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Difference between Disney Land and Disney World?

They are actually pretty different. Disneyworld is a place you escape to for a week or so, it's very regimented and requires detailed planning at least 60 days out or you are going to have a fun, but probably frustrating time. It's a lot of fun provided you do the required planning.

Disneyland on the other hand is a 2-3 day thing (Giving you more days to enjoy Southern California). It can possibly be condensed to a day if you are okay with skipping out on some things you probably shouldn't skip but don't mind missing things you don't know about.

I live in LA and go to Disneyland probably like twice a month with my wife and kid. It's fun and we just go with the flow, doing what we feel like/can get a fast pass for.

I also have done disneyworld twice in the last few years. It's definitely the more impressive of the two due to the ambition, budget, size, and complexity of the operations. Just don't go thinking you can just wing it and have a good time. You need to book your fast passes as soon as you can (60 days before if you are on property) you need to plan what park you are hitting at what day and if it is worth getting to the park an hour before opening (some rides will routinely run a 2+ hour line unless you do the power walk race at park opening)
 
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epicnemesis said:
They are actually pretty different. Disneyworld is a place you escape to for a week or so, it's very regimented and requires detailed planning at least 60 days out or you are going to have a fun, but probably frustrating time. It's a lot of fun provided you do the required planning.

Disneyland on the other hand is a 2-3 day thing, can possibly be condensed to a day if you are okay with skipping out on some things you probably shouldn't skip but don't mind missing things you don't know about.

I live in LA and go to Disneyland probably like twice a month with my wife and kid. It's fun and we just go with the flow, doing what we feel like/can get a fast pass for.

I also have done disneyworld twice in the last few years. It's definitely the more impressive of the two due to the ambition, budget, size, and complexity of the operations. Just don't go thinking you can just wing it and have a good time. You need to book your fast passes as soon as you can (60 days before if you are on property) you need to plan what park you are hitting at what day and if it is worth getting to the park an hour before opening (some rides will routinely run a 2+ hour line unless you do the power walk race at park opening)
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This OP makes sure you book everything you want to do asap. Plan your whole day out and get the fast passes for the big rides you want to do because the lines are going to be long all day.

Prepare for the Florida heat
 
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Disney Land will always feel at home to me being a native californian (Though no longer living there.) Florida has its perks of having more to do. But nothing beats the original to me.
 
Disney world is a capitalist rat trap. Behind all the glitter and song their sole intention is to siphon every dollar out of your pocket.
 
Disneyland is smaller and more intimate. It is the only Disney theme park that Walt Disney himself walked in.

The area surrounding Disneyland grew with and independently of the park. Walt Disney only bought 100 acres or so for the park, the parking lot and the Disneyland Hotel. When it came time to build Walt Disney World, the company secretly bought up land under multiple fake names. Therefore the company has more control over the surrounding areas.

Today, whereas as the Disneyland Resort is two parks and a handful of hotels, Disney World is four primary parks, a couple water parks, a race track and a shitload of hotels. The monorail system is bigger and there is even an aerial tramway. Whereas Disneyland has backstage areas hidden from the guest's view, the Magic Kingdom put the backstage areas primarily underground. The second floor is technically the theme park.

The resorts share rides in common, though they may be in different parks, have small or large differences, or be the same ride with different facades. Star Tours is in Disneyland Park. In Disney World, Star Tours is in Disney's Hollywood Studios (formally Disney-MGM Studios).Space Mountain in Anaheim is a single track roller coaster in the dark with a soundtrack. Space Mountain in Florida is a double-track coaster and the ride system is basically the Matterhorn in the dark, and guests sit in tandem rather than side to side, and there is no soundtrack.

There are some rides that are at Disneyland but not in Disney World, and vice versa. You won't find Cars Land in Disney World, and you won't find Mission: Space in Disneyland.

I prefer Disneyland over Disney World, but I grew up in Anaheim. I've been to Disneyland hundreds of times in my life, but going forward I only go 2-3 times per year, for my kid.

The greatest Disney theme park is Tokyo DisneySea, however. I went in 2007. I hope to take my son someday.
 
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Disney World is nice if you have little kids, but Universal Studios is the best place to go in general. Whatever you do, just get a fast-pass. It's totally worth not waiting in line, missing out on rides because of wasted time.
 
