Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World — Everything You Need to Know About Both Theme Park Resorts

Going to a Disney resort — any Disney resort — is always a good idea. In the U.S., you get the choice of visiting Disneyland in California or Walt Disney World in Florida. Both offer days' worth of fun for people of all ages — from thrilling rides to delectable food and an overall atmosphere of joy that could bring anyone back to their childhood. However, if you're trying to decide which to visit, there are a few key factors to consider.

A little bit of backstory before diving into the details: Disneyland was Walt Disney's very first theme park. It opened in Anaheim, California on July 17, 1955 with five sections: Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street, U.S.A. Though Walt Disney started planning Orlando, Florida's Walt Disney World in the mid-1960s, it didn't actually open until 1971, five years after his death.

Disneyland is packed with nostalgia and old-school classics like the Autopia ride (in operation since the park's opening day), while Walt Disney World is known for being a little more modern and a lot bigger. Make sure you know the differences between Disneyland and Walt Disney World so you can choose the theme park that best suits your vacation needs.

Getting to Each Resort

Disneyland, in Anaheim, is a 30- to 90-minute drive southeast from Downtown Los Angeles, depending on traffic. John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, a roughly 30-minute drive, is the closest one to the resort, but nearby Los Angeles International, a roughly 50-to-60-minute drive, is larger and offers more flight options.

Walt Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida, about a 30-minute drive west from Orlando International Airport. It's also fairly easy to get to Walt Disney World from either Orlando Sanford International (a 50-minute drive) or Melbourne Orlando International (a 90-minute drive).

Resort Size

The Disneyland resort covers about 500 acres and consists of two theme parks: Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park. Walt Disney World is much larger: almost 25,000 acres – or around 40 square miles. Fifty Disneylands could fit inside the vast Florida resort comprising four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Both Disney resorts are worth visiting, but your decision may depend on how long you have to explore. While you could see all the main attractions at Disneyland in a day or two, you would need close to a week to see everything at Walt Disney World.

Ticket Prices

Disneyland and Walt Disney World both use dynamic pricing for theme park tickets, meaning that the cost of admission varies depending on certain factors like the time of year or the day of the week. Tickets at both resorts are expensive. You can expect to pay more than $100 for a one-day, single-park ticket, but exact prices will depend on your vacation dates, whether you splurge on Park Hopper tickets (which allow you to visit more than one park per day), and whether you add the Genie+ service that permits you to bypass lines at select attractions.

That said, there are plenty of ways to save money on a Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation – such as avoiding going on weekends and around holidays, snagging deals on hotels and flights, packing your own snacks, and not purchasing add-ons like Genie+.

Getting Around the Resorts

Getting around Disneyland in Anaheim is relatively simple and straightforward: The two parks can be covered on foot in a day, though many visitors report walking 10 or more miles to do so. Disneyland does offer free shuttle services to and from all its parking areas — the Toy Story lot and Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals structures. There is also a free monorail that travels between the Downtown Disney District and Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park.

At Walt Disney World, however, transportation is an absolute necessity. The expansive resort is outfitted with a complimentary transportation system that includes buses, ferry boats, Skyliner gondolas, and the monorail, which stops at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and three Disney hotels within the resort.

Best Times to Visit

When you plan to take your Disney vacation could be a huge factor in deciding which park to visit. Disneyland's position in sunny Southern California, where the temperatures remain rather steady throughout the year, gives it a major advantage. That said, the Anaheim resort can still dip to around 50 degrees in the winter and reach 100 degrees in August and September.

Walt Disney World, on the other hand, is hotter and more humid during the summer months, making it a less-than-ideal time to stand in lines for hours on end. In terms of climate, both parks are best visited during the more temperate spring months, although this is when they can become unbearably crowded with spring breakers.

Holidays — particularly Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Fourth of July, and Halloween — are also busy times. If you have the choice, go during off-peak times, avoiding popular holidays and school breaks. Fewer crowds mean you'll spend less time in line and be able to experience more of the park.

Rides and Attractions

There are more than a dozen rides that you'll find at both resorts, including the two classics Pirates of the Caribbean and It's a Small World. Each location puts its own spin on these rides, so you won't be bored if you've already ridden one at the other resort. In Orlando, you'll find 250 attractions and entertainment options across the four parks, including famous Walt Disney World rides like the fan-favorite Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. There are just about 100 rides at Disneyland, but the smaller resort has more things to do per acre.

While Disneyland has a few water rides, such as "Grizzly River Run", Walt Disney World – with two water parks – offers many more opportunities to get wet. It's refreshing to cool off at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach if you visit the Orlando resort during the warmest, most humid seasons.

Food and Drink

Although most don't travel to the parks just to eat, iconic Disney treats like the Dole Whip, churros, and Mickey Mouse-shaped pretzels make any trip extra special. Both parks have an abundance of food options, whether from sidewalk snack carts, food courts, or upscale eateries.

Among the 90 food-and-snack options at Disneyland, the beloved Blue Bayou Restaurant in New Orleans Square makes gumbo and other Louisiana-style classics alongside Tex-Mex, while American comfort foods from pot roast to fried chicken are served alongside buttermilk biscuits at Main Street, U.S.A.'s Plaza Inn. For a drink and some live entertainment, go to Oga’s Cantina at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. All ages are welcome.

Walt Disney World has 177 places to eat, ranging from snack carts and coffeeshops to sit-down establishments and lounges, across its four parks. At the high-end Space 220 at Epcot, guests are treated to panoramic views of a virtual galaxy from their imaginary position on a space ship. For a more casual experience, head to Hollywood Studios to order family-style platters off theToy Story-themed Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu.

Hotels

There is a range of accommodations available in and around both Disney resorts. Anaheim and Orlando are packed with hotels for all travel styles, whether you're on your honeymoon or an annual family getaway with children. The biggest perk to staying off-site is the price, which is almost always lower than that of on-site hotels.

On the other hand, booking an on-site stay means you'll be in the most convenient location, immersed in the magic of Disney 24/7. The Anaheim resort has three on-site hotels: the Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. All three offer guests special perks such as early entry into the park.

Walt Disney World offers 34 on-property accommodation options and is the only resort of the two with a campground: Fort Wilderness offers both tent sites and cabin rentals. Disney's Contemporary Resort offers multi-room villas. Disney's Art of Animation Resort is one of the cheaper options, offering park-goers various rooms inspired by Pixar classics. On the higher end, there's the safari-themed Animal Kingdom Lodge or Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, where you can stay right on the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Experiences

Disneyland and Walt Disney World both hold stellar parades and provide the chance to interact with characters throughout the day. At night, the party continues with live performances of beloved Disney stories and fireworks displays. Naturally, the Orlando resort has more going on given its size. Exact offerings vary by location and are subject to change, so check the Disneyland and Walt Disney World entertainment schedules to see what appeals to you — Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage at Hollywood Studios? Live music at Splitsville Lanes? — before booking your trip.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company in 2023, Disneyland debuted two fireworks shows, Wondrous Journeys and World of Color – ONE.

Which Disney Resort Is Right for You?

Which Disney resort you should choose depends on the kind of vacation you want and how much time you have. For a longer trip complete with luxury accommodation and visits to multiple parks, Walt Disney World in Orlando might be your best bet. If you live on or near the West Coast and you're looking for a short getaway teeming with nostalgia, Disneyland is the way to go. Whereas the Anaheim resort is close enough to Los Angeles to squeeze in trips to Hollywood and the beach, Orlando is all about theme parks. Universal Orlando and Fun Spot America are both within a 30-minute drive from Walt Disney World. Legoland, in Winter Haven, is about an hour's drive south from the resort.