Disneyland vs Disneyworld....... About This Page:

[mom2halls]

Ok I have been thinking about taking a trip to WDW in Feb 2009.......it would be a first trip for our family (me, DH, DS age 12 and DD almost 3) I thought I was all set on WDW and NOW I am beginning to consider DL instead?!? Is it cheaper to go to DL vs WDW? Also if we decide to fly instead of driving that would give us more airport options instead of Orlando. I am planning on spending 5 days at either place if that helps anyone. I really think after putting together a budget for WDW I was left with sticker shock! Please any suggestions greatly appreciated! Also if we went to DL the whole 5 days wouldn't have to be spent in the Land.

[tkm1005]

I think the 2 are so different its hard to compare. If you want to do Disney with all of the other fun things in So. Cal than I'm sure you will have a great time. If you are really looking for a Disney vacation and nothing else than WDW is a more inclusive vacation meaning you can pretty much spend your entire vacation on property and never run out of things to do. It is more expensive, but there are so many more dining options, resort locations, even the choice of 4 instead of one park to visit - not to mention the water parks, downtown disney etc.

Either location, staying at the Disney Resorts if possible, makes it even more fun. We stayed in Anaheim, not in a Disney Resort for one trip to CA and I didn't enjoy it nearly as much.

[scottjs]

WDW is a lot bigger then Disneyland. 4 parks(Plus water attractions) to visit. Disneyland is smaller with two main areas of visit. (Or three really---Disneyland--California Adventure--and Downtown Disney). I grew up going to Disneyland. Last time we decided to go to WDW instead. Now I am spoiled. I love WDW!

There is a lot to do in California that is not Disney. How much of it do you want to be related to Disney??

If you do decide on Southern California we fly into John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Its closer to Disney and you can avoid a lot of traffic.

Have fun and good luck.

[janicelovesmickey]

I was only at DL and DCA once, and prefer WDW not to mention DL is 3000 miles away but
did you consider the airfare factor? it is probably cheaper to fly from TX TO FLORIDA THEN to cali.
And lots more to do in WDW then DL.
whatever you decide it will be fun anyway.

[Tricia Davids]

Living 3 hours from DL, we go several times a year but look most forward to our almost annual WDW trips! If you want a one stop vacation (not having to drive around to different attractions or to and from airports) I would pick WDW. If you compare Disney Hotels on both properties, WDW can be cheaper because there are more price ranges of Disney hotels at WDW. There is also more to see and do at WDW with 4 parks, 2 water parks, lots of hotels and Downtown Disney vs. 2 parks, smaller Downtown Disney and 3 hotels at DL. Good luck with your decision!

[chezp]

I just wanted to say, whichever park you decide to go for, I'm sure you'll enjoy them. As others have said, Disneyland and Walt Disney World are very, very different, but they both have their own charms and we love both parks. For us, WDW will always be our favourite, as we love Epcot and no other Disney park in the world has anything to compare, but that's just us.

[Two4Disney]

I agree that Epcot is the best park ever! But if you compare the MK at WDW to Disneyland Park, well, most would agree that Disneyland is better. But WDW has so much more and the resorts are fabulous!

[HeatherD]

We live in Las Vegas and Disneyland is our "annual" trip - the one we can go to for a 3-day weekend or an extended 5-day stay (and still only do "Disney"). We drive and stay at a hotel across the street.

WDW is a "special vacation" event for us. Flights are pricey from Vegas to Orlando, so it's a bit of money to add that to the cost.

We grew up here and both frequented DL (wasn't DLR then) throughout our childhood. When we moved to Chicago, we took our first trip to WDW (I'd been once before, but it was only MK and Epcot). We actually preferred WDW then - since either trip involved flying or a 2-3 day drive.

I'd say that everyone should visit DLR once, just to have visited the original, the one that started it all. But, if you are looking to really make a complete vacation of it, then you might want to consider WDW (though 5 days is "pushing it" with me at WDW - not enough time, IMO).

[Dave Marx]

Is it cheaper to go to Disneyland? Generally, no. Perhaps you'll get a better airfare going in one direction or the other at the moment you happen to be shopping airfares. (I just ran an airfare search - same travel dates, one from DFW to LA - any airport, the other DFW to MCO - the flight to Orlando was about $30 per person less.) You'll pay similar prices for admission, and as long as you're willing to stay at off-property hotels at Disneyland, you should be able to match the lodging budget. Dining will also be similar. For Disneyland you'll have to add ground transportation (shuttle or rental car), since they don't have the equivalent of Disney's Magical Express. You also won't find other attractions in the Los Angeles area to be cheaper than those in Orlando.

