In the first part of “Better than Disneyland,”
I ranted about monorails and animatronic elephants, and listed five reasons
why Walt Disney World has an advantage over Disneyland. Now it’s time
to finish my list and determine who comes out on top.
Advantage: Walt Disney World
6. Epcot World Showcase
Nothing at the Disneyland resort is like Epcot World Showcase. Eleven countries are represented and arranged around a huge lagoon. To be honest, younger children and some adults might find the attractions at World Showcase a bit dry. Mostly, it’s shopping and eating around the world with films and live shows thrown in for good measure. No roller coasters, unless one counts the small water drop in Norway’s Maelstrom attraction. So, what’s so great? For starters, the fantastic details in the buildings and landscaping of each country.
The simple but impressive Stave Church of Norway. Photo by Brian Bennett.
The Pagoda of Japan and the small rustic wooden church of Norway are just two of my favorite buildings. The student program, bringing in young people from each country to work for a year in their respective “countries” is the extra added touch that makes the World Showcase so intriguing. The cast members are as knowledgeable about their home country as they are about where the nearest bathroom is.
7. Mission Space
This attraction, opened at the end of 2003, is an impressive addition to Epcot and enough to make any Disneyland native green with envy. The show building was constructed specifically for Mission: Space and practically begs to be photographed. Everything from the queue, with its NASA artifacts and previews into the simulators, to the interactive materials in the post-show, is classic Disney showmanship.
Mission Space at night. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
The attraction itself is a cutting-edge simulator. It makes Star Tours look as technologically advanced as Peter Pan.
The difficult thing for a Disneyland native to swallow is how much more Disneyland needed this attraction than Walt Disney World. Tomorrowland would get such a boost from an attraction of this caliber, and it would fit in perfectly theming wise.
8. Cinderella’s Castle
Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland is the original, no mistake about it. The quaint little castle is charming. But in the subsequent parks, the company has built since then have expanded on the idea of the castles and made them each more spectacular than the other. Cinderella’s Castle is very impressive; it’s built on a far grander scale than Sleeping Beauty’s.
The intricate mosaics on Cinderella’s castle deserve a closer look. Photo by Lisa Perkis.
Most spectacular are the mosaics that line the walls depicting Cinderella’s
tale. So far, I’ve seen three of the four castles (someday I’ll get to
Tokyo), and I would rate Florida’s castle behind Paris’ Sleeping Beauty’s
Castle, but far ahead of Disneyland’s.
9. Tomorrowland
Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, The Timekeeper, Carousel of Progress,
Tomorrowland Transit Authority (PeopleMover to you and me); just the names
of some of these attractions put a bit of angst into the hearts of Disneyland
natives.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority, otherwise known as the People Mover. Photo by Brian Bennett
Granted, Walt Disney World’s Tomorrowland could use a bit of updating, but it’s still a bustling, active land compared to the ghost town that is Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. It was a true pleasure to ride the PeopleMover and see the Carousel of Progress just for the nostalgia factor. Once Disneyland’s Tomorrowland is “fixed” with a fully revamped Space Mountain, a Buzz ride of its own, and something in place of the giant marble ball fountain and cement patio, perhaps Disneyland diehards will lose a little of their bitterness. And that’s just for starters. There must be a little unused area for Mission Space, right?
10. Food choices
Due to its sheer size, Walt Disney World far outstrips Disneyland in wonderful dining choices. There are more than 100 restaurants to choose from, most located at the hotels sprinkled throughout the resort. The food in most of the theme parks are pretty similar: hot dogs, hamburgers, the ever present Mickey shaped chicken nuggets, and pizza. However, in Epcot all bets are off. World Showcase is a food sampler’s dream. Even the counter service such as Yakitori House in Japan or Boulangerie Patisserie beats the pants off a meal at the French Market or Hungry Bear. It’s all about the food at Epcot. As for hotel dining, Storytellers is nice, and a meal at Hook’s Point can be a treat, but the variety at the various hotels will keep repeat guests to Walt Disney World busy for years.
Zebra domes, anyone? Photo by Brian Bennett.
