Does Disneyland have more "magic" than Disney World?

[mom2rtk]

I'm going to agree.

I made my first trip to WDW the beginning of this year. We stayed the first couple nights in a GV at Animal Kingdom, then the rest of the 2 weeks at Bay Lakes. We had a good time. We went with friends who knew their way around and were able to keep us going in the right direction. They made sure we had all the right FP+s, made sure we had meals set up. We loved eating at Be Our Guest.

Here is the difference though.... After that trip, we said "maybe again in 4-5 years." Why? To me it was like going to Disneyland, then driving to Fullerton to go to Animal Kingdom, then let's head to Irvine for Epcot, etc... I wanted to do a little shopping? Disney Springs (AKA Downtown Disney) was a 20 min car ride away. Head back to Animal Kingdom? It was a 20+ min drive. While many feel this is in a Disney "bubble", it really wore me out. To do anything, it took a car, bus, or monorail.

For me, Disneyland is so much easier. Not counting the dining reservations not having to be made 6 mos in advance, or dealing with FP+ so far out, just getting around Disneyland Resort is so much easier. The walk from Disneyland exit to DCA entrance is 2-3 mins tops. Want to hit DTD, it is right there. I really missed walking into Magic Kingdom and seeing characters around Town Square. I like watching interactions with the characters. We were in ToonTown a few weeks ago, and Goofy spotted my daughter and walked off with her. Took me a second to get my phone out. But loved the interaction.

I think the biggest difference is when we left WDW, I didn't feel like "Awwwww, when can I come back?", whereas I do when we leave Disneyland.

We've been to WDW many times and to DLR many times. This is mostly how I feel about it. WDW feels grand to some, it feels like a lot of work to me. But I tend to be very park-centric in what I like about Disney. So when we go to WDW we stay on property (even if it's just a value resort) then pick one park each day (no hoppers here). We make ADRs in the park we plan to be in that day. If we want to dine at a resort, we do it on a day we'll be near that resort. We rarely go to DS. In short, we try to minimize the amount of time going from point A to point B.

I guess in retrospect, it shouldn't be any surprise that we like DLR so much. If only DL had an option for eating in the castle. Maybe I need to eat a churro while walking through the castle display next time?

 

[Sorata]

Popping in from the Disney World forums, we took our first trip about a month ago and it was absolutely insanely amazing, we loved every single second! This was our first experience with Disney. But the more we talk to people who have done both the more people agree - Disneyland has more magic.

True? False? (if you've been to both).
If true, what makes it more magical in your opinion?

I think the weather is the main issue between character interaction. Florida is just too hot which is why most are in doors and you have lines you stand in to wait for them. As For California the weather can be hot but you can stand it due to no humidity, which allows the characters to move more freely and be more spontaneous.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I have only been to WDW once, stayed off-site and only visited two parks on two days. I would like to go back and do the whole WDW experience, stay on property, spend at least a week and visit all the parks. I can see the appeal of the bubble and a grand, resort-like experience, with so many different parks to enjoy. However, I very much dislike the fact that you basically cannot get reservations to the popular restaurants or fast passes to some of the popular rides unless you book your trip 6 months+ out. I don’t generally plan vacations that far in advance. The amount of advanced planned required for a WDW vacation gives me some anxiety.

As an annual passholder I go to DL a lot, usually day visits. I love how easy it is. You can show up at the park with zero planning and have an amazing day. I love the laidback feel of the parks, how I can let the worries and stresses of the real world fade away as I enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the park. I love the organic character interactions, we have had so many special moments with characters that did not involved FP and lines. I love the nostalgia. I grew up going to DL, back when you could drive up and park in the parking lot where DCA is now and just walk into DL with no tram or bus. I love all of the original buildings and attractions, it’s amazing to me that people experienced these same things on opening day over 60 years ago.

I think both resorts are magical but my heart is definitely at the DLR.

 

[StarlitNight05]

I have only been to WDW once, stayed off-site and only visited two parks on two days. I would like to go back and do the whole WDW experience, stay on property, spend at least a week and visit all the parks. I can see the appeal of the bubble and a grand, resort-like experience, with so many different parks to enjoy. However, I very much dislike the fact that you basically cannot get reservations to the popular restaurants or fast passes to some of the popular rides unless you book your trip 6 months+ out. I don’t generally plan vacations that far in advance. The amount of advanced planned required for a WDW vacation gives me some anxiety.

