WDW vs DLR

[keeperofzoo]

I have never been to WDW....what's the big difference between to 2 (other than size)?
Due to the ages of my kids would it be better to wait a couple years before going to WDW?
I would like to plan a family vacation for next year and am trying to decide where to go.

 

[DoomBugger]

There are many threads on this topic. It really depends how long you plan to stay and what you are looking for. I would go whre you have been to less.

 

[paul436]

Well the size IS the big difference. You have 4 parks instead of 2 along with other WDW attractions such as hang gliding and driving a real race car. I don't think the kids are too young. Everyone will have a great time.

 

[DLR29]

I have never been to WDW....what's the big difference between to 2 (other than size)?
Due to the ages of my kids would it be better to wait a couple years before going to WDW?
I would like to plan a family vacation for next year and am trying to decide where to go.

Basically the 5 major differences I would say are:
1) Size
2) Hotels
3) Transportation
4) Weather
5) Dining

1) At WDW the parks are more spread out (except DHS which is pretty compact). That means more walking in between attractions which could be tough with 3 kids. Plus to park hop at DLR it takes 2 minutes, but at WDW it could take up to an hour. There's way more entertainment options at WDW including an even larger DTD (with a Cirque du Soleil, Disneyquest indoor theme park/arcade, enormouse World of Disney Store, Pleasure Island nightclubs, and tons of shops and restaurants), miniature and regular golf, water sports (water skiing, parasailing, jet ski), 2 water parks, and the list goes on. It's much easier to spend more time at WDW.

2) At DLR there are tons of very close cheap hotels or motels within walking distance from the parks. At WDW it is a huge advantage to stay onsite. Extra Magic Hours (EMH) allow onsite guests at WDW to enter a park an hour before and stay in a park (park changes every day) 3 hours later. Plus the dining plan at WDW saves money and is only available for purchase for onsite guests. Another perk to staying onsite is the use of their transportation

3) At DLR walking is everything. Walking from the hotels to the parks, or from park to park, or from DTD to the hotels/parks. At WDW the transportations system is much more complicated. From certain resorts you can take the monorail to a couple parks. Buses are the main way of transportation to everywhere. Boats are also thrown in there with the rest. And on top of that, you may want to think about renting a car because buses don't go from hotel to hotel. So if you stay at one hotel and want to visit another or eat a meal there, it might take a long time using WDW's transportation which would require a lot of transfers from bus to monorail to boat etc.

4) Weather is a huge difference. WDW is muggy and hot which drains you out quicker. Usually we don't take midday breaks at DLR, but at WDW we needed to, to refuel and get some rest. Also the rainy season in Florida is during the summer which is totally different from DLR's rainy season in the winter/spring.

5) Basically WDW has way more dining options and a dining plan that actually saves you money. Each park has a couple table service restaurants and character meals. Also some of the counter service places at WDW are actually quite good. Each WDW hotel (except value) have at least one table service place as well as a few counter service places and snack shops.

 

[Disneylover 2]

DLR is the best! That simple. I will also like to go to WDW one day just to try it out.

 

[disney-inspired]

I have never been to WDW....what's the big difference between to 2 (other than size)?
Due to the ages of my kids would it be better to wait a couple years before going to WDW?
I would like to plan a family vacation for next year and am trying to decide where to go.

Your kids are the perfect age to go!
Depending on your 6yo, you might want a stroller. We went in '06 when my sister was 6 and she had a blast and didn't need a stroller.
Also, they get in for kids price still!

The differences are:
* There is a lot more to do but it's all different
* They have two water parks
* There are certain rides over there we don't have at DLR

I say go, it's a great vacation! I don't like to compare the two since they are so different. They each have their own experiences.

 

[keeperofzoo]

Basically the 4 major differences I would say are:
1) Size
2) Hotels
3) Transportation
4) Weather

1) At WDW the parks are more spread out (except DHS which is pretty compact). That means more walking in between attractions which could be tough with 3 kids. Plus to park hop at DLR it takes 2 minutes, but at WDW it could take up to an hour. There's way more entertainment options at WDW including an even larger DTD (with a Cirque du Soleil, Disneyquest indoor theme park/arcade, enormouse World of Disney Store, Pleasure Island nightclubs, and tons of shops and restaurants), miniature and regular golf, water sports (water skiing, parasailing, jet ski), 2 water parks, and the list goes on. It's much easier to spend more time at WDW.

