Disney World vs. Disneyland: At-a-Glance

What's the difference between Disney World and Disneyland?

With many attractions present at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, it can be hard to keep the two destinations straight. This high-level guide outlines the major differences, but if you have detailed questions about which park has specific rides and attractions, please reach out to me directly!

	Walt Disney World	Disneyland
Location	Orlando, FL	Anaheim, CA
Year Opened	1971	1955
Resort Size	27,258 acres	500 acres
Parks	4 Magic Kingdom Hollywood Studios EPCOT Disney's Animal Kingdom	2 Disneyland Park Disney California Adventure
Water Parks	Yes Typhoon Lagoon Blizzard Beach	No
Resort Hotels	34	3
Resort Hotels Within Walking Distance of All Parks	No Some resorts are close to one or two parks	Yes
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Area	Yes	Yes
Avenger's Campus Area	No	Yes
Current 1-Day Single Park Ticket Price	$109	$104

So which Theme Park is right for you?

It all depends!

Reasons I might recommend Disneyland

• You have young kids who still nap during the day

  • Disneyland is much more condensed with many hotels within walking distance of the parks, making it easy to slip away for a little break.

• You only have 1 to 2 days for your visit

  • With just two parks, it's easier to see all of Disneyland in just a day or two without feeling overwhelmed.

• Your travel party loves meeting characters

  • Disneyland has tons of characters roaming around! You'll be shocked how often you turn a corner and run into someone magical.

• You have a Cars lover in your group

  • There are currently no rides or attractions in Disney World featuring Cars characters. Disneyland has a whole Cars Land in California Adventure that feels like you've been dropped right into Radiator Springs!

• You have a Marvel lover in your group

  • Due to some truly confusing legal issues, Disney World does not offer much in terms of superheroes (just one ride). Disneyland, on the other hand, boasts Avengers Campus in California Adventure. This land features many character meet & greets and two rides.

Reasons I might recommend Disney World

• You have pre-teens or teens in your group

  • Older kids who love thrill rides will find a lot to enjoy across Disney World.

• You love animals

  • Animal Kingdom is more than "just a zoo." It has a genuine safari, immersive lands, and amazing shows.

• You only plan to take one Disney trip

  • If this Disney vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime event for you, I'd likely encourage you to go where there are significantly more rides, resorts, restaurants and shows.

If you're looking for some Disney magic, both Disney World and Disneyland have got you covered. You really can't go wrong.

Let's start planning your trip today!