Disneyland and Disney World are both wonderful, magical places that are ideal for family vacations. Our family has had the good luck of visiting both on multiple occasions, and honestly, even after several visits it’s hard for us to choose a favorite, and it would be impossible for me to tell you which would work best for your family.
Instead, I’m going to use this article to discuss Disneyland vs Disney World so you can make the right choice for you.
Disneyland Overview
We’ll start or Disneyland vs Disney World comparison by talking about Disneyland. Located in Anaheim, California, Disneyland is the older of the two properties, having opened in 1955. Walt Disney himself had a hand in every aspect of the creation of Disneyland park, making it extra special to many avid Disney fans.
Disneyland is home to two main parks, a shopping district, and three hotels, meaning there is plenty to do. Additionally, the climate in southern California is beautiful year-round, making it ideal for RVers no matter what time you visit.
Disneyland Park
Disneyland park is smaller than the similar-but-different Magic Kingdom in Disney World. This means the park is easier to walk, but it also feels much more crowded. Despite this smaller size, Disneyland has a whopping 54 attractions, more than any other Disney park!
California Adventure
In addition to the original Disneyland park, the California property also boasts Disney’s California Adventure. This awesome park is right across a courtyard from Disneyland, meaning you can easily walk from one to another. It boasts around 34 attractions, which is close to the number of attractions found in Magic Kingdom park, and more than any of the other three Disney World parks.
Downtown Disney
Besides the theme parks, Disneyland Resort is also home to Downtown Disney, a fun shopping district that is 100% free to enter. Downtown Disney boasts a number of shops and eateries, and it’s a lot of fun if you need to kill some time without buying an expensive park ticket.
Disneyland Attractions Not Found in Disney World
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Cars Land — Radiator Springs Racer, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters, Cars character appearances
- Avengers Campus — Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout!, Guardians of the Galaxy — Awesome Dance Off!, Heroic Encounters, Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, Adventure Headquarters
- The Bakery Tour — Hosted by Boudin Bakery
- Walt Disney’s Apartment — Above the Town Square Fire Station
- Pixar Pal-a-Round
- World of Color
- Haunted Mansion Holiday
- Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
- Alice in Wonderland
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- Pinnochio’s Daring Journey
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Casey Junior Circus Train
- GadgetCoaster
- Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin
- Sailing Ship Columbia
- Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Golden Zephyr
- Incredicoaster
- Emotional Whirlwind
- Jumpin’ Jellyfish
- Monsters Inc: Mike and Sully to the Rescue
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
- Silly Symphony Swings
- Goofy’s Flight School
- Grizzly Rapids?
- Tarzan’s Treehouse — Similar to Swiss Family Treehouse in Magic Kingdom
- Autopia
Disneyland Camping Options
There are a few RV campgrounds near Disneyland. Because parking at the parks is so expensive, we highly recommend choosing a park that offers free shuttle service to Disneyland or is within walking distance of the parks.
Anaheim Harbor RV Park
Our top pick is Anaheim Harbor RV Park. This campground is located less than two miles from Disneyland and offers a shuttle to and from the amusement parks. It’s also totally possible to walk between the two places (it takes about 20–25 minutes), and you can see the Disneyland fireworks from the RV park.
Amenities in the campground include a pool, full-hookup sites, and clean restrooms with showers. The sites are rather close together, but the proximity to Disneyland more than makes up for that.
Orangeland RV Park
Orangeland RV Park is another good pick. It is less than 5 miles from Disneyland, but unfortunately does not offer shuttle service.
That said, the RV park itself is lovely and features amenities like a pool, a hot tub, a gym, sports courts, mini golf, and a dog park. Best of all, the staff really couldn’t be friendlier!
If you don’t mind driving to Disneyland, you might prefer this park for the welcoming vibe and fun onsite activities.
Disney World Overview
So what about Disney World? How does it fare when comparing Disneyland vs Disney World? Well, this one didn’t open until 1971, meaning Walt Disney sadly did not get to see opening day. That said, I feel like this property still holds a lot of nostalgia and is just as special as Disneyland, if in a different way.
Disney World is home to four main theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. It also boasts several hotels, the Disney Springs shopping district, two mini golf courses, and two water parks.
Note that the climate in Orlando is hot and humid in the summer, but mild and pleasant in the winter, making this a popular option for snowbirds who find themselves in Florida during the winter months.
