Disney World or Disneyland: Which Trip Fits Your Family?

Families in Northeast Ohio tend to ask this one with a specific question in mind: is the Florida drive or flight worth it compared to heading west? Here's how we break it down for clients.

Getting there from Akron

From Akron, Orlando is a short direct flight out of CLE or a longer drive that many families split over two days. Anaheim means a flight to LAX, SNA or ONT, plus a rental car or rideshare. If you're flying, the difference in airfare on a given week can swing either way, so we price both before recommending anything. Lots of families underestimate how much the ground transportation adds up in California.

Park days and ticket costs

Walt Disney World is spread across four theme parks plus two water parks, which is why most visitors plan five to seven days. Disneyland Resort is smaller, with two parks, so three to four days covers the highlights comfortably. Multi-day tickets get cheaper per day as the count rises, but prices shift by date and crowd level, so get a current quote rather than trusting an old blog post.

Hotels on property at either resort cost more than nearby options, but the walk and the early entry perks can be worth it with small kids.

What we'd suggest

If your kids are under six and you have a week, Florida gives you room to slow down. If you have a long weekend or are working around a school break, Anaheim is easier to fit in. Either way, book dining reservations for the headliner restaurants as soon as your window opens.

Send us your travel dates and the number of people, and we'll put together a side-by-side with airfare, tickets and lodging so you can see the real totals.