Many Disney followers are native to both Walt Disney World or Disneyland, often based mostly on geography. However if you’re a Disney parks fan, I would advocate visiting each parks as a result of there are such a lot of variations between Disneyland and Disney World.
It is so enjoyable to go to each, to see the assorted sights which can be both fully or barely completely different between the 2 parks. Listed here are the primary variations – each in planning your keep and your expertise as soon as you might be there.
I’m a former member of the Disney Parks Mothers Panel and have been on some complimentary press journeys at Walt Disney World, however all opinions are my very own. This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by one in every of these hyperlinks could end in a fee paid to us.
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Main Variations Between Disneyland and Disney World to Think about When Planning Your Trip
The Measurement Distinction Between the Two Resorts: Walt Disney World and Disneyland
Should you’ve visited the 2 resorts, you may in all probability agree that the largest apparent distinction between the 2 resorts is the scale. Whereas Walt Disney World options 4 theme parks, two water parks (Storm Lagoon and Blizzard Seaside), Disney Springs, a number of golf programs, and the ESPN Broad World of Sports activities, Disneyland simply has the 2 parks and Downtown Disney. The land lined by Walt Disney World is huge and practically unimaginable to cowl in only one go to.
The 2 parks at Disneyland embrace Disneyland Park (most much like the Magic Kingdom) and Disney’s California Journey, whereas Walt Disney World provides the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. When you may take into account visiting the 2 Disneyland resort parks in about 2-3 days, you would want greater than per week to see most of Walt Disney World.
Disneyland Park and the Magic Kingdom are probably the most comparable, whereas all the others are distinct theme parks with completely different experiences. Disney followers will wish to expertise all of them.
One of many greatest advantages of visiting Disneyland is the power to go to the 2 parks in sooner or later simply. It is really easy to stroll from one park to the opposite, and when you undergo safety, you might be cleared for each parks.
It makes it easy to have an environment friendly go to utilizing Genie+ and Particular person Lightning Lane techniques to journey the sights. To do that, nevertheless, you may wish to get park tickets with the park hopper possibility.
You should purchase that possibility when shopping for your tickets and can pay additional. You are not in a position to make use of two separate days on a typical ticket to park high. At present, you may have to attend till 11 am to park hop at Disneyland.
Whereas I really like Walt Disney World, it’s more durable to park hop. Due to the gap between the parks, it is not as simple as strolling throughout the courtyard. As well as, you all the time need to undergo safety at every park at Walt Disney World. This entire course of can take some time.


Disney Resort Resorts at Each Disneyland and Walt Disney World
There aren’t any widespread lodges between the 2 resorts. Disneyland provides three lodges: the Disneyland Lodge, the Grand Californian Resort, and Disney’s Pixar Pier Lodge (previously Disney’s Paradise Pier Lodge). As well as, a number of “good neighbor” lodges throughout the road and within the surrounding space supply family-friendly facilities and lodging. Two of our favorites are the Westin and the Howard Johnson.
Walt Disney World has over two dozen lodges throughout three room classes: deluxe resorts, average resorts, and worth resorts. There’s additionally the Fort Wilderness campground, the place you may carry an RV, keep in a tent, or keep in a cabin. Whereas there are additionally off-property resorts, they are not fairly as handy because the Disneyland off-property lodges, as a result of you may’t stroll to the parks.
I consider staying on property is extra important at Walt Disney World, the place it is simpler to get to the parks from the on-site lodges.
Totally different Lands at Disneyland Park and the Magic Kingdom
Though the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park have a number of the identical “lands”, there are additionally some completely different lands that exist in a single park however not the opposite. Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Principal Avenue USA, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, and Frontierland exist in each resorts. (edited to make clear: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World is in Disney’s Hollywood Studios).
You may additionally discover Critter Nation, New Orleans Sq., and Mickey’s Toontown on the Disneyland Resort in California. A number of the rides are in several lands within the two parks.
So, as an illustration, when you’ll discover Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland at WDW, it is in New Orleans Sq.. It may be a little bit shocking to search for a favourite journey in the identical land and discover out that it is someplace else.
Walt Disney World additionally has Liberty Sq., which does not exist at Disneyland. The Haunted Mansion is in Liberty Sq. at Walt Disney World and New Orleans Sq. at Disneyland.
Disney’s California Journey has fully completely different lands from something at Walt Disney World, though there’s a Hollywood Land. Walt Disney World followers will particularly love Pixar Pier, Avenger’s Campus, and Vehicles Land, that are unique to the West Coast park.


Totally different Sights at Disneyland and Disney World
In the case of attraction variations between Disneyland and Disney World, they fall into two buckets. In some circumstances, sights can be found at one resort however not at one other. In different circumstances, some rides are comparable (and should even share the identical identify) however differ in some respects. If you wish to see the variations between Disneyland and Disney World sights, listed below are a number of the stuff you’ll wish to try.
At Disneyland Resort, fully completely different rides embrace the next:
- Alice in Wonderland
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey (which used to exist at Walt Disney World)
- Indiana Jones Journey
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Roger Rabbit’s Automobile Toon Sled
- Goofy’s Sky College
- Incredicoaster
- Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue
- Pixar Pal-A-Spherical
- Radiator Springs Racers
At Walt Disney World, listed below are a number of of the completely different rides:
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice
- Take a look at Observe
- Rock N Curler Coaster
- Dinosaur
- Expedition Everest
- Frozen Ever After
- Mission: SPACE
Some rides have the identical or comparable names however are a bit completely different.
- Pirates of the Caribbean (I favor the Disneyland model)
- Haunted Mansion (the exteriors of the sights are fully completely different, the precise rides are fairly comparable)
- it is a small world (the Disneyland model incorporates a number of the well-liked Disney characters whereas the Walt Disney World model does not)
At Disneyland California Journey, you may discover Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT. This was initially the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The journey movement stays the identical, however the theme is totally completely different. The unique Twilight Zone Tower of Terror nonetheless exists at Walt Disney World.


Disney Springs vs Downtown Disney
Company on both coast could benefit from the leisure, outlets, and eating places at Downtown Disney/Disney Springs. Whereas they each have an identical idea, Downtown Disney is smaller than Disney Springs. Neither requires park admission, so they’re a terrific place to go to on a day when you do not have tickets.


Eating Reservations
Meals could be a massive a part of your Disney trip. The preferred eating places at Walt Disney World guide up months upfront. Prior to now, the reserving window for Disney World eating reservations was considerably completely different from Disneyland. Nonetheless, company at WDW and Disneyland can now guide eating reservations 60 days upfront.
After all, at each parks, this solely applies to sit-down eating places. You may all the time stroll as much as the quick-service eating places at any time to eat. Cell ordering can also be supplied at each parks. Please word that every park has its personal app, so you may must obtain them individually.


Different Variations
There are many different variations between the 2 parks as properly. Walt Disney World provides MagicBands, which can be utilized to open resort lodge doorways, pay for purchases, entry the parks, and use Lightning Lane. MagicBand+ has just lately come to Disneyland, however with decreased performance.
Whereas each parks host a Meals and Wine pageant, the themes differ barely. EPCOT’s Worldwide Meals and Wine Competition focuses on worldwide delicacies, and the California Journey Meals and Wine Competition focuses on California specialties. They run throughout completely different seasons, however each supply scrumptious meals samples for company.
Have you ever been to each parks? What’s the greatest distinction between Disneyland and Disney World that you have skilled?


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