Disneyland or Magic Kingdom

[Heppenheimer]

What area did it replace?

I believe the only attraction Disneyland lost to build Galaxy's Edge was a petting zoo that was part of Frontierland. Unless I'm wrong, most of the land they used was either backstage logistics or parking or a combination thereof.

 

[HongKongFooy]

I know a lot of people like to compare these two parks but they're really apples to oranges.

I don't see it like you.


Apples to oranges is:

Universal(Potter) vs Disney(Star Wars)
London vs Paris
Burberry vs Luis Vuitton


Comparing DL vs Magic Kingdom is better served with apple to apple comparison such as
granny smith vs red delicious

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Disneyland is the easy winner. Main Street, New Orleans Square, and Fantasyland are just so charming and perfect. When you wander Disneyland, the park is just packed full of attractions and entertainment.

 

[NelleBelle]

As a vegetarian, the food is by far better at DL than MK!!

 

[Giss Neric]

Disneyland as I noticed most Californians/locals are more chill whereas Magic Kingdom has a lot of short tempered tourists.

 

[danyoung56]

While I enjoy both of them, on a head to head comparison DL wins by far. For me it's about more than the attractions. DL has just had more time to develop. In the MK you look at a location and you might find a well sculpted rock, whereas in DL you'd find a rock and a bush and a petrified tree, etc. Just more atmosphere in DL.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I like MK, but it really isn't even close, DL is far better. Way more rides, the vibe is superior, more classic rides still running and more of the same rides are better at DL. Oh and I prefer the food options at DL.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Disneyland as I noticed most Californians/locals are more chill whereas Magic Kingdom has a lot of short tempered tourists.

Yeah, people don't shove as much, aren't trying to be park commandos as much. I also think not having everything preplanned, like dining and fast passes lends to a chiller vibe.

 

[bryanfze55]

Disneyland as I noticed most Californians/locals are more chill whereas Magic Kingdom has a lot of short tempered tourists.

I actually don’t like that. The Disneyland locals can be very snobbish/cliquish. I’ve gotten blank stares from people when they find out I’m from halfway across the country.

I still much prefer DL to MK, though.

 

[marni1971]

What area did it replace?

I believe the only attraction Disneyland lost to build Galaxy's Edge was a petting zoo that was part of Frontierland. Unless I'm wrong, most of the land they used was either backstage logistics or parking or a combination thereof.

And half of Rivers of America. And some of Tom Sawyer Island.

 

[PSM]

They are likely more similar than any other park comparison's, no?

I don't see it like you.


Apples to oranges is:

Universal(Potter) vs Disney(Star Wars)
London vs Paris
Burberry vs Luis Vuitton


Comparing DL vs Magic Kingdom is better served with apple to apple comparison such as
granny smith vs red delicious

I can see this. Apples to oranges is a bit extreme. I'll give you Granny Smith vs McIntosh or Macoun because Red Delicious are terrible and DL and MK are both great haha. If you've tried a Granny Smith, you most certainly have not tried a McIntosh.

That said, my point stands that there is enough different about DL and MK that you can't have tried one and claim to have experienced the other or not need to. I can point out as many different aspects between the two parks as I can similarities - maybe twice as many - be it rides, lands, layouts, restaurants and food offerings, shows, stores, etc. I mean, I've been going to Magic Kingdom my entire life and still got turned around a few times trying to locate stuff my first time at Disneyland; the castle being so small and not visible from everywhere in the park is part of that but the paths and lands are really very different.

And that's just discussing the layouts for these two "hub and spoke" parks. After two full days in Disneyland, there is still more I want to see and haven't gotten to explore or experience yet, which is great!

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I can see this. Apples to oranges is a bit extreme. I'll give you Granny Smith vs McIntosh or Macoun because Red Delicious are terrible and DL and MK are both great haha. If you've tried a Granny Smith, you most certainly have not tried a McIntosh.

