So you’ve traveled to Walt Disney World and are a loyal fan of the massive Orlando resort. You might wonder why you should consider taking just one trip to Disneyland. Here’s one: no Disney fan should ever pass up the chance to see the original, the park that started it all.
But there are some other great reasons to consider trekking to the West Coast for a new experience.
The Weather. The weather in Southern California is perfect nearly year round. With summer time (June/July/August) highs averaging 84 degrees with lows in the mid-sixties, and an average of less than an inch of rain, California is big change from Orlando’s summer time highs of 91 degrees, lows in the 70’s and an average of 6-7 inches of rain. Even better, summer in California does not have the humidity that is ever-present in Florida, meaning things just feel cooler, even with temperatures in the 80s.
The Costs. If you live anywhere in the “middle” of the US, as well as the west, you will want to do a comparison on flight costs as you may very well find it less expensive to fly to Florida. One day park tickets will also be a bit less than at Disney World, but considering that Disneyland itself is smaller than Walt Disney World, you won’t need as many days at the parks. This basically means that the overall cost for your tickets – along with fewer nights for your hotel – adds up to a lower priced vacation as a whole.
The Efficiency. What I mean by efficiency is you don’t lose as much time for transportation. Disneyland is smaller in size than Walt Disney World, and is more compact. The two parks—Disneyland and Disney California Adventure – share an entrance plaza. Turn left to enter Disneyland, right to enter DCA. Just outside the entrance plaza is the Downtown District and the three Disney hotel properties. The parking tram lets off and loads in one area. The hotels, the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier, and the Grand Californian, are all within about five to ten minutes of the parks and the Grand Californian even has its own “secret” entrance directly into DCA. You end up with more park time/less travel time per day as a result.
It’s “Walt’s Park.” Walt Disney maintained an apartment over the firehouse in Town Square at Disneyland. The apartment is still there, but is off-limits to most guests. Walt liked to dress himself up so that he would not be recognized and tour the park as a guest. While Walt Disney World was his dream, Disneyland was the dream he saw realized, and there is something very special about visiting the “park that Walt built”.
Next time you plan a Disney vacation, consider the parks on both coasts. You just might be surprised at what you decide on!
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