Are Disneyland or WDW fans the most stubborn about trying the "other" park?

[Walt Disney1955]

I've seen it on here before, people who love WDW and have always gone there sort of just scoff at the idea of going to Disneyland. I've done it, it is totally worth it and as a lifelong WDW guy I felt Disneyland was better than Magic Kingdom by a noticeable margin. But I feel there are lots who don't want to try it either way. And do you feel there are Disneyland types that have this superiority complex about Disneyland and don't want to try a "foreign" park out in Florida?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I hear it alot from my east coast friends… when they ask for Disney travel advice I frequently encourage them to try California and they look at me like I’m crazy.

I enjoy them both but I feel like WDW has lost so much magic especially after Covid. I still have a great time when I visit, but at Disneyland it still feels like the real Disney theme park magic (with some exceptions of course).

 

[Californian Elitist]

Both are stubborn, but I think WDW fans are more likely to visit Disneyland than the opposite. My theory is it relates to the culture of the fans. Because DL fans, in general, don’t see and treat the DLR as a vacation spot, but more of a Californian cultural hangout spot, there may not be a huge desire to see WDW or the foreign parks. If going to Disneyland is like going to the mall, why would I pay a bunch of money to see a mall elsewhere (using “I” but speaking in general terms, not personally)? Many don’t have to buy plane tickets and travel far to get to Disneyland, but only take a short or long drive.

Additionally, I do believe DL fans have developed more snobbish attitudes about our park over time.

 

[JIMINYCR]

In my case it wasn’t as much a stubbornness but availability. It was always easier for me and my family to do the traveling to FL than CA. And the FL site having more to do while there. I always wanted one day to do DL and that dream did eventually come true.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Growing up my parents always said that Disneyland was smaller, older and not as much to do, so no need to see it. Plus we lived on the east coast. When I got older and took a trip to DL I was surprised how much more I liked it. People were more laid back there and so much fun and most rides were better too.

 

[NelleBelle]

I grew up on the west coast going to DL. I was in high school when we went to WDW for our senior trip and wasn’t until I was married that I stayed on-site. For me, any Disney park is awesome and I’ll never pass up a chance to visit one. In fact, we are hoping to visit Tokyo DL next summer for DS’s graduation from high school. For me, it’s the feeling I get when I enter a Disney park. Doesn’t matter where.

 

[SamandplanningUK]

Personally I am reluctant to try Disneyland - a few reasons:

1. We are from the UK and it's a longer flight.
2. WDW is worth a vacation alone because it's huge and you can spend time in the water parks too. Disneyland is smaller so you would be taking a longer flight to have less to do.
3. The castle is smaller, so although it's the original which makes it special, it will always appear less impressive.

Please don't be offended by my comments, this is only my view. Disneyland has many attractions and reasons I would think about visiting, but for the above WDW will always win out.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Personally I am reluctant to try Disneyland - a few reasons:

1. We are from the UK and it's a longer flight.
2. WDW is worth a vacation alone because it's huge and you can spend time in the water parks too. Disneyland is smaller so you would be taking a longer flight to have less to do.
3. The castle is smaller, so although it's the original which makes it special, it will always appear less impressive.

Please don't be offended by my comments, this is only my view. Disneyland has many attractions and reasons I would think about visiting, but for the above WDW will always win out.

But there is an attraction IN the DL castle! Sure it's a walk through but it's fun. The castle at DL is much more interesting to me with the wishing well and grotto. Anyway, Southern California has lot going for it, with lots of culture. Also, if you ever do the flight you could visit a desert, mountain and beach all in the same day if you so desired.

 

[Californian Elitist]

It’s truly amazing how much WDW fans will tout the size of Cinderella Castle, and the size of the resort, as reasons why it’s better. It’s bigger, so automatically it’s better. I used to buy into that, but size has nothing to do with quality, in this case.

Also, anyone who would fly to California from super far away to only visit Disneyland is not making good use of the flight.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Both are stubborn, but I think WDW fans are more likely to visit Disneyland than the opposite. My theory is it relates to the culture of the fans. Because DL fans, in general, don’t see and treat the DLR as a vacation spot, but more of a Californian cultural hangout spot, there may not be a huge desire to see WDW or the foreign parks. If going to Disneyland is like going to the mall, why would I pay a bunch of money to see a mall elsewhere (using “I” but speaking in general terms, not personally)? Many don’t have to buy plane tickets and travel far to get to Disneyland, but only take a short or long drive.

