Why do you go to Disneyland instead of WDW

[ORMom2Four]

We have been to Disneyland countless times and we went to DisneyWorld in 2004.

Disneyworld was overwhelming. We didn't park hop, even though we bought park hopper tickets, because the parks are so far apart. You even have to take a ferry or monorail from the parking lot to the Magic Kingdom!

The lands within the parks are also spaced farther apart than Disneyland. This does help with the crowded feeling that Disneyland can get, but it makes for a lot of walking between rides.

Comparing the Magic Kingdom rides and lands to Disneyland, Disneyland always seemed to have the better version. Though, I must say, they have some really cool rides that Disneyland does not have (Test Track, Mission to Space). However, CA Adventure has CA Screamin'

We DID like the water parks in Florida. That is something I wish Disneyland had. I hear there is a Knotts water park in CA, however they close way too early in the fall.

The weather in Florida was miserable (September). I didn't even bother with makeup, it was sweated off 10 seconds after walking out of the hotel room. That is not an exaggeration. I have never experienced humidity and heat like it.

So, we did try Florida once. We left there feeling like we missed something, and started planning our next trip to Disneyland. We have not been back to Florida since.

 

[dbanzai]

I'm another geographical/financial person. Why spend $200+ bucks for a trip that will be five-six hours (plus transfers, to from airport and stopovers) to Orlando, when I can spend $30 each way to drive from the Phoenix area and travel less time? And if I do fly from Sky Harbor to John Wayne, the price is still better and the trip with all parts is only two hours.

I also find DL cheaper once I get there, with the restaurants off property.

The size of both places are a plus for each though: The amount of choices in Orlando is great, but to be able to park hop every day and do about everything in a day is also a benefit to DL. I love both places, but while I'm living out here, DL is definitely the best for me right now.

 

[Melora]

We live close to Disneyland and have been innumerable times, but about 8 years ago we made our first trip to WDW and have been hooked.

I love them both, but for a vacation I love WDW because we can stay for 10 days and still feel like there is more to do!

 

[Disney Dreams]

I have to say after trawling the WDW boards I am shocked at the planning that goes into these holidays. Stupidly, I thought you just booked a room and picked up your park tickets and you were done.

Thanks again for the opinions, much appreciated.
Trish

I live near enough to Disneyland that we are able to go quite often. For that I am very thankful. It had been 15 years since DH and I had been to WDW. We just went for a week for our 10 year wedding anniversary and it was amazing. That said, we planned it in 6 weeks, got almost every reservation we wanted and had an amazing vacation that we will never forget.

I was totally overwhelmed in how to plan for a WDW trip and I think the DISBoards can almost be the case of "too much information leading to paralysis." For me, that was the case.

People here were great at helping me focus on what really needed to be planned out and what we could just leave to free spirited vacationing. I think you can WAY over plan a WDW vacation. And yet, you have to make some reservations if you want to eat at any of the well discussed places or do some of the extra and popular activities.

That said, we pulled it all together in 6 weeks.

I don't think you can compare Disneyland to WDW. It's sort of more like someone asking you, "Should we go to Sydney or travel all of Australia." Disney World is exactly that - a world. We spent a week there and did not come close to seeing everything there is to see, muchless do everything we had planned. Disneyland is W-A-Y smaller and yet has a very magical charm to it and allows the time to take in the magic in a way you just can't have to the time to do at WDW.

Both are amazing vacations, but they are very different.

- Dreams

 

[bethy]

For us we usually like to do our big annual vacation (i.e. around 10-14 days) elsewhere. We just need a little magical dose of Disney annually - it' sort of an extra little emotional boost and family tradition. I like that at DLR everything is within walking distance and very intimate and also that so many rides are concentrated in a smaller area. I like that it is the original park where Walt walked and hung out.

I like that we can hop down for 3-5 nights and have a magical time and never feel overwhelmed. And did I mention that everything is within walking distance? I love the intimacy and ease. And the level of detail and organic culture in DL compared to the MK.

And yes the fact that the flight is half as long helps, too. We can be door to door in about 4.5 hours.

We do plan to visit WDW occasionally for our "big" annual vacation instead of going somewhere else - and also do a cruise now and then.

 

[Jozymouse]

Living in Montreal Quebec in Canada, Florida is obviously closer and we visited Florida many many times. Last summer, I was suprised to find really cheap flights to go to California leaving from Albany NY (3-4 hour drive from where we live), so we decided to go to California and try out Disneyland (last time we were there was in 1995). WE LOVED Disneyland. A major thing for us was the proximity of the 2 parks and Downtown Disney and the proximity of parks to the hotel (Hojo). Another thing was seing the original Fantasmic and the Electrical parade and all those rides that they dont have at WDW. WOW. We also had fun going to San Diego, the beach, Hollywood/Beverly Hills etc. all of that for approx the same price as a Florida trip (maybe even cheaper with the Hojo at $59 a night!). I think that our next trip might be California instead of Florida, Disneyland really made an amazing impression on us and we cant wait to go back! As long as we find a great deal like we did last time!!!!!

