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

[ClaraOswald]

<snip>

Pinocchio Village Haus has good food.

the castmembers dont "share the magic" like the WDW ones do.. DL/CA feels, to fme, like a good theme park. Its good. Lots of locals visit. Lots of aggressive teens. I have never felt the "wow" at DL. I always leave wishing I was at WDW instead.
<snip>

It's funny how our perspectives and experiences are all so different. I have found the cast members at Disneyland to be much better. Especially the face characters. But the people in the restaurants, ride operators, maintenance, etc....they are all so great at Disneyland. At WDW they seemed less happy to me or something. Definitely less than magical.

And I would rank Village Haus as some of the worst food on property.

If you always find yourself wishing you were at WDW, I have to ask...why do you continue to visit Disneyland? We like to visit both parks. But if I didn't like one, then I'd just stick with the other instead.

 

[chigirl]

What I meant about PVH was that it is better than the one at wdw but I agree its the weakest spot in DL. I go to DL when Im in LA (which is quite a bit because my son is an actor) just like I go to ANY theme park in any town I am in. I love theme parks! I like Disneyland...I even had the thrill of touring Walts apartment in 1995 thanks to a family member's connection. I weep every time I hear Walt's opening day speech. I like DL. ...but I love WDW. LQUOTE="ClaraOswald, post: 55843544, member: 504851"]It's funny how our perspectives and experiences are all so different. I have found the cast members at Disneyland to be much better. Especially the face characters. But the people in the restaurants, ride operators, maintenance, etc....they are all so great at Disneyland. At WDW they seemed less happy to me or something. Definitely less than magical.

It's funny how our perspectives and experiences are all so different. I have found the cast members at Disneyland to be much better. Especially the face characters. But the people in the restaurants, ride operators, maintenance, etc....they are all so great at Disneyland. At WDW they seemed less happy to me or something. Definitely less than magical.

And I would rank Village Haus as some of the worst food on property.

If you always find yourself wishing you were at WDW, I have to ask...why do you continue to visit Disneyland? We like to visit both parks. But if I didn't like one, then I'd just stick with the other instead.

And I would rank Village Haus as some of the worst food on property.

If you always find yourself wishing you were at WDW, I have to ask...why do you continue to visit Disneyland? We like to visit both parks. But if I didn't like one, then I'd just stick with the other instead.[/QUOTE]

 

[goofy4tink]

Just returned from my third trip to DL a week ago. I first went in Dec of 14, then last Dec. I've been to WDW over 40 times. I'm in NE, so airfare cost and time is a lot less than going to DL. Dh hates being on a flight for more than 3 hrs. He actually opted out of a free 4 night trip to Cancun because we just spent 4 nights in Cabo!!! No way was he sitting on a plane for that long, so soon after the flights to both Cabo and DL!! So, if I go to DL now, it will have to be solo or with friends.
Which do I like more? WDW, without a doubt. It's what I'm used to. With DL, I have found that although I now know my way around the parks fairly well, it just isn't the same for me. I do find it to be crowded. The walkways just can't handle the crowds when anything 'special' is going on. AdventureLand truly is an adventure when trying to get through the area!!! And yes, the wait times tend to be less than at WDW...but when we were there a week or so ago, there were a lot of groups there, so wait times were longer than I had seen in previous trips!!! TSM was over an hour!!! The classics are there...Mr Toad specifically!!! And the knowledge that Walt Disney actually walked in that park!!! Some of the rides are better as well....like PoTC much better at DL, same with IASW. I find the sit down meals to be fewer at DL. If it rains, all bets are off...DL isn't set up for rain!
But, I love the familiarity of WDW. It's my go to park. It's just what I know best.

 

[chigirl]

ooops! Using my phone so my post was messed up.Pardon my technical difficulties!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Which did you like better? I live on the east coast so "Disney" to me is WDW. I am headed to DL August 1st (not my 1st time but I was 7 and I don't remember it so its like my 1st time). I keep feeling like I am not going to be as excited as I would be going to WDW. Maybe because its unknown territory for me?? Are the rides the same? WDW seems like its own world and you feel that way when you are there. I am hoping DL has the same effect?

