In a recent post, I talked about some differences between Walt Disney World and Disneyland in terms of everything but the attractions. So today I figured I'd actually take a look at those attractions and try to determine how they measure up against each other.
A few "rules" before I get into the heart of it. If the attractions are exactly the same on both coasts, there's no point in talking about them here (think Rise of the Resistance as an example). Similarly, if there is an attraction in one park that doesn't exist at the other resort, there's nothing to compare, so I also won't be talking about these. This includes rides that are similar in lots of ways but distinctly different (Test Track vs Radiator Springs Racers, for example). I'm also leaving off an attraction like the Jungle Cruise - it is different in some ways, but the experience for this one is largely based on your skipper no matter what park you're in. Oh, I also have to leave off Tiana's Bayou Adventure. While there are some differences, I have only had the chance to experience the Disneyland version so far, so I can't make a fair comparison.
So really, we're talking about attractions that exist at both WDW and DLR but that are different in some material way. I'll look at them individually and declare a "winner" if I can. Again, this is supposed to be fun, not an indictment on one park or another. There is no "competition" between the two resorts, but guests have their opinions anyway so I'm going to try to be as objective as possible. I'm actually hoping to prove that there isn't one resort that is better than the other on a ride by ride basis; both are great for different reasons! Anyway, let's get to it.
Astro Orbiter:
Let's start with something kind of low stakes. This is your basic spinner ride, and it's not my favorite one of these in either park. The rides are basically identical, so I probably shouldn't even include it here. But the Disneyland version is spelled "Astro Orbitor" for some reason, so why not mention it?
The biggest (only?) difference between the versions of this ride are that the Magic Kingdom one is on a platform that can only be reached by elevator, while the Disneyland one is simply at ground level to start. The elevator can make this line take longer, but the views (especially at night) are superior. It does feel like you're going to fly off into Tomorrowland - literally - on the Magic Kingdom one so that might factor in as well.
Verdict: Walt Disney World (for the view - if you're concerned about safety, then Disneyland wins).
Tomorrowland Speedway / Autopia:
We'll continue in Tomorrowland for this one. Different name, largely the same ride. In both cases, the cars are noisy and emit a noxious fume. Should I just say to skip both of them? I don't know, the kids still enjoy them. The Disneyland version has a mascot named ASIMO, and the Magic Kingdom version is sadly lacking in the mascot department. The line is also partially indoors in Disneyland, which is a big win.
Verdict: Disneyland
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin / Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters:
Disney has this weird habit of naming virtually identical rides under different names on each coast (the Little Mermaid ride - not listed here because it's actually identical - is the best example of this). Either way, this is the ride where you slowly move around a track and shoot at targets to score points and defeat the evil emperor Zurg.
Since the word "spin" wasn't in the name, I actually forgot the Disneyland version could also spin for a while. Oops. In any case, the biggest difference here is that the blasters on the Disneyland version are handheld as opposed to attached to the vehicle. The negative is that the Magic Kingdom version is hackable, where you can hit higher valued targets for an incredible amount of points. If this is true in Disneyland, I didn't come across it. I think the flexibility of the blasters wins out here though.
Verdict: Disneyland (at least for now - the MK version is getting handheld blasters soon, so that might tip the scales back in its favor)
Space Mountain:
Let's finish up these Tomorrowland rides with the big one. There are some pretty distinct differences in these two versions. The Magic Kingdom version is still the "old" style coaster - the ride vehicle is set up so that there is only one seat per "row", as opposed to the Disneyland version that has two across. Disneyland also has on board audio and some more modern visual effects. This is due to the renovation that took place a number of years ago.
The WDW version actually reminds me more of the Matterhorn in the seating, the dual track layout and the spine-rearranging ride. I think Disneyland's is longer as well, though I can't truly verify that. And yet, and this might be controversial, I think the WDW version is better. I like the ambient space noise more than the onboard sound. Plus the background music in the queue as well as the long exit tells a more complete story. I wouldn't fault people for enjoying Disneyland's version more, but for me, the original remains king here.
Verdict: Walt Disney World
Haunted Mansion:
Another case where the rides are quite similar but there are some differences. First is the exterior - the WDW version features a gothic looking, New England style mansion while the Disneyland version's is a southern plantation style mansion (which fits New Orleans Square well). Which you like better is a matter of preference; I think I like the idea of the Disneyland one better, since it doesn't look "haunted" from the outside (something Walt insisted on). But the WDW version has a longer and more foreboding queue.
As for the attraction itself, the concept is the same but the WDW version has a few more scenes (like the library and grand staircase), and is therefore longer. I find the flow of people to move better at WDW too, but maybe that was just luck. I don't love the placement of Hatbox Ghost in the WDW but that's a minor quibble that might be offset by the fact that the Disneyland version doesn't have a ride photo (how can I make a terrified face to be preserved forever)? These are both classic feats of Imagineering but I prefer the WDW one.
Verdict: Walt Disney World
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad:
This is a tough one for me. The Magic Kingdom version is more rickety and bumpy, and the Disneyland one has some cooler visual effects, like the mine explosion towards the end. However, the WDW version is being updated now and might correct these differences to make the ride more modern. I prefer the queue at WDW as well - something about being inside the mine on the way to the vehicle is cooler. Even with the modern aspects, I think I prefer that one.
