Disneyland Vs. Magic Kingdom

[ArnyVee]

Hate isn't even a remote option of a word when describing a Disney park.

I grew up in Southern California and went to DL all of my life until I was 21 when I moved to South Florida. Now, I've been going to MK for the past 15 years. They are both beautiful and enjoyable and have lots of unique things to offer.

DL has little things such as the Snow White grotto (where folks make the mistake...err...I mean, propose marriage ) to the big things such as Matterhorn mountain!

But, MK has it's own unique things as well. From the TTA to Mickey's Philharmagic and more.

But, you can't say that one is better than the other. They are different.

Where MK has Liberty Square, DL has New Orleans Square. Where MK has a bigger castle and a blessing the size for the park, the DL park has a smaller and more quaint/personable 'feel' about it. So, different strokes.

I will say that it also depends on where you go most often as you grow up that determines some people's point of view. With that being said, I love both parks but have a special place in my heart for the park that Walt actually walked in and built from the ground up...risking everything that he had to make this thing succeed. The light is always on in the apartment over the firehouse and that's a reminder that Walt's spirit is still in that magical place.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

not this again...

An already very intensely on this forum debated topic I presume?

 

[TLS]

One of the things I find rather amazing in DL is that when your inside the park, you have no idea your in the middle of a major metropolitan area. Only time you can see cars on the street is in the monorail.

I also like New Orleans Square.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

DL
-More charming
-Hugely superior Fantasyland
-Better fans and online communities
-Matterhorn
-More attractions, all those fun B and C tickets

I read so much here about the superior DL-Fantasyland. What is so different about it, compared to MK?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Better fans and online communities

That did sound a bit harsh of mine, indeed.

What I mean is, that 99% of my time I am not in a Disney Park. cry
So I must rely on the internet for my Disney fixes. And DL for some reason has better sites, more interesting blogs, receives more attention to historical and artistic aspects from fan sites. I think it is probably owing to the large local annual passholder audience of Disneyland.

Of course, WDW has its fair share of good sites and great online communities as well. It's the difference between Tomorrowland in one park and the other - both are great, but each one of us will have his own preference.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I read so much here about the superior DL-Fantasyland. What is so different about it, compared to MK?

I thought I would have an easy answer, but thinking about it a bit more, I now find myself struggling to explain - even to myself - just why I think DL's Fantasyland is better.

At its simplest, two reasons stand out:

I think Fantasyland out of all the lands benefits most from DL's intimacy of scale. Small and charming works well for Fantasyland!
Secondly, DL Fantasyland just has that much more in the way of fun dark rides and B- and C- tickets.

Oh, and the Matterhorn! Fun ride, and visually it works so well, overlooking as it does that Medieval Bavarian village look of Fantasyland.

 

[ZambeziZelda]

I know it's been said once or twice before in this thread, but...

Disneyland > Magic Kingdom

DLR < WDW

 

[Ausdaddy]

I know it's been said once or twice before in this thread, but...

Disneyland > Magic Kingdom

DLR < WDW

This is accurate. I didn't understand it until I went to DLR myself. DL is just charming. It feels different. In comparison, DL feels more like a country town vs. MK's urban city (if you get my analogy). Which is ironic considering the locations of the two. It's the trees, the layout and the feeling. It's also true that some of the attractions are superior to their counterparts. You can feel the care that went into it. On the other hand, while I love DL, I would never go to DLR instead of WDW. I only go when I can do both. Once the makeover of DCA is complete, I'll revisit because I think it's going to get very interesting.

 

[durangojim]

I know it's been said once or twice before in this thread, but...

Disneyland > Magic Kingdom

DLR < WDW

I agree completely. One thing I find interesting is that people keep saying that MK is bigger than DL. This isn't true DL (not California Adventure or Downtown Disney) is about a third larger than the MK, and it really shows. We' hadn't been to DL in about 9 years when we went last year and we were blown away by the quality of rides and the overall experience at DL. One thing that I found particularly nice was the area of the park by pirates where you could get breakfast along the Rivers of America. It seems that DL has more space and the most of the rides have just a little extra that the MK's versions do not. I love WDW (it was where I proposed to my wife and where our son was "made"...cough...cough) but there is no question that DL is considerably better than WDW's MK.

 

[TLS]

One thing I find interesting is that people keep saying that MK is bigger than DL. This isn't true DL (not California Adventure or Downtown Disney) is about a third larger than the MK, and it really shows.

