Walt Disney International as opposed to Disneyland is a fierce fan debate, with every facet swearing their house parks are awesome. For the ones questioning whether or not to take a holiday to the California or Florida parks, the real resolution which is best is: it relies. This digs deeper, weighing climate, rides & leisure, crowds, prices, comfort, and extra to decide what’s right for you. (Up to date September 22, 2025.)
This can be a extremely divisive topic and those comparisons regularly are thinly veiled makes an attempt to say one lodge’s superiority over the opposite. To be frank, it regularly devolves into pettiness and trolling, which isn’t precisely useful in the event you’re looking to come to a decision whether or not to make a choice Florida or California to your holiday. Somewhat than inciting controversy, we’ll try to analyze the real variations between a shuttle to Walt Disney International and a shuttle to Disneyland Hotel.
First timers most likely don’t perceive why that is this type of debatable subject amongst Disney lovers (or care). Regardless of each hotels being owned by way of the similar corporate (this isn’t precisely Coke as opposed to Pepsi), many lovers of Walt Disney International dislike Disneyland and refuse to peer its appeal or enchantment. The similar additionally works in opposite, with Disneyland diehards having no real interest in the Florida Venture’s “blessing of dimension.” The easiest way to explain it could be like a second-hand sibling competition, or if the Buffalo Expenses and Sabres had been competitors (identical town and proprietor). The ones comparisons won’t make sense, which about sums up this entire unnecessary conflict of the coasts between Disney theme park lovers.
Our hope is to provide as function of a comparability as imaginable, and assume we’re uniquely positioned to try this. We’re each lifelong Walt Disney International lovers who believe that our “house” lodge, we’ve lived close to the parks (beneath half-hour, relying upon site visitors) on each coasts, and in addition performed dozens of journeys to every as vacationers. We like each for various causes–every have strengths and weaknesses.
With that stated, this text is in line with questions from informal visitors, so it’s geared in opposition to the ones visitors and diehard Disney lovers like us. For those who’re a veteran of 1 coast or every other, we extremely suggest you seek advice from the opposite coast–an editorial explaining why most likely isn’t essential.
As for informal visitors, a observe on occasionally complicated vernacular. Walt Disney International Hotel contains 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Disneyland Hotel contains two theme parks: Disney California Journey and Disneyland Park. Maximum lovers drop the “lodge” when discussing Walt Disney International or Disneyland, which will also be complicated for the reason that latter is each the complicated and a selected park.
With that during thoughts, let’s attempt to examine those apples and oranges to assist those that haven’t visited each decide whether or not they’re extra of an apple or an orange individual in relation to the U.S. Disney theme park complexes…
Holiday Kind
The character of your holiday is one of the vital side of figuring out whether or not Disneyland or Walt Disney International is best for you. In case your taste is fast, weekend getaways, then the smaller footprint and walkable nature of the Disneyland Hotel contains those journeys higher. In contrast, a global visitor in need of to take a 21 day holiday targeted only on Disney most likely goes to have a greater time at Walt Disney International.
When pitching his Florida Venture, Walt Disney mentioned the “blessing of dimension” it could be offering. It’s honest to mention the dimensions of Walt Disney International is each a blessing and a curse. Within the “blessing” column, you’ve got the sheer scope and scale of Walt Disney International. There are 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 25 Disney-owned resorts, and different diverse leisure and buying groceries at Walt Disney International.
Walt Disney International really looks like a spot the place you’ll take an all-inclusive holiday. You’ll most effective spend such a lot time within the theme parks, however it is advisable to simply spend a complete week doing different issues at Walt Disney International. It’s a lot more of a vacation spot lodge. If you wish to take a protracted Disney holiday, it is a particular benefit for Walt Disney International. (Heck, we lived close to Walt Disney International for a number of years, had been within the parks nearly each day, and nonetheless haven’t performed all of it!)
Within the “curse” column, as a result of its dimension and unfold out nature, getting from position to position at Walt Disney International will also be very time eating, irrespective of whether or not you hire a automotive or depend on Walt Disney International transportation (despite the fact that it’s normally worse in the event you depend on them).
Park Hopping calls for at least a 30 minute shuttle and attending to a cafe in a lodge lodge calls for the similar–and those are simply minimums. Whilst depending on Disney transportation, we’ve wasted properly over an hour looking to get to dinner. For those who’re taking a shorter shuttle or Disney is just one part of your holiday, all of this wasted time will also be critically off-putting.
Park Hopping at Disneyland Hotel takes 5 mins or much less, and will also be achieved on foot. Commuting time is minimum at Disneyland Hotel, however there’s a lot much less to do. The general public don’t seem to be going so that you could spend a complete week on the California parks. Disneyland Hotel is far better geared in opposition to brief journeys, or journeys that incorporate extra than simply Disney theme parks. You’ll do just about all there’s to do at Disneyland in about 5 days, tops.
Climate
Florida is the Sunshine State and California has a “Sunshine Tax.” Regardless of the descriptors, the 2 have decidedly other climate. The commonality, after all, is the solar. Sadly, with the solar in Florida comes humidity, tropical storms, season adjustments, and common afternoon rain showers.
Summer time attendance has if truth be told been trending down at Walt Disney International for the remaining a number of years, and one of the most greatest explanations is vacationers with flexibility fending off the oppressive warmth and humidity. This can be a deal-breaker for lots of visitors, and understandably so–the triple-digit looks like temperatures and unpredictable rain can put a damper at the day and drain visitors’ power.
Reasonable annual rainfall is ready 15 inches in Anaheim (as in comparison to 50 in Orlando) with a long way fewer wet days, much less humidity, and less storms. It will get scorching in Southern California, but it surely’s in most cases a dry warmth. On the whole, the elements is quite constant and delightful year-round in Anaheim. That is one subject the place ‘it does no longer rely.’ For lots of the yr, climate is decidedly higher at Disneyland Hotel.
For those who’re the objective demographic of Disney visitors with youngsters who must trip most effective all the way through college breaks and are focused on summer time holiday, Disneyland is the very evident winner right here. Such a lot in order that, in our view, all the different issues are nearly inappropriate. Disneyland has up to now awesome to Walt Disney International from Might thru August from a convenience point of view, and that trumps all else.
If truth be told, our newest replace strikes this segment means up within the submit to emphasise simply how a lot climate is a difference-maker for a big portion of the yr. Alternatively, in the event you’re making plans a seek advice from from October thru March, climate issues so much much less. It could even tip the scales in prefer of Walt Disney International in the event you’re in point of fact averse to cooler temperatures, as Southern California can get downright cold all the way through the iciness months, particularly as soon as the solar is going down!
Motels & Accommodations
Disneyland Hotel has 3 on-site resorts, all 3 of which can be inside strolling distance of each parks and two of which can be incredible–a few of the best 10 (if no longer best 5) Disney resorts in america. If cash had been no object and I may make a choice any lodge at Walt Disney International or Disneyland, I’d select Disney’s Grand Californian Resort.
With that stated, Walt Disney International has roughly two-dozen lodge resorts and nearly all of those are compelling choices in a technique or every other. There’s a ton extra selection, themed environments, distinctive transportation, swimming pools, eating, and extra. Most of the Reasonable and Deluxe Motels at Walt Disney International are locations unto themselves, and the quite a lot of lodge spaces have their very own distinctive attracts.
Even the Grand Californian has a related counterpart–Desert Hotel–which is one in every of many superlative lodge choices at Walt Disney International. That’s to mention not anything of Animal Kingdom Hotel, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Seashore Membership, BoardWalk, Yacht Membership, Port Orleans, Caribbean Seashore, and plenty of others.
Briefly, there’s far more for lodge fanatics in Florida. It’s a identical tale with each resorts and eating–the highest is robust on each coasts, however Walt Disney International wins by way of distinctive feature of quantity. It most likely received’t topic to these doing a 5-day or weeklong shuttle, however the variations for sure emerge over the process longer holidays or repeat visits.
(Frankly, it looks like we’re no longer doing this segment justice. The number of hotels and topics is the single-biggest promoting level of Walt Disney International for us as common, repeat guests. See our Ratings of ALL Walt Disney International Accommodations from Worst to Best possible.
Even the “worst” on that checklist in point of fact we choices we adore–there’s a reason why for the air quotes. Then again, we acknowledge that this submit is aimed toward first-timers or rare guests, and we acknowledge the truth that lodge selection does no longer topic just about as a lot to you because it does us.)
The place Disneyland “wins” is for individuals who are making plans to stick off-site. Off-site resorts at Disneyland Hotel are a lot more comfortably positioned to the parks than off-site Walt Disney International resorts–and even maximum Price and Reasonable Motels which are on-site. The photograph above was once taken from a 3rd birthday celebration lodge around the side road from Disneyland. Many of those be offering rooms with Matterhorn, monorail, or fireworks perspectives.
