Take in all the factors of Southern California: smoggy, congested, crowded, large, you get the idea. Disneyland is a small space, so trying to fit these people in there is definitely going to be difficult, and making sure they don't lash out at the world is an even bigger challenge. What follows is an item by item account of everything that happens when you are visiting Disneyland.
1) You have a family you have to get into a minivan (default) at the wee hours of the morning. Kids quantity ranging from 2-4, and ages ranging from 1-15 (a very BROAD guess)
2) You have to brave LA traffic to get to Disneyland. On average you are at least 30 miles away.
*If you have an annual pass, skip #3 & 5
3) Parking. Get ready for $17 dollars you will never see again (you're really paying for the parking attendants being very on point in directing you on where to go so there is no need to endless circling).
4) The tram. Unless you want to walk and push a stroller and drag a screaming ad/or crying kid, you wait for that tram. Not enough room? There will be another one just around the corner. Or maybe in 15 minutes.
5) Park tickets. A whopping $96 dollars (don't worry, that price will go up soon) to get into ONE park. Add on another $50 or so to get into both.
6) Waiting. You'll be waiting to do everything. And remember, you have kids to deal with, plus a cranky/dehydrated spouse. And while you might be all business, remember there are still tourists in the park who do things at a different pace. And some retards who are unaware of their surroundings. Be ready to deal with all manner of crazy people.
7) Food. Disney's gotta make money, too. Lots of it. Food for your family from a quick service restaurant will run upwards of $40-$50, and that's at the low end. Say you want to have a nice sit down meal? It's gonna be rough.
8) The endless sun. This will bring out the worst in everyone.
9) More food. Because you have ravenous little mouths to feed.
10) Souvenirs. Gotta capture your memories somehow. And your kids must have the latest Frozen merchandise. And it's gonna cost you...
11) The end of the day. You're physically and mentally exhausted, $300 in debt. You hear the screams of children and the echoes of annoying people, you're still mad at that overweight person who knowingly tried to get on Big Thunder, and in turn caused you to wait an extra five minutes. You just want to get home. It's another 30 miles home in more LA rush hour traffic.
Now by #7, you're at your breaking point. At this moment you want to murder someone. And people watching at Disney parks is depressing. Take a parent who's been subjected to this level of torture, all in the name of wanting to provide your family with something fun, and it's a recipe for disaster. Californians are generally easy going people, somewhat lax in their attitude, but when they snap, it's on a whole other level. It ranges from passive aggressive anger to straight up child abuse. Dads pushing around their kids like it was a prison yard, the most awful scorn a mother could give in the MIDDLE of a walkway; it's all terrible and horrifying to watch.
Disneyland can be stressful, when you want everything to be perfect and get your money's worth. You can't have it all, though, because too many variables exist within Disney Parks. You have to go in with few expectations and be wowed if they are exceeded. Cramming everything in one day is a recipe for disaster, and leaves little room for the fun and enchantment. And when you can't get alcohol in Disneyland and no one wants to go over to California Adventure, it only will make matters worse.
Walt Disney World, in contrast, offers a different feel: it is your vacation. It's something you planned months in advance, had time to reel from the sticker shock of the high prices, and it's something you look forward to, building up anticipation, as opposed to Disneyland, where it's more done on a whim or with little planning. Walt Disney World feels more complete, more organized and better run. It's that well-oiled machine that makes it truly a dream come true. They take the stress out of the experience. The only stresses you might have are on food prices and souvenirs in terms of monetary issues, and maybe waiting too long for a ride. And the crowds. Maybe it's not all that different.
You may have stress on a plane, but it would't be a plane ride to Orlando and stopping in either Dallas/Fort Worth or Atlanta without stress. To counterbalance the stress, Disney will shuttle you to your hotel for free. Not staying at a Disney hotel in order to save money? You're only cheating yourself. And I have no sympathy for you if you have to pay extra for a Mears motorcoach (i.e. a shitty bus). Check-in is a breeze, unless you're staying at the lower-middle class hotels and there's a giant line to check-in. But they take your bags up and give you a guide to WDW and you feel like you're in heaven. Your hotel is usually nice, and to top it all off, you get hours of entertainment with the Disney Information Channel.
Buses come get you frequently and drop you off at the park, for free. No need to deal with parking. And the only thing that awaits you is more fun, expensive food, and tacky souvenirs. And some long lines in peak seasons. And Brazilian tour groups. When you weigh this vacation verses the Disneyland vacation, you get an overall more pleasant experience. And you don't have as much blatant child abuse. Sure Disney World is more of a premium, but that experience is far more worth it than the stress of Disneyland. And that negative energy rubs off on everyone, cast members and guests alike. And the cast members pick up on it, and you have a different experience at each park. Disneyland Resort employees react to this negative energy, and when you're in a bad situation, you don't react well to it. The tenseness, the claustrophobia, it all eats away at us, and sucks our energy. After a few hours at the park, you're ready to get out of there because it just becomes too much to handle.
The cast members do their best, as they are instructed to ensure that everyone has a magical experience in the park, so you have applaud them for the level of commitment they have to the job. It's not easy working at a theme park, and under the umbrella of a huge corporate infrastructure, but they make it work. And these irate guests are just reacting to many other factors occurring in their lives, coupled with the added stress of Disneyland. The trade-off of paying a premium to produce, preserve, and protect the brand and the image may alienate and anger guests, but it is done for a reason. Just look at Six Flags, Universal and Knott's Berry Farm: they come nowhere near as close to Disneyland, and it is reflected in their price. Half the price does mean it's any more fun and magical. And Disney knows this. And that's why they succeed and will continue to succeed.
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