Who's done Disneyland and WDW...

[mickeyfan2]

I have visitied both many times. Each is so unique that a comparison is not possible for me. I say try both and make your own educated decision.

 

[alicenwonder99]

We've been to both and DL in California is our favorite. WDW is too overwhelming for us, it's just too much to see and do on a vacation. DL has better rides than MK, and New Orleans Square is amazing. 3 days at Disneyland/California Adventure is just about right. We once spent 5 days there and even the kids were complaining, "do we HAVE to go to Disneyland AGAIN?!" (lol). Southern California is a nice vacation and adding 2-3 days at DL makes it fun. If you time it right, you can practically have the park to yourself! But time it wrong, and you'll be sorry. One trip in the Spring, there were no lines anywhere (and this was before FastPass). California Adventure is dead after a certain time (because there's not alot to do there).

Make sure you visit DL and don't skip Indiana Jones. It's the best ride!

Mary

 

[Randy K]

I've been to both. Both are good for different reasons.
For me it comes down to:

If I am choosing one Disney Park to do for one day it would be Disneyland because it has way more rides than any other single Disney Park and many of the rides are the superior versions there.

If I am choosing a Disney Vacation it would be Walt Disney World because there is so much more to do there for a week or longer vacation.

 

[Jeanne B]

This is a great thread!! My sister and nephew moved to Irvine in July and DH, DD12 and I are looking forward to planning a trip there in 2007. We've never been to CA so I can't wait to see the differences between DL and WDW for ourselves.

 

[DisneyDotty]

WDW has always been our "home" Disney--been there many times and have always loved it.
However, just got back from DL, and have to say I absolutely love it there, too! Both are great places, each with many pluses.
DL--love the Matterhorn; Fantasyland is awesome; Space Mountain is superb; and the closeness between DL, CA and the hotels can't be beat. Also, DTD is vastly superior to WDW's.
WDW--Splash Mountain is longer, better seats, more fun; love World Showcase of Epcot; amazing choice of Disney resorts to stay at; Animal Kingdom is a wonderful park--much more than just a zoo.
Well, that settles it--will just have to go back to both more often!

 

[melomouse]

I chime in with my love for Blue Bayou, New Orleans Square and all of the POC at DL. Fantasyland IS nicer, and the Matterhorn - WOW! -
And yes, I think it might even be less pricey, ticket package-wise and even airfares if you look carefully for deals.
Something about the "original" DL and the beginnings of Walt's Dream stirs me.

Pixiedust blessings upon you all!
melomouse

 

[PrincessAurora]

Better in Disneyland vs Magic Kingdom - Matterhorn, Indy, Pirates, Space Mountain, TOAD!, Original Tiki Room, New Orleans Square, Nightmare before xmas at the Mansion for xmas, Mickey's Toontown, Small World, the feel of Main Street, the look of Fantasyland, the fact that you can walk through the castle

Better in MK vs. Disneyland - The castle size, Philharmagic, the lake

Better in DL Resort vs. WDW = DTD

Better in WDW vs. DL Resort = The RESORT, the hotels, the theming, the whole land, Epcot, AK, the whole package

DCA is a waste of space with the exception of Soarin'.

 

[Lulu's Mom]

I grew up in California and going to Disneyland, so when i first visited WDW I was very disappointed in the Magic Kingdom at WDW. I have grown to love it and see it as something unique and different from Disneyland. That being said I definatley agree that Disneyland has much better rides, Alice in Wonderland, The Matterhorn, Indian Jones, POC, Tiki Room, Country Bears, Canoes, Haunted Mansion, Small World, Rodger Rabbit. I have not been to DL in about 5 years so I am sure much has changed since then and I can not wait to go back.

As far as WDW this is a whole vacation experience as DL is a theme park day trip. I love the feeling of WDW resorts and just the atmosphere of being there.

They are both wonderful and I need to plan a trip to DL soon to see all the changes.

 

[MissDisneyTeach]

I love them both!
At DL I do like Small World and the updated Space Mountain was worth the wait! They also had yummy Mickey Mouse pretzels that I have never seen at WDW before. I will have to look for them this summer. And can you believe that it got so cool at night that I HAD to buy a new Mickey Mouse jacket in JULY, because I forgot mine in Texas! Now that's great weather!!

At WDW, I love the castle. I also like the seating for Fantasmic.

 

[KJET54]

Disneyland,
Truly the happiest place on earth. Everyone is nice, smaller size, true Disney customer service. Everyone went out of thier way to help us. Love Disney world but Disneyland is the original

 

[jgmklmhem]

My personal feel is that:
DL is much better than MK........but
WDW is much better than DLR

I hope that makes sense. If you are one to spend the majority of your time in the MK then DL will be a great trip (it would be anyways but I hope people see my point). We have been to WDW many times and DLR only once but if I had to choose one park it would be DL for the amount of rides, charm, POC, Matterhorn etc. I mean even Star Tours is in DL. We are in the planning stages of going back to WDW next Jan so we shall see what my opinion is going back after having been to DL.

 

[challada]

DL is our "home" park, though thousands of miles away too (but not as many thousands at WDW)....I do LOVE them both, though, and that's why we're headed to WDW in the spring after DL numerous times in the last couple years.

