Disneyland Vs WDW

[becpee]

We haven't even done our DL trip yet and I am already looking at a visit to WDW.
Are the two comparable or are they too different to compare?
Is it harder to book a WDW than a DL trip being that there is a size difference between the two?
How do the prices compare (entry, food, merchandise) or is it pretty much the same?
How much time would you allow for a WDW trip?
This trip would be a long time in the making (so long it's likely depressing )

 

[minniecarousel]

Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Park are only two parks inside a city (Anaheim). WDW is 4 parks totally enclosed within WDW, with their shopping district, water parks and many resorts. When you go to Disneyland, you can stay in a near-by motel and get by relatively cheaply. Admission tix are less expensive at DLand, since it's only the 2 parks. It takes more than twice as long to see everything in WDW, so you need to plan on more park days. WDW is enormous, and you get so totally immersed in "Disney". When you go to DLand in California, you're near Los Angeles, and there are other things to do in LA.

These Boards are chocked full of info on WDW & Disneyland. There are many similarities between DLand and the Magic Kingdom....some of the same rides are in both Parks.

Good luck in planning a return trip to the States. Disneyland was "Walt's Park" and it has a certain charm. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I don't like to compare DL and WDW because they're such different experiences. DL is now known as "The Disneyland Resort" which includes 2 parks, Downtown Disney and 3 hotels. As the previous poster said, you can get a much better deal by staying at a nearby hotel and, in some cases, you can walk to the front gates faster from a non-Disney hotel. When you get to the entry plaza, you can see the entrances to both parks and Downtown Disney so hopping between the three is very quick and easy.

We usually get 3-day passes when we go to DL and it's usually plenty of time for us. On our last trip, we got 5-day passes because DH had a convention and we were going to be in town longer. That made for a more relaxing trip. On our WDW trip, we got 7 day passes (2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at AKL, 1 day at DHS). We ended up using the 7th day to return to DHS to do the shows that we missed on the first day. We also made it a 10 night trip so we could spend other days at Kennedy Space Center, Downtown Disney and visiting other resorts. There's definitely much more to see and do at WDW and getting around takes longer than DL. When we go to DL, we park our car at the hotel and go everywhere on foot. At WDW, you certainly can't walk everywhere so getting from place to place takes longer.

 

[daisy2jae]

we did both places this year...DL we spent 5 days and WDW we spent 7 days (wish we would have spent more)

 

[KCmike]

We've done both several times now. We love Disneyland for its charm, details, and it being where Walt started it all. It really is amazing. It has almost all the amount of rides and attractions in two parks that WDW has in four parks.

WDW has better resorts, amenities, food, and my second favorite Disney park....Epcot! WDW is an all immersive disney vacation.

But Disneyland is far and away superior in our family's opinion. I can't explain it really. It is just amazing. There is so much to tell you.

Here's my favorite quote:
There's an answer the old timers at Disney like to give when asked to compare the Anaheim and Orlando main parks, and to me it still applies as to how they are currently run: Disneyland is a park designed by a father for his daughters, while the Magic Kingdom is designed by a committee for the hordes.

 

[Micca]

For a true Disney fan, both DLR and WDW are musts. There is so much more to WDW, but what there is in Disneyland is fantastic. Enjoy your road trip in the U.S.

 

[GeorgeG]

I've never been to Disneyland so I don't have any first-hand comparisons other than what I've been told. I've been going to WDW for 23 years and can't imagine being impressed by any other park. Epcot alone, is like no other place I've ever been.

 

[barkley]

we done both multiple times (though dl many more because we used to live in california) and both have their strengths and weakneses.

for me-i prefer disneyland (california adventure i can take or leave). for me it's that it's very user friendly in it's set up, if i want to walk the whole place there are plenty of OLD shade trees and places to just sit and relax if i feel like it. if i don't want to walk it the train goes around the entire perimeter with stops in the various lands.

i love the feeling of nostalgia i get when i see that tomorrow land stage rise just like it used to when i watched the wonderful world of disney as a young kid. i adore the massive scope of frontier land with tom sawyer island and the boats to ride on. i also think that once you've seen fantasmic done on tom sawyer lagoon while you're sitting on one of the grassy areas no other presentation of it compares. if i'm staying at one of the resort hotels i love that i can just hop on the monorail inside the park and don't have to walk out with the crowds.

when we did our first wdw trip 3 things were VERY surprising to us in comparing identical rides offered at both dl and wds-pirates of the carribean seemed to 'short change' riders (because the one at dl is longer), haunted mansion seemed rushed (because you walked more of the ride and you had to get to the doom buggies before the next group came out of the elevator vs almost immediate doom buggy access at dl), and small world was....well...smaller. i don't know if the inside of the ride is any smaller/shorter than at dl, but you can see the exterior across the park-esp when it's all lit up at nite. part of the enjoyment is walking up to it and seeing all the gardening and topiaries-it just adds to the whimsey.

we enjoy wdw-it definatly offers much more than dl as far as parks, but if i wanted a disney fix i'de head to dl (for me it would be like making a decision about getting together with family at a well loved family member's long established home vs. meeting at a banquet hall that's been carefully designed to simulate their home).

 

[LoraJ]

I actually love Disneyland over Magic Kingdom. However, I love WDW more for the overall experience. I have not been to California Adventure yet. Hoping to go there next year.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

But Disneyland is far and away superior in our family's opinion. I can't explain it really. It is just amazing. There is so much to tell you.