I've only been to Disney World but I've done a lot of research online and from what I understand Disneyland has the exclusive Indiana Jones ride, which is supposed to be great and the superior version of Pirates of The Caribbean.

It also has an exclusive Toon Town area with a Roger Rabbit ride.

Plus there's simply the history of being the original park and the only one Walt himself set foot in.
 
Disney world
Pro: multiple parks, tons of things to do. Variety of hotels and themes
Con: it's in florida. Takes at least a week to see everything due to sheer size. Rain, rain rain. Ideally you want to stay at one of their hotels.

Disney world
Pro: the OG. Things are more concentrated. You don't have to stay in one of disney's hotels.
Con: smaller in size

Tbh, I dont know if Disneyland/world is worth it anymore due to increasing prices.
 
epicnemesis said:
I live in LA and go to Disneyland probably like twice a month with my wife and kid. It's fun and we just go with the flow, doing what we feel like/can get a fast pass for.
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I am big believer in everyone spending their free time, with no judgement from others. Go to Europe or stay at home for a week. Your business not mine.

But, c'mon...


WHAT THE DONALD DUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?
 
Lone Wolf said:
You buy an annual pass.
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$419 for residents is a decent price, Ill give them that. For me that'd be like 1/3 of my tax rebate each year (if I were a resident)

that said, twice a month (or basically once a paychack) does seem pretty excessive. But hey, i work a dead end job so that's just from my perspective.
 
Omeggos said:
$419 for residents is a decent price, Ill give them that. For me that'd be like 1/3 of my tax rebate each year (if I were a resident)

that said, twice a month (or basically once a paychack) does seem pretty excessive. But hey, i work a dead end job so that's just from my perspective.
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I have family in L.A. that gets annual passes every year. It's really not a bad price and they do a lot of things there including the restaurants.
 
Red Crayon Aristocrat said:
I've only been to Disney World but I've done a lot of research online and from what I understand Disneyland has the exclusive Indiana Jones ride, which is supposed to be great and the superior version of Pirates of The Caribbean.

It also has an exclusive Toon Town area with a Roger Rabbit ride.

Plus there's simply the history of being the original park and the only one Walt himself set foot in.
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What it doesn't have is Animal Kingdom and two of the best rides of all time in Operation Everest and Avatar. Hollywood Studios also has the original version of Tower of Terror, AeroSmith's Rocking Roller Coaster abs Toy Story Land as exclusives: Star Wars Land connects to Star Tours. Epcot bores kids but I love it....Magic Kingdom though kinda sucks compared to Disneyland with worse versions of all the rides. That said Snow White's Mine train is probably my favorite ride in any Disney Park and they're building Tron from Shanghai so it will eventually be great.

I miss living in SoCal though and having free admission to visit Disneyland any time and not feeling obligated to spend all day.
 
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I have an annual pass to Disney World and its relatively cheap compared to Disney Land. They also have a really good promotion for Florida Residents right now. But yeah Animal Kingdom is probably the best park with Avatar, Mount Everest, and a 30 min Safari which is probably has the best ride to wait ratio. Epcot currently should be avoided with massive construction and Test Track closed but they have amazing drinks and food and soon Ratatouille and Guardians of the Galaxy (whole new ride) will be open. Hollywood Studios is the most crowded right now having the 5 newest rides but I have to say Rise of the Resistance is the greatest thing ever and felt like being in a real Star Wars experience, we are going in two weeks for the Mickey Train ride so Ill be sure to tell everyone how it is lol.

I haven't been to Disney Land in a few years but I will probably go after E3. Now if we are comparing Universals, Orlando is vastly superior unless you are going for the Hollywood behind the scenes experience
 
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newtypepilot said:
Con: it's in florida. Takes at least a week to see everything due to sheer size. Rain, rain rain. Ideally you want to stay at one of their hotels.
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The rain really is a bitch in Florida, an overcast day isn't too bad since it's easier on your eyes and you don't need to wear sunglasses but it's simply no fun to get rained on and it happens constantly.


MrMephistoX said:
What it doesn't have is Animal Kingdom and two of the best rides of all time in Operation Everest and Avatar. Hollywood Studios also has the original version of Tower of Terror, AeroSmith's Rocking Roller Coaster abs Toy Story Land as exclusives: Star Wars Land connects to Star Tours. Epcot bores kids but I love it....Magic Kingdom though kinda sucks compared to Disneyland with worse versions of all the rides. That said Snow White's Mine train is probably my favorite ride in any Disney Park and they're building Tron from Shanghai so it will eventually be great.