2) At DLR there are tons of very close cheap hotels or motels within walking distance from the parks. At WDW it is a huge advantage to stay onsite. Extra Magic Hours (EMH) allow onsite guests at WDW to enter a park an hour before and stay in a park (park changes every day) 3 hours later. Plus the dining plan at WDW saves money and is only available for purchase for onsite guests. Another perk to staying onsite is the use of their transportation

3) At DLR walking is everything. Walking from the hotels to the parks, or from park to park, or from DTD to the hotels/parks. At WDW the transportations system is much more complicated. From certain resorts you can take the monorail to a couple parks. Buses are the main way of transportation to everywhere. Boats are also thrown in there with the rest. And on top of that, you may want to think about renting a car because buses don't go from hotel to hotel. So if you stay at one hotel and want to visit another or eat a meal there, it might take a long time using WDW's transportation which would require a lot of transfers from bus to monorail to boat etc.

4) Weather is a huge difference. WDW is muggy and hot which drains you out quicker. Usually we don't take midday breaks at DLR, but at WDW we needed to, to refuel and get some rest. Also the rainy season in Florida is during the summer which is totally different from DLR's rainy season in the winter/spring.

Thank you, that was the best description I have gotten.

I think we may wait a couple years before going to WDW. I had no idea there was so much to do! I started looking into going and got absolutely overwhelmed plus I don't do well in muggy weather. With the rainy season in summer is that the "slow" time?

Sounds like for quick trips go to DLR. Sounds like to do WDW "properly" you need 7 - 14 days. DH would like that - he went to WDW as a kid and wants to take the kids someday. He was very anti-DLR until I told him that I wasn't going to have our kids grow up never going to DLR.

 

[Hound 109]

In addition to DLR29's & everyone elses excellent info above, I recommend Trey's tip thread on WDW for DLR vets.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=16541636

 

[TiggerandTink]

Great job DLR29!

While no expert, we did take our kids (7 & 8) to WDW last year, we had been to DLR the year prior and are going back to DLR this year. I really like both and am happy with just getting to go. I have to say that transportation and size were big differences. This trip we are spending 3 days at DLR and then going to Legoland and Seaworld and I am fine with that but I wouldn't even consider a trip that short to WDW. We spent 7 days there and I felt like although we visited each park, including both water parks, we barely scratched the surface. We could have easily spent more time there. I hope that the next time we go we can at least do 10-14 days. Not sure that will ever happen with jobs and kids and budgets but a girl can dream.

 

[stopher1]

Basically the 5 major differences I would say are:
1) Size
2) Hotels
3) Transportation
4) Weather
5) Dining

1) At WDW the parks are more spread out (except DHS which is pretty compact). That means more walking in between attractions which could be tough with 3 kids. Plus to park hop at DLR it takes 2 minutes, but at WDW it could take up to an hour. There's way more entertainment options at WDW including an even larger DTD (with a Cirque du Soleil, Disneyquest indoor theme park/arcade, enormouse World of Disney Store, Pleasure Island nightclubs, and tons of shops and restaurants), miniature and regular golf, water sports (water skiing, parasailing, jet ski), 2 water parks, and the list goes on. It's much easier to spend more time at WDW.

2) At DLR there are tons of very close cheap hotels or motels within walking distance from the parks. At WDW it is a huge advantage to stay onsite. Extra Magic Hours (EMH) allow onsite guests at WDW to enter a park an hour before and stay in a park (park changes every day) 3 hours later. Plus the dining plan at WDW saves money and is only available for purchase for onsite guests. Another perk to staying onsite is the use of their transportation

3) At DLR walking is everything. Walking from the hotels to the parks, or from park to park, or from DTD to the hotels/parks. At WDW the transportations system is much more complicated. From certain resorts you can take the monorail to a couple parks. Buses are the main way of transportation to everywhere. Boats are also thrown in there with the rest. And on top of that, you may want to think about renting a car because buses don't go from hotel to hotel. So if you stay at one hotel and want to visit another or eat a meal there, it might take a long time using WDW's transportation which would require a lot of transfers from bus to monorail to boat etc.

