Disney World or Disneyland?

[Laura]

My experience when I lived in LA was that the crowds until 5 PM have almost identical makeups and personalities between Orlando and California. After 5PM, you get a ton of locals and/or annual passholders that stream into the parks to hit a few rides and watch Fantasmic and the fireworks. When this happens, the park becomes so densely packed with people that you can barely move at certain chokepoints (the hub, the Frontierland area infront of Tom Sawyer's island, by the Rocket Jets) and for hours you have a mass of people who have just planted themselves in a spot and aren't going to move. It's almost like having two completely different crowds in the park at the same time.

:lol: Yup.

I've been to both several times, and making comparisons between them would be a complicated and pointless process, but I'll keep it simple:

Disneyland > Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort > Disneyland Resort

That's what I always say. It's just sad that Walt didn't get the financing to buy up more land in Anaheim. I can't even imagine what Disneyland would be today if Walt had more support 60 years ago.

 

[Krack2]

I still don't agree with that.

Sure, there is more "stuff" at one place, but more stuff doesn't = better.

Magic Kingdom Only:

* PhilharMagic
* Country Bears
* Cinderella's Royal Table
* Liberty Square
* Tomorrowland Transit Authority
* Monster's Inc Laugh Factory
* New Management Tiki Room
* Carousel of Progress
* Barnstormer
* Stitch's Great Escape
* Hall of Presidents
* Magic Carpets


Disneyland Only:

* Indiana Jones - Temple of the Forbidden Eye
* Matterhorn
* Fantasmic
* New Orleans Square
* Blue Bayou Restaurant
* Original Tiki Room
* Star Tours
* Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
* Finding Nemo Subs
* Honey I Shrunk the Audience
* Alice In Wonderland Dark Ride
* Roger Rabbit Toon Spin
* Grand Canyon/Primeval World Diorama
* Big Thunder Ranch
* Pinocchio Dark Ride

I'm sure I left a few things out, but generally speaking, this is it. It doesn't stack up well, imo, for Florida. Even with size and scope issues clearly favoring the Magic Kingdom, Disneyland just has better rides and attractions crammed inside it's park. I also think it's better maintained now.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Magic Kingdom Only:

* Liberty Square
* New Management Tiki Room
* Magic Carpets
* Country Bears
* Hall of Presidents
* PhilharMagic
* Cinderella's Royal Table
* Barnstormer
* Monster's Inc Laugh Factory
* Stitch's Great Escape
* Tomorrowland Transit Authority
* Carousel of Progress


Disneyland Only:

* New Orleans Square
* Indiana Jones - Temple of the Forbidden Eye
* Original Tiki Room
* Blue Bayou Restaurant
* Club 33 (open only to members)
* Big Thunder Ranch
* Pinocchio Dark Ride
* Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
* Alice In Wonderland Dark Ride
* Matterhorn
* Roger Rabbit Toon Spin
* Finding Nemo Subs
* Honey I Shrunk the Audience
* Star Tours
* Grand Canyon/Primeval World Diorama
* Fantasmic

I'm sure I left a few things out, but generally speaking, this is it. It doesn't stack up well, imo, for Florida. Even with size and scope issues clearly favoring the Magic Kingdom, Disneyland just has better rides and attractions crammed inside it's park. I also think it's better maintained now.

Good point. I would add that, excluding the castle, I'm struggling to think of anything that exists in both parks which I would say MK has a distinctly superior version of.

It's true that more isn't inherently better, but I would say that DL has on par or better versions of just about everything it shares with MK and, as you pointed out, a more impressive roster of "exclusives." Aside from CBJ, CoP and TTA, I can't think of anything at MK whose absence I think stands out at DL.

 

[peterpanic74]

I still don't agree with that.

Sure, there is more "stuff" at one place, but more stuff doesn't = better.

Ah, but BETTER stuff DOES = better!

 

[peterpanic74]

Yes, Pirates of the Caribbean is a bit longer.

