Looking for input on choosing between DL and WDW

[Hootch]

The evening weather was a bit too cool for me. I had to head back to the hotel to get everyone jackets. This was in July.

There are rides that are better, or unique to, in WDW, but there are also rides that you cannot find at WDW not mentioned above - Mr Toad, Snow White, Alice, the Matterhorn, etc.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I totally agree and had the same reaction. OC does not have any appreciable smog. That is an inland thing.

I was first more so speaking about the region, since it's difficult to spend an entire vacation at DLR. We spend a good amount of time exploring the area. As someone with bad asthma, the pollution around the area is very noticeable.
Also:
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-freeway-air-20140515-story.html
Obviously pollution is higher near freeways in general, but this is near DLR.
We have family and friends who live in LA, Anaheim, etc, and every time we've visited, it's been in the 60s to maybe low 80s, but usually mid-70s. I realize a lot of people like that, but I (and many others I know) think that's still pants weather. I can't go in a pool unless it's at least 95*+.

 

[SeilerBird]

Having lived in southern CA for 15 years (recently moved), this is possibly the most confusing thing I've read on here. It's not smoggy in Orange County. That's LA or the inland empire. And it's 80+ degrees 8 months out of the year (at least)....maybe you just like humidity better?

I agree. I have lived for 30 years in LA and 2 years in Orlando. The temperatures are basically the same for both places and neither place has any smog. The only difference is the humidity which doesn't bother me in the least. Florida does have more bugs but Disney does a nice job of keeping the parks bug free.

So it comes down to what you hate the most, hurricanes or earthquakes

 

[siskaren]

We have family and friends who live in LA, Anaheim, etc, and every time we've visited, it's been in the 60s to maybe low 80s, but usually mid-70s. I realize a lot of people like that, but I (and many others I know) think that's still pants weather. I can't go in a pool unless it's at least 95*+.

Now see, to me, that's perfect weather, and I would definitely wear shorts in mid-70s to low 80s. And I can't imagine waiting until it's an unbearable 95 degrees before I would go swimming; low 80s would be my minimum.

 

[IBLarsen]

What about the Construction at WDW? Just another thought for your criteria. We had the exact same debate for our March trip. We usually do DL, but have done WDW a couple times. We chose WDW for ours this year, but it was tough. Our top reasons for choosing WDW this time is because of weather mainly. I want to be warm, and March in CA isn't really warm by my standards. Also, as this is a Spring Break trip and we have an entire week, this will give us plenty of time at WDW. At DL, we usually only do 4 days, as it's plenty, so saving DL for when we don't have as much time. Also, as this is my DH's 40th Birthday trip, he wanted to stay onsite. We could of course at DLR, but it's so much more expensive to do so, and not needed there. We stay across the street and walk over. Also, we let the kids help choose, and they wanted to see the new Fantasy Land area now that it's finished. Also, we wanted to take a day to go to Universal to see the Harry Potter stuff.
With that said, I didn't even consider the construction. And am a little bit bummed about that part for WDW, especially at MK. Once we are in the parks I much prefer to be at DLR. My kids don't realize there are 2 parks, they call DCA 'the other side of Disneyland'. I love that no matter where we are each day, if the kids say I really want to go back and ride 'so and so', we can do it! I don't have to say, 'sorry, we aren't in the right park for that'. I love the quaint feel of DL, and I love the summer/fall weather there, it's not so hot as WDW.
So as you can see we too have reasons for both! The other travel considerations, we are in Texas, and the same length of flights, and generally same cost to fly into each. Hotel, we can save money in CA by staying a good neighbor hotel, but honestly, if you get a deal at even a Mod resort, the nightly rate isn't far off, but of course we stay longer in WDW, so that does add on.
I get your dilemma, hope this helps, and either way we know we will love it either way!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have read this too, but I find the food much better at WDW than DL.

I agree with a prior poster's evaluation of the rides. Would also like to chime in that WDW has the better Splash Mountain and DL the better Space Mountain.

Good to know. Maybe, like all other dining reviews, it is a very personal experience as to which is better.

 

[fbb]

Good to know. Maybe, like all other dining reviews, it is a very personal experience as to which is better.

