WDW or Disneyland which do your perfer and why?

[RoRo]

WDW because of Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Also WDW is a lot bigger but I will give the Magic Kingdom-style park to Disneyland.

 

[Goofygirl07]

WDW because its closer and larger. Plus, I've never been to Disneyland. It's too far away and I don't think I can get anyone to drive there with me. (too scared to fly:dazzle

 

[the-reason14]

As a whole, WDW no question. MK vs DL is a tough one. DL is better because while its so small, it has so much more to do and a few better incarnations here and there. But MK is my original disney park, and it has my favorate ride space mt., so its a tough decision. I guess Id go with MK because of space mt. and because there's a whole nother world out there that I can explore during a trip.

 

[rkelly42]

Its not just about MK vs. DL, its WDW vs. DL and it trumps it by far. There is so much more to do and see. Between the different shows, the fireworks and all the great restaurants it shouldnt even be a debate, but thats just my opinion. I agree DL has a better MK version than WDW does, but WDW is so much more then just the MK.

 

[Krack]

Here's the thing about Disneyland's parade, fireworks and Fantasmic crowds ...

You have all these annual passholders who routinely show up after work on a weekday night and all they care about is getting something to eat and then seeing Fantasmic and the fireworks. They've done all the rides in the park a hundred times, so they couldn't care less if none of that gets accomplished while they are in the park that night.

So what do they do? They walk in and go straight to where the best place to view Fantasmic is (front and center on the river) and sit down. They don't care that the show doesn't start for two hours. They don't care that a couple hundred other APers are going to do the same thing and make Frontierland unwalkable for the rest of the night. They don't care that the family whose on their first trip to Disney now has to make a choice between getting a good spot for the show (and wasting the next two hours) or spending more time at attractions. They don't care. They came to see the show, that is what they intend to do.

Now, I'm not saying this is good or bad behavior - it's the best (and only) way to accomplish their goal (see the show from the best vantage point) under the system Disney has set up within the park. I'm simply saying, it is what it is. People camp out in front of Fantasmic and in the hub (for the fireworks) like they have lawn seats at a Doobie Brothers concert, hours before the performance. It causes park flow congestion that is unbearable if you need to go through Frontierland or the hub for any reason starting at dusk.

However, because of the nature of the beast, you can get on a ton of rides and attractions during this period on a typical night, because everyone is waiting for the shows to start. And, if you happen to be waiting for the shows too, everyone is generally in a very pleasant mood because they know what to expect (they've done it many times before) and they come prepared. 95% of them are Disney historians and love to have hour-long conversations with the stranger sitting/standing next to them about all things Disney (not unlike this message board).

I'm not kidding, if Disney would let them set up tents, these people would. They'd treat it like a campground starting at 2PM just to have a good seat for Fantasmic. But, again, it's Disney's fault for letting them camp out there - you can't blame the guests.

I love Disneyland, but I hate the way Fantasmic and the fireworks wreck havok on the foot traffic.

 

[ABigBrassBand]

Here's the thing about Disneyland's parade, fireworks and Fantasmic crowds ...

You have all these annual passholders who routinely show up after work on a weekday night and all they care about is getting something to eat and then seeing Fantasmic and the fireworks. They've done all the rides in the park a hundred times, so they couldn't care less if none of that gets accomplished while they are in the park that night.

So what do they do? They walk in and go straight to where the best place to view Fantasmic is (front and center on the river) and sit down. They don't care that the show doesn't start for two hours. They don't care that a couple hundred other APers are going to do the same thing and make Frontierland unwalkable for the rest of the night. They don't care that the family whose on their first trip to Disney now has to make a choice between getting a good spot for the show (and wasting the next two hours) or spending more time at attractions. They don't care. They came to see the show, that is what they intend to do.

Now, I'm not saying this is good or bad behavior - it's the best (and only) way to accomplish their goal (see the show from the best vantage point) under the system Disney has set up within the park. I'm simply saying, it is what it is. People camp out in front of Fantasmic and in the hub (for the fireworks) like they have lawn seats at a Doobie Brothers concert, hours before the performance. It causes park flow congestion that is unbearable if you need to go through Frontierland or the hub for any reason starting at dusk.

