Disney World vs. Disneyland physical size comparison

[ethanwa]

This is a 1 mile out comparison picture to scale.

Note that a LOT of stuff is packed into Disneyland and in Walt Disney World it is spread out, and I don't want this to be a "Which is better" thread. But it's a great picture to show to Disneyland regulars who don't really understand the vastness of Disney World.

 

[bumbershoot]

Pretty good tool.

But I'm still not sure you can really get it until you're there. I compared the acreage to my town, but that still didn't help me understand the *highways* you drive on between parks. Huge multi-lane roadways at 50 mph? Not what I expected.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

I can never get people to comprehend how large WDW is compared to DLR. My SIL and Niece wanted to join me for a "long weekend" when I'm at WDW this summer. They were going to fly from SFO to MCO on Friday, and go home on Monday. They though that with me as their tour guide, they would see everything during that time, like they do when I take them to DLR. I popped that balloon for them. Now they will be going with us next Spring instead.

 

[Robo]

About 5 years ago, someone requested this of me, so I built the image for them.
It's DISNEYLAND related to WDW MK's parking lot and TTC.
Both images are to scale.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's mind boggling to walk out of the GC and be able to walk, quickly, to either Calif Adventure or DisneyLand! You can just about see either one from that hotel exit. DisneyLand is so much more compact. People ask me how I liked it when I was there in Dec. Still can't tell them. It poured both days we were there...so I never really got a feel for the parks. My head was down almost the entire time...trying to watch the deep puddles and keep my poncho hood on!!! Fingers crossed that won't be the case in Nov when I return.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

About 5 years ago, someone requested this of me, so I built the image for them.
It's DISNEYLAND related to WDW MK's parking lot and TTC.
Both images are to scale.

I can't see your pic but I heard this on a WDW history show. Disneyland will fit in MK's parking lot. DL is tiny.

 

[Angel Ariel]

About 5 years ago, someone requested this of me, so I built the image for them.
It's DISNEYLAND related to WDW MK's parking lot and TTC.
Both images are to scale.

Is what's inside the Disneyland bubble just DL, or is it the whole DLR resort? it looks like just DL, but I wanted to check

 

[PoohsFan1]

I guess the only real way to compare the two is to physically go to DLR if you are a WDW vet or vise versa if you are a DLR vet and have never been to the opposite parks. We went to DLR for the first time in 2013 and we kept commenting on the differences in size compared to the two. We loved that you could walk to everything at DLR rather then having to take Disney transportation EVERYWHERE. I also thought it was so crazy driving up to DLR and you see city and houses and businesses that aren't Disney then Boom, you are there...it is literally in the middle of a city. Also, I was not used to hearing police and fire sirens as we were walking around the 2 parks (and we heard a lot of them that week), I think out of the years that we have been going to Disney (and we go multiple times a year), I have only heard an ambulance siren once and that was because we were staying at SSR and our building was directly across from the fire station. However, all in all we loved going to DLR and can't wait to go back .

 

[Mikie]

About 5 years ago, someone requested this of me, so I built the image for them.
It's DISNEYLAND related to WDW MK's parking lot and TTC.
Both images are to scale.

I can't see your pic but I heard this on a WDW history show. Disneyland will fit in MK's parking lot. DL is tiny.

Wow - that's definitely worth a thousand words!
It looks like Disneyland is about the same size as the MK park, as well as the parking lot. I haven't had the good fortune to visit yet, but this is probably a good comparison for new WDW visitors who have been to any amusement park as an eye opener.

I remember being very surprised when I finally visited as an adult (i.e. paying attention to things like roads and directions) how surprised I was at my "on site" all-star resorts proximity to the off-site hotels I'd stayed in the past and the 4lane highways throughout Disney property. I think I imagined the Disney buses being more like an airport shuttle in size and travel time.

 

[PSUGuy]

As mentioned in The Unofficial Guide to WDW, all of Disneyland, including parking, can fit in the MK parking lot. That was back at the turn of the century, perhaps DL has expanded beyond that by now.

Bill From PA

 

[eXo]

I love maps (they are a big part of my job) so this is a lot of fun to check out. Thanks to both people who posted the comparison shots!

