Dear Disney World, it breaks my heart to make this confession, but I need to come clean.

I’ve been cheating on you. Yes, I know you are The Most Magical Place on Earth, and I’ve been trying to visit you regularly, but something has changed. You see, I’ve been flying to the West Coast to visit your smaller, yet older relative, the Happiest Place on Earth. Yes, I’ve been visiting Disneyland instead. But hear me out: I have my reasons: it’s not you, it’s me.

More hotel options

Okay, so here’s the thing. In Disney World, it’s pretty much necessary for me to stay at a Disney-owned hotel to stay in the “bubble” and have access to Disney’s transportation system, and that’s not always inexpensive. However, with Disneyland, I don’t feel the need to stay in the “bubble.” There are tons of hotels within walking distance that can offer a nice stay for a lot less than what you get with a Disney World hotel.

For example, last year, I booked an inexpensive suite a few blocks away from the Disneyland entrance (a super easy walk) and had free bottles of water every day, a free breakfast, plus a Starbucks in the lobby (for those who are curious, it was the Hyatt Place at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center). That stay ended up costing a lot less than what I would normally spend at a Disney World hotel.

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Shorter Stays

Disneyland doesn’t require a full week to do everything you want to do, so not only do you have cheaper hotel options, but you also don’t need to book a week-long stay. Three days gives you plenty of time to experience Disneyland as a first-timer, and even a two-day stay will give you plenty of time to knock out all of your must-dos.

So you don’t have to give up as much time to visit Disneyland, which could also save money (and vacation days at work). It’s not as much of a time commitment as a trip to Disney World. Granted, I have done shorter stays at Disney World, but that’s only because I’ve been to the parks so many times that I can prioritize my list of things to do.

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Disneyland is smaller

Although some might see it as a con, the fact that Disneyland is smaller is actually a pro. Why? Because I can do everything I want to do faster because I’m not spending so much time walking from point A to point B. Let’s face it: Disney World is so spread out that each park requires MILES and MILES of walking each day, and traveling from one park to another takes time.

At Disneyland, the parks are literally across from each other. You can bounce back and forth from Disneyland and California Adventure in minutes (provided you have a park hopper ticket). But everything else is also closer together. I can knock out more rides in Disneyland and California Adventure in one day than I can do in one park in Disney World. Smaller is better. And when I need that midday break? I can just walk back to my hotel on Harbor Blvd. and not have to wait for transportation to get me there.

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More relaxing

Planning a trip to Disney World includes a lot of…well…planning. You pretty much have to figure out your whole day to see and do everything you want to. Planning a trip to Disneyland isn’t quite as complicated. Things are a lot more relaxing, and you don’t have to figure out your itinerary for every single day quite so much.

For example, in Disney World, you need to be up at EARLY on the day of your park visit to purchase Genie+ if you want to make sure you get it before it sells out (and it does sell out during the busier seasons). In Disneyland, you can purchase Genie+ BEFORE your trip, not only locking in the lowest price (because buying on the day of could be more expensive because of surge pricing). But everything about Disneyland is much more laid back, and you’ll see that once you arrive.

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Disneyland has better food

This is the Disney FOOD Blog. I am all about food. And I’m here to tell you that the food in Disneyland is WAY better (in my opinion). Granted, there aren’t as many table service restaurants as you’ll find in Disney World, but the counter service locations are pretty good — arguably better than what you’ll find in Disney World. Plus…churros. ALL the churros. AND corndogs. Oh, and you can get Mickey beignets IN THE PARK.

Disneyland also seems to get quality seasonal treats, and the menus are always changing throughout Disneyland, so you’re often getting more variety and more options. When it comes to table service, Disney World can’t compete with a restaurant like Blue Bayou, where you can literally dine INSIDE the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

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Better events

Disney World has seasonal festivals at EPCOT, as well as some After Hours events, but I have to talk about the events in Disneyland. For example, in Disneyland, you can celebrate the Lunar New Year Festival, Pixar Fest, and Season of the Force before summer arrives. I’ll also tell you now that Halloween Time in Disneyland (which includes Halloween decor in BOTH parks and in Downtown Disney) is SO GOOD.

And speaking of Halloween, I’ve attended both Oogie Boogie Bash in Disneyland and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World, and I’m just going to say right now that Oogie Boogie Bash is the far superior party. Not only do you get the amazing treat trails with rare villains, but the party feels a lot more limited than the one in Magic Kingdom (there are fewer crowds). There’s a reason Oogie Boogie Bash sells out year after year.

We also have to mention the Disneyland After Dark events. Disney World has special After Hours events, but that’s all they are…you buy a ticket to spend time in the park after it closes to everyone else. Disneyland’s After Hours events have THEMES. You get entertainment, snacks, and characters along with those themes when you buy a Disneyland After Dark ticket. Themes include the Disney Channel, Star Wars, Pride, Princesses, and more. Disney World could never.

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Cost

Now, we’d like to say that Disneyland is generally cheaper than Disney World, but that’s before adding in costs like the higher cost of living in California — some things will run higher in Disneyland. You also might find that airfare can be more expensive when flying into John Wayne Airport, although you could try to save some money by flying into Los Angeles Airport (although John Wayne is closer and WAY less stressful). Then, you’ll need to figure out the cost of transportation from the airport to your Disneyland-area hotel. You’ll also find fewer discounts throughout the year for Disneyland hotels and tickets. Plus, the food and drinks here aren’t cheap.

However, I still believe that if you do the research and set a budget, the cost of a Disneyland trip can still come close to what you might spend on a longer Disney World trip if you can snag a good airfare deal and have no problem staying at a nearby hotel that isn’t owned by Disney.

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So yeah, I’m sorry, Disney World, but Disneyland has stolen my heart for now. Sure, I’ll be back…and probably soon. But for now, I’m still California Dreamin’…

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Have you been to Disneyland and liked it better than Disney World? If so, sound off in the comments!