Disneyland, CA Versus Walt Disney World in Florida

Many people wonder which theme park area is better, Disneyland in California or Walt Disney World in Florida. Having been to both parks recently, I have come to the conclusion that the answer is not easy. Both areas are so unique that it sometimes feels like you’re trying to compare apples to oranges.

Here are some things that both areas seem to have in common:

• Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World are full of that “Disney Magic.” The general feeling when my family walked through the gates of each of the theme parks was one of excitement and wonder. We quickly left our everyday worries behind and let the charm of Disney take us away.

• All theme parks on each coast are very clean. Disney prides itself on creating a near flawless environment.

• In general, the Cast Members (employees) are very friendly.

• Both areas have many characters around the theme parks who are ready to sign autographs and pose for photos. The lines can be very long in any of the areas depending on the time of year.

• Both areas have some attractions in common such as: Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Enchanted Tiki Room, Peter Pan’s Flight, Tower of Terror, Soarin’, Toy Story Mania, Haunted Mansion, Innoventions, Buzz Light Year Auto Blasters, Autopia (not the same name though), Space Mountain, Tom Sawyer’s Island, Riverboats, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Teacups, a Carousel, Tree House, Disney Animations, Turtle Talk with Crush, as well as some others.

Here are some of the differences between Disneyland and Walt Disney World:

• Size: Disneyland Resort in California is much smaller and is completely surrounded by land, with the city of Anaheim completely surrounding it. Walt Disney World in Florida is huge, and a large portion of the total land area Disney World owns is still undeveloped.

• The number of theme parks: The Disneyland Resort in California consists of 2 theme parks and the Downtown Disney area. Walt Disney World in Florida consists of 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a Downtown Disney area, and much more.

• The distance between the theme parks: The two theme parks at the Disneyland Resort are just across a plaza from each other. You can easily walk from one park to another, as well as Downtown Disney, in minutes. Walt Disney World theme parks and other offerings are widely spread out. You can only get to them by car or other means of transport. Walt Disney World has an excellent system of free transportation by bus, monorail, or boat between the theme parks, hotels, water parks, Downtown Disney, and their other offerings.

• Weather: Walt Disney World is generally a little warmer year-round than Disneyland in California. Both areas can get very hot during the summer months, but Disneyland’s heat can be easier to bear due to the lower humidity. Walt Disney World generally receives more rain in the summer, while Disneyland generally receives more rain in the winter.

• Lodging: Disneyland has only three resort hotels on its property, while Walt Disney World has about 18 resort hotels plus one campground on its property.

I just mentioned some of the commonalities and just some of the differences between the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. There may be many more things in each of the above categories that one could add.

Here are some of my favorite things from each area:

Disneyland:

• Disneyland is the original Disney theme park. This theme park was Walt Disney’s brainchild and prototype for all Disney theme parks that followed.

• The theme parks at the Disneyland Resort are easier to get around and generally require less walking to get to the different attractions than the theme parks at Walt Disney World. The Disneyland theme parks are also much easier to visit since they are right next to each other.

• Disneyland has the show, “Billy Hill and the Hillbillies.” This is an incredibly fun show that takes place at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon many times a day for three to four days a week.

• Disneyland has New Orleans Square as one of its grounds. The Blue Bayou restaurant is located here and they serve their famous “Monte Cristo” sandwich. They are located in the same building as the attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean and it is fun to watch the ships go by while you dine or view the restaurant from the ship if you are on the attraction.

The Walt Disney World:

• Cinderella’s Table – This is a wonderful restaurant that is actually located inside Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and diners can meet 5 princesses. Cinderella greets everyone after they enter the castle. Once she is seated at the table above her, she will have a chance to meet 4 other princesses. When we were there, the princesses were Belle, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, and Jasmine. If you don’t like the characters, it’s still a special treat to be inside the castle, and the meals are generally very good.

• Shows: If you like shows, Walt Disney World has plenty. They have “Finding Nemo, the Musical” and “Festival of the Lion King” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. At Hollywood Studios, they have “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Voyage of the Little Mermaid,” as well as two amazing stunt shows.

• The Water Parks: There are two incredible water parks on the property. If you’re lucky enough to be at Walt Disney World for more than a few days, these water parks provide a wonderful, relaxing break from “hitting the pavement” at the theme parks.

• Dine with an Imagineer: This is an incredible opportunity to have lunch or dinner with one of Disney’s “behind the scenes” creators and artists. The Imagineer shares many fascinating stories, plans, and experiences over the course of about 2-3 hours. You have a great opportunity to ask all those Disney questions you always wanted to know.

These are just some of the things I love about Disneyland and Walt Disney World. If I had to choose one area over the other, I would probably have to pick Disneyland as my favorite. This is because it was the first Disney park I went to as a child and also the first my children went to. So, Disneyland has a lot of sentimental value to our family.

If you’re lucky enough to experience both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, the secret might just be to appreciate each area for both its similarities and its uniqueness. Whether you’re at the Disney theme parks in California or the ones in Florida, you’re sure to experience that wonderful Disney magic!