Why do you choose WDW over DLR?

[BensWife]

We are trying to decide between WDW and DLR for our Spring Break 2015 vacation. What makes you like WDW over DLR? We are from Colorado, so flights are a little cheaper to California than Florida. However, we have been to both and like both. Is there a reason to tip you one over the other?

 

[Kate and Family]

Have never been to Disneyland, but would like to some day.

We drive to WDW from South Carolina. No flying.

 

[linzbear]

Well, it's cheaper for us to go to WDW, but I do prefer it over DLR anyhow because of EPCOT and AK. I also like the resorts more.

 

[agavegirl1]

My last vacation to a Disney park was DL/CA. I go to WDW because of cheaper airfare and US/IOA is also in Orlando. Also, DL has fewer onsite options so I am always off site there.

 

[pixarmom]

I'm originally from California and DL was my original home park. My mom was a DL local in high school, so it's been "in the family" for a long time. We still visit DL - most recent trip was August of last year. Love GCH, cabanas rentals at the pool, DCA is a great park, and I love Napa Rose.

But WDW is my favorite. After many years at DL, my family started going to WDW when I was 10 years old. Epcot has been my favorite Disney park ever since. I also love the way that WDW has an immersive resort feeling, magical express, great restaurants, and more reasonable resort rates. CL at DL is crazy expensive, while CL at WDW resorts is manageable. Growing up with Disney and now taking my own family, the restaurants and the resort atmosphere are important to me. Also, we're planners and love FP+, ADRs 180+ days in advance, etc. We have friends who far prefer DL because it's so compact and you can accomplish so much in a short time. But WDW is just a better fit for us.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Only reason I go to WDW more is because it's closer.

I'd go to DLR if I were you. It's closer and you won't have to deal with limited FP and magic bands.

 

[aprincessatlast]

I don't! My dh is choosing WDW. If it was up to me it would DL all the way. He is not even a big Disney fan.

We are only going because our dd is 4 now and he thinks that WDW is more princess like and she has been to DL. I agree that you see kids get into character a bit more there. However I am all about the rides/proximity and immersion all tied into one. DL fits that bill. WDW is fantastic on the immersion aspect. Rides and proximity, yeah not so much. There is AK and WS at Epcot so that is a bonus

 

[larryz]

Closer and cheaper. 2 day drive to WDW (1 if we push it).

4 day drive to WDW (3 if we push it) which adds about $1600 to the cost of driving (6 nights in hotels for 4 adults).

Plus if we go to DLR, I'll have to stay in the Grand Californian. $$$$

 

[jrjankowski8]

I've done WDW quite a few times being an east coaster and DLR 2x most recently on my honeymoon in June 2013.

This time around it is nice to be able to accomplish everything in a few days. We stayed in Long Beach and made the 40 min drive to the park. Did open to close. Found it was easier to rearrange reservations for dining and did well with the fast passes. And you can't beat seeing the vintage rides as they were originally

However one thing that really bugged me about DL was the CMs. Of course this doesn't apply to them all and it may be that they are over worked. We know disney doesn't pay much to everyone, but the CMs are far and few between.

We felt the WDW CMs always found a way to answer your questions in the parks. Where in DLR you'd get an "I don't know. Sorry" almost immediately.

Also we found jasmine at the main entrance with a line so we joined it. A minute later jasmine herself came up to us at the back of the line and told us we were the last group for the day and to please tell everyone the line was closed. Huh?? So we tried a few times but of course met the mom and little girl who's favorite was jasmine. What are we gonna say? We don't work there. So jasmine cut them off after us and said sorry.

That was the most bizarre disney experience ever.

But all that being said. Disney is disney and you'll have fun no matter where you are. It's all worth it! And the employees who work there are the hardest working people out there! You'll never get half the amount of service at a six flags etc.

 

[JimmyV]

For us, we enjoy the immersive feeling of WDW. The vacation feeling envelops you 24/7 in a way that we just don't get at DL. I love the MK at DL (except for the fact that things are a bit more cramped there). As much as WDW had the opportunity to improve on things by being "second", I don't think that they capitalized on that very much. Much of DL is simply superior to its Florida counterpart. But those differences cannot outweigh the sense of space that you get at WDW, or the complete vacation resort feeling that you get by being surrounded by theming everywhere you go. For us, DL is an amusement park. WDW is a full week's vacation.

 

[AceDodger]

We have been to both, and the most recent DLR. Stayed at Grand Californian. In the past 6 years, been to DLR apx 3 times and WDW about 9 times. I love both parks but my favorite is WDW. The immersive feel, monorail, more expansive parks, more restaurants, Wishes at MK, MNSSHP and MVMCP, layout, weather (not too much difference), etc. Going to the resort hotels for meals, gift shops, quick service cafes, browsing, and people watching. You can't lose either way!

