Most people will probably only visit Disneyland a few times in their lives, if ever. Then again, most people don't have cast members (Disney park employees) for mothers.

That makes me pretty fortunate; my mom can walk me into the park on a regular basis. For those who aren't so lucky, there's Kinect Disneyland Adventures -- a way for Xbox 360 owners to instantly transport themselves to a digital version of the park as often as they want.

But how accurate is that experience? I decided to compare the Kinect game to the real-life Magic Kingdom to see which one is more magical.

The people

Kinect Disneyland Adventures: Random assortment of the four American food-group ethnicities (black, white, Latino, and Asian)? Check. Occasional person in a wheelchair? Check. Hot moms? Double check. Perhaps this is what some kind of perverse, politically correct utopia looks like. It’s a world that doesn’t include fat, old, or unkempt people…or even babies (all the kids look to be around the same age and height).  

The folks seem to just wander around aimlessly, at times into walls. Though each person in this digital public looks attractive -- err, in a toon way -- it all seems a little too fake for me.

Disneyland: I tend to see a lot of interesting individuals at Disneyland. It’s one of the best places for people watching since no one really dresses for fashion -- most look like they’re ready to hike through Frontierland. Anytime I feel disillusioned by all the airbrushed celebrities and plastic surgery I see in the world, one quick trip to the Magic Kingdom reassures me that a lot of people on this planet still look like regular humans.

Winner: Disneyland

Rides and shows

KDLA: All of the rides in KDLA instantly send the guest into an immersive world based on the theme of the attraction. You jump, fly, and lean to collect money and avoid obstacles. Most levels tend to drag on for an awkwardly long time, and the game doesn’t really penalize you for doing poorly. For uncoordinated kids it might be fun, but any adult who has their basic motor skills down will either get too bored or tired to want to complete everything.

Plus, the developers were unable to get most of the licensed properties in the game which means no Star Tours, Indiana Jones, or Roger Rabbit rides. You can, however, walk up to where they’re supposed to be and just pretend they’re closed for maintenance. Lame.

As for attractions, aside from the occasional small group band, the park is a little bare. I think the game could have actually benefited from having some of the early Mickey Mouse cartoons playing in a theater like on the real Main Street or a Tiki Room cut-scene for nostalgia’s sake.

DL: Something about the attractions at Disneyland can turn jaded adults into kids again. Sure, waiting in line for an hour for Space Mountain can blow, but playing your cards right and taking advantage of the Fast Pass line-cutting system makes that less of an issue. If you make time for the various shows and performances in between rides, that’s a great way to maximize your entertainment time at the park. The level of well-crafted joy that comes from those experiences is what really makes Disneyland so special.

Winner: Disneyland

Meet and greet

KDLA: It’s hard to go anywhere in KDLA without running into a beloved Disney character. Enchantingly, they talk, they are their proportionate sizes, and you can dance with them. Snapping a photograph together doesn't show the real you, however -- just your avatar, which you can pose using your real body. That’s probably a good thing, though. I don’t want any evidence of me playing this children’s game in my underwear.

DL: It can be a little embarrassing waiting to visit Mickey Mouse as a full-grown adult when everyone else in line is a kid under four feet tall. But those photos do make for really sweet Facebook profile pictures….

Winner: Kinect Disneyland Adventures

Merchandise

KDLA: You can buy and collect pins, character costumes for your avatar, and more. My adventurer looked quite dapper in a Beast coat jacket from Beauty and the Beast . What’s even better is the park is littered with money waiting for you to scoop it up and get rich! But it’s all just pretend. I’m sure collecting digital goods and admiring them as they’re displayed on a TV can be thrilling for some people, but I’d rather have something I could hold in my hands.

DL: You exit the most of the rides through the gift shop at Disneyland. And even though the majority of the merchandise is grossly overpriced and cheaply made, it’s hard to resist the charm. In the end you might be out 25 bucks for a T-shirt or seven dollars for a pin, but you get to take home a tangible souvenir for a wonderful day at the park.

Winner: Disneyland

Kinect Disneyland Adventures creates a nice simulated version of the park. It can be fun to see the characters and walk around in a Matrix-esque sort of way, but anyone who’s past puberty and familiar with the real Disneyland is likely to find it a bit lacking. If you live in Southern California, nothing can beat a trip to the Magic Kingdom on a warm day. For all the Disney fans who aren’t as lucky, the cost of this game easily beats out the total bill for a vacation getaway. But you get what you pay for.