Disney is a large company and the section that runs the parks is called “Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Inc”. But before the parks were even conceived Walt and his brother Roy came up with the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio located in Hollywood, California. That was 1923 and the parks would be opened quite a few years after.

In the 1950s Walt Disney made a series of deals with regards to a project called Disneylandia. Of course, that name wouldn’t stick through the life of the project and Walt Disney announced in April 1954 that Disneyland would open its gates in July of 1955. Walt wanted the park to be educational and entertaining for both children and their parents. Disney bought land in Anaheim California, which at the time was farmland, so could be purchased for a reasonable cost.

Disneyland opens it’s doors

Disneyland officially opened its doors on July 17, 1955, although the opening wasn’t as smooth as expected. Originally passes were mailed out to a smaller group of people as an invitation to come to enjoy the park. However, the passes were quickly counterfeited and the crowds that showed up were overwhelming to the newly opened park. Disneyland started to run out of food and drinks as the crowd swelled and the Mark Twain Steamboat ride almost tipped over from too many people.

Even though Disneyland had a rocky start, it recovered quickly. Rides like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Snow White’s Adventures, and the Jungle Cruise, caught on with parents and children immediately and remain popular to this day. And in 1963 Disney opened the Enchanted Tiki Room, which left audiences amazed at the advanced mixture of audio and animatronics. With these measures, Disneyland quickly became one of the most popular family attractions in the country.

Expansion across America and beyond

While Disneyland continued to innovate and have successes, Walt Disney was hatching plans for a second park, this time in Florida. He actually purchased 43 acres of land in a desolate part of Florida in 1965. Unfortunately, before Walt Disney could see Disneyworld come to fruition, he passed the following year. Roy Disney picked up the project and Disneyworld would open in 1971. After the initial opening, the park continued to expand and eventually became a sprawling resort covering over 47 square miles. And what started out as a single amusement park turned into four, the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In addition, two water parks and dozens of hotels and restaurants would populate the area.

The two Disney theme parks would soon be joined by Disney parks around the world. There are several parks around the globe; California Adventure, Disneyland Paris, Shanghai Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland. From the humble beginnings and somewhat rocky start of Disneyland, the Disney parks have grown into a worldwide phenomenon, that welcomes millions of visitors each year.

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_{History of the parks}

Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World are rich in history. Disneyland is the original park though. It was built in 1955 when Walt Disney was still alive. He was very hands-on with the creation. His vision for Walt Disney World was to create an even bigger Disney park, with room to grow. The design was based on the success of Disneyland. Sadly, Walt Disney passed away before Walt Disney World was opened in 1971.

Location

The first difference between Disneyland and Walt Disney World is location. They are on opposite sides of the United States. Disneyland is located in Anaheim, California. Walt Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida. Both locations provide bright, sunny days most of the time. Disneyland was constructed in the middle of a populated urban area, whereas, Walt Disney World was constructed in a private, secluded area.

Size of the parks

The most notable difference between these two Disney parks is size. Disneyland is about 500 acres and Walt Disney World is about 27,000 acres. Disneyland offers a more compact and manageable experience with two theme parks and three on-site resorts. Walt Disney World offers a more grand experience with four theme parks, two water parks, five golf courses, and over 25 resorts.

Ticket access

The ticket prices for Disneyland and Walt Disney World are comparable per theme park. However, there are a different number of theme parks at each location. Disneyland has two theme parks; Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Walt Disney World has four theme parks; Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios, as well as, multiple other paid attractions. Each theme park requires a separate ticket to enter.

Attractions

Despite the vast size difference, they both offer roughly the same amount of attractions. Both Disney parks have their own exclusive rides that can only be found at that location. There are a few rides that can be found at both Disney parks, but they are still very different from one another.

Transportation

Disneyland has a monorail system to help guests get around. However, transportation is not required as everything is within walking distance. This includes both theme parks, all three on-site resorts, and the Downtown Disney shopping center. Walt Disney World is much bigger, so transportation is required. They offer shuttle buses, monorails, skyliners, boats, and ferries to help guests navigate between resorts, theme parks, and the Disney Springs shopping center. Guests are also welcome to bring their own car or pay for a ride-share option.

Disneyland and Walt Disney World are both magical vacation destinations that offer great memories and experiences. The differences are mainly in size and geography. You will have an awesome time at either one! They may share a lot of similarities, but there is still something special and unique about each one. 

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