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

Both have pros and cons. For me, personally, Disneyland usually edges out just a bit over WDW, however I go to WDW since I simply find it easier to plan. Disneyland I feel has a more "homey" feeling. Plus, I'm a big Cars fan, so Carsland is a plus for me. However, I'm also a huge Star Wars fan, so once that is built WDW takes the advantage. WDW, however, is close to Universal Orlando which I like to visit. For me, WDW just makes it easier to plan. Disneyland seems so informal and it's a lot smaller than WDW. I just can't imagine spending the same amount of time there as a I do at WDW. Different touring styles for the different parks.

 

[Angel Ariel]

We've been to both, and I love both..but I definitely have a soft spot for DLR. If I were able to go to both right now, but had to choose one, I would definitely choose DLR. No FP+ mess (sorry, testing) to deal with, a brand new Carsland that I haven't seen yet, Marvel being integrated into the park (albeit in small ways, more than they can do at WDW)...I would definitely head out to DLR right now if I could!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I don't "choose WDW over DLR" either. We are choosing it this summer because we've never been and I've always wanted to see WDW. I will know after we go which one we like better. However, I already know DLR has these things going for it-
Summers are not humid, park hopping is easy and each day you have your choice of rides and restaurants from DL, DCA, and DTD (you have the entire resort to easily choose from), and at most restaraunts you can walk up and be seated. Oh, and paper FPs
DLR is much cheaper for us. Our plane tickets for two to MCO is over $1000. And because WDW is so big we are staying two weeks where as at DLR we stay one. And because we can stay off property at DLR and still be 10 min walk from the parks, we save money on our room (half the cost of our moderate).

From what I can tell WDW seems to have more shows and "ride through rides" which I think I will really like. I miss some of those things from old DL. So I'm really looking forward to seeing new things. The Wishes Dessert Party is way cheaper than DL's Fantasmic dessert seating so we are excited to try that too!

All that said, even if we do end up liking WDW more, we'd still choose DLR because it's cheaper for us. It all comes down to money. Actually, if money was no object I'd be flying around checking out all the other Disney parks in the world.

 

[ZoZo]

I definitely love both, for different reasons.

For a shorter vacation, DL is great. You can do everything in two or three days, leaving time for other things. I'm from the Seattle area, so flights are much cheaper at DL. No humidity, frequent rain showers, or threat of hurricanes in California!

WDW has so much more to offer, it's often hard to squeeze everything in during a typical one-week vacation! But traveling there takes two full days, and it's often $500 to $600 per airline ticket, with very limited options for nonstop flights from Seattle. I love staying on property at WDW, with all of the great perks like Magical Express, EMH, package delivery to your resort, free transportation from resort to parks (no rental cars!), etc. And my favorite park, AK, is only at WDW.

I can't choose between them. I love them both.

 

[natfrac]

For us, DLR is the house that Walt built and is more magical. We go to WDW when we want more of a complete resort vacation. Plus there's more adult activities at WDW at DLR.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

WDW is further for us (we are from Australia) however it provides a more immersive experience. We stay on property, we stay for an extended period of time (3+ weeks usually) We like to add a Disney Cruise and the Port isn't that far from WDW. We love Animal Kingdom and EPCOT.

 

[Chuckers]

I go to WDW because it's closer now.. but I lived 10 miles from DL for 4 years and went there over 200 times. I would be hard pressed to choose, but I think I would chose DL.
Some of the rides at DL are better:
Space Mountain
Pirates
Splash
Peter Pan
The Monorail is more of a ride than transportation.

DL has rides WDW MK doesn't:
Mr. Toad!
Snow White!
Alice
Matterhorn!!!
Roger Rabbit
Carsland RSR beats Test Track for me
Storybook Land Canal Boats (At night it's really cool!)
Indy
Grizzly River Run better than Kali River Rapids

As someone mentioned previously, DL, DCA, and DTD are all doable in one day BY WALKING.

World of Color is AMAZING!
Fantasmic is better at DL
Star Tours is in DL, not a separate park.


However, staying onsite at DL is more expensive than WDW (if you count Values, which DL doesn't have), but cheaper with the offsite hotels than values.
Crowded days at DLR feel WAY more crowded than WDW because of the compact size of the park.
WDW has Rocking Roller Coaster and Everest - but they are in separate parks.
WDW has more food choices and when you're in WDW, you are really in your own world.

I would still choose DLR.

 

[Ravenne]

For us, it's convenience and inclusiveness. We have little kids and going to DLR would mean car rental, and car seats at the bare minimum just to be able to get around to enjoy our vacation. Going to WDW is definitely more expensive for us than DLR, but it's easier, more convenient, and it feels a little more like a relaxing vacation when we don't have to deal with car seats and driving. I'm constantly shuttling my kids around multiple times a day. To not have to drive for me is like not having to go into the office for work.

 

[ktlm]

We don't choose, we alternate between them. We love them both! I will say that after spending our last WDW trip dealing with MDE and FP+ that DL definitely has the edge for us right now. This is the first year in 6 years that we don't have a WDW trip planned. We've been doing DL in summer and WDW in winter. You are talking a year from now so hopefully MDE and FP+ will change for the better by then. We do miss EPCOT WS on our DL trips.