For those that have been to both DL and WDW...

[MillauFr]

I prefer Disneyland to Disneyworld. Many of the rides are far superior in California, Pirates, Small World, Space Mountain, Autotopia, Indiana Jones, Radiator Springs Racers. I don't understand why Disneyworld usually gets useless stuff like Magic Bands, while Disneyland gets all of the good rides.

 

[vratiana]

I love WDW and the immersive vacation experience but DL is dripping with charm. Main Street and the castle are so much smaller but also more charming. Fantasyland still has Mr. Toad's (one of my childhood fave's from WDW), as well as 3 other classic dark rides (Pinnochio, Snow White & Alice) in addition to Peter Pan. The teacups and Small World are SO much cuter at DL (absolutely picture perfect). And Storybook Canals is an original Walt ride that just couldn't be cuter. Oh and Casey Jr is as cute as can be too. I absolutely love Pirates at DL (Riding through the Blue Bayou restaurant is awesome). And Indiana Jones is one of the best rides at any park (the music + adventure, it is pure fun).
I love hopping back and forth to DCA (and Downtown Disney, especially to grab an Earl of Sandwich). Carsland is simply spectacular. If you aren't a huge Cars fan, make sure you watch the movie right before your trip so you can really appreciate it all. And then there are the corndogs, no comparison would be complete without mentioning the DL corndogs.

 

[Frozen2014]

The responses are getting me quite excited for Disneyland.

I prefer Disneyland to Disneyworld. Many of the rides are far superior in California, Pirates, Small World, Space Mountain, Autotopia, Indiana Jones, Radiator Springs Racers. I don't understand why Disneyworld usually gets useless stuff like Magic Bands, while Disneyland gets all of the good rides.

Personally I love the DW Magic Bands. You wear it on your wrist and it is an all in one...your room key, FP bookings (which are N/A in Dinseyland), your ADRs, your photopass link (I.e. the photographers take a picture, they scan your magic band, and it's now attached to your account). It is even waterproof so you can wear it if say, you go to the resort pool. And it's a cute souvenir when you return home.

 

[Michael623]

There was a saying I heard once that typifies the dynamic between the US parks: Disney World is for tourists, Disneyland is for purists. I've been to WDW far more times because the airfare is half price and the flight is 3 vs 6 hours but if I lived somewhere where all things were equal I'd probably never go to WDW again. From a DL AP holder who lives in Massachusetts.

 

[GatorChris]

I may get a little hate since this is on the DL board, but I like WDW better. I's so much more immersive, and everything is HUGE. It's breathtaking to see the Castle and SSE and ExEv. Bigger is better for me. AK is really great, and I miss Epcot and the World Showcase incredibly. And I love the Moderate resorts, which I think are superior to Paradise Pier and DLH, and way cheaper to boot. But what I miss the most is NIGHTLY fireworks/shows at 3 of the 4 parks (and soon, all of them) throughout the year. At DL, you get nightly fireworks in the summer, Christmas, and spring break...right when I don't want to go. When I do want to go, fireworks only happen on the weekends. And that's if the Entertainment Manager doesn't cancel it because a breeze picked up. I really feel like I'm in the Disney bubble at WDW....and I've never gotten that at DL, even when we stayed at DLH. I can't put my finger on why.

That said, I've not been to WDW since 2012, before the FP+ came. And I'm not interested in going back because of all the super planning AND the $2K it costs my family just to fly there. With DLR just 333 miles away from my house, it's an easy drive and we can get some Magic more frequently. But if I lived somewhere in the middle of the USA, there's no doubt where I'd spend more time.

 

[mom2rtk]

I may get a little hate since this is on the DL board, but I like WDW better. I's so much more immersive, and everything is HUGE. It's breathtaking to see the Castle and SSE and ExEv. Bigger is better for me. AK is really great, and I miss Epcot and the World Showcase incredibly. And I love the Moderate resorts, which I think are superior to Paradise Pier and DLH, and way cheaper to boot. But what I miss the most is NIGHTLY fireworks/shows at 3 of the 4 parks (and soon, all of them) throughout the year. At DL, you get nightly fireworks in the summer, Christmas, and spring break...right when I don't want to go. When I do want to go, fireworks only happen on the weekends. And that's if the Entertainment Manager doesn't cancel it because a breeze picked up. I really feel like I'm in the Disney bubble at WDW....and I've never gotten that at DL, even when we stayed at DLH. I can't put my finger on why.

That said, I've not been to WDW since 2012, before the FP+ came. And I'm not interested in going back because of all the super planning AND the $2K it costs my family just to fly there. With DLR just 333 miles away from my house, it's an easy drive and we can get some Magic more frequently. But if I lived somewhere in the middle of the USA, there's no doubt where I'd spend more time.