4) Weather is a huge difference. WDW is muggy and hot which drains you out quicker. Usually we don't take midday breaks at DLR, but at WDW we needed to, to refuel and get some rest. Also the rainy season in Florida is during the summer which is totally different from DLR's rainy season in the winter/spring.

5) Basically WDW has way more dining options and a dining plan that actually saves you money. Each park has a couple table service restaurants and character meals. Also some of the counter service places at WDW are actually quite good. Each WDW hotel (except value) have at least one table service place as well as a few counter service places and snack shops.

DL is much better in so many ways - but WDW is pretty awesome too. This is an excellent comparison. To put it into perspective - WDW's acreage is equal to the city of San Francisco, or twice the size of Manhattan. DL alone would fit inside the parking lot of Epcot...the entire DL resort would fit inside of Epcot.

The biggest difference though, IMO, is that they separated out so many of the awesome attractions found at a single park in Anaheim into multiple parks in Orlando...and Orlando has 2 awesome water parks while Anaheim has none. I love both, and go to both - BUT, DL is the ORIGINAL and what everything else is BASED ON!!!!! (Plus the history alone at DL makes it so much better. While Walt did basically select Orlando and did walk the property - he never set foot into the finished product in FL since he died just about 5 yrs before the MK even opened). That's just the purist in me... DL started it ALL.

 

[laui]

I have been to DL five times and WDW only once and though I really enjoyed WDW...my heart will always belong to Disneyland.

 

[ballarinamom]

We truly believe it's a case of quality over quantity. Yes WDW had "more" but DLR is better quality. DD said she preferred DLR. You really have to plan extra hard for WDW and the DIS was a blessing! But it was a marathon for 7 days to get the 4 parks in. We stayed on site and got to the bus stop early each day. Some days we ended up grabbing a cab because we just missed the cut off on a full bus coming and going and didn't want to miss rope drop OR we were ready to get back to the hotel.
I think the transportation was the most dissapointing. It didn't matter how much you paid for a hotel, you HAD to take their transportation to get to a park. Sure some were a short monorail ride, but some were STILL busses, boats etc..
We came home exhausted and missing DLR

 

[namara87]

I lived in Anaheim....DLR is my first home, I've been way too many times to count. So on my first CP at WDW...I would always joke with my managers how much DLR is better that WDW. But over the past couple years I have learned that I (just me personally) cannot compare the two. DLR is the original, nostalgic resort while WDW is the bigger, "dlr-mistake-fixer" (as so many WDW advocates like to remind me) resort. But The Original will ALWAYS hold a special, slightly larger place in my heart

 

[stopher1]

I lived in Anaheim....DLR is my first home, I've been way too many times to count.

DLR is the original, nostalgic resort while WDW is the bigger, "dlr-mistake-fixer" (as so many WDW advocates like to remind me) resort. But The Original will ALWAYS hold a special, slightly larger place in my heart

Me too - DW, DS and I lived just 10 min from DL for several yrs before the company relocated us. (I know, what were we thinking to say yes?!?) Anyway, those WDW advocates have it wrong since many of the "mistakes" they think were corrected simply WEREN'T...IMO. 1) Pirates is too short, and the speedramp at the end is lousy - it's much more dramatic and fun that the bateaux go up at DL!!! 2), the stretching room in the HM is fake in WDW - not an elevator which is WAY better. 3) the MK is TOO LARGE - true the wider walkways are nice, but come on - you lose a lot when you take away the more intimate feel and the forced perspective of the castle & MS. TOO many more that I could go and on about - I do love WDW - but DL is "HOME".

 

[tidefan]

From my perspective, one thing that really should not be missed for DLR vets going to WDW is to make sure to budget time to go to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. IMHO, Typhoon Lagoon is the finest water park out there. It may not have the highest or fastest slides, but the ones they have are all great and it is quite possibly the best theming in all of WDW. Blizzard Beach, while not as lush, is well themed also and the chair lift is very cool.

