any price range. If I go back to LA, I will probably not go to DL, because when we got home we felt like we didn't see enough outside the parks.

 

[mareed]

We've been back and forth to both parks multiple times a year for the last 4 years, and we love them both! But, if it's a trip during Summer months, I have a definite strong preference for DL in CA for weather reasons. Summer in FL is torture as far as I'm concerned. It may also get hot during the day in CA, but since it's not near as humid, the heat is much more tolerable. Also, the mornings and evenings will be much cooler. In FL, it will never feel cool in the Summer, even after dark!

I think Disneyland's Magic Kingdom (except for Tomorrowland) is superior to WDW - especially Fantasyland. DL Autopia is an excellent, well-themed ride, where I've never wasted my time on it at WDW. DL is smaller, which can be a plus, because it means less walking. It's also very nice to be able to just walk across the esplanade (or whatever it's called) to park-hop between MK and DCA without having to wait for a bus or use some other transportation.

Christmas is another time that I'd have a preference for DL's Magic Kingdom. I had the benefit of seeing both MK's during the Christmas season in 2003, and after seeing how DL was decorated to the extreme, seeing the MK at WDW was a disappointment. I think the castle had one little wreath on it, and that was it! Granted, WDW will always have an advantage due to the size, but it was like they had to spread everything out so much, that it just didn't have the same impact that the decorations at DL did. Also, DL has their XMAS parade as part of the regular park admission. I did not like that it was a separate hard-ticketed party event at WDW (unless you're there XMAS week).

Now, we still definitely enjoy WDW, too. And, we're taking a Christmas trip to WDW with extended family this year. Basically, we love them both and are quite happy to go back and forth! Good luck deciding!

 

[Rapunsel]

As Disneyland fan for almost 30 years I can say that they are both great!!!! I have been to WDW once, but I loved it as much as I do DL. I think there is more crativity at Dl as it is the original. Some of the frides are far better and done nicer. LIke POTC and Slash montain ar longer, there are more characters in the rides, there is also a homey feeling to the place. YOu can also do it all in one day with out a problem. Going in the month of November and doing 28 rides in one day? Can you do that at WDW...

Now for California Adventures.. It is so much fun and so California.. I have only been twice and usually in the monthof January and it is not crowded at all.

Between the teo Dl is a relaxed vacation and smaller parks and easy with small children. where WDW is 'wild'. with the buses and the transportation and everything. I do have to say everyone has their own opinion and I like them both. But Disneyland is a great place and my son loves it and he is only 2. Where WDW was a bit overwhelimng for him.


Also you can go to the beach, Knotts Berry Farm, Movieland Wax Museum,Medieval Times, Six Flags Magic Mountain, The mountains.. All in a day's drive...


So take your pick enjoy them both, but California ia a great place in the summer. As it cools off when the sun goes down..

Rapunsel


A California girl stuck in the snow in Western New York.....

 

[HaleyB]

We love both parks. I think if you have been to one many times the other feels wrong somehow. I grew up in DL and was a little dissapointed by MK in WDW. DL has more attractions than MK (not more than WDW) in a smaller space, which works well for the little legs in our family.

Do research your hotel well, some of them are older and could use some rehab (which is true of both places). DL will not have the same resort experiance as WDW, I have to admit WDW wins on that front.

The weather- not even close. It is perfectly wonderful in California. Little chance of rain, a cool ocean breeze (yes in DL, even as inland as it is), and low humidity.

There are so many wonderful things to do in California too. The beach is close, Lego Land not too far, San Deigo Zoo is world class, and the Getty... The J Paul Getty Museum will knock your socks off. Even if you are not big into art museums, this place is astonishingly beautiful. As a bonus it is also very kid friendly (unlike most art museums of this class). Oh and the collection, the collection is fantastic. Can you tell I kinda like the Getty? It is beyond words, really a must see in my book. I can hardly wait for the other Getty to reopen (Full size replica of a Roman Villa and garden).

OK, enough about the Getty. Did I mention Lagunia? Or how about Knott's Berry Farm (home to a fantastic wooden roller coaster). There is a huge list of other things to do in California. Check out the Disney Land thread, and find out about the city pass (I think that is what it is called).

