Pros of Disney Land?

[Ksquared]

I'm a huge WDW fan, have gone all my life. We went to DL once in combination with a trip out to San Diego when the kids were younger. I really loved it. I loved it for everything that is similar and I loved it for all of the differences. We could have stayed at an offsite good neighbor hotel, but decided to stay at Disneyland Hotel instead. With that being said, we added 3 days to the end of our trip there. Honestly, I think 3 or 4 days is all you would really need there to do everything. And maybe that's the main difference because 3 or 4 days at WDW would not be enough. But I liked that we felt we got to do and see almost everything. Now that the kids are a little older, it's definitely a place I'd like to return to if we can financially afford to do so.

 

[Baklava]

I am still waiting (excitedly!) for my first WDW trip, but some of the things I have appreciated about DL while making my plans...

-Proximity of parks to each other. The parks share a plaza. Parkhopping takes about 3 minutes.
-Proximity of hotels. While there's a lot to be said for the all-immersive Disney experience of WDW, there's also a lot to be said for inexpensive hotels on Harbor or the higher priced Disney hotels which are in easy walking distance to the parks. Heck, GCH has it's own gate into DCA. If you want to pay the price (which seems to be between a mod and a deluxe at WDW) there's a really good close option.
-More flexibility. I am choosing to embrace ADRs and FP+ but frankly... it's a little weird for me. That amount of pre-planning isn't what I'm used to and there's something charming about calling and saying, "I want to eat at Goofy's Kitchen around 6" and being offered a half dozen times at 10 minute increments. WDW has way more choices and that will be fun too, but the trade-off at WDW between spontaneity and getting what you want is one I'm unaccustomed to having to make at quite so high a level. In California I have seen FastPasses "sell out"... by 2 or 3 in the afternoon on high volume days. The idea that I *cannot* get a 7DMT FP at the parks day of is a bit boggling for a DL vet.

And of course, for me, DL is close. I can drive. It costs less in time and money and days off from work to go. It can be a weekend excursion rather than the 11 night massive undertaking that WDW needs to be for us.

I am told WDW lacks my favorite Disney food, the hot link corn dog. That's one in DL's column. Don't get me wrong, we're super excited about WDW and BoG and CRT and the million places at Epcot that look so good, but DL has it's own special upsides and I agree that they are well worth coming out to experience at least once if you can.

 

[Pakey]

I have an annual pass to both WDW and DLR and I think both offer some great experiences.

PROS TO DLR: Fantasmic is much better. Cars Land. World of Color. Almost all table service restaurants can be done as a walk-in. More rides can be done in a day because they are closer together. More reasonably priced lodging options within walking distance. Mr. Toad. Better fastpass/line management. Club 33.

PROS TO WDW: Better Castle. Better castle fireworks show. Animal Kingdom. Epcot's World Showcase. The extras (spa, golf, parasailing, waterparks, Hoop de Doo).

Both places have completely different feels to them so I don't like to compare. At DLR, I love being able to get a hotel room for $100/night and being able to walk right into both parks within a few minutes. I love that DTD is right there with all of the shops/dining. I love not having to bus to get around and being able to hit all of the headliners in one day. I love that even on a crowded day, it doesn't feel that crowded. The weather is great. At WDW, I love all of the extras that make it feel like a more rounded vacation. I love the World Showcase and I miss it everytime I go to DLR.

 

[LuvDaisy&Minnie]

I didn't have time to read all the responses, so I am probably saying the same things as others. We have been to DL once and WDW 4 times. We love them both. However, there are several things about DL we liked better. First, the close proximity of the 2 parks is awesome. There is literally a 5 minute walk (if even) between them. So, no time wasted with travel. Almost all of the big rides that we love at WDW are also at DL ...and there are a few extras (haven't been since Cars Land was added). The weather in July was AWESOME! We actually needed a sweater in the morning (I think it was about 10 degrees cooler than the normal temp though). The crowds were not nearly as bad (again in July) but we still used a good touring plan. We can do all that we want at DL in 3 days. Seriously. So then you have time to take in some of the rest of California. Also, I don't think you HAVE to stay onsite. We did, but if we go back, I think we will just stay within walking distance to save some money. Now I am one of those who never considers staying offsite at WDW (to each their own on this one - not trying to start a debate). Come to think of it, I may need a DL trip!! We also were able to enjoy Universal Hollywood, the touristy part of Hollywood, and drove to San Francisco for 2 days. It was our favorite trip ever (albeit quite expensive).

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

I've only been to DL once and WDW 3 times and I agree with other's responses. Definitely check out the DL board on here for info and Hydroguy has a great thread on DL for WDW vets. The two destinations are so different and at first I thought I was a WDW fan, but now I can't chose. DL is smaller, quainter and wonderful. We did that trip to see Carsland and because 5 days at DL was much cheaper than the trip to WDW we wanted. The nearby non-Disney hotels make a trip cheaper and with the smaller location/proximity I felt like we could do a lot in less time than at WDW. There isn't really a Disney bubble at DL, maybe if you stayed at GC, but riding Mickey's Fun Wheel you can see the city beyond the parks no problem. I am so glad we went and I am going back before so much of the parks change for the Star Wars expansion. F!, Rivers of America, Tom Saywer's Island, and maybe more are closing January 10, 2016 but should reopen in the future. The Aladdin musical is being replaced by Frozen at that time as well. The Big Thunder Ranch and petting zoo are closing permanently, I believe. I'm not sure about Toon Town.
There are so many unique things to DL and little differences on similar things at WDW. Carsland is impressive. I prefer the DL IaSW (but I saw the Holiday version so that might make a difference). I love the Holiday overlays and décor around Christmas at DL, but I've never been to WDW that time of year.
DL is definitely worth a trip and you can make your own opinion

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Three words.
World.
Of.
Color.

I love this show. I LOVE it. It was the highlight of our Disneyland trip.

WDW and DL are so different but both magical.

 

[Micca]

I can't imagine anyone who truly loves Disney wouldn't love DLR. I'm not talking about just an affection for rides/attractions, I'm talking about the full scope and the backstory of how DLR came to be. WDW is my home resort and my favorite, but DLR definitely has the Mickey mojo. :

 

[ldymcbth]

WDW is my "home" park but I secretly love DL more. That may change with Star Wars Land, etc, being added to DL.

I love that it's smaller, and that DCA and DL are just a hop, skip and a jump from one another.

I love that it's so much more slower-paced there. They don't use FP+ (YET!) and so you don't feel like you have to plan so far in advance. We don't really make a plan at DL and instead just take the day as it comes, even if that means riding Little Mermaid 12 times in a row.

Fantasmic is much better at DL, as is PoC. DL has Blue Bayou, my fave Disney restaurant of all time.

I LOVE the NBC overlay on HM, and Ghost Galaxy on Space Mountain - during Halloween Time.

I love being in the park Walt himself opened and walked in.

Don't get me wrong, I love WDW and we are headed there soon, but I find DL really charming and fun.