by Sunny

follow me on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps

Remember the game “versus” that April highlighted in her recent Enjoy the Journey post?  (If you haven’t read it yet, click here!) For a die-hard Disney fan the ultimate versus lies in this quandary: Disneyland or Walt Disney World?

I am going to give you my list of why both are great as well as tips and suggestions for visiting each resort.

Disneyland

Let’s get one thing straight: even if you prefer Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, or Tokyo Disney, Disneyland is the original so you’ve got to show some respect!

Crowds and Seasons – Located in Anaheim, California the weather is choice.  When people ask me if I prefer Disneyland or Disney World, I always follow up with the question: What time of year are you talking about?   I suggest visiting Disneyland in the summer or during December. During the summer, the weather is perfect: lots of sunshine, 80 degree weather, and a cool breeze at night.  And while Disneyland can attract crowds during Christmas time, they are nothing compared to the Orlando scene.

Size – Disneyland gets a huge, double-fudge brownie point for being completely walkable! This means you can walk from Disneyland to California Adventure in a matter of minutes.  Getting to the parking lot and resort hotels is a breeze, and I love strolling by Downtown Disney after the park closes for a drink or midnight snack.  There are also a myriad of dining, shopping, and lodging options off-property that are in easy walking distance.  However, you only have two park choices, Disneyland and California Adventure, and there are no water parks.

Attractions – There are certain attractions that you will only find in Disneyland including some original attractions that have been there since the park opened 60 years ago. When you ride the Disneyland Railroad or the Jungle Cruise, you can imagine what it would have been like to ride those attractions on opening day in 1955. And while you can find replicas of some rides in Walt Disney World, you won’t find the Indiana Jones Adventure, Alice in Wonderland, or the Matterhorn – all beloved, unforgettable attractions in Disneyland Park.

You can find “It’s A Small World” In California and Florida, but Disneyland has the original. And it looks INSANE in holiday lights!

Resort Hotels – There are three resort hotels in Disneyland: Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier, and The Grand Californian.  All are in walking distance of the park which make them super convenient and many of the rooms offer awesome views of the park.  The Grand Californian also has a private entrance to California Adventure park.  The resort hotels are pricey, and there are no value resorts on the property.  However, there are plenty of other lodging options not owned by Disney that are considerably lower cost and still in walking distance. These hotels are definitely worth considering. Many offer continental breakfast and there are chain restaurants surrounding them including Denny’s, Mimi’s Cafe, and IHOP.

Disney World

I could go to Disney World every year for the rest of my life and never experience every single attraction there is to offer.

Cinderella’s Castle from Main Street USA in Walt Disney World.

Crowds and Seasons – I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve visited the Orlando theme park, but I have never been during the summer or during Christmas break and probably never will.  The weather is downright atrocious in the summer (think 90 degrees and as humid as a rainforest) and the peak crowds during Christmas break are ridiculous meaning too much time standing in line and not much time to enjoy the attractions. I like to get a lot of bang for my Disney buck, so we only travel to Disney World during the lower crowd seasons. October, January, February, and early May have always worked out well for us.  Do keep in mind that you will never find the place “deserted” or “all to yourself.” The lines will always be there, but look for deals during the above months, especially weeks that school is in session.

Size – Think of every size superlative and you will be right on target.  Huge, gigantic, and massive all fit the bill when talking about the size of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  And I would offer one more: intimidating.  I am in awe of adults who take children to Disney World for the first time when they are Disney virgins themselves.  They must experience major FOMO trying to cram in all of the suggestions they no doubt have received prior to their trip.  I never suggest anything specific for first-timers. My advice is always to not get overwhelmed, but just to enjoy whatever it is you are experiencing because it’s all pretty awesome and there’s no way you can do it all.  To put it in perspective, there is one attraction in the Animal Kingdom park that is the size of the actual Magic Kingdom park.  With 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, an ever expanding Downtown Disney, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, 2 mini-golf courses, and over 15 resort hotels the place is chock full of excitement just waiting to be explored.

Attractions –  It’s easy to say that due to the size of the Walt Disney World resort, it expands and changes at a much faster pace than Disneyland meaning there is always something new to experience. While we visit Disney World every year, we tend to space out our visits to Disneyland due to this fact. The gradual opening of the new Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom over the past 3 years kept us repeat visitors when each new section was revealed. There is also something really neat about seeing the fictional Disney Princesses in their “home” countries in Epcot. Seeing Mulan in the China pavilion, Snow White in Germany, Jasmine in Morocco, and Belle in France is very cool.  Mickey’s Philharmagic 3D show is by far my favorite 3D show of all.

How exciting to visit Elsa and Anna in their home country of Norway in Epcot!

Resort Hotels – Your possibilities are practically endless here. From the luxurious Grand Floridian to the Fort Wilderness Campground, Walt Disney World Resort has all of your basis covered.  There are three levels of resorts: Deluxe, Moderate, and Value with several choices in each category. Some Deluxe resorts have villas that include kitchens and multiple bedrooms.  There are cabins at the campgrounds as well that provide larger accommodations in a unique setting. We have stayed at every value resort on the property and are just as happy there as we are at a Moderate or a Deluxe. Of course, we only use our room for sleeping and getting ready in the morning. If you like to take an afternoon break or enjoy a swim, you may want to consider one of the higher category hotels. The best thing is having a lot of choice, the down side is that unless you stay at one of the 3 hotels on the monorail line, you will be taking the bus to get from park to park.  There are a few hotels with boat services as well and the Boardwalk resorts have a walking path to Epcot. The buses do get crowded during the peak times of day (park opening and closing) so prepare accordingly.

So what do you think? Do you prefer the quaint charm of Disneyland or the over the top excitement of the colossal Walk Disney World Resort? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section or with #disneyvsdisney on Twitter!

Disclaimer: I don’t work for Disney, just expressing my views as a fan!