We are flying to LA and only have enough time to bisit one of these attractions. We are a couple in our mid-fifties, and we've never been to either. Would like to hear the pros and cons of each from people who have been to both recently. We will be in LA in mid-Jan - the available days will be either a Friday or Saturday.

Do you keep up with the movies and TV shows? If so, Universal will be interesting.

Do you like Disney-esque theme parks? Rides?

Will you have a ride to OC for Disneyland? Are you staying in town w/o transportation?

There are now shopping areas next to each attraction, Downtown Disney and the Universal Lot area.

With all due respect, how can strangers choose for you?

I am about your age, and enjoyed both.

If you can't choose, is there a 3rd option - to visit something else?

If you grew up watching the Mickey Mouse Club, Disneyland might evoke feelings of happy nostalgia. But I think Universal Studios is more geared to adults. And City Walk, outside Universal, has some good dining and entertainment venues too.

If you're thrill seekers, forget Disney and Universal and go to Six Flags Magic Mountain instead.

If you've been to Disney World, then maybe try Universal. With Univ you'd also have time to visit another attraction that day....the Hollywood Walk of Fame , or the LA.Zoo, or the Getty Center, or WB Studios.

If you've never been to any Disney park, then definitely Disney.

I far prefer Disney to Universal. I think the grounds at Disney are beautiful and the rides are more diverse. Just my opinion.
If you have never been, I think you would enjoy it.

Definitely Disneyland. We've been several times, and while we still prefer Disney World, DL has a real charm to it. California Adventure is also great fun. They have one day park hoppers available so you can do both parks, choosing the best from each park.

There's a Best Western DIRECTLY across the street, the BW Inn and Suites. Stayed there in july 05 - you can't get any closer unless you stay ON the property. Clean, free con't breakfast, and did i mention it's close?!

Have fun!

Another vote for Disneyland. Universal in California just doesnt stack up. (Orlando is another story though)

I'm going to take a different tack here.

If you're looking for the whole Theme Park experience and have a big streak of nostalgia for a carefully-controlled environment geared to kids: Disneyland. It's the Original. The one in Orlando may be bigger and glitzier, but remember: It's not the Original (other than EPCOT, no theme park in Orlando is an Original; they're basically ALL improved versions of California parks).

If you want to mix the Theme Park Experience with some real motion picture history, Universal Studios. And then, you HAVE to pony up the extra dough for the VIP Tour; you'll get real time on the Universal Backlot. After all, this theme park was and still is a working motion picture and TV studio with 80-odd years of history.

My preference would be Universal, since there is a key aspect of the experience that the Orlando park can't duplicate: The historic movie studio. I'm a bit more blasé on Disneyland-- but then again, I live 15 minutes away, so it's not that big a deal any more.

Have not been to the ones in LA but comparing Florida Disney to Florida Universal - Disney hands down. There is no comparison.

MGM is our favorite park. Has a lot of good-for-adults things to do. Magic Kingdom is great also. Least fav is Epcot but they do have the different lands there. Magic Kingdom is geared more for the kids.

I've been to both. Disneyworld, IMHO.

Universal is much like a Hollywood geared thrill ride adventure park, quite a lot like Six Flags. To me Disney is not cartoon characters, but another whole aspect of park style.

JJ5: The OP is deciding between the two parks in southern California, not Orlando. The experience is somewhat different for both parks (Disneyland/Disney California Adventure is less overwhelming than the FL Disney juggernaut; Universal Hollywood is a fairly low-key theme park stapled onto a working movie studio-- if you go on a weekday, you will probably see something being filmed or taped--, while Universal Florida is a bigger-deal theme park with perfunctory TV production facilities). I think the decision has to be based upon what is more interesting: Cinema history or a kid-centric Dreamland (it's a small world, after all).

Oh thanks, I feel like Rosanna Rosanna Danna. Never mind!

JJ5: No problem at all, although I think you mean that other beloved Gilda Radner character Emily Litella. Remember her getting all outraged over the government wanting to protect our endangered feces? Or wondering why people were concerned about there being too much violins on TV?

But Roseanne Roseannadanna-- ahh, she was a slice herself, wasn't she? "HEY! DR. JOYCE BROTHERS! WIPE THAT SWEAT BALL OFF YOUR NOSE, FOR CHRISSAKE!! YOU TRYIN' TO MAKE ME SICK?!?!?"

We miss you, Gilda. I hope you're tap-dancing up there and making everyone laugh!

Definitely Disneyland. It offers many more options on how to spend the day than Universal does

I don't think Disneyland is kid-centric, I think it is for adults and young people with imaginations.

I just went on the Pirate of the Carib. ride and it is so clever with its new Johnny Depp character.

But then Universal does have the factor of show biz. It's tillThen's call.