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

[Mynamewastaken]

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?

 

[cruisehopeful]

I've been to DL too many times to count and only once to WDW. Many of the rides are the same, but there will be a few differences in each. I think you will have a great time and will love it, but be sure not to compare it to WDW since that is what you know and love. Try to think of it as a different place. It does create a feeling of being it's own city and everything is walkable, which is nice.

 

[Jaina]

Same as above. Many DLR visits and only one WDW. I liked WDW, but there is more to do in a smaller space at DLR. Some ride I liked more at DLR, some at WDW, and both have some unique things. I don't think it's possible to like Disney and not enjoy either one!

 

[Mysteryincorp]

I grew up going to Disneyland and have only been to WDW once. I loved WDW, it was a destination in itself and we had a great time. Dining was so much fun, trying out all the different restaurant and character meals.Traveling around to the different parks and cramming onto the buses at the end of the every night was awful and I really disliked that aspect of the trip. We were also really disappointed by the rides.....pirates, space, thunder are all so much better at Disneyland! There are also fewer rides in each park so that was an adjustment for us. We did really enjoy our trip though.
That being said.......
Disneyland will always be better to us. Maybe because of the nostalgia factor, maybe because we know our way around so well, maybe because paper fast passes are so much better! Disneyland has better rides and while it doesn't have the variety WDW does, I love, love the food at Disneyland. You can walk between the parks and just go on ride after rider after ride. WDW felt so planned out! I'm totally biased though, we got to Disneyland at least 3-4 times a month.....we may go to WDW again......but probably not!

 

[ParkHopper1]

WDW is Disneyland without the Magic!

The Crowing Jewl for me was Fantasmic at WDW. I was in tear laughing when the Mark Twain came out. My friends asked what was so funny...I said "This whole thing is like the Orlando Community Theater version of Fantasmic!"

Was not all impressed with WDW but see why it is more of a destination resort for a family vacation.

I wanna go back to WDW, but not more than DL!

 

[HydroGuy]

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?

First and foremost, if you or anyone are looking for DLR to be WDW West, then why go? Just go to WDW.

Most will respond "I want a different experience". OK, DLR will be different. Some then go to DLR and complain how it is not like WDW.

Very few rides at DLR are identical to WDW. I think there are five.

But what about the rides? DLR's two parks have almost as many rides as the four WDW parks put together. Yes really. That does not make DLR better, it just makes it have a higher concentration of rides per park.

The shows at DLR? IMO the major shows are all better than the majors at WDW. DLR fireworks, Paint the Night Parade and World of Color. The new Frozen stage show I suspect will be a hit, but the previous Aladdin stage show for 13+ years was better than any of the WDW stage shows (and I do love FOTLK, but Aladdin was clearly better).

Anyways, DLR offers a similar but different experience from WDW.

Which do I like better? The answer is "Yes". My problem now is when I am at DLR there are things I miss about WDW, and when I am at WDW there are things I miss about DLR. I try hard to keep focus on where I am and enjoy the moment.

DLR is dripping with Disney magic. If you keep your expectations low but are willing to accept a different kind of Disney experience you will be fine.

 

[brianerickson]

I"ll admit, I've only been to Land as of writing this (changing that in September!), but I'll have to agree with everyone else, Disneyland has a certain aura surrounding it that can't be replicated; it's absolutely incredible

That, and something can definitely be said for park hopping in legitimately 30 seconds

 

[JavaDuck]

I have been to WDW 3 times and will be making my 5th trip to Disneyland this summer. I would say that WDW overall is more immersive since you can stay on site the whole trip and never experience the outside world. On the other hand, at Disneyland it is easy to move between the real world and the world of Disney.

In my opinion, the pros of WDW are the food (amazing variety of restaurants) and the amount of shopping for Disney merchandise. Some other pros are some of the rides that are unique to WDW (Everest)

The pros of Disneyland are it is the place where it all started. It is amazing some of the original rides are still quite amazing today.

If I had to choose, I would choose Disneyland. It was the park I first visited. It has amazing memories attached to it. It was the park my parents took me and brother to during a trip home from the midwest (I grew up in Oregon). It was the park I visited shortly after meeting my partner. He sent a rose to my hotel room. And now this summer, after 20 years, we are returning to Disneyland to celebrate our honeymoon. (Side note, my parents also honeymooned in Disneyland).

In closing, both are amazing. Appreciate them for their own uniqueness.

 

[TinkFan74]

I go to WDW every summer, and I am also able to fit in one or two trips to DL each year; I can tell you it is like having two children, you love them both equally and appreciate their differences. DL is more quaint and compact, plus the history is everywhere, for an example Oscar has been working at the Carnation Cafe for 60 years this coming December, and he is able to share so many stories. Due to the size I tend to only stay three or four days at Disneyland and I feel as though I have seen everything. When I go to WDW it is usually for around two weeks as there is more to see and do, the pace is slower, there is more resort time, and we tour at a slower pace.

