It is the happiest place on earth! Or probably the most magical place on earth? These are the taglines for Disneyland vs. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, respectively. A mixed 76 million guests go to the central Florida and sunny Southern California theme parks yearly to see Mickey, Minnie, and a legion of princesses, castles, and fantastical rides.
Whereas it is positively frequent to combine up Disney World and Disneyland, the reality is that these theme parks are as totally different as could be in nearly each method. Not solely are they positioned on reverse coasts, however in addition they fluctuate fairly a bit when it comes to measurement, price, and general expertise.
Disneyland is the older of the 2 Disney parks. Modeled after Walt Disney’s charming midwestern hometown of Marceline, Missouri, it opened in 1955, with simply 5 sections: Most important Road, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland. After Disneyland’s profitable opening, Disney bought 43 acres of land in 1965 to construct out his second theme park: Disney World. It opened its doorways in 1971, 5 years after he handed away.
There at the moment are six Disney resorts around the globe: in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. With about 18 million vacationers flocking to Disneyland annually, it is the second most visited park on the earth—after Walt Disney World, in fact, which attracts roughly 58 million annual guests.
Understanding what distinguishes the 2 will allow you to higher decide which Disney resort makes extra sense for you—whether or not you are planning a fast weekend journey together with your important different or a week-long Disney trip with all the youngsters in tow.
To be able to create this record, we compiled information from respected trade sources, together with seasoned journey brokers and journey bloggers who focus on Disneyland and Disney World. We additionally pulled information straight from each resorts’ web sites.
This is how these two standard U.S. Disney resorts stack up.
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What Is the Distinction Between Disneyland vs. Disney World?
Dimension
With regards to Disneyland vs. Disney World, measurement is not any query. Disney World spans a whopping 40 sq. miles—to place that into perspective, that is the scale of town of San Francisco. Disneyland, alternatively, solely covers about 0.8 sq. miles.
Location
Each theme parks are in cities recognized to be sunny year-round: Disney World is in Orlando, FL, whereas Disneyland is positioned in Anaheim, CA—about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. There are many different points of interest in each cities so as to add on to your journey.
Value
So, which theme park tickets are cheaper: Disney World or Disneyland? Disneyland prices much less, however not by a lot. Disney World tickets price $109 to $189 per day, relying on what date you go to and the way lots of the parks you propose to enter. Disneyland tickets vary from $104 to $143 per day, relying on the date, your age, and what number of days you are visiting.
Rides/Points of interest
Disneyland options two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Journey Park—every with its personal eating places, rides, and points of interest. Disney World, alternatively, encompasses 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and EPCOT. The Magic Kingdom is the most well-liked theme park, with 12 million annual guests.
Regardless of the large distinction in measurement between the 2 parks, it is value noting that they each have roughly the identical variety of rides: round 50. There’s additionally some crossover—you may discover It is a Small World, House Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean, for instance, at each areas.
That stated, every park has some distinctive points of interest. Disney World options Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. It is usually dwelling to the breathtaking Cinderella’s Fortress, which provides majestic picture ops and a one-of-a-kind fairytale eating expertise inside. In the meantime, guests can benefit from the Matterhorn Bobsleds and the Indiana Jones Journey solely over at Disneyland.
Waterparks
Each Disney resorts are positioned in warm-weather areas, and each include water park options for friends to take pleasure in through the summer time months. In 2023, Disneyland Resort opened a Discovering Nemo-inspired water play space. The function incorporates the Pixie Pool, Crush’s Surfin’ water slide, and a splash pad at Nemo’s Cove—all of that are free to entry for in a single day friends at Disney’s Paradise Pier Lodge.
People seeking to make the water park a extra central a part of their expertise, nonetheless, ought to take into account reserving a visit to Disney World as an alternative. The vacation spot incorporates two water parks: Disney’s Blizzard Seaside and Disney’s Hurricane Lagoon. You may discover 122 acres of waterslides, water coasts, and wave swimming pools throughout each of these parks.
Eating places/Lodging
Seeing as Walt Disney World Resort is a lot greater than Disneyland Resort, it ought to come as no shock that it has much more motels and eating places to select from. In reality, there are greater than 25 motels and greater than 200 eating places in Disney World. Disneyland, alternatively, has three motels and about 50 eating places, a few of that are positioned within the downtown Disney district.
Enjoyable truth: It could take 81 years to remain in all of the visitor rooms that Disney World motels and resorts have to supply.
“Walt Disney World provides a greater diversity of lodging, starting from funds to luxurious,” says Jonathan Weinberg, founder and CEO of HotelSlash. “There is a keep to swimsuit nearly any choice or funds. Each Disneyland and Disney World supply a wide range of meals choices, from fast service to wonderful eating. Each areas additionally supply distinctive eating experiences, like character eating, the place guests can eat whereas assembly their favourite Disney characters.”
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Finest Time to Go to
In the end, although, your alternative between U.S. Disney resorts might depend upon what time of yr you are planning to journey. Anaheim, the place the Disneyland Resort is positioned, does are likely to get a bit of cooler through the winter months, with highs within the higher 60s and lows within the mid-40s. Orlando is far hotter in the summertime, when it is probably not nice to attend in line for rides whereas the solar is blazing.
“Disney World is open year-round, however through the winter months, they do not have many nighttime actions open at Disneyland,” Mac Steer, journey skilled and proprietor/director of Simify, explains.
