Is Disneyland Different Enough...

[UpAllNight]

to Disney World to justify a trip from the UK? We’d be doing 2 weeks, of which maybe 3-5 days would be spent at Disneyland and California Adventure & the rest doing other touristy things in the wider area.

We’ve been to Florida 3 times, 2 of which were recent but we want the new rides/experiences to build up across all Florida parks before we revisit. We love Orlando, and I’ve heard plenty about individual rides being different & in some instances better in Disneyland.

I’d like to hear thoughts on this from people who’ve experienced both. And California in general, must dos etc, whilst we’re at it. On this particular trip the plan would be very much more Southern Cali, tackling San Fransisco on a future trip etc.

 

[BrianLo]

to Disney World to justify a trip from the UK? We’d be doing 2 weeks, of which maybe 3-5 days would be spent at Disneyland and California Adventure & the rest doing other touristy things in the wider area.

We’ve been to Florida 3 times, 2 of which were recent but we want the new rides/experiences to build up across all Florida parks before we revisit. We love Orlando, and I’ve heard plenty about individual rides being different & in some instances better in Disneyland.

I’d like to hear thoughts on this from people who’ve experienced both. And California in general, must dos etc, whilst we’re at it. On this particular trip the plan would be very much more Southern Cali, tackling San Fransisco on a future trip etc.

Yes, I don't totally get the UK obsession with only visiting WDW. The whole cost of flights is negated, albeit a 2 week package ends up being fairly cheap for a per-night basis. Or you are only into a 2-week theme park type trip; in which case DLR cannot really stack up compared to WDW+UOR. 3-4 days for DLR is ideal. Only visit Universal if you feel particularly park starved, but you are in for a noticeably sub-par product by comparison to Orlando on that front.

Ideally you'd visit DLR in late 2019 and Florida in 2021.

California itself is much more interesting than Florida.

 

[UpAllNight]

Yes, I don't totally get the UK obsession with only visiting WDW. The whole cost of flights is negated, albeit a 2 week package ends up being fairly cheap for a per-night basis. Or you are only into a 2-week theme park type trip; in which case DLR cannot really stack up compared to WDW+UOR. 3-4 days for DLR is ideal. Only visit Universal if you feel particularly park starved, but you are in for a noticeably sub-par product by comparison to Orlando on that front.

Ideally you'd visit DLR in late 2019 and Florida in 2021.

California itself is much more interesting than Florida.

Yeah the Universal rides look like identical clones other than the Mummy which looks like a sub par version, but with the added bonus of the Studio tour, so we’d avoid Universal I think. What about Knotts? Ride lineup seems nothing spectacular but I’ve read good things.

 

[The_Mesh_Hatter]

Knott's is a unique park with lots of history. It's famous for its Chicken Dinner Restaurant, if you're into that. If you go there focusing on enjoying the historical aspects and older rides (and food) and can appreciate big coasters, you'll have fun. Some highlights are the Timber Mountain Log Flume (the inspiration for Splash Mountain), Calico Mine Train (a mine train in the vein of the old Rainbow Cavern Mine Trains at Disneyland), the stunt show, Mystery Lodge, and the Ghost Town area. They also have an authentic railroad and stage coach ride.

The Ghost Town is the roots of the park. They buildings are a replica of the actual Calico Ghost Town in California. It's highly immersive, with lots of opportunities to peak into buildings. If you like roller coasters, Ghost Rider, Montezooma's Revenge, Xcelerator, and Silver Bullet are the best ones there. They also have a recreation of Independence Hall over by their water park, randomly.

 

[Robbiem]

I'm from the uk and I've been to both stateside resorts. I think there are plenty of different things to make the trip to California worthwhile. We spent four days in Disneyland and loved it plus there are plenty of other places to see in Southern California like the queen Mary, Knotts berry farm, Hollywood etc. The only things to be wary of are the jet lag (hits you more than an east coast trip) and some of the travel times / distances between places. In LA lots of the things you want to see are round the edges rather than on the centre like other cities - if you compare it to London it's like Disneyland being at Gatwick and universal studios being in Luton

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Disney World is a touristy version of Disneyland. Disneyland is better than everywhere.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

to Disney World to justify a trip from the UK? We’d be doing 2 weeks, of which maybe 3-5 days would be spent at Disneyland and California Adventure & the rest doing other touristy things in the wider area.