Magic Kingdom
Of the four main parks, Magic Kingdom opened first and is the most like Disneyland park. That said, as mentioned before, the Florida iteration is quite a bit larger than the California version, making it feel more open and less crowded (although there are certainly days where the crowds still fill the place up).
Despite this additional open space, the park hosts only around 35 attractions versus Disneyland’s 54, meaning there is a bit less to do, but still plenty to fill your time.
Epcot
Epcot was the second park to open. It is different from anything found in California and plays host to not only the giant golf ball-esque Spaceship Earth, but also the World Showcase, a series of impressive pavilions representing various countries. Other parts of the park include World Discovery, World Nature, and World Celebration, each one focused on educational entertainment.
Our favorite attraction in all of Disney World is located in this park. Make sure to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is next on the list. Once again, this park is different from either California park, but it does boast some of the same attractions as both Disneyland parks. This park started as a Hollywood/movie studio theme, but has since changed dramatically and now includes a Toy Story land, a Star Wars section, and a super fun Mickey & Friends ride.
Animal Kingdom
Finally, there is Animal Kingdom. Unlike any theme park I’ve ever seen anywhere, this one has an animal theme and is actually a super extravagant zoo at its heart.
The park features a variety of attractions, including a safari ride through real animal habitats, a super well done Broadway-style Finding Nemo show, an exciting Lion King-themed variety show, and a whole land dedicated to James Cameron’s Avatar films (make sure to ride Flight of Passage).
Water Parks
The water parks in Disney World offer a wide variety of water-based attractions that are, of course, 100% unique to the Florida property. If you’ve already experienced Disneyland in the past and want to fill an extra day during your Florida trip with something completely new, a water park is a good pick.
Disney Springs
Very similar to California’s Downtown Disney, Disney Springs is worth a visit if you have some extra time in the area and you’ve already seen all of the parks. There are some unique shopping opportunities here, as well as some yummy food choices that you won’t necessarily find elsewhere.
Disney World Attractions Not Found in Disneyland
- The Barnstormer
- Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Enchanted Tales With Belle
- The Hall of Presidents
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
- For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
- Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
- Slinky Dog Dash
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror — Similar to Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout!
- Walt Disney Presents
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- The American Adventure
- Awesome Planet
- Canada Far and Wide
- Club Cool
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Frozen Ever After
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
- Impressions de France
- Journey into the Imagination With Figment
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
- Living With the Land
- Luminous: The Symphony of Us
- Mission: SPACE
- Reflections of China
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends
- Spaceship Earth
- Test Track
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- Rafiki’s Planet Watch
- The Boneyard Playground
- Dinosaur
- Expedition Everest
- Feathered Friends in Flight
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond!
- It’s Tough to be a Bug
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Na’vi River Journey
- Tree of Life Awakenings
- Triceratop Spin
- Tron Lightcycle Run
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Roadschooling in Disney World
Disney World Camping Options
There are a huge number of RV camping options near Disney World. Again, because parking is expensive, you might be best served staying somewhere with a park shuttle or nearby bus service. That said, you might find that it costs less to pay for parking than to stay at a park with a shuttle, so be sure to weigh your options.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
The obvious choice for anyone who can budget for it, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is easily one of the best RV parks in the country. This campground is the only one located on Disney property and is actually run by Disney itself, meaning campers here have access to bus and ferry service to the parks.
Amenities in Fort Wilderness include a nightly campfire with characters, swimming pools, a hot tub, a water slide, themed dining, and much more.
Sherwood Forest RV Resort
A slightly less expensive option, Sherwood Forest RV Resort is a good pick if you want to be able to take the city bus to the parks. It isn’t fancy by any stretch, but it is adequate. Amenities include a pool, a hot tub, and a playground. Sites are on grass, but offer full hookups.
Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake
Bill Frederick Park is about half an hour from the theme parks, but if you’re looking to save money, it is an excellent pick. The campground is tucked away in a surprisingly tranquil little nook and boasts partial- and full-hookup sites, as well as a laundry room and bathhouse.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when comparing Disneyland vs Disney World. We tend to end up at Disney World more, but we truly do love both and would recommend choosing whichever makes the most sense for you and putting the other on your bucket list for another time!
Source: Disneyland vs Disney World: Choosing the Most Magical RV Destination
