Disneyland vs. Disney World: Which Disney Property Is Right for You?
Updated: April 18, 2024
AAA Travel Editor, SMS
Whether you’re trying to plan a magical family vacation or a fun trip to relive your childhood dreams and fantasies, visiting Disneyland or Disney World is undoubtedly a top destination.
Both theme parks offer fun rides, delicious food, engaging entertainment and a magical atmosphere, giving guests of all ages memorable experiences that will last a lifetime. However, if you're deciding on a Disneyland vs. Disney World vacation, there are some major distinctions you should be aware of.
We've outlined the key differences between each Disney property so you can choose the trip that is best suited for you and your family. Once you’ve made your choice, turn to AAA for the finest travel deals and easy hotel booking.
Size and Location
Both Disneyland and Disney World are located in top travel destinations in the U.S., but their locations and sizes are drastically different. Let’s take a look at the size and location of each Disney property.
Disneyland
Disneyland is based in Anaheim, California, which is just south of Los Angeles. Since Anaheim is located in Southern California, the climate there is the most ideal, with less rain and consistently pleasant weather year-round.
For size, Disneyland is only about 500 acres. Being considerably smaller than Disney World, it is certainly possible to visit all of Disneyland's main attractions in a day or two.
Disney World
Disney World, on the other hand, is situated in Orlando, Florida, which is in the center of the state. Central Florida has a hot and humid climate in the summertime, but the winters are usually sunny and cool.
The size of Disney World is astonishing, covering 43 square miles of land. For context, that means you could fit about 51 Disneylands inside Disney World. It’s basically its own city, which would take you about a week to explore everything it has to offer.
Theme Parks
Disneyland and Disney World are significantly different in size, so it stands to reason that they have different numbers of theme parks. Check out the different theme parks each Disney property has.
Disneyland
The Disneyland Resort has just two theme parks on property: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. Disneyland was Walt Disney's very first theme park, which opened its doors on July 17, 1955. The grand opening of Disney California Adventure occurred decades later in 2001.
Each theme park has various themed lands and attractions that offer fun for people of all ages.
Disneyland Park:
- Main Street U.S.A.
- Fantasyland
- Tommorowland
- Adventureland
- Frontierland
- Critter Country
- New Orleans Square
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Disney California Adventure:
- Buena Vista Street
- Pixar Pier
- Paradise Gardens
- Pacific Wharf
- Grizzly Peak
- Hollywood Land
- Avengers Campus
- Cars Land
While Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure may share some similarities with parks in Disney World, the majority of the parks are completely unique, with areas like Cars Land, Pixar Pier and Avengers Campus that aren't present in Florida.
Disney World
The Walt Disney World Resort has four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
While Walt Disney was involved in the creation of Disney World, he passed away five years before its opening in 1971 with Magic Kingdom. Epcot opened over a decade later in 1982, followed by Disney's Hollywood Studios in 1989 and Animal Kingdom in 1998.
Like Disneyland, each theme park includes a variety of themed lands and attractions that are enjoyable for visitors of all ages.
Magic Kingdom:
- Main Street U.S.A.
- Fantasyland
- Tomorrowland
- Adventureland
- Frontierland
- Liberty Square
Epcot:
- World Celebration
- World Showcase
- World Discovery
- World Nature
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
- Animation Courtyard
- Echo Lake
- Grand Avenue
- Hollywood Boulevard
- Pixar Place
- Sunset Boulevard
- Toy Story Land
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
- Discovery Island
- Africa
- Asia
- DinoLand U.S.A.
- The Oasis
- Pandora – The World of Avatar
- Rafiki's Planet Watch
As you can tell, Magic Kingdom is most similar to Disneyland Park while Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a few similarities to Disney California Adventure, but Disney World as a whole has a lot more lands and attractions to explore.
Rides
As you might expect, you’ll find various rides at one park that you won’t find at the other. However, you’ll find many of the same popular rides at both Disneyland and Disney World.
Both properties feature beloved attractions like Peter Pan and It's a Small World. Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park both have iconic rides including Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise and the Haunted Mansion, but you’ll find that there are a few subtle changes between the rides.
The Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge expansion containing rides like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance can also be found on both properties at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Now let’s break down some of the different rides you’ll find at Disneyland vs. Disney World.
