Disneyland Vs. Magic Kingdom

[Ausdaddy]

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

I think that there is some truth to that for the average person, but not the folks on these boards

 

[yellowrocket]

BEWARE LONG POST

Hmm..
In my humble opinion (been to Disneyland 2 times; Walt Disney World about 20 or so)... If you're comparing the Magic Kingdom to Disneyland, I think they are pretty much equal. The difference in attractions pretty much cancel each other out. They each have better and inferior attractions than their counterpart...

ADVANTAGE DISNEYLAND
+ Better, Longer Pirates of the Carribbean
+ Blue Bayou Restaurant
+ Better Space Mountain (WAY BETTER)
+ Better, Longer It's a Small World (better building; bad flume)
+ Better Buzz Lightyear Attraction (AstroBlasters)
+ Better (somewhat) Jungle Cruise
+ Better, Shorter Main Street USA (with attractions, not just stores)
+ Better Riverboat (Mark Twain)
+ Better Car Attraction (Autopia)
+ Better Toontown (Mickey's Toontown)
+ Better Tom Sawyer's Island (attractions)
+ Indiana Jones Adventure
+ The Matterhorn!
+ New Orleans Square
+ Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin
+ Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
+ Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
+ Pinocchio's Daring Journey
+ Davy Crocket Explorer Canoes
+ Monorail (as an attraction; if they can fix Mark VII)
+ Remember, Dreams Come True Fireworks
+ The Sailing Ship Columbia
+ Closer Hotels (both on property and off; WALK TO A PARK)
+ DISNEY's CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
+ Shorter Line for Soarin' (Soarin' Over California)
+ Pixar Play Parade
+ Aladdin, A Musical Spectacular
+ a bug's land
+ Paradise Pier attractions
+ Better Disney animation attraction
+ Better It's Tough to Be A Bug
+ Disney's Electrical Parade
+ Monster's Inc. Dark Ride

ADVANTAGE MAGIC KINGDOM (and other WDW attractions)
+ Better, Longer Splash Mountain
+ Better, Longer Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
+ Better Castle
+ Better Tomorrowland (theme)
+ Better Frontierland (size)
+ Larger Tom Sawyer's Island (size)
+ Better Restaurants (CRT, Crystal Palace, LTT, etc.)
+ Better, Longer Haunted Mansion (with new effects)
+ Better Enchanted Tiki Room (IMO)
+ Better Family/Children's Coaster (Goofy's Barnstormer)
+ Better Teacups (coverd and larger)
+ Better Adventure's of Winnie the Pooh
+ Liberty Square
+ Flying Carpets of Aladdin
+ Country Bear Jamboree
+ The Hall of Presidents
+ Carousel of Progress
+ Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor
+ Tomorrowland Transit Authority
+ Stitch's Great Escape
+ Mickey's Philharmagic
+ SpectroMagic parade
+ Better, MORE, Hotels, Theming
+ EPCOT (attractions & restaurants)
+ DISNEY/MGM STUDIOS (attractions & restaurants)
- Better Tower of Terror
- Better Muppet*Vision 3-D
- Better Star Tours
+ DISNEY's ANIMAL KINGDOM (attractions & restaurants)

 

[Ausdaddy]

ADVANTAGE MAGIC KINGDOM (and other WDW attractions)

+ Better Enchanted Tiki Room (IMO)

Wow

:animwink:

 

[susan5027]

Being from California, I've been to DL over 40 times and to WDW 4. Besides all the other comparisons mentioned, there are better guests at MK than at DL! My opinion: it could be a California rudeness thing. As a family, we have had enough repeated line cutting issues at DL on trips to make us think twice about our next trip. CM's don't help out like they should be. Some of the situations are rather primal. The aggressiveness of the cutters are indeed, scary. We see guests who are afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation. I do speak out and it has lead to some interesting exchanges. This does not seem to be a problem at WDW.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Click below for a fine article comparing Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, touching on many subjects that have been raised in this thread:
http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/tp/dl/dlmk.htm


Oh, and I lked your long list, yellowrocket.

