California Adventure vs EPCOT

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

Let's say that you have one single day ticket for either of these two parks, which park are you choosing? Both have great theming in a lot of spots, both parks have great rides, thrilling attractions, roller coasters, dark rides, festivals, shows and night time spectaculars. Which park is better?

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

 

[Touchdown]

World Showcase is incredibly unique and not replicated anywhere else. Harmonious also beats WOC.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

EPCOT is better, but I love DCA more.

 

[MistaDee]

I think DCA's best days are hopefully ahead, whereas EPCOT classic has always seemed so alluring as someone who never got to visit back in the days of Horizons and World of Motion

 

[Centauri Space Station]

I think DCA's best days are hopefully ahead, whereas EPCOT classic has always seemed so alluring as someone who never got to visit back in the days of Horizons and World of Motion

How? Its theme is diluting more than even Epcots is. Pixar pier, Avengers, and San fransokyo make no sense at all. They lost its only transportation with the red car trolley. Epcot still has lots of unique up free areas. 360 films, classic AA rides and shows, a full aquarium and tons of great restaurants.

 

[MistaDee]

How? Its theme is diluting more than even Epcots is. Pixar pier, Avengers, and San fransokyo make no sense at all. They lost its only transportation with the red car trolley. Epcot still has lots of unique up free areas. 360 films, classic AA rides and shows, a full aquarium and tons of great restaurants.

Just that EPCOT today is a worse park for my preferences and interests than when it opened, whereas DCA is a better park than when it opened, and has a third phase of major investment/renewal that will at least add to the number of quality immersive lands and experiences.

So I guess its the trajectory that appeals in my mind, comparing them 1:1 in 2025 is far less favorable for DCA

 

[Phroobar]

I love EPCOT. I think it's the best park at WDW. There really isn't a comparison to DCA.

 

[DLR92]

Epcot. But my gripe about Epcot, it could provide more attractions around the World
showcase.

 

[tanc]

I found the food at DCA to be so much better than EPCOT personally. They really have been putting out some banger meals there.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

DCA has a better ride collection but Epcot is a better experience for us, we love both parks but we have more fun exploring Epcot and if we could only choose one it would be Epcot.

 

[wityblack]

California Adventure potentially could tie for Epcot when the expansions are done, but Epcot just has the vibes. I mean you can spend so much time in the countries getting wonderful food, plus Spaceship Earth is wonderful.

 

[Touchdown]

I mean somewhat hot take, of the Disney parks I’ve visited (US only) I would rank them:
1. DL
2. Epcot
3. MK
4. DCA
5. AK
6. DHS

 

[Phroobar]

I mean somewhat hot take, of the Disney parks I’ve visited (US only) I would rank them:
1. DL
2. Epcot
3. MK
4. DCA
5. AK
6. DHS

Pretty much my list except I'd swap MK and DCA.

 

[Rich T]

Epcot, even in its dumbed-down current state, is still better than DCA or any of the other 3 WDW parks. It was so good to begin with, it still has enough “Wow” factor left. It’s not better than Disneyland, though. Or Epic Universe.

 

[Rich T]

I mean somewhat hot take, of the Disney parks I’ve visited (US only) I would rank them:
1. DL
2. Epcot
3. MK
4. DCA
5. AK
6. DHS

DL
Epcot
AK
DCA
DHS
MK

(MK instantly dropped to dead last for me when Disney cheerfully announced cartoon cars replacing RoA. Letting my AP expire now. Don’t plan on ever setting foot in MK again).

 

[Centauri Space Station]

(MK instantly dropped to dead last for me when Disney cheerfully announced cartoon cars replacing RoA. Letting my AP expire now. Don’t plan on ever setting foot in MK again).

Yeah having replicas of stuff you can get at DL while WDW has tons of rivers, boats and nature throughout the entire resort including just outside the park is a lot better than something unique to the park.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Yeah having replicas of stuff you can get at DL while WDW has tons of rivers, boats and nature throughout the entire resort including just outside the park is a lot better than something unique to the park.

People have a right to be upset that Disney is ripping out the core of MK for an IP ride or rides that doesn't fit the theme as designed, that they could easily add without changing a thing (blessing of size and all, right?). It's a short-sighted decision that will have negative ramifications on the park, even if only from an atmosphere perspective, and all the more infuriating because it's completely unnecessary.

 

[Rich T]

Yeah having replicas of stuff you can get at DL while WDW has tons of rivers, boats and nature throughout the entire resort including just outside the park is a lot better than something unique to the park.

It’s not just the river. It’s the erasing of Frontierland and their (in my opinion) lame “redefining” of what “Frontier” means.

The plaques above the entry tunnels should be reworded: “Here you remain in today and enter the world of cartoons, cartoons and more cartoons. And bubblewands.”

I don’t expect everyone to share my tastes. But RoA was the only thing at MK I thought was better than the DL version, and was by far my favorite area of the park—A relaxing oasis. I’ve now lost interest in visiting MK; there’s not enough there for me. I’m not paying that much just to ride Space Mtn. and PeopleMover.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

It’s not just the river. It’s the erasing of Frontierland and their (in my opinion) lame “redefining” of what “Frontier” means.

The plaques above the entry tunnels should be reworded: “Here you remain in today and enter the world of cartoons, cartoons and more cartoons. And bubblewands.”

I don’t expect everyone to share my tastes. But RoA was the only thing at MK I thought was better than the DL version, and was by far my favorite area of the park—A relaxing oasis. I’ve now lost interest in visiting MK; there’s not enough there for me. I’m not paying that much just to ride Space Mtn. and PeopleMover.

To me DLs frontierland is just BTM pretty much now. The river and pirates lair is more part of NOS, the golden horseshoe doesn’t have shows anymore. MK has CBJ for a country vibe still. I get that not everyone has the same taste i just feel like the ferry infront of mk pretty much offers the same type of experience as LB. For me the jungle cruise, mansion, phillarmagic, pooh, mermaid (exterior atleast), the treehouse, CBJ, astro orbitor, dumbo are better than DL counterparts. Then unique things like SDMT, TRON, COP, HOP, peoplemover are unique to mk.

 

[Rich T]

To me DLs frontierland is just BTM pretty much now. The river and pirates lair is more part of NOS, the golden horseshoe doesn’t have shows anymore. MK has CBJ for a country vibe still. I get that not everyone has the same taste i just feel like the ferry infront of mk pretty much offers the same type of experience as LB. For me the jungle cruise, mansion, phillarmagic, pooh, mermaid (exterior atleast), the treehouse, CBJ, astro orbitor, dumbo are better than DL counterparts. Then unique things like SDMT, TRON, COP, HOP, peoplemover are unique to mk.

I’m glad there’s still enough at MK for you to enjoy. I’m certain many, many people feel the same way. I love the MK ferry, but there’s no emotion there: I love the old American West and the spirit of discovery it represents, and the image of a steam powered paddle boat navigating a river just reaches into my soul and cheers me every time. Not so much talking off-road cartoon cars. I don’t care much for Tron or SDMT. I will miss CBJ snd COP. I used to think HM was a bit better at MK, but the odd placement of HB Ghost kinda wrecked it for me.