If you’re a Disney World visitor, you probably think you know what your in for when you book your first trip to Disneyland. And to an extent, you’re right. The Magic Kingdom was based on Disneyland, so there are definitely parallels and similarities. But there are a few key differences between Disneyland and Disney World that will be helpful to know ahead of time, so they don’t take you by surprise and throw off your plans. The following is a list of tips for Disney World fans visiting Disneyland for the first time.
TIP #1 – Disneyland is not a bubble like Disney World…it’s easy to hop on and off property.
Unlike Disney World, it’s very easy (and convenient) to go off property in Disneyland. All of the hotels on Disneyland property are considered luxury hotels, and are located on the western end of the resort. The eastern end of the resort bumps up against Harbor Boulevard, which has tons and tons of discount (or middle-range) hotels to choose from.
Staying off property is not much more of a hassle than staying on property, so it’s pretty easy to find a hotel that fits your budget without sacrificing time in the parks. There are also nearby restaurants (most notably the Anaheim Garden Walk) if you don’t want to eat on property.
TIP #2 – Transportation is very limited.
If you’re used to taking the monorail, boats, or buses between parks and hotels in Disney World, you’ll have to change up your plans at Disneyland. The monorail on the west coast is really more of an attraction than a reliable form of transportation, and it only travels from Tomorrowland to Downtown Disney, with no stop in California Adventure. There is transportation to the parking structures (either buses or the tram), but there is no transportation to the hotels. Disneyland is a much smaller resort than Walt Disney World, and it is very much a walking resort. Keep that in mind in case you need to rent a wheelchair/scooter or a stroller for the little ones!
TIP #3 – Park hopping is a must.
At Disney World, it’s very common for guests to pick one park and stick to it. But in Disneyland, hopping back and forth is a pretty basic touring strategy. I personally tend to hop parks two or three times a day, and if I’m really aggressive about using fast passes and visiting every ride, I’ll hop upwards of six or seven times a day. The park gates are on either side of the promenade, so hopping is fairly painless. My advice – don’t limit yourself to one park if you make a touring plan ahead of time.
TIP #4 – Prioritize rides unique to Disneyland.
California Adventure is obviously a unique park to the Disneyland Resort, so I’d definitely recommend taking your time walking through each land. But Disneyland itself also has some rides you can’t experience in the Magic Kingdom. The complete list is as follows:
- Alice in Wonderland
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- Disney Princess Fantasy Faire
- Indiana Jones Adventure ***
- Matterhorn Bobsleds ***
- Mickey and the Magical Map ***
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride ***
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Pixie Hollow
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
- Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough ***
- Snow White’s Scary Adventures
- Storybook Land Canal Boats ***
If you can’t visit all of these during your trip, I’ve marked the ones I think are the most important to see with asterisks.
TIP #5 – Avoid playing the comparison game when you’re in the parks.
This is a lot easier said than done, but when you’re actually in Disneyland, do the best you can to leave the Disney World comparisons behind. The two parks are different, and each has something to offer that the other doesn’t. If you play the comparison game all day, it takes you out of the moment and you’ll probably have a hard time distinguishing the two parks after the fact. But if you can’t wait until the end of your trip to talk through each park, I’d recommend saving that for a dinner topic each night.
No matter what advice you choose to follow or what touring plan you use, you’ll have a great time at the Disneyland Resort. There’s something so special about walking through the park Walt himself designed and created 60 years ago. Disneyland and Disney World are both magical destinations for any Disney fan, and you’ll probably see Disney World with a whole new perspective when you return.
What advice would you give a Disney World fan heading to Disneyland? Share your tips in the comments below!
Yeah buddy! I just got my Disney+ subscription! I’m so excited for the Mandalorian! You know, you can get it for free if you sign up for Verizon..
I wish I would have seen this before we went last month. We did most of this but the most important one is get the park hopper! We don’t at WDW once we are in a park, we stay there. But it’s very different at DL/CA. You can zoom back and forth. I did do the comparison thing, DL won on most with the exception of Soaring. Here’s a huge tip if you’re going in December; find out when the schools let out for Christmas break and go a few days before that day. We used our Max pass twice for rides, we walked on to everything else with ease. We used that pass mainly for photos. We saw EVERYTHING we wanted in one trip!
I’m so glad you had a great trip! You’re absolutely right; park hoppers are essential for Disneyland. I average 3-4 hops a day!
Thank you for the ride list! I wasn’t sure what to look for when I go. Thanks!
I don’t really agree with the holding off on comparisons thing. Your brain automatically compares the unfamiliar with the familiar, and I don’t see anything wrong with looking at the two against one another.
I see your point, Otis. But for me, I do the best I can not to play the comparison game while I’m in the park just so I can be in the moment and enjoy where I am. But I do think comparing the two can be really fun!
Thanks for these! I like what you said about the bubble. We are staying off property so I’m glad to know it’s easy to get around without being in a Disney hotel.
Absolutely! If you’re off property, it’s still quite easy to get around. 🙂
Haha the monorail is definitely different in the two.
Great advice. Plus of course you should spend lots of time in California Adventure since it’s not in Florida obviously.
Thanks, Chad! And you’re absolutely right, it’s definitely important to spend time in California Adventure!