Walt Disney International vs. Disneyland is a debate that’s been completed to loss of life, together with in this weblog. There is not any precise solution, simply an “it relies.” With that mentioned, it’s reasonably plain that the California parks have the definitive model of a number of sights, besting their opposite numbers at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. This checklist covers the cloned rides that Disneyland does higher than Walt Disney International.
The common visitor would possibly not understand many, and even any, variations amongst lots of the rides in this checklist. First-timers (smartly, technically “second-timers” because you’d want to revel in each and every model at least one time) more than likely don’t know and even care concerning the variations. However the diehards do, and can pore over each the big-picture sides and little main points that make the best way an enchantment is gifted awesome at Disneyland or Walt Disney International.
Anyway, call to mind this as each a just-for-fun sibling competition put up that lists our favourite rides which are higher at Disneyland than at Walt Disney International and a sensible checklist for WDW lovers who’re first-timers to Disneyland and need to know which clones aren’t skippable. Oh, and ahead of you Florida lovers snatch the pitchforks in confrontation, simply remember that we’ll have any other checklist with what’s higher at Walt Disney International coming quickly.
Our hope is to provide as purpose of an inventory as imaginable (with some subjectivity and nostalgia creeping in–it’s not possible to keep away from!), and suppose we’re uniquely located to try this. We’re lifelong Walt Disney International lovers who imagine that our “house” lodge, we’ve lived close to the parks (below half-hour, relying upon site visitors) on each coasts, and likewise completed dozens of journeys to each and every as vacationers. We adore each for various causes–each and every have strengths and weaknesses.
Must this and those dual clone lists cross smartly, we’ll imagine doing variations for Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland, too. (I’m now not certain there’s enough passion in the ones for the reason that they’re separated via oceans versus an Orange County to Orange County flight–however tell us within the feedback if that is so.)
Anyway, on with this best 10 checklist of rides which are higher at Disneyland than Walt Disney International…
N/A. House Mountain – Objectively talking, House Mountain at Disneyland is a long way awesome to the Magic Kingdom model of the enchantment. Fully redone again within the early aughts, House Mountain seems, sounds, and seems like a contemporary curler coaster at Disneyland. There’s on-board audio, the potential of seasonal overlays (reminiscent of Hyperspace Mountain and prior to now Ghost Galaxy for Halloween), side-by-side seating, and extra.
In contrast, the Magic Kingdom model of House Mountain is a blast(off) from the previous. It seems like a spinal adjustment that you can now not be capable to stand up from on the finish, and the ones folks plagued via “bony butt syndrome” (it’s a factor; there are dozens folks…dozens!) will likely be grimacing because it rockets over the random bumps within the monitor. Oh, and for those who do Magic Kingdom’s House Mountain at night time when your eyes have adjusted to darkness, be ready to be somewhat an excessive amount of…reminiscent of how little clearance there may be overhead…within the less-than-total darkness.
However, there’s a reason why House Mountain is “N/A” as a substitute of best 3 (the place it objectively belongs), and that’s as a result of that is my checklist and one in every of my maximum unpopular Disney reviews is that Magic Kingdom’s House Mountain is the easier enchantment–that means the entire bundle, now not simply the experience (which is definitely an improve at Disneyland).
Magic Kingdom’s superiority comes right down to the old-fashioned results within the queue, iconic megastar tunnel tune, twin monitor format, or even the post-show scenes. To me, it’s probably the most whole model of House Mountain from begin to end, and that ratings it massive issues in my ebook. Admittedly, I view House Mountain at Magic Kingdom throughout the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia, because it has an enormous position in my middle. In all probability the similar means many lifelong Disneylanders would declare that Matterhorn bests Expedition Everest (it does now not).
10. Mad Tea Birthday party – This can be a easy and simple one. Mad Tea Birthday party is healthier at Disneyland because of being open-air and because of its setting. Because of Florida climate (learn: rain), it doesn’t have the posh of going roofless, and that by myself is a huge loss.
The perspectives also are higher at Disneyland, and that’s true whether or not you in fact experience the teacups or simply stand outdoor and watch. The latter is arguably the seminal model, as you’ll watch the teacups, monorail, and Matterhorn unexpectedly. Disneyland’s kinetic power stays undefeated.
We’re going to finally end up snubbing no less than a couple of “larger” sights that Disneyland does very best, however I will be able to’t now not come with Mad Tea Birthday party. There’s a definite good looks and grace within the simplicity of the Disneyland model that I believe is most commonly misplaced at Magic Kingdom.
