DL or WDW

[Dis Ohana]

I did the research, I bought the books. I even bought an online touring program (Tour Guide Mike). I booked the hotel and looked into airfare. I worked it all into the budget. Now I'm having second thoughts...

We're loyal die hard Disneyland fans. We've gone for the past 4 years and have always had a wonderful time. We always go in December, and love the Christmas decorations and relatively low crowds. It's always been a magical place for our family, a time to be together and regroup from a busy year. We usually tie our DL trip with a side trip to Yosemite. I love it.

I got so excited when I started reading about WDW - I had no idea the place was so HUGE. There seems to be so much more to do than DL. And the food! So many more places to dine, so many more choices...

Last night during dinner we started talking about our previous trips to DL...and I started doubting this WDW plan. Here are the pros and cons, I thought I'd see what the board thinks. Any input, especially if you've been to both parks would be most welcome.

PROS:
-New adventure! We've been to DL 4x already, maybe it's time for something new and exciting.
-More places to dine. One thing we don't really like about DL is the limited places to eat.
-Would be cool to tour Epcot and Animal Kingdom.
-The kids are older now (11 & 14), they've never been anywhere but Disneyland and Yosemite.

CONS:
-VERY long flight. We're coming from Hawaii, looks like a full day of flying to get to Orlando.
-Weather: I love the cooler weather in Anaheim in December, from what I've read Florida weather can be very unpredictable.
-Crowds: Big factor for us, we do everything humanly possible to avoid crowds! It's a great motivator for the kids to do well in school to be allowed to come out a few days earlier than the scheduled break. From what I've read, crowds are a little heavier and come earlier at WDW.
-$$$: It's a lot more costly for us to fly to Orlando than LA, will it be worth it?
-We LOVE Disneyland, will the magic be the same?

Let me know what you all think. I'm grateful for any input.

 

[rosiep]

GO GO GO.

WDW is a great experience. Having grown up on the East Coast it was my only Disney experience. It is a great park with just one drawback as far as I see things...and that is the distance between each park. The place is huge!!! This vastness enhances the feeling of being secluded in Disney...but it takes time to travel in between the parks and this cuts into vacation time.

I hate crowds too, and in all the times I went to WDW I never experienced a crowd like the one in Disneyland on the Friday night I was there. I think DL experiences more daytrippers than WDW does. It had a lot of teenagers Friday night. (well behaved mind you-but they packed the park)

I loved DL when I visited for the first time this December. I was worried I would compare it to my "home" park but instead I found it just enlarged my idea of Disney!!! I live on the West Coast now and choosing where to go for my next Disney Vacation is going to be tough....maybe I'll just have to go to Paris now...

 

[Disney Davo]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!Go!!!!!!!!!! If you love Disney you will love it. I spent the firts half of my life living 15 minutes from DL and now live 5 hours from WDW. My first trip to WDW was a 3 day stay off site and compared to DL I didn't like it. Then the following year went back and stayed on site for 7 days and had the best family vacation of my life. Both resorts are awesome however you are right there is allot to do at WDW and unless you are there two weeks you most likely will not see everything. Keep in mind WDW is huge, you will be overwelmed by the size of the operation. Take time to relax at your resort, it is very easy to hit the parks early come back to your resort in the afternoon and then hit parks again in the evening. Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jlmarr]

Hydroguy recently wrote an excellent tome titled "An Introduction to WDW for DLR Vets". IMO it's required reading: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=16541636

 

[Tink33]

PROS:
-New adventure! We've been to DL 4x already, maybe it's time for something new and exciting.

I love to travel and the best part is visiting new places. Maybe you could break up the return home by spending a few days in California before heading home to Hawaii. That way you could enjoy "new and exciting" and familiar.

 

[lilpixie]

Yes, go for it! I grew up in FL and lived right outside of Orlando. We went to WDW a lot and it was *so* fun. You're right, there is tons to do there! I haven't been back there in years . . . so I'm sure there is so much more to do than I remember.
We now live way closer to DL and so that is where we are going. I love DL also!! But I do want to take my girls back to FL and experience WDW when they are a bit older.
Have fun, you will love the magic at WDW, too!!!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Since you have been to DL 4X then I would definitely go to WDW if you can. It would be a totally new experience.

