Should a Disney fanatic vist each side of the coast or not?

[Walt Disney1955]

What side are you on? Or are you on any side at all?

In my opinion any chest thumping from Disneyland apologists vs. WDW apologists is crazy. Both are wonderful places to visit and while WDW is bigger Disneyland has the luxury of being the original and more quaint and in a way, more personal, I think. WDW is a place you can spend 7 days and never leave the property and still not see everything. Disneyland Park, not so much but it has the best theme park of the bunch and in my mind is a "can't miss" even for a WDW fan living on the East Coast.

So I've been to both Disneyland and WDW. I am glad I have and if I ever get some money I can at least have the luxury of having a "problem" of which park to choose. And I mean that literally, I don't know where I would want to go next, I am back and forth.

My question here is, do you feel a true Disney fan should visit both parks and not be stubborn and assume theirs is the best? Or do you feel you are entitled with good reason to believe "your" home park is the best and nothing else compares?

I'll keep this to just the American parks, the two oldest resorts.

 

[OswaldTheRabbit]

Wdw will always be out home park just because we live on the east coast but I am dying to go see disneyland. I would also love to see any others while visiting abroad. We are planning a trip to France in 2 years and I will hit DL Paris for a day.

 

[ImagineerDude]

I personally like WDW better, but everyone should try both and never put yourself through the Cali spring break crowds like I did! World of Color was my favorite thing! But try the other So Cal stuff as well. In fact, this time last year I was strutting down Rodeo Drive acting all cool

 

[AintNoOtherMan]

I think if someone wants to try both, they should. If they don't, they don't have to. Personally, I'm going to Disneyland this summer (Maybe...), and I'm very, very excited!

 

[epcotisbest]

Never been to DL as WDW is driving distance for us.
Would like to try DL, but for us it is not a must do.
Wife has been while on a business trip to Long Beach and she liked it.

 

[EOD K9]

I'm fortunate enough to have been to both and DLP. I don't think you can offer a valued opinion unless you have seen DL and WDW. I will always love WDW, but also enjoyed DL. However, MSUSA in Paris is favorite. If you can afford, it, yes, a true fan should go.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I think it's a no-brainer for Disney fans to visit each coast. You're not "cheating" on the other (so absurd)... They're both Disney so how would it be "cheating"?

I'm planning on visiting every Disney resort.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I suppose, one should probably check out the other properties. I've yet to go out of my way to do so though, as I've not been near them enough to make a day trip (or other) out of it. I won't fly to say, the west coast just to hit DL though. For one thing, there's only one Epcot! If I had the opportunity though, sure - absolutely.

 

[Disneykidder]

I have been to both. I think it was neat to visit DL, the original. It made me feel great to walk through the castle knowing Walt did the exact same thing each morning. I loved the different lands in DL and restaurants. There were subtle differences in the rides that are in both DL and WDW, but still differences none the less. While DL was great, it is very expensive. Since you don't need to visit it as long as you would WDW, ticket prices are higher, thus being more expensive. For three days in DL, I can get seven in WDW. The resorts in Dl are also more. There are good neighbor hotels but still can be pricey. Then there is airfare which is pricier for me to go to CA than FL. Points per resort are a big difference, too. More in CA.

With that, we are visiting WDW this summer and next summer we are visiting both. Weird but the airfare cost is less to go from FL to CA than NY to CA, if that makes any sense. So we are going to WDW and then flying from there to DL. My hubby has family in CA so we will drive from there to visit them on the other side.

 

[kane47]

I love both DL and WDW. You cannot beat the original attractions at DL that Walt had direct impact on. But the feeling of being in your own world like at WDW is a great experience. You don't see any distractions that make you feel like you are in the real word. That for me is what gives WDW the leg up.

 

[luv]

I don't think you need to have visited both to keep your "Real Fan" status. I have yet to make it to California...but I do want to go - walk the park that Walt walked, see the little castle, all of that.

If you want to go, you should. If you don't, you shouldn't. It is very cool to have done both. No biggie or lost Disney Street Cred if you didn't!!

(I voted "undecided".)

ETA: I am a dope and misunderstood. Yes, you should visit both if you want to make a judgement about which is better.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I won't fly to say, the west coast just to hit DL though.

I did. I sat on a 5-hour flight out to LAX to spend 4 nights in/near Disneyland and never did anything else in SoCal and completely loved it!

I have no shame.

However, my upcoming trip to DLP will be part of a longer stay including Paris proper.

 

[pumpkin7]

I'd love to go and visit the park that Walt built. One day I hope I do!

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Paris I can see hitting often, especially once I move to within 3-4 hours of it!

Of course, that means quite a trek to my ol' WDW stomping grounds.

I think the differences between DL and MK alone are worth a trip though, at some point.

 

[PUSH]

Haven't been to Disneyland, but I plan on going someday.

You can't really judge either of the parks or say either of the parks are better than the others without visiting them both. It's simply unfair. I don't talk about DLR too much because I have no opinion on it yet, and I have no room to speak.

 

[marni1971]

Absolutely. I lived for WDW and then I finally got to Disneyland. It opened even my eyes.

 

[AllyInWonderland]

I'd love to go and visit the park that Walt built. One day I hope I do!

Me too!

 

[afar28]

I'd love to visit Disneyland, but a flight from NYC to Cali is rather expensive. One day...

 

[rufio]

I think so, but I haven't had a chance to go to Disneyland. Living in North Carolina makes it much more affordable to go to WDW - about $100 to drive there vs a few hundred for airfare. We're also DVC members, so hotel is taken care of, but it's not that easy on the west coast.

 

[Disvillain63]

I've been going to WDW since 1972 and have always wanted to go to DL. Finally got the chance to go in 2011 and Loved it!!! I want to go back some day, but I want to go to all the Disney parks. They're very different because at DL, you can't slip away from the real world as you can at WDW. However, they both have something to offer and a place in my heart.