Doubtless. I also admit to a bias towards wanting to the food to be better at DL, so I could have another flaming arrow to shoot at the dining plan. But it wasn't the case.

 

[Planogirl]

This is a hard decision. I think that personally I'd pick Disneyland but mostly for San Diego. We absolutely adored San Diego and there was no smog there!

 

[MillauFr]

I like the weather in California. The humidity in Florida is terrible. I like the rides much better in California. Most of the Florida rides are inferior in my opinion. I did like Splash Mountain better in Florida though. Also Everest and the Safari was great at Animal Kingdom. I liked the variety of good restaurants better in Florida.

 

[disneycat321]

I agree. I have lived for 30 years in LA and 2 years in Orlando. The temperatures are basically the same for both places and neither place has any smog. The only difference is the humidity which doesn't bother me in the least. Florida does have more bugs but Disney does a nice job of keeping the parks bug free.

So it comes down to what you hate the most, hurricanes or earthquakes

Omg, the bugs!! The first time we went to WDW we could not BELIEVE all the bugs! That's what comes with a tropical climate, I guess! lol!

I would agree that the food is much better at WDW. Or maybe better is not the right word. There is MORE good food. Blue Bayou, Steakhouse 55, and others are absolutely fantastic, but there are a lot more great restaurants and a lot more variety at WDW.

Given the choice, I would choose WDW every time, but that's because it's a major vacation destination for us, whereas DLR was a frequent spot to spend a few hours for many years while we lived near it. However, DLR will always hold a special place in my heart because it will always be home. I think it comes down to how long this vacation will be and whether you want it to be all Disney or want to go do other things.

 

[HydroGuy]

I was first more so speaking about the region, since it's difficult to spend an entire vacation at DLR. We spend a good amount of time exploring the area. As someone with bad asthma, the pollution around the area is very noticeable.
Also:
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-freeway-air-20140515-story.html
Obviously pollution is higher near freeways in general, but this is near DLR.
We have family and friends who live in LA, Anaheim, etc, and every time we've visited, it's been in the 60s to maybe low 80s, but usually mid-70s. I realize a lot of people like that, but I (and many others I know) think that's still pants weather. I can't go in a pool unless it's at least 95*+.

Interesting article. Thanks for the link. I have no asthma issues and have never in my life noticed any smog in OC.

The article references the pollution as being within 500 ft of freeways. I know the I-5 freeway they reference is near DLR but thought it was a fair distance away. I was surprised to find that the nearest part of DL is within 500 ft of I-5. My trusty GoogleMaps showed it to be about 440 ft away. The farthest part in DCA near CA Screamin is about 4300 ft from I-5.

So what to make of all this? I would have to say for the average person without air quality issues the smog at DLR is not noticable. But it is near a very busy freeway and as you have pointed out some folks may be sensitive to that. Good point!

In fairness some people are heat and humidity sensitive and Orlando especially in June-September would have health issues too like those experienced at DLR for asthmatics.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Interesting article. Thanks for the link. I have no asthma issues and have never in my life noticed any smog in OC.

The article references the pollution as being within 500 ft of freeways. I know the I-5 freeway they reference is near DLR but thought it was a fair distance away. I was surprised to find that the nearest part of DL is within 500 ft of I-5. My trusty GoogleMaps showed it to be about 440 ft away. The farthest part in DCA near CA Screamin is about 4300 ft from I-5.

So what to make of all this? I would have to say for the average person without air quality issues the smog at DLR is not noticable. But it is near a very busy freeway and as you have pointed out some folks may be sensitive to that. Good point!

In fairness some people are heat and humidity sensitive and Orlando especially in June-September would have health issues too like those experienced at DLR for asthmatics.

Yes, my brother and father are very sensitive to the heat. I doubt I could get them to go to Florida in July-September. (My bro doesn't wear a jacket until it's colder than -10*F without windchill; and he sleeps with his window open all winter.) My mom, DH, kids and I are the exact opposite - the hotter, the better. I need it to be in the 80s at least before I'll wear shorts (and I'd prefer to wear shorts all the time).