Walt Disney World vs. Disneyland is a debate that’s been finished to demise, together with on this weblog. There is no such thing as a precise reply, simply an “it relies upon.” With that mentioned, it’s pretty simple that the California parks have the definitive model of a number of points of interest, besting their counterparts at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. This record covers the cloned rides that Disneyland does higher than Walt Disney World.
The typical visitor could not discover many, and even any, variations amongst many of the rides on this record. First-timers (properly, technically “second-timers” because you’d must expertise every model at the least as soon as) in all probability don’t know and even care in regards to the variations. However the diehards do, and can pore over each the big-picture points and little particulars that make the way in which an attraction is introduced superior at Disneyland or Walt Disney World.
Anyway, consider this as each a just-for-fun sibling rivalry publish that lists our favourite rides which might be higher at Disneyland than at Walt Disney World and a sensible record for WDW followers who’re first-timers to Disneyland and need to know which clones aren’t skippable. Oh, and earlier than you Florida followers seize the pitchforks in disagreement, simply bear in mind that we’ll have one other record with what’s higher at Walt Disney World coming quickly.
Our hope is to supply as goal of a listing as potential (with some subjectivity and nostalgia creeping in–it’s unimaginable to keep away from!), and assume we’re uniquely located to do this. We’re lifelong Walt Disney World followers who think about that our “house” resort, we’ve lived close to the parks (underneath half-hour, relying upon site visitors) on each coasts, and in addition finished dozens of journeys to every as vacationers. We love each for various causes–every have strengths and weaknesses.
Ought to this and these twin clone lists go properly, we’ll think about doing variations for Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland, too. (I’m unsure there’s adequate curiosity in these provided that they’re separated by oceans versus an Orange County to Orange County flight–however tell us within the feedback if that’s the case.)
Anyway, on with this prime 10 record of rides which might be higher at Disneyland than Walt Disney World…
N/A. House Mountain – Objectively talking, House Mountain at Disneyland is way superior to the Magic Kingdom model of the attraction. Solely redone again within the early aughts, House Mountain appears to be like, sounds, and looks like a contemporary curler coaster at Disneyland. There’s on-board audio, the potential for seasonal overlays (reminiscent of Hyperspace Mountain and beforehand Ghost Galaxy for Halloween), side-by-side seating, and extra.
Against this, the Magic Kingdom model of House Mountain is a blast(off) from the previous. It looks like a spinal adjustment that you could be not have the ability to rise up from on the finish, and people of us tormented by “bony butt syndrome” (it’s a factor; there are dozens of us…dozens!) shall be grimacing because it rockets over the random bumps within the monitor. Oh, and for those who do Magic Kingdom’s House Mountain at evening when your eyes have adjusted to darkness, be ready to be just a little an excessive amount of…reminiscent of how little clearance there may be overhead…within the less-than-total darkness.
However, there’s a cause House Mountain is “N/A” as a substitute of prime 3 (the place it objectively belongs), and that’s as a result of that is my record and considered one of my most unpopular Disney opinions is that Magic Kingdom’s House Mountain is the higher attraction–which means the entire bundle, not simply the experience (which is certainly an improve at Disneyland).
Magic Kingdom’s superiority comes all the way down to the old fashioned results within the queue, iconic star tunnel music, twin monitor format, and even the post-show scenes. To me, it’s probably the most full model of House Mountain from begin to end, and that scores it large factors in my e book. Admittedly, I view House Mountain at Magic Kingdom by way of the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia, because it has an enormous place in my coronary heart. Maybe the identical means many lifelong Disneylanders would declare that Matterhorn bests Expedition Everest (it doesn’t).
10. Mad Tea Celebration – It is a easy and easy one. Mad Tea Celebration is healthier at Disneyland as a consequence of being open-air and due to its environment. As a result of Florida climate (learn: rain), it doesn’t have the luxurious of going roofless, and that alone is an enormous loss.
The views are additionally higher at Disneyland, and that’s true whether or not you truly experience the teacups or simply stand exterior and watch. The latter is arguably the seminal model, as you may watch the teacups, monorail, and Matterhorn all of sudden. Disneyland’s kinetic power stays undefeated.
