Disney World vs. Disneyland – Westchase WOW

What does a Disney-loving Florida household do as a closing hurrah earlier than the final child flies the nest?

They board a airplane and fly 2,504 miles to go to Disneyland.

I imply, that is smart, proper? We had all the time wished to see the unique park in individual and two of the 4 of us had by no means been to California, so, why not? We spent two days of our eight-day journey exploring each sq. inch of Disneyland and under is what we discovered for anybody who has ever questioned:

Disneyland is way (a lot) smaller

We really have been capable of cowl each sq. inch of those parks in two days (two very loooong days). That’s as a result of Disneyland solely has two parks (versus Disney World’s 4): Disneyland, which is a extra compact model of Magic Kingdom, and California Journey, which is Hollywood Studios on steroids. Disneyland’s two parks are situated within the coronary heart of  Anaheim and canopy simply 500 acres. Disney World is mainly its personal metropolis and spans over 40 sq. miles.

Once I say Disneyland is within the coronary heart of Anaheim, I imply you might be strolling down South Harbor Boulevard, you move a resort, a CVS, a Walgreens, after which, increase, you’re on the entrance of Disneyland.  Disney World, however, requires roughly 10 modes of transportation to get you to the precise park, which does make it appear a bit extra of a trip vacation spot reasonably than a facet cease after grabbing a chew to eat at Tony Roma’s (that’s throughout the road from Disneyland). The perk of Disneyland’s location is you could guide a close-by resort and stroll to the park (and stroll again mid-day for a break).

Disneyland is eerily just like however oddly totally different than Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

It’s like coming into an alternate Disney Universe. The very first thing you’ll discover when strolling down Principal Avenue is that you just’re looking at a completely totally different, smaller fort. It’s Sleeping Magnificence’s Fort, which is gorgeous however doesn’t fairly have the grandeur of Cinderella’s Fort. The park itself is condensed, so it appears fairly crowded even with fewer guests. As a result of Disneyland was Walt’s first park (it opened July 17, 1955, 16 years earlier than Disney World), he hadn’t fairly mastered the artwork of the Disney journey queue. We had nice luck utilizing the Disney Genie+ service, so we didn’t have to attend too lengthy in most strains, however for these rides that didn’t settle for Genie+, the wait was excruciating as a result of the road was BORING and cramped (I’m taking a look at you, Area Mountain).

In different phrases, for regulars to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, strolling round Disneyland is a bit surreal.

 

Even the rides which might be the identical are totally different

Disneyland has a number of the identical rides as Disney World…however they’re totally different. The Haunted Mansion, for example, is in New Orleans Sq., versus Liberty Sq. in Disney World, and the facade is, effectively, extra of a southern mansion than a creepy haunted home. The journey itself is a bit totally different, taking you past the graveyard to see how the grim, grinning ghosts reside it up within the afterlife. The identical holds true for a number of different rides: Pirates of the Caribbean can also be in New Orleans Sq. and has a barely totally different vibe than Disney World’s model in Adventureland, there’s an explosion on the finish of Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Area Mountain (although the road was a drag) is someway a bit extra exhilarating. The variations are typically delicate, however they’re there.

Disneyland has additionally held on to some outdated favorites, like Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey and Snow White’s Enchanted Want (which was Snow White’s Scary Journey at Disney World earlier than they bought out and turned it over to the princesses). And so they have some distinctive rides of their very own, just like the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Indiana Jones Journey. The one land in Disneyland that felt precisely the identical was Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which was simply as superior because the one in Disney World.

Disney’s California Journey has fairly just a few distinctive rides that you just gained’t discover at Disney World, together with an enormous curler coaster (the Incredicoaster), an enormous Ferris Wheel, extra Halfway-style rides, the tremendous enjoyable Radiator Springs Racers and, my private favourite, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Journey the place actually use your Spidey fingers to sling webs.

Disney’s California Journey is a one-of-a-kind park

As I discussed earlier, Disney’s California Journey is Hollywood Studios on steroids. The entry is identical. Strolling down the principle avenue (Buena Vista Avenue), offers off that very same Hollywood vibe as Hollywood Studios, however the similarities cease there. This park is one half Tinseltown, one half boardwalk-style amusement park (Pixar Pier), one half full immersion right into a Pixar film (Automobiles Land), one half San Francisco (Pacific Wharf) and one half superhero motion film (Avengers Campus). That’s a number of components! The theming at this park is out of this world. Strolling by means of Automobiles Land felt like we have been dropped into the guts of Radiator Springs and assembly real-life Marvel heroes (okay, effectively, aspiring actors dressed as superheroes) was a thrill for my favourite 18, 20 and 48-year-old Marvel followers. It was undoubtedly a park in contrast to any park now we have right here in Florida.

There’s one thing lacking

Disneyland and Disney’s California Journey have been each wonderful and enjoyable to go to, however there was one thing lacking: that Disney Magic. This park offers off the vibe of an area attraction, not a worldwide vacation spot for followers of all-things Disney. The employees was nice, however not in that over-the-top, I’ve-been-waiting-my-whole-life-to-work-at-Disney sense that you just get at Disney World. (I’m not saying the employees ought to go excessive to please the friends. That’s an entire different debate. It simply looks like the die-hard Disney followers should head to Florida to work.)

As I discussed earlier, a part of the lacking vibe goes again to measurement and placement. A visit to Disney World, even for locals, takes a little bit of a journey to get into the park. (I imply, we didn’t even journey the monorail at Disneyland as a result of we forgot.) And that, too, is all a part of the Disney expertise.

One other difficulty is you actually really feel the void of the experiences you get at Epcot and Animal Kingdom. There’s nothing comparable on the California parks.

Disneyland is the place all of it started

Having mentioned all of that, Disneyland is the place Walt first introduced the magic of Disney to life. Disneyland is full of nostalgia. It’s residence to the very first animatronic (Abraham Lincoln in “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”) Disneyland’s It’s a Small World was initially constructed for the 1964 World’s Truthful and that journey, together with its breathtaking facade, is what you’ll nonetheless expertise immediately. And on Principal Avenue, simply above the Fireplace Station, is Walt’s unique house he had constructed on the property. In case you search for at evening, you’ll see the sunshine they go away on for him.

In the long run, for our Disney-loving household, it was fully well worth the trek to see Disneyland for ourselves and evaluate the 2 parks. As a mother sending her boys off into the world, it’s a reminiscence I’ll cherish for a lifetime. Thanks, Walt!

By Karen Ring