Disneyland or The Gold Coast?

hibiscus on 10/06/2023 - 21:46

Always wanted to go Disneyland when I was little but my migrant parents worked their fingers to the bone in dead end jobs just to feed, clothe and educate us. I’m now in a position where I can give my kids that Disney experience. Something for them to look back on fondly when they’re adults. I want to do that for them sometime in the next couple years, before they get too old and the magic of childhood disappears.

We’re not rolling in cash or anything, but the one-off trip is within our means. Trouble is I don’t want to be stupid with money, and I keep thinking whether the money could be better spent on a real trip, like the pyramids or Great Wall of China or something like that. If Disneyland is just a collection of rides, would we be better off just going to the theme parks on the Gold Coast?

Has anyone been to both that can give me an idea of whether the cash to magic ratio at Disney is worth it? Has any other parent had this dilemma?

Many thanks,

Travel Disneyland Gold Coast Queensland

Comments

  • berger on 12/06/2023 - 22:36

    Disneyland, along with Grand Canyon, Vegas, LA & other west coast excitement.

    • try2bhelpful on 12/06/2023 - 22:40

      Add in Yosemite National Park.

  • Hugh G Rection on 12/06/2023 - 23:10
    +3

    Disney land sucks.
    Disney World is amazing
    Orlando is amazing. They have Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, amazing shopping, restaurants, etc…

    • MrFrugalSpend on 12/06/2023 - 23:19

      Yes Orlando 100% all the Disney Parks, plus Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure (incl Wizarding World of Harry Potter), Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Centre, Florida Seaworld / Discovery Cove, etc etc

  • Realtightarse on 12/06/2023 - 23:20
    +3

    I have been to China Disney, California Disney and Orlando Disney. I would highly recommend Orlando and stay at the massive Disney Park. Their land are is 101 sq Klms big (27,000 acres). 4 parks to go to and FRO. You have Nasa down the road and the cheapest cruises to the Bahamas / Caribbean. That's what I did. I took my 7yr old son to the best rides from Midnight to 2 am when they kick out the non resort guest. Each park was open 1 night late per week for this reason, and what an experience that was. There was literally no one around. We went on pirates of the Carribean about 5 times in a row as we were the only people there. Shanghai Disney was a bit boring in comparison and the Gold coast parks don't compare at all. Go there when you are broke and unwell to travel IMO. You should also go on a cruise as it will be cheaper than staying in a crap local Hotel and you get to Visit Jamaica / Mexico Haiti etc for about $800 or less pp for a week. Have fun

    • chriskq on 13/06/2023 - 15:33
      +1

      good / interesting intel. Do you mind sharing a bit more about your itinerary please. Did the cruise come back to Orlando and then you flew back to Aust etc?

  • ColonialBoy on 13/06/2023 - 05:01
    +1

    Disneyworld in Florida is 100 square kilometers. Its a city with 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, golf courses, 40 hotels and 70,000 employees. Its near Universal & other theme parks, and not far from Kennedy Space Center. (Disney is now a huge conglomerate that has been buying other movie franchises)

    Disneyland in LA is a theme park. You can also do the major LA attractions around Hollywood. Disneyland is the No 1 tourist destination in California, and Venice Beach (where Schwarzenegger trained and started the bodybuilding revolution) is No 2.

    I was a solo traveller in LA and drove around California & Las Vegas. I also stumbled on a movie being made in LA (some minor telemovie).

  • Marrk on 13/06/2023 - 07:55

    Movie World on the Gold Coast is fine when half the rides aren't closed for maintenance, Disneyland is however a whole different level and will forever ruin Australian theme parks for me (comparing to Disneyland Paris). Our rides are fine, our theming is however amateur at best, Disney has better properties for the parade characters etc.

    I would aim for Disneyland (doesn't have to be in America, could be Paris or Tokyo) and try and get in other sightseeing in the country as well.

  • doncarajo on 13/06/2023 - 09:03
    -1

    I have been to Disney in Tokyo and Paris (not US). The lines are so long that you usually get maybe one or two good rides done in a day. I would just go to the Gold Coast for rides as at least you get on them. It is absolutely not worth it.

  • burningrage on 13/06/2023 - 10:16

    It is a shame Disney is not as good as it used to be but if I have to choose, I'd go for Disneyland (especially Tokyo Disneyland/Sea) if you want to be absolutely sure you and your family are free of political correctness.

  • Nads2407 on 13/06/2023 - 10:34

    Disneyland in Japan also has DisneySea next door you can go to. Universal studios in osaka was my favourite out of the 3.

  • darvian22 on 13/06/2023 - 14:10

    OP ; Disneyland and Universal Studios would be a wonderful experience for your kids.

    You can even make sure to visit surrounding areas.

    Having extensive knowledge of the California area, you could happily give your family a wonderful trip, full of fun at the parks and culture of the surrounding areas.

    The state has so much to offer for a family and I think that if you dig a little deeper, you will find that a trip to Disneyland would be something the kids will never forget.

    Note that it is very easily to fly to another US state from California, so if you wanted to explore a national park, or maybe even do an Alaskan cruise those options would also be very easy to add.

    I've seen Tokyo Disney pop up a bit and it is also a great job, however with young kids I found Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea did tend to suffer from being overcrowded compared to the US counterparts.