However, because of the nature of the beast, you can get on a ton of rides and attractions during this period on a typical night, because everyone is waiting for the shows to start. And, if you happen to be waiting for the shows too, everyone is generally in a very pleasant mood because they know what to expect (they've done it many times before) and they come prepared. 95% of them are Disney historians and love to have hour-long conversations with the stranger sitting/standing next to them about all things Disney (not unlike this message board).

I'm not kidding, if Disney would let them set up tents, these people would. They'd treat it like a campground starting at 2PM just to have a good seat for Fantasmic. But, again, it's Disney's fault for letting them camp out there - you can't blame the guests.

I love Disneyland, but I hate the way Fantasmic and the fireworks wreck havok on the foot traffic.

It happens during the fireworks like this in WDW, dont expect to be moving around the front of the castle or on mainstreet during that time unless you got there early.

I usually take advantage of this and ride the attractions that aren't being paid attention to. In 1 fireworks show I rode Pirates, Space Mountain, and THM.

 

[Laura]

It happens during the fireworks like this in WDW, dont expect to be moving around the front of the castle or on mainstreet during that time unless you got there early.

No...it really doesn't. :lol: People don't start camping out on blankets at 3 in the afternoon for a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show in WDW.

 

[riogirl]

I agree that DL has wonderful rides compared to DW especially the PoC and Small World...I love that they change some to holiday themes too.
Having been to both, I never had the Disney "feeling" at DL that I have at DW. Everything at DL, including the size of the park, feels sooo much smaller with rides too close together.
I wonder if it has to do with my childhood memories being at DW or that DW is more a pure vacation-escape from reality feeling. Driving to DL is like driving down the street and seeing the park out your car window-weird when compared with excitement and mystery of driving up to DW and waiting to get a glimpse of the castle for the first time....no comparison there...

 

[disneychic71]

WDW hands-down. That being said, I prefer a few things about DL: I like its SM more, I love to ride Mr. Toad (!), Toontown is awesome, and best of all, it has the Indiana Jones ride (incredible!).

 

[rkelly42]

I think to many people are comparing DL with MK and not all of WDW itself. Maybe its just me who thinks that.

 

[ABigBrassBand]

No...it really doesn't. :lol: People don't start camping out on blankets at 3 in the afternoon for a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show in WDW.

:ROFLOL:yea not THAT exaggerated, but its still crowded around 30 min before.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I think to many people are comparing DL with MK and not all of WDW itself. Maybe its just me who thinks that.

It's the only reasonable comparison.

Even the OP asks which park you prefer, even though the thread title lists DL and WDW.

Comparing DLR and WDW is like "comparing" Vatican City with Italy. What is there to compare?

 

[echoscot]

I must say this is a pleasant discussion. So many times this question gets asked and people get vicious. It is nice to see that this hasn't happened here.

I moved to Orlando in 1970 and had recently turned 7 when WDW opened, so I grew up with WDW and have a senitmental attachment to it. I am excited about a first real trip to DLR though. THere are many things I want to see there and I'm sure I will love about DLR. However there are many things I love about WDW too.

I am not so crazy about the expansion happy period of the 90s (some good some bad). It kind of destroyed the "leaving the real world" feel of going down World Drive ( in 1971, it was a 4 lane road with simple but pleasant signage and landscaping, like entering a National Park).

But I enjoy many of the new attractions ie Everest and the whole Epcot experience and a massive DTD experience.

So I must say I don't really prefer one over the other, I enjoy each for what they are.

 

[Pongo]

I'll just share my experience. I had wanted to visit DL for a long time simply for the history there, but I always suspected it would feel a bit like "WDW-lite." I figured I'd get there and think something like "Aww, they're trying to do a little Disney park here. How cute, God bless 'em!" When you've only been to the Florida resort, it's hard to believe that such a small place could "feel" the same.