I miss living in SoCal though and having free admission to visit Disneyland any time and not feeling obligated to spend all day.
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My bad, I was specifically comparing the two "castle parks" Magic Kingdom and Disneyland, obviously there are more parks in Florida than in California.

You're wrong to say Magic Kingdom has worse versions of all the rides though, while this is a matter of opinion I've always thought the exterior of the Haunted Mansion is cooler in Florida than the one in California, but either way the ride itself is basically the same, the Florida one is not "inferior"

On top of that I've heard the Florida version in Jungle Cruise is actually the better one because you go through the flooded temple which is missing in the California one.

Other rides like Big Thunder Railroad and Splash Mountain are the same in both parks aren't they?
 
Red Crayon Aristocrat said:
The rain really is a bitch in Florida, an overcast day isn't too bad since it's easier on your eyes and you don't need to wear sunglasses but it's simply no fun to get rained on and it happens constantly.




My bad, I was specifically comparing the two "castle parks" Magic Kingdom and Disneyland, obviously there are more parks in Florida than in California.

You're wrong to say Magic Kingdom has worse versions of all the rides though, while this is a matter of opinion I've always thought the exterior of the Haunted Mansion is cooler in Florida than the one in California, but either way the ride itself is basically the same, the Florida one is not "inferior"

On top of that I've heard the Florida version in Jungle Cruise is actually the better one because you go through the flooded temple which is missing in the California one.

Other rides like Big Thunder Railroad and Splash Mountain are the same in both parks aren't they?
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Pirates is worse, Space Mountain is worse, Haunted Mansion is worse, Splash and Big Thunder are fine but I generally get the sense that Orlando cheaps out on lighting and VFX due to the lack of wannabe Hollywood talent. I'll give you Jungle Cruise. Like I said Magic Kingdon could be objectively better because Snow White and Tron are fucking amaze balls.
 
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Disneyworld ticket is $118

Disneyland..

www.thetravel.com

Here's Why Disneyland And Disney World Raised Their Prices In 2020

For many people a visit to a Disney resort is an annual tradition; and so are price hikes for the Walt Disney Company.
www.thetravel.com www.thetravel.com

According to Walt Disney World News Today, prices for peak-admission, single-day tickets jumped 10% to $149, while one-day park hopper tickets reached $200. Annual pass holders are also affected as some passes have jumped to $2,000. To make things more complicated, the old three-tier system has changed to a five-tier system, with one-day tickets varying between $159 and $209.

Theme parks in Orlando are another level since 2010. Love them.
 
Hulk_Smash said:
I am big believer in everyone spending their free time, with no judgement from others. Go to Europe or stay at home for a week. Your business not mine.

But, c'mon...


WHAT THE DONALD DUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?
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Annual passes for all of us. And when you have a pass your consumption of the park is different than someone going on vacation. We spend a few hours there. Grab a fastpass or two for key rides, and just enjoy the park atmosphere. I have a four year old daughter so she is in the prime age where she can do 95% of the stuff and still believes in magic.

The funny thing is Disneyland is her normal, so when you ask her something like "would you rather go to Disneyland today or the beach" she chooses the beach.
 
MrMephistoX said:
Pirates is worse, Space Mountain is worse, Haunted Mansion is worse, Splash and Big Thunder are fine but I generally get the sense that Orlando cheaps out on lighting and VFX due to the lack of wannabe Hollywood talent. I'll give you Jungle Cruise. Like I said Magic Kingdon could be objectively better because Snow White and Tron are fucking amaze balls.
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Why is Haunted Mansion worse?
 
Red Crayon Aristocrat said:
Why is Haunted Mansion worse?
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It isn't. The rides are very similar inside but the facade is different. In Anaheim, the Haunted Mansion exterior fits in with the New Orleans theme and the one in Florida fits in with the Liberty Square theme better.

Out of all the differences Big Thunder and Space Mountain are the most interesting to me.

In Anaheim, Big Thunder's rock formations are indicative of Bryce Canyon, Utah. The rocks are more rounded and the area fits into a more wilderness forest type area.

In Florida, Big Thunder is modeled after Monument Valley, AZ. The rocks are sharper and more plateau-like. Both offer a similar calibur experience.