    The US is fun for people to write off, but offers so much more than what a glossy magazine cover has to offer, happy to talk more if you like :)

  • ihbh on 13/06/2023 - 14:32

    Take them to the Gold Coast and a European Holiday. Disneyland has long queues.

  • zeppeybabey on 13/06/2023 - 16:17

    The exchange rate is not friendly at the moment, but if you can afford it, go for it! It will be a trip everyone will remember.

    We were in DL Anaheim last Xmas. It was amazing (family of four, 2A 2C aged 6 and 9).

    Don't listen to those who say that you'll be lining up all day. They now have the genie add on to the tickets (costs more per ticket) but well worth it for tourists like us. Join some of the Disneyland facebook groups, and learn how to work the genie queue on the DL app on your phone. You basically stack one ride after another. We had a five day pass and were able to do everything that we wanted, with most rides walk on (and we went during their busiest week of the year). Most of the people lining up in the queues are the local Californians who can buy an annual pass for dirt cheap.

    Have been to Tokyo DL as well. That is also great, but the Anaheim one is much better imho. The Tokyo one does not have the same genie system, and they also do not have Galaxy's Edge (the new star wars section). As well, everything is in Japanese, so a lot is lost in translation.

    • chriskq on 13/06/2023 - 16:23

      what does 2A, 2C mean sorry?

      can i ask where you stayed in Anaheim?

      • vengeance88 on 13/06/2023 - 17:15
        +1

        2 Adults, 2 Children

      • zeppeybabey on 14/06/2023 - 08:31

        We were in Anaheim for 8 days, stayed half the time at the Hyatt House (15 min walk down that main street outside Disneyland). Big suite style room, free breakfast, a walgreens downstairs. Very handy. The ither half of the stay, tmwe were at the Disneyland Hotel.

        Staying on site at one of their 3 hotels (Paradise Pier, Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel) are more expensive, but it definitely adds to the "disney" experience. You get the perk of early entry before the general public, and the walk from the hotel to the theme parks is along Downtown Disney, which in itself is a lot of fun for the kids - a lot of the merchandise found inside the theme parks can be got at the shops in Downtown Disney.

  • pformag on 13/06/2023 - 16:33

    If you are going to do Disney, do the Florida one. You could also do New York on the same trip, only 1.30hr flight. We did 1 week in Florida and 2 weeks in New York. I can recommend Holiday Inn Orlando-Disney Springs® Area. Clean and is a great location with regular buses to all the Disney parks.

    It is also within walking distant (5min) to Disney Springs (Down Town Disney) and also Premium Outlet malls (clothes shopping)

  • coolroy on 13/06/2023 - 18:50

    Tokyo Disney sea is great for young children, teens, and adults alike, there is no Disney sea anywhere else in the world.
    Lucky to have enjoyed time with my family in Japan a fair few times over the years but nothing holds a candle to Tokyo Disney Sea imho.

    Also don't forget there will be a whole new theme area expansion within Tokyo Disney sea in Spring 2024, that's if you can wait that long.

    Tokyo is so easy to get around using trains and food and service are second to none ,where ever you go or stay, every thing will run smoothly and be spotlessly clean.

    Our first trip overseas as a family with two teenage boys was fantastic, just wish I had taken them when they were younger as Disneyland targets young children where as Disney Sea targets teens and older.

  • Kinjiru on 13/06/2023 - 19:49
    +1

    Hey mate,

    I've been fortunate to be able to take my family to Disneyland in LA, Orlando and also in Tokyo. The various Disneyland's around the world are all very similar so the decision is more about culture than anything else. Do you want to experience America, or Japan? If it was me, it is no contest, I would definitely prefer Japan because not only do you get to give your kids that great Disney experience, but also the whole family can enjoy Japan which is a great place to visit. In addition, if your kids like Lego, you can also take to to Legoland in Nagoya Japan. If you have any questions, please feel free to ping me.

  • spiderbite88 on 13/06/2023 - 22:48

    I would do Goldcoast first then Disney and Universal. Goalcoast parks are awesome fun. I enjoyed them more than Disneyland Tokyo.

  • nikey2k27 on 14/06/2023 - 05:43

    GC hand down cheaper easy kids will have just as much fun. it really want Disney go Toyko

  • May4th on 14/06/2023 - 17:33

    Universal studios/Sentosa Island in Singapore isnt bad either if you want a closer option although not much cheaper than Japan

  • Ramrunner on 15/06/2023 - 14:19

    Which Disneyland? We went to Disney World and that may be more worth doing the whole trip for?

    Magic Kingdom
    EPCOT
    Disney's Hollywood Studios and
    Animal Kingdom.

    We were there for 4 days but spent our time in the three parks we never made it to Animal Kingdom.

    • try2bhelpful on 15/06/2023 - 14:46
      +1

      Not part of the Parks but Kennedy Space Centre is worth the drive if you are there.

      • Ramrunner on 15/06/2023 - 14:48
        +1

        Agreed - we did that. Unfortunately it was a terrible, terrible rainy day (almost thunderstorm), but well, well worth it also.

        • try2bhelpful on 15/06/2023 - 16:26

          As I said elsewhere the man was there on his own one day and he got to go into the Vehicle Assembly Building. I was spitting chips. The tshirts from NASA are terrific.

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