Both resorts get new big offerings (attractions, new food items, new merchandise, etc.). I’d say they’re pretty equal in that department, although I don’t know why WDW closes things to open something else (blessing of size, huh?). I’ve only been to one WDW park, one time, so I can’t use my own experience to explain my theory as to why there’s a difference in treatment between both resorts in other areas. I will instead use what I’ve read here from other people who’ve spent more time going to both WDW and the DLR.
Bottom line, I theorize that Disneyland benefits from both the guest demographics and its legacy as the original park, hence why there’s a difference in treatment in other areas; I don’t believe its proximity to the company headquarters has anything to do with it. With that being said, I do believe the company looks at Disneyland in a special way, much differently than how it perceives WDW. I’ve only been to WDW once, and that was just MK, but it didn’t take long for me to notice the very strong sense of “corporate-ness” on the property. Because of the sheer amount of guests WDW sees each year, I believe the company does perceive it as the cash cow, one that will continue to rake in money, no matter what, because it’s a “vacation destination” that is known world-wide and will always attract guests, regardless. Because of the size of the property and because of both the number of guests and type of guests (mostly tourists), TDO may not necessarily feel obligated to change things up or do special things for WDW’s long-term and most dedicated fans. Even little things that I see as “normal” as a Disneylander, like new holiday costumes for the characters each year, apparently these things are harder to come by at WDW (I can’t count how many comments I’ve seen from WDW fans asking if characters at the resort will also be in new costumes on Disney’s socials). TDO uses the guest demographic as an excuse to get away with these things. They’re also cheap. Meanwhile, at Disneyland, the guests there are definitely different. There aren’t a bunch of international tourists or families there with matching t-shirts for their family reunions walking around. You can tell based on the way guests act, what they say, and even the way they dress sometimes that they and their families have been frequenting the park for decades and don’t see it as a vacation, but as a common and even traditional place to spend time and have fun in. Disneyland is corporate, too, but it does have more of a “mom and pop” feel to it. Additionally, while TWDC overall does what they want, Disneyland fans do have a teensy bit of influence…a teensy bit. For example, when the Main Street Cinema was briefly turned into a shop, the fans made a big fuss about it and the merchandise was quickly removed afterwards, maybe after two days, or something like that. The lackluster 50th offerings WDW got? I strongly believe TDA wouldn’t have been able to get away with pulling something like that in 2005. It’s like the wealthy families of legacy college students who tend to have some sort of influence and say, even if it’s minor. Because of this, Disneyland fans often feel like they own the park and can be very entitled. They take things going on with the park very seriously, likely in a way fans don’t with WDW. Even calling the 50th a “homecoming” (DLR) vs a “celebration” (WDW) says a lot and reflects what I’ve said about the differences in culture/guests and even atmosphere between the two resorts.
Regarding its legacy, no matter how much of a cash cow WDW is, Disneyland will always be the most special and unique park because it’s the original and because of its ties to Walt Disney. We see this with the way nostalgia is used to both promote and sell things in “Walt’s Park.” Even if it’s feels disingenuous sometimes, TDA knows how to use and benefit from Walt Disney’s personal ties to Disneyland (Walt Disney merchandise, multiple throwback nite events throughout the years, playing all or bits of Walt Disney’s dedication speech every July 17th, etc.). Again, I do believe the company looks at Disneyland as being very special, and this may influence the decision-making coming from TDA (they make bad decisions, too). WDW has its own unique history, but instead of tapping into it, they either latch on to Disneyland’s or completely ignore it. We saw this with the recent 50th anniversary.
To sum it up, huge resort, dozens of onsite hotels, mega vacation option, tourists from all over, money-making machine, more corporate with less obligation to do more vs much smaller resort that happens to have the original theme park with deep ties to the company’s founder, less offerings, more repeat guests that are not vacationers that treat the place like it’s theirs, more “valuable” history, and more of a “mom and pop” feel.