DisneyLAND VS DisneyWorld

[wildzootv]

between the two, is there a huge difference?

thank you in advance for your shared information!

 

[robinb]

There is a HUGE difference between the two. Which resort have you been to DisneyLAND or DisneyWORLD? Maybe we can highlight the differences knowing which park you have visited.

 

[wildzootv]

Didnt stay at a resort when we went to Disneyland last year, we stayed on a military base. lol.....and it's been 20 years since I've been to DisneyWorld.

 

[civileng68]

The size difference is significant. The parks are different sizes but the significant difference is the land size.

At Disneyland, you get off of the interstate and are at Disneyland. From the interstate you can see in to various parts of the park. There are private residences all around. So while it's magical IN the park at Disneyland when you leave the park you leave the experience.

At WDW, you enter the property through large "gates" that you drive through and you are in this fantasyworld. World Drive alone is several miles just to get to the Magic Kingdom. When you get to the Magic Kingdom you park take a tram to the monorail and then they transport you from the real world to fantasy by monorail or ferry boat the 1 1/2 miles to the magic kingdom.

Also Disneyland has California Adventure and WDW has Animal Kingdom, Disney MGM Studios and Epcot.

 

[TDC Nala]

They're very different. Disneyland is two parks, WDW is four plus and you need transportation to get around.

I've stayed at the Grand Californian and you can get a park hopper and spend the entire day walking between the two parks.

Within Disneyland, it's sort of like the MK at WDW but different. There isn't as much space. The pathways are smaller (the bottlenecks in Adventureland were unbelievable!) There's more foliage. The placement of the attractions is different. There are some you won't find in both places, and some you will find in both places but in different versions (Pirates, the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain for instance). Fantasyland is much expanded and quite different. The castle at DL is a LOT smaller.

 

[civileng68]

The distance of parks is yes, another thing.

The parks are spaced well. The MK to Epcot is a nice monorail ride (maybe 5-8 minute ride to Epcot. It's a couple miles I guess.

Animal Kingdom is a good ways away as well.

Truly while the "land" is more compact, the "world" is truly like it's own world.

I would say that you can get so much from both!

If you want to see the original and want to do less walking, Disneyland is the place to go. While I believe WDW is the place to go to have the more magical experience.

 

[Lulu's Mom]

I love both places... that said, I would have to argue that Disneyland is better than the MK at DW. Disneyland as Indian Jones, The Mattahorn, Alice in Wonderland and a much longer version of POC & Haunted Mansion, last time I went they had the original Tiki Room, they have a better Country Bears show and longer hours.

I do like DW more just because there is so much more to do and experience, but I think Disneyland is great. I have a lot of childhood memories there and I can not wait to go back, it has been about 4 years.

 

[robinb]

By "resort" I meant the overall park experience, not a hotel on the park property.

First of all, WDW is very spread out. It's really, really huge. You cannot walk from one park to another, you will have to take a bus or drive. Secondly, there are 4 parks at WDW and only 2 at DL. There are many things to do at WDW that do not even require park entrance. For instance, you can rent boats, go horseback riding, fishing, etc.

As for the DL Magic Kingdom v/s the WDW Magic Kingdom ... the castle at WDW is much bigger, there is no Matterhorn and the many other attractions are different too. The Tiki Birds is different, Small World is different, Space Mountian is different, Pirates if different, Pooh and Pan is different, etc, etc. IMO, the nod almost always goes to the DL attraction over the WDW attraction. The MK in DL is small and intimate while the MK in WDW is spread out.

I think the biggest difference is the amount of time that you can spend at either resort and feel like you saw enough. You can easily do most of DL in 3 days but a week or more is best at WDW and you still won't even scratch the surface.

If you have any more specific questions, I'll be happy to help.

 

[disneyaggie]

Great info!

 

[jimmiej]

I think the biggest difference is the amount of time that you can spend at either resort and feel like you saw enough. You can easily do most of DL in 3 days but a week or more is best at WDW and you still won't even scratch the surface.

I've been to both. When we returned from DL, friends asked me, "Which is better?" My answer: Neither/both. DL for a short trip (2-3 days), WDW for 5+ days. If I could only go to one, I'd pick WDW-much more to do. However, there are some things I like better at DL.

 

[wildzootv]

THank you so much!

I am soooo embarrassed that I didnt not get the "resort" thing.