My best advice is to do your best to NOT compare it to WDW. Disneyland is very magical, but in much different ways than WDW. If you're open to seeing that, I think you'll find DLR to be very "Disney". After years of reading on these boards, I feel like those who go to DLR expecting it to be like WDW end up being disappointed. Some rides at DLR are better than they are at WDW (IMO - Pirates, Thunder, Space top that list). Some are better at WDW (Tower of Terror tops that list for me). Check out HydroGuy's "A DLR Guide for WDW Vets" - it's a fantastic resource!

 

[jdb in AZ]

I like Disneyland better, partly because my family went there the first year it opened. When our kids were little, DH and I joked that when we set the cruise control on the van, it would automatically take us to Disneyland. DLR is the original, and it's Walt's park. WDW is so spread out, and Florida can keep their miserable humidity. That said, I do enjoy Everest, and Dinosaur!

It's o.k. to enjoy both DLR and WDW.

 

[bethy]

I've been to DL about 12 times. We visited WDW for the first time last year and I was so excited and very optimistic. We stayed onsite.

Honestly, I will likely never return. Even when I fly to Florida to take Disney cruises (which I LOVE) I can't even see us stopping by the World.

I was especially disappointed in the MK. So much of it - especially Fantasyland - just felt like a carnival to me - one of those travelling non-permanent ones. I couldn't believe the differences. I also didn't like the vibe and the culture as much. To me DLR has warm and friendly community feel to it. It's also so much more laid back.

I am a nice and fair person and I honestly wanted to be one of those people who says they love both DL and WDW for different reasons. I feel that way about DLR and DCL but unfortunately not WDW.

 

[HydroGuy]

I was especially disappointed in the MK. So much of it - especially Fantasyland - just felt like a carnival to me - one of those travelling non-permanent ones. I couldn't believe the differences. I also didn't like the vibe and the culture as much.

I agree "old Fantasyland" at MK was a weakness and did not feel anywhere near as nice as DLs. New Fantasyland has a better vibe IMO.

On the other hand, IMO Tomorrowland at MK feels much better than DL's and, frankly, feels more like what DL's was like in the earlier years of DL (into the 90's).

I am a DLR vet and love DLR, and of course everyone is different and some DLR vets may dislike WDW. I do always wonder how much of WDW those people experienced. As I often generalize, DLR vets are park centric and WDW vets are resort centric.

Below are some things that I have experienced and make WDW special:

- Shows like Hoop-Dee-Doo Review at Fort Wilderness
- Marshmallow roasting and under the stars showings of Disney movies (also at Ft Wilderness, but the trend to showing movies outside at night has progressed to numerous locations around WDW)
- Cool ice cream stop at Beaches & Cream
- Top notch themed rides like Expedition Everest and RnR
- The water parks on a rest day
- Fun and extremely well themed dining like at Sci-Fi Dine-in (DHS)
- Interesting and unusual characters like DiVine at AK
- Renting a motorboat near DTD (now Disney Springs)
- So many cool hotel dining options like Boma's (AKL) and Whispering Canyon (WL)
- The Boardwalk (at night)
- Fun stunt shows like Indiana Jones (and now in Yesterland unfortunalely) Lights, Motor Action.
- All of the cool music and shows around the Epcot Lagoon in the World Showcase
- Largest Aquarium in N America (maybe still but it was at one time at least) at Epcot's Living Seas

And I have only scratched the surface as there are many more things available I have not yet tried.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

I do always wonder how much of WDW those people experienced. As I often generalize, DLR vets are park centric and WDW vets are resort centric.

I think this is a pretty valid point. We have been to DL 30+ times and WDW once. We actually liked WDW overall quite a bit, but more from the resort side and restaurant options. Even though there were fewer rides and generally long waits for each one, waiting in line was a more pleasant overall experience than at DL. We would go back just to experience some of the other resorts and food. We were lucky enough to spend 5 days at AKL with a Savanna view and would do that again in a heartbeat and eat at all three resort restaurants again, but there is so much more to see and do. We missed out on renting points for the Poly or GF and we really want to stay at the GF after eating at the restaurants there. We actually like Animal Kingdom park the best (Epcot very close second) and would like to go back and see all of the expansion space up and running. We had 8 park days, 3 1/2 in Epcot and I know we still didn't see everything there. We only did two half days at AK and that turned out to be a letdown for us-not enough time in that park-so we would like a do over there. Also, we really only had one rest day of our overall 10 day trip and that was not enough, too rushed. I think that resort hopping would have been a very cool way to spend an off day, on and off the monorail and boats and such. Likely Disney Springs will be much better by our next trip as well, just so much to see.

