which attractions are the same at WDW and DL? About This Page:

[elcodfish]

OK!!! So we are going to Disneyland this fall or winter and my question is, which attractions are exactly the same at Disneyland as they are in Walt Disney World... We've been to Disney World about 10 times, and I've heard that fantasyland in Disneyland gets really crowded, so if any of the rides are copies, we will probably skip them... THANKS!

[janicelovesmickey]

I hear even though they are the same , there still different, I can tell you this though, the TOT at DHS is 10000 times better than the one at DCA!!!
and I hear splash mtn at DL is better than WDW's
I dont think they are exaclty alike. I know IASW is different aswell.

[luv2sail]

I found all of the duplicate attractions to have something different about them. They might have the same theme but they are certainly all different.

[bradk]

splash is actually often considered to be better at WDW. for one, the timing of the logs is much better.

really only when attractions are films are they the same and even then..

[jimmymac]

I don't think any of them are exactly the same. Space Mountain at DL is soooo much better than its counterpart at WDW. There's nothing at WDW like Calfiornia Screamin' or Maliboomer. Splash at WDW is better. Vive la difference

[HeatherD]

You may actually want to give them a try, to check out the differences yourself. There are must-sees - like Indiana Jones, etc., that you can't get at WDW, but it would be interesting seeing the difference between the queues for PoC and Jungle Cruise (which I think is pretty similar), deciding whether Splash Mountain and ToT really are better at WDW and Space Mountain and IASM really are better at DLR.

ToT scares me either way, so I can't judge that one, they're both good. And I haven't done Splash Mountain in years. However, Space Mountain and IASM are SO MUCH better at DLR.

Specifically for Fantasyland - yes, you will find that Storybookland and Dumbo and the dark rides are pretty similar. However, we have to do them each time we visit DLR now, so I can't imagine skipping them for being the same at WDW (which we didn't). Teacups is not covered and a bit more intimate at DLR. IASM is a must-do, simply because the entrance is so much better. Toontown puts Mickey's Toontown Fair to shame.

Rather than skipping, here's what we do: We head immediately to Fantasyland (sometimes we hit Space Mountain first, as the kids are getting older) and get all the rides done in the first hour or so, before the crowds pick up. Then, when Toontown opens an hour after the rest, we head in there...lather rinse repeat. Since we travel with my in-laws, we are fortunate enough that if we want a FP, we can run and get them for everyone while Grammy and Grandpop hit a couple rides with the kidlets....

[Tricia Davids]

We visit DL 7-8 times a year and have been to WDW 7 times. We find that most of the rides with the same name are very different in each park. As far as Fantasyland is concerned - the most similar are Dumbo, Teacups, carrousel and maybe Peter Pan. DL has some rides in Fantasyland that WDW doesn't - Storybook Land Canal boats, Casey Jr. circus train, Mr. Toad, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio and the Matterhorn. If you go first thing in the morning and hit Peter Pan first, you will be in good shape. Most people try to do Nemo first right now.

[chezp]

I agree with everything that's already been said. Although there are some rides that are very similar, we found everything we tried to be just slightly different to WDW, so I would give everything a go in Disneyland.

[Cinderella_68]

Being local to DL, and only getting to WDW every few years, we love to ride/see the "duplicates" to compare them.
Even on things that are the same, there are differences. The grand canyon/dinosaur dioramas make the Railroad at DL a must-see!
And the ultimate choice is yours. For me, I prefer Splash in WDW for the ride, being able to sit next to my sweetie, but the one in DL is much more enjoyable for me, because there isn't the permeating smell of mold like there was at WDW for me.
Hit Fantasyland on a non-Early Entry morning, at park opening, and you can do the whole things before crowds get thick. The crowded-ness is more from everything being so close in proximity with smaller walkways, IMO. Except for Dumbo, Alice and Peter Pan, lines are tolerable, especially in the off-season.

[SherryC]

Pirates of the Caribbean is SO much better at DL, as is the DL Railroad. You will be hooked once you go on Indiana Jones (get a Fastpass in the a.m., cause they do run out of them!) I think Big Thunder is better at DL too - great fun. But as everyone has said, even the rides that are the same are different. I would go on them all anyway!

[elcodfish]

Thanks for making everything harder I was hoping I would get, oh fantasyland is the same, skip it, but I guess not!

[Lilianna]

Originally Posted by luv2sail

I found all of the duplicate attractions to have something different about them. They might have the same theme but they are certainly all different.

[Two4Disney]

Originally Posted by elcodfish

Thanks for making everything harder I was hoping I would get, oh fantasyland is the same, skip it, but I guess not!

In fact, it's Fantasyland at Disneyland that makes Disneyland "better" than the MK at WDW. Even the rides that seem alike, like Peter Pan, for example, are different. In WDW you ride through the bedroom and the whole ride seems lower to the ground. At DL, you pass by the bedroom and the ride is from an elevated POV, which I prefer. Fantasyland is very special at DL because it has extra rides that WDW doesn't have and it had a rehab in the 80s that WDW never got and the atmosphere feels more authentic. So Fantasyland is the land you're going to want to pay extra attention to. LOL.

You won't find Country Bears at DL because that's where they put the Pooh ride, which is more fun at DL than WDW. I prefer Pirates at DL but Splash at WDW because you sit side-by-side. I prefer BTMR at DL. I prefer the inside of HM at DL but I like the location at WDW. Don't miss the Matterhorn and Indiana Jones - the best ride on the planet IMHO.

And on and on it goes...

[Dave Marx]

I'm kind of amused that "WDW" refers to the entire resort in folks' minds, but "DL" is Disneyland Park, not Disneyland Resort.

I'm going to try to give some equal time to DCA, if ya'll don't mind.

But before I head across the Esplanade, did anyone mention Star Tours at DLP? The queue is a bit different, but it's the same main attraction.

DCA is where you'll come closest to having identical attractions. Specifically, Soarin' Over California, It's Tough to Be a Bug, and MuppetVision. All three are the same main attraction. That's hardly a coincidence, since they're movie-based. There are differences in the queues at Soarin' and ITTBAB, very little difference at Muppetvision once you reach the pre-show area. Tower of Terror is different. If you love one, definitely experience its alter-ego. Animation? Mostly different (Animation has Turtle Talk, but that show's essentially unique every time, so it doesn't count). I can't swear Playhouse Disney will be different or the same - there's always a chance they'll have made a change in one show that isn't reflected in the other.

So, sorry... you're going to have to ride nearly everything in both parks. Ahh, such a pity!

[HeatherD]

"DL" is Disneyland Park, not Disneyland Resort.

Going off-topic a bit, but here's what I do:
DLR = Disneyland Resort
DL = Disneyland Park
DCA = Disney's CA Adventure

But, yeah, I didn't even think about all the newer "rides" in DCA that are the same. Dave hit it on the nose.