3. Change is a good thing

Disneyland turned Space Mountain into "Hyperspace Mountain" -- but not forever.
Image: HarshLight, Flickr (license)

One of the biggest differences between Walt Disney World and Disneyland are the guests. In Orlando, the vast majority of the visitors are tourists traveling from all across the world. For many, it's their once-in-a-lifetime trip to visit the mouse. For some, they come every year or two.

Disneyland, on the other hand, is a locals park – and you feel that throughout the day. Even on a crowded afternoon, there's far less urgency in the air than there is in Orlando. For most, if they can't do a certain attraction, they'll just come back some other time and do it. It's not such a big deal.

And what's particularly interesting about that locals-centric atmosphere is that manifests itself in two specific ways. The first is that Disneyland is kept immaculately well – everything from the floors of the bathrooms to the (fake) cobwebs in the Haunted Mansion are maintained exactly how you'd want them to be. The second is that Disney always tries to keep the park fresh.

That means, yes, they'll change things up pretty often. Sometimes, those changes are permanent – such as the construction of Star Wars Land in the Rivers of America, or Star Tours replacing Adventure Thru Inner Space. Some changes are simply for a season, like the immensely popular and brilliantly designed Hyperspace Mountain overlay on the classic Tomorrowland attraction.

Florida-loyalists tend to think of Disneyland as being an unblemished “classic” park, and while it's true that much of the park is still Walt's original vision, it has also changed immensely in the last 30 years. Some of those changes have been good, some bad, but the risks have all been fascinating. We're still trying to build a sense of history with our beloved theme park in Orlando, and so we can sometimes be fearful of change. Disneyland, paradoxically, has seemed to embrace it. And it's all the most special because of it. Change brings with it surprises, and that fresh feeling is unmatched.

4. Feeling lost in a Disney park is stressful (and thrilling)

Uhh ... how'd I get to Port Orleans?
Image: Martin Lewison, Flickr (license)

One of the things we tend to take for granted is how well we know the geography of our beloved parks. Right now, without looking, I could probably draw a decent map of the Magic Kingdom from memory alone. If you're reading this blog, I have no doubt that you could do the same thing too.

So, it's easy to forget: There's no feeling quite like dropping into a Disney park and having no idea where to go or what to do.

On the one hand, yes, it's stressful – particularly if you find yourself in Adventureland and you have a narrow Fastpass window closing over in Fantasyland. But on the other hand, there's something liberating about it.

Perhaps, in your confused state, you'll stumble upon a spontaneous musical performance. Or maybe you'll take a wrong turn and find yourself watching a thrilling stage production of your favorite Disney movie. The less you know, the more you're open to being surprised by what you discover. And, ultimately, that sense of discovery is one of the reasons we always keep coming back to Disney parks.

So, while it may be stressful navigating a new park for the first time, it's also an immensely special experience you won't forget.

5. There's no place like home

Leaving Disneyland
Image: HarshLight, Flickr (license)

But as special as Disneyland is – and it really, truly is a gem – the thing you learn most on a trip out that way is just how much you love Walt Disney World.

Disney's parks and the attractions contained within are works of art, yes. They're beautifully constructed pieces of immersive storytelling, with eye-catching sets, thrilling rides, and moving themes. And, yes, they should be hugely appreciated for the artful construction that goes into them and the techniques of design that they utilize.

But they're also so much more than just ink and plaster and steel. They're places we commune with friends and family to relax and forget the stresses of the real world. They're experiences we share with one another – ones which bring us closer together, and which link us in moments we'll recall for months and years and decades. They're stuff of warm memories just as much as they are works of intricate art. Without those memories we've crafted before, all we experience is the art.

What brings us back to Walt Disney World time and again is not just the artfulness of the resort's masterful design. It's not just the thrills and spills of the attractions, or the sights and sounds of parades. We're drawn back to Walt Disney World because of the enchanting notion that a place so magical and otherworldly can also, impossibly, feel like home.

Disneyland is wonderful. You should go at least once, and preferably more than that. But if you're a fan of the Florida Project, be prepared: It will not scratch that itch. You're just gonna want to visit Walt Disney World again that much more.