 

[Ziggie]

Which did you like better? I live on the east coast so "Disney" to me is WDW. I am headed to DL August 1st (not my 1st time but I was 7 and I don't remember it so its like my 1st time). I keep feeling like I am not going to be as excited as I would be going to WDW. Maybe because its unknown territory for me?? Are the rides the same? WDW seems like its own world and you feel that way when you are there. I am hoping DL has the same effect?

It is, and always will be, Disney World.

 

[mom2rtk]

As I often generalize, DLR vets are park centric and WDW vets are resort centric.

So true. And it explains why we have been so happy at DLR.

 

[mmmears]

I think it's all in how you choose to look at things.

You can walk into DL and say, "Wow the castle is so small!" Or you can walk in and realize that, yes, it's more compact than the MK but it has more rides and less walking in between them. Also, DL has some wonderful original rides, like Mr. Toad, Storybookland, Alice in Wonderland, and also unique rides like Indiana Jones. And a much, much better POTC. We can experience many more rides at DLR than at WDW and we don't waste so much time getting from park to park, ride to ride, and hotel to park.

Likewise, we try not to complain that there is no Blue Bayou at WDW. Or that it is such a long walk/bus/boat ride to the parks. We try to enjoy WDW for what it is and what makes it special to us.

I agree that the resorts at WDW make it more of a Disney-centric trip, and we love to stay in them. WDW is wonderful. But so is DL. We tend to splurge and stay at a Disney hotel and try to immerse ourselves in the "resort" in LA and not notice the city that is all around us... that tends to make it feel more magical for my family.

But really, both WDW and DL have unique things that make them special. I think if you focus on those you will have a good time at either one.

 

[AmberK24]

I had similar fears to the OP...
I have been to WDW at least once a year since I was itty bitty (thank you work for annual Orlando events!), and have always been a huge Disney fanatic. I finally made my first DLR trip about 4 years ago and was so excited! Made a solo trip back last year.
Here's the thing... Some of the attractions aren't as great (TOT), some are much better (POTC), some are just different. Go in looking for the differences and be excited to formulate your own opinion! The park is similar so you can feel comfortable that you won't get lost, be in any uncomfortable or unsafe situations, and have the reassurance that you have an idea of what you are getting and that your money won't be wasted, while at the same time they are different enough and have a different enough kind of magic that you can still get "lost" and explore and find new things and find a new version of magic.

I really recommend checking out Carnation Cafe for breakfast on Main Street and the Disney California Story Tour at DCA.

The largest difference that really stood out to me was the volume of Locals vs. Tourists at DLR. There are a lot more "regulars", but because they get the chance to visit the parks more often, the attitudes seemed to be a little more willing to chat and offer advice and just be a little friendlier because you aren't necessarily interrupting their vacation...just their evening.

Have a great trip!

 

[NewbieMouse]

But to be fair, WDW as a resort has lots more to do. More dining. More shows. Lots more outside the parks. And because you need more days to take that all in you also need more rest days.

So I agree with the PP. For me the perfect DLR trip is 3-4 days. The perfect WDW trip is 8-10 days.

As I often generalize, DLR vets are park centric and WDW vets are resort centric.

This is spot on. Perhaps that is why we prefer DLR as we are definitely rides oriented. It is usually part of a larger trip where we do more than just Disney, and with our WDW vacation, it was just WDW focused and I think it has to be. We did 6 nights with 7 days hoppers and I would have loved 3 more days at WDW. But that's a lot of time to invest in vacation at just one place for us. When we go to DLR it's part of a larger usually 3 week trip trip where we circle from San Fran, do West LA/beaches, and even throw in Vegas.

But if the resort part is something you like than WDW wins hands down. I loved staying at Yacht Club with the great pool and being able to stroll to Epcot and walk around with a drink at night, just taking it all in. I would have appreciated more time to do that, and if that's a big part of what you like about your vacation, then I think WDW will have the edge.

 

[HydroGuy]

I think it's all in how you choose to look at things.