We’re going to finish up snubbing at the least a number of “greater” points of interest that Disneyland does finest, however I can’t not embody Mad Tea Celebration. There’s a sure magnificence and attraction within the simplicity of the Disneyland model that I believe is usually misplaced at Magic Kingdom.
9. Haunted Mansion – There was a time after I in all probability would’ve put Haunted Mansion on the Walt Disney World model of this record. Even at the moment, there are a number of little issues to like about each variations. Identical goes for the Tokyo Disneyland incarnation of Haunted Mansion, which is basically the OG Magic Kingdom model. Heck, we might even develop that to Phantom Manor and possibly Mystic Manor, each of which share bloodlines (though the HKDL is extra like prolonged household who you may declare or disown as you see match).
A couple of questionable choices at Magic Kingdom within the final decade-plus give a slight edge to Disneyland, particularly for the Haunted Mansion purists on the market. For the decidedly non-purists, there’s additionally Haunted Mansion Vacation at Disneyland and never Walt Disney World, which appears to embody extra of the calendar annually.
Yearly for Halloween and Christmas (now beginning in late August and working by way of mid-January), Sandy Claws decks the halls in a experience overlay impressed by The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas. Though I’m not a fan of the movie and err on the purist facet for many issues, I truly love Haunted Mansion Vacation. It’s extremely thorough, to the purpose that it’s virtually a model new experience utilizing Haunted Mansion as a canvas to create one thing new. (It makes me want we did have a standalone NBC experience, particularly as the vacation seasons get longer.) In any case, this twofer pushes Haunted Mansion at Disneyland into the lead, even when solely by a bit.
8. “it’s a small world” – Initially created for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Honest, “it’s a small world” is a Walt Disney unique with a storied historical past and collaboration amongst a number of Disney Legends–the Sherman Brothers, Alice Davis, Mary Blair, and Rolly Crump. After being an enormous hit on the World’s Honest, “it’s a small world” was shipped to Disneyland and opened in 1966.
Disneyland diehards know all about its place in Disney historical past and rightfully view their model of “The Happiest Cruise That Ever Sailed” as a masterpiece. Against this, most Walt Disney World friends might take or depart “it’s a small world” at Magic Kingdom. Many wrongly assume it’s antiquated or annoying, and it’s considered as a second or third-tier Fantasyland attraction.
Whereas I truly do assume there are small and delicate methods the precise ride-through at Magic Kingdom is superior, the entire bundle at Disneyland is healthier. This begins with the whimsical facade and outside opening act, that are a extra joyous method to set the stage for the upbeat attraction about world peace and residing in concord. I believe nailing the vibe within the queue is admittedly essential, and units the tone for what’s to come back. And naturally, there’s the vacation model at Disneyland, which is so good that it makes our record of the highest 10 Disney points of interest on the planet.
7. Autopia – We’ve typically “joked” that Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom is a good way to get pleasure from loud noise, car exhaust stench, and incur some gentle mind injury. I suppose that’s all a part of the enjoyable–everybody is aware of cognitive skills are overrated. (This weblog is proof constructive of that!) Additionally a part of the enjoyable is that about the one factor to see is a flat, barren panorama. It was beforehand often called the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, becoming because it felt just like the monotonous and tedious freeway drive by way of the fields of Indiana.
Autopia is considered one of many points of interest that’s higher at Disneyland, because of its extra participating monitor, lush atmosphere and interconnectedness of Tomorrowland. It’s oozing kinetic power because of the monorail and railroad, and simply has a greater vibe. Autopia additionally acquired new life again in 2016, with the addition of ASIMO and Hen–two characters who now seem in present scenes because of the Honda sponsorship. To make sure, I’m not a fan of both model of this attraction and often skip each–but when compelled to experience one, Autopia is the hands-down winner.
6. Disneyland Railroad – Each of those are practice rides that loop their respective fort parks with stops at a number of stations alongside the way in which. As such, most informal friends are going to deal with them as interchangeable transportation rides. And that’s even many of the followers who get pleasure from each.
The plain benefit of Disneyland Railroad is that it has a scene with actual (okay, Audio Animatronics) dinosaurs known as Primeval World. But it surely’s not simply that. Disneyland Railroad has superior surroundings, a extra participating format, and much more ‘useless’ areas of nothingness.
