Has anyone on this website ever gone to Disneyland or Disney World? What was your experience like? The commercials on TV claim that both theme parks are clean and fun where kids can be kids and adults can escape from the pressures of their daily lives. I haven't been to either location but was thinking about going with my family this summer. So any advice as to the best way to do a Disney vacation and what to avoid will be greatly appreciated.

I've been to Disney World (Florida) maybe 12 times so far; most recent being in 2003.

I've only been to Disneyland (California) once and that was in the 90s. I honestly don't remember much about that trip but I remember liking Knott's Berry Farm...



Only thing I wouldn't recommend is the recent park Animal Kingdom. My opinion is that it was a waste of time and there wasn't anything there worth seeing. If you like animals then great.. but for me it wasn't fun.

The only thing there I liked was the ride called Dinosaur.



As I got older my favorite park was EPCOT Center. I liked the country exhibits. It's more educational than the other parks but I liked it there.


Magic Kingdom is good and at Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) they don't really have much there. Only thing I liked there was The Tower of Terror.



They have a system at Disney called FastPass where you get a ticket to come back in an hour or so that reserves you a spot on line. It was brand new at the time I went there last.





Also, I don't know if you plan on it but I went to Universal Studios as well. My family used to do a week at Disney and then do maybe 3 days at Universal.

Universal is "more adult" than Disney as they cater to an older crowd. If you like wild rides than Islands of Adventure is the place to go.

What I loved about Universal is that if you stood at one of their hotels you got a special card that allowed you to not wait on any lines.

Well, I live less than an hour from Orlando so I've been to The Magic Kingdom a few times. To me, it's more of a kid's place. I much prefer Epcot and MGM Studios. Like JamesG, I love the country part of Epcot, but unlike JamesG, I actually enjoyed Animal Kingdom. I think there's a bit to do at MGM, too, besides Tower of Terror, which I never get tired of. The Aerosmith ride is pretty intense, and there are a few other attractions that I like.

Universal isn't technically "Disney", even though it's all in the same area. Same goes for SeaWorld. Universal is really cool, as is Islands of Adventure. I was just there back in Oct. for Halloween Horror Nights.

And yes, do FastPass when you can. I went to Universal right before Christmas and there was a 2 hour wait at Tower of Terror. Yes, I know it was the holidays, you don't want to spend half the time there waiting in line!!

I've never been to DisneyLand, even though I went to CA in Dec 2008, and stayed 9 days in Anaheim!! I tried to talk my sister into going to Knott's but she didn't want to!! I guess since we live so close to Disney World, she thought What's the point?

When I lived in CA in the late 80's my dad and stepmom took me and some others in my family to Disneyland.

I loved it, but then again I was a teenager LOL. I always liked Space Mountain the best

I went to Disneyworld back in 92.

I haven't been to Disneyland in California in quite awhile. I did enjoy myself they have my favorite attractions the Haunted Mansion, Pirates Of The Carribean, and It's a Small World.

PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN and IT'S A SMALL WORLD are at Disneyworld too.

Thanks for all the comments! The information that all of you have provided will help me to make good decisions. Both theme parks are so massive that it would be easy for a newbie to get confused about where to go and what to do.

I only had an opportunity to visit Walt Disney World once, with my dad and
uncle back in 1980. I enjoyed it a lot. One of the highlights for me was the
Hall of Presidents. EPCOT hadn't been finished yet, so I missed that.

I've never had a chance to visit Disneyland (but I did watch the television
series of the same name, which later evolved into Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, when it switched from ABC to NBC and from black-&-white
to color). Walt Disney was a genius, from his animated shorts to his live-action movies and his television programs. But his greatest legacy was the
theme parks. He was always an innovator, and if he were alive today (and
able to) he would still be inventing some new form of family entertainment.

Thanks for all the comments! The information that all of you have provided will help me to make good decisions. Both theme parks are so massive that it would be easy for a newbie to get confused about where to go and what to do.

If you haven't already, you might want to check into doing the Park-Hopper. And I'm sure you know that Disney puts together travel packages, which alot of times includes air fare and hotel. Some of those hotels on the Disney property are so cool!! Also, on the Disney property, there is Downtown Disney, which is free to get into, and free to park. CityWalk, where Universal is at, is free to get into, but you have to pay to park. If you get there early in the day, it's $14. but if you get there after 6, it's only $3(it used to be free!!:mad: ).

If you haven't already, you might want to check into doing the Park-Hopper. And I'm sure you know that Disney puts together travel packages, which alot of times includes air fare and hotel. Some of those hotels on the Disney property are so cool!! Also, on the Disney property, there is Downtown Disney, which is free to get into, and free to park. CityWalk, where Universal is at, is free to get into, but you have to pay to park. If you get there early in the day, it's $14. but if you get there after 6, it's only $3(it used to be free!!:mad: ).

I'll probably end up choosing one of the Disney travel packages that includes the locations you mentioned.

my favriotr ride is were the old man talking abou t different years and how things changed.. you in the theeater but its a ride. i only rember parts of it.

I have never been to Disney Land or Disney World, but I soooooo want to go! It's just not a convenient vacation for my family at this time, but I would love to save up and take my kids there in the next few years. I am worried about waiting until they are too old to enjoy it, but since I still want to go I guess they probably won't outgrow it either. ;)

I hope you have a great time!

I have never been to Disney Land or Disney World, but I soooooo want to go! It's just not a convenient vacation for my family at this time, but I would love to save up and take my kids there in the next few years. I am worried about waiting until they are too old to enjoy it, but since I still want to go I guess they probably won't outgrow it either. ;)

I hope you have a great time!

I haven't either, but one day when I win the lottery, get a script published, or I get a buttload of money (that'll happen when Cleveland Wins a Championship)...I'm taking my family to Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios during the Christmas Holidays!

And for Disneyland...I'll go there once I get a script published and make it big. (I still won't forget you people of SO)!

I went to Disneyworld on January 2003.

And Universal Florida that same month.

And Universal Florida that same month.

Those pics must've been taken in the morning, I've never seen that area so empty!:D :p

...but unlike JamesG, I actually enjoyed Animal Kingdom.

What exactly did you like about Animal Kingdom? I've only been there once and that was it.


We went on some bus ride (I don't remember the name) but the ride was about an hour and a half long where they take you to see the animals.

I remember that we stopped near some big hill and the guide said "If you look way up there you can see a lion." The bus stopped for 3 minutes and no animals were in sight.

I said to myself "I don't see anything." and the guide must have heard it so he said "Uhhh, sometimes the lions don't like to come out." and started the bus.

I've been to Disney World about 4 times, and loved it. The last time for me was back in May of '07.