Additionally, I do believe DL fans have developed more snobbish attitudes about our park over time.

This, 100%. In order of snobbishness/obnoxiousness, I think it goes:

1. Disneyland passholders/locals/frequent visitors
2. DVC members
3. Cast-as-guests
4. Normal Disneyland people
5. Normal WDW people

It’s truly amazing how much WDW fans will tout the size of Cinderella Castle, and the size of the resort, as reasons why it’s better. It’s bigger, so automatically it’s better. I used to buy into that, but size has nothing to do with quality, in this case.

I don't care much about the castle, but the size of the resort overall makes a huge difference to me. I much prefer Disneyland (park) over Magic Kingdom, but the Walt Disney World "bubble" is a huge part of the psychology of why I love a Walt Disney World vacation. If I were going for a day, Disneyland, but if I'm going for a week, WDW.

Also, anyone who would fly to California from super far away to only visit Disneyland is not making good use of the flight.

Depending on what you mean by "super far away." Most people only take one week of vacation at a time, and if you've never been to Disneyland before, there's plenty to do there to keep you entertained for a week.

 

[LittleBuford]

Disneyland is smaller so you would be taking a longer flight to have less to do.

LA itself is full of things to do and worth the trip in its own right.

 

[LittleBuford]

It’s truly amazing how much WDW fans will tout the size of Cinderella Castle, and the size of the resort, as reasons why it’s better. It’s bigger, so automatically it’s better. I used to buy into that, but size has nothing to do with quality, in this case.

Also, anyone who would fly to California from super far away to only visit Disneyland is not making good use of the flight.

I love both Disneyland and WDW, and I fully recognise the special status of the former as the original park. But I have to admit that Cinderella Castle makes for a much more impressive sight when you’re looking down Main Street. It’s not that bigger is automatically better, but that Sleeping Beauty Castle is so small that it barely registers until you get close to it.

 

[BlakeW39]

Depending on what you mean by "super far away." Most people only take one week of vacation at a time, and if you've never been to Disneyland before, there's plenty to do there to keep you entertained for a week.

No there isn't? DLR has two parks... even if you spent two days at Disneyland, that's only three days total. DLR isn't a week long vacation destination like WDW is. Despite Disneyland being probably the strongest stateside theme park.

 

[BlakeW39]

I love both Disneyland and WDW, and I fully recognise the special status of the former as the original park. But I have to admit that Cinderella Castle makes for a much more impressive sight when you’re looking down Main Street. It’s not that bigger is automatically better, but that Sleeping Beauty Castle is so small that it barely registers until you get close to it.

I'm a firm believer that the castle is important to the experience of a Disney park, and DL definitely is very weak in that area. I still prefer it as a park considerably to MK, but there's no question that the MK castle is far superior.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

No there isn't? DLR has two parks... even if you spent two days at Disneyland, that's only three days total. DLR isn't a week long vacation destination like WDW is. Despite Disneyland being probably the strongest stateside theme park.

If someone is going to Disneyland for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I think they should spend at least 3 days in Disneyland and at least 2 days in DCA, not counting any resort time. The parks are much more enjoyable if you take them at a leisurely pace rather than sprinting from attraction to attraction from open to close.

 

[Disstevefan1]

In my opinion, since most DLR fans are locals, I think they are less likely to fly to Florida to go to WDW.

WDW is an international vacation destination, therefore folks that travel to visit WDW will travel to visit DLR, even though WDW has the better castle.

 

[Andrew25]

DVC Members

All they want to do is talk about how they can go to WDW/DL "whenever they want" for "cheap" and go every few months.

They love their exclusive lounge that offers "complimentary" soda...

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

No there isn't? DLR has two parks... even if you spent two days at Disneyland, that's only three days total. DLR isn't a week long vacation destination like WDW is.

Just depends on how you visit. It’s easy to spend 3-5 days at Disneyland resort.

 

[Ayla]

I haven't visited DLR because the LA area holds zero appeal to me.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I haven't visited DLR because the LA area holds zero appeal to me.

It’s not in LA.