WDW or Disneyland?

[Tooneric]

This is not another version of Disney Wars. I love WDW and have a dilemma. We have APs and DDE, booked a room at AKL for 4 days with AP rate in June.
Hopefully we'll return next February to escape Mardi Gras.

Then I read an article in Allearsnet newsletter about Disneyland. I went there when I was 10 (yes, DL was open that long ago!), but my kids have never been.

We'll be in San Diego in August due to a sales contest I qualified for at work. It appears Disneland is only about 90 miles from San Diego. I could possibly make a 2 or 3 day trip to DL after San Diego. With the 50th year celebration going on, DL seems like the logical choice. But I LOVE WDW...

What would you do??? (No, I can't swing both!) And if DL, where would you stay??? THANKS!!!

 

[Micca]

Can you do both? WDW is my "home" park too, but DLR is well worth another look

 

[Munchies]

We visited DL a few years ago and while we really enjoyed it, it just seems that WDW is the "New improved version". I was most disapponted by the castle which is tiny in comparison to the one at WDW but the DL castle has been rennovated since. There are more parks in Orlando but CA has Disney's Californian Adventure & Knott's Berry Farm for a bit of variety! If it is a rare chance Go for it just for a change ...... but i will always prefer WDW!

 

[mareed]

As you can see, we've gone to both DL & WDW for the last few years, and I get asked the question about which is better frequently. I always say "it depends".

In your situation, with only having a shorter amount of time for a trip, I'd choose DL over WDW because you can feel that you've seen more of what's available in DL versus feeling like you missed so much in WDW.

My other criteria is always the time of year and the weather. In June or August, I'd much prefer the CA weather over FL! So, your timing would also cause me to recommend DL.

The only catch may be that it sounds like you have AP's for WDW, but you'll have to purchase tickets at DL, so that could sway things back to WDW.

We're off-site people at WDW, and there are some off-site options at DL that are even closer than some of the Disney hotels. We've stayed at the Howard Johnson's several times, and have been quite happy there. We love DL!

 

[peter pan217]

gotta do wdw it's my home park to

 

[debbiedoo]

I have seen somewhere that in CA they have a ticket that can get you into DL, CA, Knotts berry, and the san diego zoo.

I have thought about going there for that trip sometime. I have never been.

 

[ChrislovesMinnie]

I would try to do both if you possibly can.

 

[roscodog]

It would be so hard to be so close and not go. I've been to both but DL is my home park plus it's the original. It's amazing to see how one man's vision has affected the hearts and souls of so many people. I'd say start your trip in San Diego and enjoy what that city has to offer (great zoo,Legoland...) then head up north and enjoy Disneyland and California Adventure for a couple of days.

 

[amyup]

If you can't do both go to WDW. DL is my home park, but it is going to be CRAZY busy this summer and August is right in the middle of it. I have vowed never to go to DL in the Summer months again because the lines are alway outrageous. But whatever you pick you can't lose.

 

[penguinande]

I have not been to the World yet, so I can't really compare, but if you go to WDW a lot, and have not been to DL in a long time, I would recommend DL. I've heard that while DL and MK are very similar attraction-wise, DL has more charm. Also, California Adventure is very well-themed and it would be worth spending a day there.

 

[luvdisney999]

I love both, so I won't weigh in on that debate.

However, I lived in CA for awhile and loved the Grand Califorian Hotel. It is RIGHT IN Disney's California Adventure. You couldn't ask for anything closer!

I know not having a lot of land at Disneyland can be a problem, but all the hotels are RIGHT there! That's a major plus!

Countin' the days 'til I see Mickey!!

