Are you planning a trip to Southern California and are debating visiting Disneyland vs LEGOLAND? Keep scrolling for my complete comparison of these California theme parks so you can make an informed decision.
This comparison of Disneyland vs LEGOLAND California was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Planning a family vacation and not sure which theme park to choose between Disneyland vs LEGOLAND?
I get a lot of questions from families trying to decide between LEGOLAND and Disneyland, so I thought this would be a great post to write, and I could pour out all my thoughts and opinions.
Disneyland and LEGOLAND are both fantastic theme parks but offer different experiences. In this post, I’ll break down the pros and cons of each park so you can decide which is right for your next family vacation.
I know it can be tough deciding between the two parks, but hopefully, this post will make the decision a little bit easier for you.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip to Disneyland or LEGOLAND, California, today!
Disneyland vs LEGOLAND FAQs
LEGOLAND tickets start at $95 for kids ages 3-12 and $101 for people ages 13 and older. Disneyland tickets range between $98-$150 for kids ages 3-9 and $104-$159 for people ages 10 and older (depending on the day). Kids ages 2 and younger are free at both parks.
Nope! LEGOLAND still doesn’t get the same crowds as Disneyland on its most crowded days. Disneyland often has special events and new attractions (like the Avengers Campus) that attract even more crowds.
Both parks are super fun for toddlers. If you are just going with toddlers or young kids and want a chill theme park, head to LEGOLAND. You can easily have a fun LEGOLAND vacation for just 2 or 3 days. If you have more time, Disneyland is really fun for toddlers. If you have 3-5 days, you can go at a slower pace.
Best SoCal Vacation: Disneyland vs LEGOLAND California
Disneyland Pros and Cons
How Big is Disneyland?
Disneyland actually consists of two parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. These are right next to each other. Most people visit both parks during their trip unless they are just doing a day trip to Disneyland.
Disneyland is about 500 acres and people walk between 6-8 miles daily.
Each park has different “lands” that consist of rides, food options, and other attractions.
Getting to Disneyland
If you’re flying to Disneyland, you’ll probably fly into either Santa Ana (SNA) or Los Angeles (LAX). Santa Ana is much closer, but the flight deals are sometimes better for LAX.
You can rent a car and drive to your hotel or catch an Uber/Lyft/taxi. Just be sure to bring your own car seats if your kids need them.
We’ve done both car rentals and Uber, and I personally prefer taking an Uber if we are just doing Disneyland and staying across the street from the Disneyland entrance. It’s really fast and easy.
Disneyland Hotel Options
One of the great things about Disneyland is that there are a TON of hotels within walking distance of the park entrances.
If you want to stay at an official Disney park hotel, you have three options: Disney Grand Californian Resort & Spa, Disneyland Hotel, and the Pixar Place Hotel (Formerly Disney Paradise Pier Hotel).
But you can also stay at a “good neighbor” hotel at various price points. We love the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground, Anaheim Fairfield Inn by Marriott, and the Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance.
Disneyland Tickets
The best place to get Disneyland tickets is through Get Away Today. They sell park tickets as well as hotel packages that include tickets. You can also find discount Disney gift cards that can help offset the cost of a Disneyland vacation.
There are a few different Disneyland ticket options. You can get tickets for one park per day. This is the cheapest option but it limits you to visiting just Disneyland or Disney California Adventure in one day.
There are also Park Hopper tickets that allow you to switch parks at 2 pm each day (and then go back and forth as much as you like).
Finally, there you can pay extra to add on Genie Plus. This replaced their FastPass system, which lets you enter a separate (and usually much shorter) line for specific rides.
What are the Best Ages for a Disneyland Vacation?
Disneyland is pretty fun for people of all ages (including babies, toddlers, and grandparents).
There are plenty of rides in Fantasyland that work well for little kids as well as people who “don’t like rides.”
It’s a great place to find thrill rides like giant Disneyland roller coasters, dark rides, and ones with lots of scary drops.
Disneyland is a better pick than LEGOLAND in terms of rides if you’re traveling with teens, tweens, or other adults without kids.
What Does a Day at Disneyland Look Like?
I’ll be frank: Disneyland days are LONG. The parks open pretty early (even earlier for Disneyland hotel guests) and sometimes don’t close until midnight.
Many families like to “rope drop,” which means they are in line for the ride they want as soon as the park opens. They let guests into Disneyland 15-30 minutes early specifically so people can walk to the rides before anything is open.
But you’ll need to go through security first (which can take a while) and then get in the entrance line (at least 30 minutes before the park opens). That’s a pretty early morning.
Once you’re in the park, you’ll need a solid game plan of which rides to do in what order. Disneyland is pretty spread out, so going to one “land” at a time makes the most sense.
After a bunch of rides, people usually either get a snack or get a full lunch. There are many food options, and you can even place a mobile order to save time.
In the afternoon, many families with little kids will return to the hotel for a nap or pool break.
Then, there are more rides, parades, and dinners inside the park. Usually, you’ll want a dining reservation to have a sit-down dinner.
Sometimes, there’s another parade, and then there are usually nightly fireworks. The parks stay open really late.
Disneyland Rides
When it comes to Disneyland, they really have something for everyone. And each “land” is completely immersive.
You can find a full list of Disneyland rides, but a few notable ones include both of the Star Wars rides at Galaxy’s Edge, the new Webslingers ride at the Avengers Campus, and the Incredicoaster.
They also have classic Disney park rides like “it’s a small world”, Indiana Jones Adventure, the Pirates of the Caribbean, the teacups, and Dumbo.
Shopping at Disneyland
If you are a shopper, Disneyland is one of the most fun places to either browse adorable items or find unique gifts. You can shop at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney; they all sell different items.
