AndyS2992
Well-Known Member
I'm sure he would be very proud of the money they make however WDW is very far from his vision for the property so who knows.
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DL vs. WDW rivalries
- Thread starter mharrington
- Start date
Wilt Dasney
Well-Known Member
When I joined this site (a long time ago, as you can see), I was just about to leave for a College Program at WDW. It was where I had gone on daytrips as a kid, and I had just re-discovered it after 15 years or so. I was fascinated by the size, scope, and variety of offerings there, and wanted to learn everything I could about it. I wasn't that interested in Disneyland as more than a curiosity.
Four years ago, I visited DL and fell in love. The density of its charm, its celebration of its own history, and the odd but wonderful juxtaposition of having all this just walled off from an ordinary urban setting won me over completely.
Both places have added a lot to my life. I spent 5 months living in Florida and working at WDW. During that time, I made friends who are still in my life. Now I'm living in California and have an AP for DL. It's great being able to go to Walt's park whenever I have a free day. And of course, I have managed to become friends with many of the loonies from this site who share this weird fixation. I've run races in both resorts, earning memories I hope to carry always. My years would have been a lot more drab without both WDW and DL in them.
Four years ago, I visited DL and fell in love. The density of its charm, its celebration of its own history, and the odd but wonderful juxtaposition of having all this just walled off from an ordinary urban setting won me over completely.
Both places have added a lot to my life. I spent 5 months living in Florida and working at WDW. During that time, I made friends who are still in my life. Now I'm living in California and have an AP for DL. It's great being able to go to Walt's park whenever I have a free day. And of course, I have managed to become friends with many of the loonies from this site who share this weird fixation. I've run races in both resorts, earning memories I hope to carry always. My years would have been a lot more drab without both WDW and DL in them.
zurgandfriend
Well-Known Member
There are things wrong and of course EPCOT isn't really what he wanted, however overall the parks and the resorts were part of his vision.
BiffyClyro
Well-Known Member
WDW always wins. The WDW Vs DL fans war usually goes like this: DL fan has never been to WDW, has no valid argument. 
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
WDW always wins. The WDW Vs DL fans war usually goes like this: DL fan has never been to WDW, has no valid argument.
Touche for WDW fans.
Cmdr_Crimson
Well-Known Member
I've gone to both resorts..But, I think WDW works better putting attractions in places that work with theming (To some extent). When I went to DL in 2011 during the D23 expo I had more time to explore the parks and as I walked around I felt everything felt too crammed in all the areas especially Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. And DCA It's Just Epcot's Animal Studios....With the majority of rides that can be seen in three parks rather than one really is a downer...It felt weird to ride Soarin and then go see It's Tough to be A Bug, round it off with The Tower of Terror and realize you were just here for an hour..(Wait times vary).
Also the other kick in the teeth was the price of staying on property at DL...I stayed at the Paradise Pier hotel which they rate as a "moderate" hotel which has looks of a value hotel. Staying there for a week was as much as a Two week vacation at WDW!!! I calculated the entire total when I got back and was stunned..So I'm more for WDW than for DL...Sure I'll go back but, it's never the same once you know what your doing.
Also the other kick in the teeth was the price of staying on property at DL...I stayed at the Paradise Pier hotel which they rate as a "moderate" hotel which has looks of a value hotel. Staying there for a week was as much as a Two week vacation at WDW!!! I calculated the entire total when I got back and was stunned..So I'm more for WDW than for DL...Sure I'll go back but, it's never the same once you know what your doing.
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blm07
Active Member
I grew up watching the specials with Walt Disney himself on the Disney Channel back when they used to have actual content on that channel. I always respected the man. But I grew up in Florida, so WDW was my home resort. Then I started collecting audio and started to become interested in Disneyland. I liked both places, and up until a few years ago never knew that Californians hated WDW so much. I always grew up liking both, so why are you hating on my home parks? I feel like it's just the attitude they have over there, everyone is influenced by people they live around. I mean, when they had all those problems in the late 90s, and the whole fiasco with Rocket Rods, I felt bad for you rather than just saying "wow Disneyland just sucks"
I did get to visit the DLR a couple of years ago, and Disneyland felt like a cramped alternate universe which was fun, and DCA was under construction, so I wasn't impressed. I still like them a lot, but WDW will always be my home. Yeah sure there is some smugness in my post, but hey, Californians have been smug for how long for no reason?
