Disneyland vs Disneyworld. The Facts.

Traveling to the states and want to experience some Disney Magic. Then you need to visit Disneyworld or Disneyland.

Many people that have never been to a Disney Park, think that Disneyworld and Disneyland are the same thing. But they are two very different parks in two very different locations in U.S.A

The Facts about Disneyworld vs Disneyland

Disneyworld vs Disneyland

Location

Disneyland is located in California on the West Coast of America, whereas Disneyworld is located 2496 MIles away on the East Coast of America in Orlando Florida.

Size

Disneyland resort is set on 500 acres. Whereas Disneyworld is 500 times the size, set on 25000 acres of land. Roughly the same size as San Fransisco.

Theme Parks

Disneyworld has 4 Theme Parks and 2 Water Parks

  • Magic Kingdom
  • Epcot
  • Hollywood Studios
  • Animal Kingdom
  • Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
  • Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

Disneyland has 2 Theme Parks.

Hotels

Disneyworld has 25 resorts on property.

Disneyland has 3 resorts on property.

Transportation

At Disneyworld, all resort guests get free use of the Buses that run from Disney Springs to all the different resorts and Parks. Depending on your location some resorts also have monorail access, boats, and ferries.

Due to the size of the resort, it is impossible for you to walk from park to park. Each park is between 10-15 minutes drive.

Whereas due to the size of the Disneyland resort you are able to walk between the different parks and hotels. If you are lucky enough to be staying at the Grand California Hotel, you have your own entry straight into California Adventure Park.

The Castles

Disneyworld is home to Cinderella’s castle. It is 189 feet tall and has 27 different towers. You are able to dine inside Cinderella’s Castle, at the restaurant Cinderella’s Royal Table. Children can also experience Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside the castle. Cinderella’s castle was completed in 1971.

Disneyland is the home of Sleeping Beauty Castle, it opened on July 17, 1955, it is the oldest of all the castles, and the only castle that’s construction was overseen by Walt Disney. Disneyland castle is a lot smaller than Disneyworld as it is only 77 feet tall, however through forced perspective, it does look bigger.  Sleeping Beauty’s castle has a great walkthrough, that tells the story of Sleeping beauty through dioramas. It also has a room that allows people that can’t climb the steps to watch a virtual walkthrough on a TV.

Disneyland Resort

Fastpass system

Disneyland uses a Fastpass or Max pass system. They can only be booked on the day of your trip. FastPass uses kiosks located near the rides, MaxPass is an electronic system you use on your phone.

Whereas Disneyworld uses FastPass+ these fast passes can be booked 30 days in advance if staying off property, or 60 days in advance if staying on property. (To find out more check out my post on FastPass+

The rides at Disneyworld vs Disneyland rides.

Of the four parks at Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom is the park that was made very similar to Disneyland, they share many of the rides. However, there are also differences as well

Winnie the Pooh ride Disneyland

  • Astro Orbiter
  • Autopia in Disneyland is very similar to Disneyworld’s Tomorrowland Speedway
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • Carousel – King Arthur Carrousel at Disneyland and Prince Charming Regal Carrousel at Walt Disney World.
  • Castle Disneyland has Sleeping Beauty Castle and Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney world.
  • Disney Monorail
  • Disney Railroad
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Fantasmic
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Innoventions
  • It’s a Small World
  • Jungle Cruise, at Walt Disneyworld they have an inside section.
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Pirates of the Caribbean (Disneyland is the original and much longer, with more drops)
  • Riverboat – Disneyland has Mark Twain Riverboat and Walt Disney Walt.
  • Snow White’s Scary Adventures
  • Soarin’ Over the world
  • Space Mountain
  • Splash Mountain
  • Star Tours: The Adventures Continues
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Tom Sawyer Island
  • Toy Story Mania
  • Treehouses, Disneyland has Tarzan’s treehouse, and Walt Disneyworld has Swiss Family Treehouse.
  • Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

But there are some rides that are exclusive to each park.

If you want to ride on Indiana Jones, you will need to make a visit to Disneyland, if your child loves Cars then a visit to Radiator Springs in California Adventure Park is a must. If you want to soar like a Banshee on flights of passage you need to go to Walt Disney World.

Dining.

Disneyland and Disneyworld also have different options with Dining. Disneyland has a smaller variety of meals available due to its smaller size and you can book them 60 days out.

Walt Disney World has the Dining Plan if you are staying on site, where you prepay for your meals. ADR (advance dining reservations) are made 180 days out.

If you are staying on property you can also pre-purchase your dining through the Disney Dining Plan

Disneyland has over 50 food locations available, with about 20 full-service restaurants and a few of them are located in the parks. Other restaurants are located at Downtown Disney.  Disneyland has mainly ‘American food’ and you can also get Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, and Italian. However, that is about the range of food variety.

There are over 200 different places to get food at WDW, including over 90 table service restaurants. 30 of these table service restaurants are located within the parks. The other 60 are found between Disney Springs and the various resorts. There are so many types of food from all around the world, German, Norwegian, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, African, Canadian, Morrocan, Mexican. No matter what your taste there is something for everyone.

Weather.

California and Florida are both warmer climates. Florida is a more humid heat. California a dryer heat.

 

So now you have some of the facts of Disneyland vs Disneyworld.

Which park have you visited?

What park are you going to head to next?

 

Traveling to the states and want to experience some Disney Magic. Then you need to visit Disneyworld or Disneyland.Many people that have never been to a Disney Park, think that Disneyworld and Disneyland are the same thing. But they are two very different parks in two very different locations in U.S.A So Disneyworld vs Disneyland what are the differences.
Traveling to the states and want to experience some Disney Magic. Then you need to visit Disneyworld or Disneyland.Many people that have never been to a Disney Park, think that Disneyworld and Disneyland are the same thing. But they are two very different parks in two very different locations in U.S.A So Disneyworld vs Disneyland what are the differences.
Traveling to the states and want to experience some Disney Magic. Then you need to visit Disneyworld or Disneyland.Many people that have never been to a Disney Park, think that Disneyworld and Disneyland are the same thing. But they are two very different parks in two very different locations in U.S.A So Disneyworld vs Disneyland what are the differences.
Traveling to the states and want to experience some Disney Magic. Then you need to visit Disneyworld or Disneyland.Many people that have never been to a Disney Park, think that Disneyworld and Disneyland are the same thing. But they are two very different parks in two very different locations in U.S.A So Disneyworld vs Disneyland what are the differences.
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