What do you think of when someone says vacation? Maybe it’s a trip to Paris or the Bahamas. For my family the answer will always be Disney (that is, until we move there …lol)
One thing is for sure, if you’re a kid you would love to go to Disney World or Disneyland. And not even for kids. Even if you are a grown-up, a trip to either of these places would be great. In this article, I will discuss whether or not is Disney World bigger than Disneyland?
When it comes to the size of both Disney World and Disneyland, there is frankly no comparison. Disney World covers 25,000 acres whereas Disneyland is just 500 acres. While 500 acres is not small by any means but compared to the massive park that’s Disney World, it is nothing.
Size is one thing. There is more to these parks than that. And if you want to know more about them to decide which one to go to, you need to be sure about the differences and also which one is more convenient for you. One thing is for certain, a trip to either of these will be a time to remember.
Size Comparison Between Disney World and Disneyland
With the costs out of the way, let’s talk about the size of both of these two magical places. When it comes to sheer size, Disney World is actually much bigger than Disneyland.
One is a ‘world’ and the other is just a ‘land ‘. Well, silly jokes aside, Disney World covers quite a lot of ground. The place is 25,000 acres or, 43 square miles. So, that means there is much more to do and see there.
Disneyland is 500 acres. To put that into context, you can fit 51 Disneylands in Disney World. Yeah, that is quite big actually.
When it comes to deciding on which place you should visit you need to consider how much time you have. To explore Disneyland in its entirety, you can do it within two days. Disneyland has two parks inside.
You have Disneyland Park and the Disney California Adventure Park. For time-constrained vacationers, Disneyland is a good choice.
Disney World actually has 4 different parks. There is the Epcot Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom and also Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Since it is so big, you simply cannot explore all of Disney World in a couple of days.
You will need at least close to a week to see everything in Disney World. If you have the time and want to take in all of the beauty and attractions inside Disney World, then it will surely be a magical time.
Which Has More Rides?
The rides in both the parks are pretty good. Not all the rides are the same but you still will find some that are. For example, Splash Mountain, it’s a Small World, and Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion rides are common between the two, even if there are small differences.
Each park put its own little spin on the rides but Disney World wins out on the sheer number of rides you can choose from. There are about 50 rides in Disney World and Disneyland has just 29 rides.
That is not a bad thing though. All the rides in both places are pretty cool and fun. You will not be disappointed no matter which one you choose to visit.
Some Other Differences Between Disney World and Disneyland
Besides the size and the rides, there are also some other differences between Disney World and Disneyland that I think everyone should know about before planning out their trip.
Location
The location is another major consideration when comparing these two. Disney World is located on the East Coast. It is in Orlando, Florida and the Orlando International Airport is the closest airport.
Disneyland is located on the West Coast and is in Anaheim, California. This is great news if you live in California or even LA. From Los Angeles, going to Disneyland is just an hour’s drive.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has some direct flights and routes but the closest airport to Disneyland is John Wayne Orange County Airport.
Hotels
Then you have the hotels. Disney World will give you 25 different hotels to choose from. This is great for someone who wants options.
The price range also varies. You can opt for a value resort or even go for a premium experience with Deluxe resorts like the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Want a bit of a different experience? How about a villa or a bungalow? Disney’s Polynesian Bungalows and Villas are a great option for that.
Disneyland has 3 hotels to choose from. While the choice is restricted, it isn’t bad either. Pick from either Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and of course, the Disneyland Hotel as well.
Costs
Here is the thing about trips, they cost money. Unless you have some rich sponsor, who will pay for everything or you just won a free trip, the costs are an important factor when it comes to choosing between the two.
So, which one is the costlier one? It should not come off as no surprise that Disney World costs more than Disneyland. But the ticket costs are not that much different.
For Disney World, a single-day ticket will cost you anywhere between $114 to $199. But this isn’t a hard and fast rule. That is because Disney World uses a dynamic pricing model, so the prices can be different than this.
This is for adults though. Children ages 3-9 are a bit cheaper than adults and children that are under 3 years old will get free entry.
Disneyland’s tickets are a bit cheaper. But as I mentioned already it isn’t by much. A single-day ticket is about $117 for all adults. And again, children under 3 years old will get free entry.
Here is the trick though, your per-day costs can come down a bit when you add more days to your multi-day ticket. The more days you buy the cheaper per day cost. Once you get above 5 or 6 days the cost per day is just about half of a 1-day ticket. So, that is something to keep in mind.
That’s only one aspect of the cost though. There are also other factors you need to keep in mind like food costs when you are in the park, hotel, and transportation.
How is the Experience of Traveling to Both the Parks?
Honestly, both parks will give you stunning experiences. At Disney World, you can watch amazing shows like ‘Fantasmic’ and Disneyland guests can enjoy nightly shows.
Disneyland’s guests are highly encouraged to stay at night and enjoy the light and water show ‘World of Color’.
Other than this, there are, of course, lots of meets and greet in both the parks. You can meet Disney characters throughout the day.
It goes without saying both these places are some of the best times you will have in your life. And if you are a Disney fan, then you will love it even more.
Conclusion
There you have it. Not only do you now know that is Disney World bigger than Disneyland, but you also know all the other differences between them. If you are in a pickle choosing between these two awesome parks, there really is nothing to worry about. No matter which you end up choosing, you will have a great time.
I know that planning a trip can be a lot. If you want more help planning your next trip I 100% recommend using The Vacationeer as a travel agent. They go above and beyond for the clients and they are the only ones that I can say that I would trust to plan my family’s travel.
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