How does Disneyland compare to Disney World?

[MichaelaF]

From all the pricing I've looked at, if you remove travel costs, DLR is much more expensive than WDW.

I'm considering two things in my cost estimates: one, a shorter stay, and two, staying off-property while still being within walking distance of everything. We were able to stay at the Best Western Stovalls Inn for $83 a night (after taxes), which included breakfast. We never paid for the ART because we walked everywhere.

But the main point is that you can do more of DLR in less time (with, as you point out, more rides than WDW) than you can WDW because of it's compactness and close proximity to hotels.

 

[mirage0306]

I've been to WDW more times than DLR (despite living in socal for several years...lol). After we went to DLR last Christmas I spent a great deal of time thinking about the similarities, the differences, what I liked better, etc.

What it basically boils down to for me is this: DLR is more compact, park hopping is a cinch, many of the rides are better, and the weather is (generally) better. The biggest downside to me for DLR is that there is no World Showcase. I LOVE the World Showcase. I also love all the resorts at WDW--it's almost like a different vacation based on where you stay.

But that said, I really do prefer DLR. We stayed offsite last winter (CCI) and while we are doing the DLH this August, I would absolutely stay offsite again. I didn't feel like we didn't get enough Disney. I was a little worried but it was great.

So in a nutshell:

I prefer New Orleans Square to Liberty Square (BIG TIME)
We liked the quick service food at DLR better
Like the wandering characters better
Liked POTC better
Like the proximity of DCA to DL--park hopping is easy
Like that you can walk everywhere
Like that they still use paper Fps
I also like the nostalgia involved with the original Disneyland.

I still love WDW but I do prefer DLR. We'll see how we feel after this year's trip!

 

[HydroGuy]

DH and I have been to DW several times but he has never been to Disneyland and I last went 16 years ago and much has changed since then. From what I remember DL was much like Magic Kingdom with only a couple of "the lands" being different. I know there is New Orleans Square instead of Liberty Square and Sleeping Beauty castle instead of Cinderella. California Adventure either didn't exist or my family didn't go when I was a kid.

We've been considering giving Disneyland a try. What are some things that make "Land" unique and a must see vs "World"?

Lots of good feedback so far. I will add a few comments. DL has grown a lot since your last visit in 1998. Plus DCA is there now as you noted. DLR has more of a resort feel now but it cannot match WDW as a resort. It can match WDW in the area of magic. It does not take the planning that WDW requires which is refreshing. If you add up all the rides at WDW's four parks and DLR's two parks you will find out they have about the same number of rides.

For much of the year I think the weather at DLR is considerably better than WDW. I would take WDW weather over DLR in March-April but that is about it. Summer weather at DLR is much more tolerable than WDW on average.

Must sees at DLR you can't experience at WDW? Here is my list...

Radiator Springs Racers and all of the new CarsLand
Indiana Jones (which they had in 1998 - maybe you rode it then)
Aladdin stage show
World of Color water show
California Screamin'
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Alice in Wonderland

Plus much better versions of

POTC
Space Mtn

 

[GatorChris]

The difference is "the escape". At DL, you don't quite get that feeling unless you have $400+/night to stay at the Grand Cali or the DLH. Paradise Pier doesn't really give you that escape feeling, and neither do the countless hotels right next to DL.

Since you have to fly, fly to Orlando. There's just so much more. I'd be going to WDW this year if it didn't cost me $2K to fly the fam there. DL is just so much more economical. Especially since you can spend 4 days there and see everything twice. When I go to WDW, I have to spend 9 nights there at least so we can get all four parks twice. There's just so much more, and WDW feels a lot more "Majestic" and "Grand". DL is quaint and has a lot of cool things, but it just isn't as breath taking as WDW.

And one final reason to always choose WDW over DL: Epcot. Period.

 

[DahliaRW]

And one final reason to always choose WDW over DL: Epcot. Period.

I liked Epcot, but my kids were soooooo bored there. They wanted to go ride the rides, which when you're on one side of World Showcase, are ALL the way back across the park, with long lines because there are so few of them. I wish they'd integrate more rides into the showcase area (they have Maelstrom and the one in Mexico, but that's it). It'd break it up for families whose kids get bored with shows and "museum" type exhibits. The only reason we did Epcot as the park we visited 2x was because my dd HAD to meet Anna and Elsa and the first day we went to Epcot was after our cruise and the line was already 6 hours long! So we lined up at 8am for an 11am opening of A&E a few days later...

 

[Lisa71]

Our kids loved Epcot and exploring..DS loved team green mission space and we rode it about 7 or 8 times in 6 days..they loved the various parks. Last trip we skipped MK as they wanted more Epcot and HS..this time excited about E&A and SDMT. They love the hotels too...

 

[MichaelaF]

Just depends on the kid, really. I adored Epcot - World Showcase in particular - as a kid, because I was enamored with travel and other countries, much like I still am as an adult. I loved getting my passport stamped in all the different countries and feeling like I was actually going there.

 

[sammons70]

Both resorts are unique in their own special way. The big difference for me is variety. Being a much larger resort, Disney World has a larger variety of everything, especially food. World Showcase alone makes the world a must experience in my opinion.

 

[cdatkins]

the way I explain it to people is "I cut my teeth on WDW but DLCA stole my heart"

I'd take DLCA over WDW any day of the week

Agree with this 100 pct.