 

[disney-super-mom]

If you're considering flying such a long ways, you should really make the trip worth it by scheduling a nice, LONG vacation. Afterall, it could be a once in a lifetime trip for you and your family. So take the time to make the most of it.

I think your kids are the perfect age for WDW...they'll be able to ride everything and get the most out of the new experiences.

WDW is very fun, and in my opinion, so worth the effort of a long plane ride. DH and I just got back last week from our first trip there, and we had a BLAST!

If you're looking for a "new" Disney experience, then give WDW a try. I know what you mean though...it's hard to miss out on the only Disney park you've ever known and have come to love.

 

[Disneyluvr81]

I have to agree with everyone and say you have got to go!!!

My boyfriend and I both have annual passes to Disneyland and average about one trip a week. We just recently got back from our first trip to Disney World and both can not honsetly wait until we are able to go back again. Don't get me wrong - I absolutely love Disneyland, its my favorite place to go - but everything you have at Walt Disney World is just amazing. It makes Disneyland feel so itty bitty! Hehe! If you stay on property and have the meal plan everything is so easy and convenient. We stayed in the Wilderness Lodge and I am absolutely in love with the hotel. It is going to be hard to go try another hotel the next time we go.

After spending a lot of time on the boards before we went, it sounds like you guys may not be too bad off crowd wise if you leave a couple days before everyone elses break. It was kinda crowded when we went (more crowded then expected) and we were there for 5 days. We saw almost everything we wanted to see and rode may rides we wanted to ride MANY times. Fastpass is great! The weather wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. We only had rain one day and it was at night time. The same day it was 85 and super humid (killed me - but I bet you guys are used to the humidity coming from Hawaii). The rest of the days were either cloudy on the cooler side or sunny on the comfortable side. We were in Hawaii last March and it rained all but 1 day so this was a nice change of weather for a vacation!!

Good luck with your trip planning!!!

 

[azgal81]

Go! I went to disneyworld a few times growing up and always had fun. My boyfriend has never been but has been to disneyland quite a few more times then me. We are hoping to go to disneyworld instead of disneyland next year! Sure it will be a little different but I think it will be super fun!

 

[HydroGuy]

After many DLR trips, we went to WDW for the first time last year for 10 days. I had a business conference at the Coronado Springs Resort for two days which dictated that the trip be in early June. Our kids were in the same age range as yours - our oldest was 14 and the youngest was 10.

I think the biggest problem with doing the WDW trip is that now we really want to go back. But hopefully not in June. Right now I am targeting Spring Break 2008 for 8-9 days. Yes, you will experience a similar Disney magic at WDW. And no, it has not made DLR dimmer. But I do relate to the expense issue. It was so expensive for us, as we can and do drive to DLR. And we only spend 3-4 days at DLR, as compared to the 10 we spent at WDW. And with four kids, on-site lodging options were limited. So the overall cost was four times what we spend on a (shorter) visit to DLR.

If you decide to go, make sure you have enough days. Like another poster said, I think a short trip might be frustrating and possibly a negative. A good 5-6 days should work, but more days would be better if you can manage it.

Using TGM is the best resource IMO. Make sure to spend some time on their forums.

 

[honeymom]

Just re: the crowds. WDW never feels as crowded to us as DL for 2 reasons. One, there are more parks for people to spread out in and people enjoy hanging out at the resorts, too. Two, at Magic Kingdom - Main Street USA is longer and wider than DL Main Street.

We prefer WDW, but mostly because we get the full resort experience. I don't know that that will be as important since you are coming from Hawaii. Also, there really are an abundance of good restaurants whereas DL only has a few.

