DL vs. WDW rivalries

[Skibum1970]

It's like a gang war, only Disneyfied.

I went to DL this year for the first time. I thought of making some type of gang sign but was afraid that it would be misinterpreted. As it turned out, I completed what I concluded to be unnecessary reconnaissance and returned to the East Coast.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I honestly haven't heard of any people on the 'web that prefer The Magic Kingdom, or any Disney World Park, for that matter, over Disneyland.

Me.

I've known WDW since the seventies, DL since the eighties and DLP since the nineties, and I think the MK is the greatest park ever build.

Sadly, whereas the MK has gotten worse over the decades, DL has improved over time, like a ripe wine.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I'd argue that, paradoxically, Disneyland also has the blessing of size.

I agree. Walt's biggest concern about DL wasn't that it was too small so much as that he couldn't block out the outside world. That really isn't a problem now that Anaheim has realized the importance of playing nice with Disney.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I've known WDW since the seventies, DL since the eighties and DLP since the nineties, and I think the MK is the greatest park ever build.

Internet consensus or no, this is a respectable opinion. If you compare opening day MK to 1971 DL, it's clear that they improved on the original model significantly. MK wasn't just physically larger, it had a set of original attractions, and the duplicates it had largely improved on DL's versions. Of course, 2013 is another story.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

I think one thing Walt did want though was the blessing of size. Hence, this is why he bought WDW land before he passed away. It isn't a deal breaker, but we know he wanted to have enough land to acheive his goals.

That being said, there are different reasons to like each park based on their land. WDW is so grand, it has the same amount of land as San Francisco. It has a lot of space and literally feels like its own city where nothing else is seemingly around for miles (which is partially true). Disneyland is different. You pull off a very busy street into the parking lot, however once you get in there you don't think of anything else either. But the walking distance is easy. Downtown Disney is right there and you can walk to the front gate of both parks no problem. You can watch the fireworks in Downtown Disney if you are standing in the right spot. Everything is within arms reach.

So the way I look at it, the compact size of Disneyland is charming because its all right there bundled into one, but the grand scale of WDW is also nice because it almost feels like you can explore different parts and its still all Disney. The monorail ride from Epcot to MK is nice too, and it is long enough so that you can have a nice relaxing time.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Spot on, @Big Phil. Many WDW fans who are rightfully awed by the resort's size and isolation assume that makes it better than DLR. I've been guilty of this erroneous thought process myself! (In all of our defense, this "truth" is baked into the story WDW tells about itself to make people feel more special for being there. It's part of the resort's own internal narrative about how Walt started small out West, tried real hard at Disneyland, but just couldn't overcome the challenges, and then finally "got it right" in Florida.)

In truth, its physical scope and buffers just make WDW amazing in its own way. There's also something amazing about having a magical oasis tucked behind a few nondescript walls in the middle of an urban concrete desert, just waiting for you to turn a corner and stumble into its embrace. Both approaches can (and have!) put a huge smile on my face more than once.

 

[Sped2424]

East Coast vs. West Coast.

and we saw how that ended......to soon?

 

[Sped2424]

Dude... It's just Disneyland. There's no need for the California. It came first. All the copies have the locations attached. Disneyland is the original... No need for the location.

There are lots of DLR fans who refuse to visit WDW. I don't know why, the more Disney, the better.

Don't wanna visit Disney world? but how else will they experience the jaw stopping attraction that defined a generation that we have that you guys don't, THE COUNTRY BEARS!

its a sad comparison when you reverse what Disneyland has that Magic Kingdom doesn't.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Don't wanna visit Disney world? but how else will they experience the jaw stopping attraction that defined a generation that we have that you guys don't, THE COUNTRY BEARS!

its a sad comparison when you reverse what Disneyland has that Magic Kingdom doesn't.

