California Adventure vs Hollywood Studios

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

Let's say that you have one single day ticket for either of these two parks, which park are you choosing? If you choose California Adventure, you cannot visit Disneyland, or if you choose DHS, you cannot visit Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. Which park is better?

Which park is superior, has better rides, more fun, etc? Which is the better park?

 

[Consumer]

DCA has Radiator Springs Racers, Grizzly River Run, and World of Color.

DHS has Tower of Terror.

It's really not much of a competition.

 

[BlakeW39]

Blegh... if I had to choose, I guess DHS....but that's not a compliment.

Honestly, you don't want my hot takes on DCA. That park ain't worth the walk over from Disneyland

 

[BlakeW39]

DCA has Radiator Springs Racers, Grizzly River Run, and World of Color.

DHS has Tower of Terror.

It's really not much of a competition.

Well DHS has rise and the superior theming, and while I have not been on GRR I have to doubt it surpasses TOT or ROTR. RSR is really great though

 

[Consumer]

Well DHS has rise and the superior theming, and while I have not been on GRR I have to doubt it surpasses TOT or ROTR. RSR is really great though

If I wanted to ride Rise of the Resistance or Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railroad, I would visit Disneyland. Tower of Terror is the only reason to travel to Disney's Hollywood Studios over any other Disney Park.

This all said, mentally, when I hear "California Adventure," I still envision this. Even without these greats, I'd still say Cars Land and Grizzly Peak hold the park above DHS.

 

[BlakeW39]

If I wanted to ride Rise of the Resistance or Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railroad, I would visit Disneyland. Tower of Terror is the only reason to travel to Disney's Hollywood Studios over any other Disney Park.

This all said, mentally, when I hear "California Adventure," I still envision this. Even without these greats, I'd still say Cars Land and Grizzly Peak hold the park above DHS.

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I'll be honest. It's not even about attractions to me. . It was cheap trash when Michael Eisner built it, and nothing Bob's done has changed that fact. It doesn't even feel like a Disney theme park to me.

 

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

I'll be honest. It's not even about attractions to me.

I wouldn’t go that far dude it’s definitely gotten better over time, and has better and most of all MORE rides then DHS.

 

[BlakeW39]

I wouldn’t go that far dude it’s definitely gotten better over time, and has better and most of all MORE rides then DHS.

it's gotten better for sure but it will always be the red headed step child of the domestic Disney parks. Imho. I do really like RSR, however.

I don't really like DHS...but I guess I don't feel as negatively about it as I do DHS, so I'll back it in the poll.

 

[J4546]

I voted CA cause DHS is just so small. I prefer CarsLand Over GE. Pixar Pier over TSL, Though I do prefer the DHS ToT over the CA version though I dont think the CA version is bad. I also prefer the Grizzly River Rapids and Soarin area over the RnRC/Cars thing area. DHS has MMRR which is pretty good although much better execution in DL.

 

[BlakeW39]

I voted CA cause DHS is just so small. I prefer CarsLand Over GE. Pixar Pier over TSL, Though I do prefer the DHS ToT over the CA version though I dont think the CA version is bad. I also prefer the Grizzly River Rapids and Soarin area over the RnRC/Cars thing area. DHS has MMRR which is pretty good although much better execution in DL.

DHS is the larger of the two parks*

for what it's worth, DCA feels a lot smaller to me as well

 

[CaptinEO]

DHS has shows so wins for me. An extended version of Fantasmic, Indiana Jones Stunt Show, and Beauty and the Beast.

DCA just lets people roast in the sun in their shadeless park.

 

[TP2000]

I love threads like this. Especially on a Sunday evening as I settle in with a glass of Malbec and a Melatonin...

I voted for DCA. It's not very close, quite frankly, even though the Chapek/D'Amaro era has brought lowered standards and less options for DCA by cancelling parades and doing weird junk like Pixar Pier and San Fransokyo Square. But compared to DHS and its tired and short roster after 35 years? DCA still wins easily. Here are the factual tallies in 2023:

Disney's Hollywood Studios = 19 Attractions (9 are Rides)
E Tickets = 6 (Star Wars Rise, Millennium Falcon, Mickey's Runaway Railway, Star Tours, Tower of Terror, Rock N' Roller Coaster)
D Tickets = 3 (Midway Mania, Slinky Dog Coaster, MuppetVision)
C Tickets = 1 (Alien Swirling Saucers)
Stage Shows/Films = 6 (Indy Stunt Show, Vacation Fun, Frozen Sing-Along, Walt Disney Presents, Disney Jr. Dance Party, Beauty & The Beast)
Exhibits/Walk-Thrus = 2 (Star Wars Launch Bay, Lightning McQueen)
Spectaculars/Parades = 1 (Fantasmic!)

Disney California Adventure = 27 Attractions (19 are Rides)
E Tickets = 5 (Soarin', Grizzly River Run, Incredicoaster, Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy)
D Tickets = 5 (The Little Mermaid, Goofy's Flight School, Midway Mania, Spiderman Web Slingers, Mickey's Philharmagic)
C Tickets = 6 (Golden Zephyr, Silly Symphony Swings, Pixar Pal Around, Luigi's Roadsters, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, Monsters Inc.)
B Tickets = 4 (Jumpin' Jellyfish, Emotional Whirlwind, Jessie's Carousel, Red Car Trolley)
Stage Shows/Films = 4 (Hyperion Theater Musical, Disney Jr. Dance Party, Turtle Talk, Animation Academy)
Exhibits/Walk-Thrus = 2 (Boudin Bread Factory, Disney Animation/Sorcerer's Workshop)
Spectaculars/Parades = 1 (World of Color)

 

[Centauri Space Station]

If I wanted to ride Rise of the Resistance or Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railroad, I would visit Disneyland. Tower of Terror is the only reason to travel to Disney's Hollywood Studios over any other Disney Park.

This all said, mentally, when I hear "California Adventure," I still envision this. Even without these greats, I'd still say Cars Land and Grizzly Peak hold the park above DHS.

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The question states you can not visit any other Park

 

[Californian Elitist]

Haven’t been to DHS, so I can’t vote, but it doesn’t appeal to me at all. I’d likely choose DCA over it, but I’m not 100% sure, obviously. Cars Land alone…

 

[Consumer]

it's gotten better for sure but it will always be the red headed step child of the domestic Disney parks.

What an awful take. While the recent changes in the past 7 years have been detrimental to DCA, to dismiss the park entirely is stupid.

 

[BlakeW39]

to dismiss the park entirely is stupid.

it would be, which is why that's not what I did. I went, gave it a fair shot, and thought it bad. And I never need to go again

 

[AndyS2992]

Let's say that you have one single day ticket for either of these two parks, which park are you choosing? If you choose California Adventure, you cannot visit Disneyland, or if you choose DHS, you cannot visit Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. Which park is better?

Which park is superior, has better rides, more fun, etc? Which is the better park?

I still can't get over how it's called Pixar Pier yet they've kept the Mickey on the face of the wheel rather than switching out for Luxo Jr or the ball. So half assed.

 

[Consumer]

it would be, which is why that's not what I did. I went, gave it a fair shot, and thought it bad. And I never need to go again

When?

 

[BlakeW39]

When?

2019

 

[Consumer]

2019

DCA was arguably the best Disney park stateside, save for Disneyland proper, in 2015. Unfortunately changes have been made since then to harm its reputation, but to say it will never amount to anything more than an outcast among the US parks when less than 10 years ago it was better than most of the parks in Walt Disney World.