Last May I finally made it there. My first night I wasn't going to a park, so I just walked over to DLR to eat at DTD and while the night away looking around.

As soon as I got through the bag check and was just standing in the plaza between the parks and DTD, I was honestly overcome. The DL train station was at my right shoulder, the same music I heard on my iTunes all the time and associated with WDW was playing. I had just turned off the street a minute before, but I could have sworn I'd just stepped off the MK monorail. All I could do was smile, because I simply couldn't believe how "Disney" the place felt...and I hadn't even set foot in a park yet. I probably just stood there for 30 seconds grinning like an idiot. It wasn't the last time I felt that way, but it was the most memorable, because it was so unexpected.

That's a corny story, I'm well aware, but hopefully it speaks to what you're worried about.

This literally could have come out of my mouth, word-for-word. This is exactly what happened to me the night before my first steps into Disneyland Park and I felt the exact same way.

All you have to add in is a crazy double-the-speed-limit taxi ride from our hotel to Target to get a digital camera just seconds before it closed. Oh, memories.

 

[wesTcoastY]

I agree that DL has wonderful rides compared to DW especially the PoC and Small World...I love that they change some to holiday themes too.
Having been to both, I never had the Disney "feeling" at DL that I have at DW. Everything at DL, including the size of the park, feels sooo much smaller with rides too close together.
I wonder if it has to do with my childhood memories being at DW or that DW is more a pure vacation-escape from reality feeling. Driving to DL is like driving down the street and seeing the park out your car window-weird when compared with excitement and mystery of driving up to DW and waiting to get a glimpse of the castle for the first time....no comparison there...

While at the same time, driving on the 5 in Anaheim trying to spot the Matterhorn is a memory i will forever cherish. It was just a magical as seeing the castle as you enter WDW property.

 

[Courtney1188]

Let's see...would I rather have four parks or one? Hmm...

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Let's see...would I rather have four parks or one? Hmm...

Well, to begin with, DLR has two parks ...but regardless, number of parks is just not much of a distinguishing factor IMO.

It usually gets pointed out in these kinds of discussions that DLR has nearly as many attractions in its two parks as WDW has in its four, and continues to close the gap as DCA's expansion rolls out. By 2013, the number will be almost even. WDW's parks are more sparse, and you won't find a better Disney park in North America than DL for my money.

Now if you want to dig down a little deeper and say that having a park specifically devoted to the appreciation of nature with live animals or a park dedicated to the wonders of human achievement from a scientific and cultural perspective is a separating factor, then that's a legitimate argument.

Or if you want to go OUTSIDE the parks and point to things like the Boardwalk, water parks, or recreational amenities available at WDW, that could be a legitimate separating factor.

Just citing the number of parks doesn't say much about either resort, though!

 

[_Scar]

Just citing the number of parks doesn't say much about either resort, though!

Well, would you rather have tons of attractions all jam-packed together or would you rather have them in their own unique park excluding most of Disneyland attractions?

:shrug: Isn't that valid?

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Well, would you rather have tons of attractions all jam-packed together or would you rather have them in their own unique park excluding most of Disneyland attractions?

:shrug: Isn't that valid?

Yes. Saying you would prefer four parks with more breathing room (or empty space, based on your feeling ) to two parks stuffed to bursting with attractions (although really only DL fits that description; DCA honestly feels more like a WDW park at present) is a legitimate distinction on which one can base a preference. That's a nuanced position that actually takes a comparison of the two resorts seriously.

My point was simply that saying you'd prefer WDW solely on the basis that it allows you to walk through more entrance gates strikes me as a tad glib and unrelated to anything pertinent.

(I hope this doesn't come off as a personal attack on the poster who expressed that opinion; I'm just pointing out why I found the argument itself lacking.)

 

[Laura]

Well, would you rather have tons of attractions all jam-packed together or would you rather have them in their own unique park excluding most of Disneyland attractions?

:shrug: Isn't that valid?

I'm not a fan of walking farther for no reason, personally. :lookaroun