Disneyland
Between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, there are a total of 53 different rides to enjoy, including a brand-new iteration of the popular Hollywood Studios attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, set to open in spring 2023.
Disneyland rides:
- Disneyland Park: 33 rides
- Disney California Adventure: 19 rides
While listing all the Disneyland rides would be too extensive, here are the most popular rides you’ll find at the Disneyland property that you won’t find at Disney World:
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Alice in Wonderland
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Radiator Springs Racers
- WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
- Incredicoaster
Disney World
Disney World currently has 54 rides in all four theme parks, including TRON Lightcycle Run, which is scheduled to open in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland in spring 2023.
Disney World rides:
- Magic Kingdom: 24 rides
- Epcot: 11 rides
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9 rides
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 9 rides
We’ve also broken down the most popular rides you’ll find at the Disney World property that you won’t find at Disneyland:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
- Frozen Ever After
- Spaceship Earth
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
- Tower of Terror
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest
Castles
For both amusement parks, the castle is at the center of it all. When visiting either park, you enter at the Main Street railroad station and walk down Main Street U.S.A. toward the castle.
The castle is the place to take your family vacation photos and watch the parade and firework show. However, Disneyland and Disney World feature completely different castles.
Disneyland
Disneyland features the Sleeping Beauty Castle standing at 77 feet tall. You can gaze at this iconic Disney landmark or even venture inside to relive scenes from the beloved Disney classic.
Through the castle, you can discover serpentine corridors filled with captivating dioramas that tell the epic story of Princess Aurora.
This famous attraction has outstanding visual effects, sound and 3D projections that are based on the original Eyvind Earle artwork from the movie. Be sure to watch the dramatic conclusion, in which Maleficent changes into a fire-breathing dragon.
Disney World
Disney World features the Cinderella Castle, which stands at a whopping 189 feet tall. This magical structure, which serves as the Magic Kingdom park's emblem, was modeled after the castle in the Disney classic “Cinderella,” boasting lofty spires and ornate turrets.
The gardens, which are encircled by a serene moat, provide plenty of opportunities for photos. You can visit the flowers, luscious meadows and Cinderella's own wishing well. You can even enter the castle to see the magnificent handcrafted glass mosaics that depict Cinderella's transformation from a servant to a princess.
You can even splurge on a one-of-a-kind dining experience for an elegant meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table at the castle.
Entertainment
When it comes to entertainment, Disneyland and Disney World are very different. While both parks feature fireworks, in-park shows, character parades and cavalcades, they tend to differ slightly at each Disney property.
Make sure to check the Disneyland and Disney World entertainment calendars to see what will be offered during your visit, as exact offers are subject to change.
Now let’s take a closer look at the different entertainment options at Disneyland vs. Disney World.
Disneyland
Since Disneyland has unique themed lands, you can find some awesome entertainment you won’t be able to experience in Florida.
For Marvel fans, encounter some of Earth’s mightiest heroes and watch them spring into action to defend the Avengers command center, or have a dance battle with Guardians of the Galaxy or at Avengers Campus. You can also make a pit stop at Cars Land to meet the residents of Radiator Springs.
Disneyland also has some amazing holiday entertainment like the Oogie Boogie Bash during Halloween and the Christmas Fantasy Parade around the holiday season.
Disney World
When it comes to Disney World, the entertainment options are endless. It simply has more to offer than Disneyland (as you might expect with a much larger park).
From crowd-pleasers like Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage and Festival of the Lion King to outdoor entertainment at the America Gardens Theater in Epcot or Feathered Friends in Flight at Animal Kingdom, there’s so much to experience at each theme park.
In honor of the park's 50th anniversary, Disney World debuted a new nighttime spectacular at Magic Kingdom, Disney Enchantment, where guests can enjoy dazzling lights that illuminate the castle courtyard and stunning fireworks that light up the night sky.
Disney World also features awesome holiday events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, where you can experience Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show.
Food
Despite theme park food’s poor reputation, Disneyland and Disney World both boast top-notch dining options. Sure, you can find some standard pizza and burgers at both Disney parks, but if you pay attention and read reviews, you might also discover several places serving delectable meals and snacks.
Disneyland
No matter where you are in Disneyland, check out this list of the best locations to go for delicious meals.
