WDW vs. Disneyland

[tinkerbellmom31]

If you had a weeks vacation and had to choose which would you pick and why?
I have been to WDW numerous times and never Disneyland. I would love to try Disneyland but my DH thinks the kids would be let down and it would not be as much fun. Any insight from people who have done both? I will never admit to my DH but I wonder if I would be disappointed alittle too. We go to WDW every 2 years so it if we chose Disneyland it would be a 4 year break from WDW.
TIA

 

[SnackyStacky]

I honestly think a week at Disneyland would be too much. Remember, you're talking 2 parks (not 4 parks, 2 water parks, and DisneyQuest), and 3 resort hotels (not some 22 resorts).

I haven't been to both.

But my wife is on a 2nd interview for a position at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. I'm postively GIDDY that we may get to live just MINUTES (or hour depending on traffic and where we'd actually LIVE) from the mouse!!!!

ANYWAY - I think if you're going to make a trip to the west coast to see other things (San Diego, Hollywood, San Francisco....) - then work in Disneyland. But if you're going for a Disney fix, I'd say stick to Florida.

 

[tinkerbellmom31]

I honestly think a week at Disneyland would be too much. Remember, you're talking 2 parks (not 4 parks, 2 water parks, and DisneyQuest), and 3 resort hotels (not some 22 resorts).

I haven't been to both.

But my wife is on a 2nd interview for a position at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. I'm postively GIDDY that we may get to live just MINUTES (or hour depending on traffic and where we'd actually LIVE) from the mouse!!!!

ANYWAY - I think if you're going to make a trip to the west coast to see other things (San Diego, Hollywood, San Francisco....) - then work in Disneyland. But if you're going for a Disney fix, I'd say stick to Florida.

Thank you and good luck to your wife on the interview.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

When I was 13 we went to California. We drove right past Disneyland and my father says "Disneyworld is so much better" and he's right. So we wound up going to Knottsberry Farm. I would go to DL once, but it's DW forever for me! So much more in FL. 42 days until my Disneymoon!! Can't wait!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Disneyland itself can be done in about 3-4 days. But there's also Knott's berry farm and a water park in Buena Park (right next to Anaheim), there's also Magic Mountain about an hour away. Legoland and Seaworld are also about an hour or so away. If you've never seen Yosemite or the mid coast you could do one of those two things for a couple days and fill out your trip.

If you want a change of a bit of pace head on out. You won't be disappointed.

But there are no Mod or Value resorts out there. But the outside the park hotels are really close out there (across the parking lot and a walk across the main drag) and are much better than they once were. And there are a ton of great offsite restaurants in LA.

By the way here's a few things in DL that you don't see in WDW

1. The Matterhorn
2. Outrigger canoes
3. Princess Storybook boats
4. The original Tiki room show
5. Mr. Toad's.
6. New Orleans square.
7. Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
8. The Indiana Jones ride.

Also a few of the rides at the other parks in WDW are at Disneyland or CA such as soarin, TOT, Star Tours.

It's definitely worth a visit.

 

[yxe dad]

I don't think it would be a let down for the kids and might be a good change. I was at DL in 02 with my kids, and 03 with a friend and found it to be much better than when I was there as a kid. It has most of the major attractions of all 4 parks at DW and some it doesn't. It seemed to me that I could get through way more rides in the DL parks because the crowds were lighter with almost no crowds at CA and you weren't spending time traveling from park to park because they are directly across from each other. It doesn't have the water parks but I haven't used them at DW yet either. It only has the 3 DL resorts but there are countless hotels surronding the parks at great prices. When I went the price for 1 week in DL was about $800 cheaper than in DW, most of which was ticket prices and hotel because we could by AP for around $200. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying DL is better, but it's very comparable and lots of fun.

 

[safetymom]

I just got back from DL. We were there for 4 days and we had a great time. I can go to WDW anytime but it was nice to spend some time at DL. It is worth the trip. You can ride the rides that aren't at WDW.

I liked being able to walk across the courtyard from DL to DCA and if I walked a little further I was at DTD. It is different but we had a great time.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

This is a little hard for me to respond to, because I grew up in So. Cal, so I go back there far more often than I go to WDW. If I were going for Disney and Disney only, I'd probably pick WDW. But DL has things WDW doesn't. Most of CA isn't at WDW. California Screamin' is an awesome roller coaster! Plus, So. Cal. has so much more to offer than just DL. There's the beach, San Diego, Hollywood, the beach, Catalina Island, the Queen Mary, oh, and did I mention the beach?

You'd need to rent a car to get to these places if you're staying at DL, (and some are a bit of a drive) but it can be a great vacation, it's just not all Disney all the time (IMO). If you want more theme parks, there are also (like Orlando) Sea World and Universal Studios, and (unlike Orlando) Legoland (which is a fabulous park for kids!), Magic Mountain (tons of great coasters) and Knott's Berry Farm (which doesn't hold a candle to DL, I'm surprised someone picked it over DL, but hey, it's different, if you think you don't want another day at DL, I guess.)

Anyway, that's how I see it. If you want nothing but Disney for a full week, WDW is the better choice. If you want 2/3 days of Disney, plus some of the other things I listed (and thensome -- check some travel sites to see what else), give DL a try.

Oh, and I almost forgot about the time of year. In the midst of summer, I'd choose DL for sure. It's not nearly as humid in California. Personally, I don't think I'd ever go to WDW in the summer.

And another thing! It seems like when I read threads like this on this board, people who first visited WDW don't like the fact that DL/CA are in the middle of the city. They don't like being able to see streets, buildings, etc when they're in DL. Funny thing is that for me, growing up going to DL often, I never noticed any of that. I didn't notice a difference going to WDW second, but some people seem to notice a difference going to DL second. Just more food for thought.

