Better wealth of theme parks: Anaheim or Orlando?

[Walt Disney1955]

This is not meant to be a Disneyland vs. Disneyworld thread, we have a lot of them. But this is more along the lines of a comparison on which area has the best main theme parks in the world. I could only think of these two locations. Dollywood is kind of off by itself. Cedar Point is alone. Hersheypark, Six Flags Great Adventure and Dorney Park are somewhat closer together but still rather far apart. That leaves Orlando vs. Anaheim by my count.

Orlando:
Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Animal Kingdom
Hollywood Studios
Universal Studios
Islands of Adventure
Sea World


Anaheim/LA:
Disneyland
California Adventure
Universal Hollywood
Knott's Berry Farms
Magic Mountain


Which one do you prefer, or can you name another better area?

 

[Laura]

I prefer Disneyland & DCA over the combination of MK + Studios + AK, but Islands of Adventure and Epcot help tip the scales in Orlando's favor. Then add in the fact that all of Orlando's parks are close together, where California's require hours of driving in miserable traffic to get from park to park. The bad traffic outweighs the good weather.

As much as I love coasters and thrill rides, my age is catching up to me and I get headaches and motion sickness. My teenage self would have picked Knott's and Magic Mountain by a mile, but my current self prefers less pain.

Orlando wins for me.

 

[tampabrad]

If you are going to lump the California park together, you might as well add Busch Gardens Tampa in with the Florida parks and LegoLand. These two parks are a shorter drive from the Orlando area than the drive between the California parks.

I'm gonna have to go with Florida on this one. Not a big fan of SoCal area.

 

[Communicore]

California of course!

 

[Plowboy]

Even though I grew up going to SoCal parks on our summer vacations, I have to go with Florida. I also factored in the water parks at WDW when I look at the overall.

 

[Jakester]

I have only know the orlando area.
Disneyland Resort is in the middle between Universal Hollywood and Seaworld San deigo the knotts farm.

Walt Disney World is 1hour from Busch Gardens Tampa and prob 30mins (idk location excatly) from Legoland. and less than 15minutes from SeaWorld and Universal Resort.

So in California the total park count is: 7
(Disneyland Park;Disney California Adventure;Legoland California;Universal Studios Hollywood;SeaWorld Sandeigo; and Knotts Berry Farm

In Florida it is: 9
(Magic Kingdom;Epcot;Disneys Hollywood Studios;Disneys Animal Kingdom; Universal Studios Florida;Islands of Adventure;SeaWorld Orlando;Legoland Florida;Busch Gardens Tampa)

So California has basically all Florida can offer, Except you have a long drive between them both, Where as florida, most stuff is 30minutes at the most (Minus the 1hour drive to tampa).

When Speaking wealth, Id probably say Florida has more.

Fun Fact: SeaWorld Orlando Celebrates its 40th in 2013

 

[JamieD]

I think Epcot is the one that really holds me back from being totally for SoCal, but I'll vote Anaheim-ish anyway. There is a distance between parks and the areas are totally different. I suppose part of my reasoning is based on few trips to CA vs more frequent trips to FL. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? Knott's and SFMM provide more thrills than FL. To me, US is a wash. SW and waterparks lean toward FL. DL, as frequently documented on here, is more complete than MK. DCA is fun and both DLR parks offer several elements of the FL parks (Star Tours, ToT, It's Tough To Be a Bug, The Little Mermaid). Both are great, but I'd lean toward CA...or whichever I haven't been to as recently.

 

[Yodadudeman]

Its a tough one. But I'd go with Orlando.

 

[Scuttle]

If you are going to lump the California park together, you might as well add Busch Gardens Tampa in with the Florida parks and LegoLand. These two parks are a shorter drive from the Orlando area than the drive between the California parks.

I'm gonna have to go with Florida on this one. Not a big fan of SoCal area.

Lets not forget Gatorland! Lol, but ya of course it's Orlando.

 

[raven]

You can't count those other parks in CA because not all of them are in the local area. If you count Magic Mountain and Universal (which are about an hour away or more) then you have to count Busch Gardens in Tampa and the new Legoland in Winter Springs as well.

 

[disney fan 13]

adding in busch gardens and kenedy space center. even though disneyland beats the regular four park. universal and busch gardens and kenedy tip the scale

 

[Jakester]

In general, There is still alot more to do outside of the orlando parks (I-Drive)

 

[disney fan 13]

In general, There is still alot more to do outside of the orlando parks (I-Drive)

i love I drive espically ripley belive it or not

 

[Mickey_777]

Well there's also TONS of other stuff to do in SoCal besides parks...world famous stuff in fact


But when it comes to theme parks, Orlando takes it. When you factor in the water parks and distances between them, the winner is clear. Also look at how lots of things outside of Disney and Universal are "themed". Dinner shows, shopping malls, International drive, that big lite up overhead lettering/sign that says "Orlando" when you drive down/up 95...heck even the Mcdonalds' in Orlando are tricked out...