 

[SplashMo]

At WDW staying onsite is a big deal. At DLR it is not as big of a deal

Arrive 45 minutes early each day. Grab FP for key rides and grab more as soon as the rules allow. Hop between parks each day. Except for maybe the first day in DLR. Make lunch reservations for the first day at DLR for Blue Bayou. It is marked as over rated by some. However enjoyable and different from WDW. Try Minnie's Breakfast if you like character meals.

 

[bumbershoot]

WDW seems like its own world and you feel that way when you are there. I am hoping DL has the same effect?

I don't think so, but I don't *want* that. At WDW we always have a rental car, so I am well aware of the size of WDW. I mean, you're driving at near freeway speeds, with proper freeway exits signs and such! That's no bubble, that's a city.

That, and something can definitely be said for park hopping in legitimately 30 seconds

Wowzers do you walk fast.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Disneyland is much more quaint than MK. IMO, the overall theming and attention to detail is also MUCH better.

Now, that's comparing DL to MK. It would take a book to compare DLR to WDW.

MG

 

[Frozen2014]

Great thread. We were at WDW in Oct 2014 and are thinking of going to DLR August 2017.

I may be one of the few who liked the FP+ system at WDW (probably because i'm a planner), so I wonder how paper FP will be at DLR (or whatever they change it to by next summer)

Same as above. Many DLR visits and only one WDW. I liked WDW, but there is more to do in a smaller space at DLR. Some ride I liked more at DLR, some at WDW, and both have some unique things. I don't think it's possible to like Disney and not enjoy either one!

Can I ask for the rides that are at both WDW and DLR, which do you prefer at which place? Just curious as I've heard they do differ a bit.

 

[mad hatter fan]

Which do I like better? The answer is "Yes". My problem now is when I am at DLR there are things I miss about WDW, and when I am at WDW there are things I miss about DLR. I try hard to keep focus on where I am and enjoy the moment.

This is exactly how I feel!

 

[PoohsFan1]

We are WDW vets who are heading back to DLR in June for the second time. Don't get me wrong we love going to WDW, we go twice a year there (it is our home away from home), but there is just something about the "Original Park" that just makes you so warm and fuzzy inside. My DH and I were just talking about how we are soooo excited for our trip (I think we are more excited then the kids to tell you the truth), it is like the excitement that we had the very first time we were planning our first trip to the World.

DL park is so full of nostalgia and history, it just oozes it once you are step onto Main Street. From seeing the lamp on the second floor of the Fire House lit up to signify that Walt's spirit always lives on to just knowing that he had a hand in making every single nook and cranny in that park. My family is huge in to Walt Disney history, especially the man himself and just thinking about it makes me so happy especially walking down Main Street heading towards Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

As for the rides that both WDW and DLR have, I would say the only rides that are exactly the same are Soarin and The Little Mermaid Ride (I could be missing one or two though), however, others like POTC, Splash, Space, HM, BTMRR are all unique to the coast that they reside in. There are some rides that I think are much better then their counter parts for instance, POTC in each of the parks, is my favorite ride, but I love the version better in DL because it is longer and has more scenes, whereas I prefer Splash Mountain more in WDW then at DL (another favorite ride) only because the one in WDW seems to be much slower moving then the one in DL Park.

Have a wonderful trip, I can guarantee that once you go to DLR you will get hooked....we sure did

 

[StormyCA]

Been to WDW once, DL over 200 times. It's Apples and Oranges. They're both Disney, but I wouldn't try to compare them, the experiences are too different.

 

[jhoannam]

We prefer DL because it's so compact. We went in August of last year and we had a blast.

 

[HydroGuy]

We prefer DL because it's so compact. We went in August of last year and we had a blast.

It is funny when people talk about size. Some prefer DLR because it is "compact". Many WDW vets fans would use a different word: "small".

Some prefer WDW because it is so massive and all encompassing. Many DLR vets would use a different word: "hard to get places".

Both have their plusses and minuses. I happen prefer whichever place I am at!!!

 

[HydroGuy]

Can I ask for the rides that are at both WDW and DLR, which do you prefer at which place? Just curious as I've heard they do differ a bit.

This might help:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/ºo...neyland-california-adventure-from-wdw.802084/

 

[HydroGuy]

As for the rides that both WDW and DLR have, I would say the only rides that are exactly the same are Soarin and The Little Mermaid Ride

Those are two. Here is the complete list I believe:

Soarin
Little Mermaid (although the rides have different names LOL)
ITTBAB
TSMM
ST

As you noted many other rides are similar but not copy exact.

After Star Wars Land is done at each resort that will add two more rides that are exactly the same.