But that's the good thing. You'll always find something different to do at either property! I'll admit I never liked the Country Bears and you don't hear a whole bunch of Disneyland fans screaming for it to come back, but it'll be nice to see it again as an adult in the future. Not to mention CoP and the PeopleMover, which is for sure not coming back to Anaheim. There are other differences... PhilharMagic (hope I spelled that right), Liberty Square, the new Mine Train ride, etc. Sounds worth it to me. I'm definitely not one of those DL fans who have no interest in WDW.

 

[taz0162]

I Loved Country Bears when I was a Kid, a teen, even the Christmas Show but really liked it this past trip when I was able to take my 4-1/2yo Son and 18 month daughter who were mystified by the show. My son had to see it a second time.

 

[Sped2424]

But that's the good thing. You'll always find something different to do at either property! I'll admit I never liked the Country Bears and you don't hear a whole bunch of Disneyland fans screaming for it to come back, but it'll be nice to see it again as an adult in the future. Not to mention CoP and the PeopleMover, which is for sure not coming back to Anaheim. There are other differences... PhilharMagic (hope I spelled that right), Liberty Square, the new Mine Train ride, etc. Sounds worth it to me. I'm definitely not one of those DL fans who have no interest in WDW.

Well your main street isn't a total gift shop, Thats one of the things I wish we got back.

 

[Thrill]

Well your main street isn't a total gift shop, Thats one of the things I wish we got back.

I feel like Main Street gets overlooked because it isn't a ride, but the rows of small shops at Disneyland really are a huge step up from the homogenized, Emporium-dominated Main Street at Magic Kingdom.

Maybe they can use some NextGen technology and get us a Magic Shop.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Internet consensus or no, this is a respectable opinion. If you compare opening day MK to 1971 DL, it's clear that they improved on the original model significantly. MK wasn't just physically larger, it had a set of original attractions, and the duplicates it had largely improved on DL's versions. Of course, 2013 is another story.

The internet consensus is very recent. Fromt the late sixties onwards WDW was considered the new, better version of DL, which came to be considered 'quaint', having 'charm' as its last defense against the massive newer resort.

WDW was bigger, newer, the improved version of the test model of DL, taking what worked and avoiding what didn't.
Then WDW only kept expanding and expanding. The Village, EPCOT, DHS, water parks, DAK, resorts. By the end of last century everything that is at WDW was already at WDW, while DL consisted of a park and a parking lot, with some sort of hotel to the left. Add to this that DL went through an even darker period than WDW after 1994, leading to such travesties as the destruction of Tomorrowland and DCA 1.0. For mosty of its history, DL was the preserve of Disney obscurantists, locals, and all those LA tourists who discover that there actually isn't anything to visit in LA besides DL. There is no there there, no Hollywood.

It was only the 50th anniversary in 2005 that re-awoke DL in the public imagination, a proces completed by DL turning into a proper resort with DCA 2.0, only last year.


Also, almost hidden from view, DL was taken better care of over the decades. In the 70s, WDW had the much larger Space Mountain, DL the small kiddie version. But DL did install the new version, WDW never did. WDW had a double Toad, but demolished it. WDW had the far superior submarine ride, but thought it too expensive to maintain. EPCOT was destroyed in the nineties. The Studios lost their studios.
Over time, all of this added up. But it wasn't always like this. On the contrary, historically, DL has been considered the lesser experience for most of its existence.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Don't wanna visit Disney world? but how else will they experience the jaw stopping attraction that defined a generation that we have that you guys don't, THE COUNTRY BEARS!

its a sad comparison when you reverse what Disneyland has that Magic Kingdom doesn't.

Oi! The CBears was one of the last attractions in which Wlat was involved! There is a very touching story of Walt Walking into Marc Davis office, who showed Walt his Bear sketches. Walt loved them, laughed at them. As he left, Walt turned around and said 'goodbye, Marc'. Marc later recalled that Walt never said any goodbye. A little time after, Walt died. He had bid Marc farewell, in his own inimitable style.

The bears tie WDW with Walt, the way the CoP does also, and a certain Spirit of EPCOT that permeates the entire Florida Project. There are two resorts in America that are the product of Walt.

 

[Californian Elitist]

WDW was bigger, newer, the improved version of the test model of DL...