As an annual passholder I go to DL a lot, usually day visits. I love how easy it is. You can show up at the park with zero planning and have an amazing day. I love the laidback feel of the parks, how I can let the worries and stresses of the real world fade away as I enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the park. I love the organic character interactions, we have had so many special moments with characters that did not involved FP and lines. I love the nostalgia. I grew up going to DL, back when you could drive up and park in the parking lot where DCA is now and just walk into DL with no tram or bus. I love all of the original buildings and attractions, it’s amazing to me that people experienced these same things on opening day over 60 years ago.

I think both resorts are magical but my heart is definitely at the DLR.

This is pretty much how I feel as well. I have never even been to WDW but the amount of planning required also gives me anxiety. I also don't like to feel like I'm on a rigid schedule on my vacation, it sort of takes the fun out of it. But maybe one day we will go and I'll fall in love regardless... but until then DLR still has my heart.

 

[tarheelalum]

Disneyland ROCKS!!

 

[Malcon10t]

I have read @Malcon10t 's experience at WDW before and it is of course totally valid and reflects a point of view often heard by DLR vets. In essence, WDW is very spread out and hard to navigate. Compared to DLR this is 100% true. Interestingly, one also frequently reads WDW vets coming to DLR and their comments are something along the lines of "DLR is too small and right in the middle of a major metro area". WDW as a resort is 50 times bigger than DLR as a resort. The largeness of WDW has advantages and disadvantages. The smallness of DLR has advantage and disadvantages (lots of DLR vets prefer the word "intimate" and not "small" when talking about DLR).

I think it is human nature when one really comes to love DLR or WDW as a first love, then the size of the resort just feels right. Going from DLR to WDW and having 50 times the space feels too big. Going from WDW to DLR and having only 2% of the space feels too small.

It is why I say I "change hats" when I change resorts. I embrace the largeness of WDW when there and the intimate size of DLR when there.

Yes it is awesome to be in a Disney bubble at WDW. But that bubble puts your lodging (and most all of the "action" a lot farther from the parks than at DLR. At DLR it is awesome to stay within a 5-10 minute walk of everything.

Getting back to "magic" as asked by the OP, I said in a PP that I feel equally immersed in magic at both resorts. But that is just me. Other have a genuine preference for one resort over the other, which is of course fine. But both resorts are full of magic

I also want to say, FOR ME, WDW adn DL are totally different experiences. Just as DL and Universal or Six Flags are totally different experiences. And everyone views each of these differently. While some talk about the "Disney bubble" at WDW, waiting an hour plus for the bus, then sitting in traffic and taking 40 mins to get to Epcot (due to traffic) was not my idea of a bubble. But I also don't think walking thru DTD back to the Disneyland Hotel is a bubble either.

I did enjoy the time there, we had a great time. We also enjoyed Universal Hollywood. They are all fun experiences. People do need to realize they are DIFFERENT experiences. Each is somewhat unique. Everyone will have their favorites. And for some odd reason, I've heard some people's favorites aren't even a Disney property!

 

[2019TripIdeas]

Personally, I found WDW more magical (3 trips) than Disneyland (just one trip). I think both are really cool, and I would never hesitate to recommend Disneyland to anyone (except maybe on a really, really crowded day). It was awesome. That said, we stayed off site and it just didn't seem that "magical" to walk down a busy street. Once you got to the shuttle area, and could hear the music, the magic did kick in. I also didn't love being able to "see out" of Disneyland on some rides.

I know so many people would disagree, but after 3 days at Disneyland (really, 2.5), we were ready to be out of there. Anaheim itself is not the nicest vacation spot, and while the weather may be better than Orlando, the outside environment is kind of a downer. I'm also probably not a diehard for "the original" experience, though I'm glad I got to do it.