When it comes to Space Mountain, the one in Anaheim is a single tracked coaster with a soundtrack. The ride is smoother (having been rebuilt in 2005).

In Florida, Space Mountain's building is massive and houses two Matterhorn-like tracks. Riders sit in tandem rather than side by side. Like the Matterhorn, it's a bumpier ride.
 
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Red Crayon Aristocrat said:
Why is Haunted Mansion worse?
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Like everything it's the attention to detail in Anaheim vs Orlando. There are people with film industry education and experience handling something as mundane as the lighting on all of the rides and it just looks better. Plus you basically just get right on the Doom Buggy in Florida and I enjoy the walking portion of the Anaheim original.
 
one is on the complete other side of the country.

only even been to Disney World, which is in Florida. it was very expensive so we went once when i was v young and then one more time when i was a teen.

it was fun. Haunted Mansion is dope. glad i got to see the original stuff before they sanitized it all. i remember seeing the whores in the Pirates ride.

wouldn't bother now.
 
I was a diehard Walt Disney World fanboy, until the wife and I went to Disneyland for our Honeymoon. (Proposed to her at WDW.) As much as it hurts my Epcot Center bleeding heart I feel like Disneyland is just a better experience if you're just looking for theme parks.

I love how much more compact Disneyland is and how close local hotels are. Travel options are so much quicker, meaning you can fit more into your day.

You can walk from the park to a hotel room (We stay at the Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites) in a matter of five minutes versus the 30 to 45 minute bus ride it would take for us to get from any given WDW park to our resort over in Florida.

WDW obviously have more options and things to do that aren't theme parks though, if you're looking for other recreational activities and traditional "resort" fair.

Both are getting way too expensive though. I feel like prices for a trip have doubled in the last decade and I wouldn't be surprised if I'm priced out of a trip to either park completely by the end of our current decade.
 
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Red Crayon Aristocrat said:
Why is Haunted Mansion worse?
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In disneyland version, when they gather all of you to the stretching painting room, you are actually on an elevator that's slowing descending, because they need to get you underground as the actual ride is in another building due to space limitations in the park.
In the disneyworld version, there is no elevator as they don't have space constraints. They recreated the same effect by having the roof rise up slowly instead.
 
Pirates is *vastly* better at Disneyland as well. It's not even close. Let's be honest, Disneyland is superior based on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride alone.
 
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I haven't been to Disneyland but I am surrounded by psychopathic Disney freaks living here in Orlando and growing up in Tampa. I have been told that World >>>>> Land but Land is worth checking out at least once.
I always shrug thinking about Disney theme parks though. Always super packed, it is hot out here, the tourists are insufferable, and so much more. Though the entire Disney experience is nice because you get so much out of being in Buena Vista. So I think the overall experience is rated way higher with World as well as the one to one parks. This is all from people that I know that have gone to both, including my brother(his kids are 6 and 8).

I think the last time I stepped in Disney world was for something called Grad nite here in FL. That was like... 15 years ago for me.
 
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I go to Disney World about three times a year on average. My favorite park is Hollywood Studios I love the Golden Era Hollywood era theming and it just comes alive at night with neon signs and projection mapped buildings during the holidays. Galaxy's Edge is fantastic and Rise of The Resistance is awe inspiring. I'll be there for Mickey's Runaway Railway in March for Spring Break. Favorite ride in that park is The Tower of Terror-the theming alone on that one fits that area of the park so well, and the queue is fantastic. The Rock'n Rollercoaster is also the best rollercoaster in Orlando-the takeoff beginning is unmatched in my experience. Don't sleep on Slinky Dog Coaster either- it's also got a fast segment in the middle that really pushes things for a 'kiddie' ride. Animal Kingdom is alright. It's got excellent third world theming with first world prices. Expedition: Everest is the second best coaster in Orlando. Avatar Flight of Passage is a modernized Soar'in through Pandora. It's better than Soar'in, so do that and skip the original at Epcot. The River Rapids will soak you to the bone, so bring a plastic poncho to the park to avoid misery. The animals being in the park suck and you smell duck shit at the first fork going to the left on hot days. The safari ride is alright- it had a better theme in the 90's and earlier 00's. Now, it's bland. If you like that sort of thing, go for it-I normally skip it as it's way out on the other side of the park. The walking lanes are hilly, thinner, winding, and humid like a green hell on a hot day. Dino Land should be razed to the ground. It's like a fairground theme that doesn't work at all for me. The rides are boring and it's blazing hot. Epcot is in terrible shape right now and the only thing worth checking out there is the world showcase countries. If that doesn't interest you, skip Epcot until they finish adding the new rides in a few more years. Do check out the Polynesian Resort as it's massive and just walking around the lobby and restaurants is amazing with theming. Eat at the Kona Cafe there for breakfast; Tonga Toast. Tonga Toast. Tonga Toast. Tip: Park at the Polynesian Resort(or stay there) and eat breakfast- then hop on the monorail to Magic Kingdom. That is how you begin and end the perfect Magic Kingdom experience. Leave the park in the evening and hit up Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Tiki Bar at the Polynesian on the way out. IF you end up closing down the Magic Kingdom, go to the Enchanted Tiki Room at the end of the night because no one is in there and you can enjoy it without the crowds and kids meddling around during the show. Instead YOU will be the ONE doing the meddling- get up and dance around the center pavilion, clap, sing along, there is no one to stop you while you act the fool up in there. The one cast member hitting the buttons will laugh.
 
