Len Testa - “Disney positions itself as the all-American vacation. The irony is that most Americans can’t afford it.”

[UNCgolf]

The proximity of Disneyland and California adventure make it seem like one big park, and I really like California adventure. As a vacation destination Florida still wins by a landslide. Anaheim is meh.

From a theme park perspective, yeah, but Los Angeles demolishes Orlando/Central Florida as an overall tourist destination.

I'm aware it's subjective to each individual person, but just in the aggregate, the LA area has far more to see/do.

 

[monothingie]

From a theme park perspective, yeah, but Los Angeles demolishes Orlando/Central Florida as an overall tourist destination.

I'm aware it's subjective to each individual person, but just in the aggregate, the LA area has far more to see/do.

Orlando was reported to have taken in ~75M Domestic and International Visitors in 2024.
LA was reported ~50M in 2024.

 

[Miss Bella]

From a theme park perspective, yeah, but Los Angeles demolishes Orlando/Central Florida as an overall tourist destination.

I'm aware it's subjective to each individual person, but just in the aggregate, the LA area has far more to see/do.

You are not in a bubble in Anaheim. It's very evident when you go out for a morning jog and you have to hop over the homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk.
WDW separates you from the outside world which I think is one of the biggest draws of vacationing there. Similar to being on a cruise.
Yes I suppose there is more to do in Los Angeles for a tourist. I lived there half my life and avoided most of it.

 

[UNCgolf]

Orlando was reported to have taken in ~75M Domestic and International Visitors in 2024.
LA was reported ~50M in 2024.

Right, because of theme parks (and probably cruises).

If you aren't going for theme parks, there's no comparison between the areas. I've been to LA multiple times without ever setting foot in Disneyland (and still haven't seen everything I'd like to see), whereas there's little reason to visit Orlando if you're not going to a theme park (there are a handful of other things in the area, but not at all comparable to LA).

Without Disney World/Universal Orlando likely wouldn't crack a top 50 of places to go in the US.

 

[LittleBuford]

I've been to LA multiple times without ever setting foot in Disneyland

You really must remedy that the next time you go!

 

[Miss Bella]

Right, because of theme parks (and probably cruises).

If you aren't going for theme parks, there's no comparison between the areas. I've been to LA multiple times without ever setting foot in Disneyland (and still haven't seen everything I'd like to see), whereas there's little reason to visit Orlando if you're not going to a theme park (there are a handful of other things in the area, but not at all comparable to LA).

Without Disney World/Universal Orlando likely wouldn't crack a top 50 of places to go in the US.

What do you do in Los Angeles?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Orlando was reported to have taken in ~75M Domestic and International Visitors in 2024.
LA was reported ~50M in 2024.

Orlando is damn near ALL tourists…LA is certainly not

 

[Miss Bella]

Orlando is damn near ALL tourists…LA is certainly not

My goal when visiting family in California is avoiding traffic and looters.

 

[networkpro]

Orlando is damn near ALL tourists…LA is certainly not

While the tourists visiting are significant (75.3 million last year or if visitation were uniform across all days or ~ 200K each day of the year) and supports 37% of the Orlando area jobs, its not "near all" as the Orlando MSA was 2.9 million in 2024, not even 10%, close but not enough.

 

[Chi84]

My goal when visiting family in California is avoiding traffic and looters.

Looters? Where do they live lol?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

While the tourists visiting are significant (75.3 million last year or if visitation were uniform across all days or ~ 200K each day of the year) and supports 37% of the Orlando area jobs, its not "near all" as the Orlando MSA was 2.9 million in 2024, not even 10%, close but not enough.

You make it look more lopsided than even I could manage to

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My goal when visiting family in California is avoiding traffic and looters.

…ok…tongue in cheek or head in ?

 

[Miss Bella]

I'm sure Los Angeles get more "tourists". It is more of business hub.

 

[Miss Bella]

…ok…tongue in cheek or head in ?

Speaks for itself. No explanation will be provided.

 

[Chi84]

Speaks for itself. No explanation will be provided.

So the second one then.

 

[LittleBuford]

Los Angeles is an amazing city (or rather conglomeration of cities) with an incredible number of things to do and see. And somehow I’ve managed to avoid all those marauding looters during my trips there (though admittedly not the traffic).

 

[Jrb1979]

Reading the last few posts, I'm amazed at how many of you really don't venture out on vacation. An example is WDW, you stay in the bubble and rarely explore other attractions.

For us, we love a week in the Smokies during the fall. Exploring Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Speaks for itself. No explanation will be provided.

Then it looks like you’re in the woods believing what clownshow tv tells you…is that how it’s meant to come off?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Reading the last few posts, I'm amazed at how many of you really don't venture out on vacation. An example is WDW, you stay in the bubble and rarely explore other attractions.

When you signed up for this board…it didn’t occur that was likely the majority of people it would attract?

 

[Jrb1979]

When you signed up for this board…it didn’t occur that was likely the majority of people it would attract?

I knew that. I was using it as an example. A better example is @Miss Bella saying how she's gone to LA for Disneyland but never ventured to much else outside that.

I'm saying I'm noticing more are opting for more resort style vacations. Like Disney or a cruise.