That said, my point stands that there is enough different about DL and MK that you can't have tried one and claim to have experienced the other or not need to. I can point out as many different aspects between the two parks as I can similarities - maybe twice as many - be it rides, lands, layouts, restaurants and food offerings, shows, stores, etc. I mean, I've been going to Magic Kingdom my entire life and still got turned around a few times trying to locate stuff my first time at Disneyland; the castle being so small and not visible from everywhere in the park is part of that but the paths and lands are really very different.

And that's just discussing the layouts for these two "hub and spoke" parks. After two full days in Disneyland, there is still more I want to see and haven't gotten to explore or experience yet, which is great!

I felt I missed a lot once I finally got to DL and saw how much more it offered.. I don't think you have to have gone to MK if you went to DL, but not vice versa. Now WDW vs DL/California Adventue is whole other story.

 

[NelleBelle]

Disneyland as I noticed most Californians/locals are more chill whereas Magic Kingdom has a lot of short tempered tourists.

So true!! We always seem to have issues with people cutting in line at MK and there always seems to be the righteous high self-entitlement attitude of getting everything you paid for at MK. Totally different at DL—no pushing/shoving (generally). Much more enjoyable!

 

[HongKongFooy]

I felt I missed a lot once I finally got to DL and saw how much more it offered.. I don't think you have to have gone to MK if you went to DL, but not vice versa.

So true, so true

 

[KikoKea]

Disneyland. There's so much packed into the park, including attractions not at MK, it is our favorite park. We also enjoy Christmas as DL, mainly because of IASW.

But, I do agree with @Movielover . We prefer WDW over DL & CA, overall.

 

[bryanfze55]

California Adventure really drags the resort down as a whole - a tacky park that lacks cohesion right across from the greatest theme park in America.

Had WestCot been built, there might be no reason to visit WDW at all.

 

[doctornick]

I actually don’t like that. The Disneyland locals can be very snobbish/cliquish. I’ve gotten blank stares from people when they find out I’m from halfway across the country.

I still much prefer DL to MK, though.

Totally this. I don't disagree that MK/WDW has a lot of anxiety ridden tourists who are stressed and trying to do everything - but the self entitled snobby DL crowd is annoying in other ways. I think it also extends to the CMs too - while both parks tend to have great cast members, I've have poorer experiences at DL from more uppity and less helpful ones while WDW's always tend to at least try to do the best for guests. YMMV.

 

[bryanfze55]

Totally this. I don't disagree that MK/WDW has a lot of anxiety ridden tourists who are stressed and trying to do everything - but the self entitled snobby DL crowd is annoying in other ways. I think it also extends to the CMs too - while both parks tend to have great cast members, I've have poorer experiences at DL from more uppity and less helpful ones while WDW's always tend to at least try to do the best for guests. YMMV.

The Disneyland CMs run the gauntlet from poor to great for me while the WDW CMs are always consistently... above average.

I’ve had my best CM interactions at Disneyland. There are some CMs there, especially the older ones, who have a real pride in the park and man, it shows. On the other hand, I’ve had interactions with some younger CMs (mostly men) who are less than enthused to be there. They’re perfectly nice people, but they definitely give off the “it’s just a job” vibe through word and demeanor. And again, some DL CMs are just very cliquish with other guests.

At WDW, the CMs definitely go above and beyond to seem enthusiastic. That might just be culture (Southern hospitality VS California chill). It can seem a little fake, though. But I definitely think there is more pressure put on the WDW CMs to amplify the magic, so to speak.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

In a Disneyland vs. Magic Kingdom poll on a WDW website you have Disneyland being the choice for 65% of people. That tells you something. Disneyland is still the standard individual park. It still beats everything else in its path.

 

[bryanfze55]

In a Disneyland vs. Magic Kingdom poll on a WDW website you have Disneyland being the choice for 65% of people. That tells you something. Disneyland is still the standard individual park. It still beats everything else in its path.

I wonder what the results would’ve looked like before some of the unpopular changes at WDW occurred (FastPass+, 180-day ADRs, etc). I’m sure DL would’ve still come out ahead but I wonder if it would be closer. I think peoples’ issues with MK have less to do with it’s theming (which is still pretty good) and more to do with the fact that Disney has made it an operational nightmare.