Good luck. Either way, you'll have a great vacation.

 

[grinningghost]

Oh, the never ending debate of DL vs. WDW. Actually, the two can't be compared fairly IMHO. I recently did DL for the first time, and I liked it well enough - it has some different things and DCA, but when all was said and done - WDW would always be my first choice.

But, here's the deal. I had a lifelong obsession with wanting to see DL because I'm a Disney history geek and I needed to see "Walt's Park". My DH, who doesn't give a rat's tail about Disney history, was pretty disappointed in DL overall, which was kind of sad. But we both agreed on a couple things - Indiana Jones NEEDS to be built in Florida and the Grand Californian was worth every single red cent.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

But, here's the deal. I had a lifelong obsession with wanting to see DL because I'm a Disney history geek and I needed to see "Walt's Park". My DH, who doesn't give a rat's tail about Disney history, was pretty disappointed in DL overall, which was kind of sad. But we both agreed on a couple things - Indiana Jones NEEDS to be built in Florida and the Grand Californian was worth every single red cent.

That's my feeling too! I've never been to DL and I'm curious to see the one that Walt actually was able to oversee completely. Granted I'm sure a lot of the rides and attractions have changed since then, but still. Actually, DBf and I were just looking at the Around the World with Disney book that I picked up on my recent trip and after seeing some of the different rides that DL and CA have we're really excited about taking a trip there, since we both want to go California anyway. But if I was going purely for a Disney fix (which we all need every couple years at least ) I would definitely pick WDW

 

[NCombs]

My husband and I were just discussing this a few days ago. I think we will probably do it in a few years and make it part of a longer trip. He really wants to go to one of the Universal parks and as others have said, there are a lot of other things to do in the area. He is a big fan of the ocean so I'm sure we will fit that in too.

I'm thinking of ordering one of the DL guide books to learn more (they are a hobby for me).

 

[Kitty-chan]

I love DL for the sentimental reasons: The history, plus the fact that it's the Disney I grew up with, during my Northern California early childhood years.

I also love DL because for ~$100/night you can stay across the street, and be at the front gates 5 minutes after rolling out of bed. Because the Indiana Jones ride rocks hard, and I love the Matterhorn. Because DL, DCA, and DD are all right in the same place, off the same central plaza. And I like the fact that fewer rides dump you out directly into gift shops!

I love WDW because the immersion is more complete, the experience more controlled. The utilidors make a difference. A lot of lessons were learned at DL, and better solutions implemented at MK. EPCoT is good campy fun, and a reminder of the naive utopianism of the early 1970s. And of course there are four parks!

And I can't help myself from thinking . . . Tokyo Disneyland is a whole different world too! The rides and attractions are mostly the same, but the place has a different feel. Their version of Main St USA feels quite different, and is even covered! I understand that DL/Paris is also a very different park, and I'm looking forward to experiencing that for myself next week.

Part of the joy for me is visiting different parks to see the ways in which they're different. I would hate to ever give up the variety! Why should I be monogamous with just one Disney park, when there are so many to choose from? But I'll confess, if I had to pick just one Disney for all time, so far it would be WDW. (But ask me again next week after I've seen Paris! )

 

[MonkeyPants]

both are worth doing, I havent been out to Disneyland in forever, but it was fun, of course they have more now then when I was there. But if you are going to spend a week doing just Disney, then WDW is the place.

 

[mtb2005]

i want to go to disneyland to ride the more longer pirates it looks hardcore

 

[tinkerbellmom31]

.

I'm thinking of ordering one of the DL guide books to learn more (they are a hobby for me).

I was thinking the same thing. I have been checking out DCL too. I would love to Disneyland and a cruise some time just for a change. I have seen some Disneyland pics it it just looks so neat.

 

[grinningghost]

i want to go to disneyland to ride the more longer pirates it looks hardcore

You would be right. Pirates at DL is much better, so is Haunted Mansion - but I like the exterior of WDW's HM better.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

My first ever disney trip was to WDW and I loved it , it got me hooked on Disney. Being from the west coast its much less expensive for us to do DL and I love it just as much! To me it's not compairson, the are both just as great in their own ways. However Disneyland and Calfornia Adventure both can me done in full in about 4 or 5 days , more then that would be a little much IMHO.
My son loved DL and will be going on his first WDW trip next summer, but even after that trip I think he will still enjoy his DL trips just as much as he always has!

 

[lonegungirl]

Having lived <45 minutes from Disneyland for the majority of my life, I have to state my personal opinion that Disneyland is more entertaining for me than the Magic Kingdom, and has slightly better spacial organization (as you would expect, given that it's tiny by comparison.) The big difference I find, is that at WDW each park has a few major rides, and most of them are wedged into DL, with a few overlapping at CA...so it tends to be sort of a Cliff's Note's version of WDW, with most of the highlights included. I also tend to think that the detailing is a little better in DL, but that may be bias.

One thing that many people are disappointed in, I think, is the size of the castle, which resembles a minature golf hole when placed next to the behemoth that is Cinderella's Castle. I am used to it, however, and really only notice the difference when they're running a show at MK and I have to make the long hike around the castle to get somewhere...

I would agree that a week there would be a bit much--split between some of the other attractions around SoCal, however, a week could be very worthwhile.

 

[boomhauer]

I've been to DW 11 times (12 as of next week.) My wife and I are talking about taking our 4 year old to DL in February. We know it won't be DW, but as a Disney fan, I'm curious to experience the original. Plus, I think it'd be fun to relax for a few days on vacation, which generally doesn't happen at DW.

Only bad thing would be the weather being a bit cool, so swimming probably would be out of the question.