A buffet located at Animal Kingdom Lodge that was repeatedly recommended to us, Boma did not disappoint. Same with the amazing food at the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort. Even Spoodles at the Boardwalk was interesting and fun, with flatbread to die for. And we only scratched the surface during our visit. I’m already dreaming of the banana bread pudding at Boma for the next trip out.
The Contemporary Hotel might be a bit dated, but the California Grill on the top floor is cutting edge. Photo by Brian Bennett
So, am I ready to pack my bags and relocate to Florida? Not so fast. Disneyland still keeps the advantage in some key areas.
Advantage: Disneyland
1. New Orleans Square
Yes, Walt Disney World has Liberty Square, and it’s nifty and all, but
New Orleans Square has the fantastic atmosphere plus evergreen attractions
that sets it above any land in any park. Where else can you sip mint juleps
and eat fritters from the Mint Julep bar and listen to Bayou Brass?
It’s just like New Orleans without the disorderly conduct. Photo by Lisa Perkis.
If you dance energetically enough, you can collect a mess of Mardi Gras beads,
then slip into the dank refreshment of Pirates of the Caribbean. Splurge
a bit and reserve a table at the Fantasmic Dessert buffet on the balcony
of the Disney Gallery located directly above Pirates of the Caribbean
and across from the Rivers of America, where the show takes place.
2. The cost of Annual Passes
A guest can become an annual passholder for as little as $179 and have 320 days to come and go freely at both parks ($99 for the Southern California residents who purchase a SoCal Select pass good for 170 days). If you feel you cannot live without knowing that you have access to the parks every single day of the year, spend $279 for the Premium pass, and the magic will be yours at a fairly reasonable price.
On the other hand, Walt Disney World’s annual passes are a serious chunk of money starting at $399 ($299 for Florida residents) for a year’s worth of admission to the theme parks, and a cool $499 for unlimited admission to the parks, water parks, and Pleasure Island. Granted, there is a lot more to see at the Florida resort, but for a family of four, the magic starts getting a bit inaccessible at those prices. The options at Disneyland are much more flexible and attainable, and the hordes of Disneyland “APers” certainly agree.
3. The weather
Forgive me a bit of whining on this point, but Southern California weather is much more desirable than the humid sweatbox that is Florida. Disneyland does get a bit toasty in the summer, but it’s not the oppressive, jungle-like conditions one endures at Walt Disney World. Sure, the winter months at Walt Disney World may be all right, but Disneyland can boast near-perfect weather year-round, barring the odd rain shower or chilly evening.
A warm, but not too warm day at Dot’s Puddle Park in Disney’s California
Adventure. Photo by Lisa Perkis.
Seriously though, if I’m going to be trekking around the parks all day, I would always choose Disneyland’s weather. It’s guaranteed to be better.
4. The Matterhorn and holiday makeovers
As children, the sight of the Matterhorn from the freeway was the sign we looked for to tell us that we had truly arrived. Grown-up types still do it. So naturally, one of the first things a Disneyland native will do when arriving at the Magic Kingdom is glance around for the familiar landmark of the giant snow-covered mountain.
And keep looking.
And never find it.
Perhaps Expedition Everest coming to Animal Kingdom will help fill that mountain void, but the nostalgic factor of the beloved Matterhorn belongs to Disneyland alone.
A quick word on the holiday makeovers. Haunted Mansion Holiday and Small World Holiday are simply breathtaking, and set those attractions far apart from their Walt Disney World counterparts. The Haunted Mansion makeover to include the Nightmare Before Christmas has given new life to the attraction that was pretty darn special to begin with. And oh, the merchandising possibilities… everyone wins. Perhaps Walt Disney World will have its own holiday makeovers someday, but Disneyland has the originals.
5. Speaking of originals
Disneyland was Walt’s original dream from start to finish. There are bigger parks, newer parks, more updated parks, but none will have the honor of being the original. That fact alone is a source of great pride for Disneyland natives.
Walt’s apartment is right above the Main Street Firehouse. A light is always burning in the window, in tribute to Walt’s enduring presence. Photo by Lisa Perkis.
It’s great fun to visit Walt Disney World and experience all the amazing attractions, but it’s even better to come back to Disneyland and look up at the light still shining in Walt’s apartment on Main Street and realize there’s no place like home.