Transportation
Because of its smaller measurement, transportation is not actually a priority at Disneyland—you may simply get across the park on foot. Nonetheless, the park does supply free shuttle providers from the car parking zone and again, in line with journey agent Mary DeSpain. She notes that there is additionally a Disneyland monorail that runs between Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park and Downtown Disney. On the a lot bigger Disney World, you may make the most of quite a lot of transportation choices, together with buses, monorails, boats, and even gondolas. Disney World additionally operates a free shuttle bus from Orlando Worldwide Airport referred to as the Disney Magical Categorical.
Particular Occasions
Each parks supply seasonal occasions across the holidays, says DeSpain. For instance, throughout wintertime, Disneyland has the Christmas Fantasy Parade and ¡Viva Navidad! Road celebration whereas Disney World provides Mickey’s Christmas Get together that includes actual toy troopers. And within the fall, Disneyland hosts the family-friendly Oogie Boogie Bash and Nightmare Earlier than Christmas Haunted Mansion, whereas Disney World provides the Boo-To-You Parade and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Get together.
Nonetheless undecided which park is best for you? Learn on for extra perception into the variations between Disneyland and Disney World.
Disneyland vs. Disney World: Which Is Proper for Me?
To be able to determine which park is true in your dream trip, you may want to think about just a few elements—together with your funds and who you are touring with.
“I like to recommend Disneyland when my shoppers have a shorter journey window, a decrease funds, or are touring with babies or folks with mobility points,” says Shannon Leyerle, journey advisor at Holidays By Shannon. “The proximity of the motels and points of interest make it a a lot less complicated expertise and a extra inexpensive possibility.”
Leyerle suggests staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge, the place you are not solely a five-minute stroll from Disneyland, however you even have an exit into Downtown Disney and a particular entrance straight into California Journey reserved just for resort friends.
It is also value contemplating what number of days you are capable of go to for—as Disney World warrants an extended journey given how a lot there may be to do and see.
“You are capable of absolutely take pleasure in all that Disneyland has to supply in simply three days, versus the 5 – 6 days I like to recommend for Disney World,” provides Leyerle.
Steer advises visiting Disneyland when you’re in search of a extra laidback expertise with shorter traces and fewer crowds.
Gavin Doyle, the founding father of Mickey Go to and creator of Disneyland Secrets and techniques, additionally extremely recommends Disneyland to anybody enthusiastic about Disney’s historical past. In any case, Disney Land opened 16 years sooner than Disney World.
“It is the one Disney Park on the earth the place Walt Disney himself frolicked,” he tells Finest Life.
Susan Joh, a journey skilled and Disney blogger, additionally advises taking into consideration whether or not your fellow vacationers are followers of any particular motion pictures or characters.
“For instance, when you’ve received an enormous Spider-Man or Vehicles fan, it could be value it to go to Disneyland,” she explains. “If in case you have a Toy Story fan, Hollywood Studios at Disney World could be a must-do as there may be a complete land devoted to Toy Story.”
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FAQ
Why is Disneyland much less standard than Disney World?
Disneyland is much less standard than Disney World primarily due to its measurement. Disney World merely has extra to supply when it comes to points of interest and experiences. There are extra themed motels and resorts to select from and a greater diversity of eating places to meet any craving you may need. This implies it is simpler to customise your go to in line with the wants and preferences of your loved ones or group when you select Disney World.
Furthermore, Disney World’s location, Orlando, is dwelling to an array of different vacationer points of interest, together with SeaWorld and the Common Orlando Resort.
“At Disney World, you may keep on property in your whole journey and utterly neglect the surface world,” says Leyerie.
That degree of immersion could make your journey that rather more magical and transportive, in line with consultants.
Which is healthier for adults: Disneyland or Disney World?
Throughout the board, consultants agree that Disney World is a greater decide for adults. Between the adrenaline-pumping journey rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the power to eat and drink your method around the globe at EPCOT, there is definitely no scarcity of issues for older guests to do.
“There are far more thrill rides—the latest ones being TRON and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind,” says Joh. “There are additionally two golf programs on the property. Disney Springs is enjoyable to hit as much as seize a drink, see a Cirque du Soleil present, go bowling, take a look at meals vans, and buy groceries.”
Each Disney World and Disneyland supply a spread of tasty cocktails—for instance, the spiked Dole whip at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, and the frozen margaritas and beer flights at Disneyland’s California Journey Park.
Foodies might wish to go to Disney World between July and November when the park hosts the epic Epcot Worldwide Meals and Wine Competition, that includes a plethora of chef-led cooking seminars and tasting occasions.
Which is much less nerve-racking to navigate: Disneyland or Disney World?
Disneyland is way much less nerve-racking to navigate than Disney World, consultants say, due to its smaller measurement. There isn’t any have to coordinate transportation instances or take care of difficult maps—every part is walkable and fairly simple to seek out.
“There are such a lot of issues to do and see in Disney World that it may be overwhelming,” explains Steer. “The traces additionally are usually shorter at Disneyland, and you do not have to fret about getting misplaced in a theme park that is bigger than some cities.”
With regards to Disneyland vs. Disney World, a lot of it comes all the way down to your choice for measurement and time of go to. However regardless of which trip you select, you are in for an exhilarating expertise filled with fantasy and Disney Magic.