 

[mousefit]

Geographical. I live so close I go all the time.

 

[singingpixie]

To me, they're very different animals. I'm an east coaster w/ family in San Diego, so I've done a bit of both, although I haven't been to DLR in 10 years.

WDW is definitely a whole vacation, and I think in a resort-wide comparison, it wins hands-down. There's a ton to do, it's a completely immersive experience, and you could easily stay 10-14 days and not get bored if you paced yourself.

DLR is a much more manageable short trip, and Disneyland Park is far superior to the Magic Kingdom at WDW- more rides, better versions of the duplicates, and just the "this is the original" feeling. That said, it's not really a whole vacation. For me right now, that's perfect- I don't feel the need to do a whole Disney vacation for a while since I just did it, but a side-trip to Disneyland while visiting my grandparents is a perfect taste of Disney to share with my boyfriend!

 

[dairyou]

We live in Northern California but we go to WDW every year. This is the first year we are going to DL for 2 days. We love to cruise and we feel the Caribbean has nice water so we tend to go to WDW instead. This year we are cuising on our side of the world. We are so glad not to fly all day like when we go to Florida.

We went to WDW for our honeymoon we knew we would want to bring our kids someday. So we purchased DVC and now we've WDW ourselves out! That's why we're going to try DL. My teens are so excited to go!

 

[fairycat]

My question for you is are you looking for a Disney Immersive Experience type Vacation or are you looking for a US trip that includes Disney?

Other posters have touched on some of this but here is my take, I was born and raised in So Cal so have been going to DL since I was under a year old. I am biased, I have a vision of an easy to travel, travel with your own two feet, see lots of stuff and leave kind of trips. In fact my first two trips to WDW I did just like this as one day trips (My In-laws are nearby to WDW).

Last year I planned our first multi-day trip to WDW and it was the most difficult vacation I ever planned. Between food, hotel and later transportation I was tired almost before I got there!!!

I hate wasting park time traveling to the other parks, I love running across the way and being in the other park in the time it gets you to have your ticket checked! I loved the water parks and give that to WDW! The hotels were cool, but not for what we paid I think. It's nice having close cheap options like at DLR.

But if you want to be immersed the whole time you are here in Disney, then WDW is your park. It is all Disney all the time while your there. The good (the parks and food), and the bad (those Buses of DOOM!). With the parks, hotels and food, and the travel time to see it all you could be busy in WDW for weeks!

Disneyland though is a better trip if you want to see the parks a few days and then see what else the area has to offer. DL is very different that way, while Orlando has some other parks and the Space Center, most don't like to leave WDW. In California, there is a lot more to see, famous sites like Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the beaches, museums of all types, and a whole lot more, the outside sites could keep you busy for weeks, more if you want to travel up the coast.

Again I am biased, but I think both are fun if you go in knowing what to expect and have the right trip in mind for you and your family.


Last thing, the dining situation has changed in some time periods there is no way you will get a table with out a PS/ADR, but though many told us you won't sit and eat without a PS/ADR DH and I have never had an issue in either park (except once or twice in the summer for BB), but we were two people, we saw families get turned away so if you are eating with more then two people get PS/ADR's!!!! More people make their arrangements months out so stuff is harder to get then it use to be, but its not always impossible.

 

[vettegirl]

DL is a lot more detailed and has more personal touches. To me it is more special than the MK with Mr. Toads Wild Ride, Blue Bayou Restaurant, and a magical Fantasyland. Also it is nice to stroll on over to the California Adventures, which I find more fun than DHS. California Screamin is awesome and the whole Paradise Pier is so beautiful. I live in the middle being Texas and I would take DL anyday over the MK. Just my opinion though

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

Personally,

I've always wanted to see the original! There's something about this being the first, it has history and so many cool stories about the land you can find on this forum that I can't imagine going to WDW now! Well at least not this trip!!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I've never been to DW for serveral reasons ~

$$
Distance
Too big for me.

I can afford to fly to DL ~ DW would cost more. I could drive to DL (haven't yet) I won't drive to DW. I'm happy with 3-4 days at DL ~ DW you need at least 7 (more days missed from work/school). I'm comfortable @ DLR ~ I know the parks, tips & tricks. DW is foreign to me ~ lakes, busses??? Oh and I don't care at all for humidity. I lived in Mississippi for a few months (summer 2003) ~ it was awful. I can handle dry heat but wet heat ~ YUCK!

I'm sure someday I'll go to DW ~ it'd be when my kids are older.

 

[singingpixie]

I've never been to DW for serveral reasons ~

$$
Distance
Too big for me.

