When it comes to the great debate "WDW vs DL," I have to say it's like the way I look at my kids. I love them both, and they fill my life with joy in their own unique way.
Growing up in Alabama, my family always vacationed at WDW, so that was all I knew. Disney was a monorail hotel, park hoppers, bus rides, totally immersed in Disney for a week. Fast forward to my marriage to a guy from Southern California coupled with living in Utah and California, I had to adjust to "the smaller castle."
I've always loved my trips to
Disneyland. They just weren't the all-inclusive trips I was used to. We normally stay at his parents and go spend the day at the park, go home, and return a few days later. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. I did get to a point, admittedly, where going to Disneyland really seemed to get on my nerves. It seemed to get more and more crowded with each visit, and I didn't enjoy the company of other guests. They just seemed uptight and rude. So, this June we went as a family back to my roots at Disney World.
It was a fantastic trip!!! We stayed at the Polynesian and watched fireworks from the beach. We did Star Wars Weekends. We rode the Figment ride a million times--everything I missed so much. The weather was great as were the people we met. But after a long flight with two small kids and a whirlwind adventure, I sure was tired when we got home. I think it took 3 weeks to really get back on my game. It was then, I realized, Disneyland sure is nice in that regard. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and a return trip to Disneyland.
We stayed at my in-laws whose home which is as nice as any hotel I've ever stayed at. We went in September (perfect weather and manageable crowd--average 20 minute wait which doesn't bother me), and I was determined to go with fresh eyes and a positive attitude. I didn't want to compare DL to WDW; instead, I decided we would do what we couldn't do in Orlando. We rode Casey Junior, took the serene journey through Storybookland, and had a Haunted Mansion Holiday. I met fantastic people who were very forgiving of my tantruming toddler. The cast members were genuine in their enthusiasm. It was just as fun as Florida, and at the end of the evening, I looked at the light in Walt's window above the firehouse and uttered a quiet, "Thanks, Walt." Because either way, in either park, the magic lives on.
You'll find it if you look for it regardless of the size of the castle or the temperature in the air. The magic permeates throughout at Disneyland just as much as in Florida. Like with my kids, they are very different, but at the end of the day I love them both because they are mine.
Happy travels!
ETA: I hope I didn't sound preachy. I was just sharing my personal experience as a bona fide WDW loyalist. Try Disneyland. It's great, and September is my new favorite time to go.