Disneyland Park:
- Snacks: Churro carts
- Quick service: Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
- Fine dining: Napa Rose (located in Downtown Disney)
- Character dining experience: Minnie & Friends – Breakfast in the Park
Disney California Adventure:
- Snacks: Turkey leg – Edelweiss Snacks
- Quick service: Flo’s V8 Café
- Fine dining: Carthay Circle Restaurant
- Character dining experience: Storytellers Cafe (located in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa)
Disney World
Disney World boasts a lot more dining options and character dining experiences because of its vast size. The food at Epcot in particular is notable, offering various foods from all over the world. Here are some of the top places to visit for some great food, no matter which theme park you’re at.
Magic Kingdom:
- Snacks: Dole Whip – Aloha Isle
- Quick service: Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
- Fine dining: Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Character dining experience: The Crystal Palace
Epcot:
- Snacks: Tarte au fraises (strawberry tart) – Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie
- Quick service: Sunshine Seasons
- Fine dining: Le Cellier Steakhouse
- Character dining experience: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
- Snacks: Totchos – Woody’s Lunch Box
- Quick service: Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
- Fine dining: The Hollywood Brown Derby
- Character dining experience: Hollywood & Vine
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
- Snacks: Mr. Kamal’s seasoned fries – Mr. Kamal’s
- Quick service: Eight Spoon Cafe
- Fine dining: Tiffins Restaurant
- Character dining experience: Tusker House Restaurant
On-Property Bonuses
While we’ve primarily focused on the theme parks of each Disney property, both Disneyland and Disney World have other attractions on property that are definitely worth a visit.
Disneyland
Since Disneyland is significantly smaller than Disney World, the Downtown Disney District is virtually the only additional bonus attraction it provides. Downtown Disney’s second phase is now under development, so exciting information about what’s to come will be announced soon.
For now, you’ll find an eclectic mix of one-of-a-kind restaurants, stores and entertainment in the Downtown Disney District. With so much to see and do, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon with the whole family.
Disney World
In addition to the four primary theme parks and 32 resorts, Disney World has a number of attractions spread around its enormous 43-square-mile property.
At Disney World, there are two water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, both of which are easily enjoyable for an entire day.
Another well-liked location in Disney World is Disney Springs, a dining and retail district with lots of popular establishments. You can get some of the greatest food at Disney World here, with many restaurants to choose from. There is also plenty of upscale shopping for some retail therapy, as well as fun activities like bowling, live music and the famous Cirque du Soleil show.
If you’re looking for even more to do while on vacation, Disney World also has golf and putt-putt courses to enjoy.
Resorts and Hotels
Both Disney properties host various hotels and resorts that are both on property and off-site. Check out the different accommodations offered by Disneyland vs. Disney World.
Disneyland
Disneyland offers three hotels on property, including Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. Of course, there are also a ton of non-Disney options within walking and driving distance.
Some popular hotels and resorts in Anaheim include:
Disney World
There are more than 32 different on-property resorts and hotels spread across Disney World’s grounds. This includes luxurious villas like those at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, as well as affordable lodging alternatives like Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and luxurious choices like the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Being the tourist haven it is, Orlando also has plenty of accommodations that are easily accessible to Disney World, including (but not limited to):
Cost
Both Disneyland and Disney World use dynamic pricing for their theme park admissions. This means that ticket costs change based on the time of year, the day of the week and other considerations (like holidays).
Although you can buy a regular one-day ticket to a theme park, the best value comes from extra purchases like Park Hopper, which allows you to visit several theme parks, and Genie+, which gives you access to the Lightning Lane entry at more than 40 attractions.
Let’s break down the costs between Disneyland vs. Disney World.
Disneyland
Like we mentioned, the exact cost of your ticket will vary depending on when you plan your visit and whether you choose to spend extra money on Genie+ and/or a Park Hopper pass to visit both of Disneyland’s theme parks.
Here’s an average breakdown of Disneyland ticket costs:
- One Park Per Day Ticket: $104+
- Park Hopper Pass: +$65 per ticket
- Genie+: +$20 per ticket
You're looking at a minimum cost of $189 if you choose to indulge in the extra perks like Park Hopper and Genie+ (which many guests will tell you is well worth the investment).
Disney World
Just like Disneyland, the exact price of your ticket will depend on when you decide to go and whether you choose to spend extra money on Genie+ and/or a Park Hopper pass option to visit all the theme parks, water parks and sports-related fun.
