Are wondering about the differences between Disneyland and Magic Kingdom?
Disneyland is such an amazing park. We think any Disney-lover should plan a visit.
If you are debating about visiting Disneyland because you’ve already been to Walt Disney World, debate no more! Plan that trip because there are many differences between Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. Even some significant differences that many people would never think about.
We loved visiting Disneyland even though we’d been to Walt Disney World several times. The park might be smaller than Magic Kingdom, but it is packed with fun!
We share some of the biggest differences between Disneyland and its sister park, Magic Kingdom, below. Let’s dive in!
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To Clear Up Any Confusion: Disneyland is Not Walt Disney World
Disneyland and Disney World tend to be used interchangeably, but they are not the same place!
Disneyland is in California. Walt Disney World (home to The Magic Kingdom) is in Florida.
Disneyland Compared to Magic Kingdom: 10 Major Differences
1. Smaller Park = Less Walking
One of the biggest differences we noticed when visiting Disneyland Park compared to Magic Kingdom was the size of the park.
Disneyland is about 20% smaller than Magic Kingdom. If you have visited Magic Kingdom before, you will notice the difference right away. But not in a bad way!
We loved how easy it and fast it was to get from one side of the park to the other. Even walking from the back of the park to the front took less time than we thought it would.
And the best part of a smaller park? Our legs and feet were not as sore as they were when visiting Magic Kingdom! We did not need as many rest breaks, and the walk back to the bus didn’t entail having to provide piggyback rides to the kids. It’s the little things.
2. More Rides and Attractions
I promise this is true!
Even though Disneyland is smaller than Magic Kingdom, it does not lack in rides and attractions. Disneyland actually has MORE rides and attractions than its sister park.
According to their website, Disneyland has 56 attractions, 33 of which are rides (if you sit on it and it moves, I count it as a ride). In contrast, Magic Kingdom has only 42 attractions, of which 20 are rides.
So what does that mean? Not only are you walking more in Magic Kingdom vs Disneyland, but you are also walking further in between each attraction.
Just another reason why you should visit Disneyland!
3. Opening Day Attractions
Where are all my nostalgia peeps? Are you a sucker for history like me? I LOVE the fact that Disneyland has nine opening-day rides still in operation to this day! Ten if you count the Disneyland Railroad.
In addition to the original nine, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Casey Jr. Circus Train, which both started operating the same year the park opened, are still in the park today!
I love that the rides Walt Disney personally selected to be in his park are still there. It gives you a connection to the man himself.
4. The “Same” Rides Are Actually Different
So you’ve been to Magic Kingdom. You’ve ridden Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain.
You don’t need to visit Disneyland. The rides are the same, right? Wrong!
I honestly thought that before our visit. I figured we’d focus on the rides that Magic Kingdom didn’t have, like the Matterhorn and Indiana Jones. Well, I am glad we still went on those “same” rides because they are actually different!
One of the most prominent differences between the “same” rides is experienced on Pirates of the Caribbean. Not only is it longer (the beginning portion of the ride doesn’t exist in the Magic Kingdom version), but it also has two drops compared to the one in Florida.
The other duplicate rides have noticeable differences as well. Maybe it’s the ride vehicle or the overall experience.
This is where I can note that if you are used to Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom, it is NOT the same in Disneyland. You WILL get soaked in Disneyland. Top to bottom. No joke. Plan on wearing a poncho. (Sadly, both Splash Mountains are closed right now. But we’re excited for the new Tiana experience!)
5. Disneyland Still Has Mickey’s Toontown
Update: Mickey’s Toontown was “reimagined” in 2022. Many of the original attractions, like Mickey and Minnie’s House, are still there! However, some new attractions, like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, were added.
When I was little, Mickey’s Toontown was one of my favorite places in Magic Kingdom. I loved the idea of visiting Mickey and Minnie’s house! It is still one of my favorite memories as a child.
When we decided to take the kids to Walt Disney World, I was so excited to show them Toontown. Except, it had closed four years earlier, in 2011!
I understand why, as Magic Kingdom needed the space to add New Fantasyland, but I was still sad the kids wouldn’t get to see where Mickey and Minnie lived.
When we decided to visit Disneyland, Mickey’s Toontown was a “must-do” for us! We loved the area, especially the ability to meet characters.
And in addition to the houses, the kids enjoyed the various play areas and rides in town. Even adults visiting Disneyland would love this area!
6. The Crowd Levels and Atmosphere
Our trip to Disneyland was to celebrate our son’s 10th birthday, which coincides with the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. I figured it would be busy as it was a holiday weekend.
But I had NO idea that the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance would be opening that weekend as well. So, needless to say, I was extremely nervous the park would be crazy crowded.
The park was busy, as it was predicted to be. But it never felt Magic Kingdom-busy.
We had visited Walt Disney World over the same weekend two years in a row, and both times, it felt busier than our weekend at Disneyland.
Some rides had long wait times, but for the most part, we never waited more than 30 minutes for a ride. It wasn’t difficult to find seating at quick-service restaurants. And the “crowds” for the evening fireworks didn’t feel crowded at all!
The other difference in the crowds was the overall atmosphere. Disneyland felt a little more “low-key” compared to Magic Kingdom.