There are a couple of dozen resorts on Harbor Street which are as lengthy of a stroll to Disneyland and Disney California Journey because the Fresh is to Magic Kingdom. It’s unimaginable to match those “actual global” resorts to on-site choices at Walt Disney International. Suffice to mention, every have their execs & cons–and a large number of WDW diehards are going to search out the “Disney Bubble” punctured this yr, regardless.
The pricing of resorts at Disneyland vs. Walt Disney International is every other level in Disneyland’s prefer. There are a number of choices from the highest of our Disneyland House Resort Evaluations & Ratings which are priced beneath $150 consistent with evening. Even the brand new JW Marriott and Westin Anaheim luxurious resorts are less expensive than Reasonable Motels at Walt Disney International. The ones are actual global great, no longer simply Disney great.
The hot button is that Walt Disney International has a bigger choice of superb on-site Disney-owned choices, however Disneyland has less expensive strolling distance resorts. Along with that, excellent actual global eating places will also be reached in beneath quarter-hour by way of foot from Disneyland. Identical is going for CVS and Walgreen’s for groceries and different issues. Many Disneyland-area resorts even have superb loose breakfast buffets, in order that’s one meal you received’t want to purchase.
Eating
Given the above variations, an immediate eating comparability is tricky to perform. Walt Disney International merely has extra eating places by way of distinctive feature of its dimension. That is very true of great eating choices within the Disney-owned lodge resorts. If you wish to do a large number of nice eating and plan on visiting the lodge resorts, Walt Disney International is the transparent winner right here. In fact, this calls for time.
As discussed, attending to a few of these Walt Disney International resorts will also be tough, and in the event you imagine that you simply realistically received’t make it to those resorts, the distance narrows. Walt Disney International nonetheless has extra great, in-park desk provider eating places. Plus, lots of the perfect out-of-park eating places are simple to get entry to by the use of monorail or strolling from EPCOT’s World Gateway.
Walt Disney International has additionally noticed a surge in high quality 3rd birthday celebration eating in the previous couple of years due to the rejuvenation of its ‘downtown’ district, Disney Springs. The slate of desk provider choices at Disney Springs is in point of fact stellar, and a long way awesome to Downtown Disney in Anaheim. Actually, regardless of the way you slice it, if great desk provider eating is a focal point of your holiday, Walt Disney International has the threshold.
For those who’re making plans on consuming at maximum only some great foods irrespective of the place you pass, the eating distinction turns into minimum. You are going to be exhausting pressed to select 3 eating places at Walt Disney International higher than the highest 3 eating places at Disneyland Hotel: Carthay Circle Eating place, Napa Rose, and Award Wieners. (See our Record of the Best possible 25 Eating places at Disneyland for different suggestions.)
Disneyland has made huge strides to toughen the standard of its counter provider eating lately, however with the ones enhancements there was some backsliding, and in addition huge worth will increase–to the purpose that lots of the perfect counter provider choices at the moment are priced similar to desk provider eating places.
Nonetheless, counter provider eating is rather awesome at Disneyland Hotel, which has many standout choices that rival desk provider eating places. Affordable minds would possibly range in this, and arguments will also be made in fortify of Disneyland or Walt Disney International having the awesome choices on this regard. Irrespective of which you favor, the standard distinction is now minimum.
The hot button is that you simply now can in finding nice counter provider choices in each Disneyland and Walt Disney International–there’s such a lot “past burgers” and the standard theme park fare at each.
Points of interest
Within the Disney vernacular, sights encompasses rides, level displays, and extra. Principally, the rest indexed on a park map that isn’t a cafe or reward store. Since Walt Disney International has double the theme parks of Disneyland, it could stand to reason why that it additionally has considerably extra sights. This isn’t the case.
Relying upon what you depend, there are roughly 87 sights in all 4 parks at Walt Disney International and roughly 68 sights in Disneyland and Disney California Journey. Once more, that quantity varies relying upon what you come with, however irrespective of what’s integrated, the adaptation within the choice of primary sights in Walt Disney International and Disneyland is ready 20.
Which has the simpler sights is an issue of style (extra in this later), however the appeal density the Disneyland Hotel parks is upper. There are a large number of inferences that may be drawn from this. The truth is that the typical visitor can most effective hit such a lot of sights consistent with day, and that quantity is normally lower than the choice of sights in Disneyland.
Which means it’s a query of whether or not you’d quite spend more than one days finishing a unmarried park or more than one days finishing more than one parks. For instance, it will take you two days to do Disneyland, while it is advisable to “entire” Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (blended) in one day. This has led to a few lovers to explain both or either one of those as “part day parks.”
Animal Kingdom is extremely distinctive due to its zoological theme and Pandora – International of Avatar. Then again, it’s nonetheless painfully missing in sights and has no midnight impressive. Positive, many people Disney lovers love the park, however there’s a reason why it normally clears out after 3 pm–maximum reasonable visitors run out of items to do.
Irrespective of the uncooked appeal numbers and the distribution of the ones sights, we predict it’s honest to mention that the typical visitor will spend no less than someday extra satisfactorily finishing the Walt Disney International theme parks than it could take to satisfactorily entire the Disneyland Hotel theme parks.
For us, that implies 4 days within the theme parks at Walt Disney International and three days on the theme parks in Disneyland Hotel. The full choice of days you spend within the theme parks will most probably range, however we predict this +1 day distinction assumption will roughly cling true.
With regards to appeal high quality, this could also be extremely subjective and extremely debated. With regards to the large image, the sights which are normally thought to be iconic Disney sights exist on each coasts. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Tale Mania, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, ‘it’s a small global’, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Birthday party, Giant Thunder Mountain, Enchanted Tiki Room, and others exist at Disneyland Hotel and Walt Disney International.
If truth be told, the checklist of overlapping “large identify” sights in Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel is goodbye that the majority first-time visitors may no longer even realize an important distinction in sights at Walt Disney International as opposed to Disneyland Hotel. Then there are more moderen lands, like Celebrity Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, that had been constructed concurrently at DLR and WDW and are nearly equivalent.
There are many variations, regardless that. Two super-headliners at Disneyland Hotel which are thought to be to don’t have any equals at Walt Disney International are Indiana Jones Journey and Radiator Springs Racers. Much less considerably, there’s additionally Guardians of the Galaxy Venture Breakout and Internet Slingers Spider-Guy Journey.
Many widespread sights that exist in each places are thought to be awesome at Disneyland Hotel. Essentially the most outstanding examples of this are Pirates of the Caribbean (which is noticeably longer at Disneyland), House Mountain, and ‘it’s a small global’. We’d now upload Tiana’s Bayou Journey to this checklist, too.
Disneyland additionally has extra rides in its Fantasyland, together with Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Snow White’s Enchanted Want, Casey Jr. Circus Teach, Pinocchio’s Bold Adventure, and Alice in Wonderland. Then there’s within sight Toontown, which is principally an outgrowth of Fantasyland, and most effective exists at Disneyland.
Disney California Journey has Vehicles Land (the place Radiator Springs Racers is positioned), which has confirmed an enormous draw, particularly for fogeys with children who’re lovers of the movie Vehicles. It’s in point of fact like strolling into that film. It additionally has the Avengers Campus Surprise land, however we aren’t susceptible to name that a large draw like Vehicles Land.
Walt Disney International has its personal benefits, and a lot of studies that don’t exist at Disneyland. Nearly all of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is exclusive to Walt Disney International, and any individual who loves animals will most probably benefit from the many zoological sights on this park that come with Kilimanjaro Safaris, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Flights of Surprise, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
There also are different distinctive sights right here, reminiscent of Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR (for now), Discovering Nemo: The Musical (Giant Blue & Past), and Competition of the Lion King. EPCOT additionally has many sights that may’t be discovered at Disneyland Hotel, and its International Exhibit international locations are a large draw for adults enthusiastic about consuming or ingesting their means around the globe.
Walt Disney International has additionally received super floor in this entrance within the remaining decade. Whilst all the “perfect” sights was once discovered on each coasts, or simply at Disneyland, there at the moment are a ton of rides which are unique to Walt Disney International (no less than in america). This contains two blockbuster thrill rides in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT and TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom.
It additionally contains quite a lot of circle of relatives pleasant sights, reminiscent of Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Frozen Ever After, Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach, and Slinky Canine Sprint. Then there’s Pandora – International of Avatar, which contains an exciting trip in Avatar Flight of Passage and a at ease one in Na’vi River Adventure.
With regards to midnight spectaculars, each Disneyland and Magic Kingdom have probably the most choices. This begins with outstanding fireworks displays which are similar to one every other.
Luckily Ever After at Magic Kingdom perfected the idea that of a contemporary montage display with a throughline and compelling motifs. Wondrous Trips at Disneyland pulled from that playbook to supply its personal display that is in a similar way impressive. It’s nearly unimaginable to make a choice a winner between the 2–each are 10/10 midnight spectaculars. (Disneyland additionally has extra seasonal fireworks displays all through the yr which are integrated in common park admission.)
