Disney World vs. Disneyland Size

Disney theme parks are basically cities. In fact, Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, is about the same size (in acres) as San Francisco. But is bigger better when choosing between Disney World and Disneyland? And how do you compare Disney World’s size versus Disneyland?

• Disneyland is 500 acres in size.

• Disney World is much larger, at 30,080 acres.

Here's a look at these two different locations, what they have to offer and how they differ when it comes to size.

» Learn more: Ways to save on your first — or next — Disney vacation

Disneyland is the original Disney theme park, having opened in 19555 (though in 2001 Disney opened a second park right across the street). It's located in Anaheim, California, which is about 35 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

• Size: About 500 acres.

• Theme parks: 2 — Disneyland Park (opened 1955) and Disney California Adventure (opened 2001).

• Hotels: 3 Disney-owned hotels — the Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

• Shopping & dining: Downtown Disney District.

Disneyland started on a 160-acre plot in Anaheim and has expanded to 500 acres surrounded by city streets. You can literally walk from one park entrance to the other in under two minutes — a fact locals love.

How long it takes to explore all of Disneyland: You can experience most of Disneyland Resort in two to three days.

» Learn more: How to stay at Disney hotels for cheap (or free)

Walt Disney World is the sprawling resort in Orlando, Florida.

• Size: About 47 square miles (30,000 acres) — roughly the size of San Francisco.

• Theme parks: 4 — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

• Water parks: 2 — Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.

• Hotels: More than 30 Disney-owned resorts, plus the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve (operated by Marriott).

• Shopping & dining: Disney Springs, a massive entertainment district.

Animal Kingdom alone is 580 acres — bigger than the entire Disneyland Resort. Because of the scale, you’ll need buses, boats, monorails, or gondolas (Skyliner) to get around.

How long it takes to explore all of Walt Disney World: To see all four parks and more, you’ll want at least five to seven days.

That depends on your group and your goals:

• Disneyland wins for convenience. The parks are steps apart, Downtown Disney is right next door and most nearby hotels are walkable. Perfect for families with young kids or short trips.

• Disney World wins for variety. With four parks, two water parks and dozens of resorts, there’s more to do — but it takes serious planning and stamina.

Think of it this way: Disneyland is a long weekend trip that can be combined with other activities in Los Angeles and Orange County. Disney World is a full vacation.

If this is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, you might want to spring for the on-site hotels, which come with added perks like Extra Magic Hours and more Disney spirit. But these stays can be notoriously pricy, so it pays to find ways to save where you can.

You could consider staying off-property and booking your hotel with points and miles. While you give up some conveniences and perks, the cost may be easier to swallow.

Most Disney-owned hotels can't be booked with travel rewards, but a smart workaround is to book your stays via an eligible online travel portal.

Several Disney-owned and operated hotels can be booked via Capital One’s travel portal, allowing you to redeem your Capital One Miles for your stay. This is a unique perk that isn't available for every bank rewards program; for instance, you can't directly book hotels owned and operated by Disney using Chase Ultimate Rewards® points in the Chase travel portal.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

These bookings come with some considerations. Possible benefits include the ability to earn rewards in your preferred program or get access to special travel deals. That said, the prices might not always be the cheapest. You might also run into hiccups if you encounter problems with your reservation — you'll have to liaise problems with the bank's customer service team, who may be less familiar with the specific hotel or have limited power to resolve issues.

• If you want a walkable, classic Disney trip with manageable planning, Disneyland is the perfect size.

• If you’re ready for a full-blown Disney vacation with endless rides, shows, hotels and restaurants, Disney World is unmatched in scale.

Both deliver plenty of Disney magic — but one is a weekend trip, and the other is practically its own city.

Featured image courtesy of Disneyland Resort.