9. Haunted Mansion – There used to be a time after I more than likely would’ve put Haunted Mansion at the Walt Disney International model of this checklist. Even these days, there are a large number of little issues to like about each variations. Identical is going for the Tokyo Disneyland incarnation of Haunted Mansion, which is basically the OG Magic Kingdom model. Heck, shall we even make bigger that to Phantom Manor and possibly Mystic Manor, either one of which proportion bloodlines (despite the fact that the HKDL is extra like prolonged circle of relatives who you’ll declare or disown as you notice have compatibility).
A couple of questionable choices at Magic Kingdom within the remaining decade-plus give a slight edge to Disneyland, particularly for the Haunted Mansion purists available in the market. For the decidedly non-purists, there’s additionally Haunted Mansion Vacation at Disneyland and now not Walt Disney International, which turns out to surround extra of the calendar each and every 12 months.
Annually for Halloween and Christmas (now beginning in past due August and working by way of mid-January), Sandy Claws decks the halls in a experience overlay impressed via The Nightmare Sooner than Christmas. Even supposing I’m now not partial to the movie and err at the purist aspect for many issues, I in fact love Haunted Mansion Vacation. It’s extremely thorough, to the purpose that it’s virtually a brand spanking new experience the use of Haunted Mansion as a canvas to create one thing new. (It makes me want we did have a standalone NBC experience, particularly as the vacation seasons get longer.) Finally, this twofer pushes Haunted Mansion at Disneyland into the lead, even supposing handiest via a bit of.
8. “it’s a small global” – At the beginning created for the 1964-1965 New York International’s Honest, “it’s a small global” is a Walt Disney unique with a storied historical past and collaboration amongst a number of Disney Legends–the Sherman Brothers, Alice Davis, Mary Blair, and Rolly Crump. After being an enormous hit on the International’s Honest, “it’s a small global” used to be shipped to Disneyland and opened in 1966.
Disneyland diehards know all about its position in Disney historical past and rightfully view their model of “The Happiest Cruise That Ever Sailed” as a masterpiece. In contrast, maximum Walt Disney International visitors may take or depart “it’s a small global” at Magic Kingdom. Many wrongly suppose it’s antiquated or disturbing, and it’s seen as a moment or third-tier Fantasyland enchantment.
Whilst I in fact do suppose there are small and refined techniques the real ride-through at Magic Kingdom is awesome, the entire bundle at Disneyland is healthier. This starts with the whimsical facade and outside opening act, that are a extra joyous strategy to set the degree for the upbeat enchantment about global peace and dwelling in unity. I believe nailing the vibe within the queue is in point of fact necessary, and units the tone for what’s to return. And naturally, there’s the vacation model at Disneyland, which is so excellent that it makes our checklist of the highest 10 Disney sights on this planet.
7. Autopia – We’ve ceaselessly “joked” that Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom is a good way to revel in loud noise, automobile exhaust stench, and incur some delicate mind harm. I assume that’s all a part of the joys–we all know cognitive skills are hyped up. (This weblog is evidence sure of that!) Additionally a part of the joys is that about the one factor to look is a flat, barren panorama. It used to be prior to now referred to as the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, becoming because it felt just like the monotonous and tedious freeway pressure throughout the fields of Indiana.
Autopia is one of the sights that’s higher at Disneyland, because of its extra attractive monitor, lush surroundings and interconnectedness of Tomorrowland. It’s oozing kinetic power because of the monorail and railroad, and simply has a greater vibe. Autopia additionally won new lifestyles again in 2016, with the addition of ASIMO and Hen–two characters who now seem in exhibit scenes because of the Honda sponsorship. To make sure, I’m now not partial to both model of this enchantment and typically skip each–but when compelled to experience one, Autopia is the hands-down winner.
6. Disneyland Railroad – Either one of those are educate rides that loop their respective fortress parks with stops at a couple of stations alongside the best way. As such, maximum informal visitors are going to regard them as interchangeable transportation rides. And that’s even lots of the lovers who revel in each.
The most obvious good thing about Disneyland Railroad is that it has a scene with actual (ok, Audio Animatronics) dinosaurs referred to as Primeval International. But it surely’s now not simply that. Disneyland Railroad has awesome surroundings, a extra attractive format, and way more ‘lifeless’ spaces of nothingness.
That is more than likely an overly-serious take in accordance with weekly rides aboard the Disneyland Railroad, but it surely’s such a lot higher upon nearer inspection. Even though you simply need to get off your ft and from level A to B, the Disneyland model is awesome because of its stops!
5. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – As a online game fan, the primary time I rode Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin at Walt Disney International, I used to be in point of fact inspired. It blended two of my favourite issues–shooter video games and darkish rides in a enjoyable albeit clumsy means. That used to be over twenty years in the past, ahead of Toy Tale Mania burst onto the scene and even next variations of the Buzz blaster.
Time has since handed it via, and Buzz makes our Record of 10 Sights That Have Elderly Poorly at Walt Disney International. I like the concept of the experience: an interactive shooter experience that makes use of bodily exhibit scenes to make it attractive for visitors who need to benefit from the enchantment passively or actively. Staging, props, and Audio Animatronics are in point of fact cool. The issue is that the Buzz is mainly busted at Magic Kingdom, with unresponsive blasters and too-easy hacks to max out your ranking.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters at Disneyland fixes the important thing problems. Whilst you’ll get blasters that don’t paintings smartly (or in any respect), it’s a long way much less commonplace. Ditto non-working goals. Most significantly, the capturing is smoother, gameplay is extra responsive and tasty, and the weapons are hand held providing higher vary of motion. This might not be noticeable to non-gamers, but it surely’s similar to the variation between Tremendous Mario Marvel and Disney’s Magical Quest. Each enjoyable video games, however one is obviously awesome while the opposite is caught prior to now.
4. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – The most recent experience at Disneyland could also be higher than its recently-added counterpart at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for causes we provide an explanation for within the aptly-titled Why Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Is Higher at Disneyland.
Even supposing the ride-through portion of the enchantment is in large part a clone, there are refined techniques the Disneyland model is very best. This begins with its location in Toontown, the place the experience is housed inside of El CapiTOON Theater–a riff on a luxurious previous Hollywood cinema, proper right down to the Artwork Deco design beneath the entire toonified artifice. It additionally is helping that Disneyland opted to make Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway a diffusion–and in what used to be prior to now its weakest land. In contrast, Disney’s Hollywood Studios changed an iconic enchantment and thesis of the park in Nice Film Journey.
However what’s completed is completed, in order that section arguably doesn’t subject when comparing the rides as they exist these days. One massive means that El CapiTOON Theater bests its Walt Disney International counterpart is the queue. Due to the cool animated film taste in Toontown, Imagineering had much more latitude with the queue at Disneyland, and it in point of fact presentations.
The result is one thing a long way awesome, with the main points added to El CapiTOON Theater are enjoyable and tasty. The poster artwork at first is in point of fact suave, and makes El CapiTOON really feel like an actual theater. From there, it continues with an show off showcasing the evolution of Mickey Mouse. The queue for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland is among the very best on this planet, and it’s mainly a walk-through enchantment.
3. Peter Pan’s Flight – This checklist is a bit of misleading via proscribing itself to cloned sights, because it overlooks anything else that now not exists in each places. As a complete, Fantasyland at Disneyland completely trounces Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. It’s now not even a remotely shut name, even with the moderately contemporary (smartly, a decade in the past) addition of Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach.
Fantasyland at Disneyland is house to Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White’s Enchanted Want, Pinocchio’s Bold Adventure, and extra. Now not handiest do none of the ones exist at Walt Disney International, however the Disneyland variations of many have won improvements through the years to modernize and stay them recent.
This contains Peter Pan’s Flight, which is now higher at Disneyland because of this. The added results, upkeep, and reasonably awesome format all make Peter Pan’s Flight at Disneyland a markedly advanced revel in than at Magic Kingdom. On paper, the diversities appear moderately minor, and it’s more than likely true that first-timers would leave out maximum of them.
As anyone who rides each variations of Peter Pan’s Flight so much (more than likely an excessive amount of!) for technique box trying out, the variation to the willing eye is night time and day. Peter Pan’s Flight is this kind of awesome revel in at Disneyland, and deserving of its best 3 spot in this checklist. (Doubly in order a ‘consultant’ for the definitive Fantasyland.)
2. Indiana Jones Journey – There’s no Indiana Jones experience at Walt Disney International…for now. Arguably, this shouldn’t be at the checklist in any respect because of this, as evaluating experience programs is like opening Pandora’s field and invitations them between Radiator Springs Racers and Check Monitor, Guardians of the Galaxy: Project Breakout and Tower of Terror, and just about each and every Omnimover darkish experience. However I’d argue that the overlap between Indiana Jones Journey and DINOSAUR at Animal Kingdom are a lot more pronounced. Now not handiest that, however Walt Disney International lovers are lately mired in a debate about changing DINOSAUR with Indiana Jones Journey, so this feels well timed and apropos.