Each Disneyland and Magic Kingdom additionally now have evening parades as of 2025 for the primary time in a very long time.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away debuted this summer time in Magic Kingdom. That is Walt Disney International’s first evening parade in more or less a decade, and it pulls inspiration from Primary Side road Electric Parade and SpectroMagic whilst that includes fashionable generation and fan-favorite characters.
Paint the Night time Parade returned for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary after a protracted hiatus. It’ll pass on hiatus once more this vacation season to make means for “A Christmas Delusion” Parade sooner than returning in 2026. Either one of those parades are superb to nice, and every will enchantment to other audiences because of their other tones. We desire Starlight, however won’t ever go on a possibility to peer Paint the Night time.
In relation to different midnight spectaculars, each Disneyland and Hollywood Studios have variations of Fantasmic. Disneyland used to win in a landslide, however the ‘heroes’ phase with Aladdin, Frozen, and Moana added to the model at DHS makes coupled with downgrades at Disneyland make the Walt Disney International model of Fantasmic the awesome one.
Over at DCA, there’s additionally International of Colour, a jaw-dropping show of colourful fountains targeted round a montage of Disney motion pictures. EPCOT is the opposite park at Walt Disney International with a midnight impressive with Luminous, which is an excellent fireworks display, however no longer on par with International of Colour.
Because of Animal Kingdom no longer having an evening parade and the density of leisure at Disneyland, there are the similar choice of midnight spectaculars at Disneyland’s 2 parks as there are Walt Disney International’s 4 parks.
As a normal rule, the upkeep of sights is best at Disneyland Hotel. This isn’t a difficult and rapid rule, and in the event you’re a primary time customer to both, likelihood is that you received’t even realize a distinction. This can be a variable that in point of fact most effective impacts astute eyes.
The variations in sights between Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel will also be beautiful really extensive to severe lovers, however which has the simpler slate goes to alter from individual to individual relying upon that individual’s distinctive pursuits. The loss of a Peoplemover and stress-free Audio-Animatronics displays like Nation Undergo Jamboree, American Journey, and Carousel of Development is arguably Disneyland’s greatest fault.
Shall we spend hundreds of phrases masking all the many variations in sights between Disneyland Hotel and Walt Disney International, however even this type of thorough checklist would supply little help in figuring out which is best for you at the foundation of sights as a result of you’ll have some quirky person desire that’s ignored utterly by way of the checklist. All issues thought to be, we predict maximum visitors will quite equivalent benefit from the sights at Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel.
Atmosphere
Essentially the most regularly cited distinction in environment is by means of the castles in every of the “Fort Parks” (Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom). Cinderella Fort within the Magic Kingdom is perfect described as huge and grandiose. Slumbering Attractiveness Fort in Disneyland is perfect described as small and fascinating. The controversy on which is “higher” may rage eternally, and we predict it is determined by which you revel in first.
Those castles also are indicative of the full environment of Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel. On the whole, Walt Disney International is huge and grandiose. The whole thing is extra unfold out, the parks occupy better areas, and the whole lot is flat out large. Disneyland Hotel occupies much less area and normally issues simply appear smaller.
Which you favor goes to be an issue of private desire. Some other people assume Walt Disney International is sterile, and Disneyland is intimate. Some other people assume Walt Disney International is spacious, and Disneyland is claustrophobic.
Past that, as touched upon above, Walt Disney International is remoted from the true global. For those who keep in an on-site, Disney-owned lodge there, you’ll be within the “Disney Bubble” at some stage in your shuttle. Some other people love this (us integrated). Distinction the ocean of bushes past the berm at Magic Kingdom within the photograph above with the 3rd birthday celebration resorts, freeways, residences, and Angel Stadium in the back of Vehicles Land at DCA within the photograph under.
It’s imaginable to flee the true global at Disneyland Hotel, however this phantasm breaks down every so often because the parks are bordered by way of Anaheim and the better Los Angeles metro subject simply outdoor of the parks. Some other people love this, as get entry to to the true global (and its less expensive meals and facilities) is vital to them. In contrast, the “Disney Bubble” buffer makes escapism more uncomplicated in Florida, however the trade-off is that it makes commuting across the huge lodge extra time eating.
There’s every other attitude of this that’s value addressing in the event you’re staying off-site at Disneyland, which is protection. Many American citizens seek advice from the Disney theme parks as a result of they provide a veil of myth and escapism. The parks are predictable, blank, and protected in ways in which range from maximum different holiday locations.
Disneyland is a part of an actual town, and Anaheim has the similar problems with any town its dimension (tenth biggest in California and fifty fifth biggest in america). For those who’re staying in an off-site lodge and strolling to the parks, you’ll most probably see homelessness, side road distributors, and in all probability protestors. Relying upon the place you keep, you additionally may must pass interstate on/off ramps.
For those who’re from a small or suburban the city, chances are you’ll in finding the town streets jarring and revel in somewhat of tradition surprise in Anaheim. None of that is essentially unsafe (regardless of being a part of the metro subject, Anaheim is not anything like Los Angeles) and we’ve by no means had any exact problems, however you may in finding it uncomfortable or unsettling. (On a semi-related observe, if any of it is a fear, believe flying into SNA quite than LAX. Now not as a result of LAX is unsafe, however as it’s utterly chaotic and not anything like your house airport.)
Again within the parks, there are a large number of different explicit variations in environment. Puts just like the International Exhibit in EPCOT, the gritty and lifelike nations in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, New Orleans Sq. in Disneyland, and Vehicles Land or Avengers Campus in Disney California Journey–amongst almost about each and every different land in every of the parks–all of their very own distinct environment that may be a selected draw to express other people.
Disneyland Hotel additionally has extra are living leisure (which may well be counted within the “sights” segment above, however I believe those random entertainers extra about environment than the rest), however there’s are living leisure in all of parks being in comparison.
Each Walt Disney International and Disneyland, for lack of a higher time period, have that air of mystery of “Disney magic” to them, and also you don’t get a lesser revel in in relation to this by way of going to both. Enthusiasts of 1 or the opposite may argue in a different way, contending on reverse facets that Walt Disney International is extra magical as it was once what Walt Disney envisioned to “repair” the mistakes of Disneyland.
In the meantime, Southern Californians argue that Disneyland is extra magical as it’s the one theme park that has Walt Disney’s personalized effect on it (Disneyland is the one completed park Walt Disney ever set foot in). That is fanboy fodder–a normal visitor goes to have an similarly relaxing revel in in both location.
Forged Contributors
There’s no noticeable distinction in Forged Contributors. Many of us declare there’s, however they base those claims on anecdotal adverse studies in a single location or the opposite–it’s nearly as though they have got an awl to grind on account of a unmarried adverse come across.
We have now resided in every Orange County (Florida and California), been bicoastal Annual Passholders for over a decade, and spent (actually) over a yr within the parks at each Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel. We’re assured in announcing that the majority Forged Contributors are nice far and wide. There are a couple of unhealthy apples on each coasts, too.
With that stated, there are some slight variations within the demeanor of Forged Contributors. Walt Disney International has a colossal Faculty Program and World Techniques, which make sure a gentle provide of fresh-faced younger people who find themselves full of life and in addition somewhat green. Those persons are in most cases cheery and sure to a better level than the typical ‘seasoned’ Forged Member on both coast. In contrast, maximum Forged Contributors at Disneyland are Californians, who have a tendency to be extra laid again and passive.
So in case your influence is that many Forged Contributors at Walt Disney International are extra enthusiastic and full of life, while extra at Disneyland are informal and calm…that’s roughly correct. Nevertheless it’s additionally no longer consultant of all Forged Contributors, and none of the ones characteristics are essentially sure or adverse–simply other.
Suffice to mention, in the event you seek advice from Walt Disney International as soon as, after which seek advice from Disneyland Hotel as soon as, chances are you’ll really feel that the Forged Contributors at one are “higher” than the ones on the different. Build up your pattern dimension to ten journeys to every and also you most probably received’t really feel the similar. Forged Contributors are just about the similar at each Walt Disney International and Disneyland: superb, with a couple of outliers.
Crowds
Crowds in Disneyland and crowds in Walt Disney International are regularly–however no longer at all times–somewhat related, simply composed of various demographics and with rather other day by day developments. Disneyland has extra native Magic Key Annual Passholders while Walt Disney International has extra vacationers. Annual Passholders at Disneyland normally most effective pose a “drawback” for vacationers in relation to the midnight spectaculars.
Since those visitors can seek advice from on every occasion they would like, they have got no sense of urgency. A lot of them don’t thoughts shedding in after paintings with an iPad or ebook and grabbing a place for Fantasmic or the fireworks a couple of hours prematurely. Then again, Walt Disney International’s visitor demographic contains the feared excursion teams.