We are in the middle of the USA and started as WDW regulars. We're in the DLR camp now. We are in FP+ exile.

 

[GatorChris]

We are in the middle of the USA and started as WDW regulars. We're in the DLR camp now. We are in FP+ exile.

That's sorta the way I feel. With Free Dining, I might be able to get the money part close to where I need it to be. But with FP+, the destruction of the Sorcerer's Hat, and the elimination of the World Showcase Players, it's hard for me to go back with so much of what I love now gone.

However, with DL's talk of getting FP+, I'm starting to get a little worried. Just the thought of getting through the gates and immediately looking at my phone for FPs makes me cringe.

 

[ClaraOswald]

That's sorta the way I feel. With Free Dining, I might be able to get the money part close to where I need it to be. But with FP+, the destruction of the Sorcerer's Hat, and the elimination of the World Showcase Players, it's hard for me to go back with so much of what I love now gone.

However, with DL's talk of getting FP+, I'm starting to get a little worried. Just the thought of getting through the gates and immediately looking at my phone for FPs makes me cringe.

Wait...you are actually sad about the destruction of the hat?!

 

[Pakey]

I live in Ca but have an annual pass to both parks. I've been to Disneyworld +/- 30 times and have no idea how many times I've been to Disneyland. I've also been to DLKH and DLRP. I'm not sure I can say that one is better than the other; they are completely different experiences. Both have some rides better than the other. I love Disneyland, grew up on Disneyland. The only thing that I find disappointing is the castle. I get that it's the original but it's so cheesy looking compared to the castles at the newer parks. I try not to look at it, lol. But except for that one thing, I really love Disneyland. And when I'm there, I'm not thinking about the World Showcase or Animal Kingdom or any of the other things that WDW has that isn't at DLR. I am too busy enjoying Cars Land, Ca Screaming, Club 33, Mr. Toad, Mattahorn, etc. And on the flip side, when I'm at WDW, I'm not thinking about the things that aren't there. I will be at DLR this weekend and again in 4 weeks and in between, I've got a week at WDW. There's plenty to love at both locations.

 

[disneyfirsttimer18]

We went to DL the first time last year. Never been to WDW, though it's on the bucket list.

I went to DL expecting it to be an amusement park, like I can find much closer to home, just glamorized and more expensive.

On our 2nd day in the parks, we rode the Monorail and realized that real life really did still exist outside of DL. I'm still blown away at just how immersive DL is, it's seriously magical that even surrounded by city you feel like you are in a completely different world in DL & DCA.

 

[GatorChris]

Wait...you are actually sad about the destruction of the hat?!

I know. There's a lot of HatHaters out there. But I thought it was VERY Disney. What's more Disney than Mickey, and what's his most famous costume? Sorcerer Mickey. And with F! playing at the studios each night, it just fit the feel of the park for us. Plus I'm just not a fan of the Mann Theater. I've been to the real one and it was just eh. If Disney really wanted to be authentic after they removed the hat, the streetmosphere cast would wrap up in duct tape and trash bags, carry around wine bottles, and lay down on the sidewalk. THEN it would be authentic Hollywood.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I know. There's a lot of HatHaters out there. But I thought it was VERY Disney. What's more Disney than Mickey, and what's his most famous costume? Sorcerer Mickey. And with F! playing at the studios each night, it just fit the feel of the park for us. Plus I'm just not a fan of the Mann Theater. I've been to the real one and it was just eh. If Disney really wanted to be authentic after they removed the hat, the streetmosphere cast would wrap up in duct tape and trash bags, carry around wine bottles, and lay down on the sidewalk. THEN it would be authentic Hollywood.

Hahaha! So true.

 

[Mynamewastaken]

Thank you everyone. I am getting really excited now. I will be there for 3 days all by myself. No one to hold me down!! I appreciate all the detailed responses. I read everyone of them!

 

[HydroGuy]

I would recommend, to any WDW regular visiting DLR for the first time, to try to manage your expectations going in. It's a different park. It's smaller. Walking around Disneyland feels more crowded than MK because it's more compact and not build for hordes of people. That took some getting used to for me and my travel buddy.

I often note here that when people talk about crowds at DLR vs. WDW they often mean different things. The DLR parks and especially DL are just smaller than the WDW parks. DL has narrow walkways to carry lots of people and getting around Adventureland can feel impossible at certain times of day. So in that sense the PP is entirely correct.

However, DL has about 30% more rides than MK and a few more headliners and the lines for rides tend to be quite a but shorter than at MK. So in the sense of ride wait times, DLR is less crowded. Many WDW vets would kill for the 40 minute waits for TSMM and Soarin and 30 minute waits for BTMRR which are fairly typical at DLR.