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

I have never been to DL and I would LOVE to because this is the only place where I can experience the REAL Tikki-Room after the "New Management", which I LOATH, spoiled the one at MK. I only know the MK. But I think I would still prefer the MK even if I knew DL because it seems to me more perfect. Yes DL was first but it was a kind of first try also. And a lot went wrong with the first try. Walt wasn't happy with the development of DL surrounding and planned the "East Coast Project" as a better DL. And that's what it is. The MK is far away from any possible optical intrusions, embedded in a perfect landscaped surrounding and the more elaborate design. I would always prefer MK, even if DL has more attractions.

I just don't understand how you say you would always prefer MK when you haven't even visited DL? :shrug: Just doesn't seem very open minded.

 

[hsb1970]

I don't know how but I always forget that I have been to Disneyland. Maybe because I was there for one evening/night. It was with a church youth group trip back in 1987. The last time I was at Disney World was in 1983 and we were there for 5 days. Anyway, after I went to Disnleyland I remember thinking they were very similiar but thought Disneyland felt smaller. I suppose that since I didn't send more than one day at Disneyland I didn't do everything or just don't remember. I do know that I have never thought it wasn't as good as Disney World. Of course, this was 20+ years ago. After reading the posts here I didn't realize that now there were so many differences between the two parks.

 

[TLS]

Oh, I almost forgot!!!!

Magic Kingdom.....rain.

Disneyland.....not so much rain!

 

[nemofinder22]

Oh, I almost forgot!!!!

Magic Kingdom.....rain.

Disneyland.....not so much rain!

Yes DL is not fun in the rain since most of the queues and eatting areas are outside with little to no overhangs. French Market comes to mind first having only the fabric coverings. Although Matterhorn in the rain is really fun.

MK solved many problems that DL has such as the underground tunnels and such and was able to solve the surrounding areas. Like the uglyness that is Harbor Blvd. which isnt really that bad just if your used to the openess of WDW then is a shocker.
But DL has the advantage of 50 years of tree growth to block out all of its surroundings even though if its quite and your in line for the Autopia you can hear the firetrucks go by.....

The parade route I think is nicer in MK how you cant really see that its a parade route till parade time. Though the parade lights at DL really make for a great night time parade non-MSEP style. If you've ever seen Small World mall you'll know what I mean. Speaking of parades....... you can open up another whole huge thread on that too same goes for Fantasmics.....

DL though has so much history behind it. Like everything that went into HM and Pirates I think is something we easily forget when we ride them. Like how DL's HM sat there for 6 years with nothing in it.

 

[CThaddeus]

Oh, I almost forgot!!!!

Magic Kingdom.....rain.

Disneyland.....not so much rain!

Not to mention:

Magic Kingdom: Insane humidity
Disneyland: Not nearly as much humidity...usually.

 

[TP2000]

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

Aside from the aesthetics, where folks generally prefer the Disneyland european village look over the Magic Kingdom carnival look, Fantasyland is where the number and caliber of rides really shows the difference between the two parks.

Disneyland Fantasyland:

Matterhorn Bobsleds - E Ticket
It's A Small World - E Ticket
StorybookLand Canal Boats - D Ticket
Peter Pan's Flight - C Ticket
Snow White's Scary Adventures - C Ticket
Pinnochio's Daring Journey - C Ticket
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - C Ticket
Alice In Wonderland - C Ticket
Casey Jr. Circus Train - C Ticket
King Arthur's Carousel - B Ticket
Dumbo The Flying Elephant - B Ticket
Mad Tea Party - B Ticket

Magic Kingdom Fantasyland:

It's A Small World - E Ticket
Mickey's Philharmagic - D Ticket
Peter Pan's Flight - C Ticket
Snow White's Scary Adventures - C Ticket
Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh - C Ticket
Cinderella's Golden Carousel - B Ticket
Dumbo The Flying Elephant - B Ticket
Mad Tea Party - B Ticket

There are other areas of Disneyland where the ride count is higher than Magic Kingdom, like the Rivers of America and Mickey's Toontown. But the issue is at its most noticeable in Fantasyland. Since people primarily go to theme parks to go on rides, it's something that people often notice when comparing the two parks.