If you’re staying at a Disneyland hotel, you can even have your purchases sent to your room!
However, the plethora of shopping options can be overwhelming, especially if you have kids who want souvenirs every 5 seconds. A lot of the rides even exit through a ride-specific gift shop.
Disneyland Food Options
You can find almost any kind of food at Disneyland. There are many sit-down restaurants (many with reservations available), fast-casual restaurants, and many snack stands. They also have Starbucks and other coffee options.
They also have Disney character meals at the hotels and in the parks.
What’s extra cool is that there’s often some event with special food options.
LEGOLAND Pros and Cons
How Big is LEGOLAND?
LEGOLAND California has 128 acres, which means there is less walking than at Disneyland.
When most people talk about LEGOLAND, they just refer to LEGOLAND Park. But there’s also the Water Park and SEA LIFE Aquarium.
LEGOLAND Park is one big loop that slightly goes uphill and then backs down again. There are different themed areas along the loop that include themed rides, food options, and decor.
Getting to LEGOLAND California
LEGOLAND California is about an hour’s drive from the San Diego International Airport. It can be even longer during rush hour.
You can either rent a car at the airport and drive yourself or do an Uber/Lyft or taxi. Just be sure to bring car seats or booster seats for any kids who need them.
The drive from the airport to LEGOLAND is fairly straight on the freeway, and I wouldn’t call it a scenic drive.
LEGOLAND Hotel Options
There are two official LEGOLAND hotels: the LEGOLAND Hotel and the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. They are just a few feet from each other and are about a 10-second walk to the park entrance.
I highly recommend staying at one of these hotels because the themed rooms are amazing, and they have TONS of activities to keep kids occupied once the park is closed. Read my reviews of the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel and the LEGOLAND Hotel.
Plus, both of these hotels come with a free buffet breakfast that is fantastic.
However, LEGOLAND hotels tend to be pricier than other hotels. There are a few others within walking distance of the park.
LEGOLAND Tickets
The best place to get LEGOLAND tickets is through Get Away Today. They sell park tickets as well as hotel packages that include tickets. Check rates HERE.
Another option is to take advantage of the LEGOLAND Black Friday deals directly through LEGOLAND California, which is usually the year’s lowest price.
There are several options for LEGOLAND tickets. There’s the standard LEGOLAND ticket that gets you into the LEGOLAND Park.
Or, you can get a combination ticket that includes the SEA LIFE Aquarium.
What are the Best Ages for a LEGOLAND Vacation?
My opinion is that LEGOLAND is best for kids ages 2-10 years old. I’m not saying you shouldn’t bring older or younger kids, but it’s set up for toddlers and tweens.
There’s a section of the park geared for toddlers and preschoolers (DUPLO land) and little kids can do some of the other rides throughout the park.
There are also three roller coasters and a couple of medium thrill rides that are great for slightly older kids.
But teens will be bored unless they accompany younger kids and are being good sports about it.
What Does a Day at LEGOLAND Look Like?
The hours at LEGOLAND California usually run 10 am-5 pm or 10 am-6 pm. That’s a much shorter park day than Disneyland.
So, most people have a leisurely breakfast in their hotel before heading to the park. The line to get into the park usually isn’t very long. Oh, and LEGOLAND hotel guests can get in 30 minutes early.
If you enter 30 minutes early, there are only four rides open. So, people usually head for one of those first.
LEGOLAND is set up as a loop. So, you can either walk the loop to the right or the left.
People usually do a few rides and then sit and eat lunch. There are many playgrounds, LEGO building areas, and other non-ride things to do.
Then, families finish off their day with a few more rides before returning to their hotel. LEGOLAND hotels have programming that starts when the parks close and ends around 9 pm.
It’s a pretty relaxed pace of the day, even if you run around trying to find the shortest ride wait times.
LEGOLAND Rides
Most of the rides at LEGOLAND California are less “glitzy” than at Disneyland. Some of the rides have slightly outdated tech, and many outdoor rides could use a bit of sprucing up.
However, there are a ton of rides for preschoolers, toddlers, and kids up to about 12 years old. See the full list of LEGOLAND rides.
I found that the ride wait times on the app aren’t very accurate. We went on a ride that said it was a 10-minute wait, but we were there for at least 30 minutes.
Shopping at LEGOLAND
There is definitely less temptation for shopping at LEGOLAND California. I mean, there are some really cool LEGO stores, but most carry the same items at the big Brick store at the entrance of the park. This is good and bad.
It’s helpful for parents who want to wait and buy souvenirs as they leave the park. Or have their purchases sent to the park exit? And kids are slightly less tempted to stop at every store because it’s mostly the same stuff.
But, if you’re a shopper, it’s not as much fun as shopping at Disneyland. And there aren’t very many items exclusive to LEGOLAND California.
LEGOLAND Food Options
The food options at LEGOLAND are pretty limited. There are a few fast-casual restaurants, lunch stands, and snack shops. And the food doesn’t open until an hour or two after the park opens.
Granny’s Apple Fries is one of my favorite theme park snacks. They are fries made out of Granny Smith apples coated in sugar and cinnamon, and they are super tasty!
Should You Do Both Disneyland and LEGOLAND?
You can definitely do both parks on a Southern California vacation. We’ve done that before, and it’s a blast.
I recommend starting with LEGOLAND California because it’s smaller, less overwhelming, and it’s a shorter park day. And it doesn’t have the same razzle-dazzle “magic” as Disneyland.
Then, take a transition day as you drive to Disneyland to rest and play at a hotel pool or hang out in Downtown Disney before starting your Disneyland vacation.