6 Things a Disney World Fan Needs to Know Before Visiting Disneyland

Some of us know Disney World like the back of our hand.

We know the best times to hit up certain rides, the must-have snacks to try, the best place to watch the parade, and much more! But when it comes to Disneyland however….for many Disney World fans, that’s a whole different story. So, if you were like me, and knew a ton about Disney World and nothing about Disneyland, then the All Ears team is here to help you out with what you need to know if you’re heading to the West Coast.

Downtown Disney is not like Disney Springs

Although seen as similar to Disney Springs in Disney World, Downtown Disney is actually more comparable to Universal’s City Walk. While still a shopping, dining, and entertainment district, it’s smaller than the larger and more expansive Disney Springs. Even though Disney Springs is larger, offering more variety, Downtown Disney allows you to access the parks and hotels without having to take a bus or a car as they’re just steps away!

Park hoppers are worth it because everything is so close!

Though we typically don’t recommend the Park Hopper ticket option for Disney World, our opinion is very different when it comes to Disneyland. Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure aren’t as big as the parks in Florida, so you can knock out a lot more rides since everything is so close together. You can definitely get a good use out of the park hopper option if you’re headed to the Disneyland Resort.

It’s actually way more chill than Disney World

Kind of an add-on to our last point, but the size difference makes Disneyland feel more relaxed as opposed to the ‘go go go‘ mentality one tends to have at Disney World. It’s a nice change of pace and makes it feel like an actual vacation.

Rides can be different

Disneyland has similar rides to Disney World, of course (a lot of the rides originally debuted at Disneyland after all) but don’t let that fool you. Many of those similar attractions actually have key differences. For example, it’s a small world has a much grander facade in comparison to Disney World, with outdoor boarding and a clock that plays music every 15 minutes. There are also Disney character dolls featured in some of the countries! And for Pirates of The Caribbean, the Disneyland version is longer, with extra scenes like a Blue Bayou lagoon and caverns before entering the pirate-infested waters.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is so much more worth it

This is a great new perk to add to the list thanks to the recent addition of Disney’s new skip-the-line pass. Not only can you check off more rides since Park Hopper is more doable in Disneyland, but Multi Pass also includes PhotoPass downloads so it’s definitely more worth it! Shorter lines and free ride pics? Count us in!

Check out any special events

Just like Disney World, there are a ton of Special Events that take place at Disneyland but there’s actually even more! Aside from holiday parties, like the popular Oogie Boogie Bash, there are also a ton of themed nights like Star Wars Nights and Disney Channel Night, too!

Believe it or not, these are just a few things you should know about Disneyland Resort, so make sure to stay tuned as we bring you all the latest must-know info!

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Do you prefer Disney World or Disneyland? We’d love to know your thoughts in the comments!