 

[captainkidd]

Here's my view:

Never been to DL. Going next summer for the 1st time. Been to WDW about 17 times. Everyone I talk to that has been to both say I will be very disappointed in DL. Literally, everyone. The most common reasons I hear are:

-The size. DL is much smaller than the MK. Feels more cramped.
-MK is a world unto itself. DL, you never get that feeling.
-Cleanliness. MK always looks fresher.
-Castle is a huge letdown at DL.

Again, this is just what I am told by people. I'll see for myself next year.

 

[TP2000]

I had fun with the Fantasyland comparo, I think I'll do it again, using the ticket value the attraction was at when they got rid of tickets in '83, or a best guess for rides built in the last 25 years.

I'll try to line up the lands as best I can, although they don't align themselves perfectly as Magic Kingdom doesn't have a Critter Country

Disneyland Adventureland & New Orleans Square

Indiana Jones Adventure - E Ticket
Jungle Cruise - E Ticket
Enchanted Tiki Room - E Ticket
Pirate's of the Caribbean - E Ticket
Haunted Mansion - E Ticket
Tarzan's Treehouse - B Ticket

Magic Kingdom Adventureland & Liberty Square

Jungle Cruise - E Ticket
Enchanted Tiki Room, Under New Management - E Ticket
Pirates of the Caribbean - E Ticket
Haunted Mansion - E Ticket
The Hall of Presidents - E Ticket
Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse - B Ticket
Magic Carpet's of Aladdin - B Ticket

That's a pretty fair match up, although Disneyland doesn't have the B Ticket Aladdin spinner only found in Magic Kingdom.


Disneyland Frontierland & Critter Country

Big Thunder Mountain - E Ticket
Splash Mountain - E Ticket
Mark Twain Riverboat - D Ticket
Sailing Ship Columbia - D Ticket
Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes - D Ticket
Rafts to Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island - C Ticket
The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh - C Ticket

Magic Kingdom Frontierland

Big Thunder Mountain - E Ticket
Splash Mountain - E Ticket
Country Bear Jamboree - E Ticket
Liberty Square Riverboat - D Ticket
Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island - C Ticket

There's where Disneyland's Rivers of America area outshines Magic Kingdom with plenty of different boats going round the island all day. The Pirate's Lair makeover was very succesful too, and really brought the old playground into the 21st century with effects, animatronics, interactives, etc. The loss of the Country Bear Jamboree still hurts at Disneyland, although I wish the Magic Kingdom would maintain theirs better as it was very creaky the last time I saw it there.

 

[TP2000]

And some more,

Disneyland Mickey's Toontown

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin - C Ticket
Gadget's Go Coaster - B Ticket
Meet Mickey's House - B Ticket
Meet Minnie's House - A Ticket
Donald's Boat - A Ticket
Goofy's Playhouse - A Ticket

Magic Kingdom Mickey's Toontown Fair

Goofy's Barnstormer - B Ticket
Meet Mickey's House - B Ticket
Meet Minnie's House - A Ticket
Donald's Boat - A Ticket

The difference in aesthetics and setup between these two areas speak for themselves. But what is it with the aversion to dark rides at WDW? Disneyland has the excellent Roger Rabbit dark ride here that is also offered at Tokyo Disneyland in their Toontown. It's missing entirely at Magic Kingdom.

You could include the Toontown Hall of Fame, but then you would also have to include Disneyland's Princess Fantasy Faire which really surpasses the Hall of Fame when it comes to size, showmanship and interactivity, so we'll just leave those two out as they are very different exhibits.


Disneyland Main Street USA

Disneyland Railroad thru Grand Canyon Diorama and Primeval World - E Ticket
Disneyland Opera House (Mr. Lincoln, 50 Magical Years, etc.) - D Ticket
Main Street Vehicles - B Ticket
Horse Drawn Street Car - B Ticket
Main Street Cinema - A Ticket

Magic Kingdom Main Street USA

Walt Disney World Railroad - E Ticket
Main Street Vehicles - B Ticket
Horse Drawn Street Car - B Ticket

Slim pickens in this land on both coasts. It is what it is.