You can walk into DL and say, "Wow the castle is so small!" Or you can walk in and realize that, yes, it's more compact than the MK but it has more rides and less walking in between them. Also, DL has some wonderful original rides, like Mr. Toad, Storybookland, Alice in Wonderland, and also unique rides like Indiana Jones. And a much, much better POTC. We can experience many more rides at DLR than at WDW and we don't waste so much time getting from park to park, ride to ride, and hotel to park.

Likewise, we try not to complain that there is no Blue Bayou at WDW. Or that it is such a long walk/bus/boat ride to the parks. We try to enjoy WDW for what it is and what makes it special to us.

I agree that the resorts at WDW make it more of a Disney-centric trip, and we love to stay in them. WDW is wonderful. But so is DL. We tend to splurge and stay at a Disney hotel and try to immerse ourselves in the "resort" in LA and not notice the city that is all around us... that tends to make it feel more magical for my family.

But really, both WDW and DL have unique things that make them special. I think if you focus on those you will have a good time at either one.

I had similar fears to the OP...
I have been to WDW at least once a year since I was itty bitty (thank you work for annual Orlando events!), and have always been a huge Disney fanatic. I finally made my first DLR trip about 4 years ago and was so excited! Made a solo trip back last year.
Here's the thing... Some of the attractions aren't as great (TOT), some are much better (POTC), some are just different. Go in looking for the differences and be excited to formulate your own opinion! The park is similar so you can feel comfortable that you won't get lost, be in any uncomfortable or unsafe situations, and have the reassurance that you have an idea of what you are getting and that your money won't be wasted, while at the same time they are different enough and have a different enough kind of magic that you can still get "lost" and explore and find new things and find a new version of magic.

I really recommend checking out Carnation Cafe for breakfast on Main Street and the Disney California Story Tour at DCA.

The largest difference that really stood out to me was the volume of Locals vs. Tourists at DLR. There are a lot more "regulars", but because they get the chance to visit the parks more often, the attitudes seemed to be a little more willing to chat and offer advice and just be a little friendlier because you aren't necessarily interrupting their vacation...just their evening.

Have a great trip!

This is spot on. Perhaps that is why we prefer DLR as we are definitely rides oriented. It is usually part of a larger trip where we do more than just Disney, and with our WDW vacation, it was just WDW focused and I think it has to be. We did 6 nights with 7 days hoppers and I would have loved 3 more days at WDW. But that's a lot of time to invest in vacation at just one place for us. When we go to DLR it's part of a larger usually 3 week trip trip where we circle from San Fran, do West LA/beaches, and even throw in Vegas.

But if the resort part is something you like than WDW wins hands down. I loved staying at Yacht Club with the great pool and being able to stroll to Epcot and walk around with a drink at night, just taking it all in. I would have appreciated more time to do that, and if that's a big part of what you like about your vacation, then I think WDW will have the edge.

There is a lot of love for DLR on this forum. Where I get a little defensive is when people say WDW is hands down better because of its "whole resort experience" or even that WDW "feels more Disney" than DLR. Hidden in there is the idea that the resort centric approach is not merely their personal preference but is inherently superior.

On the other hand, when some people say they that DLR is better because it is so much easier to get around and the parks are better I can get defensive of WDW. Those sentiments reflect a park centric approach. Just because it is easier to get around DLR does not make it better - unless you think the parks are more important than the whole resort experience offered at WDW.

As the PPs have well stated above, they both have merit and it is best for dual visitors to embrace the strengths of each.

 

[JMHDisney]

I've been to DL a bunch of times and went to WDW last year. I expected to be wowed. But with two 6 year olds, all I felt was exhausted! Everything was so spread out and it just felt hard to get anywhere (and we stayed at the Contemporary, which I also found disappointing). With young kids, the simplicity of DL can't be beat. We have always either gone for the day when visiting relatives or stayed onsite, and it's so easy! I love having Downtown Disney close by and being able to easily redirect if the kids change their minds about rides. We will be back in Florida in the future and I don't plan to visit WDW again any time soon.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'm just thrilled I get the chance to compare.... As a WDW vet, I tend to enjoy it there a LOT for relaxing... parks are fun, but I really love the resorts,and just relaxing for days with no 'outside world' to bother me... but our one DL visit, we were entranced by the smaller things, the details, the "disney-ishness" of it all.... and 6 days wasn't enough to take it all in properly.... funny, my spouse who spent years complaining about feeling 'trapped' onsite with no car, complained about the 'non onsite feel' to our Dl hotel!