I can afford to fly to DL ~ DW would cost more. I could drive to DL (haven't yet) I won't drive to DW. I'm happy with 3-4 days at DL ~ DW you need at least 7 (more days missed from work/school). I'm comfortable @ DLR ~ I know the parks, tips & tricks. DW is foreign to me ~ lakes, busses??? Oh and I don't care at all for humidity. I lived in Mississippi for a few months (summer 2003) ~ it was awful. I can handle dry heat but wet heat ~ YUCK!

I'm sure someday I'll go to DW ~ it'd be when my kids are older.

This stuck out to me, because it's what my family did. I don't think it was intentional, but when I was little all of our family vacations were to San Diego with a daytrip to Disneyland. It just made financial sense, plus we could see family. We didn't go to Disney World until I was 10 (brother turned 9 on the trip) and it worked for us, because we were able to handle it all that way. DLR is much more managable for kids (shorter distances, etc). I may have a similar plan when I have my own kids- It's great to give them a taste for the magic young, but I may save the big, super-stimulating trip until they're past stroller age.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Geographical (we are in northern Cali)---but also it is a matter of many other issues. I have been to Disneyworld, and found it really exhausting, and the humidity just about killed me. Disneyland has everything in a much smaller, more walkable package--and I don't feel the need to go to all the other parks. I can easily walk back and forth to California Adventure and Disneyland (multiple times a day if we want), and love that it is so easy to navigate. We always stay in either the Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian, and those hotels hold lots of memories for us.

I am just NOT a Florida person, either. I have been there many times in my life, because I have lots of relatives there--but I don't find it appealing at all. I know some people love it, but it is just not for me. I am blonde with very pale skin, and can't take the heat and humidity.

 

[quasar4legs]

Gosh, you have all been so kind and have certainly given me some food for thought.
I am the disney nut in my family so I think I will put the pros and cons to my family and we will make a decision.
It sounds like whatever we choose we should be prepared for a little 'magic'. I am so excited.

Thanks so much for your stories. Sending you all a big Koala cuddle

Trish

 

[pixleyyy]

We've been to both within the last few years but DH and I really both liked DLR better. We like that the parks are so near one another and that there is a feeling of continuity amongst them. At WDW the parks are sooooo far away from one another. Everything requires timely transportation. And we felt that there were very few things we would really miss about WDW. We're going to plan our next trip or 2 to DLR and then visit WDW again when the kids are teenagers.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I love them both and it really comes down to what you want your trip to be. If you want to devote at least a week to Disney, or if swimming and sunshine is a very important part of your trip, I would go to WDW.

If you want to devote 3 days, or have children under a mature 8, or if you want to combine it with the west/CA experience go for DLR.

Either way you will have fun !

 

[KCmike]

We also live in the middle of the country and it is close to equal distance for us to go either way (actually WDW is closer if we're driving) and plane costs are usually about the same when on sale (around $150 roundtrip).

We went to WDW six times before we finally made our first trip to DL in 2007. We would get the new birnbaums and Unofficial guide almost every year prepping for our next big family vacation. There are five of us and money can really get out of hand. At WDW we can drop 3-4k easy. At DL the cost is usually 1-2k. One you end up staying more days at WDW and the hotel costs are simply more expensive...plus park tickets are a little higher.

So the last two years we have gone to DL. Why? There are so many reasons for us. 1) We love its the original and how detailed it is 2) The rides are better, longer, and are right on top of each other so there is very little walking 3) I love LA - the pacific ocean is gorgeous, the weather is awesome all the time, california has so much more to offer than Orlando

WDW is immersive. We use to love being able to go there and never have to drive a car again. Never being reminded that you have any ties to home is great. The hotels are better at WDW. It is so expansive. They have two water parks and mini golf and you can parasail and see Cindy's castle. It is amazing.

BUT in my opinion all of that doesn't equal up to Disneyland. I agree with Hyrdoguy that the three best things at DL are its shows, fireworks, and parades. There are only two parks but they rock. Epcot is the only thing that would pull our family back to Florida.

We are trying to plan a cheap vacation for next summer. Washington DC is one of our options. All the museums and monuments look like they are free. But none of us are very excited about it. We really would like to go back to California and see Yosemite but we know that are hearts would be wanting us to go to DL. DL is amazing. For all that come to this happy place...welcome.

 

[Davids-Coco]

Our take has changed over the past few years. We are WDW lovers... although we stay in such a way that it is an expensive vacation. It was easy trip without any kids and doing what we wanted, planning meals at odd times, and going during off season. We honeymooned there and went back for our 1st anniversary.

However, DL is our choice now because we have a 2 year old. We are two weeks away from his second trip. But, having done the WDW trip before, we both know it isn't feasible for us and our non stroller napper to have to do the travel involved and still be back for nap time midday.

Last year when we went, DS was still napping 2x a day and nursing 6x. It was critical that we could get back to the hotel in a timely manner and still enjoy as much time in the parks as possible. This time, we only have 1 nap but will still be going back for it and have had to adjust for that.

Anyway, just easier for us with a small child... and it is a 2 hour flight versus a 1 hr to seattle and then a 5 hour to orlando. Bleh!