Introduction
The Happiest Place on Earth - Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Or is it actually Disneyland in Anaheim, California? Both parks have similar attractions and philosophies, but the size and amenities of the two locations create a clear preference of visitors for one park over the other. That preference, however, depends on the personal likes and dislikes of the families who visit the two parks.
Difference: Size
The two parks are different in that they are of vastly different size. Disney World, located near Orlando, Florida on the east coast covers about 43 square miles. (Dayao, 2014) It encompasses four separate parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There are multiple on property hotels, all falling under the umbrella of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Conversely, Disneyland is located on the opposite coast, near Anaheim, California. It covers much less physical space; it covers only 500 acres. If the parks were placed on top of one another, 61 Disneyland's would fit inside the boundaries of the much larger Disney World. Disneyland has only two parks, the Disneyland Park, and the Disney California Adventure. Disneyland has only three hotels available for guests, and also does not provide transportation between the parks the way the Disney World does. Part of the reason that the Anaheim park is so much smaller is because of its location; it quickly became landlocked and did not have the opportunities for expansion that were available at the Florida location. (Vaux, n.d.)
Similarity: Family Vacation Location
Despite their differences, both parks pride themselves on being family friendly. Because they are both located in places that boast very temperate climates, they are popular vacation destinations for families from all around the world. Additionally, the two parks boast several of the same rides. Popular rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and It’s a Small World can be experienced in either the Orlando venue or the California venue. The two parks also have signature rides to their parks, with Disney World’s EPCOT boasting Spaceship Earth. Families that visit the west coast location enjoy their signature ride Matterhorn.
Difference: Attractions
One major difference that tourists who visit Disneyland may notice is the absence of the all-powerful MagicBand. In 2008, Disney World launched the My Magic initiative, a technology based enterprise that allowed visitors to customize their Walt Disney World experience. The staple of this advancement became the MagicBand, a one-size-fits-all wristband that serves multiple functions. Guests can use their MagicBand as a room key, and can use it to schedule reservations at any of the restaurants on the Disney property. MagicBands also serve as a FastPass, which allows the guest to move to the front of a prearranged line on up to three individual rides. For smaller visitors, parents can program in contact and safety information that can be accessed in the event that they should become separated from their children. Finally, the MagicBand can also act as a prepaid credit card to resort shops, kiosks and
concessions. Currently, the California resort does not use the Magic Band or any of these technologies. However, Disney developers are in discussions about bringing the MagicBand to the Anaheim location in the future. (Celestino, 2015)
Similarty: Customer Service
One major point in how the theme parks are similar is their attitude towards customer service. Disney has for years prided itself on it’s superb customer service in all its parks, so much so that other businesses are beginning to take note of their model. The parks pride themselves on being constantly clean, with visitors noticing several receptacles for trash and groundskeepers busy everywhere. This extends also to the landscaping, which remains impeccably groomed in order to keep up the appearance of “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Both parks also train their staff to be “assertively friendly.” In many instances, this means seeking out opportunities to assist guests with anything they may need - from taking a photograph to commemorating a special occasion, such as a first visit, a honeymoon, or a family reunion. The park employees take pride in their ability to treat guests as if they were family, answering questions and going out of their way to be helpful, even if the guest has a need that is outside of their job description or area of expertise. All this has gone to create the illusion that both Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California are above reproach, and that stress, worries and other daily drains simply do not exists in such a pleasant and positive environment. (Gallo, 2011)
Difference: Amenities
In addition to being of vastly different size, the parks also have vastly different amenities. Disney World in Florida is the much larger of the two venues, and so it naturally boasts the more varied accommodations. There are multiple resort hotels, for families on different budgets. Disney World also boasts two water parks, and each of the resorts has their own pool and water attractions as well. Disney World also features several venues for the more outdoorsy guests - The Wild Frontier, their campground has been open since the late seventies. More recent additions to the park include jogging paths and biking paths. The park hosts a mini-marathon each year for participants that wish to run, walk or bike around the park. Both parks have a shopping district, but only Disney World has an area strictly for sports enthusiasts. ESPN world features several restaurants and shops and is one of Disney World’s more recent additions to the park. By contrast, Disneyland is much smaller. There are only three htel on the property, and none of them would be termed “resorts” by any stretch of the imagination. The hotels at Disneyland are mostly of the budget variety, designed for families who are vacationing in the area and wish to stay on the property. At the Anaheim location, there are very few amenities outside of the amusement parks. However, many guests choose to visit attractions in the surrounding city during their downtime. Guests at the Disneyland resort are more likely to stay off property and visit the parks as opposed to staying on the property, due to the lack of variety in the accommodations. Despite the difference in size and options, both parks are fairly equitable in terms of cost. Visitors to Disney World agree that they are willing to pay the steep ticket prices in order to gain access to the amenities that the property offers.
Those who pay to get into the Disneyland venue do so to access the smaller crowds and more personal attention that is available because of the smaller nature of the park.
Conclusion
The Disney parks vary in size and structure. The theme park at the Anaheim location pales in comparison to the full-scale resort located in Orlando. The parks also differ in terms of accommodations and transportation for the guests. Disney World Resort Parks rely heavily on Magic Bands as a convenience to their customers; Disneyland parks have not yet perfected that technology. Despite their differences, both parks offer similar rides and attractions to their guests. And, visitors to both parks will be greeted with a big Disney smile, and the highest level of customer service, so a good time is virtually guaranteed.
Works Cited
Celestino, M. (2013). Mike Celestino. Retrieved January 17, 2017, from http://www.insidethemagic.net/author/mcelestino/
Dayao, C. (2016, August 26). 8 Major Differences Between Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Retrieved January 17, 2017, from https://blog.shermanstravel.com/2014/8-major-differences-between-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland/
Gallo, C. (2011, May 06). Customer Service the Disney Way. Retrieved January 17, 2017, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2011/04/14/customer-service-the-disney-way/#264028797361
Vaux, R. (2016). Why Should You Vacation at Walt Disney World? Retrieved January 17, 2017, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/should-vacation-walt-disney-world-14981.html