.

Pirates in DL is not "a bit" longer. It is TWICE AS LONG. :dazzle:

 

[Lee]

As I always say:
Disneyland is better than Magic Kingdom.
WDW is better than Disneyland Resort.

Coney Island? Six Flags? That's just crazy talk.

It is not possible to say you are a Disney park fan and not want to go to Disneyland. It's ground zero, where it all started, and more "magical" in many ways than MK.

 

[Laura]

Good point. I would add that, excluding the castle, I'm struggling to think of anything that exists in both parks which I would say MK has a distinctly superior version of.

Splash Mountain is better at MK.

 

[Exprcoofto]

As I always say:
Disneyland is better than Magic Kingdom.
WDW is better than Disneyland Resort.

Coney Island? Six Flags? That's just crazy talk.

It is not possible to say you are a Disney park fan and not want to go to Disneyland. It's ground zero, where it all started, and more "magical" in many ways than MK.

Very well said. After years and years of going to WDW I really wanted to go to DL, and we did, and now I'm hooked. Disneyland is a truly magical park and quite the different (and wonderful) experience compared to MK. DCA is a nice park too... but the WDW Resort offers more in total than the DL Resort which makes me choose WDW as a whole.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Splash Mountain is better at MK.

Yeah, true dat. It's longer too.

 

[Greggy D]

Adventureland:
* Original Tiki Room show
* Indiana Jones is the best ride in either park and fits in thematically perfectly.
* The Flying Carpets take away from the immersive experience of MK's Adventureland, in my opinion. It ruins the atmosphere.

New Orleans Square:
* Pirates is far better.
* The Blue Bayou is the best restaurant experience in either park.

Frontierland:
* Fantasmic in DL is a better experience than DHS, imo.

Fantasyland:
* The "castle stone" facades are much, much better.
* No roof on the tea cups greatly improves the experience, particularly at night.
* Mr. Toad still exists.
* Matterhorn - nothing comparable in MK.
* The subs still exist, even though they've been Nemo-ized.
* IASW facade is beautiful and iconic. The outdoor load area adds to the experience.

Tomorrowland:
* The Space Mountain ride is better. The ride vehicles are much more comfortable. However, it's 2nd floor outdoor queue detracts from the exterior appearance of the building, imo.
* The "live music venue" aspect of the Tomorrowland Terrace (particularly when you get a fun cover band) - nothing comparable in MK.

Main Street USA:
* The stores have not completely been "Emporium-ized" yet. It's not one big store the entire length of Main Street. Adds greatly to the atmosphere.
* The Grand Canyon/Primeval World Diorama has no comparison in MK.
* I can't speak for the new fireworks, but Remember Dreams Come True was the best fireworks show either park has ever seen. I'm actually shocked they changed it already.
* During the day (particularly in the summer), there are less people and far, far less stollers and motorized carts.


Admittedly, the Magic Kingdom is better in many aspects:
* Most importantly, it's just so much bigger. On a crowded day, Disneyland can make you clostrophobic because you have people packed right on top of you.
* The Pirates queue is far better.
* The Haunted Mansion seems grander because of it's location inside the park.
* Country Bears
* The Hall of Presidents is much better than Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
* I'd call Liberty Square vs. New Orleans Square a tie on themeing.
* The castle is much larger and nicer.
* Tomorrowland actually looks like it has a cohesive theme.
* TTA is up and running
* The Rocket Jets look impressive because of where it's located.
* You don't have people camping out for Fantasmic two hours before it starts and causing massive traffic congestion for the whole west side of the park.
* Similarly, you won't get completely trampled at the conclusion of the fireworks.
* While it doesn't even exist in MK, Star Tours in DHS has much nicer exterior themeing than the one in Disneyland.

QUOTE]
I have an annual pass to both parks and I agree 100% with every statement you made. Simply dead on. It's like you had my notebook lol. Great and accurate assessment.