Whether or not those be cheerleaders, early life teams, and so forth., they’re huge, under-supervised, and regularly unruly teams. (Get that many children along side little supervision and their background is inappropriate–they’re going to misbehave.) We have now by no means had any severe factor with those teams, then again, there are many horror tales. Chances are high that that they received’t pose an issue for you, however in the event you get in a protracted line proper in the back of any such teams, even probably the most affected person individual would possibly lose their cool by way of the tip of the road.
In follow, those variations in demographics are a relative non-factor. The busy seasons at Disneyland are the busy seasons at Walt Disney International, and the sluggish seasons also are the similar at every, with minor variances. We believe variations in crowds at one as opposed to insignificant.
Price
So far as in-park prices pass, Disneyland Hotel and Walt Disney International are comparably priced. Price ticket costs are about the similar, as are meals costs and souvenirs. Disneyland Hotel does no longer have more than one lodge tiers, so in the event you keep at one of the most 3 Disneyland Hotel resorts, be expecting to pay so much consistent with evening of your keep–probably greater than you’d spend on a Deluxe Hotel at Walt Disney International.
Once more, the large attainable distinction is available in staying off-site at Disneyland, the place you’ll get a 3rd birthday celebration lodge inside strolling distance at an affordable price. If truth be told, we normally pay much less for our off-site lodge at Disneyland Hotel than we do for our on-site Walt Disney International lodge, and the ones off-site resorts are, on reasonable, nearer to the parks at Disneyland Hotel than the resorts at which we keep in Walt Disney International! It’s touched upon above, but it surely’s vital to grasp that no longer all Walt Disney International resorts are comfortably positioned.
At Walt Disney International, you pay an important top rate for handy places that make the shuttle more uncomplicated. Past resorts, there are a number of eventualities the place you’re purchasing your means out of inconvenience. Excluding Lightning Lanes, that’s no longer in point of fact a factor at Disneyland (or even that may finally end up costing you much less at Disneyland since you in point of fact most effective “want” it for someday, versus 2-3 days at Walt Disney International). The hot button is that it’s in most cases a lot less expensive to do a handy shuttle to Disneyland–even making an allowance for the costlier flights.
Oh, and don’t suppose that simply because you are living nearer to 1 lodge complicated, that airfare to that one can be less expensive. As a normal rule, that appears to be true, however there are exceptions. We regularly in finding that airfare will also be more cost effective to Disneyland than to Walt Disney International. It is helping that there are 4 airports close to Disneyland Hotel–you’ll want to take a look at flights into every of them. Different prices are going to alter broadly relying upon the place you are living and what else you intend to do.
Ease of Visiting
This may already be evident from statement about, however Disneyland is a long way more uncomplicated to seek advice from than Walt Disney International. We’ve regularly remarked that Walt Disney International is probably the most overly difficult and unnecessarily convoluted holiday vacation spot we’ve ever visited. If you’ll “overcome” Walt Disney International, you’ll trip any place–no language barrier, public transit, or different stumbling blocks examine with the morass of regulations and procedures at Walt Disney International. Navigating the Tokyo Metro or making Paris museum reservations has not anything at the monster this is Walt Disney International.
What’s discussed right here simply scratches the skin. There’s additionally the 60+10 ADR rule, Early Access and Prolonged Night Hours eligibility, Lightning Lane regulations, and so a lot more. Disneyland has a few of this, but it surely’s in most cases a lot more low stakes or intuitive than at Walt Disney International. (There’s a reason why now we have exponentially extra making plans posts for Walt Disney International!)
Disneyland is much less demanding, extra laid-back, and permits for better spontaneity. The comparative ease of making plans a shuttle to Disneyland is in point of fact value stressing…er, reiterating. On the whole, the extra free-flowing nature of the California parks makes it more uncomplicated to decelerate and revel in atmospheric leisure and easily respect being there.
The vast majority of the time we seek advice from Disneyland, we don’t make any plans (past park reservations) till we arrive. No clue the place we’re going to devour, which rides we’re going to do, or how our days will spread. For those who love to devise, there’s nonetheless room for that, but it surely’s much less very important, with way more room for spontaneity.
Past Disney
Which is best if you wish to do different issues past the berm of the Disney theme park complexes? Once more, that relies. (Actually useful article, proper?!) Central Florida has change into referred to as the theme park capital of the sector, and this isn’t simply as a result of Walt Disney International. There’s additionally Common Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Legoland Florida, Busch Gardens Tampa, and plenty of extra.
Southern California has its personal mixture of theme parks, together with Knott’s Berry Farm, Common Studios Hollywood, Legoland California, and Six Flags Magic Mountain. We’re large lovers of the SoCal theme park roster and assume that Knott’s and USH don’t get sufficient credit score. The Warner Bros. Studio Excursion could also be a quasi-theme park revel in close to Common Studios Hollywood that’s incredible, but it surely’s no longer a theme park.
Nonetheless, in the event you’re taking a look to make a grand circle excursion of theme parks, Orlando will have to be the winner. It’s beautiful simple that the Central Florida parks are higher than their California opposite numbers. That’s very true now that Epic Universe is open. That new park plus Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida can flip a 5-day Disney shuttle right into a week-long Central Florida theme parks holiday. It’s difficult to try this in SoCal.
If you wish to do issues outdoor of theme parks, it’s difficult to overcome California. You’ll surf and ski in the similar day, visiting craggy cliffs, stunning seashores, majestic mountains, and (dry?) deserts in between.
There’s the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, various tradition (and meals!) of Los Angeles, and sleepy coastline of Laguna Seashore. Plus, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Newport, Pasadena, and extra all inside riding distance. California additionally has 9 Nationwide Parks and extra biodiversity than another state.
Most significantly, you’ll do many of this stuff on the cheap. California has a wealth of low price vacationer sights. Spend someday on the Getty and Getty Villa, two of the highest loose museums in the USA, sooner than heading to the picturesque El Matador Seashore in Malibu. Power out to Palm Springs to do a self-guided strolling excursion of The usa’s perfect structure, adopted by way of a day in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park, which could also be highest stargazing and seeing the Milky Means.
If all of that isn’t sufficient to tip the scales in California’s prefer, the closest In-N-Out Burger is 980 miles clear of Walt Disney International. There are two inside 10 mins of Disneyland. 😉
For those who’re making plans a Southern California holiday past Disneyland and need different concepts, you’re in good fortune. We have now heaps of recommendation on our non-Disney weblog, TravelCaffeine.com. There, we actually have a ton of sources devoted to visiting the state, together with a chain of weblog posts about California sights and making plans guides.
For its phase, Florida has theme parks, manatees, the Everglades, outlet shops, and the Kennedy House Heart. This isn’t supposed to be dismissive of Florida–a few of the ones and different issues are slightly a laugh. However in the event you’re taking a look at taking a extra well-rounded shuttle that isn’t about upping your coaster depend, California will have to be the winner.
Numerous other people have a powerful bias in opposition to California according to site visitors congestion and different preconceived notions, and a California holiday will not be for those other people. We skew within the different course, discovering California to be probably the most stunning and relaxing position in america–and all of the global. For vacationer functions, Florida is most effective world-class in relation to theme parks.
In the long run, that are supposed to quilt the largest variations and supply a pleasant foundation to assist attainable visitors determine whether or not Disneyland Hotel or Walt Disney International is correct for them. As discussed a large number of instances all through this text, that is most commonly top degree variations, and doesn’t strive to concentrate on the myriad of explicit variations between the hotels.
Then again, in the event you do have some explicit variations that you simply assume are vital, I urge you to proportion them under. That’s what the feedback are there for, and any individual considering a shuttle would most likely be well-served by way of getting a special take at the comparability, anyway. I simply ask that you simply be respectful and reasoned to your ideas. This isn’t a spot for turf wars or conjecture.
And in point of fact, on the finish of the day, the general public are going to have a great time irrespective of whether or not they pass to Disneyland Hotel or Walt Disney International, as long as they correctly get ready for the shuttle. On that observe, in the event you’re making plans your first seek advice from to Disneyland Hotel or Walt Disney International, you’ll want to learn our Walt Disney International Commute Making plans Information and Disneyland Commute Making plans Information. A well-planned shuttle will make the entire distinction on the planet in relation to enjoyment, and for the way pricey Disney is, it’s for sure value taking a couple of hours to do some making plans to insure your shuttle “funding” pans out!
Your Ideas?
Have you ever visited each Disneyland and Walt Disney International? Do you settle or disagree with our overview? Which do you believe the awesome vacation spot to your holiday taste? Do you assume every have their strengths and weaknesses? Is one or the opposite definitively higher? Any questions? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney International as opposed to Disneyland is a fierce fan debate, with every facet swearing their house parks are awesome. For the ones questioning whether or not to take a holiday to the California or Florida parks, the real resolution which is best is: it relies. This digs deeper, weighing climate, rides & leisure, crowds, prices, comfort, and extra to decide what’s right for you. (Up to date September 22, 2025.)
