Many of us grew up knowing the magic of Disneyland and it's historical value. It is the ultimate theme park and the ultimate getaway destination for the family. I remember in the early 1970s my father saving up for months and months to take our family of 5 on this vacation. As the months passed the anticipation and excitement built within my being. That first trip was magical for the seven-year-old that I was. The animatronics at Disneyland of animations that I watched on Saturday morning cartoons was mind blowing and quite larger then life than I could ever imagine.
As an adult I took my wife to Disneyland. It was her first time and the experience was quite magical for even her at an adult age. By then it was 2005 and the technology had vastly improved over the first time I went with my dad in the 1970s. The magic was the same and the excitement was the same, but somehow it was different because I had the added value of watching my wife's first time. For two adults with no children it normally takes approximately 2 days but can be accomplished in one day if we skipped a few attractions. If you have children you will need three days to see all of Disneyland and California Adventure Park.
Disneyland boasts the country's best corn dog. I have to agree. Normally I could care less about corndogs from carnivals and grocery stores, but I have to tell you this corndog is phenomenal. I just love it. Just Google the words "best corn dog in America" and Disneyland will come up.
Years later we both visited DisneyWorld in Florida. I must say from the get-go although it's missing its historical value, it has become our favorite of the two parks. It is much larger and has much more to do. Disneyworld consist of four parks to Disneyland's two parks. Disneyland has the Magic Kingdom and California Adventure Park. Disneyworld consist of the vast expanse of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom theme park. For two adults no children you will need 5 days to see almost everything. If you have children you can take up to 8 to 10 days.
For my wife the shopping is also better at DisneyWorld. The Disney memorabilia is much better in quality and selection she says. DisneyWorld boasts the largest Disney Store in the United States located in Disney Springs Orlando.
The DisneyWorld area also offers much more of a selection of restaurants on and off the Disney campus. Let's face it, California is not fun to drive in and that is another advantage of DisneyWorld. Additional advantages of Disneyworld are the numerous amounts of water parks that surround DisneyWorld. It's only 20 minutes to Universal Studios and downtown Universal and it is also about two hours from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, another phenomenal amusement park.
For you and your families first time I recommend Disneyland. It is where it all began. It is magical and has great historic value. You can rest and relax on a park bench just under Walt Disney's apartment where he lived during the construction of the Disneyland Park. Don't forget the corn dogs as you will not find one as good anywhere in the United States, not even DisneyWorld has corndogs as good.
Your second trip I recommend a DisneyWorld vacation. Your mind will be blown by the immense size of this theme park.