Many have visited the happiest place on Earth, whether it be on the east or west coast.  Although most students from North Allegheny have visited the Disneyland theme park in Orlando, can the Anaheim park be even better? I’ve had the opportunity to visit both, and though I do have a clear answer in mind, I would like to explore the qualities of both parks more in-depth. 

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Anaheim: The Original Theme Park 

Anaheim’s Disneyland was the first ever Disney theme park, opened on July 17, 1955.  The fact that it is the original certainly intrigued me before my visit–I was excited to experience the original. I knew that it would be much smaller than the one currently open in Orlando, but this did not quiet my excitement. There would still be keen differences among the parks, and I wanted to see them. After visiting, though, Anaheim’s park did not completely fulfill my great expectations. 

I knew it was much smaller, but the quality of the rides and attractions also fell short. The wait times for popular rides were long, as usual, but rarely were they ever deserving of the 1-3 hour wait times that were constantly displayed in bright orange letters. Having done one of these crowded rides–a Star Wars-themed one, to be exact–I was expecting the 2-3 minute ride to be appealing and unique. Instead, I left feeling unsatisfied and feeling that I could have spent that hour waiting in line elsewhere. The only ride I liked was a Finding Nemo-themed ride under the water (even though I typically enjoy faster rides) due to the well-designed displays outside of the windows of the “submarine.” I also enjoyed It’s A Small World, but it was not something that made the park any more distinct, as I found the ride to be fairly similar to the one in the Orlando theme park. 

Despite feeling slightly disappointed, I still liked some parts of the park. The decorations were beautiful, especially during the holidays, and great parades were conducted with all the beloved Disney characters. The performers chosen for each character were an excellent fit; they perfectly resembled the one they set out to portray and gave the parade the magical touch it needed. Watching the parade and strolling through the beautifully hung Christmas lights brightened up my experience, and thus, I cannot conclude that my entire visit was lackluster. Easy transportation to and from the park was a plus ,too! 

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Orlando

The memory of my visit to Orlando is a bit foggier than my very recent visit to Anaheim, but the Florida trip is what led me to a stronger belief in Disney’s famous tagline of being the happiest place on earth. Even though the scorching heat of the Florida sun and the overcrowded lines were extremely unpleasant, the attractions made the entire experience worthwhile. One of my favorite rides, in particular, was Avatar’s Flight of Passage. Despite waiting in line for almost two hours and being a very impatient tween, I left the ride without an ounce of regret. The displays while waiting in line were also well designed, providing a nice view instead of staring at your phone for two hours.  

The food and decorations at this theme park were also fantastic–in the depths of my brain, I still remember the taste of the cold Mickey Mouse ice cream and the delicious lunch I had during my visit. The magical castle at this park was also more intricately designed compared to Anaheim’s–an eye-catching sight that I stayed still to look at despite the sweat dripping down my forehead. 

I did not particularly like the transportation system in Orlando, however, as our parking spot was always quite far from the park. Riding a small tram and then walking across the parking lot was a bit much for me. While Anaheim had somewhat of a similar transport, it took less time to reach our car, and ways in and out were straight to the point and direct. Overall, though, my time in Orlando’s theme park remains a fond experience. 

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I, of course, side with Orlando’s theme park on this question. Admittedly, as Anaheim’s park was the first opened, there are more limitations as to what rides and attractions they can implement, whereas Orlando’s theme park was opened more recently and covers a bigger area. However, the quality of rides in Anaheim’s Disneyland could use some improvement, especially the rides that are essentially simulation, but this is only a main concern if you, like me, prioritize trying out all that the park has to offer. If your main priority is decorations and simply experiencing the surroundings, both parks fit the bill of the Happiest Place on Earth.