Why Disney World Fans Will LOVE Disneyland
Some have told me that they think Disneyland is too small. That’s right it is small, but not too small. And Disneyland has nearly twice the attractions as Magic Kingdom.
I speak to a lot of people who love Disney World but have yet to make it out to see Disneyland Resort in California.
Some have told me that they think Disneyland is too small. That’s right it is small, but not too small.
And Disneyland has nearly twice the attractions as Magic Kingdom.
A plus is that everything is within walking distance at Disneyland. Others tell me that California is out of their comfort zone and that Florida just seems easier.
Well, Disneyland is surprisingly easy especially when you book with a travel advisor.
So this is Disneyland for those who love Disney World. And it’s coming up right now.
There are two theme parks that sit directly across from each other. Disneyland of course and Disney’s California Adventure.
But in this article, I really want to focus on Disneyland because she’s Magic Kingdom’s big sister. But I’ll touch on California adventure too.
So here’s Disneyland for people who love Walt Disney World (or watch the video below).
Walt’s Lamp on Main Street U.S.A.
Walt Disney never got to see his Florida park but at Disneyland, you can literally feel his presence here.
He designed it, walked it, and even slept here. His family's apartment is located above the firehouse.
Cast Members knew Walt was in the park when they saw the light on in the window. The light is constantly lit today because it symbolizes Walt is always with us.
“it’s a small world”
“it’s a small world” at Disneyland is pretty close to the Walt Disney World version with a few exceptions.
First, it’s the original. The one that was made for the 1964-1965 World’s Fair in New York.
The queue and load area are outside which is different that Disney World’s version.
Inside is similar but there are enough differences that make it a must-see.
Some of the rooms are completely different and you may even spot a few Disney characters along the way like Alice in Wonderland, Woody from Toy Story, and Lilo, and Stitch, just to name a few.
Autopia
Autopia is Disneyland’s version of Tomorrowland Speed Way. Both have miniature gas-powered cars that you drive around a track, but Disneyland’s version is part freeway, part race track, and part dirt road with hills and bridges.
It has a lot more theming than the Tomorrowland Speedway and it kind of makes Disney World’s version seem a little bland.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
If you’re a Disney World fan, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage will be like going back in time to days when we had 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in Magic Kingdom.
Disneyland still has this attraction but with a Finding Nemo overlay.
The story and augmented reality animations that are very similar to Finding Nemo at Epcot. I know so many people wish Magic Kingdom still had this attraction, myself included.
But if you miss 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at Magic Kingdom, or wondered what it was like, this is an attraction you want to do.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is very different from Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom. The rooms are completely different and even the targets are different.
Your blaster isn’t attached to the ride vehicle so you have more control over where to aim.
As with Space Ranger Spin, it’s tricky to figure out where you’re pointing your laser but you can get the hang of it pretty quickly.
Space Mountain
Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom is one of the few attractions that opened in Florida before its counterpart opened in California.
So to me, Space Mountain is really a Magic Kingdom orginal.
However, Disneyland’s version is quite different.
The queue for example has you walk outside onto the roof.
The ride vehicles have you sit in rows of two whereas at Disney World you sit one behind the other.
Disneyland’s version is set to this spacey-rock music.
Disney World has no music, just a few sound effects. And the track at Space Mountain Disneyland is incredibly smooth and faster than Disney World's version.
Big Thunder Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland is very similar to Disney World’s version except that it’s much smoother and less jerky.
But Disneyland’s version has an added special effects scene on the third lift hill.
As you climb the final hill you’ll see that a number of dynamite fuses have been lit and are ready to explode any second.
The effect uses sounds and projection mapping to simulate a large blast in the mine.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
One of my absolute favorite things about Disneyland is that it still has Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
The Magic Kingdom version was removed in 1998 to make way for the Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh.
Going on this ride at Disneyland is like going back in time.
It’s a classic Disney dark ride with a very simple ride design and plywood cutouts, but there’s just something about this ride that brings me back.
I love the part where Toad gets hit by a train and then goes to hell. It’s hysterical. And it will leave you saying, wait, why don't we have this in Walt Disney World??
Haunted Mansion
Disneyland is home to the original Haunted Mansion.
The Walt Disney World version is nearly identical except that the exterior facade is beastly different.
