If you've been there (California), what's the difference in terms of what's fun for adults without kids?
I grew up on Disney World-short flight from MI, and my grandparents lived in Naples. I recently went to Disneyland with my mom this summer, and I was pretty bummed at the difference. Disney World is SO much better, in my opinion. You have way more parks to choose from, the food is much better, the parks are larger, the layout is betters, etc. Even the castle is larger! My friends and I took a road trip down to DW for our graduation trip, and we spent 7 days going to all the parks, taking funny pictures, eating at all the resturants-it was fabulous. I'm dying to go again, and I think my mom and I might meet up there this summer for a getaway. Even if you do it cheap, it's better-we crammed 7 of us into two hotel rooms and packed our lunch each day. Disneyland's hotels (not the park ones-I've never stayed at either park) are dirty and far away from the park-we had to drive in. There's no shuttles or anything. It also felt like there weren't as many food choices, and the rides were older or smaller or something. It was missing a lot of the DW rides, which to me are the classics (even though it's the other way around). There was also a lot of construction when we went-Small World was out of commission. Disney World just seemed so much cleaner and like they had it together. Also, I was shocked that Disneyland is so close to residential areas. Some people live right next to Disneyland, literally! Disney World is like it's own city. Man. Now I really want to go to DW.
Thanks for the info! I was just watching Samantha Brown's show in the background and I couldn't tell which place she was at since the show info said both! She was wandering around and visited different types of food from around the world at little places you walk up to and that looked like fun!
I've been to Disneyland more than 100 times (I live in Anaheim) and been to Disneyworld once last spring. They are basically the same thing, the only good part about Disneywolrd is Epcot. If you been to one, you really don't have to go to the other.
Early photographs of Disneyland show it in the middle of nothing much but beanfields and orange orchards for miles and miles around. The difference between Anaheim and Orlando is that the Disney organization was much cagier about acquiring lots of land before its intentions were quite clear - and much better able to fund those acquisitions.
I haven't been to Disneyland, but I'm a huge Disney world fan. I returned for the fist time in 19 years last August. Disney World has 4 major theme parks: -the Magic Kingdom -Epcot -Animal Kingdom - Disney Hollywood Studios (aka "MGM) in addition to 2 water parks: - Blizzard Beach - Typhoon Lagoon. There's also a boardwalk area and Disney Downtown, a shopping/entertainment complex, in addition to their sports complex. We were there for a week last August. We toured every day, and still didn't see everything in the 4 main parks-- we didn't even try the water parks or the other stuff. Disney World also has something like a dozen on-site resorts, ranging from "Value" to "Deluxe", all served by Disney transportation (mostly busses, but some on the monorail line &/or serviced by ferries) and a campground at Fort Wilderness. Visitors who stay at any of these properties have access to extended hours at the parks. I could go on and on and on. My sister, the rat, is going back this year. It's out of our price range, so we're hoping we can swing a week at Lake George in upstate NY.
Disneyland itself is probably a better choice for those who'd like to do something else, too - Hollywood and other attractions of Los Angeles are rather near, as are eminently surfable beaches, and even the San Diego Zoo's not so far away.
I have been to both also. I like disneyland better because, to me, it just feels more "magical". I know that sounds silly but disneyworld doesnt seem as special because there are so many parks and it is a lot bigger. But Epcot was absolutely wonderful when I went there. I would go back just to go see Epcot. But if I had to pick one, it would be Disneyland.
I'm not into scary rides (going quickly around corners or down at high speeds) so if you've been to Disney World, do you think there are enough fun things for us to do? My husband would be more tolerant of the different rides but I'd like to have fun and being scared is not fun to me!
I don't care for scary rides, either, and I can go on just about everything at either park. I don't do Splash Mountain or Tower of Terror. They are at both parks. I do go on the Runaway Railroad ride because the dips aren't that bad, but my mom and I were still shaking when we got off it.
I've only been to Disneyland, but if you don't have kids, there aren't really many rides for older teens & up. Not that it's not fun & all, but if you really want to ride on rides, Magic Mountain is much better for the older crowd.
OK, you guys had me totally depressed yesterday. As though winter isn't enough, with COLD temps and too much darkness, you got me thinking about going back to Disney World!! I even hit www.jetblue.com and found that airfares are only $25 pp more than last summer. But still, there's no way we can swing it this year. (My sister, the rat, is talking about going back. I think I'll hate her for a day or two.) We're hoping to be able to afford a week upstate at Lake George. But I want to go back to Disney World!!!!!!!!
My mom doesn't like rides (she gets motion sickness). She loved going to Disney World there was always plenty of other things for her to do.