That is in all probability an overly-serious take based mostly on weekly rides aboard the Disneyland Railroad, however it’s so significantly better upon nearer inspection. Even for those who simply need to get off your toes and from level A to B, the Disneyland model is superior because of its stops!
5. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – As a online game fan, the primary time I rode Buzz Lightyear’s House Ranger Spin at Walt Disney World, I used to be actually impressed. It mixed two of my favourite issues–shooter video games and darkish rides in a enjoyable albeit clumsy means. That was over 20 years in the past, earlier than Toy Story Mania burst onto the scene and even subsequent variations of the Buzz blaster.
Time has since handed it by, and Buzz makes our Listing of 10 Points of interest That Have Aged Poorly at Walt Disney World. I like the thought of the experience: an interactive shooter experience that makes use of bodily present scenes to make it participating for friends who need to benefit from the attraction passively or actively. Staging, props, and Audio Animatronics are actually cool. The issue is that the Buzz is principally busted at Magic Kingdom, with unresponsive blasters and too-easy hacks to max out your rating.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters at Disneyland fixes the important thing points. Whereas you will get blasters that don’t work properly (or in any respect), it’s far much less widespread. Ditto non-working targets. Most significantly, the taking pictures is smoother, gameplay is extra responsive and fascinating, and the weapons are handheld providing larger vary of motion. This will not be noticeable to non-gamers, however it’s akin to the distinction between Tremendous Mario Surprise and Disney’s Magical Quest. Each enjoyable video games, however one is clearly superior whereas the opposite is caught prior to now.
4. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – The most recent experience at Disneyland can also be higher than its recently-added counterpart at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for causes we clarify within the aptly-titled Why Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Is Higher at Disneyland.
Though the ride-through portion of the attraction is essentially a clone, there are delicate methods the Disneyland model is finest. This begins with its location in Toontown, the place the experience is housed inside El CapiTOON Theater–a riff on an opulent outdated Hollywood cinema, proper all the way down to the Artwork Deco design beneath all the toonified artifice. It additionally helps that Disneyland opted to make Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway an growth–and in what was beforehand its weakest land. Against this, Disney’s Hollywood Studios changed an iconic attraction and thesis of the park in Nice Film Journey.
However what’s finished is completed, in order that half arguably doesn’t matter when evaluating the rides as they exist at the moment. One large means that El CapiTOON Theater bests its Walt Disney World counterpart is the queue. Because of the cartoon model in Toontown, Imagineering had much more latitude with the queue at Disneyland, and it actually exhibits.
The top result’s one thing far superior, with the small print added to El CapiTOON Theater are enjoyable and fascinating. The poster artwork firstly is admittedly intelligent, and makes El CapiTOON really feel like an actual theater. From there, it continues with an exhibit showcasing the evolution of Mickey Mouse. The queue for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland is likely one of the finest on the planet, and it’s principally a walk-through attraction.
3. Peter Pan’s Flight – This record is a bit misleading by limiting itself to cloned points of interest, because it overlooks something that not exists in each places. As a complete, Fantasyland at Disneyland completely trounces Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. It’s not even a remotely shut name, even with the comparatively current (properly, a decade in the past) addition of Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare.
Fantasyland at Disneyland is house to Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White’s Enchanted Want, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, and extra. Not solely do none of these exist at Walt Disney World, however the Disneyland variations of many have acquired enhancements through the years to modernize and hold them contemporary.
This consists of Peter Pan’s Flight, which is now higher at Disneyland in consequence. The added results, upkeep, and barely superior format all make Peter Pan’s Flight at Disneyland a markedly improved expertise than at Magic Kingdom. On paper, the variations appear comparatively minor, and it’s in all probability true that first-timers would miss most of them.
As somebody who rides each variations of Peter Pan’s Flight so much (in all probability an excessive amount of!) for technique discipline testing, the distinction to the eager eye is evening and day. Peter Pan’s Flight is such a superior expertise at Disneyland, and deserving of its prime 3 spot on this record. (Doubly in order a ‘consultant’ for the definitive Fantasyland.)
2. Indiana Jones Journey – There’s no Indiana Jones experience at Walt Disney World…for now. Arguably, this shouldn’t be on the record in any respect in consequence, as evaluating experience programs is like opening Pandora’s field and invitations them between Radiator Springs Racers and Take a look at Monitor, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout and Tower of Terror, and just about each Omnimover darkish experience. However I’d argue that the overlap between Indiana Jones Journey and DINOSAUR at Animal Kingdom are rather more pronounced. Not solely that, however Walt Disney World followers are at the moment mired in a debate about changing DINOSAUR with Indiana Jones Journey, so this feels well timed and apropos.
