How are WDW and Disneyland different

[T music]

If you’ve been to both parks how do they differ? Good and bad ways ? Just curious been to DL millions of times but never WDW going first time in April .

[danlb_2000]

I have been to both, and they both have their pros and cons. The biggest difference between the two is the size. When I went to DL it was cool to be able to easily walk between the two parks and Downtown Disney. At WDW you have to think a lot more about your transportation plans. There is also a lot more to do at WDW. Four parks, 2 water parks, a much larger version of Downtown Disney (Disney Springs), golfing, boating, horse back riding, etc. Not to mention all the resorts that each have their own shops, restaurants and other activities to enjoy, most of which are open to anyone, not just resort guests.

As for rides and attractions, there are a lot of duplicates but only a few are 100% identical.

[DLandChris]

It would take a whole article to really explain the difference. I’m a Disneyland goer much more than WDW, myself. But I’ve been to Florida many times. Besides what was mentioned, hotels are a huge difference. They are much more like their own resorts at times and there’s very varied theming. They are worth taking time to explore a lot besides the parks. Think Grand Californian on a bigger scale in theming and exploration for some hotels.

Food is rather different also. I think there’s better and more restaurants at WDW. I feel like DCA has the best quick serve out of the two Anaheim parks, but in Florida you’ll find a lot of quick serve variety depending on the park. Epcot has the best park food for table service and quick serve.

[T music]

what I should have asked just between Magic kingdom and DL

[R2BeepBoop]

I'd say the two parks definitely have a different feel to them. DL is much more charming and cute because of how everything is packed together closely, while WDW's parks have a much more grand feel to them because of all of the space available. Also, the surrounding forests and lakes make you feel like you're in a magical secluded bubble away from the real world. I remember at how shocked I was when visiting DL for the first time. I just walked from my offsite hotel right onto DL property. You can't really do that in WDW!

In DL, I like Space Mountain's in-car music and being able to walk through more of the Haunted Mansion. In MK, the new Fantasyland expansions are nice. I think you'll have fun exploring each little mini land there. You can laugh at the Tangled restrooms, but it's actually a great place to sit and freshen up. It has an outdoor themed area with nice shade, a little stream, places to charge your phone, and relaxing music. I wish MK's Small World had an outdoor queue like in DL, but that's because it rains so much in Florida. Also, MK's Tomorrowland is a little bit more organized and less cramped together than DL's. It's themed a bit better with a newly painted retro 70s theme going on. There's also the Peoplemover (hopefully it's open when you get there), but DL's Autopia is much better than MK's Speedway, which had its track shortened several times in order to make room for other attractions. And for Adventureland, DL's Pirates is better with more drops and more show scenes. In MK, the land is a little cramped because they added Aladdin's Agrabah and magic carpet ride right in the middle of everything, so the theming is a bit all over the place in there at the moment.

[Jack Peterson]

Disneyland still has some extinct attractions that used to be at Walt Disney World like Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and Mr. Toad.

[DLandChris]

I think, in some ways, it's easier to point out what is almost identical in both parks. Dumbo is the same ride (just different views). Tea cups is the same ride. Some food is the same, like Dole Whips and turkey legs. Other than that there are enough differences in even classic attractions to make them different enough. I'd even count differences with the Astro Orbiters because the one in Magic Kingdom is much higher up than the other.