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Super Mario said:
What world do you live in where California is better than Florida?
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Weather? That seems like a no brainier to me. Florida sucks most of the year and walking around Epcot in 100+ humidity is torture.

This is comming from someone that lives in AZ so I know what heat is like.
 
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I don't live near either, so I've taken trips out to both over the years.

I've been to both, and overall prefer Disney World. It's much bigger, there are more parks (4 vs. 2), and it's overall just a much grander experience. Animal Kingdom and EPCOT are both great. Avatar is the best ride in any of the parks (haven't been to SW:GE yet). The castle is much bigger in World. The magic bands make the whole experience seamless.

That said... Disneyland has a lot going for it. There is something to be said about the intimacy of it, and both parks are really good at this point. With their version FastPass you can knock out all the good rides in a couple of days if you're smart about it, and their magic hours are a lot more practical. I think Disneyland is better than Magic Kingdom, and California Adventure has some great rides. When I was there last, I stayed in one of the hotels that dumped me right into CA within 5 minutes. As opposed to at WDW I had to take at least a 15 minute bus ride to get anywhere (I stayed near the Animal Kingdom).

It's actually a lot of fun to compare and contrast the implementation of the different rides, but in the end, it's mostly a wash.
 
Only been to the one in Florida. I do believe though that disney world is bigger and has one more park then Disney land due to having more space available in Florida than California. Could be wrong about that though.
 
I have only been to the California park, but I really enjoyed my time back when I was a kid. It was small, intimate, and had tremendous amounts of detail hidden in every little corner. It felt intricately designed. I heard Florida is larger, but doesn't have the detail and everything is far more spread out.
 
Mainly size I think so here is a list with the sizes



  • Walt Disney World – 25,000 Acres
    • Made up of Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom
  • Disneyland Resort Paris – 4,800 Acres
    • Made up of Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Paris
  • Disneyland Resort – 510 Acres
    • Made up of Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure
  • Tokyo Disney Resort – 494 Acres
    • Made up of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySeas
  • Hong Kong Disneyland – 311 Acres
    • Made up of Hong Kong Disneyland
That's a big hint, now could you separate out each park and list them out in order from largest to smallest?

  • 500 acres – Animal Kingdom (Walt Disney World)
  • 300 acres – Epcot (Walt Disney World)
  • 154 acres – MGM – Hollywood Studios (Walt Disney World)
  • 126 acres – Disneyland Paris
  • 126 acres – Tokyo Disneyland
  • 123 acres – Hong Kong Disneyland
  • 122 acres – Tokyo DisneySea
  • 107 acres – Magic Kingdom (Walt Disney World)
  • 85 acres – Disneyland
  • 72 acres – Disney's California Adventure (Disneyland)
  • 62 acres – Walt Disney Studios Paris
 
For me, if I had to pick MK or Disneyland, I'm picking Disneyland pretty much every time. There's just something about the park to me that feels 'different' - more intimate, more lived in. That's not to say I don't enjoy MK, I do, but it doesn't get me in the feels the way Disneyland does.

I'm not a big fan of California Adventure, though. It's fine I guess, but having Cedar Point within a 2 hour drive kind of spoils me on a more 'traditional' sort of park.
 
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Disney World just for the fact that it has Fort Wilderness and the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review. It's worth taking the bus system for that show alone.
 
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