 

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

I am in the reverse situation......We just took our family to WDW last year for the 1st time & considering a trip to DL in Dec. 07. It will be more expensive for us since we live in Illinois. Longer flight, longer stay (while we are there we will also do Sea World, Universal, SD Zoo, LegoLand, etc....) more expense...
I loved WDW - but yes it will take many days to see it all. We had 7 full days there & didn't even get to ride Dumbo or Space Mountain....There is just soo much to do & see - it was wonderful!
Any personal opinion on the reverse of your situation??

 

[shellyof4]

Another vote to go to WDW!

We've been to both twice...LOVE both...the resort feel at WDW is great and there is tons too. If you have TGMike, you'll be fine even if it is busy...and I personally feel WDW seems/feels less busy than DLR.

Bring some disposable ponchos if it rains and you can still do lots there because it usually only rains for a part of the day there. We had rain twice but it only lasted an hour (though it POURED and we had to seek shelter at Epcot).

My DS 11 loved Disneyland, but he did say, "I miss Epcot" and my personal favorite roller coaster of all time is Rockin Roller Coaster at MGM....So, that said, GO! You'll have a great time!

 

[MATTERHORN]

In the same boat as you, we just cancelled our trip in May (more due to DH's work than anything) and I was a little bit relieved. Don't get me wrong, I have been dying to go to WDW for years (it keeps getting put off for various reasons) and I was so excited like you, I had everything planned. But I find I am not as upset as I though I would be (although we are cushioning the blow with 4 days at the Grand in April instead)

One day I'll get there and if you can still go, then you probably should. But just wanted to say I understand EXACTLY how you feel. A WDW trip would cost us a bundle and then that makes me sad because I wouldn't be able to afford to go back to DL for quite a while then!! As you see from my sig, I don't handle DL withdrawals well!

Andrea

 

[Judy from Boise]

we routinely go to both, leaving for WDW on the 24th of this month infact, and love both. When you are comparing costs make sure you plan to stay on site at WDW, with a minimum of 7 nights.

If the $$$ determines you go to DL again, it's all good! If you can swing WDW on site for 7-10 nights, thats great too !

 

[quiltymom]

I love Disneyland. I grew up going to Disneyland. I've been to WDW twice, and I still love Disneyland the best (which DH thinks I nuts about).

BUT....

I love WDW! It's different. There's more Disney to see, to experience. And yes, more places to EAT! Goodness. You can gain weight while being there, even though you're walking our feet off. But it's Disney World!

We're taking our second family trip there this coming October and I can't wait. The only sad thing about it is that we won't be able to do our annual trip to DL this summer when we go out to visit family. But, we'll be going to WDW.

I know that I'm not a bit help, but they are both wonderful. DL for being the original and having lots of rides that WDW doesn't, but the reverse is also true. I'd say don't worry about it and just take the trip. You can always go to DL next year!!! And vice versa! You can't go wrong! IT'S DISNEY!

 

[jlmarr]

You're closer to Tokyo than you are to Orlando - have you considered Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Seas? I'm not sure of the relative costs, but give it a thought.

 

[AskTheChief]

In your position, I would go!


My reasons for not going now...

-My kids are 2 (just turned 2 last week), 3, and 6. I do NOT want to fly anywhere with them, LOL. Not to mention the expense and hassle of flying.

-We live driving distance (six hours) from DL.

-We spend five days in the parks and six nights. My kids are so young, that we barely have time to do all of DL and GC and nothing is "too young" for them. They love it all.

-Also because of their ages, we want to be within a ten min. WALK. I don't want to have to lug a stroller (full of clothes changes, snacks and a cooler!) onto a boat, tram, or bus.


When they're older, I really want to do a big trip to WDW. With your kid's ages, they will probably love all that "big kid" stuff to do. Plus, you are already flying, so why not go a bit (ok, mabye more than a bit, lol) farther and try something new?

 

[deekaypee]

Another vote for WDW! You have the opportunity to see how WDW picks up on the ideas present in DL and reworks them in another place, in another time. Think of it this way: by going to WDW you're seeing Disney's theme-park evolution!