If you have been to both Disneyland and Disney World then you know that there are a lot of similarities but also a ton of differences. But which one comes out on top? Today we are going head to head, Disneyland vs Disney World to see which park is superior! Let’s see if happiest place on Earth or the most magical place on Earth wins this battle of the parks!
History
When it comes to history, Disneyland is definitely the heavy hitter here! It is the original park, opening in 1955 and where Walt himself spent lots of time. It is the blueprint for DisneyWorld but not completely how you would think. Of course Disneyland was Walts dream come true. But we all know the first time we do something there is always room for improvement. Things you learn and do better next time. Walt realized he didn’t like that the outside world was so close to the park after opening Disneyland. Chain hotels, tourist shops and other businesses banking on success due to proximity to Disneyland were right outside the gates.
When Walt started the Disney World project he wanted to ensure they had the luxury of space and controlled what was close to the park. The Disney company purchased all the land in Florida through shell companies so no one knew who was buying the property or for what project. Disney World has what seems like endless amounts of space for expansion while Disneyland is very limited. But we are talking history here and there is no beating the original so in this round of Disneyland vs Disney World the OG park gets the points!
Attractions
I feel like this part is very subjective! Depending on what your preferences are it could go either way. But I guess since I am the one writing it will be up to me here, haha! In Disneyland you still have so many incredible original riders rides. Mr Toad, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, the Canal Boats and more! They are so nostalgic and special. It makes me happy that they are preserved and still in use at Disneyland. Disneyland also has the superior version of It’s a Small World and Toon Town! Depending on your feelings, the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay on Haunted Mansion gives the west coast park and little boost too. And don’t get me started on Disney’s California Adventure. There is nothing like it in DisneyWorld and it jumps ahead with Avengers Campus and IncrediCoaster. It is such a cool vibe and I love it!
But, although Disneyland has all of that, Disney World has some heavy hitters as well. Because we have the luxury of space here in Florida there are more attractions. With four full parks compared to Disneyland’s two Disney World gets points for the amount of attractions available. Magic Kingdom is very similar to Disneyland Park but with more space. Disneyland can feel cramped at times, especially in Fantasyland. I do feel that we have the better version of Pirates of the Caribbean here in Disney World and we absolutely have the superior fireworks show in Happily Ever After. I will fight you on that!
As much as I love the Starlight parade, I will give the nighttime parade win to Paint the Night in Disneyland. Disney World has the People Mover, Carousel of Progress and Tron so those are definite wins for the east coast park. Having three other parks also give Disney World some major points. A whole Toy Story Land, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and the new Monster’s Land coming soon in Hollywood Studios gives some points to Florida. As well as everything about Animal Kingdom!
This park is so unique to any other Disney park and has great attractions like Kilimanjaro Safari, Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest. The new Tropical America’s section will add our own Indiana Jones ride and a new Encanto Casita ride. And finally, EPCOT! What Walt wanted first in Disney World. This is again such a unique park and has so many things that push Disney World to the leaderboard in this area. Guardians of the Galaxy, Living With the Land, TestTrack, Spaceship Earth, these all give Florida some major points.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Just some stand outs to me. I will say the Walt Disney animatronic in Disneyland is spectacular but I am not going to count that since Florida’s Carousel of Progress will also have one soon! The only other category here I would mention is what’s coming to both locations. Disney World is in the process of building Villains Land, Piston Peak or Cars Land, Monsters Land, Tropical America’s expansion and a few other refurbs and updates. Disneyland is in the process of an Avengers campus expansion, Tomorrowland complete update, Coco boat ride and an Avatar land. With all of these things considered, I think Florida gets the points in this Disneyland vs Disney World showdown!
Food
Another controversial category here. I feel like quick service wise the two are very comparable in variety and quality but a big win for Disney World are those cheeseburger and pizza spring rolls! Huge win in my humble opinion! Both coasts have amazing table service and signature dining options but I’ll keep this category brief. Just off of the sheer amount of dining locations, Disney World wins this category. You could eat at a different place every day for year in Florida and never go tot he same place twice since there are over 200 food locations. Disneyland has around 70. So while Disneyland has some great food and restaurants, Florida takes the victory in this round of Disneyland vs Disney World! But one extra point to California for the better churros!
Hotels
Disney World is hard to beat here as well just base doff the amount of options available to you. With over 30 resorts including DVC resorts and then countless good neighbor resorts to choose from Florida is hard to beat. Disneyland has 3 resorts and a bunch of good neighbor hotels. Now, the good neighbor hotels are closer in Disneyland since they are able to be so much closer to the parks there but Disney World still takes the lead here. So in this round of Disneyland vs Disney World, Florida is the winner again.
Transportation
You may think you know which park I am going to crown the winner here but you may also be wrong! Disney World boasts boats, monorails, buses and even Skyliners. While Disneyland simply has the monorail. So you would assume Disney World would win, but you would be wrong. I personally give this win in the Disneyland vs Disney World battle to Disneyland. Why you ask? Because I love the walkability of Disneyland!
I love that no matter which resort you are staying in you feel like it’s a deluxe resort in Florida with the proximity to the parks. Yes, you can walk from the Poly, Grand Flo and Contemporary here but it’s a decent walk and they are the only ones you can do that with. You can literally walk everywhere in Disneyland! Between parks, hotels and Downtown Disney. so the self transportation wins for me! No late night bus lines to get back to your resort here!
Holidays
Personally, I can only speak to Halloween thoroughly as I have not experienced Christmas in Disneyland. So there are som assumptions happening here. Disneyland takes the win for Halloween in my opinion. Both parks are decked out and so cute and Oogie Boogie Bash looks like so much fun! Not that Mickey’s Not So Scary isn’t amazing, I just feel like there are the same things every year and Oogie Boogie’s gets things changed up and more interesting every year. But for Christmas I’m going with Disney World!
Again I am making assumptions since I have never experienced this season in Disneyland but you can’t compete with all four parks decked out for Christmas with giant trees and unique to each park decorations. Not to mention we have TWO party’s this time of year with Mickey’s Very Merry and Jollywood Nights. Jollywood is my most favorite extra ticketed event I have ever done in the Disney Parks so bug win for me there. I guess I have to call this category of Disneyland vs Disney World a tie since they each took a holiday, but I am leaning a little toward Florida taking the win here for the bigger holiday and extra party.
Conclusion
Based on the results of each category Disney World has come out the winner with score of 4 to 3! There are so many other factors we could take into consideration here but these were the main ones that had me thinking in comparing on our last trip to California. Both parks are so wonderful in their own unique ways and Disneyland has that nostalgia of being the OG. Where Walt walked, worked, rode rides, that will always be #1! I would love to hear how you would have scored these two going head to head. Let me know by commenting on the post and let’s see which coast comes out on top in the comments. Whichever park you are in or counting down to be in I hope you have a magical day today!