I think that the waterparks are very often overlooked, even by those that go to WDW regularly. I highly encourage any of you to try them out...

 

[fairycat]

Animal Kingdom, Typhon Lagoon, Adventure's Club and Epcot would tempt me back to WDW. But WOW!!! that place was the hardest I ever had to work to have fun on vacation.

Time: Everything takes way more time in WDW so be prepared and take lots of time to see everything like was previously mentioned. We were not smart we got in hit one park got drug to USF, then did two full days and then one more partial day. NEVER AGAIN!!!! It was very difficult, with travel time and distance. It took us over an hour to get a bus and get to where we needed. (And why does no one in WDW know how the transportation works??)

But if you plan for this and have lots of time you will see everything and have a great time.

Weather: I am a humidity wuss. I have only been to FL in Early October, Late November and Late December. I thought October while great for swimming was a little humid for me and I had a little issue with it. Winter was stunning and extra cool because you get to see the holiday decor.

If you plan you will have a great time but it does take a whole lot more planning the DLR (but that could be because I am local ).

 

[stopher1]

From my perspective, one thing that really should not be missed for DLR vets going to WDW is to make sure to budget time to go to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. IMHO, Typhoon Lagoon is the finest water park out there. It may not have the highest or fastest slides, but the ones they have are all great and it is quite possibly the best theming in all of WDW. Blizzard Beach, while not as lush, is well themed also and the chair lift is very cool.

I think that the waterparks are very often overlooked, even by those that go to WDW regularly. I highly encourage any of you to try them out...

No hands down, they are the best! Not everyone likes it...but Crush N Gusher at TL is an absolutely awesome water "coaster"... and you just can't beat TL and BB's lazy rivers!

 

[sandy6879]

We took my daughter to WDW when she was 5. It actually was a great age. She was tall enough to go on the majority of the rides and she was fun. She didn't complain at all about the walking - and there was a LOT of walking. We went every year through 2006.

You need to budget in a lot more time at WDW. MK alone will take you at least 2 days if not 3 to go through everything there, esp with little ones. The humidity factor is huge in FL - and no, it's not a slow season at all in the summer even with the rain. It's PACKED there all summer long. We went in September in 2006 and were shocked at how small the crowds were, so that might be a better time to go since it's still warm enough to go swimming.

That being said, I love the fact that WDW resort is away from everything. You don't see anything non-Disney while you are there since they own everything. You really have to work to get off property.

We do rent a car every visit due to the transportation system. We had always used buses for the parks but I am at the point where I won't do that anymore. At least I'll feel better driving where we need to go rather than waiting on a bus.

Enjoy going! We're headed to DL the first time this summer and I'm preparing myself to not compare the two, since from everything I've researched, there really is no basis for comparison. They seem to be 2 very different experiences.

 

[stopher1]

We're headed to DL the first time this summer and I'm preparing myself to not compare the two, since from everything I've researched, there really is no basis for comparison. They seem to be 2 very different experiences.

That's so cool that you get to go! DL really is a wonderful experience. DL is just so much more intimate. You'll be amazed, really, by just how many attractions and experiences they fit in to 1 park, less than half the size of MK. It truly is a multi-day park, that does often get dissed by her east coast sister...but it doesn't matter if you're in CA, FL, Tokyo or the rest - you'll be inside that Disney magic. And if you are a POTC fan be sure not to miss the DL original... you'll definitely get a truly remarkable experience vs. a so-so experience! Hands down, DL's is THE version.

 

[trodrigue]

As fellow northwesterner, I have to say one thing. Do not discount the effect that the heat and humidity will have on you. I have been 3 times to WDW and that humidity kicks my butt! I have never been with kids, but I told my husband no WDW for us until the kids are older, and even then it is a January trip for us, because I have been told that is about the only time the temp is reasonable.

I also will never park hop, as the transportation is insane. One park per day, and a minimum of 10 days.

Okay, I admit it, I guess I am planning my WDW trip, but it won't be for a while. Little one is just 5, and I think age 10 is better