Here's my favorite quote:
There's an answer the old timers at Disney like to give when asked to compare the Anaheim and Orlando main parks, and to me it still applies as to how they are currently run: Disneyland is a park designed by a father for his daughters, while the Magic Kingdom is designed by a committee for the hordes.

Disneyland is for purists, Walt Disney World is for tourists.

I can't explain it, either. There is just something magical about Disneyland.

We're going to WDW this Spring (because my parents and my kids want to) but I really would rather head west...

 

[suejai]

I had this question as well. I would like to see DL now, I think. It sounds charming.

I have one more question - if you are only going to DL and not Universal or Sea World - do you need a car?

 

[clgwli]

Disneyland is for purists, Walt Disney World is for tourists.

I can't explain it, either. There is just something magical about Disneyland.
We're going to WDW this Spring (because my parents and my kids want to) but I really would rather head west...

Actually going to DLR for the first time as an adult I actually understood why Disney himself was a bit disenchanted with the place. You can hear the outside world from within the park. I heard sirens more than once and yes, while on the monorail you can see the busy life outside.

So I would never say that WDW is for tourists and Disneyland is for the purists.

They cannot be compared in my eyes. They are similar but vastly different. There are things I love about each and hate about each as well.

 

[damo]

We've been to both several times and I must say that we prefer DL and CA to WDW. To us, it is more geared towards adults. We prefer the rides there, with Indiana Jones as one of our favourites. We like that both parks are right there at our fingertips. We find that at WDW there is so much stuff that we just can't be bothered with but at DL we enjoy just about all of it. We are really looking forward to 2012 and the opening of Cars Land and the new Little Mermaid ride.

 

[AustinTink]

You can hear the outside world from within the park. I heard sirens more than once and yes, while on the monorail you can see the busy life outside.

Yep! We go to DL and WDW every year. At DL you feel like you're in an amusement park, with reality just steps away outside the gates. At WDW, it's total immersion that sweeps you away to another world entirely. Not that one is better than the other, but, I must say that DL/DCA is the only location where we have felt unsafe on occasion. We were jumped there by a guy (and his wife) who wanted "to box" my husband over a table. We walked a little faster to our car that night.

DL/DCA is part of our Southern California tour every summer. We usually do 2-day park hoppers, or the southern California Citypass that is a good deal and includes other attractions in SoCal.

A couple of perks to DL/DCA... they are literally connected by a courtyard so we walk back and forth between the parks multiple times throughout the day. The character greetings are plentiful and the lines are very short compared to WDW. We actually bumped into Mickey, Cinderella and Hercules just hanging out in the animation studio with no line one day! We have a group picture with that unlikely trio.

And at DCA, there is no fastpass for TSM but there is also never a line (that we have encountered) longer than 30 minutes!! We ride it late afternoon and evening if that helps any.

It apples and oranges to compare DL and WDW. I love them both!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't think they can be compared either.

I disagree with the thoughts and opionions that WDW was created for tourists.

Walt himself purchased the land b/c he envisioned something that wasn't in the midst of city hubbub. While it has grown likely it to much more than Walt had envisioned, it certainly isn't the wicked step-sister either.

Both park properties are unique experiences.

We will be going to DL in December and staying for 2 nights at the Grand Californian. We look forward to going.

But in my perceptions, the two cannot be compared. WDW is where it all started for me and that is my preference. But I enjoy DL as well.


My first and last time at DL was during Christmas Week in 1990--and I found it quite enjoyable (where at WDW-- with the crowds).

Don't know what it is with me and DL and Christmas.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Actually going to DLR for the first time as an adult I actually understood why Disney himself was a bit disenchanted with the place. You can hear the outside world from within the park. I heard sirens more than once and yes, while on the monorail you can see the busy life outside.
.

I agree. Disneyland just didnt do it for me. I hate to admit this but I was bored. I guess it was probally the fact no one wanted to go on the "tame" rides (and I wasnt alowed to wander off). I dont know. It didnt do it for me. I did love toy story though. CA was ok. Not alot of rides for chickens.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I love them both, although I truely don't understand the whole "in WDW you are immersed in Disney" belief. A 20 minute wait for a bus followed by a crowded bus ride to your resort does not scream "disney" to me. I would much rather cross a very nicely landscaped intersection, and walk a few hundred yards to my motel....all the while keeping DL in sight.
To me the biggest drawback to DLR compared to WDW is that DL does a lot more rehabs, shortened evening hours , and very limited night time shows during the slow months when I like to travel. But the resort itself is so relaxing with most rides represented at WDW in 4 parks, combined into 2 parks in walking distance.

 

[AustinTink]

I love them both, although I truely don't understand the whole "in WDW you are immersed in Disney" belief. A 20 minute wait for a bus followed by a crowded bus ride to your resort does not scream "disney" to me. I would much rather cross a very nicely landscaped intersection, and walk a few hundred yards to my motel....all the while keeping DL in sight.

To me that's the point. DL is surrounded by a bunch of motels (some looking very shabby) in the middle of traffic, highways... reality. I'd rather wait 20 minutes for a bus on the beautifully manicured grounds of the Beach Club (with all it's activities and disney charm) than walk to a motel. No contest!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I just think a bus full of cranky children and strollers cracking my shins, and people who don't know the meaning of "indoor" voices no less desirable than seeing a freeway intersection. there is the good with the bad in both places.

 

[disneyfan123]

You cannot compare them! I was so proud of my 4 year old little girl today when she told the cashier at the the store she was going to see Mickey Mouse after Christmas. The cashier said "You are going to Disney Land?" and my daughter got so upset and said "NO! Disney World!" and then rolled her eyes. We trained her well.