Is There Life After Disney World?

I know many of you travel to Walt Disney World over and over again without a thought of vacationing at other Disney destinations. Over the years I’ve spent a few days at Disneyland here and there, but this time I went for the gusto and planned for five nights. And believe it or not I found that there really is a life after Walt Disney World!

My first hint of the difference between Walt Disney World and Disneyland was when I realized I was leaving for my trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth” in only two weeks, and I had absolutely no dinner reservations made. I actually started to slightly panic just thinking about it! But lo and behold everything I wanted was available. What? No calling first thing in the morning 180 days out? No credit card guarantee for signature and character dining? Impossible! I even snagged a table at the coveted Napa Rose the afternoon of the same day I wanted to dine. It was May, however, when Disneyland Resort is not filled to capacity, but nevertheless I was stunned.

Napa Rose’s Smiling Tiger Salad

Shortly after arrival and check-in at the newly renovated and super cool Disneyland Hotel, I made my way to Disneyland Park. I stopped short when I realized that neither a bus or even a monorail (although one is conveniently located just outside the hotel) was required to reach the park. It’s an easy 10-minute stroll to either Disneyland or California Adventure from the hotel and even closer from the resort’s two other hotels, the Grand Californian and Paradise Pier.

In fact the ease of transportation (or lack of it) is fantastic! So different from Walt Disney World where it requires traveling via bus, monorail, or boat from most resorts to a park. And if you want to switch parks between Disneyland and California Adventure it’s just a matter of strolling across a broad plaza. Simply a breath of fresh air!

I had to gear up for the shock of that first glimpse of Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, just a fraction of the size of the Magic Kingdom’s icon, but I quickly discovered that the rest of the park is absolutely charming. Wander through narrow, winding streets in the New Orleans’s Square area, stroll through and even inside the castle to ride unfamiliar and charming attractions in Fantasyland, even Main Street has it’s peculiarities that is sure to please. And with the opening next month (June 15th to be exact) of Cars Land at California Adventure there will be an entirely new land to explore!

The nighttime shows and attractions are amazing. World of Color is perhaps the most fantastic show you can imagine with more than 1,000 jets of water combined with fire, color wheels of light, and shimmering mists that project Disney and Pixar characters along with exciting music. The Magical fireworks show at Disneyland is oh so nostalgic with the addition of Tinker Bell and Dumbo literally flying around Sleeping Beauty Castle. And the shock of seeing a full-size pirate ship and the Mark Twain riverboat as part of the Disneyland’s Fantasmic! show was worth the entire trip.

And wait…did I mention the fabulous weather, beautiful beaches within minutes of the parks, and a vibe that you’ll never find in Florida? Maybe I shouldn’t push it too far. I’ll get to that another time…

Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World® Resort, a guide book designed for travelers who desire to experience the Walt Disney World® Resort without sacrificing luxury and style. With over 30 years of experience in the travel industry she is now considered an authority on Disney luxury travel.

Cara has appeared as a leading Disney expert on two Travel Channel specials, Disney Splurge! and Disney Royalty. She has also been cited numerous times in national news articles, in such notable publications as Forbes Traveler, as an expert on the Walt Disney World® Resort.

She is an independent agent and Chief Executive Concierge at Glass Slipper Concierge, a division of Sanborn’s Travel Service.