Orlando is just an 8 hr drive for us so we have only been to Disney World. I like all the parks for different reasons. I love visiting the countries at Epcot. I also like the rides. The faster and higher the better! I ride with my eyes wide open and scream at the top of my lungs! We stayed onsite our last trip and it was so worth it. The dining plan was also worth it for us. We are planning our next trip to Orlando for next year when the Harry Potter section opens at Universal. I want to split a week/10 days between Universal and WDW. I guess I had better start saving up!
I LOVED Disney World. I went there a few years ago with my husband (no kids) and we had so much fun. I love rides so I went on all of them that weren't ONLY for kiddies. I think Epcot was my favorite. I loved going around to the different "countries".
I forgot to mention Universal. It is close to Disney World and lots of times you can get a package deal where you can go there as well as the Disney parks for one price.
Okay, thanks so much for all of the information everyone! It's fun to plan for a vacation when it's cold, etc outside.
In terms of the actual parks themselves.. Disneyland's Magic Kingdom is far superior to Disneyworlds.. the copycat rides (rides at both parks) are much better at disneyland. The other 3 parks at world are much much better then Ca adventure at Land. Hotels on site are better at world.. but hotels off site are much much better at land. Food I think is a wash. I have things I love a tboth parks. In my opinion, you have to do both if you love disney. I was looking at flights to the world today for spring break.. for 200 bucks from southern cal.. I just may have to go.
We're going to Disneyworld in June after school gets out. I can't wait. Another thing to think about is that Disneyworld is only an hour and a half or so away from Cape Canaveral. We plan on spending at least one day there while we're there, take a tour and see what we can see. Great place to visit.
I have been to both and like Disney World alot more. But then again I live about 90 minutes from Disney World and go ALL the time (we have season passes). I was disappointed in DisneyLand because it seemed so small. Half the time when we go to Orlando we don't even go to the parks, just go to check out the Disney World hotels and have breakfast or lunch because they are so neat. And things to do in the area are endless. Orlando is jam-packed with stuff, plus as someone said, you are about an hour from Cape Kennedy, and hour from Cocoa Beach, about 90 minutes from St. Augustine and 90 minutes from the west coast, which has some of the most beautiful beaches in the US. I should work for the Chamber of Commerce.
I will say we stayed at Disney towards the end of last year & did the meal plan!!! It was worth it. We did have to drive to a couple of the parks. Loved Disney & can't wait to go back. I have been to both, but since I haven't been to Disneyland for about 25 yrs I'm going to stay away from comparing the 2!!! LOL!!!
Disneyland is a disappointment after Disneyworld. We honeymooned at Disneyworld and for us, 7 days wasn't enough. We loved all the parks and the food was amazing. I don't think I'll "waste" money by going to Disneyland - I would rather save more to go to Disneyworld.
One of our favorite places was in the MGM studios. It's called Mystery Drive in theater or something like that and you eat in cars like you're at a drive in. You MUST make reservations in order to get in. We also ate at the Pooh character buffet for lunch one day and had reservations as well. It was really good food and they had a nice selection of kid favorites as well as adult pleasing things. That was in the Magic Kingdom. A bit pricey, but worth it nonetheless.
I loved the meal plan. The Coral Reef was my favorite. Last year you were still able to get personalized menus and a diver to hold up a sign-- we had both. And the food was wonderful. Also tied for favorite was Le Cellier in Canada at Epcot. The steak just melts in your mouth!!!
DizneeTeachR - This was almost 9 years ago so my memory is foggy on the names. At Epcot we ate at the Japanese "Sohji" restaurant, in China we ate at the big family restaurant, in Mexico we ate at the restaurant in the pyramid, we ate at the cafe in Morocco, and did the Oktoberfest buffet in Germany. We simply ran out of meals to be able to eat in Italy, France, England, and Canada. We ate at the Rainforest cafe in Animal Kingdom, and the Sci-Fi Dine in Theater and Mama Melrose's in the MGM park. At that time, they didn't have the meal plan, but I have heard that it is a great plan.
It's especially good if you have kids aged between 3 and 10. How on earth could you feed a child a sit down dinner, a counter service meal, and a snack for $10??? The adult price is closer to $40-- not as much a bargain, but well worth the money if you book at the right restaurants. And it's wonderful having those meals pre-paid. We most certainly got our money's worth and more!
It's great!!! I was there in summer, so reservations were pretty much a must. (They can now be made only 90 days prior to arrival-- changed from 180.) But they include just about any restaurant on the site! There are a few meals (Cinderella's castle, the Luau at the Polynesian and a few others) that count as doubles, but by and large, that's it. You make your reservations, and eat what you want. Real details (as well as lots of money saving advice) can be found at www.mousesavers.com