 

[Catvondita]

Both are super magical and amazing! But for me I think I lean ever so slightly to WDW. For me, the extra immersion makes me feel more magical. Like I really am in a complete Disney World. I know when I go, from the moment I get off that plane that the Disney Vacation starts and doesn't end until I'm back on that plane. For DL, its more that the Disney Vacation starts once I pass the Denny's and homeless people and make it to the Disney Gates. I still love both but for me I love Disney so much that I want my vacation to be alllllll Disney.

 

[maverik85]

In a word, yes. Disneyland is more magical. And here are a few reasons that come to mind for me.

1. That intangible energy that often comes with something being "original" or "first" or "the one park that Walt was really, truly a part of"...it's there. It isn't just rhetoric. It actually has a certain feel to it.
2. It's smaller and more quaint. And quaint things often feel more magical to me.
3. It seems less polished. But in a good way. Like a classic jazz record--or jazz in general--it doesn't resolve. And it has some little imperfections that make it all the more enduring.
4. As others have said--more random character interactions. Again, it's got this "anything could happen" kind of vibe that lends itself to a feeling of magic.
5. It has the original Club 33. We got to dine there last year, and if you ever get the chance, it's impossible not to feel the magic in that place. Nostalgia cranked to 11.

Other reasons range from the quality of attractions (they seem to keep things fresher since most of their traffic is from California residents who attend regularly vs. the every-5-to-10-years vacationing family at WDW) to the easy walkability of it (it's so small that you can move quickly from one place to the next without running yourself ragged).

All that to say, yes, Disneyland is more magical. I'm not sure it's overall better than WDW. There are pros and cons to both places (the food at WDW comes to mind as something that is vastly superior to DL), but ultimately it's just a matter of preference and opinion.

For my money, I'm a west coast guy and will always be a diehard devotee of Walt's original park, flaws and all.

This is pretty much how I feel as well. The roaming characters really add to the charm. Feel like Fantasyland in Disneyland is better too with having these nice themed buildings, and more dark rides giving it a more classic feel. Whereas WDW's fantasy land is primarily just brightly colored canopies giving it a fantasy faire feel but doesn't feel as nice as the DLR version. The new Fantasyland is a big improvement but is only a part of it. I do really like the aspect of being able to walk everywhere making things more convenient for a location.

However, if I had to pick one overall as the better spot I'd probably say WDW. DLR has more magic to it in the feel, but WDW isn't devoid of it. It is still great and the new additions they have been adding have really been putting in extra effort and more detail. The big thing to me for it though is just the amount of stuff to do at WDW. DLR is nice and love both parks but WW having 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and a large shopping/food district along with all the other resort amenities just ups it more. I have taken 7/8day trips there and still not gotten to a ton of stuff I'd like to see at WDW, whereas after 3 days at DLR I feel like I had seen everything, including the hotels.

 

[AustinTink]

We have been to both about an equal amount of times totaling about 24 total visits. For an easier vacation, less involved planning and a more relaxed pace we enjoy Disneyland. It seems like the planning for WDW just keeps getting harder and more involved every year. It's exhausting. And there is no winging it. At Disneyland, if you decide to veer off course for a day it's totally doable. At WDW you have to stick to your agenda.

That being said, WDW always wins for the feeling of total immersion. When we are there we no longer exist in the real world. Even my DH who has a hard time fully relaxing can turn his real world receptors off and feel the Disney magic. The pixie dust is plentiful at WDW and can be a little more scarce at DLR. With DLR, the minute you step outside the parks onto Harbour reality hits you. It's a very different experience.

Weather is also an issue for us. We longer go to WDW in the summer. It's just too much heat for us. So, DLR is our summer Disney. WDW is for winter holidays or spring break.

 

[sherilaine]

I get tired just thinking about all the planning required for WDW - so I might never know the answer to this question.

 

[ELSA711]

I am in the minority but WDW is by far my magical place.
I adored DL but haven’t been back since 2004, so my short term memory could be a factor here.

WDW is my magical happy place

 

[Linkura]

It's more magical in some ways but not in others, we found.