Oh, and Disneyland’s stretching room is a real elevator whereas in Disney World it’s just special effects.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean is perhaps one of Disneyland’s most popular attractions. Disney World fans will love this one especially because it’s nearly twice as long.
Yeah, the Disney World version is about 8 minutes long while Disneyland’s is about 15 minutes long.
Disneyland has so many scenes that we just don’t have in World.
They both have the scene where the jailed pirates are trying to call the dog holding the keys.
But in Disney World, this part marks the end of the attraction. In Disneyland, this scene comes up about halfway through.
Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes
The Davy Crockett Explorer canoes were at one time operational in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World on the Rivers of America, even before Tom Sawyer Island was built.
Aside from some special Cast Member events, the canoes have not operated since the early 1990s. But Disneyland still offers the Canoes!
The guides are pretty funny too, similar to Jungle Cruise skippers. Which is also here in Disneyland by the way.
Matterhorn
Some people say the closest match to Matterhorn at Disneyland would be Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom but they are very different rides. Matterhorn would be closer to Space Mountain in terms of ride technology.
Matterhorn Bobsleds is the first Disney coaster ever built and the first tubular steel coaster in the world.
And watch out for the Yeti - he’s terrifying. No joke, he’s really scary.
Mickey’s Toon Town and Star Wars
Mickey’s House
Disneyland has several different lands than Disney World like New Orleans Square, home to Pirates of the Caribbean, Critter County formally home to Splash Mountain, but even more notably Mickey’s Toontown and Star War’s Galaxys Edge.
Disney World had a toon town at one point but it later became part of Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland.
Toontown is home to Mickey and Mnnies houses which are character meet and greets but also Runaway Railway.
The queue for Mickey’s Runaway Railway is very different from the Walt Disney World version which takes place in the Chinese Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is located in Disneyland - at Disney World, it's part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios of course.
The lands are very similar. In fact, at one point I forgot I was in California! Weird.
Sleeping Beauty Castle
Disneyland is of course the first castle park with Sleeping Bueaty Castle serving as the centerpiece of the park.
But did you know that you can actually go inside?
See in Walt Disney World you can only go inside if you want to dine in Cinderalla’s Royal Table.
Other than that, there isn’t much to experience.
But in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, there’s a walk-through attraction where you can explore winding passageways where the tale of Princess Aurora is told.
Inside you’ll find 3-dimensional displays and special effects.
Don’t miss the climactic final scene, when Maleficent transforms into a fire-breathing dragon.
OrlandoParksGuy: Travel agent for Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Orlando area cruises
Disney’s California Adventure Park
Now let's park hop over to Disney’s California adventure. It’s located right next to Disneyland, no transportation is required.
You just walk across the plaza.
This park has a few Disney World favorites like Soarin’ and The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure which aside from having different queues, are nearly identical.
Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout
But DCA is your chance to ride a different version of the Tower of Terror.
Instead of Tower of Terror, we have Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout.
This used to be the Tower of Terror but it was given a Guardians overlay.
The drop sequence will feel similar to you but it has an entirely different theme and story.
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure is definitely something we don’t have in Disney World. The only attraction that might be remotely similar is Toy Story Midway Mania which is also located here in DCA. WebSlingers is part interactive game and park dark ride attraction.
Web Slingers is located in Avengers Campus where you can take in shows meet some characters or dine in the Pym Test Kitchen
Cars Land
One of the most beautiful sections of Disney’s California Adventure is Cars Land. Home to so many great attractions like Luigi’s Rollicking Roadsters and especially Radiator Springs Racers.
To Disney World fans you’ll recognize the ride vehicles, they are similar to Test Track in Epcot.
Like Test Track this is part dark ride and part high-speed thrill ride.
The final scene has you race another car through Radiator Springs.
I think this is one of the best rides in the park.
And here’s a little secret.
If you stand in the middle of the street in Cars Land at sunset (be sure to check your phone’s weather app to get the official sunset time) you can watch Cars Land come to life in neon lights.
After the neon goes on, be sure to walk down the path behind Flo’s V8 cafe to see Radiator Springs lit up as well.
It’s one of the most beautiful parts of any Disney park anywhere so don’t miss it. And Not too many people know about this pathway so you may just have it all to yourself.
Now of course I didn’t cover everything there is to see and do at Disneyland in California but I hope you Disney World fans saw enough about what makes this resort truly unique.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 13 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.
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