So, I don't think Disneyland is going to be cheaper unless you get very lucky on airfare.

Five days at Disneyland would give you time for an intensive exploration of both parks, and even a chance to go elsewhere. Since it seems you haven't been to DLR before, that'll probably work well for you. In comparison, five days at WDW barely scratches the surface, but since you've already been there, that's probably not a problem.

Got a coin you can toss?

[eff051102]

Well IMHO I would rather do WDW and here is why:

We felt like our vacation to WDW was just that...a vacation. Once we arrived to the
time we left we enjoyed the quiet time, the parks, the food and some relaxing days
spent around the resort. We didn't have to rent a car or leave the property the whole
time. I really felt like we got our money's worth on this vacation.

Now when we went to DL (in-laws live in Temecula, CA so it was a duel visit) and we
drove from Temecula to DL and the drive was HORRIBLE! The traffic was a nightmare
and after driving in DFW traffic for work everyday I was actually glad to be back in
Dallas driving. We stayed off property across from DL and while the walk
wasn't that bad, it would be a pain for short trips back to the hotel. We had a
better time in DCA than in DLR because the crowds were really bad in DLR and almost
non-existant in DCA. I just didn't feel that it was much of a vacation at DLR.
I didn't feel that food wise we had as many choices as we could've had.

As for is it cheaper....I really don't think that DLR is cheaper than WDW in the
sense that you could really do any price vacation at WDW. Also we flew SWA to
both and hassle factor alone it was an easier flight to WDW than to DLR. We flew into
Ontario, CA and had to rent a car so that increased our price.

I think if we had gone to DLR before our WDW trip, I might not feel as negative
about DLR as I do. I love the original fixtures and nature of DLR but everything
else just couldn't make up for the hassle factor, the small park feeling and the
crowds.

Good luck!

[SarahJ]

I know that for our family we can do Disneyland cheaper than WDW. That's mainly because we can choose to fly when our preferred airline (Alaska Airlines) offers a kids fly free program. That is a huge savings for our family of 5 and one that they do not offer on flights to WDW.

I love WDW for it's size and variety of activities, but personally I would rather go to Disneyland. It's closer for us (3 hour flight vs 6 hours), we don't have to change time zones and use up an entire day just to get there. Disneyland also has a certain feel to it that WDW doesn't have. It's hard to describe but it is more intimate and you can just feel Walt's touch everywhere. I think if you love Disney, you have to experience Disneyland at least once.

[HeatherD]

You also won't find other attractions in the Los Angeles area to be cheaper than those in Orlando.

However, right now, there's a big push for "Southern CA" vacations and they sell grouped tickets (multiple parks for less $$) that are a bargain. We don't get them because we only want DLR, but some of them are good deals (Universal and some San Diego parks). I don't know if they offer ones just for the LA area, or if they all include trips to San Diego....but it might be worth it to look into it.

[mom2halls]

Thanks EVERYONE for all the input! I think I was just second guessing myself/this WDW trip. There is so much info avaib on WDW, and trying to keep track with everythingWhooo! can really make you go crazy! I really want to visit WDW, and I know I can put together a budget that will work for our family! Luckily I have 9 months to plan/save/research!! Sooo WDW here we come!

[Flik]

Last week was my first ever trip to DL/DCA. We were there for 5 days, and we had the most magical trip ever. We fell in LOVE with DL/DCA. We had anticipated having enough time to do some side trips and such, but found we wanted to spend all of our time at Disney! (we did make it to Rodeo Drive, the outlets, and to the Santa Monica Pier -- but that was it!!)
It is soooo magical and so special. We were not sure what we would think of it -- as we are big WDW veterans. But we cannot wait to go back!
Also -- we are fellow Texans. The airfare was much cheaper for us, and we snagged a great deal on a rental car, too. We did pay more for the resort (stayed at the Grand Cali), and the food cost was about the same. I think our trip, overall -- probably cost us a little less than a WDW trip.

[Tigger71]

For a 5 day trip I would choose DL. In 5 days you could do it all and still relax. If only 5 days in WDW you will be rushed to visit each park, have no down time and still be wondering about all the things you didn't do. Wait until you have more time for a longer holiday or have a great time in California. Best wishes.