- Disneyland and Disney World fans feel strongly about which destination is best.
- Thebiggest differences are obvious, but many others are more nuanced.
- Understanding those differences and accounting for personal preferences can help travelers pick the right resort for them.
If you want to start an argument among Disney fans, just ask which is better:Disneyland or Walt Disney World.
Faithful fansfiercely defend their favorites, but there is no wronganswer.
"It's like picking a favorite child," said Lisa Eylens, who loves both so much she became a planDisney panelistto share tips and tricks with fellow Disney guests.
There are ways, however, for travelers to figure out which destination isright for them.
"You need to consider your family and what is important to them, what attractions they might enjoy, what characters they might enjoy, how many days do you have," Eylens said.
It also helps knowing what'sunique toeach destination.
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What is the difference between Disneyland and Disney World?
"To me, the biggest difference wasat Disneyland, there's much more nostalgia. There's much more 'This is what Walt did,'" said Ashley Ryan, a fellow planDisney panelist who grew up going to Disney World. PlanDisney panelists are not Disney cast members but park experts who apply for the advisory role andare rewarded with a Disney tripin exchange for sharing insightswith fellow guests.
Disneyland is the only park Walt Disney personally opened. There, guests can see the GriffithPark bench he sat onwhen he first dreamed up Disneyland, slurp upWalt's Chili at Carnation Cafe, enjoy attractions he worked onlike Matterhorn Bobsleds and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room,and as part of the guided Walt's Main Street Storytour, even visithis former apartment above Town Square Fire Station.
"For a true Disney fan,If you haven't ever been to Disneyland, you'll really appreciate the history and the fact that that was Walt's original dream," saidEylens, who's hadannual passes forboth Disneyland and Disney World for years."It is a very different experience from Disney World."
Among other differences, it's easier to park hop at Disneyland because its two theme parks, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, are just across a plaza from each other and footsteps away from the Downtown Disney District.
Disney Worldismuch largerand its four parks – Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom – are further apart. The Florida resortis also home totwo water parks,multiple golf and miniature golf courses,ESPN Wide World of Sports and Disney Springs.
"There's definitely more of a variety there than you would get a Disneyland," Eylens said. "And for me, when we go to Disney World,I really love to have some time at the resort too. It's a great way to break up the days at the parks ... and it just makes it feel like a vacation, where we still get that Disney magic staying on property."
While both Disney World and Disneylandfeature accommodations, attractions, dining venues, nighttime spectacularsand other experiencesunique to theirlocation, there are a number of attractions guests can rideat both resorts. However even some of those,like Pirates of the Caribbean, are executed differently.
"I really enjoythe subtle differences,"said Ryan. When sheand her husband first rode Space Mountain at Disneyland, she said, "Immediately we're like, 'OK, even the setup is different.'We got to sit next to each other, where in Disney World we sit front and back. And I felt that overall the Space Mountain at Disneyland was a bit of a smoother ride."
Disneyland also overhauls "it's a small world"and Haunted Mansion for the holidays.
"The holiday lighting that happens at night is just amazing," Eylens said. "Riding 'it'sa small world' and listening to the holiday tunes that they set in and seeing all the holiday decorations, that's one of my favorites."
Other differences longtimefans may notice is Disneyland still has Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, which closed at Disney World decades ago.Disney World still has Tomorrowland PeopleMover and Carousel of Progress, which moved over from Disneyland in the 1970s.
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What events are at Disney World, Disneyland?
Each resort hosts unique festivals and events throughout the year, though both partake in Celebrate Soulfully.
Disney World:
- EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
- EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
- EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
- Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween at Magic Kingdom
- Mickey's Very Merry Christmas at Magic Kingdom
- Earth Day celebrations at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disneyland:
- Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
- Disney Festival of Holidays andDisney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party at Disney California Adventure
- Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney California Adventure
- Eggstravaganza at Disneyland
- Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland
- Día de los Muertos festivities at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
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Is Disneyland cheaper thanDisney World?
The cheapest tickets at Disneyland cost slightly less than their Disney World counterparts.
One-day, one-park tickets to Disneyland start at $104.
The starting price is $109 at Disney World.
Ticket prices fluctuatedepending on time of year at both resorts. Themore days guests add on, the less each day costs.
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Which has more attractions, Disney World or Disneyland?
With double the theme parks and two water parks, Disney World offersmore attractions overall than Disneyland.
Guests can find details on all the attractions and experiences available atDisneyland and Disney World on their respective websites.
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Which is better, Disneyland or Disney World?
Personal preferences and core memoriesoften dictate which parks people prefer.
For Ryan and Eylens, there's a clear winner: Disney World's EPCOT.
"I am not even shy about it," Ryan said. "EPCOTis my absolute favorite park. I just think that there's really nothing like it out there. You getthe rides and the food as well as all of the cultural educationin the same place."
Guests can learn about variouscountries like Moroccoand Norway and sampletheir foodsatEPCOT's World Showcase. Disneyland, meanwhile, hosts cultural celebrationsaroundLunar New Year, Dia de Los Muertos and holidays such asKwanzaa andDiwali.
EPCOT also boastsDisney World's newest ride,Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind,one of Eylens' favorites.
"I love throwing my hands up in the air and screaming, and my family is the same," the self-described roller coaster junkiesaid. "That is our idea of fun." Shealso loves The Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure.
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Which one is right for you?
"You can make a really great vacation out of either," Ryan said. "What are you trying to get out of your trip and how long would you like to spend there? What kinds of things are you looking to experience?"
Both destinations require multiple days to enjoy at a leisurely pace, but guests with tighter time constraints can experience more of Disneyland in fewer daysthan Disney World. Other practical considerations includeairfare and other transportation costs and even weather, because rain is almost always in the forecast in Florida and rare inSouthern California.
Fandoms can also be a factor. Guests who loveclassic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Disney princesses, Star Wars and Pixar can gettheir fill at either destination, but Disney World is the only place guests will findPandora – the World of Avatarand all the animals of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Meanwhile, Disneyland is the place to go forAvengers Campus and Cars Land.
"Cars Land is on the top of our list," said Ryan, whose son is 4years old. "He loves Lightning McQueen, loves Mater ... Right now is like the sweet spot for 'Cars' for him."
"You have to really just consider your family before you choose the coast and flights," Eylens said.
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