This can be a extremely divisive topic and those comparisons regularly are thinly veiled makes an attempt to say one lodge’s superiority over the opposite. To be frank, it regularly devolves into pettiness and trolling, which isn’t precisely useful in the event you’re looking to come to a decision whether or not to make a choice Florida or California to your holiday. Somewhat than inciting controversy, we’ll try to analyze the real variations between a shuttle to Walt Disney International and a shuttle to Disneyland Hotel.
First timers most likely don’t perceive why that is this type of debatable subject amongst Disney lovers (or care). Regardless of each hotels being owned by way of the similar corporate (this isn’t precisely Coke as opposed to Pepsi), many lovers of Walt Disney International dislike Disneyland and refuse to peer its appeal or enchantment. The similar additionally works in opposite, with Disneyland diehards having no real interest in the Florida Venture’s “blessing of dimension.” The easiest way to explain it could be like a second-hand sibling competition, or if the Buffalo Expenses and Sabres had been competitors (identical town and proprietor). The ones comparisons won’t make sense, which about sums up this entire unnecessary conflict of the coasts between Disney theme park lovers.
Our hope is to provide as function of a comparability as imaginable, and assume we’re uniquely positioned to try this. We’re each lifelong Walt Disney International lovers who believe that our “house” lodge, we’ve lived close to the parks (beneath half-hour, relying upon site visitors) on each coasts, and in addition performed dozens of journeys to every as vacationers. We like each for various causes–every have strengths and weaknesses.
With that stated, this text is in line with questions from informal visitors, so it’s geared in opposition to the ones visitors and diehard Disney lovers like us. For those who’re a veteran of 1 coast or every other, we extremely suggest you seek advice from the opposite coast–an editorial explaining why most likely isn’t essential.
As for informal visitors, a observe on occasionally complicated vernacular. Walt Disney International Hotel contains 4 theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Disneyland Hotel contains two theme parks: Disney California Journey and Disneyland Park. Maximum lovers drop the “lodge” when discussing Walt Disney International or Disneyland, which will also be complicated for the reason that latter is each the complicated and a selected park.
With that during thoughts, let’s attempt to examine those apples and oranges to assist those that haven’t visited each decide whether or not they’re extra of an apple or an orange individual in relation to the U.S. Disney theme park complexes…
Holiday Kind
The character of your holiday is one of the vital side of figuring out whether or not Disneyland or Walt Disney International is best for you. In case your taste is fast, weekend getaways, then the smaller footprint and walkable nature of the Disneyland Hotel contains those journeys higher. In contrast, a global visitor in need of to take a 21 day holiday targeted only on Disney most likely goes to have a greater time at Walt Disney International.
When pitching his Florida Venture, Walt Disney mentioned the “blessing of dimension” it could be offering. It’s honest to mention the dimensions of Walt Disney International is each a blessing and a curse. Within the “blessing” column, you’ve got the sheer scope and scale of Walt Disney International. There are 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 25 Disney-owned resorts, and different diverse leisure and buying groceries at Walt Disney International.
Walt Disney International really looks like a spot the place you’ll take an all-inclusive holiday. You’ll most effective spend such a lot time within the theme parks, however it is advisable to simply spend a complete week doing different issues at Walt Disney International. It’s a lot more of a vacation spot lodge. If you wish to take a protracted Disney holiday, it is a particular benefit for Walt Disney International. (Heck, we lived close to Walt Disney International for a number of years, had been within the parks nearly each day, and nonetheless haven’t performed all of it!)
Within the “curse” column, as a result of its dimension and unfold out nature, getting from position to position at Walt Disney International will also be very time eating, irrespective of whether or not you hire a automotive or depend on Walt Disney International transportation (despite the fact that it’s normally worse in the event you depend on them).
Park Hopping calls for at least a 30 minute shuttle and attending to a cafe in a lodge lodge calls for the similar–and those are simply minimums. Whilst depending on Disney transportation, we’ve wasted properly over an hour looking to get to dinner. For those who’re taking a shorter shuttle or Disney is just one part of your holiday, all of this wasted time will also be critically off-putting.
Park Hopping at Disneyland Hotel takes 5 mins or much less, and will also be achieved on foot. Commuting time is minimum at Disneyland Hotel, however there’s a lot much less to do. The general public don’t seem to be going so that you could spend a complete week on the California parks. Disneyland Hotel is far better geared in opposition to brief journeys, or journeys that incorporate extra than simply Disney theme parks. You’ll do just about all there’s to do at Disneyland in about 5 days, tops.
Climate
Florida is the Sunshine State and California has a “Sunshine Tax.” Regardless of the descriptors, the 2 have decidedly other climate. The commonality, after all, is the solar. Sadly, with the solar in Florida comes humidity, tropical storms, season adjustments, and common afternoon rain showers.
Summer time attendance has if truth be told been trending down at Walt Disney International for the remaining a number of years, and one of the most greatest explanations is vacationers with flexibility fending off the oppressive warmth and humidity. This can be a deal-breaker for lots of visitors, and understandably so–the triple-digit looks like temperatures and unpredictable rain can put a damper at the day and drain visitors’ power.
Reasonable annual rainfall is ready 15 inches in Anaheim (as in comparison to 50 in Orlando) with a long way fewer wet days, much less humidity, and less storms. It will get scorching in Southern California, but it surely’s in most cases a dry warmth. On the whole, the elements is quite constant and delightful year-round in Anaheim. That is one subject the place ‘it does no longer rely.’ For lots of the yr, climate is decidedly higher at Disneyland Hotel.
For those who’re the objective demographic of Disney visitors with youngsters who must trip most effective all the way through college breaks and are focused on summer time holiday, Disneyland is the very evident winner right here. Such a lot in order that, in our view, all the different issues are nearly inappropriate. Disneyland has up to now awesome to Walt Disney International from Might thru August from a convenience point of view, and that trumps all else.
If truth be told, our newest replace strikes this segment means up within the submit to emphasise simply how a lot climate is a difference-maker for a big portion of the yr. Alternatively, in the event you’re making plans a seek advice from from October thru March, climate issues so much much less. It could even tip the scales in prefer of Walt Disney International in the event you’re in point of fact averse to cooler temperatures, as Southern California can get downright cold all the way through the iciness months, particularly as soon as the solar is going down!
Motels & Accommodations
Disneyland Hotel has 3 on-site resorts, all 3 of which can be inside strolling distance of each parks and two of which can be incredible–a few of the best 10 (if no longer best 5) Disney resorts in america. If cash had been no object and I may make a choice any lodge at Walt Disney International or Disneyland, I’d select Disney’s Grand Californian Resort.
With that stated, Walt Disney International has roughly two-dozen lodge resorts and nearly all of those are compelling choices in a technique or every other. There’s a ton extra selection, themed environments, distinctive transportation, swimming pools, eating, and extra. Most of the Reasonable and Deluxe Motels at Walt Disney International are locations unto themselves, and the quite a lot of lodge spaces have their very own distinctive attracts.
Even the Grand Californian has a related counterpart–Desert Hotel–which is one in every of many superlative lodge choices at Walt Disney International. That’s to mention not anything of Animal Kingdom Hotel, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Seashore Membership, BoardWalk, Yacht Membership, Port Orleans, Caribbean Seashore, and plenty of others.
Briefly, there’s far more for lodge fanatics in Florida. It’s a identical tale with each resorts and eating–the highest is robust on each coasts, however Walt Disney International wins by way of distinctive feature of quantity. It most likely received’t topic to these doing a 5-day or weeklong shuttle, however the variations for sure emerge over the process longer holidays or repeat visits.
(Frankly, it looks like we’re no longer doing this segment justice. The number of hotels and topics is the single-biggest promoting level of Walt Disney International for us as common, repeat guests. See our Ratings of ALL Walt Disney International Accommodations from Worst to Best possible.
Even the “worst” on that checklist in point of fact we choices we adore–there’s a reason why for the air quotes. Then again, we acknowledge that this submit is aimed toward first-timers or rare guests, and we acknowledge the truth that lodge selection does no longer topic just about as a lot to you because it does us.)
The place Disneyland “wins” is for individuals who are making plans to stick off-site. Off-site resorts at Disneyland Hotel are a lot more comfortably positioned to the parks than off-site Walt Disney International resorts–and even maximum Price and Reasonable Motels which are on-site. The photograph above was once taken from a 3rd birthday celebration lodge around the side road from Disneyland. Many of those be offering rooms with Matterhorn, monorail, or fireworks perspectives.
