I have grown up going to Disney World, so when my parents told me we were going to Disneyland, I was over the moon. I could not stop talking about it before we went, and it was all I could think about. I was so excited to go to the place where all the magic started.
The first thing I was disappointed about was not getting a MagicBand. Getting the band is part of the hype of the trip; picking your color and buying accessories to go with it builds up the excitement. It is your room key, pass to get in to the park, dinner ticket and the FastPass ticket all in one bracelet. It is crazy to me that Disneyland does not have this feature because it is so convenient and stylish.
I was also excited to eat in all the cool restaurants. I may be the only person who faces this problem, but my parents are always looking for the best deal because my dad is an accountant.The dining plans that you can buy at Disney World are customizable to what is best for your family. My family got breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner for all of the days that we were at the parks. This was the best thing that could have happened for me; I ate like a queen and got to eat at places that my parents would have never eaten if not for the dining plan.
The Be Our Guest restaurant was a dream come true for me, but I would not have been able to enjoy the French steak and the “Gray Stuff ” if we had not gotten the dining plan. Disneyland does not have this feature, so I did not get to enjoy the amazing cuisine that Disneyland had to offer.
Instead, I ate the hot dogs and popcorn from the vendors on the sidewalks. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride also has a restaurant inside of it, and it is just tragic that I had to miss out on that amazing dining experience.
Although you can walk through a small part of the castle at Disneyland, the castle is unimpressive and small. You walk in thinking that it will be grand and blow your wildest dreams, like at Disney World, but it just deflates your spirits immediately. You walk in excited (even though California’s mandatory warning signs that everything can cause cancer cover the entrance) and immediately feel crushed upon seeing the tiny castle.
The overall atmosphere of Disneyland is also not as happy as Disney World. I walk into Disney World and cannot stop smiling. Even though there is a small child beside me screaming because they need a nap and want a chocolate-covered Mickey Mouse ice cream bar, I am having the best time ever, and no one — not even the screaming child — can ruin my fun. Disneyland does not have the happy, floating-on-cloud-nine feeling Disney World has.The screaming child does affect you and your ability to have a fun time.
Disney World also just has more to offer than Disneyland. The amount of rides and attractions at Disney World versus Disneyland is incomparable. I will say, there are some rides that are done better at Disneyland than at Disney World, but who doesn’t like quantity over quality? It is more bang for your buck. I think some people think since there is more to do, you could not do it all. If you plan well, instead of just wandering around, you can make good use of your time and do everything.
Overall, Disney World is just so much better than Disneyland. Having a huge, impressive castle, a happy atmosphere, more to do and the MagicBand just makes for a better park and a better experience.