I think because it is a “locals” park and not a “once-in-a-lifetime-family-vacation-that-I-spent-thousands-of-dollars-on” park, guests were not stressed out, and kids weren’t crying from being over-tired.
Other friends who have been to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World have noted the same.
7. The Nighttime Shows
Let me start out by saying Wishes is still my favorite castle fireworks show. As much as I enjoy Happily Ever After, it doesn’t have the same emotional effect on me that Wishes did. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good show. But it’s not the same.
Why am I talking about an old Magic Kingdom castle show? It’s because I didn’t know what to expect for the Disneyland castle show. I assumed it would be similar to Happily Ever After, with tons of emotion and nostalgia. Guess what? It’s not!
Mickey’s Mix Magic is a fun dance party on Main Street, USA. There are projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle, as well as the buildings along Main Street. You don’t have to stand in a specific location for the “best view”.
And the music is so much fun! We loved the remixed versions of the Disney classics. There are fireworks with the show, but they do not go off every night, so they don’t make or break the show. However, the mix of lasers, “snow”, projections, and music makes for a great party!
8. The Availability of Characters
Another big difference between Magic Kingdom and Disneyland is the availability of characters, and unique ones at that, in Disneyland. I always feel like meeting characters in Magic Kingdom is a bit of a process.
Many of them you need to utilize Genie+ to meet, or else you will be waiting a LONG time to meet them. Others, you have to queue up in line before the character is even out, or else, again, you’ll be waiting in a LONG line (or you may not even get to enter the line)!
I felt like meeting characters in Disneyland was a lot easier. They were often out and about, with short lines to meet them. For the majority of our character meets, we waited less than five minutes. It reminded me a lot of Walt Disney World when I was younger.
There were many unique characters throughout the park as well! It was fun to see Dr. Facilier and the Fairy Godmother walking around.
And because Disneyland was NOT built on a second story like Magic Kingdom, characters have to walk through the park to take a break. Even if we didn’t get a photo with them, my kids were happy to wave and say “hi” to many of their favorites, including Jasmine and Peter Pan.
9. Better Quick-Service Options
From Cosmic Rays to Columbia Harbor House to Be Our Guest, and beyond, we’ve eaten our fair share of quick-service meals in Magic Kingdom.
And, aside from Be Our Guest, most of the meals were pretty much your standard theme park fare. Pizza, chicken fingers, hamburgers, etc.
The other Walt Disney World parks offer much more as far as quick service, but the Magic Kingdom always seems to be lacking.
I was expecting the same from Disneyland. However, I was proven wrong!
Disneyland’s quick service reminds me more of what you’d find in Epcot or Animal Kingdom: unique choices that were deliciously made and different at each restaurant.
We really enjoyed the various skewers at Bengal Barbecue and the French-style foods at Red Rose Tavern. Not to mention, the creative options at Docking Bay 7 in Galaxy’s Edge!
Disneyland definitely has the upper hand when it comes to quick-service food compared to Magic Kingdom.
10. Disneyland is Walt’s Park
Let me get a little sentimental here. As someone who grew up on Disney and has always loved the movies and characters that the brand has created, there is something really special about walking through the park that Walt himself designed, built, and walked around in. It’s one of the reasons Disneyland is considered a bucket list thing to do in the US! No other Disney park on Earth can make that claim!
Another Difference Between Disneyland and Magic Kingdom
Photopass Photographers
Whenever we visit Walt Disney World, we always purchase Memory Maker. In part because we love ride photos but also because there are so many photo opportunities in the parks with Photopass photographers.
When visiting Disneyland, we noticed there are not as many Photopass photographers as there are in Magic Kingdom. Even in places that you think there would be like all of the character meet and greets! Cast members would gladly take pictures of our family using our phones, but that was all that was available.
Where You Should Stay Near Disneyland
One of the biggest differences between Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort is the availability of hotels. Walt Disney World Resort has over 25 Disney-owned resorts on property, while Disneyland Resort only has three. Disneyland Resort has more private hotels (many within walking distance) near the parks.
Disney-Owned Hotels
If you want to maintain the Disney magic throughout your visit, you can stay at one of the three Disney-owned hotels on the property.
The Grand Californian would be considered a “deluxe” hotel if it were on Walt Disney World property, as would the original Disneyland Hotel. Paradise Pier is more in line with the “moderate” style hotels of Walt Disney World.
All three hotels have the signature Disney-themed pools. They also offer benefits to their guests, like merchandise delivery and charging purchases to your room. Lastly, guests who stay at a Disney-owned hotel have early access to the parks on select days.
Off-Site Hotels
The beauty of visiting Disneyland is its location and, thus, hotel options. Even though you are not in the “Disney Bubble”, the proximity to many hotels allows families to stay close to the parks, and stay in budget.
There are several large hotel chains located less than a 10-15 minute walk from the entrance to Disneyland.
We have stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton (read my review here) and wouldn’t hesitate to stay again.
And this is coming from a family who LOVES staying on-site at Walt Disney World.
We Loved Disneyland!
We loved Disneyland. Maybe even more than Magic Kingdom! I’ve been telling everyone if we lived in the area, I would have an annual pass.
And if we lived equidistant between to the two parks, I’d probably visit Disneyland more than Walt Disney World.
That being said, no matter where you live, if you love Disney, then you should plan to visit Disneyland at least once in your life. You won’t regret it!
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