We are constantly visiting both Disney World and Disneyland and one thing is for certain — both resorts are VASTLY different!
Disneyland
Disney World and Disneyland have a ton of differences. Featuring different accommodations, attractions, dining options, and entertainment, visiting each resort will result in wildly different experiences. In fact, if you’re a Disney World pro planning a trip to Disneyland, there’s one major rule you can almost always ignore!
The most notable difference between the two resorts is the size. In fact, Disneyland can fit inside Magic Kingdom’s parking lot! So when you’re planning a trip to Disneyland, it’s safe to say you can throw out the Disney World rule about giving yourself time for transportation — except for one special circumstance. Let us explain…
Disneyland Monorail
First things first — at Disney World, you have to account for the time that it takes to wait for transportation and the distance it takes to get between the parks and the hotels. Sometimes this can take over 30 minutes. You also have a plethora of transportation options to choose from, such as buses, the Disney Skyliner, water taxis, and the monorail.
Skyliner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Meanwhile, getting around the Disneyland Resort is much simpler. You can take buses and the Disneyland Monorail, but the latter is more for show, as it simply drops off near the Disneyland Hotel in Downtown Disney and Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park.
If you’re staying at the hotels on property at the Disneyland Resort or going between the two parks, folks who don’t need assistance traveling will usually get to their destination in a matter of minutes — transportation is hardly required.
The Disneyland esplanade — from here, you are feet away from everything Disneyland has to offer!
The Disneyland Esplanade is a super convenient courtyard that connects Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney. From here, everything is just a few steps away. Downtown Disney’s shops and restaurants are directly connected, you can access the hotels by going through Downtown Disney, and you can quite literally see Disneyland and Disney California Adventure’s gates from each park — no lines or public transportation required.
Esplanade
Of course, Disneyland’s compactness can be most taken advantage of by guests staying on-property, but if you’re staying nearby you probably should factor in some travel time. Parking lines are usually manageable but can be tricky in the morning and after work hours when the locals show up, and driving around the Los Angeles metropolitan area during rush hour or in the mornings can be nasty. Southern California has a bad traffic reputation, and, unfortunately, it often lives up to the reputation.
Traffic could eventually get worse when construction begins for DisneylandForward, a major theme park expansion project aiming to bring new dining, attractions, and more to the area.
A line of cars entering the Mickey & Friends parking structure
Fortunately, many Good Neighbor hotels offer shuttle service to and from the Parks, and we recommend visiting the Disneyland website to learn more about which hotels might better accommodate your stay.
All in all, when compared to Disneyland, transportation should be a non-factor for the most part when you traverse the Disneyland Resort. Often felt as a more laid-back experience altogether than Disney World, you’d be forgiven if you decide to relax a little more and take your time soaking everything in. No Skyliner shutdowns to worry about here!
Disneyland Monorail
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What is your preferred way to get around Disneyland? Let us know in the comments!