 

[funhouse8]

I've been to both. When we returned from DL, friends asked me, "Which is better?" My answer: Neither/both. DL for a short trip (2-3 days), WDW for 5+ days. If I could only go to one, I'd pick WDW-much more to do. However, there are some things I like better at DL.

this is exactly how I feel too. I couldn't have said it better myself. Gina

 

[TDC Nala]

Of the attractions, I think WDW has a better Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror. The edge goes to DL for everything else that both places share. Jungle Cruise I can't decide about; I love DL's piranhas but I missed Shirley's Temple. I really missed the Adventurers Club, though.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

I have also wondered the differences between the two. I know Disneyland is considerably smaller. While I have been to WDW many many times, and visited Disneyland Paris once, I still can't make myself choose to go to Disneyland over WDW. I want to go to Disneyland but I worry that I will be let down by the size of it. I really like the way WDW is layed out. When you enter under the gates, you're completely cut off from the rest of the world (or so it seems ) and you are transported into this magical land. One day I will bite the bullet and give Disneyland a try.

 

[Terk-1]

Having just gone to Disneyland a few days ago, I have to admit that there is a huge difference. No offense what so ever to the DL fans out there. I found the Magic Kingdom at Disney World easier to navigate than Disneyland. Also, the "innoventions" at DL is not that great and pretty dull compared to its counterpart at EPCOT. The parade is done differently as well as it goes down Main Street and instead of going around the front of the castle to other lands (like MK's Liberty Square & Frontierland), it went to the side of the castle to Small World. There were a ton of people sitting in front of & across from the castle that all had to move, when the roped off the side of the castle. Also, hated the change to the Haunted Mansion for the holidays. Small World was cute all decorated for the holidays, but really hated the fact that they changed everything inside the Haunted Mansion. Pirates is also almost completely different at DL versus WDW. WDW's version really feels like you're in the caribbean. DL's is like you are in New Orleans bayou. Also, the prices for the 3 Disney owned resorts at Disneyland is much, much higher than those at WDW. DLH & PP (price-wise) is like the price of the Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Contemporary. GC is priced like the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian. I just did not get the same excited anticipation at Disneyland that I get when I go to Disney World.

I would recommend people doing Disneyland at least once and preferably before you do Walt Disney World. This way it is not as much of a disappointment.

My preference is definitely for Walt Disney World versus Disneyland.

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

I think the other posters have summed up very nicely the differences between the two.
I think the which is better question varies from person to person, based upon what they experienced first, what they grew up with, and personal preferences.
Me, personally I grew up with Disneyland. . . so when I first visited the Magic Kingdom. . . well, honestly, I was let down.
To me Disneyland's small size is it's blessing in disguise. It makes things feel more cozy. There seems to be a higher attention to the small details. It's also got more of the small children rides. Mr. Toad (he's still there right?), Alice, Casy Jr., Storybook canals, etc. The outside of rides (in fantasyland especially) are better decorated, perfect example is Small World. Alice in Wonderland even comes outside of it's main building ride and you ride on top of the external "scenery". It seems at Disneyworld rides are held in glorified, albeit decently decorated, boxes.
I dunno, I'm a big fan of Disneyland, for it's small size it really packs a punch.

 

[CdnGoofyfan01]

I'd thought I would add two cents in with comparing Disneyland and DisneyWorld. Its that just this year I had a chance to go to Disneyland back in September for my birthday and it was a great time. Though, it is a small, cozy place but I have to remember that it is the original and that Walt had a vision of what he wanted to do. WDW, is a place that I have great memories because I have been there more time then I can count. I just know that Disney is the magical place on earth and that both places are both wonderful.

I think I kept on rambling and rambling on and on and on.....I hope I made some sense with my ramblings.

Beth

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I would recommend people doing Disneyland at least once and preferably before you do Walt Disney World. This way it is not as much of a disappointment.

LOL! See, but then they might be disappointed in WDW, like I always am.

Having been to DL countless times before WDW, I find the size of WDW to be a drawback, not a benefit. It can take longer to get from my on-site WDW hotel to a park, than it did to get from my home to DL when I lived in So Cal (and it wasn't like I was next door!) Most of what WDW vets dislike about DL, I dislike about WDW, in reverse.

I like getting to DL and never having to get on a bus or monorail or boat for my stay. I like being able to go from one park to the other quickly and easily, multiple times in one day, if we feel like it. I like not wasting all that time on transportation within the World. I like driving up to the property and being in a park within minutes. At WDW, I always feel so let down when we arrive on the property, and it's nothing but roads, and we have to keep driving and driving to get to the hotel, then bus or monorail or boat to a park. I also arrive in Fantasyland at WDW's MK and wonder, where's Alice? Where's Casey Jr's train? Where's Pinocchio? Where are the Storybookland canal boats? Where's Mr. Toad and the Matterhorn and the Davy Crockett canoes? Where is that beautiful building that houses IASW? For me, it really feels like something is missing and is definitely disappointing.

Sure, WDW has more to do. When we want a week of nothing but Disney, yea, we go there. But a typical day in the parks at DL beats at day in the parks at WDW for us, hands down.