which is best WDW or WDL

[heatherbelle]

Hi

We've been to florida and got the bug. If anyone has been to both, which is the best. WDW (Florida) or WDL (california). I have a child who is 6, loves fast rides and coasters.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

If it is mainly theme parks and coasters that you like, Orlando is probably better than LA. A visit to the original Disneyland is a lot of fun, but will be part of a broader holiday covering more than just theme parks.

 

[mark&sue]

Disneyland is nothing like WDW. In fact Disneyland Paris is better than Disneyland. However if you are visiting Hollywood, Las Vegas etc then go but otherwise I would not make a special trip.

Good luck in you decision.



Susan

 

[tiggerlady]

We have been to the world 8 times and adore the place, we could go every year and not get bored, however this year we did the California thing visiting Las Vegas, The Canyon San Diego and Newport beach in LA, whilst there we had to do DL and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It is not so big as the World but it has a great atmosphere, the rides were excellent esp Indiana JOnes and the ToT in Calif Adventurepark also the PoC, I thought the fireworks fot the 50th were awsome , best I have ever seen including Epcot on July 4th.

If you get the chance go, we are planning an Aussie trip for next year and are hoping to go to the HOng KOng Disney park to see what that is like.

 

[disneyholic family]

3 years ago we spent 3 weeks at WDW then flew to LA for a week at DL/DCA....

while it was lots of fun seeing DL/DCA and we thoroughly enjoyed it, we could never go back there every year, as we do to WDW....

DL is the equivalent of the Magic Kingdom (though there are some differences, some different attractions, some similar attractions that are better in one park or the other)...

DCA (Disney's California Adventure) isn't really up to the standard of any other Disney park....it's kind of half a park in terms of what's there.....but still we enjoyed it....

basically, it's nice to see the original, but it's not a complete vacation the way WDW is...

i would combine it with a trip to the national parks and beautiful natural landscapes in the area...

 

[Soprano]

Hi

We've been to florida and got the bug. If anyone has been to both, which is the best. WDW (Florida) or WDL (california). I have a child who is 6, loves fast rides and coasters.

I have been to both. LA once, Florida 3 times with a 4th trip in March.

IMHO you cannot lose here, both places are great! Like you, I was debating to which of the two to choose from, I have two young children which had a lot to do with my decision.

LA is great. We loved it. We stayed opposite Disneyland. There was enough shops locally to keep us occupied, Toys R Us, Target. Better places further away. We went to Hollywood, Universal Studios, Sea World and the brilliant Six Flags etc. All superb. The Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland is my favourite ride of all time.

A major disadvantage for LA is the place is so vast it can take more time to get from place to place. In Orlando, everything is very close by. This is one of the reasons I chose Orlando over LA. Short drives or even walks to a lot of attractions.

There are more rides/attractions in Orlando for your 6 y.o. to enjoy. The place is more user friendly. Theres so much to compare. Perhaps a pro/con list will help


LA Pros:

Great place!
Six Flags theme park. Fast, bigger and better than Orlando rides. Added fear of earthquakes while on a ride can make me chicken out!
Less Brits (no offensive, but I dont really want to see my fellow country men wearing their England shirts, smoking and shouting at their kids!)
Fab beaches
Historical Hollywood places of interest
Can include overnight stays in Vegas, San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Mexico etc.
Getting your photo with the HOLLYWOOD sign in the background
You really can see a lot of stars. My cousins saw Spderman director Sam Rami and Cindy Crawford last trip!

LA Cons:

Big distances between theme parks and attractions
MUST drive, slow traffic may be a problem.
Shopping is very slightly more expensive here. Less outlets

Orlando Pros.

Way too many! Heres a few:

Great theme parks
Very easy to get around parks/shops
You can spend one week JUST in the Disney parks
VERY good shopping outlets!
and much, much, much, more

Orlando Cons:

Too many Brits on International Drive!
Can be difficult to find a place to eat which serves good food, rather than something and fries!

As said, both are winners. You would not come back from one wishing you went to the other! We will visit Orlando a few more times before going back to LA when the kids are older.

 

[barry7767]

I think to say Disneyland Paris is better than DL should be clarified. Obviously it comes down to personal choice, and if you compare on a park for park basis it may be a true statement. But as for a holiday, it doesn't really compare. You are looking at 3 nights max at DLRP, whereas 14 nights at LA is not enough for some! Only one real park there, Studios can be done in 2 hours at Paris, with no other decent attractions (other than in Paris of course) close.

As for the comment that California Adventure isnt all that good, and doesn't compare, or get classed as, a usual disney park is not true. Just take a look at Animal Kingdom. That again can be done in one morning, with no repeat ride rides there. At DCA ToT fans can spend a day alone riding this (although inferior to WDW version) not to mention California Screamin.

If you love Disney Parks you cant lose wherever you go, but for a holiday, for me it is comparable to WDW for differing reasons, as you can be at a park every day (Knotts, Six Flags, Universal, Sea World etc) or do non park things as mentioned in an earlier post. We loved it, and wished we had gone back this year to DL instead of WDW.