 

[jaredliu]

Here's my view:

Never been to DL. Going next summer for the 1st time. Been to WDW about 17 times. Everyone I talk to that has been to both say I will be very disappointed in DL. Literally, everyone. The most common reasons I hear are:

-The size. DL is much smaller than the MK. Feels more cramped.
-MK is a world unto itself. DL, you never get that feeling.
-Cleanliness. MK always looks fresher.
-Castle is a huge letdown at DL.

Again, this is just what I am told by people. I'll see for myself next year.

Funny. Everyone I talk to that has been to both say they were very disappointed in MK. Literally, everyone. The most common reasons I hear is almost every ride with the same name is better at DL. MK = huge letdown.

 

[TP2000]

And finally, the one land where the Magic Kingdom goes head to head in the number of Attractions....

Disneyland Tomorrowland

Space Mountain - E Ticket
Star Tours - E Ticket
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage - E Ticket
Disneyland Monorail - E Ticket
Autopia - D Ticket
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters - D Ticket
Innoventions & Dream Home - D Ticket
Honey I Shrunk The Audience - D Ticket
Astro Orbiter - B Ticket

Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland

Space Mountain - E Ticket
Carousel of Progress - E Ticket (and a personal favorite!)
Tomorrowland Speedway - D Ticket
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - D Ticket
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor - D Ticket
Stitch's Great Escape - D Ticket
Tomorrowland Transit Authority - D Ticket
Astro Orbiter - B Ticket

These two lands are surprisingly different between the coasts. Only Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Autopia, and Astro Orbiter are shared between the two parks. The rest of the rides are unique to the property (Stitch, Monsters, Nemo, TTA, Dream Home) or are found elsewhere on property (Monorail, Star Tours, Honey).

Rumors currently swirl about pending plans for both Tomorrowlands on each coast, so who knows what this land's list will look like in five years!

 

[TP2000]

Funny. Everyone I talk to that has been to both say they were very disappointed in MK. Literally, everyone. The most common reasons I hear is almost every ride with the same name is better at DL. MK = huge letdown.

My take is that all the rides shared by both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom are either nearly the same, or have an artistic and showmanship edge with the Disneyland version.

The one exception to this is Splash Mountain. I think the Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom is dramatically superior to the Disneyland version, mainly from an artistic and showmanship standpoint.

The thrills and the splash are the same at each park, but the Magic Kingdom version has a much better sense of set design, pacing and storytelling. The first time I went on the Magic Kingdom version of Splash Mountain I was amazed that there was actually a plot! There's a plotline for Splash Mountain! Who knew?!?

That said, I only wish the Magic Kingdom could take better care of its animatronics and special effects. Not much has ever worked on any visit to Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain. The animatronics look and perform better at Disneyland, but the ride is so frantic and fast in Anaheim that you have no idea what is going on with any apparent plot.

 

[CThaddeus]

My take is that all the rides shared by both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom are either nearly the same, or have an artistic and showmanship edge with the Disneyland version.

The one exception to this is Splash Mountain. I think the Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom is dramatically superior to the Disneyland version, mainly from an artistic and showmanship standpoint.

The thrills and the splash are the same at each park, but the Magic Kingdom version has a much better sense of set design, pacing and storytelling. The first time I went on the Magic Kingdom version of Splash Mountain I was amazed that there was actually a plot! There's a plotline for Splash Mountain! Who knew?!?

That said, I only wish the Magic Kingdom could take better care of its animatronics and special effects. Not much has ever worked on any visit to Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain. The animatronics look and perform better at Disneyland, but the ride is so frantic and fast in Anaheim that you have no idea what is going on with any apparent plot.

