DISNEYLAND IS A TREMENDOUSLY BETTER VALUE THAN DISNEY WORLD
- August 1, 2024
- Family, Toddler, Travel
lets get into disneyland vs. disney world
Disneyland is greater than Disney World. There I said it. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m just as surprised as anyone to be making this argument. I not only grew up on the east coast where Orlando was the closer of the (2) options, but I come from a long line of Disney World enthusiasts. With so many trips over my lifetime, I absolutely have a strong bias to the greatness that is a Disney World vacation.
But then I had a child of my own. Now in the dual position of parent and planner, I am making decisions with my (3) year old’s interests, and patience level in mind. Just earlier this year we were fortunate enough to visit both Orlando and Anaheim on separate occasions, so I feel particularly knowledgable to share the pros and cons of both.
We spent (5) days in orlando at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, with a (4) day park pass to take in all the attractions. While in Anaheim, we stayed off property at a Hilton hotel, and visited both parks with a (1) day Park Hopper pass. Two very different experiences all to see the Mouse. and while the Disney World experience remains a 10 outta 10, it’s time we give disneyland her flowers.
disneyland vs. disney world | TIME
First up, time. TIME IS by far the biggest factor in determining just how enjoyable your next Disney vacation will be. Year after year, Disney World has seen massive expansions, with no plans of SLOWING DOWN anytime soon. With that much physical ground to cover, you need an infinite amount of time to even try to do it all. And since most of us don’t have an infinite amount time to dedicate towards a very expensive vacation, both your time and money will take you MUCH further on a Disneyland vacation.
FROM MY MOST RECENT DISNEY WORLD TRIP, it TOOK US nearly (2) hours to walk out the door of our hotel and get into Our first ATTRACTION LINE. I didn’t say WE WERE RIDING ATTRACTIONS WITHIN (2) HOURS, I said WE WERE WAITING in A line WITHIN (2) HOURS. Whereas at Disneyland, a quick Uber directly took us to the park entrance, and standing in our first line in under (45) minutes. From waiting to catch a bus to the park, to getting through the multiple security screenings, arriving at a Disney World park is a much more time consuming process than Disneyland. With so much less ground to cover at Disneyland, you’ll have the freedom and flexibility to put your time to good use, opposed to waiting for it to aimlessly pass.
disneyland vs. disney world | PROPERTY SIZE
second, the property sizes of Disneyland and Disney World are vastly different. The Disneyland campus includes (2) theme parks, a Disney Springs shopping & entertainment center, and (3) hotels for a total size of less than (1) square mile. in Orlando, Disney World includes (4) theme parks, (2) water parks, (25+) hotels, an even bigger Disney Springs, and miles and miles of internal highways, that total over (45) squared miles!
There is literally a lot more ground to cover at Disney World than Disneyland. Taking all this additional space into account, your time spent in the theme parks will be significantly reduced. With no crowded monorails, no bus transfers, and no overpriced Ubers, a Disneyland vacation will have you and your family enjoying a much more intimate vacation. All you need are your own (2) feet to conveniently bounce from place to place. disneyland is so much more compact than disney world, and it truly only adds to its appeal and value.
disneyland vs. disney world | accommodations
next, I highly recommend staying at a Disney World resort when in Orlando. You will be temped by the allure of the ample off-property hotels located on International Drive, but Disney World resorts offer some of the best perks. From early entry into the parks, to the ease of charging all of your purchases directly to your hotel room, the amenities offered are nothing short of convenient. and yes, the same perks are extended at disneyland hotels. however, you will be faced with choosing from over (25) different hotel options at Disney World, opposed to only (3) options at Disneyland. And while this may seem like a disadvantage for Disneyland visitors, I can promise you it’s not.
At Disneyland, staying at an off-property hotel is equally, if not more (dare I say) satisfactory than the on property options. Off property hotels in Anaheim are not only plentiful, but they are far less expensive per night than a Disneyland resort. Many offer outdoor pools, complimentary breakfast, pet friendly rooms, and suites for those traveling in a larger group.
one of the best advantages to visiting Southern California is that you won’t have to spend your entire vacation exclusively partaking in Disney activities. The area is vast in its vacation offerings from beaches, live sports, historic concert halls, and some of the most authentic cuisines in the country. With Disney World basically serving as its own city, and Orlando playing host to chain restaurants, souvenir shops, and outlet malls, it’s all a bit predictable. When you visit Disneyland, you get to experience far more than just the Mouse while on your vacation.
disneyland vs. disney world | park popularity
with over (58) million worldwide visitors every year, Disney World is king when it comes to popularity. The state of Florida has done an incredible job marketing Orlando as the premier family vacation destination. with so many people entering the parks daily, it’s no surprise to find yourself waiting in longer attraction lines, maneuvering through the crowds at a slower pace, and involuntarily participating in hotel and admission surge pricing.
over on the west coast, Disneyland only sees an annual average of (16) million visitors; a substantial difference from the (58) million Disney World brings in. Crowd control is such an important factor to consider when planning your Disney vacation. Less people simply equates for more for you to do.
to compare the two parks, when we visited disney world we never got a chance to ride Mickey’s Runaway Railway because the queue always exceeded (90) minutes. yet at Disneyland, we waited no more than (20) minutes to ride the same attraction! Shorter lines means happier kids, and happier kids mean less stressed parents.
disneyland vs. disney world | high emotions
Speaking of stress, Disney World tends to leave me with FOMO. There is always something I didn’t get to since it’s impossible to do it all in one trip. My (3) year old didn’t even meet the Mouse on our last trip. there are a lot of mixed emotions that come with any family vacation, and the Disney experience is no different.
The psychological notion of knowing I had far less to see and experience at Disneyland was a mental vacation away from the underlying anxiety that I felt when I visited Disney World. At Disney World I was spending far too much time on the park app. I was physically there, but mentally already moving on to the next best thing to do. I felt none of that at Disneyland and couldn’t have had a better time.
disneyland vs. disney world | top attractions
conveniently, the most popular disney attractions are at both Disney World and Disneyland. You’re gonna be stuck waiting in countless lines regardless, so you might as well make the most of your time and head to disneyland where everything is located in one definitive location.
Let’s say you want to ride the following (3) rides during your Disney vacation: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Mickey’s Runaway Railway, and Soarin’. In Orlando you’ll need to go to (3) different parks and travel miles between to ride each ride! Magic Kingdom for Tiana Bayou Adventure; Hollywood Studios for Mickey’s Runaway Railway; and EPCOT for Soarin’. And you know how many parks you’ll have to visit in Anaheim? Just the (2) that are located a mere (100) yards away from one another!
final thoughts . . .
from time, property sizes, and even attractions, disneyland is a tremendously better value than disney world. with Less waiting, Less money spent, Less people, And less stress, disneyland is where i’m recommending any family visit when deciding between the two. rest assured, you’ll be well taken care of no matter which you choose, and years from now only the memories and time spent with loved ones will be all that matters.
CHEERS BABES!
jenna
MADAME PRESIDENT AT DEPARTMENT OF DEPENDENTS