Hi there, Signe, and welcome to
planDisney!
Here, it's always the
practically perfect day to begin planning your next Disney vacation, no matter the destination, and as a Mouseketeer who has visited Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disneyland Paris this year, I'm absolutely delighted you've stopped by with this particular question!
I understand that you'd like to begin making payments for your upcoming vacation as soon as possible, but because Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in California, and Disneyland Paris are all separate entities, you'll need to choose which magical corner of the world you'd like to visit before you begin the booking process. With this in mind, I'd love to provide a bit of insight about each destination to help you make your decision!
While all three of the destinations you're considering have similarities and are home to certain Disney mainstays — like a Main Street, U.S.A. leading to fairytale castles, immersively themed accommodations, captivating entertainment, encounters with beloved characters, and classic attractions such as my favorite, Dumbo the Flying Elephant — each one also offers its own sights, sounds, experiences, and tastes that set it apart from the others.
- Walt Disney World Resort is the largest of the 3 and home to 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and 25 Disney Resort hotels in addition to multiple shopping and recreation offerings. Because of its size, you won't be able to walk between the theme parks or hotels, but the complimentary transportation networks of buses, boats, monorails, and aerial gondolas make navigating a breeze. My personal Walt Disney World highlights include Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Slinky Dog Dash, the wildlife of Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the Resort Monorail Loop.
- Disneyland Resort is Walt's original handiwork, and a stroll down Main Street feels like stepping into Disney history. Disneyland's compact size makes it super easy to walk between the 2 theme parks, Downtown Disney, and the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels. In addition to the nostalgia of Disneyland Park, my Disneyland must-dos include Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!, Pixar Pier, and catching a performance of Fantasmic! on the Rivers of America.
- Disneyland Paris's 2 theme parks, 8 Disney Hotels, and Disney Village make such a fun addition to a European vacation. Disneyland Park features what many of us here at planDisney consider the fairest castle of them all, as well as my favorite iteration of the iconic Disney attraction, Big Thunder Mountain. In 2026, Walt Disney Studios Park's transformation into Disney Adventure World will be unveiled and include the highly anticipated World of Frozen.
For more specific information on what each destination has to offer, I encourage you to check out the
Disney Parks Blog and the
Disney Parks YouTube Channel, where you'll find details on theme park updates, seasonal offerings, and even hotel tours. Once you've made your decision, I highly recommend booking directly through Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, or Disneyland Paris so that you can pay in installments and take advantage of flexible booking policies in case your plans change.
I hope this was helpful, Signe, and that it's clear there truly is no 'bad' choice when it comes to picking which Disney destination you'll visit next. Whether the pixie dust leads you to California, Florida, or Paris, you're sure to make magical memories that will last a lifetime!
Thinking Happy Thoughts,
Lizzie