More magical:
-Roaming characters
-Toontown, especially getting there at open
-More classic Fantasyland rides
-Smaller, more quaint footprint
-More classically magical architecture (castle, IASW facade, Haunted Mansion, NOS, etc)
-Able to walk just a few hundred feet to get to DCA/DTD

Less magical:
-Smaller footprint means it's often very crowded and hard to walk around- this was a biggie for me and this is going to be a MASSIVE issue when SWL opens
-Often inaccurate wait times and ride closures listed on app/in-park board- this was also a biggie for me
-Ride closures seemed to happen more often than they used to at WDW, but now WDW is having a lot of breakdowns too, so this point doesn't really stand anymore
-YMMV but I found most CMs to be less enthusiastic and cheerful
-Very few Photopass locations
-Not much of a "bubble" compared to WDW, but this can be a plus as you can find great, reasonable hotels and food just outside

 

[Jokiho]

FYI, when DLR vets talk reverently about DLR and especially DL, they are not talking about "vacations". Yes, WDW is set up for vacationing and many WDW vets especially from the East and Midwest correlate "Disney" with vacationing. That is "a perspective" and it may be "your perspective" but it is not the "only perspective". It is possible to visit a Disney park and not have it be a vacation and have a great time - because Disney magic is there.

DLR is not "crammed". I think the word often chosen is "intimate" and that really describes it best. There are so many cool things about DLR that you cannot get at all or it is hard to get at WDW. It would seem strange (to me) for someone to, say, want to go to Tokyo Disney or Shanghai Disney, and then return complaining about how little English is spoken there and how WDW is so much better because they speak English.

You will have the best experience at DLR if you stop worrying about how it is different from WDW and focus on maximizing the good things about DLR. There are a bunch of them.

Thank you Hydroguy. I am looking forward to seeing this new side of Disney!

 

[chickapin parterre]

Wow.....Disneyland being the new side of Disney.....that is almost an oxymoron .

 

[southlake]

Disneyland is definitely more magical to me and my family! We went to WDW once and were very disappointed. We'll never go back. We are thankful we didn't make a special trip across the country just to go there (We went after a Disney Cruise so we were already in FL) or we would have been really upset. WDW is too large, too spread out, and feels like a copy of Disneyland. Copy being not the real thing and substandard. Was disappointed in the dark dirty water of Small World when the Small World water at DL is light and clear. I know, a minor thing, but I saw a lot of minor things that were just disappointments!

 

[Jokiho]

Both are super magical and amazing! But for me I think I lean ever so slightly to WDW. For me, the extra immersion makes me feel more magical. Like I really am in a complete Disney World. I know when I go, from the moment I get off that plane that the Disney Vacation starts and doesn't end until I'm back on that plane. For DL, its more that the Disney Vacation starts once I pass the Denny's and homeless people and make it to the Disney Gates. I still love both but for me I love Disney so much that I want my vacation to be alllllll Disney.

Wait...huh?! Not to stray off topic here...but there are a bunch of homeless people around there?! I'm not meaning to sound naive, but as a WDW vet I'm not used to that!

 

[chickapin parterre]

Wait...huh?! Not to stray off topic here...but there are a bunch of homeless people around there?! I'm not meaning to sound naive, but as a WDW vet I'm not used to that!

....wait....you don't have to cross a four lane road of traffic to get to WDW....and those folks in the four lane are late to wherever they are headed.

 

[HydroGuy]

Wait...huh?! Not to stray off topic here...but there are a bunch of homeless people around there?! I'm not meaning to sound naive, but as a WDW vet I'm not used to that!

Yes lots in Anaheim and lots in Orlando too. If you are staying offsite you are likely at some point to walk past some homeless people. The streets are city streets once you leave DLR. Just like at WDW. There are lots of other people around and we always feel safe.

 

[Huff]

We are seasoned DLR's for decades with AP's for much of it. We've been to WDW about a dozen trips now, each for 7-10 days so know it fairly well too. DLR has far more of the Disney magic. Attention to detail is greater at DLR, Character interactions etc. Disneyland park itself is far superior to Magic Kingdom in terms of look and feel as well as number of attractions. That said, is DLR better than WDW or vise-versa? Depends on what you want in your vacation. DLR for the Disney experience. WDW for a more complete vacation with the greater number of attractions, resorts, dining choices etc. Each has its own pluses and minuses.