Land vs. World

[blitzkrieg048]

Those of you who have been to both Disney World and Disneyland, what are the major differences between the two? Comparing the MK's ofcourse. My SIL went last August and she said DL is more compact than WDW. Are the rides similiar, are there different rides? She also said she didn't get that same Disney feel. Curious to hear your input, my DIS pals. Thanx

 

[Vivianne]

I've been to both. It was a good experience to see both and although I like DW more there are aspects of DL that I liked. I enjoyed seeing Walt Disney's office display at MK in DL. Unfortunately, there were some rides at DL that were closed for refurbishment but being able to be at DL was kind of special because it is the first park. I was able to see California Adventure and ride Soarin in California.

I really DW because of Epcot, MGM and the resorts. Each park is unique in it's own way.

 

[DawnCt1]

I think it is an issue of comparing "mass to quality". I think that quality is very prominent at DL. It is more compact but there is definately a "Disney feel". I felt that the CMs were more "in character", more helpful, more friendly, etc. In the MK at WDW, it is clear where the facades end on the attractions. At DL, there seems to be no facades, just the real thing. Indiana Jones is a great ride. I love Alice in Wonderland, the Matterhorn, Mr. Toads Wild Ride. These are just some of the attractions that WDW doesn't have. The contrast between leaving the real world and entering DL is dramatic. There are two hills in the Pirates of the Caribbean which is another plus for that attraction. Of course the castle is smaller and less dramatic but frankly that is the only negative I have seen and it isn't that negative. Could you spend a week there? No but there is a lot to see and do in Southern California that DL would be a part of but not an entire vacation. That is a clear difference.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I wnet to DL regularly for years..While I prefer WDW as a whole,I feel that DL MK is superior to the one at WDW
Pirates is mych better at Dl..There are ore rides in fantasyland..Toontown at DL is far superior..The Matterhorn is a great ride and Indiana Jones Ride is NOT to be missed. In fact you should go to it first thing in the morning because it often runes out of fast passes
If you can,eat at the Blue Bayou. It's the best restaurant at DL...Try the Monte Cristo...The Mint Juleps in New Orleans Square ,by the railroad station are incredible..I have one every trip
You will love DL if you can remember that it's nowhere near the same in scope and size of WDW

 

[Bob P]

I can second what Jenny said above...WDW is a resort destination, DL is more of a theme park (I don't mean that in a bad way). But you can feel Walt's influence much more at DL.

Again, as Jenny said, Pirates is a different experience, as is Toontown. Indiana Jones is great. So is the Matterhorn. We ate in Blue Bayou and liked it a lot.


Bob

 

[John Dobbertin]

Big difference between DL & WDW is SIZE. You could fit the entire DL in the parking lot at TTC at WDW. Earlier poster noted Walt's office at DL. Same thing is shown in "One Man's Dream" at WDW's MGM. Space Mountain at WDW cost as much to build as the original DL. & on it goes!

 

[danny1649]

Love both I feel more of Walt Disney's touch and spirit at DL,love the overall Disney experience at WDW more though.

 

[Vivianne]

Big difference between DL & WDW is SIZE. You could fit the entire DL in the parking lot at TTC at WDW. Earlier poster noted Walt's office at DL. Same thing is shown in "One Man's Dream" at WDW's MGM. Space Mountain at WDW cost as much to build as the original DL. & on it goes!

I said I enjoyed seeing it in DL

 

[ImagineMeDisney]

I've visited both DL and WDW, and overall I had a good experience at DL, but I'll take WDW any day. There were some things that were different, a few of the rides at DL are not at WDW (storybook land, pinocchio, etc)..I thought that the park was extremely small, I was slightly disappointed when I came around the corner and saw how tiny Sleeping Beauty Castle was compared to Cinderella, but it was still a neat experience. The ambiance, somehow, is different. A previous post said it doesn't have the same feeling to it, and I agree..

I think the best thing about it was that I was walking through a park that Walt Disney himself had a huge part in, and that made up for all the differences.