Except Disneyland was never a test model. Walt Disney didn't like repeating himself and said he was done with theme parks after Disneyland.

 

[Sped2424]

WDW was bigger, newer, the improved version of the test model of DL, taking what worked and avoiding what didn't.

Except Disneyland was never a test model. Walt Disney didn't like repeating himself and said he was done with theme parks after Disneyland.

I agree Disneyland was not and should not be considered a test version, it was very much a labor of love and passion the only mistake walt admitted to making about the place was not buying the surrounding land around it in order to protect the park. It could be a test park, if walt initially planned on building another park from the start, as many have stated on here the only reason why magic kingdom exists was to appease the shareholders, he only agreed to it to do EPCOT. Also I wouldn't call disneyland the lesser experience, I would say as a whole disneyland is much more complete and concrete than the magic kingdom. When looking at the two while magic kingdom does have its advantages in some areas (better separation, bigger park) Disneyland has that extra touch of all the little things and even manages to make use of the limited space to rank in more attractions and shows/experiences that help build and complete a better experience. This is coming from a WDW World fanatic, I love magic kingdom, but I can recognize the areas where it pales in comparison to its older sibling.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Except Disneyland was never a test model. Walt Disney didn't like repeating himself and said he was done with theme parks after Disneyland.

Very true! But that's Walt. He never expected in 1955 to build more than one park, never mind consider his park a test case for another one.

However, in the public perception, and marketing, once the MK was announced it became the new improved version of DL, which was relegated the status of test model. DL 1.0 we'd say nowadays.

Walt himself would've wanted to build Brasilia in the Florida swamp. (Or maybe not, the city idea was still in its embryonic stage)
However, I think, even if Walt had lived on for a decade more, that Roy would've convinced him to start the Florida project with a DL-like park and a resort. Walt has always been the public face of the company, but there was more to TWDC than Walt. Even Walt had to think commercially and realistically.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Very true! But that's Walt. He never expected in 1955 to build more than one park, never mind consider his park a test case for another one.

However, in the public perception, and marketing, once the MK was announced it became the new improved version of DL, which was relegated the status of test model. DL 1.0 we'd say nowadays.

Walt himself would've wanted to build Brasilia in the Florida swamp. (Or maybe not, the city idea was still in its embryonic stage)
However, I think, even if Walt had lived on for a decade more, that Roy would've convinced him to start the Florida project with a DL-like park and a resort. Walt has always been the public face of the company, but there was more to TWDC than Walt. Even Walt had to think commercially and realistically.

I understand the public perception. It sounded like you were stating it as a fact. A lot of the story gets twisted up. The company won't mention the fact that the only reason MK was even thought of was because Mr. Disney needed money for his city.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I understand the public perception. A lot of the story gets twisted up. The company won't mention the fact that the only reason MK was even thought of was because Mr. Disney needed money for his city.

No, they won't. But why would they, eh? Better to tell the public your work is the product of heartfelt creative urge rather than of financial realities.

Me, I also still wonder to what extent Walt used his EPCOT pitch to convince the Florida legislature to grant his company almost city-like status. The EPCOT plans were very much a haphazard, quickly thrown together set of plans and maps and drawings. Never intented to be the final blueprint.

Financial and legal realities have always been a part of TWDC. It would be a mistake to forget they were. Every fan at some point grows up and understands his parks are commercially-run businesses. But it would be an equal mistake to be too cynical as a fan. The MK, and DL, and Sleeping beauty, and Main Street, were also genuine labours of love. The products of inspired artists. Hey, Rembrandt too also worked in a large commercial 'Rembrandt Studio', overseeing the works of other artists. Just as much as the Disney brothers.

 

[James122]

A lot of the story gets twisted up.

This is very true! Knowing a lot more now about the history of both WDW and DL than I did a few years ago, it surprised me a lot when I was at WDW about year and a half ago and I heard one of the cast members on the railroad spin a tale about how right before he died, Walt Disney designed the Magic Kingdom as the pinnacle of his vision for his Florida project.