"Why can't I quit you, Disneyland?"

[yupikgal]

We have been talking about going to WDW for our daughter's college graduation in 2016, but it seems we keep changing our minds and wanting to go back to our "home" park, Disneyland! Is this normal? I miss my Disneyland!

It's so much further for us to fly to FL, takes so much more time and it's normally about twice the cost for airfare. We live in Alaska, so it's always a long flight, even to the Westcoast, but you can imagine how much longer to the East!

Ultimately, I will leave it up to my daughter, since we would be celebrating her special day. We may go a bit earlier than her actual graduation, since she's supposed to graduate in the Fall of 2016, which would mean December, so we may go in the summer when she's off instead.

 

[KalamityJane]

I actually made and reserved a whole trip to WDW and cancelled it after paying to switch to DL. It's home <3

 

[Disneyluvr2]

I've never been to WDW because I'd have to give up my 3-4 yearly trips to Disneyland to afford just 1 trip to WDW! It just doesn't seem like a fair trade, so I'll happily keep going to Disneyland!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I've never been to WDW because I'd have to give up my 3-4 yearly trips to Disneyland to afford just 1 trip to WDW! It just doesn't seem like a fair trade, so I'll happily keep going to Disneyland!

This is our "problem" too! I'm happy with my 3 or 4 visits with Disneyland each year, and it seems so much to give up for one WDW vacation.

 

[NewbieMouse]

We went to Disneyland Paris in 2013, and most of the time all I could really think was, "Wow, I really love Disneyland!"

 

[nikkislaght]

For 4 yrs this trip has been our last..
that's why we are going again this year.. as it will be "our last"

 

[bumbershoot]

Heck, go bicoastal. Start with one and end with the other.

I always want Disneyland at the end of our WDW trips, so we can relax a bit. Vacation after the "vacation".

 

[DahliaRW]

I've been to WDW. It's probably worth doing once, but I much prefer DL. But, I'd go to Orlando just for Universal!

 

[disneymom0104]

It is so funny because we were hit by the WDW bug hard back in 2007. I hadn't been to DL since my childhood and WDW was so amazing. We spent 28 days there in the next 3 years, when we decided to "try" DL "once". Yeah- we haven't been back to WDW. There are things I miss there, but living in CO, the trip to DL is SO much easier. The only downside is I hate that we can't stay more than 5 days (and I know that we CAN, if we start over with tickets- but I miss the 6 day hopper). I don't know what it is! DL is my #1 favorite park of them all!

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I've been to WDW. It's probably worth doing once, but I much prefer DL. But, I'd go to Orlando just for Universal!

Totally agree with this comment!

 

[Fireflyblue]

I understand how you feel. I prefer Disneyland over Disney World, but that being said, I would suggest going to Disney World at least once. There are so many differences between the two that if you've never gone, its worth going. Disney World seems to have this essence of hugeness and major Disney magic, while Disneyland is more of a "homey sorta park". I love EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. I've gone to Disney World 4 times in the last 7 years and I look forward to going again maybe in 3 years because it is soo different that Disneyland. Even in 4 trips I still have hardly seen or done much of what there is to do there, from mini-golfing, Disney Quest, the water parks. I would give it a shot, even if its the only time you ever go. Also november and february are great times to go. I wouldn't recommend anything after 2nd week of June through end of September. September is least crowded, but you risk hurricane season and lots and lots of rain.

 

[taffy]

I grew up going to WDW as we were from the UK and loved going every year. Since I live in Vancouver now it has meant we can visit DL a few times a year BUT we are actually going to WDW on the 7th Feb for 2 full weeks as we are meeting my UK family there for a giant family vacation.

We are super excited as my last WDW trip was in 2008 but DL is now our home away from home

 

[Disney127]

We have been talking about going to WDW for our daughter's college graduation in 2016, but it seems we keep changing our minds and wanting to go back to our "home" park, Disneyland! Is this normal? I miss my Disneyland!

We too are planning to head to WDW in 2016 but we are also trying to plan a trip to DL for the same year. DD and I do annual trips down to DL and it won't be the same if we missed one year. DD wants to experience WDW since she doesn't remember much the last time we were there. I have been on the WDW boards and it looks like there is more planning to do if we head to WDW. I love how minimal planning we do at DL.

 

[AmberStar]

I have been on the WDW boards and it looks like there is more planning to do if we head to WDW. I love how minimal planning we do at DL.

Call me lazy but the fact that there is more planning keeps from ever wanting to visit WDW.

Maybe once my kiddos are teens I will manage to plan for us to travel across the country. Right now DL is under a 7 hour drive so its easy to plan for a quick trip down to the parks.

edit: its only a 6 hour drive says mapquest... I know we have made it in that time frame but with stopping for lunch and potty breaks it turns into 7 hours easily. Still worth it.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

We are in the same boat. We moved from CA (3 hr drive) to Phoenix (6 hr drive) this year so we tried to cut ourselves off from DL...decided to save up for a trip to WDW...too complicated. We then decided that a 6 hour drive is doable once a month or so.

 

[Disney127]

We then decided that a 6 hour drive is doable once a month or so.

Call me lazy but the fact that there is more planning keeps from ever wanting to visit WDW.

Maybe once my kiddos are teens I will manage to plan for us to travel across the country. Right now DL is under a 7 hour drive so its easy to plan for a quick trip down to the parks.

I would do a 6 or 7 hour drive once a month if I only could! It's not easy trying to find cheap flights out of Calgary!

Yes, there seems to be more planning for WDW, that is why I am already checking things out. And hopefully it will be easier with just DD (13) and myself.

 

[bumbershoot]

Right now DL is under a 7 hour drive so its easy to plan for a quick trip down to the parks.

lol, wdw/uni is a 5ish hour flight on Alaska air for us if we can get that flight. Yes there's more waiting around time along with the flight time, but it shows different perspectives on travel time!



We actually did the bicoastal trip. We did it wrong, timezone-defined. Went to Anaheim first and then orlando. If we do it again we will go east first then west. Once you get acclimated to eastern time and move west, those early mornings at DL are a breeze.

 

[nannyz]

We took our daughter to WDW when she graduated law school.
It was OK but none of us has any desire to go back. There is nothing there that is amazing enough to do the trip and spend the extra money.
The best day of the trip was the one we spent at Daytona Beach.
DL is home to us too.

 

[LizzyS]

This is funny, because I actually want to plan a WDW trip for next year, but I'm a little intimidated at all the planning! I've *technically* been to WDW before, but I was 2-3 years old, lol. I sort of don't remember anything about it, but pictures exist, so I know it happened and Goofy and myself were tight.

DL is so easy for us; we're only a 4 hour and fifteen minute drive from Anaheim. Then there's how close everything is because of the compact size. Also, the Walt's Park factor. Ugh! It DOES make it so much more difficult to want to switch gears and go to WDW!

 

[cmrdgrs]

I can't quit DL either. We live in Phoenix, so going to SoCal for a weekend trip is doable and heading to WDW is not.

When our kids were little we actually traveled to WDW more frequently, because our mid-set was the WDW must be the better destination over DL. Then DH and I decided to try DL. One visit and we were hooked and haven't looked back. The truth is that the bulk of my family memories and good times were made at DL, so it has secured a sentimental place in my heart, and I'm sure that WDW will never match those feelings/memories.

DL has secured a place in my heart and I'm quite sure it won't be knocked off the top of the pedestal.