I did get to visit the DLR a couple of years ago, and Disneyland felt like a cramped alternate universe which was fun, and DCA was under construction, so I wasn't impressed. I still like them a lot, but WDW will always be my home. Yeah sure there is some smugness in my post, but hey, Californians have been smug for how long for no reason?
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
This couldn't be further from the truth. Californians don't hate WDW. Just because some don't want to visit doesn't automatically mean hate. Same goes for WDW fans who don't have a desire to visit Disneyland. They don't hate Disneyland, it's just there's a lack of interest.
What's this attitude you're speaking of? Yet another California, stereotypical misconception.
Walt Disney1955
Well-Known Member
It is really stupid. And to be honest with you, I privately (okay now its publicly) chuckle at the people unwilling to give the "other" park a try. As you can see from my signature, I finally did it. I went into Disneyland last year with a WDW bias. Sure I had heard how much better Disneyland was to the Magic Kingdom on here but I literally said to myself "Look if it isn't the same as your home park, don't be dissapointed."
Well, I can say with certainty that when you compare Disneyland to just the Magic Kingdom there is no other than Disneyland. It is the better theme park. It is the original, there is a feel to it that is truly nostalgic. Not that WDW doesn't have its fair of nostalgia either, it is just that Disneyland is where it all began.
WDW fans CAN'T pass up a chance to go over to the West Coast to see this marvel. You are not a Disney fan in my mind if you refuse to do this. California Adventure? Don't ever listen to anyone that says it is a lousy park. I was blown away by it for sure. Pure Disney there.
Now, if I am planning a vacation I would say WDW is the better destination and resort. If I have one choice as to which park to visit for just one day it is Disneyland hands down.
Conversely, Disneyland fans who refuse to come to WDW aren't any better. WDW is truly a magical place drenched with Disney.
It is different. They are both different and the same as each other at once. You will never be disappointed of any of them. Each one has their own thing that the other one doesn't and you will compare the parks in a good and fun way, trust me.
Well, I can say with certainty that when you compare Disneyland to just the Magic Kingdom there is no other than Disneyland. It is the better theme park. It is the original, there is a feel to it that is truly nostalgic. Not that WDW doesn't have its fair of nostalgia either, it is just that Disneyland is where it all began.
WDW fans CAN'T pass up a chance to go over to the West Coast to see this marvel. You are not a Disney fan in my mind if you refuse to do this. California Adventure? Don't ever listen to anyone that says it is a lousy park. I was blown away by it for sure. Pure Disney there.
Now, if I am planning a vacation I would say WDW is the better destination and resort. If I have one choice as to which park to visit for just one day it is Disneyland hands down.
Conversely, Disneyland fans who refuse to come to WDW aren't any better. WDW is truly a magical place drenched with Disney.
It is different. They are both different and the same as each other at once. You will never be disappointed of any of them. Each one has their own thing that the other one doesn't and you will compare the parks in a good and fun way, trust me.
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
I still wanna go supervillain one day and build a big helicopter and a miniaturisation gun to go steal the Matterhorn and place it in World Showcase.
pre-refurb matterhorn of course
pre-refurb matterhorn of course
Then you haven't looked hard enough. Given enough time you could probably find someone that prefers 6 Flags over Georgia over WDW or DL.
One reason why I brought this topic up was due to a reply from another thread that I started, about WDW's (or at least MK's) integrity being threatened as it allegedly becomes homogenized thanks to Disneyland: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/on-integrity.859171/. Here's what the response said exactly, on #52:
[F]ans of Disney parks can take their rivalry to spiteful levels. This happens regardless of the park and it's actually really stupid. Some overzealous Disneyland fans might diss anything that isn't "Walt's park", whereas you might see a reactionary comment from a WDW fan as well. Disneyland fans have every right to cherish the originality of their park, WDW fans have every right to cherish the uniqueness of their own resort. I don't see a reason for one to diss the other when there's greatness in every Disney resort on earth (and for the fans who do it, they're only doing themselves a disservice by refusing to visit and enjoy them all). I'd still be inclined to wager that Walt himself would have been pretty upset that fans were creating disrespectful, bitter, and frankly immature and pointless rivalries among his parks. I'd also wager that when planning WDW, he wished for people to enjoy it, not to fight like mad dogs about what resort was superior.