We’ve been to Florida 3 times, 2 of which were recent but we want the new rides/experiences to build up across all Florida parks before we revisit. We love Orlando, and I’ve heard plenty about individual rides being different & in some instances better in Disneyland.

I’d like to hear thoughts on this from people who’ve experienced both. And California in general, must dos etc, whilst we’re at it. On this particular trip the plan would be very much more Southern Cali, tackling San Fransisco on a future trip etc.

You might find the info in this thread helpful:

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/guide-to-dlr-for-wdw-veterans.875596/

And this thread is a treasure trove of SoCal sights to consider seeing while you're around:

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-official-explore-southern-california-thread.872243/

 

[Darkbeer1]

You can easily do a 2 to 3 week vacation in California with the Main Focus on Theme and Amusement Parks, plus some amazing sights along the way.

I am going North to South, partly due to the drive down the coast allows you on the ocean side. The Northern segment needs to be down in the Spring/Summer/Fall to match all the park's Operating Schedule.

Fly into any of the Bay Area Airports (SJC, OAK, SFO), and I would get a room not in San Francisco, but the San Jose/Santa Clara area, you will get a nicer Hotel and parking for your rental car. Plan to buy both a Six Flags Combo Pass and a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass to save money. From your Bay Area hotel, visit the following Theme Parks. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, California Great America (CF), Gilroy Gardens (CF) and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. You can also check out Six Flags Waterworld. Other quirky things to see include a tour of the Budweiser Brewery, the Jelly Belly Factory, Winchester Mystery House and the Mystery Spot. Take a day to check out San Francisco, such as Alcatraz.

Take a drive down the coast, maybe a night in the Monterey area, check out the Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, and the 17 Mile Drive.

Then head for Cambria and the Hearst Castle.

After that keep driving down the coast on the 101 to Ventura, and then take the 126 to the Valencia/Santa Clarita area. There is a neat Train Museum in Fillmore off the 126. Spend a couple of nights in the area and check out Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor. Also you could visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Nethercutt Automotive Museum. Then head to Universal Studios Hollywood, spend the full day there and then get a nearby Hotel for one night. That morning, head to Hollywood for a few hours, the Santa Monica Pier and its Pacific Ocean Park, then drive down the coast to include the Palos Verdes area to Long Beach. Spend a night or two, check out the Queen Nary and the Aquarium of the Pacific, drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to the Huntington Beach area.

Then the short drive to the Anaheim/Garden Grove/Buena Park area, Spend about a week here, look into a Hotel with a kitchenette, plenty of moderate priced Hotels are in the area, many within walking distance to the DLR. Things to do other than the two Disney Parks and two Knott's Park's. (Both CF parks, so you already have the pass), Three Dinner Theaters in Buena Park, and the new Butterfly Pavilion should be open (currently under construction).. The Discovery Cube Science Center is great for kids. Three different Outlet Malls are a short drive away. Also plenty of different sports venues are close by. Also famous Missions are nearby. You could also add Adventure City and Castle Park Amusement Parks.

Then head south down I-5 to the Carlsbad area, and check out the LEGOLAND Resort and its three parks, I would spend at least one night in the area, if you have young kids, this is the one on-site Hotel I would stay at during your visit.

Then head down the Coast Highway to San Diego. Here you will find SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, Aquatica water Park (SeaWorld) and the Belmont Park Amusement Park.

And then fly out of SAN or back to LAX. (LGB and SNA are good for connecting flights back east)

So that is 10 Theme Parks, 5 Amusement Parks, 5 Water Parks and much more.

Of course, you can cut off the Northern California Parks and just focus on Southern California. And if you time it right, you can do one or two County Fairs.

Plenty to see and do out here, and MUCH more variety than in Florida.

 

[Phroobar]

Disneyland is small, charming and has more rides. The Magic Kingdom feels old, neglected and corporate.

 

[rreading]

This question in this area of the forum is going to give you a biased answer.

We live in Texas, and usually travel to WDW, although we are DVC members and have ownership in California to be able to stay on site and have a pretty immersive experience when we go.