Here’s an average breakdown of Disney World ticket costs:
- One Park Per Day Ticket: $109+
- Park Hopper Pass: +$65 per ticket
- Water Park and Sports Option: +$70 per ticket
- Park Hopper Plus Pass: +$85 per ticket
- Genie+: +$15 per ticket
You should expect to pay a minimum of $209 for a ticket that gives you admission to all theme parks, water parks and sport-related attractions at Walt Disney World, in addition to a Genie+ pass.
Transportation
As we’ve mentioned, Disneyland and Disney World are vastly different when it comes to their size. So, as you can imagine, the transportation offerings are also quite different.
Disneyland
Since Disneyland is a smaller property, there are limited transportation options, but the good news is that most of the resorts and both parks are very accessible by foot. If you want to go from Disneyland Park to Disney California Adventure or vice versa, it only takes a minute to cross a plaza known as the Esplanade.
However, there is a monorail that runs from Downtown Disney to Tomorrowland if you’d rather not walk. There are also resort buses, parking lot buses and hotel shuttles available for use by Disneyland guests who are staying off-site.
Disney World
Disney World, however, has a vast network of on-property transportation because of how dispersed everything is.
There are several ways to get to the theme parks from every resort on Disney World property, including buses, the monorail, the Skyliner, walking trails and even boats. Even if you’re staying off-site, many hotels around the Orlando area work with Disney to offer a complimentary shuttle service to the theme parks.
You may not be able to walk to every destination at Disney World, but there are many convenient transportation options available to you.
Best Time to Visit
As you might expect, both Disneyland and Disney World can become overly crowded during peak seasons throughout the year. The parks are likely to be busiest during school breaks, like spring break (in March and April) and summer, as well as holiday seasons like Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Weekends are also usually more crowded compared to weekdays.
To be able to enjoy everything each park has to offer, avoid popular holidays, weekends and the spring and summer break period. As a result of fewer crowds, you will be able to explore more of the park in less time.
However, going to Disney during their special holiday events or celebrations offers its own unique experience, so while it’ll be more crowded, the trip will likely still be worthwhile.
As far as weather is concerned, both parks are best to visit during the more temperate spring and fall seasons.
Disneyland
Due to its location in sunny Southern California where temperatures are generally consistent throughout the year, Disneyland may have an advantage in this category. Temperatures can still drop to below 50 degrees in the winter and soar to well above 100 in the sweltering summer months of August and September.
That being said, if you’re looking for a comfortable climate and less crowds, here’s a breakdown of some of the best times to plan your visit to Disneyland:
- January
- Early February and March
- Weekdays in May
- The first half of June
- August
- Weekdays in September
- Weekdays in November
- Weekdays in the first half of December
If you wish to plan your trip around Disneyland’s holiday parties and special celebrations, we’ve listed the best times to go:
- Early September through October: Oogie Boogie Bash
- Early November to mid December: The Festival of the Holidays
- Late January to early February: Lunar New Year
- Early March to late April: Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
Disney World
On the other hand, Disney World is hotter and more humid in the summer, making it less than ideal to wait in line for hours on end. You might also encounter some Florida summer rain showers in the afternoons.
Here are some of the ideal dates to schedule your trip to Disney World if you're searching for a comfortable climate and less tourists:
- Mid January to mid February
- Early March
- Late April
- Weekdays in the first half of May
- The second half of August
- September (minus days around Labor Day)
- Most weekdays in October
- Weekdays in November
- Weekdays in the first half of December
If you wish to plan your visit around Disney World’s holiday parties and special festivities, we’ve listed the best times to go:
- Late September and all of October: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
- Early November to late December: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
- Early March to early July: Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
- Mid July to mid November: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Plan Your Next Disney Vacation
If you're deciding on a Disneyland vs. Disney World vacation, you can’t go wrong either way. But you’re probably wondering which Disney resort is better.
Many people will tell you that Disney World is the winner — that’s simply because the property has so much to offer in terms of attractions, entertainment, food and accommodations.
Disneyland is great for those who want to spend a day or two at the parks, just to get a weekend filled with Disney magic and fun. However, Disney is Disney, and there’s enough magic to go coast to coast.
To help you make the most of your Disney vacation, make sure to purchase travel insurance and become a AAA member to get discounts on everyday purchases, from attractions and entertainment to car rentals and hotel booking.