Verdict: Walt Disney World
Peter Pan's Flight:
This is a situation where the rides are almost identical. But Disneyland has put more time and effort into upkeep of their older Fantasyland attractions (Peter Pan included), which comes across as fresh and not as dated as the Magic Kingdom version. I like the queue at Magic Kingdom better, but given that the lines are often so long that we use Lightning Lane there (they don't have one for this ride at Disneyland, strangely), we usually miss the queue anyway. The slight upgrades provide a slight win here.
Verdict: Disneyland
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway:
This is another case of an identical ride. I considered not including it, but I think the biggest difference is in the queue and area of the park, which actually does make a difference. The WDW version is in Hollywood Studios, and it replaced the beloved Great Movie Ride in the replica of the famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Disneyland's version is part of the Mickey's Toontown expansion, meaning it didn't "replace" anything, and is in the El CapiTOON Theater, a playful take on the El Capitan Theater (also in Hollywood).
This ride just fits better in Toontown, and the queue is longer and more whimsical as fits its placement in this park. The (great) rides are truly exactly the same (though I think the ride turns right at the end as opposed to left) so if we're only judging everything else around it, I think there's only one real answer here.
Verdict: Disneyland
it's a small world:
The ear worm theme song is the same, as well as many of the ride scenes. For a long time, the Disneyland version had incorporated Disney characters as sort of easter eggs throughout the ride, though Walt Disney World has added these in recent years as well. I can't tell you that the rides are exactly the same, though they are both long and sprawling; there are probably subtle differences throughout. I will say that some of the figures (particularly the Polynesian dancers) seem to be better maintained at Disneyland.
The biggest difference again is the queue. Disneyland's version has a prominent facade that overlooks one end of Fantasyland. You board the boats outdoors (often a detriment in hot weather but I like this here) and end outside as well. The WDW version is built in what looks like a cavernous mall - the vibes are simply not as good. Nonetheless, we have a tradition of riding small world late at night, often being the last ones on the boat and that nostalgia does play a part in how I feel about this ride (we tried to duplicate this at Disneyland, though we didn't stay all the way until the end of the night).
Verdict: Disneyland (objectively), Walt Disney World (subjectively for myself and family)
Pirates of the Caribbean:
I saved the best for (mostly) last. No matter what version you're talking about, Pirates is an absolute classic, a triumph of Imagineering that truly represents what these Disney parks are all about. I had ridden the Magic Kingdom version countless times, but the word I had heard was always that the Disneyland version was superior and that I truly needed to ride that one to experience this as it was meant to be seen.
Now that I have ridden it, I have to say ... whoever said that was right. The Disneyland version is magnificent. It's longer (which doesn't always equal better, but definitely helps in this case), with a slow burn intro featuring an ominous darkness and sparse animatronics and landscaping (one distant house actually reminded me of Living With the Land). You also start by boarding the boat and floating past the Blue Bayou restaurant, which is reminiscent of Epcot's Gran Fiesta Tour and the San Angel Inn.
I actually think I like the queue and loading area for Pirates more at Magic Kingdom. But this is a case where the ride itself trumps all of that. Again, both are masterpieces but there can only be one true king.
Verdict: Disneyland
Fantasmic:
I'm putting this one last since it is a nighttime spectacular and that's a fitting way to end this post. Once again, I love both versions of this show - it's a true Disney original, and somehow this bizarre story of Mickey Mouse and his imagination works in any setting. This was another case where I was told for years that the Disneyland version was better.
And this might have been true once, but it isn't anymore. The pre-Covid WDW version got bogged down in the middle with an extended Pocahontas section that has since been replaced by more contemporary sections featuring Frozen, Moana, Aladdin, etc. The Disneyland version does have a great Peter Pan sequence on a pirate ship, something WDW can't recreate without the actual, you know, ship.
But the Walt Disney World version's new middle section makes it stand up to anything Disneyland has. The biggest, more recent issue, has been that the Disneyland version of the Maleficent dragon lit on fire a while back and was simply not replaced. Maybe one day? But for now, that awe-inspiring piece is exclusive to WDW, as is the final "trick" of the show where Mickey disappears from one section and reappears elsewhere immediately.
I'm also partial to the viewing area at WDW; in Hollywood Studios, there is a theater specifically built to handle Fantasmic. It's a long walk to be sure, but once you're there, you feel the excitement building among the thousands of people waiting to watch the show. It feels like a big deal. At Disneyland, the viewing area is mostly standing (though we were gifted a seated spot right down front, which was pretty nice, I must say) and just feels like a lot of people standing around watching this show pop up, rather than a purposeful seating and viewing. Florida reigns supreme here.
Verdict: Walt Disney World
I love that there are some attractions that are better on each coast (and obviously this is just my opinion). If one resort had the best version of everything, where would the fun be in that? It's interesting (at least to me) to look for all of the details that are different and try to figure out the reasons behind those differences. Some are pretty big and some are just splitting hairs, but that's the fun part in comparing these great resorts.
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