I Go to Disney World and Disneyland — Reasons Disneyland Is Better

March 27, 2022 Stan

I’ve been visiting Disney World since I was a kid, and my first visit to Disneyland was in 2014.
Now I visit both parks multiple times a year, and I’ve grown to love the California one more.
Disneyland is classic because it was the first park, and it’s much earlier to get around.

Disney World has been one of my favorite places since I started visiting as a child. Now I take my own children every chance I get.

But now my whole family has been to Disneyland at least once. After our last visit, we all agreed that if it weren’t for the expensive plane ride across the country, we’d spend more time in Disneyland than Disney World.

Read on for why I think the California park is better.

Disneyland is the original Disney theme park

exterior shot of its a small world at disneyland — It’s a Small World first opened at Disneyland in California.

There’s something to be said about being the first.

Walt Disney created Disneyland as a place for families to spend time and have fun together, and the legacy isn’t lost on me — it’s what I strive for every time we travel.

The nostalgia of the park and its storied history pull at my heartstrings every visit.

Park-hopping is easy and quick in Anaheim

shot of the mickey wheel illuminated in front of california adventure park disneyland — There are two parks: Disneyland and California Adventure.

One of my biggest issues with Disney World is how spread out the property is — even if it was purposefully set up that way for future expansion.

The ease of park hopping between the two parks at Disneyland is a better experience than trying to get around all four at Disney World.

It’s nice to take a break in Downtown Disney during a park day

I love to shop, especially when I can also enjoy sipping my Starbucks while people-watching.

All of those things are easy to do in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney area — located a simple, walkable distance away from the parks.

In Disney World, you have to commute 15 minutes to Disney Springs, the dining, shopping, and entertainment district.

I was blown away by Disneyland’s Avengers Campus

sarah posing with dr strange doing his signature pose at disneyland avengers campus — There are so many Marvel characters to meet at Disneyland.

Even though I’m a bigger fan of “Star Wars” than I am of Marvel, Disneyland’s Avengers Campus simply blew me away on my first visit.

The roaming characters, replica movie props, and live entertainment are truly captivating.

Even if you’re not familiar with Marvel, it’s difficult not to be impressed by the grandeur. And you can’t experience anything like it at Disney World (yet).

The Disneyland hotels are within walking distance of the parks

All of the Disneyland hotels and many of the locally affiliated “Good Neighbor” hotels are within walking distance of the parks.

We almost never go back to our hotels at Disney World because that travel eats up too much of our vacation time.

Disneyland’s smaller, more compact size makes taking a break easy, especially when visiting with children.

After trying both, the churros are better at Disneyland

hand holding container of churros covered in chocolate and peanuts — The chocolate-peanut churros are amazing.

I don’t know what the West Coast knows that the East Coast doesn’t, but there’s a vast difference between the churros at Disneyland and Disney World.

Each park has its strengths, but the churros are one of Disneyland’s superior food options.

Disneyland also goes more all out with its holiday celebrations

holiday decorations on the carsland sign at disneyland — Sections across the park get decorated for the holidays.

Epcot in Disney World is known for its festivals, but Disneyland still has it beat with holiday celebrations.

Every year, Disneyland celebrates Lunar New Year, Día de los Muertos, and the winter holidays with a special flair.

My family’s latest trip to Disneyland was over the holidays, and it was worth every penny to be there during Christmas. The holiday overlays at Disneyland really make my family enjoy certain rides more.

For example, one of my daughters won’t ride the Haunted Mansion in Disney World. But during Christmas at Disneyland, when the Jack Skellington overlay is up, she’ll go on more than once.

Genie+ is more useful at Disneyland

Regardless of how much I grumble about paying extra to skip the lines on a Disney vacation, I have to admit how much better the system, Genie+, works at Disneyland than Disney World.

At Disney World, guests can start reserving rides at 7 a.m. regardless of when they actually enter the park. But at Disneyland, you have to scan into the park before using Genie+, which I think levels the playing field a little more.

Even though Genie+ costs $5 more a person at Disneyland, it also includes unlimited PhotoPass downloads — Disney World’s Genie+ only offers special AR lenses you can use on your phone.

There are some unique attractions you can only find at Disneyland

external shot of the gardians of the galaxy ride at disneyland — They turned the Disneyland Tower of Terror ride into one based on “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Many attractions at Disneyland can only be found in California, including Alice in Wonderland, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.

Of the rides that can be found at both Disneyland and Disney World, such as Space Mountain or It’s a Small World, I think Disneyland’s win because they incorporate more familiar characters or offer better seating arrangements.

I’ve had better character interactions and experiences in California

captain hook and wendy posing for a photo at disneyland — Sometimes you can naturally interact with characters around the park.

Character interactions are a major part of visiting the Disney parks, and Disneyland does them best.

Waiting in line for meet and greets is the norm across the parks, but you can also often catch characters out and about interacting with guests in California.

My family has seen Peter Pan reenact his story with Wendy, Cruella de Vil “insult” other guests while walking past them, and Wakanda’s Dora Milaje train new recruits at Avengers Campus.

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