Would you take your kids to WDW or DL

[ADisneyQueen]

I am having a really hard time deciding this. Background- We have been to WDW 3xs ( 12/01, 11/03 and 10/04). We want to plan a trip for March, me, DH, and DDs will be 9 and 5. I know DL is smaller but we want to do some different things. Travel time(flying) from our home to the hotel : DL 12 hrs., WDW 6 hrs. Airport to take us nonstop to WDW is 1 hr. away, airport to DL 2 Hrs. Also we live in NY so we'd have a 3 hr. time change in CA. We would be gone for 7 days and DD1 would have a day or two to rest before going back to school. I hope she would recover from the time change. Pros of DL: new things to do! haven't been there since I was 8! Pros of WDW: More parks, rides and show! Better hotels! Less travel time with kids! HELP!

 

[beattyfamily]

Eventually, I'd like to visit DL but if my kids haven't been to either, WDW would win hands down.

We almost went to DL spring break but bought a house instead.

We will go to DL someday but since it is so far away and small, it will probably include visiting some other landmarks as well.

 

[GIOny]

Even though I love WDW and always go there myself, I think I would say DL may be the better choice for you because you want something different and it is probally easier to do now as opposed to when you children get older. I also agree with the Beatty's that you should make more a California trip then a Disney trip. Most people I know who have been to DL enjoy it but there is not enough there to be the only destination. Have a good time wherever you go!

 

[RADOPT]

I am having a really hard time deciding this. Background- We have been to WDW 3xs ( 12/01, 11/03 and 10/04). We want to plan a trip for March, me, DH, and DDs will be 9 and 5. I know DL is smaller but we want to do some different things. Travel time(flying) from our home to the hotel : DL 12 hrs., WDW 6 hrs. Airport to take us nonstop to WDW is 1 hr. away, airport to DL 2 Hrs. Also we live in NY so we'd have a 3 hr. time change in CA. We would be gone for 7 days and DD1 would have a day or two to rest before going back to school. I hope she would recover from the time change. Pros of DL: new things to do! haven't been there since I was 8! Pros of WDW: More parks, rides and show! Better hotels! Less travel time with kids! HELP!

I would do WDW (even though we live in ca & love dl). Besides the time change, you will only really have 5 days. DL is not really a 5 day trip - it is basically MK & DDT and maybe one other park - ofcourse it depend on your family. I'm sure there are things you have no done at WDW and around there that will make this trip different.

There is alot to see in Calif other then dl. IMHO - go to wdw this time and plan a calif trip (san diego zoo, yosemite, San Francisco, etc).

 

[Now Mom of 3]

We have been to DL 3 times and are now planning our first DW trip. We love Disneyland. Our kids are 9, 5 and 2 and on our last DL trip we spent a total of 7 days in DL and California Adventure. We did not run out of things to do. I have read so many posts about how much smaller DL is than DW which is true. But don't assume that DL should be considered small. There is so much to do crammed into a small space! I think that the Matterhorn, Indy, Alice in Wonderland, California Screaming, and the different versions of Splash and Pirates warrent a trip in and of themsleves. Have fun deciding. You will have a great vacation no matter which you choose!

 

[sandiegosusie]

We live 50 minutes away from DL. We have annual passes, of course, and go usually once a month. Having said that...I would choose WDW for many reasons. There are so many more places to stay onsite, there are 4 parks to choose from, water parks, and most importantly less of a travel time nightmare.

You would have to plan to visit other areas in So. Cal to make it worth your time. The expense and hassle sounds more like a trip and not a vacation. It's totally doable to spend 1 day at DCA and one day at DL. These parks are not spread out like WDW. They are not built to scale like the World either. My brother loves and I mean loves DL. He says everyone needs to experience it at least once in their life...I would do it when your kids are older and they appreciate the charm.

We are planning our second trip and cruise next year with 25 family members. We are all DL loyalists but are really looking forward to experiencing WDW in all its glory!

I would choose what best suites your needs as a family.

 

[rt2dz]

I actually am not a big fan of DL; love WDW. My sister 9and her kids (9, 7, 3) are exactly the opposite--much prefer DL over WDW. I think it is just a matter of what you prefer and going either way will probably work out just fine.

 

[mickerbaby]

We live on the East coast as well (MA) and have been to WDW many times. This past July I joined my husband in CA because he was there on business. We stayed at the Anaheim Hilton and spent 3 days at MK/CA (we were actually there on DL anniversary, July 17th!!) But my husband and I both agreed that WDW is our "true love"! DL MK was VERY similar to WDW MK and CAdventure was like MGM and a bit of Epcot rolled into one (expect WAY smaller!) But with all of the options of WDW I think you might be disappointed with the scale of DL. Especially if you wanted a "Disney" vacation. We are fanatics about WDW, we only stay on property (one thing that we really did NOT like about DL was the lack of onsite hotel options, there are only 3 and all are pretty expensive) and we've never done anything else in Orlando when we are there. We just love soaking up all that magic! Our stay at the Anaheim Hilton (which was right next door to DL but still had that off property feel) convinced us that staying on site is really the optimum way to experience Disney. Plus with such a long plane ride wouldn't it be easier to wait until the kids are a bit older? But I guess that would depend on your kids personalities!

 

[bscs]

I would pick WDW. There's just so much more to see and do. As for something new there's got to be something your kids haven't seen or done. Like maybe Sea World , Universal , or a different water park or staying at a different place also I'm not sure if your kids went the last time you did but maybe they've grown and now can ride new things or just see things in a different light since they are older now. I would wait for DL for when the girls are teens that way even if DL is small they would like the other tourism things CAL. has to offer.Either way have a nice vacation.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes, kids have been on all three trips but older dd wants to try some newer things she was afraid of last year. We(well, really me. DH lets me plan all trips) are thinking of going to WDW in March and maybe DL in AUgust 2007? One thing that would be missing in March at DL is the Electrical parade. It only runs during busier times and I would hate to miss it so summer is probably better for us. Although they would not be celebrating their 50th then! We watched the travel channel about DL and the girls really want to go (mom too). I haven't been there since I was 8. Such difficult choices!