Disneyland Guide - When To Go - Should You Go?

Is Disneyland For You?
Disneyland is designed to be fun for all ages, but that doesn't mean it's for everyone. For example, if you're only interested in roller coasters or don't like crowds at all, Disneyland may not be for you. If you fit into one or more of the categories on the list below, Disneyland may not be for you:

• You want thrill rides. Disneyland has a few thrill rides, but they don't dominate the park and - with one or two exceptions - aren't as thrilling as similar rides outside of Disneyland.
• You can't stand crowds and/or waiting in line. Even if you pick one of the slower times to go to Disneyland, you're still going to encounter crowds and lines to some extent.
• You don't like walking. Unless you're in a stroller or a wheelchair, you're going to have to do quite a bit of walking to experience Disneyland.
• You're not into Disney. The "feel" of Disney is all over Disneyland. It's what draws many visitors. You don't have to be a Disney fan to enjoy Disneyland, but if you really don't like Disney, you might find Disneyland annoying.
• You don't like being around children. There's simply no way around it, you're going to find yourself around lots of children at Disneyland.

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left: Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. right: Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World

Should I go to Disneyland or Walt Disney World?
Even if you're sure you want to visit a Disney park, you still need to decide which one. If you live in Europe the obvious choice is Disneyland Paris and if you're in Asia, Tokyo Disneyland is the closest option. But if you live in the United States or are planning to travel here, you have two choices: Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

The Disneyland Resort currently consists of Disneyland Park and two hotels - The Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Pacific Hotel. It is situated in the city of Anaheim and all around are hotels, motels, retail shops and restaurants - none of which are owned by Disney - to support the tourist population.
Note: In early-2001 a second theme park (Disney's California Adventure) and third hotel (Disney's Grand Califoronian Hotel) as well as an entertainment, dining and shopping district (Downtown Disney) will open at the Disneyland Resort. For information on those, visit our Guide to Disney's California Adventure.

In contrast, Walt Disney World consists of four theme parks (The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom), three water parks, numerous hotels, the Pleasure Island night life district, golf courses, the Wide World of Sports Complex and much more, all situated on Disney owned property and staffed by Disney employees. It's very possible to spend a long vacation at Walt Disney World without ever having to see the real world.

Here are some tips to help you decide which to go to:

You may prefer Disneyland if:

• You have a limited amount of time. All of Disneyland can be seen in two to four days.  Even if you do have more time than that, you may prefer being able to do some non-Disney activities such as Universal Studios or visiting California's beaches.
• You prefer more moderate weather. Florida is known for its humidity and thunderstorms, neither of which is commonplace at Disneyland.
• You have a sense of Disney history and want to "walk where Walt walked". Disneyland is the only Disney theme park that Walt Disney lived to see completed. It's also the one Walt Disney had the most direct hand in designing.
• Despite the sheer quantities of parks at Walt Disney World, many Disney fans consider Disneyland to be the single best theme park in the United States or even the world.

You may prefer Walt Disney World if:

• You want to immerse yourself in Disney. With all there is to do there you can eat, sleep and play Disney all vacation long without ever repeating experiences.
• You want more than theme parks in your vacation. At Walt Disney World there are facilities for recreation including golfing and  water sports. There's Pleasure Island, a night spot for adults. There's Disney's Wide World of Sports complex for participating in a game or just taking one in. And there's much more.

Disneyland and Walt Disney World are so different, it's usually not very hard to decide which is the best choice for you.

What if I've already been to Walt Disney World?
If you've been to Walt Disney World before you may be wondering if it's worth it to go to Disneyland. Disneyland and Walt Disney World have very different feels. Disneyland, because of its limited space to expand, is very packed in with attractions. It's also a favorite destination for locals and there are many Annual Passholders, so it doesn't feel quite as "touristy" as Walt Disney World.

As for attractions, while it's true that between the four major parks at Walt Disney World they have most of the same attractions as Disneyland (plus many more), Disneyland still has a few things that make it special:

Attractions Exclusive to Disneyland
There are a few attractions at Disneyland that aren't at Walt Disney World in any form:

• The Walt Disney Story Featuring "Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln" (Walt Disney World has a more elaborate version called Hall of Presidents)
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Storybook Land Canal Boats
• Casey Jr. Circus Train
• Alice in Wonderland
• Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
• Pinocchio's Daring Journey
• Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
• Jolley Trolley
• Gadget's Go Coaster  (Walt Disney World does have a similar attraction called Barnstormer)
• Sailing Ship Columbia
• Rocket Rods

Attractions at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
There are also a few attractions that are significantly different than their Walt Disney World versions:

• Pirates of the Caribbean (DL, WDW) - Disneyland's is longer with more scenes.
• The Treehouse (DL, WDW) - Walt Disney World still has the Swiss Family Treehouse while Disneyland has done a major update on theirs and rethemed it to Tarzan's Treehouse.
• The Tiki Room (DL, WDW) - Disneyland has a version very close to the orginal. Walt Disney World's has been updated with characters from recent movies and a modern soundtrack.
• Fireworks (DL, WDW) - Disneyland's latest fireworks show, "Believe ... There's Magic in the Stars" is phenomenal and is much more than a traditional fireworks show.
• Fantasmic! (DL, WDW) - Fantasmic! may be the best things - show or attraction - Disney has to offer. While the Disneyland and Walt Disney World versions aren't that different, the more intimate seating of Disneyland's along with the larger show area make the Disneyland version worth seeing even if you've seen Walt Disney World's.
• Country Bears (DL, WDW) - Walt Disney World has the original Country Bear Jamboree while Disneyland has the more recent Country Bear Vacation Hoedown. Same concept but very different shows.
• Autopia (DL, WDW) - The Walt Disney World version of this is called the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. Both attractions involve riding small cars around Tomorrowland, but the themes and car designs are very different.

 
left: Disneyland's Tarzan's Treehouse. right: Swiss Family Treehouse at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World

In addition, parades and entertainment vary greatly between the two resorts. Even when the two parks have attractions that are very similar, there are usually difference in the look or queue area that make it worth visiting even if you've seen the one at the other park.

-- Last Updated June 28, 2000

 

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