There are a couple of dozen resorts on Harbor Street which are as lengthy of a stroll to Disneyland and Disney California Journey because the Fresh is to Magic Kingdom. It’s unimaginable to match those “actual global” resorts to on-site choices at Walt Disney International. Suffice to mention, every have their execs & cons–and a large number of WDW diehards are going to search out the “Disney Bubble” punctured this yr, regardless.
The pricing of resorts at Disneyland vs. Walt Disney International is every other level in Disneyland’s prefer. There are a number of choices from the highest of our Disneyland House Resort Evaluations & Ratings which are priced beneath $150 consistent with evening. Even the brand new JW Marriott and Westin Anaheim luxurious resorts are less expensive than Reasonable Motels at Walt Disney International. The ones are actual global great, no longer simply Disney great.
The hot button is that Walt Disney International has a bigger choice of superb on-site Disney-owned choices, however Disneyland has less expensive strolling distance resorts. Along with that, excellent actual global eating places will also be reached in beneath quarter-hour by way of foot from Disneyland. Identical is going for CVS and Walgreen’s for groceries and different issues. Many Disneyland-area resorts even have superb loose breakfast buffets, in order that’s one meal you received’t want to purchase.
Eating
Given the above variations, an immediate eating comparability is tricky to perform. Walt Disney International merely has extra eating places by way of distinctive feature of its dimension. That is very true of great eating choices within the Disney-owned lodge resorts. If you wish to do a large number of nice eating and plan on visiting the lodge resorts, Walt Disney International is the transparent winner right here. In fact, this calls for time.
As discussed, attending to a few of these Walt Disney International resorts will also be tough, and in the event you imagine that you simply realistically received’t make it to those resorts, the distance narrows. Walt Disney International nonetheless has extra great, in-park desk provider eating places. Plus, lots of the perfect out-of-park eating places are simple to get entry to by the use of monorail or strolling from EPCOT’s World Gateway.
Walt Disney International has additionally noticed a surge in high quality 3rd birthday celebration eating in the previous couple of years due to the rejuvenation of its ‘downtown’ district, Disney Springs. The slate of desk provider choices at Disney Springs is in point of fact stellar, and a long way awesome to Downtown Disney in Anaheim. Actually, regardless of the way you slice it, if great desk provider eating is a focal point of your holiday, Walt Disney International has the threshold.
For those who’re making plans on consuming at maximum only some great foods irrespective of the place you pass, the eating distinction turns into minimum. You are going to be exhausting pressed to select 3 eating places at Walt Disney International higher than the highest 3 eating places at Disneyland Hotel: Carthay Circle Eating place, Napa Rose, and Award Wieners. (See our Record of the Best possible 25 Eating places at Disneyland for different suggestions.)
Disneyland has made huge strides to toughen the standard of its counter provider eating lately, however with the ones enhancements there was some backsliding, and in addition huge worth will increase–to the purpose that lots of the perfect counter provider choices at the moment are priced similar to desk provider eating places.
Nonetheless, counter provider eating is rather awesome at Disneyland Hotel, which has many standout choices that rival desk provider eating places. Affordable minds would possibly range in this, and arguments will also be made in fortify of Disneyland or Walt Disney International having the awesome choices on this regard. Irrespective of which you favor, the standard distinction is now minimum.
The hot button is that you simply now can in finding nice counter provider choices in each Disneyland and Walt Disney International–there’s such a lot “past burgers” and the standard theme park fare at each.
Points of interest
Within the Disney vernacular, sights encompasses rides, level displays, and extra. Principally, the rest indexed on a park map that isn’t a cafe or reward store. Since Walt Disney International has double the theme parks of Disneyland, it could stand to reason why that it additionally has considerably extra sights. This isn’t the case.
Relying upon what you depend, there are roughly 87 sights in all 4 parks at Walt Disney International and roughly 68 sights in Disneyland and Disney California Journey. Once more, that quantity varies relying upon what you come with, however irrespective of what’s integrated, the adaptation within the choice of primary sights in Walt Disney International and Disneyland is ready 20.
Which has the simpler sights is an issue of style (extra in this later), however the appeal density the Disneyland Hotel parks is upper. There are a large number of inferences that may be drawn from this. The truth is that the typical visitor can most effective hit such a lot of sights consistent with day, and that quantity is normally lower than the choice of sights in Disneyland.
Which means it’s a query of whether or not you’d quite spend more than one days finishing a unmarried park or more than one days finishing more than one parks. For instance, it will take you two days to do Disneyland, while it is advisable to “entire” Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (blended) in one day. This has led to a few lovers to explain both or either one of those as “part day parks.”
Animal Kingdom is extremely distinctive due to its zoological theme and Pandora – International of Avatar. Then again, it’s nonetheless painfully missing in sights and has no midnight impressive. Positive, many people Disney lovers love the park, however there’s a reason why it normally clears out after 3 pm–maximum reasonable visitors run out of items to do.
Irrespective of the uncooked appeal numbers and the distribution of the ones sights, we predict it’s honest to mention that the typical visitor will spend no less than someday extra satisfactorily finishing the Walt Disney International theme parks than it could take to satisfactorily entire the Disneyland Hotel theme parks.
For us, that implies 4 days within the theme parks at Walt Disney International and three days on the theme parks in Disneyland Hotel. The full choice of days you spend within the theme parks will most probably range, however we predict this +1 day distinction assumption will roughly cling true.
With regards to appeal high quality, this could also be extremely subjective and extremely debated. With regards to the large image, the sights which are normally thought to be iconic Disney sights exist on each coasts. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Tale Mania, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, ‘it’s a small global’, Jungle Cruise, Mad Tea Birthday party, Giant Thunder Mountain, Enchanted Tiki Room, and others exist at Disneyland Hotel and Walt Disney International.
If truth be told, the checklist of overlapping “large identify” sights in Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel is goodbye that the majority first-time visitors may no longer even realize an important distinction in sights at Walt Disney International as opposed to Disneyland Hotel. Then there are more moderen lands, like Celebrity Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, that had been constructed concurrently at DLR and WDW and are nearly equivalent.
There are many variations, regardless that. Two super-headliners at Disneyland Hotel which are thought to be to don’t have any equals at Walt Disney International are Indiana Jones Journey and Radiator Springs Racers. Much less considerably, there’s additionally Guardians of the Galaxy Venture Breakout and Internet Slingers Spider-Guy Journey.
Many widespread sights that exist in each places are thought to be awesome at Disneyland Hotel. Essentially the most outstanding examples of this are Pirates of the Caribbean (which is noticeably longer at Disneyland), House Mountain, and ‘it’s a small global’. We’d now upload Tiana’s Bayou Journey to this checklist, too.
Disneyland additionally has extra rides in its Fantasyland, together with Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Snow White’s Enchanted Want, Casey Jr. Circus Teach, Pinocchio’s Bold Adventure, and Alice in Wonderland. Then there’s within sight Toontown, which is principally an outgrowth of Fantasyland, and most effective exists at Disneyland.
Disney California Journey has Vehicles Land (the place Radiator Springs Racers is positioned), which has confirmed an enormous draw, particularly for fogeys with children who’re lovers of the movie Vehicles. It’s in point of fact like strolling into that film. It additionally has the Avengers Campus Surprise land, however we aren’t susceptible to name that a large draw like Vehicles Land.
Walt Disney International has its personal benefits, and a lot of studies that don’t exist at Disneyland. Nearly all of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is exclusive to Walt Disney International, and any individual who loves animals will most probably benefit from the many zoological sights on this park that come with Kilimanjaro Safaris, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Flights of Surprise, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
There also are different distinctive sights right here, reminiscent of Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR (for now), Discovering Nemo: The Musical (Giant Blue & Past), and Competition of the Lion King. EPCOT additionally has many sights that may’t be discovered at Disneyland Hotel, and its International Exhibit international locations are a large draw for adults enthusiastic about consuming or ingesting their means around the globe.
Walt Disney International has additionally received super floor in this entrance within the remaining decade. Whilst all the “perfect” sights was once discovered on each coasts, or simply at Disneyland, there at the moment are a ton of rides which are unique to Walt Disney International (no less than in america). This contains two blockbuster thrill rides in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT and TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom.
It additionally contains quite a lot of circle of relatives pleasant sights, reminiscent of Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Frozen Ever After, Seven Dwarfs Mine Teach, and Slinky Canine Sprint. Then there’s Pandora – International of Avatar, which contains an exciting trip in Avatar Flight of Passage and a at ease one in Na’vi River Adventure.
With regards to midnight spectaculars, each Disneyland and Magic Kingdom have probably the most choices. This begins with outstanding fireworks displays which are similar to one every other.
Luckily Ever After at Magic Kingdom perfected the idea that of a contemporary montage display with a throughline and compelling motifs. Wondrous Trips at Disneyland pulled from that playbook to supply its personal display that is in a similar way impressive. It’s nearly unimaginable to make a choice a winner between the 2–each are 10/10 midnight spectaculars. (Disneyland additionally has extra seasonal fireworks displays all through the yr which are integrated in common park admission.)
