The tug of war is always on between Disney fans for choosing the best destination. Is it Disneyland, or is it Disney World? Which one is better? Lisa Eylens, a planDisney Panelist, said, “It‘s like choosing a favourite child.” So let’s end this once and for all and come to a conclusion after comparing all the aspects possible.
Ashley Ryan, another planDisney Panelist said, “To me, the biggest difference was at Disneyland, there’s much more nostalgia. This is what Walt did.”
Walt Disney opened Disneyland personally. Here the guest can visit Griffith Park and see the bench where Walk Disney sat and cooked up the idea of Disneyland. Here you can enjoy attractions like the Enchanted Tiki Room and Matterhorn Bobsleds, which is a part of the guided tour “Walt’s Main Street Story.”
Lisa Eylens said, “For a true Disney fan, If you haven’t ever been to Disneyland, you’ll really appreciate the history and the fact that that was Walt’s original dream.” She also mentioned that the experience of visiting both places is completely different.
As a matter of fact that both places have many similarities with respect to themes, amusements, activities, and attractions. But putting things together and giving a general statement that they are almost identical is an absolute generalized statement. They have totally different resorts, characteristics, sets of histories, dining locations, and many things.
History, Location, And Size
In 1955 Disneyland was opened to the public as the first Disney theme park. This park was opened under the supervision of Walt Disney. Situated in an urban environment, this amusement park covers around 300 acres of land and has left no room for expansion.
This has got two theme parks and 3 on-property-themed resorts. This is the best place for a short trip with family and kids.
Disney World opened its first theme park after five years of his death in 1971. This amusement park is located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and covers almost around 43 square miles of area.
Disney World has got two water parks, four theme parks, and more than twenty-five themed resorts. This is such a place that both kids and adults can enjoy, and many people hold their business conventions here as well.
Cost
Both places offer several ticket options with discounts as well. Disneyland offers single-day tickets to both parks when children below the age of 3 can make free entry, and kids from the age of 3 to 9 have a slightly low rate than the cost of tickets for adults, which is something near to $119.
Disneyland has no magic band system, and it is a bit cheaper as compared to Disney World because of the comparatively smaller area.
Disney World has a process which is called MyMagic+, which covers all the aspects of the trip and makes it easy to control. They provide the guests with a magic band that has all the information and can access the hotel rooms, entries to the amusement parks, and other things.
Best Time For Visiting
While planning a trip to these two places, the main two factors that should be kept in mind are crown and weather.
When considering the weather condition Disneyland has the upper hand as it is situated on the coast of Southern California and has pleasant weather all over the year. But Disney World can get pretty hot and humid weather because of its location in Central Florida.
The holidays are the time when you will see the rush. But Disney World has seen to be a bit more crowded than Disneyland because of its huge property and popular destination.
Theme Parks
These two theme parks are different in size. Disney World is much bigger and has more theme parks than Disneyland.
Disney World has four theme parks.
- Magic Kingdom
- Disney’s Hollywood Studio
- Epcot
- Animal Kingdom
Disneyland has two theme parks.
- Disneyland
- California Adventure
Rides
There are many rides that are common in both places, like The Pirates of the Caribbean, It s a Small World and Space Mountain. Every ride has its own unique features, so they are not absolutely identical.
Disney World has many unique rides like Kilimanjaro Safaries, Mission: SPACE, and many others. Similarly, Disneyland also has many one-of-a-kind rides, which include Radiator Springs Racers, Micky’s Fun Whee, and some others.
Disneyland has six big roller coasters, whereas Disney World has five big roller coasters. Disneyland is known for its dark rides, which depict a well-known Disney stories like Alice In Wonderland and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
Entertainment
Disneyland and Disney World are quite different when entertainment is concerned. Both parks have in-park performances, parades, fireworks, and many other things, but they are different in some ways.
But Disney World offers a lot more when entertainment is concerned. Disney World has a lot more stage shows than Disneyland. From live shows of Beauty and the Beast and Festival of Lion King to outdoor entertainment shows, Disney World has a lot to offer.
Resorts
Disneyland and Disney World have a big difference in size and thus have a big difference in the number of resorts it has to offer as well. Disney World has got many resorts with different kinds of themes and different variety of suite accommodations.
Transportation
Transportation is a factor that is entirely different for both parks. Disneyland covers a small area, and most of the places can be covered by walking. There are a limited number of transport options.
If a visitor is staying at the off-property resort, then there are resort shuttles and buses there to take you to the resorts.
Disney World has a wide collection of on-property transport because the whole thing is vast. Every resort has got at least one transport option that will take him to the theme parts and other parts of the property.
Pros Of Disney World
- The place is huge, and there is a lot to see here.
- You can stay engrossed in the magic land.
- It is a perfect place for vacation, and many business conventions are also organized here.
Cons Of Disney World
- As the space is bigger, you will need a lot more time to cover the place
- You might never be satisfied as you have a chance to miss out on something or the other as it has a lot to offer.
Pros Of Disneyland
- This park has a history that no other park will be able to offer.
- The place can be covered by walking.
- A short vacation is all you need to visit this place.
Cons Of Disneyland
- It has much fewer activities.
Which is better?
With the support of the information given above, you can think for yourself and put an end to the debate that is Disneyland VS Disney World. But if I am asked to choose, I might lean towards Disney World as it has a lot to offer, a lot more rides, activities, resorts, and whatnot. But of course, you have to decide which destination is best for you, keeping in mind how much time you have for the vacation and what you want to do with your family and friends.
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