 

[JayLaLa]

I just have to say, I love this thread! I've been to WDW twice 15 years ago. I've been to DL numerous times, as I great up in CA and now live in AZ. My kids have been to DL twice and it was amazing both times. We were planning a WDW trip for early next year, but decided the expense was just too great, and decided to stick to DL for now. At first, I was really bummed, but you guys have reminded me, IT'S DISNEYLAND!!!! It's amazing! Now I'm even more excited for our next trip!

 

[Princess_Kirky]

I've been to WDW several times and DLR once (last March). I liked DLR better than my last trip to WDW. The overall experience was more magical at DLR. It had the quaint feeling, more characters walking about, more live music (street performers), less planning required, shorter lines (it was a cooler day with rain in the AM), faster transportation (we took the bus from the parking area), QS food was better, night parade was far superior (DON'T MISS IT!), old FP system (yay!), wonderful character interactions at the Plaza Inn breakfast. Some things I missed a bit but overall I'd rather go to DLR than WDW now that I have experienced both.

 

[Ember]

Both DLR and WDW are wonderful. I love the sense of community at DLR and the immersiveness at WDW. Both parks shine in their own way.

If I had to pick only one, I'd go with Disneyland, but it's a reluctant choice. I love Epcot and Animal Kingdom and all the hotels at WDW.

I live in London now and am an annual passholder to Disneyland Paris. Which is not very Disney at all and we won't be renewing our passes.

 

[HydroGuy]

I will add another thought here that I have not seen written yet in this thread. WDW fans tend to focus on the entire resort. DLR fans tend to focus specifically on the parks.

WDW excels at providing a resort-type experience which is immersive and much more than DLR can make you forget the real world for your whole trip. DLR excels at having two parks jam packed with high quality rides and shows.

Sometimes you read folks say "WDW is obviously better because it provides a whole resort experience". You read other folks say "DLR is better because everything is so close". Both have merit and folks who have a strong preference for one vs. the other will often have a favorite based on that.

As I have alluded to earlier in this thread, I personally like both experiences. It is really cool to feel so immersed at WDW. With all the hotels and dining and water parks and shows and things to do that are not specifically inside of their theme parks. But it does take a long time to get places so you just build that into your expectations.

At DLR it is really cool to leave the parks and be in your hotel room within 5 minutes. So little time is wasted on transportation when you can just use your feet to get everywhere. And park hopping is just so easy and time efficient. As is dining/shopping in DTD. I remember one night watching World of Color solo and, once the show ended, being in my bed at the GCH 5 minutes later (we had a room near the special DCA entrance/exit).

For all these reasons this is why you hear people say it is hard to compare WDW and DLR. They both have Disney magic. How you experience that magic is different.

 

[cmph]

(I'll bet if you post this on a WDW forum, your answers will skew toward WDW just as they skew toward DL here.)

In the last few years, we've done 2 DL trips and 2 WDW trips. I would never ever be able to easily pick a "favorite"! If you ask my family, their answers will be all over the place as they change their minds 3 times in the span of 5 min; that was quite literally the case after we returned from our Apr DL trip. DH will always say DL b/c that's where he went as a child... but then he'll say "except I really do love AK and the World Showcase." My son will say California Adventure (not DLP, b/c he disliked the crowds clogging so much of it), but loves Epcot too. My daughter will just pick individual things from each location that she loves best and morph it all into her version of a perfect park. If you love Disney, you will appreciate everything both locations have to offer!

Don't miss Paint the Night, makes MK's parade look so, so dated. WOC was wonderful. RSR and Indy are so much fun. Expect some things to be more charming, without being able to define why. (For me, that's the Enchanted Tiki Room.)

Also expect more people packed into smaller walkways. Sure, it's smaller, but with so many people and all of the double strollers all over Fantasyland - you're not getting anywhere quickly. Being the fastpass runner was not my favorite thing ever, but no pre-selection means you can re-ride things on FP. We went high-end and stayed GC this time, and honestly, aside from the lobby and CMs - POR and CSR are nicer (our rooms and the pool areas) but cost a heck of a lot less. We aren't likely to try to replicate a WDW "bubble" by staying on property at DL all the time, but I can't see ever staying off-site at WDW when their are so many fun resorts to try out.

I guess we'll always be a "both" family! Lucky us!

 

[OneThree]

I grew up going to WDW nearly every summer (perks of having a mom from Florida and an uncle who worked for Disney) but after living in SoCal for awhile and getting to go to DL on several occasions I'd have to say I'd choose DL over WDW.

I will say though that WDW does have the edge in that it really is in a world all its own and once you drive under that iconic marquee for WDW you can forget about the rest of the world. Little bit harder to do at DL right smack in the middle of Anaheim.