Each Disneyland and Magic Kingdom additionally now have evening parades as of 2025 for the primary time in a very long time.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away debuted this summer time in Magic Kingdom. That is Walt Disney International’s first evening parade in more or less a decade, and it pulls inspiration from Primary Side road Electric Parade and SpectroMagic whilst that includes fashionable generation and fan-favorite characters.
Paint the Night time Parade returned for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary after a protracted hiatus. It’ll pass on hiatus once more this vacation season to make means for “A Christmas Delusion” Parade sooner than returning in 2026. Either one of those parades are superb to nice, and every will enchantment to other audiences because of their other tones. We desire Starlight, however won’t ever go on a possibility to peer Paint the Night time.
In relation to different midnight spectaculars, each Disneyland and Hollywood Studios have variations of Fantasmic. Disneyland used to win in a landslide, however the ‘heroes’ phase with Aladdin, Frozen, and Moana added to the model at DHS makes coupled with downgrades at Disneyland make the Walt Disney International model of Fantasmic the awesome one.
Over at DCA, there’s additionally International of Colour, a jaw-dropping show of colourful fountains targeted round a montage of Disney motion pictures. EPCOT is the opposite park at Walt Disney International with a midnight impressive with Luminous, which is an excellent fireworks display, however no longer on par with International of Colour.
Because of Animal Kingdom no longer having an evening parade and the density of leisure at Disneyland, there are the similar choice of midnight spectaculars at Disneyland’s 2 parks as there are Walt Disney International’s 4 parks.
As a normal rule, the upkeep of sights is best at Disneyland Hotel. This isn’t a difficult and rapid rule, and in the event you’re a primary time customer to both, likelihood is that you received’t even realize a distinction. This can be a variable that in point of fact most effective impacts astute eyes.
The variations in sights between Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel will also be beautiful really extensive to severe lovers, however which has the simpler slate goes to alter from individual to individual relying upon that individual’s distinctive pursuits. The loss of a Peoplemover and stress-free Audio-Animatronics displays like Nation Undergo Jamboree, American Journey, and Carousel of Development is arguably Disneyland’s greatest fault.
Shall we spend hundreds of phrases masking all the many variations in sights between Disneyland Hotel and Walt Disney International, however even this type of thorough checklist would supply little help in figuring out which is best for you at the foundation of sights as a result of you’ll have some quirky person desire that’s ignored utterly by way of the checklist. All issues thought to be, we predict maximum visitors will quite equivalent benefit from the sights at Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel.
Atmosphere
Essentially the most regularly cited distinction in environment is by means of the castles in every of the “Fort Parks” (Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom). Cinderella Fort within the Magic Kingdom is perfect described as huge and grandiose. Slumbering Attractiveness Fort in Disneyland is perfect described as small and fascinating. The controversy on which is “higher” may rage eternally, and we predict it is determined by which you revel in first.
Those castles also are indicative of the full environment of Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel. On the whole, Walt Disney International is huge and grandiose. The whole thing is extra unfold out, the parks occupy better areas, and the whole lot is flat out large. Disneyland Hotel occupies much less area and normally issues simply appear smaller.
Which you favor goes to be an issue of private desire. Some other people assume Walt Disney International is sterile, and Disneyland is intimate. Some other people assume Walt Disney International is spacious, and Disneyland is claustrophobic.
Past that, as touched upon above, Walt Disney International is remoted from the true global. For those who keep in an on-site, Disney-owned lodge there, you’ll be within the “Disney Bubble” at some stage in your shuttle. Some other people love this (us integrated). Distinction the ocean of bushes past the berm at Magic Kingdom within the photograph above with the 3rd birthday celebration resorts, freeways, residences, and Angel Stadium in the back of Vehicles Land at DCA within the photograph under.
It’s imaginable to flee the true global at Disneyland Hotel, however this phantasm breaks down every so often because the parks are bordered by way of Anaheim and the better Los Angeles metro subject simply outdoor of the parks. Some other people love this, as get entry to to the true global (and its less expensive meals and facilities) is vital to them. In contrast, the “Disney Bubble” buffer makes escapism more uncomplicated in Florida, however the trade-off is that it makes commuting across the huge lodge extra time eating.
There’s every other attitude of this that’s value addressing in the event you’re staying off-site at Disneyland, which is protection. Many American citizens seek advice from the Disney theme parks as a result of they provide a veil of myth and escapism. The parks are predictable, blank, and protected in ways in which range from maximum different holiday locations.
Disneyland is a part of an actual town, and Anaheim has the similar problems with any town its dimension (tenth biggest in California and fifty fifth biggest in america). For those who’re staying in an off-site lodge and strolling to the parks, you’ll most probably see homelessness, side road distributors, and in all probability protestors. Relying upon the place you keep, you additionally may must pass interstate on/off ramps.
For those who’re from a small or suburban the city, chances are you’ll in finding the town streets jarring and revel in somewhat of tradition surprise in Anaheim. None of that is essentially unsafe (regardless of being a part of the metro subject, Anaheim is not anything like Los Angeles) and we’ve by no means had any exact problems, however you may in finding it uncomfortable or unsettling. (On a semi-related observe, if any of it is a fear, believe flying into SNA quite than LAX. Now not as a result of LAX is unsafe, however as it’s utterly chaotic and not anything like your house airport.)
Again within the parks, there are a large number of different explicit variations in environment. Puts just like the International Exhibit in EPCOT, the gritty and lifelike nations in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, New Orleans Sq. in Disneyland, and Vehicles Land or Avengers Campus in Disney California Journey–amongst almost about each and every different land in every of the parks–all of their very own distinct environment that may be a selected draw to express other people.
Disneyland Hotel additionally has extra are living leisure (which may well be counted within the “sights” segment above, however I believe those random entertainers extra about environment than the rest), however there’s are living leisure in all of parks being in comparison.
Each Walt Disney International and Disneyland, for lack of a higher time period, have that air of mystery of “Disney magic” to them, and also you don’t get a lesser revel in in relation to this by way of going to both. Enthusiasts of 1 or the opposite may argue in a different way, contending on reverse facets that Walt Disney International is extra magical as it was once what Walt Disney envisioned to “repair” the mistakes of Disneyland.
In the meantime, Southern Californians argue that Disneyland is extra magical as it’s the one theme park that has Walt Disney’s personalized effect on it (Disneyland is the one completed park Walt Disney ever set foot in). That is fanboy fodder–a normal visitor goes to have an similarly relaxing revel in in both location.
Forged Contributors
There’s no noticeable distinction in Forged Contributors. Many of us declare there’s, however they base those claims on anecdotal adverse studies in a single location or the opposite–it’s nearly as though they have got an awl to grind on account of a unmarried adverse come across.
We have now resided in every Orange County (Florida and California), been bicoastal Annual Passholders for over a decade, and spent (actually) over a yr within the parks at each Walt Disney International and Disneyland Hotel. We’re assured in announcing that the majority Forged Contributors are nice far and wide. There are a couple of unhealthy apples on each coasts, too.
With that stated, there are some slight variations within the demeanor of Forged Contributors. Walt Disney International has a colossal Faculty Program and World Techniques, which make sure a gentle provide of fresh-faced younger people who find themselves full of life and in addition somewhat green. Those persons are in most cases cheery and sure to a better level than the typical ‘seasoned’ Forged Member on both coast. In contrast, maximum Forged Contributors at Disneyland are Californians, who have a tendency to be extra laid again and passive.
So in case your influence is that many Forged Contributors at Walt Disney International are extra enthusiastic and full of life, while extra at Disneyland are informal and calm…that’s roughly correct. Nevertheless it’s additionally no longer consultant of all Forged Contributors, and none of the ones characteristics are essentially sure or adverse–simply other.
Suffice to mention, in the event you seek advice from Walt Disney International as soon as, after which seek advice from Disneyland Hotel as soon as, chances are you’ll really feel that the Forged Contributors at one are “higher” than the ones on the different. Build up your pattern dimension to ten journeys to every and also you most probably received’t really feel the similar. Forged Contributors are just about the similar at each Walt Disney International and Disneyland: superb, with a couple of outliers.
Crowds
Crowds in Disneyland and crowds in Walt Disney International are regularly–however no longer at all times–somewhat related, simply composed of various demographics and with rather other day by day developments. Disneyland has extra native Magic Key Annual Passholders while Walt Disney International has extra vacationers. Annual Passholders at Disneyland normally most effective pose a “drawback” for vacationers in relation to the midnight spectaculars.
Since those visitors can seek advice from on every occasion they would like, they have got no sense of urgency. A lot of them don’t thoughts shedding in after paintings with an iPad or ebook and grabbing a place for Fantasmic or the fireworks a couple of hours prematurely. Then again, Walt Disney International’s visitor demographic contains the feared excursion teams.
