Orlando vs LA
Worth visiting the other coast?
I live an hour away from Disneyworld and Universal Studios Florida; Is it worth it to travel across the nation to LA and visit Disneyland and Universal Hollywood? Or is it just an unnecessary repetition?
From David L.
Posted June 29, 2010 at 7:23 PM
well... you may want to wait a year or two or even three for crowds to settle after the expansion at DCA and for transformers at USH. THen, i would recommend you to go. Many of the classic rides are typically considered better at Disneyland(pirates, smallworld, space mt. some others) but one day at each park might be enough since many rides are very similar or even better at disneyworld/USF(mummy, thunder Mt., haunted M., splash Mt., and others). YOu may also consider seeing some wildlife in CA or going to legoland, seaworld, Knotts, or magic mountain. All in all, I would definitely recommend going to CA.
Daniel, I love Orlando, but I prefer the coasters in LA. You are leaving out Knotts and Six Flags Magic Mountain, the roller coaster capital (soon) of the world. Plus, I prefer Disneyland over Magic Kingdom and possibly after 2012, California Adventure over the other three WDW parks.
And this is coming from the person who loves Orlando and everything about it.
Definitely worth visiting, and I would love to help you plan if you choose to visit having gone there oh five times I believe and having visited each of the parks. :D
Its worth seeing at least once!
Daniel, I have been out to LA twice, once with my wife and once with my daughter. I'd say yes, go out but see the sights as the others have mentioned. I'm now planning my last trip out with my grandson.
Disneyland, DCA, Magic Mountain, Universal, Knotts Berry Farm, Hollywood see all you can, it's a great place to be.
ORLANDO!ORLANDO! I would like to visit LA though
From James Rao
Posted June 30, 2010 at 2:20 PM
If you can afford to take the trip across the country, why wouldn't you? There is some great stuff to do in SoCal!
From J. Dana
Posted July 2, 2010 at 10:09 AM
As someone who has lived in both Orlando (4.5 years) and L.A. (5 years), I can attest that SoCal DEFINITELY deserves a visit. The Disneyland resort itself is worth the trip, but with Universal Hollywood and Knotts thrown in, it's definitely a great time. California Adventure is shaping up to be truly amazing -- and if you can catch the Aladin show before it's gone (STUPID decision), you'll be glad you did -- in my opinion, it's the best theme-park stage show ever mounted. Also, I think the California Screamin' coaster is Disney's best coaster of ANY of it's coasters...(and I've ridden them all multiple times).
In my humble opinion, I prefer the Universal Hollywood studio over the Florida Studio theme park (I'm refering just to the individual Studio parks, not the entire Universal Florida resort -- which includes IOA -- which does rival Hollywood)
I heard Aladdin is staying because of public outcry!
Sorry, I was in a hurry the last time I responded, but it is worth the trip. Disneyland Resort facinates me since it was designed by the artist himself, Walt Disney. Its also fun to compare and contrast with Disney World and how all that magic can be shoved into an area thats about the size of EPCOT and its resorts (two theme parks, downtown Disney, and three hotels)- Figure that out!
And Universal Studios Hollywood is, well, a studios! No more "fake studios" bit that USO and DHS does, this is real stuff!
I cant tell you what is in LA ,I can tell you whats in orlando. i live in walking distance from internatonal dr. and seaworld
From Rob P
Posted July 5, 2010 at 1:20 AM
We've pretty much alternated between Orlando and Southern California since 1995. Our visits are usually for three weeks so we get a chance to see as much as we can inside and outside of the theme parks.
Orlando certainly has a slight edge on the sheer enormity of scale for the parks. They are breathtakingly good parks too and all within fairly easy reach of each other. It is, unquestionably, the theme park Capital of the World.
The constraints due to the California parks being set in urban areas should not, however, put you off.
Disneyland, although smaller, is quite unique. It's historical value alone is awe inspiring but it's not just that. It's compactness gives it a more comfortable feel. Not that Disneyland is actually small. It's just small-er than Magic KIngdom . And certainly not by much now that the neighbouring California Adventure has added a fresh dimension.
Many of the rides at Disneyland are better than those mirrored at Magic KIngdom too. Although that's probably a matter of personal opinion from this independent observer with no State loyalty.
California's other parks, with the exception of Knotts, are a bit more spread out and a car is essential which is worth considering. Once again Universal Studios ( no IOA remember ) and Seaworld, San Diego are more compact than their Floridian siblings but don't suffer for it. Universal, like Disneyland, has enough differences to make the trip worthwhile. Just check out the new King Kong if you need convincing.
In the final analysis I would say this. Both areas have enough unique things to offer their visitors to make them both worth visiting as often as you can.
I personally love them both.
Both are great. I live in the Southwest so I visit SoCal more frequently than Orlando. If vacationing in the summer,one of the major advantages of SoCal over Orlando is the weather. Sure it gets warm in LA(although never as hot as in Orlando), but the mornings and evenings are downright beautiful. No rain, no humidity, no oppresive heat.
I live in Orlando. In 2008 my family travelled to Southern California and had a BLAST!
My suggestion: See if you can squeeze a day or two at Comic Con (July in San Diego).
From Jay Glenn
Posted July 9, 2010 at 5:26 AM
Yes if you can afford a visit to SoCal you must go. It's fun to compare Magic Kingdom an Disneyland and see how they contrast. I've been out there 3 times and I prefer MK but that's maybe because I grew up on MK. But Disneyland has disney's best dark ride ever, Indiana Jones Adventure. That's worth a trip in itself. Universal Studios Hollywood is like posted before, a REAL studio. So you actually won't find a lot of rides but there's more to see.
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