 

[WCMouse]

Our opinion:

WDW: :
DL:

Close, but WDW has more to do and overall more fun...

 

[CEDmom]

I have to say that we're probably in the minority but at this stage in our lives we enjoyed DL more than WDW. Our DD is 4 1/2 so as she gets older that will probably change. I think the biggest thing for us is the ease of getting to/from and between the DL parks. We stayed at Paradise Pier and walked to MK, DCA and DTD. It was so easy to go back and forth to accomodate show times and crowds.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

I grew up in SoCal and worked for years in a building where I could see the Matterhorn and Space Mountain from the windows of our building. Trips to DL were frequent (Mom worked for CA state schools) and I logged many hours as DL. Granted, I moved East before California Adventuyre was opened, but Magic Kingdom vs DL - I would say the parks are fairly even.

There are some rides only found at DL (Alice in Wonderland, Indiana Jones, for example) and some found only at Magic Kingdom (buzz lightyear, pooh) and some found at both. Of the ones I have ridden that are at both, some are way better at DL (pirates, for example) and some are way better at Magic Kingdom (tea cups, for example). Also, some are almost identical (splash and thunder mountains).

We took the girls to DL a few years after we moved and we have been to WDW many times - we all feel that WDW is much more exciting and offers much more to do than DL does. That is taking the other area attractions into consideration as well (i.e., Knott's Berry Farm, San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Six Flags Magic Mountain, etc.). Part of the reason is that WDW has everything concentrated in a single area, while the SoCal attractions are spread throughout the area - some being more than an hour away from the others.

If you wanted to take in the beach scene, the Hollywood scene, or some of the other "attractions" in SoCal then you may have more options in California. If you want an "all-inclusive" vacation destination where as little driving as possible is an option then I would go to WDW.

Pricing for meals, etc. should be similar. You'll definitely tire of the options at DL soon, but there are many great restaurants of all price ranges in the area and the choices of cuisine are widely varied (in SoCal).

As mentioned previously in this thread - if you want less reasons to have to go to the parks then perhaps DL is a good choice. We still find plenty of down time at WDW (we stay in the "home away from home" resorts) and sleep in, visit the pools, try to do more days away from the parks than at the parks.

Don't know if I helped at all, but please PM me or post more questions here if you like.

AWTY

 

[disdreams]

I have been to Disneyland many more times than Disneyworld and Disneyworld is much nicer, in my opinion. I do like tham both, though

 

[bhillier]

DL is my favorite place to be. The holiday season is even better if thats at all possible. California Adventure is awsome during the x - mas season. It's full of music, characters and energy. The CM's @ DL/Calif Adven have been wonderful. Even during very busy times for example the premier of Pirates, summer in general, Thanksgiving week.

May 10 through the 18th will be my first trip to WDW. I can't wait! I read a post saying that the area around DL is ugly. This is in fact true. In fact a lot of LA/Orange County is ugly (Coast is beautiful). I'm looking forward to the whole WDW resort area. I guess this was the "plan" have more control of the area around the parks. Can't wait to see it!!!!

 

[punch57]

If you have never been to DL/CA go it is worth the trip. If it is a summer trip I would go for DL, way cooler.

 

[my3kids]

tsjm: Not sure how old your children are, but we have been to both places, so I'll try to tell you things we liked about DL.

We went to DL last summer for the first time. We really loved it. While it is smaller than the WDW complex, it is equally fun, I'd say. We enjoyed that when staying in one of the Disney hotels, you really can park your car and walk to everything. Their 2 parks are directly across a pedestrian concourse from one another. You can literally park "hop!" While Disneyland park is smaller than the Magic Kingdom, we didn't feel like it offered any less fun. Still the same great attractions and special Disney fun.

The weather was heavenly. Probably in the high 70's during the day....never hot, humid or sticky. Refreshing, cool evenings. Crowds were not a problem.

Southern CA was very different from FL. The beaches are a great place to visit when you are out there, because they are so different from the FL beaches. That was very interesting to my children.

The San Diego zoo is world class, and there is much to see and do in that area. We also visited Joshua Tree National Park in CA, and if driving from SD, there would be many of our beautiful national parks you could visit along the way.

If you have done the FL and WDW trip, I'd go west!