Those that have finished each have in all probability famous some similarities between DINOSAUR and Indiana Jones Journey. This will likely come as a shock to followers who’ve finished each–and assume they’re very totally different on account of the on-ride expertise–however the underlying experience is principally a clone. The monitor format is sort of equivalent, experience automobiles and system are all the identical. That’s the place the similarities start and finish.
Indiana Jones Journey is to date superior to its prehistoric counterpart that it’s utterly comprehensible that friends don’t understand they’re (principally) the identical underlying experience. Whereas DINOSAUR leans closely on darkness, extra darkness, empty present scenes and non-working results, Indiana Jones Journey is jam-packed with brilliantly-staged present scenes and an inside that’s much more participating and satisfying. There are a variety of results, and the way in which these interaction with the monitor and all the things coalesces is simply unimaginable. It’s a definitive demonstration of why experience programs aren’t all the things–or actually, something–and it’s all about how they’re utilized.
Indiana Jones Journey is a masterclass in themed design, worldbuilding, and storytelling in thrill rides. It’s additionally Exhibit A in how Walt Disney World did dinosaurs soiled with that land at Animal Kingdom. Dinosaurs are, by each measure, the good creatures to ever have roamed the earth. They might eat Harrison Ford in 99 battles out of 100. (He’d get fortunate and crash his airplane into them 1 time.) Because the newer attraction based mostly on these lovely beasts, DINOSAUR needs to be mild years higher than Indiana Jones Journey. And but, it’s not even remotely shut.
Previous to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Indiana Jones Journey was probably the most groundbreaking addition to Disneyland ever. Indiana Jones Journey was a generation-defining attraction and paved the way in which not only for future rides, however influenced whole lands. Even three many years later, it’s nonetheless a revolutionary experience that feels contemporary. All the pieces about Indiana Jones Journey is superb. The queue setting the tone, the humorous pre-show, and the daring journey aboard a transport car deep into the Temple of the Forbidden Eye in quest of unimaginable rewards.
As Sallah would (and does) say, “it’s in contrast to something you will have ever skilled, I guarantee you!” Walt Disney World followers are in for a deal with, particularly if (as rumored) the Animal Kingdom model of Indiana Jones Journey finally ends up being the definitive one, surpassing even Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea!
1. Pirates of the Caribbean – This simply nabs the #1 spot, and the explanations are so apparent as to anybody who has ridden each that not a lot clarification is even warranted. In case you’ve solely finished the Magic Kingdom model of this boat experience, you haven’t actually skilled Pirates of the Caribbean. This considerably longer model incorporates a body narrative (assume Coronary heart of Darkness) that establishes a foreboding ambiance and presents what’s to come back as a cautionary story. What follows is a sequence of vignettes that includes Audio Animatronics pirates participating in swashbuckling mayhem in large and spectacular units of a burning city.
Pirates of the Caribbean deftly balances lighthearted humor alongside the dastardly deeds of pirates in what needs to be a jarring juxtaposition, however it simply works. Pirates of the Caribbean is a quintessential slice of mid-century Americana, and with {that a} generally cavalier angle that has landed the attraction in sizzling water (so to talk) with fashionable audiences. However, it continues to resonate, immersing friends in a pirate assault whereas additionally delivering character and emotion.
The one factor I’ll say for the Walt Disney World model of the attraction is that each its exterior, queue, and miniland (Caribbean Plaza) are superior. We argued above that “it’s a small world” at Disneyland is healthier because of all of these items, regardless of the experience itself arguably being higher at Magic Kingdom. Effectively, the distinction right here is that there’s no argument in regards to the ride-through portion of Pirates of the Caribbean–it’s such an enormous enchancment at Disneyland that it renders all different arguments moot.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Suggestions for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Resort Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and lots of different SoCal cities!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Which Disneyland points of interest do you assume are higher than their Walt Disney World counterparts? Any rides that this record snubbed which might be superior within the California parks? Something on this record that you simply assume is definitely worse at Disneyland? Do you agree or disagree with our picks? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
