Was Magic Kingdom considered superior to Disneyland in 1971?

[Walt Disney1955]

So it was the fresh park that opened and while we should ignore the fact that WDW resort had more to offer and gave a broader experience overall even on opening day, let's just isolate the two parks. What was the perception in 1971? Was Disneyland still considered to be the better park at that time? Generally speaking those of us that have been to both will consider Disneyland the better individual park, but in 1971 was that the perception?

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

Fantastic question. Given I was born after MK opened, I'm as curious as you to know what the perception was from people who lived in that time and remember.

That said, I have to think that as similar as the parks are, they were still very different. If I'm not mistaken, DL has far more offerings than MK does, but I'm not sure if that was true back then. Maybe they were on more equal footing back in the day. The utilidors however gave MK a very large operational advantage that DL simply didn't have, but I don't know if that really translates into a better guest experience. I'll guess that folks will still say DL. That's my best guess.

 

[SteveAZee]

Disneyland had a LOT more to do than the Magic Kingdom in 1971. You can Google guide maps from that era of both parks and see the difference. The vibe was very different as well, though my first personal experience was in 1973 and limited to the Magic Kingdom (I didn't visit Disneyland until much later).

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

The most noteworthy difference was probably that The Magic Kingdom lacked Disneyland's best attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean.

And famously, this was such a big source of disappointment and complaints that they rushed out the "lite" version that we're stuck with to this day.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

Disneyland had a LOT more to do than the Magic Kingdom in 1971. You can Google guide maps from that era of both parks and see the difference. The vibe was very different as well, though my first personal experience was in 1973 and limited to the Magic Kingdom (I didn't visit Disneyland until much later).

Can you tell us more about the difference in vibe? I certainly experience a big difference today, but I'd be very curious what you noticed in 1973 (even if the Disneyland visit that you're comparing was much later)!

 

[AdventureHasAName]

By 1980, it was definitely considered superior. It was Disneyland-but-bigger, even before EPCOT Center in 1982.

 

[Heppenheimer]

There probably wasn't much of a perception of one being superior to the other because very few people had likely visited both at the time, and there wasn't an internet of opinions to compare and contrast. I don't think Birnbaum even published his first guide book until the 80s, so the only way you could really compare the two without actually visiting was filtered through TV specials, or newspaper travel reviews.

By the 80s, though, Disney World definately had a more premium perception.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Phase 1 of MK didn't finish until 1975. It would be better to compare/contrast the two parks of that year.

 

[SteveAZee]

Can you tell us more about the difference in vibe? I certainly experience a big difference today, but I'd be very curious what you noticed in 1973 (even if the Disneyland visit that you're comparing was much later)!

Everything was spread out and low to the ground at MK. No mountains (Splash, Space, etc) and even though it was spread out, there were a ton of people (this is August of '73) so getting on the attractions was sometimes a long wait. It also felt a little stagnant... between the heat and humidity and the lack of kinetics (seeing stuff moving around) it was odd. I do remember thinking that it had promise, though...I liked the attention to detail and the attractions were interesting without having to be thrill rides. First trip to Disneyland was probably 15 years later, but just looking at the map from the 70's there was a LOT of stuff back then and elevated, I guess... things were moving and close in and there was energy and excitement.

Having been to both lately, I prefer MK to Disneyland and I'm one of the odd people that actually really enjoy California Adventure and like it more in many ways compared to DL. Disneyland feel TOO dense now... and it feels like a patchwork of ideas and rides, particularly Tomorrowland. With everyone pushing strollers and the narrow pathways of DL, it's too much.

So, take my opinion a grain of salt since telling most people I think MK>CA>DL is heresy.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I don't think anyone thought WDW's MK was better then Disneyland's. I still don't think that most think that it is superior even today. The resort itself very quickly was able to outshine DL, but until other parks started to open in WDW it certainly had no basis of being superior.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

Everything was spread out and low to the ground at MK. No mountains (Splash, Space, etc) and even though it was spread out, there were a ton of people (this is August of '73) so getting on the attractions was sometimes a long wait. It also felt a little stagnant... between the heat and humidity and the lack of kinetics (seeing stuff moving around) it was odd. I do remember thinking that it had promise, though...I liked the attention to detail and the attractions were interesting without having to be thrill rides. First trip to Disneyland was probably 15 years later, but just looking at the map from the 70's there was a LOT of stuff back then and elevated, I guess... things were moving and close in and there was energy and excitement.