Whether or not those be cheerleaders, early life teams, and so forth., they’re huge, under-supervised, and regularly unruly teams. (Get that many children along side little supervision and their background is inappropriate–they’re going to misbehave.) We have now by no means had any severe factor with those teams, then again, there are many horror tales. Chances are high that that they received’t pose an issue for you, however in the event you get in a protracted line proper in the back of any such teams, even probably the most affected person individual would possibly lose their cool by way of the tip of the road.
In follow, those variations in demographics are a relative non-factor. The busy seasons at Disneyland are the busy seasons at Walt Disney International, and the sluggish seasons also are the similar at every, with minor variances. We believe variations in crowds at one as opposed to insignificant.
Price
So far as in-park prices pass, Disneyland Hotel and Walt Disney International are comparably priced. Price ticket costs are about the similar, as are meals costs and souvenirs. Disneyland Hotel does no longer have more than one lodge tiers, so in the event you keep at one of the most 3 Disneyland Hotel resorts, be expecting to pay so much consistent with evening of your keep–probably greater than you’d spend on a Deluxe Hotel at Walt Disney International.
Once more, the large attainable distinction is available in staying off-site at Disneyland, the place you’ll get a 3rd birthday celebration lodge inside strolling distance at an affordable price. If truth be told, we normally pay much less for our off-site lodge at Disneyland Hotel than we do for our on-site Walt Disney International lodge, and the ones off-site resorts are, on reasonable, nearer to the parks at Disneyland Hotel than the resorts at which we keep in Walt Disney International! It’s touched upon above, but it surely’s vital to grasp that no longer all Walt Disney International resorts are comfortably positioned.
At Walt Disney International, you pay an important top rate for handy places that make the shuttle more uncomplicated. Past resorts, there are a number of eventualities the place you’re purchasing your means out of inconvenience. Excluding Lightning Lanes, that’s no longer in point of fact a factor at Disneyland (or even that may finally end up costing you much less at Disneyland since you in point of fact most effective “want” it for someday, versus 2-3 days at Walt Disney International). The hot button is that it’s in most cases a lot less expensive to do a handy shuttle to Disneyland–even making an allowance for the costlier flights.
Oh, and don’t suppose that simply because you are living nearer to 1 lodge complicated, that airfare to that one can be less expensive. As a normal rule, that appears to be true, however there are exceptions. We regularly in finding that airfare will also be more cost effective to Disneyland than to Walt Disney International. It is helping that there are 4 airports close to Disneyland Hotel–you’ll want to take a look at flights into every of them. Different prices are going to alter broadly relying upon the place you are living and what else you intend to do.
Ease of Visiting
This may already be evident from statement about, however Disneyland is a long way more uncomplicated to seek advice from than Walt Disney International. We’ve regularly remarked that Walt Disney International is probably the most overly difficult and unnecessarily convoluted holiday vacation spot we’ve ever visited. If you’ll “overcome” Walt Disney International, you’ll trip any place–no language barrier, public transit, or different stumbling blocks examine with the morass of regulations and procedures at Walt Disney International. Navigating the Tokyo Metro or making Paris museum reservations has not anything at the monster this is Walt Disney International.
What’s discussed right here simply scratches the skin. There’s additionally the 60+10 ADR rule, Early Access and Prolonged Night Hours eligibility, Lightning Lane regulations, and so a lot more. Disneyland has a few of this, but it surely’s in most cases a lot more low stakes or intuitive than at Walt Disney International. (There’s a reason why now we have exponentially extra making plans posts for Walt Disney International!)
Disneyland is much less demanding, extra laid-back, and permits for better spontaneity. The comparative ease of making plans a shuttle to Disneyland is in point of fact value stressing…er, reiterating. On the whole, the extra free-flowing nature of the California parks makes it more uncomplicated to decelerate and revel in atmospheric leisure and easily respect being there.
The vast majority of the time we seek advice from Disneyland, we don’t make any plans (past park reservations) till we arrive. No clue the place we’re going to devour, which rides we’re going to do, or how our days will spread. For those who love to devise, there’s nonetheless room for that, but it surely’s much less very important, with way more room for spontaneity.
Past Disney
Which is best if you wish to do different issues past the berm of the Disney theme park complexes? Once more, that relies. (Actually useful article, proper?!) Central Florida has change into referred to as the theme park capital of the sector, and this isn’t simply as a result of Walt Disney International. There’s additionally Common Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Legoland Florida, Busch Gardens Tampa, and plenty of extra.
Southern California has its personal mixture of theme parks, together with Knott’s Berry Farm, Common Studios Hollywood, Legoland California, and Six Flags Magic Mountain. We’re large lovers of the SoCal theme park roster and assume that Knott’s and USH don’t get sufficient credit score. The Warner Bros. Studio Excursion could also be a quasi-theme park revel in close to Common Studios Hollywood that’s incredible, but it surely’s no longer a theme park.
Nonetheless, in the event you’re taking a look to make a grand circle excursion of theme parks, Orlando will have to be the winner. It’s beautiful simple that the Central Florida parks are higher than their California opposite numbers. That’s very true now that Epic Universe is open. That new park plus Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida can flip a 5-day Disney shuttle right into a week-long Central Florida theme parks holiday. It’s difficult to try this in SoCal.
If you wish to do issues outdoor of theme parks, it’s difficult to overcome California. You’ll surf and ski in the similar day, visiting craggy cliffs, stunning seashores, majestic mountains, and (dry?) deserts in between.
There’s the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, various tradition (and meals!) of Los Angeles, and sleepy coastline of Laguna Seashore. Plus, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Newport, Pasadena, and extra all inside riding distance. California additionally has 9 Nationwide Parks and extra biodiversity than another state.
Most significantly, you’ll do many of this stuff on the cheap. California has a wealth of low price vacationer sights. Spend someday on the Getty and Getty Villa, two of the highest loose museums in the USA, sooner than heading to the picturesque El Matador Seashore in Malibu. Power out to Palm Springs to do a self-guided strolling excursion of The usa’s perfect structure, adopted by way of a day in Joshua Tree Nationwide Park, which could also be highest stargazing and seeing the Milky Means.
If all of that isn’t sufficient to tip the scales in California’s prefer, the closest In-N-Out Burger is 980 miles clear of Walt Disney International. There are two inside 10 mins of Disneyland. 😉
For those who’re making plans a Southern California holiday past Disneyland and need different concepts, you’re in good fortune. We have now heaps of recommendation on our non-Disney weblog, TravelCaffeine.com. There, we actually have a ton of sources devoted to visiting the state, together with a chain of weblog posts about California sights and making plans guides.
For its phase, Florida has theme parks, manatees, the Everglades, outlet shops, and the Kennedy House Heart. This isn’t supposed to be dismissive of Florida–a few of the ones and different issues are slightly a laugh. However in the event you’re taking a look at taking a extra well-rounded shuttle that isn’t about upping your coaster depend, California will have to be the winner.
Numerous other people have a powerful bias in opposition to California according to site visitors congestion and different preconceived notions, and a California holiday will not be for those other people. We skew within the different course, discovering California to be probably the most stunning and relaxing position in america–and all of the global. For vacationer functions, Florida is most effective world-class in relation to theme parks.
In the long run, that are supposed to quilt the largest variations and supply a pleasant foundation to assist attainable visitors determine whether or not Disneyland Hotel or Walt Disney International is correct for them. As discussed a large number of instances all through this text, that is most commonly top degree variations, and doesn’t strive to concentrate on the myriad of explicit variations between the hotels.
Then again, in the event you do have some explicit variations that you simply assume are vital, I urge you to proportion them under. That’s what the feedback are there for, and any individual considering a shuttle would most likely be well-served by way of getting a special take at the comparability, anyway. I simply ask that you simply be respectful and reasoned to your ideas. This isn’t a spot for turf wars or conjecture.
And in point of fact, on the finish of the day, the general public are going to have a great time irrespective of whether or not they pass to Disneyland Hotel or Walt Disney International, as long as they correctly get ready for the shuttle. On that observe, in the event you’re making plans your first seek advice from to Disneyland Hotel or Walt Disney International, you’ll want to learn our Walt Disney International Commute Making plans Information and Disneyland Commute Making plans Information. A well-planned shuttle will make the entire distinction on the planet in relation to enjoyment, and for the way pricey Disney is, it’s for sure value taking a couple of hours to do some making plans to insure your shuttle “funding” pans out!
Your Ideas?
Have you ever visited each Disneyland and Walt Disney International? Do you settle or disagree with our overview? Which do you believe the awesome vacation spot to your holiday taste? Do you assume every have their strengths and weaknesses? Is one or the opposite definitively higher? Any questions? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