Those that have completed each have more than likely famous some similarities between DINOSAUR and Indiana Jones Journey. This may increasingly come as a marvel to lovers who’ve completed each–and suppose they’re very other on account of the on-ride revel in–however the underlying experience is mainly a clone. The monitor format is nearly similar, experience automobiles and device are the entire similar. That’s the place the similarities start and finish.
Indiana Jones Journey is thus far awesome to its prehistoric counterpart that it’s utterly comprehensible that visitors don’t notice they’re (mainly) the similar underlying experience. While DINOSAUR leans closely on darkness, extra darkness, empty exhibit scenes and non-working results, Indiana Jones Journey is jam-packed with brilliantly-staged exhibit scenes and an inside that’s way more attractive and pleasurable. There are a selection of results, and the best way those interaction with the monitor and the whole lot coalesces is solely unbelievable. It’s a definitive demonstration of why experience programs aren’t the whole lot–or in point of fact, anything else–and it’s all about how they’re applied.
Indiana Jones Journey is a masterclass in themed design, worldbuilding, and storytelling in thrill rides. It’s additionally Showcase A in how Walt Disney International did dinosaurs grimy with that land at Animal Kingdom. Dinosaurs are, via each and every measure, the good creatures to ever have roamed the earth. They’d consume Harrison Ford in 99 battles out of 100. (He’d get fortunate and crash his aircraft into them 1 time.) Because the more moderen enchantment in accordance with those gorgeous beasts, DINOSAUR will have to be mild years higher than Indiana Jones Journey. And but, it’s now not even remotely shut.
Previous to Celebrity Wars: Upward thrust of the Resistance, Indiana Jones Journey used to be probably the most groundbreaking addition to Disneyland ever. Indiana Jones Journey used to be a generation-defining enchantment and cleared the path now not only for long run rides, however influenced complete lands. Even 3 many years later, it’s nonetheless a progressive experience that feels recent. The whole thing about Indiana Jones Journey is very good. The queue surroundings the tone, the funny pre-show, and the bold adventure aboard a shipping automobile deep into the Temple of the Forbidden Eye on the lookout for unattainable rewards.
As Sallah would (and does) say, “it’s in contrast to anything else you’ve ever skilled, I guarantee you!” Walt Disney International lovers are in for a deal with, particularly if (as rumored) the Animal Kingdom model of Indiana Jones Journey finally ends up being the definitive one, surpassing even Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea!
1. Pirates of the Caribbean – This simply nabs the number 1 spot, and the explanations are so evident as to someone who has ridden each that now not a lot clarification is even warranted. Should you’ve handiest completed the Magic Kingdom model of this boat experience, you haven’t in reality skilled Pirates of the Caribbean. This considerably longer model includes a body narrative (suppose Center of Darkness) that establishes a foreboding surroundings and items what’s to return as a cautionary story. What follows is a chain of vignettes that includes Audio Animatronics pirates attractive in swashbuckling mayhem in massive and bold units of a burning the city.
Pirates of the Caribbean deftly balances lighthearted humor along the dastardly deeds of pirates in what will have to be a jarring juxtaposition, but it surely simply works. Pirates of the Caribbean is a quintessential slice of mid-century Americana, and with {that a} infrequently cavalier perspective that has landed the enchantment in scorching water (with the intention to talk) with fashionable audiences. However, it continues to resonate, immersing visitors in a pirate assault whilst additionally turning in character and emotion.
The only factor I will be able to say for the Walt Disney International model of the enchantment is that each its external, queue, and miniland (Caribbean Plaza) are awesome. We argued above that “it’s a small global” at Disneyland is healthier because of all of these items, in spite of the experience itself arguably being higher at Magic Kingdom. Smartly, the variation this is that there’s no argument concerning the ride-through portion of Pirates of the Caribbean–it’s this kind of large development at Disneyland that it renders all different arguments moot.
Making plans a Southern California holiday? For park admission offers, learn Pointers for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Know about on-site and off-site accommodations in our Anaheim Lodge Opinions & Scores. For the place to consume, take a look at our Disneyland Eating place Opinions. For distinctive concepts of items that’ll fortify your go back and forth, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Holiday Making plans Information. In the end, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and plenty of different SoCal towns!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Which Disneyland sights do you suppose are higher than their Walt Disney International opposite numbers? Any rides that this checklist snubbed which are awesome within the California parks? Anything else in this checklist that you just suppose is in fact worse at Disneyland? Do you settle or disagree with our selections? Any questions? Listening to your comments—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas underneath within the feedback!