Having been to both lately, I prefer MK to Disneyland and I'm one of the odd people that actually really enjoy California Adventure and like it more in many ways compared to DL. Disneyland feel TOO dense now... and it feels like a patchwork of ideas and rides, particularly Tomorrowland. With everyone pushing strollers and the narrow pathways of DL, it's too much.

So, take my opinion a grain of salt since telling most people I think MK>CA>DL is heresy.

Thanks for taking the time to describe all this. It's really interesting, and cool to hear the firsthand account of the early days!

I am indeed surprised that you like MK more than DL today, though. And even more that you like DCA more than DL! Unless I visit DL on a high-crowd-level day (in which case it's indeed a poor experience compared to the other parks, as it wasn't designed to handle those crowds), I find it superior to all of the other US Disney parks - in terms of the overall feel (charm, "architecture of reassurance," "magic"), the array of different environments to explore via the diversity of lands, the various quiet corners and quirky spaces, the unrivaled lineup of e-tickets...

 

[JIMINYCR]

Everything was spread out and low to the ground at MK. No mountains (Splash, Space, etc) and even though it was spread out, there were a ton of people (this is August of '73) so getting on the attractions was sometimes a long wait. It also felt a little stagnant... between the heat and humidity and the lack of kinetics (seeing stuff moving around) it was odd. I do remember thinking that it had promise, though...I liked the attention to detail and the attractions were interesting without having to be thrill rides. First trip to Disneyland was probably 15 years later, but just looking at the map from the 70's there was a LOT of stuff back then and elevated, I guess... things were moving and close in and there was energy and excitement.

Having been to both lately, I prefer MK to Disneyland and I'm one of the odd people that actually really enjoy California Adventure and like it more in many ways compared to DL. Disneyland feel TOO dense now... and it feels like a patchwork of ideas and rides, particularly Tomorrowland. With everyone pushing strollers and the narrow pathways of DL, it's too much.

So, take my opinion a grain of salt since telling most people I think MK>CA>DL is heresy.

I go along with you. My opinion is probably influenced from the many more MK trips I’ve had and the memories MK has delivered. I did love DL with its differences and the historical background it has and found it very enjoyable but it didn’t do enough to make me love it more over MK. Each person has things that make each park a fav and it’s good we have both to enjoy.

 

[SteveAZee]

Thanks for taking the time to describe all this. It's really interesting, and cool to hear the firsthand account of the early days!

I am indeed surprised that you like MK more than DL today, though. And even more that you like DCA more than DL! Unless I visit DL on a high-crowd-level day (in which case it's indeed a poor experience compared to the other parks, as it wasn't designed to handle those crowds), I find it superior to all of the other US Disney parks - in terms of the overall feel (charm, "architecture of reassurance," "magic"), the array of different environments to explore via the diversity of lands, the various quiet corners and quirky spaces, the unrivaled lineup of e-tickets...

Glad to be of service.

I'll admit that having MK (and WDW) as my 'home park' and having that experience wired in early (going on 50 years now for me), I have some bias. Disneyland has felt overcrowded (crowds, strollers, narrow paths, etc) and that tends to get under my skin. As I mentioned, it has grown so much in it's life that it feels overwrought in some ways. CA has space and comfort and room to breathe, which I prefer. CA also feels more adult whereas Disneyland feels more for kids. I know that DL and CA have more rides/attractions than WDW (at least that's what is reported here... I have done the count myself) but I do WDW 10 days at a time and I LIKE having everything spread out. It just feels better and more relaxing. It's probably why I have DVC at Old Key West... the spread out, relaxed nature of it.

 

[jloucks]

For what it is worth, I went to both in like 83, 83 (right before Epcot Center opened), and don't remember either being better than the other.