I have 2014 satellite imagery loaded into my GIS program over both areas. If there are any other comparison requests I'd be happy to put something together.

If I can find enough legacy data it might be cool to do a Z-axis animation that shows the park being built out over the years.

 

[tup1830]

As mentioned in The Unofficial Guide to WDW, all of Disneyland, including parking, can fit in the MK parking lot. That was back at the turn of the century, perhaps DL has expanded beyond that by now.

Bill From PA

Just one thing to keep in mind...DLR's parking lot is a deck while MK's parking lot is flat....its not a fair comparison. It would be a fair statement if you took all the levels of DLR's parking deck and spread them out and added DLR to do an equal comparison to MK

 

[AngiTN]

Insightful. We are doing both coasts here soon. We'll be at WDW (where we are "home") for 5 nights at the end of May and we'll be at DL (where we have never been) for 9 nights a week later. Hopefully both will be fresh enough in my mind to give a good comparison.

 

[skibum25]

Just one thing to keep in mind...DLR's parking lot is a deck while MK's parking lot is flat....its not a fair comparison. It would be a fair statement if you took all the levels of DLR's parking deck and spread them out and added DLR to do an equal comparison to MK

Not sure I agree with that. It's a comparison of the massive size of the property not square footage of what's on the property.

 

[Dan Murphy]

This is a 1 mile out comparison picture to scale.

Note that a LOT of stuff is packed into Disneyland and in Walt Disney World it is spread out, and I don't want this to be a "Which is better" thread. But it's a great picture to show to Disneyland regulars who don't really understand the vastness of Disney World.

Interesting perspective, thanks.

 

[Reddog1134]

Not sure I agree with that. It's a comparison of the massive size of the property not square footage of what's on the property.

Agreed. Otherwise, you would have to "lay out" the floors of every building on property, too.

 

[alvernon90]

As mentioned in The Unofficial Guide to WDW, all of Disneyland, including parking, can fit in the MK parking lot. That was back at the turn of the century, perhaps DL has expanded beyond that by now.

I don't think that is really saying all that much, as it was also possible to fit an entire theme park into the old Disneyland parking lot. We know this is true because DCA was built on the old parking lot.

I think it would be awesome if WDW could have the density of attractions that DLR has, given that DL and DCA are so close together they are like a single massive theme park. You don't see people waiting for hours to ride the only two decent rides within miles, because every other ride is an easy walk from wherever you are.

 

[HydroGuy]

Definitely the case that each resort feels very different because of their different sizes.

Another thing to note about DL is that the water table is much lower than in Orlando so they can and do build rides underground. The Indiana Jones ride is in a building outside the park but guests never know they are no longer in the park once they go through the queue.

Yes, even adding the underground space does not come close to changing the conclusions in this thread. But it does reinforce the idea that at DLR they use the limited space very efficiently.

 

[Robo]

As mentioned in The Unofficial Guide to WDW, all of Disneyland, including parking, can fit in the MK parking lot. That was back at the turn of the century,

perhaps DL has expanded beyond that by now.

Bill From PA

DLR (the theme park) has been "land-locked" for decades. That's why they had to use the former DLR parking lots to build DCA.

The reason Walt wanted to buy so much open land for WDW is due to the problems caused by all of the non-Disney
interests who bought up all of the property around and right up to the edges of DLR.

 

[Robo]

Just one thing to keep in mind...DLR's parking lot is a deck while MK's parking lot is flat....its not a fair comparison. It would be a fair statement if you took all the levels of DLR's parking deck and spread them out and added DLR to do an equal comparison to MK

The current layered parking lot for DLR is very recent (about 15 years.)
It was all part of the DCA expansion.
For decades, DLR parking lots were flat (like MK's) and adjoining the theme park.

Disney had been trying for years to purchase a substantial plot (or plots) of land in the vicinity of DLR
to handle expansion plans. When the so-called "strawberry fields" area became available for purchase,
Disney decided to build the layered parking and use the previous parking lots surrounding DLR to construct
the total DCA project and associated DTD, DL Hotel improvements.