DL...I love because it's "home"...my family can walk in those gates and we don't have to say a word as we all know where we are going when. I love riding the monorail to lunch outside the park and riding back in with no waits. I love the rides, I love the edible plant life in tomorrowland (did you know you can eat everything growing in tomorrowland? I don't recommend grazing, though, as that's frowned upon). I love the CandyCaneInn and I love DCA (Aladdin and Soarin' worth the price of admission alone). I love watching the fireworks from ANYWHERE at DL (even your hotel). The new Buzz is a favorite of my kids as well and emailing home free pictures is wonderful!

WDW...I love because it's huge! I love the theming of the parks (done much better than CA) and the rides we can't get at home like Rock'n'Rollercoaster and the shows like Lion King. I love the fact that I can rent a house near WDW and have my own kitchen, bedroom, etc and my own pool on vacation.

In all, they are both great for their own reasons. I really hope to make our way around the Disney world and visit Paris, Hong Kong and Japan as well and then be able to compare them ALL!

 

[keagansmom]

What I love at Disneyland:
The Blue Bayou-- one of the best places to eat!
The view from our hotel - Paradise Pier Concierge suite
Aladin - the show was fantastic
The cost- way cheaper
The plane ride - way faster for us
POTC - longer and in MHO better
Mickey's toontown is much much better
Roger Rabbit's cartoon spin
Goofy's bounce house - my DS loved it and burned off some energy
Indiana Jones- way cool ride and lots of fun things in the que line
Tarzan's treehouse - liked it better than the swiss version
Matterhorn bobsleds
Mr. Toad's Wild ride
Redwood Creek challenge trail - in CA - son had a blast!
Electrical Parade

WDW-
Much bigger, much more to do
resort theming is amazing
better & more character dinning
monorail
Mickey's Philharmagic
the castle
spectromagic
wishes
more parades
Epcot- love this park
AK - love this park also- great relaxing park
lion King show
special tours
more/better dining options

All in all, I really like both parks but I would do DL for a short vacation and WDW for longer vacations. CM's wonderful at both. Service great at both. Magic present at both.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

I'm with Keagansmom:

All in all, I really like both parks but I would do DL for a short vacation and WDW for longer vacations.

If the price to travel to each is comparable, then it all depends on the length of your vacation.

I'm in the minority that can't imagine spending ten (or more!) days on vacation with my family. All us, all the time? Yikes! I love DH and DS, truly. . . but ten days is a long time in my world. I'd rather take two five day trips and spread both the magic and the togetherness. Again, that's just me. Maybe my new DVC membership will change that. But I can't imagine spending more than five days at DL in one shot. The selection is just smaller in terms of rides, experiences and places to eat (I food!). Now plan me a vacation with some Disney, some beach and some Hollywood gawking tours. . . there could be ten days in that. . .

As always, your mileage may vary. . .

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

This is very helpful for me! My family visited DL when I was in 2nd grade, but I haven't been back and don't really remember it - all my trips have been to WDW since then. But!! I have recently gotten married and moved to CA, and now everyone I know out here does regular trips to DL and hardly anyone has been to WDW. A couple people I've met have done both, and they kept telling me that DL beats WDW each time. I had no idea how to answer that - but this thread is helping me understand the differences. Guess I'll just have to make a trek to DL and see for myself!

 

[alliecats]

I agree with the posters who love New Orleans Square, Blue Bayou, the POC, the Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, etc. I also like having Star Tours right there (if it still is!) in the park, instead of at MGM. I like the way the HM looks outside better at DL. Plus DL is so small and cozy. I just adore it. That said, I LOVE WDW, too. I agree, DL for the day, WDW for the vacation experience of a week or more. Because Epcot is just the best.

One thing that WDW has that DL doesn't (anymore) Wedway PeopleMover!! That is a big edge. The day that goes is the day my heart breaks.

 

[Simba's Mom]

What I liked better at DL was that I could watch DS perform in front of the castle there! But that probably doesn't count. I love Matterhorn; all of Fantasyland, especially the Storybook Canal Boats and for some reason, the Alice in Wonderland ride; the big sailing boat (what was that called?). What both DL and MK/WDW have better at DL are POTC (FAR better at DL) and the Railroad. I didn't ride SM, but DS said it's better at DL. I also loved the Parade of Dreams, and the fact that I could walk from one "land" to another in a lot less time than at WDW. But the castle there is so much smaller, and you can't eat in it.

 

[rocket9]

I've been to WDW lots and lots, and Disneyland three times now. Everytime at Disneyland I get lost, due to knowing my way around WDW so well, and things not being where I expect them to be. Even when I try to consiously remember that I'm at a different park it still happens, along with overshooting where I'm trying to go, since you can get around DL so much quicker.

 

[Skroops]

I had to chime in here too. The comparison would be MK vs Disneyland? Well, they both rock, but in slightly different ways. As all of the other posters say, some of the attractions are better as originals. Disney California park? IMO, it doesn't compare (or hold a candle to) any of the other WDW theme parks.
I love the California weather though...WAY better than Florida!

IMO, Disneyland is a must see, but it is a shorter vacation. That can be good sometimes!

 

[thebaroness]

I love both parks but Disneyland holds a special place in my heart. Growing up I would spend winter vacation in California visiting my best friend and going to DL. As for rides I love Indiana Jones!