 

[cdntourguide]

The answer to your question is a bit complicated.
I go to Disneyland every couple of years, usually after visiting family in San diego which is a three hour drive south of Disneyland (just over 90miles), never a dull day on the freeway going north from SanDiego, there is somebody within 10feet of you the whole way.
If you really enjoy WDW I would suggest that you keep your August vacation plans.
If you just want a Disney experience, then Disneyland is a good one. DL/CAL Ad can both be done in two days, but three would be a better plan. The Howard Johnson Hotel, which is just one block away is a fantastic hotel, great rooms, good prices, free highspeed internet access. But Disneyland Hotel and Hotel California are Disney resorts.
Grizzly Peak is similar to Kali River Rapids.
Soaring over California will be similar to Soarin (at the Land)
There is nothing like the big roller coaster at Cal Ad in WDW, so that is something that is worth going on and going to.
The Zephr at Cal Ad has nothing like it at WDW.
The is an Ariel Character Breakfast at Cal Ad on Paradise Pier.
There is a bread making plant and a tortilla plant at Paradise Pier, you can actually get a sample (free sample) of the bread and tortillas.
Tower of Terror is at both parks
Muppets 3D at both parks
The monorail and self drive cars are a bit different than those found at WDW

The Disneyland DTD is really small, not like DTD at Lake Buena Vista. However it is said that the World of Disney Store at Disneyland's DTD is the biggest Disney store ever built.

There is a Disneyland site on the Dis to look up restaurants, menu's, hotels, prices, etc/

I am sure that you would really enjoy DL.

 

[cdntourguide]

I just remembered something else.
Disneyland has the Indiana Adventure Ride which in itself should be enough to go to Disneyland for.
Plus Toontown at Disneyland is great, especially the Roger Rabbit ride (unfortunately cannot remember its real name)
The Aladdin Show at California Adventure is the best show I have ever seen: similar to going to a Broadway show in New York, a spectacular show that nothing at WDW can duplicate.
The is also a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs life show which is also very, very good.

I think I have talked myself into going back to Disneyland this summer.

 

[LeftCoaster]

From what I've heard, seeing Tinkerbelle's new flight path during the fireworks is going to be worth the price of admission alone.

 

[KPeterso]

Go to Disneyland. It is so much fun. I always call it the original Disney. We have family in CA, so we do go there quite a bit. When people ask which I prefer, I always have a hard time answering. Comparing DL and WDW is very hard because they are two completely different experiences. IMHO, Small World and Priates are so much better at DL than WDW. Also, you have Matterhorn at DL that they do not have at WDW which is a lot of fun. I prefer staying at the Fairfield Inn accross the street from DL. Last time there we had a view of Space Mountain right accross the street and of Paradise Pier at a little bit greater distance. You can walk to DL in about 5-10 minutes from all the hotels accross the street from DL.

 

[sters]

This is not another version of Disney Wars. I love WDW and have a dilemma. We have APs and DDE, booked a room at AKL for 4 days with AP rate in June.
Hopefully we'll return next February to escape Mardi Gras.

Then I read an article in Allearsnet newsletter about Disneyland. I went there when I was 10 (yes, DL was open that long ago!), but my kids have never been.

We'll be in San Diego in August due to a sales contest I qualified for at work. It appears Disneland is only about 90 miles from San Diego. I could possibly make a 2 or 3 day trip to DL after San Diego. With the 50th year celebration going on, DL seems like the logical choice. But I LOVE WDW...

What would you do??? (No, I can't swing both!) And if DL, where would you stay??? THANKS!!!

I'd find a way to do both. It's the 50th anniversary in California. I've been visiting micechat.com a lot lately and it seems like much of the park is currently under renovation, since the prior management really let the park run down, but that the park is starting to regain some of it's former luster. They've just openned a new Buzz Lightyear that by most accounts is really good, as you can hand hold the gun. Perhaps you could downgrade your AKL to a moderate? Just an idea to squeeze both experiences in.

 

[disneyaggie]

Since DL is in the middle of a large city, I would say WDW! I went to DL many years ago and after going to WDW, I have very little desire to go to DL. It seems that at WDW, it is so secluded, you can't help but feel you are in a whole other world!

 

[Tooneric]

Wow, thanks for all of your comments. The Dis is great! I haven't made up my mind yet but I am a lot more informed now. I would love to do both if I can, but that may not be possible. I'll keep you posted.