The different parks definitely have a different feel. Main Street feels more authentic with a lovely little decorative castle beyond its hub. But while the castle is relatively small, you wouldn’t want it to be as big as the adjacent Matterhorn- so it’s a shift in perspective that way. A solid number of rides with minimally immersive queues means that two good days can suffice- but the last time we were there about two years ago in October, it was brutally crowded. As bad as the worst days we’ve spent at WDW and I’ve never had a trip at WDW in which it was as consistently crowded.

I would say it’s definitely worth going at least once. But if Star Wars is open, it’s likely to be miserably crowded, so keep that in mind.

DCA is surprisingly good. We’re not excited about the Pixar Pier overlay but we’ll see....

 

[EricsBiscuit]

DL and WDW are very different. In short, DL is charming and MK is grand. It's definitely worth going to see DL. However, DL is not a resort that they market it to be. WDW is a resort and you don't need to leave property at all.

 

[TROR]

Go to Disneyland but I'd honestly suggest just skipping DCA. Other than Radiator Springs Racers and World of Color, there's nothing special there worth seeing, in my honest opinion.

 

[Curious Constance]

Do NOT skip DCA.

 

[SuddenStorm]

DCA isn't a bad park, but if you're a Disney fan, and you might not go back, it is definitely worth just spending more time enjoying Disneyland Park and doing everything it has to offer.

If you're going for like 3 days, you can get DCA done in an evening- without sacrificing to much time at a considerably weaker park.

 

[rreading]

At DCA, Grizzly River Run is quite fun, with good atmosphere. Bugs Land is well conceived and cute for the kids. Radiator Springs Racer is a top notch attraction in an extremely immersive atmosphere. And overall, DCA is just a pleasant experience. (Also, not nearly as crowded as DL).

Sure, it’s not the best Disney has to offer. But currently, it’s better than DHS. And for some, it could be better than EPCOT. I would be much less inclined to visit DL if DCA weren’t there.

But we haven’t done Knotts Berry and our boy is still too young for Universal. Six Flags over Texas is in our backyard so the SF parks aren’t interesting. So again, it’s what you’re interested in.

 

[nevol]

I'm not sure of the people/demographics you will be traveling with but outside of Disneyland, which I would definitely recommend visiting, you can also drive to Palm Springs, Hollywood/sunset strip, plenty of coastal cities, national parks (yosemite, sequoia, kings canyon, and that's all just halfway up the state). Big bear and lake arrowhead have lodging at 9000 feet elevation for lake sporting in the summer and skiing in the winter. Palm springs has beautiful colorful resort hotels in the desert with a mountainous backdrop, and plenty of airbnbs to choose from as well. A lot of people visit joshua tree national park which is only about 30 miles from Palm Springs and has its own hotels, airbnbs and restaurants to choose from, but is much smaller, more rustic/retro, and affordable. I live in hollywood/west LA and the people who live and visit this area are very international. Tons of iconic hotels in the area, like the chateau marmont, beverly hills hotel, and sunset tower. And Las Vegas is only 4 hours from LA/Anaheim, putting it closer than half of the stuff I just mentioned. Now you've been told about every single amusement park in california and reminded of the numerous global cities, vacation towns, and national parks you can mix things up with. Come to disneyland! and when you are ready to commit, come back and we can all scream at you with our itineraries (mine is very specific; I arrive at 8am on saturday and leave at midnight and my schedule has never failed me ) I can get more specific if you have any questions.

 

[BrianLo]

Where the heck is this DCA hate springing from? It’s a more consistent park than 3/4 at WDW. It’s also impossible to ‘do DCA’ in an evening, unless you skip >50% of its offerings.

 

[Disneysea05]

Where the heck is this DCA hate springing from? It’s a more consistent park than 3/4 at WDW. It’s also impossible to ‘do DCA’ in an evening, unless you skip >50% of its offerings.

It's comes and goes in waves. I do agree with you though, you'd have to be very selective to do the park in one evening.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I disagree about skipping DCA/getting it done in one evening.

I advise against this, OP.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

If it were me, I would not skip DCA at all. I'd hate to have the regret of being at the DLR and not seeing all the parks. At least to satisfy my curiosity.