Of course I was like 15 at the time, so my memory is a little fuzzy.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

I know that DL and CA have more rides/attractions than WDW (at least that's what is reported here... I have done the count myself) but I do WDW 10 days at a time and I LIKE having everything spread out. It just feels better and more relaxing. It's probably why I have DVC at Old Key West... the spread out, relaxed nature of it.

Oh for sure. If we compare all of WDW with all of the "Disneyland Resort" complex, there's... well... simply no comparison.

Indeed, of my favorite WDW experiences are outside the parks, like the Sassagoula River Cruise between Disney Springs and Port Orleans Riverside, the shores of the Polynesian, the Boardwalk, etc. It's just at a different level.

 

[SteveAZee]

Oh for sure. If we compare all of WDW with all of the "Disneyland Resort" complex, there's... well... simply no comparison.

Indeed, of my favorite WDW experiences are outside the parks, like the Sassagoula River Cruise between Disney Springs and Port Orleans Riverside, the shores of the Polynesian, the Boardwalk, etc. It's just at a different level.

That's a REALLY good point... the other stuff. Getting a pontoon boat, taking it into the middle of Bay Lake, and lying down on the cushions, just relaxing... or piloting from OKW dock to Disney Springs. Even riding the monorail (I was really disappointed by the 'view' from the DL monorail). Hoop Dee Doo. Walking World Showcase. LOL, even just doing Carousel of Progress... which I did when it was at the NY World's Fair and have tiny slivers of memory of the experience. Last time there I did the Crescent Lake walk. A new one is riding the Skyliner, a reminder of what they've taken out of the parks.

 

[BeentoallDParks]

There was one important aspect of early WDW that is easy to forget: Most Americans had never been to Central Florida then. Orlando was some random cow town with a weird name near the swamps. MK was only half-built, yes, but most of the things outside the parks that we use today weren’t built at all. When my family went to WDW in the early ‘70s, we could count the alligators lying on the banks by the side of the roads that went past canals and water. The air smelled of oranges. Everyone knew all about Southern California; it was established. But making the decision to go to Central Florida at that time would have felt more like a risk—what was there? It was clear that a lot of money was being poured into the place, and the Disney publicity machine was pushing the image of the Contemporary Resort to the public super hard, but many people would have felt Disneyland was a safer bet, with more to do (like the Matterhorn), and an easier one to reach, and stay near, and get to.

 

[wendysmom]

What I remember from a young person's point of view was the difference in the castles. MK's was amazing in its size! I loved walking through it and seeing the beautiful mosaic! But I was disappointed that we couldn't go inside it as you can in Disneyland's. I also felt MK had a larger, more sprawling feel. I was there in 73 for the first time, while I had been out to Disneyland aas a small child in 67.

 

[Tim Lohr]

Well? "in 1971" when Magic Kingdom opened in there wasn't much there. Tomorrowland was just the race cars, Mission to Mars, and the Circle Vision movie, Frontierland was the Diamond Horseshoe, Country Bears and Shooting Arcade, and famously there was no Pirates which angered the guests... so I'm guessing "no" it wasn't considered superior in 1971 , but I wasn't there

I remember WDW's 15th Anniversary in 1986 seemed huge, I was at the 10th in '81 which was nice, but in 1986 phase 1 of Epcot was complete and the combination of that and Magic Kingdom really began to eclipse Disneyland Park... and then the summer of 1989 when MGM, Typhoon Lagoon, and Pleasure Island opened WDW seemed like the place to be

I was at Animal Kingdom the summer it opened and there wasn't much there at the time, it felt kind of underwhelming but you tell it had potential, I'm guess that's what it must have been like at Magic Kingdom in 1971, especially if you'd been to Disneyland before Magic Kingdom 1971

 

[AndyS2992]

I don’t think so. When Magic Kingdom opened people were whining there was no Pirates of the Caribbean so they hastily built it when there was no plan to add it which is why it’s the worst version of the ride.

Disneyland even today is still considered superior simply because it was ‘Walt’s park’ and gets treated with far more respect for this reason alone.