Trying to decide between WDW or DL...need help!! :)

[always_learning]

We just took our children to WDW this past March for their first visit. My oldest two have been to DL when they were about 3 and 4. My sister lives in Pasadena so we could make it a family visit as well. I still believe I would want to stay on site but I am worried that my older two will be disappointed after being to WDW.

I really don't remember how long it takes to tour the two parks. How long is too long of a visit there?

My childrens ages will be 10, 8, 5 and almost 2 this next March.

 

[ter-moo]

They won't be disappointed! It's DISNEYLAND! (And they're young and probably don't remember as clearly as you do) I'd go for the DL/family visit.

Staying onsite at DL can be costly and it's not really that necessary. I'd look into some offsite hotels within walking distance where there's a free breakfast included. It really makes a difference when you're trying to get everyone ready.

My recommendations are:
Candy Cane Inn www.candycaneinn.net

Carousel Inn www.carouselinnandsuites.com

People also like the Howard Johnson's, although they don't serve breakfast, and the Best Western Park Place Inn.

As far as how long to stay, it depends on when you're going. I'd say plan for 3-4 days, maybe 5 if you're going in the summer and want to take lots of breaks. We've always done it with our three kids in 3 days, but they're older and don't need naps.

 

[dbanzai]

At their age, I think going to DL is fine. Many of the things that make WDW what it is IMO are things for teenagers and adults. Why not combine it w/ a family reunion to boot?

As said, you don't have to stay on property and they have a lot of good options (I'm personally partial to the Fairfield Inn there). Staying at one of the Good Neighbor hotels across the street should cost about or cheaper than a stay at one of the AS resorts or POP, and I'd say there's plenty to do if you are spreading out your trip over a few days.

 

[always_learning]

We are thinking of March again but only because that time of year was good for us in WDW. Isn't that a rainy time though for CA? Where can I find out about crowd levels in DL....does TGM do DL also?

Thanks for the hotel recommendations!! Can you walk if you stay in one of those?

 

[dbanzai]

I don't know if that's the rainy season per se, but we went this March and weather was a factor: Bowing winds and rain hit us one day and cancelled Wishes too.

 

[ter-moo]

We are thinking of March again but only because that time of year was good for us in WDW. Isn't that a rainy time though for CA? Where can I find out about crowd levels in DL....does TGM do DL also?

Thanks for the hotel recommendations!! Can you walk if you stay in one of those?

YEs, all of those are walkable.

As far as touring plans, we always use "The Unofficial Guide." March crowds could be slightly higher (depending on the week) due to Spring Breaks.

It's not necessarily a rainy time--and rain in CA is rarely heavy. It just sort of "spits." I've only been to DL once when we had a downpour, and it was in early December. The rain generally blows over pretty quickly and it really cuts down the crowds! Pack ponchos and umbrellas, and you'll be fine.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

If you are planning a short trip like 3 or 4 days, DL is your best bet, it is very managable, WDW takes at least 7 days.

For a family of 6 offsite may be a better bet at DL, I think onsite accomodations for a family of 6 can be extremely pricey.

WDW onsite is always better and there are some affordable options for your family, like cabins at FW, the family suites at the All Star Music, or the DVC properties.

I don't think your kids will be dissapointed with DL, it does not have all that WDW has to offer, but it does have some things that WDW doesn't.

I really enjoyed our visit to DL, I found it less stressful than our WDW trips, there was not tremendous pressure to see everything. We were able to experience what we wanted to in 3 full park days. I would have liked to have had at least one more day there. Our next visit we will stay a little longer maybe 5 days, so we can try some of the table service restaurants.

There is so much to see and do at WDW it can be a little daunting. Even after 7 days on our last visit, there were some things I wished we could have done, but didn't get to do. I've been to WDW 12 times and there are some things that I have never done. WDW is huge and they are constantly adding new attractions, there is always something new to try and there is something for everyone. Our next trip we will stay 8 days.

So to me you can't go wrong either way.

 

[brenda1966]

One thing I love about DL with smaller kids -- the ease of getting in and out of the parks and heading back to the room for a swim or a nap. It is SO easy compared to WDW. The good neighbor hotels on Harbor are so close by. Hojo's has a pool that kids love.

 

[autumnbaby9]

We are thinking of March again but only because that time of year was good for us in WDW. Isn't that a rainy time though for CA? Where can I find out about crowd levels in DL....does TGM do DL also?

Thanks for the hotel recommendations!! Can you walk if you stay in one of those?

The website I used when deciding what time to go is this:

http://scottware.com.au/theme/feature/crowds.htm

It shows crowd patterns and weather info. It also has some other fun info you can play with.

If you go here he has a map that shows the close hotel/motels:

http://scottware.com.au/theme/feature/where_to_stay.htm

 

[jakoky]

Hi there, the first disney visit for my kids was also WDW..it was in dec 04 and my kids were 13, 11, and 9....the flight was long for us(we are in bc,canada) so the our next trip we decided on DL...i was also worried about what the kids would think...well, i had nothing to worry about-they love DL...they were 15, 12, and 10 on this trip...i will say it is a totally different experience for them..WDW is only disney, in DL you actually are still part of the real world...when we went to DL last year we stayed at the CCI and we loved it...we are going back in sept and are staying at the HOJO this time...my kids say they would love to go back to WDW for the waterparks, but other than that they loved the closeness of everything in DL...WDW i would never stay off site, but at DL we had a 7 min walk from motel to the parks...lol, that is shorter than the walks from busses to parks in WDW(almost)...have fun and i am sure your kids will have a blast, mine truly did and we cant wait to go back..
sharon
me, dh, dd-16-, ds-almost 14-, dd-11 1/2-
WDW-Dec 04-first disney experience for my DH, DD, DS, DD and first time at WDW for us all
DL-MAY 06-first time at DL for DH and kids , and my 9th(but the first 8 were all by the time i was about 13) so it was all new to me
COUNTDOWN IS ON....WE ARE GOING BACK TO DL SEPT 15-25!!!!!

 

[always_learning]

Thank you all so much! You have been very helpful...we are looking up flight prices now. And that scottware.com is really cool~

 

[beatleman]

Having grown up in Los Angeles visiting Disneyland at least once a year for my entire life; and now, living on the east coast, I have had the opportunity to
hit WDW around 7 times (3 of which were 9-10 day trips), I would offer the following:

If you have young children (pre-Space Mountain-Rolling Thunder-Tower of Terror age) AND you plan to spend a significant time in the Magic Kingdom,
I would recommend Disneyland.

The primary reason I say this is the logistics. As prior postings have shared,
it is physically possible to drive from LAX or Passadena in roughly 1 hour, be in a good neighbor hotel, and take a 10 minute walk to the main entrance of the Magic Kingdom. No such luck in Orlando.

All the transport methods - parking lots - hotel walkways on site in WDW - are geared toward mega walking. And I have heard from many a family that the primary thing their young kids wanted to do is go to the Magic Kingdom (possible day at AK or Universal) and hit the pool.

Having stated the above, I would consider a trip to WDW if:

A) teenagers are involved
B) no children are involved
C) I love water parks
D) I wanted a lengthy trip to hang out at a nice visit, and take breaks between theme park days

If the answers to the above are all yes, I would recommend booking a moderate resort in the OFF SEASON (or annual passholders discount) and
do it up.