While I always got the plot of the Disneyland version (maybe because I've seen the movie numerous times), the MK version is far better fleshed out...and the characters don't all look as if they were just pulled from America Sings.
There are some other attractions that surpass Disneyland's:
1. The Hall of Presidents - I love Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln...or at least I did until they turned it into Sounds Dangerous starring Honest Abe. Now, however, we don't even have a Mr. Lincoln attraction. Don't get me wrong, I love "Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years," but I hate that they put Lincoln on hiatus for it. I hear he may soon be coming back, but even so, the attraction at the Magic Kingdom is so much grander in scale than Disneyland's. I'm a big Audio-Animatronics geek, so to see that many of them all in one place is stunning.
2. Snow White's Scary Adventures - Disneyland's always seems like they just ran out of space and couldn't add a proper ending, so they just painted a "And they lived happily ever after..." on the wall and hoped everyone would just use their imaginations about what happened after the witch was killed. At the MK, not only do you get a better beginning (Snow White by the well with the Queen watching from her window), but you get a Prince awakening Snow White scene AND a farewell scene. The whole story is there, and it feels so much more complete for it. Now if they could just keep the danged thing working whenever I'm on it. I think of the eight times I've been on it I've only made it all the way through once without it going 101 temporarily.
3. Jungle Cruise - Many will argue with me on this, but the MK's is longer and it has a very cool temple (Shirley Temple). Yes, Disneyland's has a couple of new scenes, but I still prefer the one at the MK...maybe because I had the best skipper ever there in 1996.
4. Swiss Family Treehouse - It's a simple attraction, and - gasp! - one you actually have to walk through and use your imagination with, but for me it still is better at the Magic Kingdom than the redone Tarzan's Treehouse in Disneyland. The suspension bridge is kind of neat, but the statues of the characters don't impress me. If they had used actual Audio-Animatronics, I might like it a whole lot more.
5. Thunder Mountain - The flooded mining town alone makes this a better attraction. Then there's the beautiful ending past the geysers and the larger space used for the whole attraction. Disneyland's is great, but the MK version is even more impressive.

 

[nemofinder22]

Here's my view:

Never been to DL. Going next summer for the 1st time. Been to WDW about 17 times. Everyone I talk to that has been to both say I will be very disappointed in DL. Literally, everyone. The most common reasons I hear are:

-The size. DL is much smaller than the MK. Feels more cramped.
-MK is a world unto itself. DL, you never get that feeling.
-Cleanliness. MK always looks fresher.
-Castle is a huge letdown at DL.

Again, this is just what I am told by people. I'll see for myself next year.

I dont think you'll be disapointed I mean your going to the one that started it all and its Disney

On to the points since my computer is being dumb and not letting me copy and paste...

Yea DL is small but everything fits the scale of DL.

DL is actually pretty well surrounded by its berm. You can see nothing of the outside world (unlike a certain hotel at WDW I'm looking at you Comtempory ) unless your looking for it on the train. Walking out of the East Shuttle area is a different story....

Actually I thought the opposite of this when I was at MK mainly in the pavement which is getting better and better each each at DL. Maybe it was just because all the rain that made it more worn looking??? but almost all of DL has been repaved with new pavers, brick work and stamped concet and no more painted slurry, theres still some left if a few spots. Also it seems that the painting project at DL didnt stop after the 50th but instead is still going full steam ahead.

Plus DL has been getting some really nice stuff pre and post 50th. Not in new huge attractions but little addtions like Innoventions Dream Home, Pirates Lair, new monorails, new F! finale(which keeps getting more: new projectors and maybe a redo of the dragon) and the wonderful new Mickey floral out front which is about the nicest thing about the YOAMD's decorations which I have to admit arnt that bad since pretty much all the ugly banners are outside of DL and DCA.

I wouldnt say its a huge let down since the Matterhorn makes up for it in a way, since they both work well with each other. They must have liked it or something to clone it in HKDL( which I still dont get why they did, to bad they didnt turn the top half around like DL's was originaly going to be)

Hope you have a great time when you go. Didnt mean for the post to be so long it just ended up like that:wave:

Oh yea MK still has Bear Country which was nice but I like the Vacation Hoedown version. Can someone tell me if the holiday version will ever return to MK? I really liked the version.

 

[firemandisney]

yep