I believe your mistaken on this fact. All you have to do is Google Earth it and measure it. Somewhere there is a post with actual square footage comparisons between DL and MK.

 

[jaredliu]

DL>MK
1. Space Mountain: What can I say. WDW's pales in comparision. MK will receive massive renovation though.
2. Indiana Jones: Not in MK. Dinosaur in AK pales in comparision. Simpy one of the best ride Disney ever created.
3. Pirates: DL's way way better. Pirates is the biggest ride in DL. It's not the case in MK.
4. BuzzLight Year: Slightly better due to that you could control your own gun.
5. Finding Nemo Submarine: MK got a playground, DL has an E-ticket ride instead. WDW's counterpart is Epcot's Nemo & Friends ride. Submarine is way better.
6. Fantasyland: Way better in terms of theming and the number of dark rides including Mr Toad ride. MK's carnival style looks very outdated.
7. Fantasmic: Not in MK. MGM's poor copy couldn't hold a candle. The show at DL is also going to have a huge renovation.
8. Fireworks: Remember Dreams Come Ture just blows Wishes out of the water. Simply THE BEST fireworks show Disney has ever created, bar none.
9. Intimacy: Atmosphere is one thing, it is so easy to walk from one attraction to the next is even better.


MK > DL
1. Size: bigger, more space.But it does not translate to a less crowded park in that MK has far more visitors per day averagely than DL does.
2. Castle size: Will I don't care much about the castle, but some people do.
3. Philharmagic: Missing in DL. One of the best 3D show.
4. Splash Mountain: Slightly better in terms of show scenes and seating arrangement.
5. Nighttime parade: MK has SpectroMagic, DL has nothing. But rumor has it that a newly revamped Main Street Electro Parade is coming to DL in 2009. I love MSEP, so if it is ture I'll give DL the edge.
6. Tomorrowland: Simply better in terms of themeing and the number of attractions such as TTA. But Laugh floor and Stich is so disappointing.

Overall, DL is almost in every way flat out better than MK as far as I am concerned.

 

[WDW Monorail]

Most popular argument from another board in favor of DL...
"It's what Walt wanted."

:shrug:

 

[ZambeziZelda]

DL>MK

I've got another one for your list.

Maybe not a huge thing for most people, but...

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room > Under New Management

 

[brkgnews]

I've got another one for your list.

Maybe not a huge thing for most people, but...

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room > Under New Management

Beyond that...

DL Tiki Room allowing you to enjoy your dole whip pineapple float during the show > MK not.

 

[ZambeziZelda]

Beyond that...

DL Tiki Room allowing you to enjoy your dole whip pineapple float during the show > MK not.

Seriously!!

 

[DisneyMusician2]

I don't think the discrepancy is as large as some people make it out to be. I've been to both recently, and DL is a lot of fun, but it is clearly not the way Walt would have wanted it.

DL has some advantages, but so does MK. I don't ever subscribe to the "What would Walt do?" arguments. Nobody knows, really. Who is to say that Walt wouldn't have liked MK better?

 

[lac628]

I believe your mistaken on this fact. All you have to do is Google Earth it and measure it. Somewhere there is a post with actual square footage comparisons between DL and MK.

Also, CM's always tell us that DL can fit into EPCOT's parking lot with like 200 or so spaces left over. Then that would mean that MK could also fit, with more spaces let over. That cannot be true!

 

[IfWeCanDreamIt]

I think for most people the deciding factor is where the grew up. If you grew up in the west coast, your obviously going to prefer Disneyland. a) because it is on your side of the country, b) because it's the park your familiar with. Same goes for the east coast and Disney World. Unless you really badly wanted to visit the other park, some people wouldn't necessarily want to travel across the country just to experience three or four "original" and unique attractions

 

[jaredliu]

I think for most people the deciding factor is where the grew up.

I don't think so. For me it's more about the quality of showmanship, the value that you have paid to gain, and the overall experience within a themed environment.

 

[Lomma]

I like them both for different reasons. Overall, I would take Walt Disney World Resort over Disneyland Resort because I really love the lakes, the greenery, the hotels, and obviously the four parks. However, I would rather spend a day in Disneyland Park than Magic Kingdom because I find more to do at DL.

I concur. A long vacation for me has to be WDW. But a one-day trip would be DL because it's got everything on one place.