So for starters, let's talk about the differences between the main Disney theme parks in the United States. The first thing you need to know is that Disneyland (the original park) is located in California and Disney World (the bigger, newer resort) is located in Florida. Disneyland contains two individual parks: Disneyland and California Adventure. Disney World encompasses four theme parks and two water parks: Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, and Typhoon Lagoon.
The biggest question I get regards pricing - how much is this trip gonna cost me? Surprisingly, you can take a trip to Disney on nearly any budget! When deciding between California and Florida, I recommend considering several issues first.
- How long is your trip?
- Are you driving or flying?
- Do you intend to stay at a Disney resort hotel?
- Are there other activities you'd like to do while on vacation? (beach, other theme parks, etc)
Let's talk about trip length. If this is your annual vacation and you've allotted a whole week or more, then I highly recommend Disney World. I'll say this time and again, but you'll never see EVERYTHING at Disney World in one trip but you can get a lot done in a week. If you can only spare a long weekend or a few days, then Disneyland might be your better bet.
Next, driving versus flying. Depending on where you're located, driving may be more economical. I also understand that some people have an aversion to flying and that should definitely be taken into consideration. There are many economical airlines that will get you close to either location (think Allegiant, Spirit, Frontier) although you may need to pick up a rental car to get to your hotel. A tip about rental cars: I've haggled with nearly every vendor on the continent and I recommmend Dollar. They give the least runaround and are flexible with individuals that want to pay with a debit card but don't have a stellar credit history. As for airports, I recommend MCO and SFB for Orlando (Allegiant flies into SFB and it's about 30-40 minutes from the parks). In California, SNA is the closest to Disneyland and boasts the least amount of traffic along the way, but some economy airlines will fly into LAX cheaper.
Ah, Disney resort hotels. I plan to devote several posts to this topic alone. If you've decided to make the trek to Disneyland, then I recommend staying at a good neighbor property in the area as they are more affordable and many are actually closer to the parks than Disney's own hotels. If you like this option, try the Anaheim Camelot Inn & Suites, Anaheim Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn, Carousel Inn & Suites, or the Tropicana Inn & Suites. All of these hotels are located across the street from Disneyland and are within easy walking distance to the pedestrian entrance. I will be staying at Tropicana Inn & Suites later this year so I'll be sure to update you on the accommodations! If you prefer to stay at a Disneyland resort hotel then you've got a choice between three properties: Paradise Pier, Disneyland Hotel, and the Grand Californian. Prices for these hotels typically run between $300 and $600 per night.
Disney World is a different story. The property itself is the size of San Francisco so it's quite literally a city of its own! I highly recommend staying at a Disney World resort hotel because they have many different options available, starting with the All-Star resorts (less than $100/night) all the way up to the deluxe villa resorts ($500+/night). With so many choices, there is sure to be something in your price range! As an added bonus, all Disney World resort hotels offer free transportation AND free parking at the parks so you won't have to pay to park if you decide to drive yourself. If you want to stay on-property but NOT at a Disney hotel, there are several options near Downtown Disney (soon to be named Disney Springs) such as the B Resort and Spa, Best Western Lake Buena Vista, Doubletree Suites by Hilton, and Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista.
Finally, it's very important to consider the other activities you'll want to include in your trip. Are you a beach bum and want to devote part of your time to soaking up the sun rays? Perhaps California is a better fit. There are beaches within easy driving distance from Disney World but the famous Huntington Beach is a very short commute from Disneyland and highly recommended! Do you want to include other parks in your trip? Disney World is a very short 20 minute drive from Universal Studios and Sea World! There are plenty of add-on options with either location so make sure to scope out the surrounding area to see what works best for you.
That's the intro to Disney vacationing - I hope it's been useful! Feel free to comment any tips of your own!
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