So that's what brought up this new thread. I was actually thinking - hoping, in fact - that the topic would have been brought up so I wouldn't have to do it from scratch. But apparently, after searching for some words that the topic would entail (like "rivalry"), I found nothing and felt compelled to start the topic myself. Anyway, that message in bold is what drove me to bring up this topic as its own thread.
[F]ans of Disney parks can take their rivalry to spiteful levels. This happens regardless of the park and it's actually really stupid. Some overzealous Disneyland fans might diss anything that isn't "Walt's park", whereas you might see a reactionary comment from a WDW fan as well. Disneyland fans have every right to cherish the originality of their park, WDW fans have every right to cherish the uniqueness of their own resort. I don't see a reason for one to diss the other when there's greatness in every Disney resort on earth (and for the fans who do it, they're only doing themselves a disservice by refusing to visit and enjoy them all). I'd still be inclined to wager that Walt himself would have been pretty upset that fans were creating disrespectful, bitter, and frankly immature and pointless rivalries among his parks. I'd also wager that when planning WDW, he wished for people to enjoy it, not to fight like mad dogs about what resort was superior.
So that's what brought up this new thread. I was actually thinking - hoping, in fact - that the topic would have been brought up so I wouldn't have to do it from scratch. But apparently, after searching for some words that the topic would entail (like "rivalry"), I found nothing and felt compelled to start the topic myself. Anyway, that message in bold is what drove me to bring up this topic as its own thread.
5thGenTexan
Well-Known Member
DCL is obviously a better experience all around.
Soarin2u
Well-Known Member
Just need to put this out there. I have met many Asians in my time abroad I am still yet to meet one that wasn't shocked to hear there were two completely different locations of Disney theme parks and resorts. "Wha! tu? taought one in Forrida. Yu American are so rucky"
Wilt Dasney
Well-Known Member
Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai are all much closer to each other than Orlando and Anaheim. So I'd tell them their luck isn't so bad either!Just need to put this out there. I have met many Asians in my time abroad I am still yet to meet one that wasn't shocked to hear there were two completely different locations of Disney theme parks and resorts. "Wha! tu? taought one in Forrida. Yu American are so rucky"
Wilt Dasney
Well-Known Member
This is probably true enough as far as it goes, but I really don't think Walt anticipated having two theme-park heavy resorts on opposite coasts for people to argue over in the first place.
He relented to build MK as a precondition to his true dream, which was E.P.C.O.T. The fact that WDW evolved into a collection of shopping and theme parks with no urban innovation component would probably have upset him deeply.
And the idea of a "Disneyland Resort" would have been very strange to him too. Disneyland was just Disneyland. A place for families to come and have fun for the day. There was never any intention of luring families for long stays. That's what WDW was about.
The fact that people even WOULD argue over DL and WDW this far into the future would probably have been a sign to Walt that something had got lost in the planning, since his ideas for both were so different that there really wouldn't have been much to argue over in his mind.
Thrill
Well-Known Member
I'd argue that, paradoxically, Disneyland also has the blessing of size.
WDW is spread out and a bit obnoxious. Yes, there are more parks; yes, there's 99 holes of golf; however, there are also 99 problems, and transportation is most of them. Getting to Magic Kingdom is a royal pain, and moving within the resort is difficult.
Meanwhile, every part of Disneyland Resort is within walking distance of everything else, and the smaller property is dense with solid attractions.
That isn't to say that Disneyland is outright superior, but I don't think it's size is necessarily a weakness.
Anyway, both resorts are good. Comparing them isn't a horrible thing, but intensely fighting people over which is better is a bit ridiculous.