 

[Baklava]

For me, DL is home. It is familiar and comfortable and full of memories and old friends. WDW was a different sort of magic. We spent 10 days and still didn't see everything. There were new delights around every corner and so many wonderful things to try.

I am glad to be coming home to DL this December. I am equally delighted to be returning to WDW a year later. I love them both,

 

[ckb_nc]

I call apple sauce compared to pumpkin pie - I love both but they are very different. DL is a locals part. We loved the placement of DD at DLR - and got to do ton more attractions. But WDW done right can feel a world apart

 

[mshoo1]

It's somewhat of a potato and potatoe debate. Having been to Disney World over 20 times and Disneyland 5 times, here are my observations:

Size Matters - Yes, Disney World is bigger and more impressive. The WDW resorts, on whole, are better, more immersive, and (generally) less expensive than their Disneyland counterparts (Good Neighbor hotels obviously excluded). BUT, the size differential also plays to Disneyland's advantage. I could probably kick a football from the Disneyland turnstiles to the entrance of California Adventure - it's that close. As a result, the entire resort experience at Disneyland feels like a more cohesive experience than WDW. You spend less time getting to and from the parks, allowing you more time to be immersed in them. However, Disneyland's smaller size also has a downside. When Disneyland gets crowded, it feels REALLY crowded. The walkways in Adventureland and New Orleans Square are almost claustrophobic on a busy day. For WDW vets, imagine the cluster that develops in the area around Splash and BTR at WDW and multiple that effect out over an entire land. All that being said, I like the smaller size of Disneyland Resort despite the occasional feeling of claustrophobia.

Affordable, Walking Distance Lodging - With few exceptions, a hotel room within walking distance of a WDW theme park will cost north of $300. Whereas, I have routinely paid under $150 for a decent hotel room less than 10 minutes walk from the entrance of Disneyland. I've sat out on the balcony of a $120/night hotel and had a spectacular view of the fireworks. That's not possible in WDW, at least not at those price points. Are these hotels nicer than the WDW hotels, absolutely not, but at that price I'm not complaining. In fact, if I had to complain about anything, it would be that my $525 hotel room at the Grand Californian felt disturbingly similar to the $280 hotel room I had at Wilderness Lodge. Anaheim's greatest strength, the sheer number of low cost hotels adjacent to the resort, also hints at one of its greatest weaknesses - the complete lack of nearby luxury resorts. Can't this town support a Ritz, Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria, or a JW?

Attractions (some better, some not) - The biggest benefit of a Disneyland visit for a WDW vet is seeking out attractions that are not available at WDW, including some of the best attractions at Disneyland Resort - Radiator Springs Racers, Indiana Jones, California Screamin', Grizzly River, World of Color (not technically an attraction, but I'm calling it one), Alice in Wonderland, and Monsters Inc. I also like the fact that several attractions are significantly different, or even better, than their WDW counterparts - Pirates, Small World, Space Mountain, etc. However, not all of the CA versions are better. One need look no further than Tower of Terror to prove that fact.

Disneyland Night Shows are Fantastic - I love Illuminations and Wishes, but the new fireworks and projection show at Disneyland is, in my humble opinion, the best nighttime entertainment that Disney has to offer in its domestic parks. Paint the Night and World of Color are equally spectacular.

Spontaneity Lives - I'm an uber planner, but I truly despise having to plan my meals 6 months in advance. At Disneyland, spontaneity is still alive and well. With the exception of one or two restaurants, you can decide on a whim to eat at the table service restaurant of your choosing.

Shorter Waits/Longer Waits - I've always been a bit fascinated by the differences in lines at WDW and Disneyland. Some popular attractions garner consistently long waits at both parks - Space Mountain, Peter Pan, Tower of Terror - but others have much shorter waits at Disneyland, including Pooh, Toy Story Mania, and Soarin'. At the same time, I've found that Star Tours consistently has a much longer wait than its WDW counterpart. And I would be remiss if I failed to point out the biggest time waiting difference of them all... the Dole Whip counter. With the new setup at WDW, I can get in and out in 2 minutes, while I typically have to wait 15 minutes or more at Disneyland.

I always tell my WDW-lovin' friends that they owe it to themselves to make at least one trip to Disneyland. Even if you don't think it's better, you will appreciate and admire the differences.