Congrats to Magic Kingdom!!

[jhaig]

Epcot (for the "general" public (aka - non-Disney fans)) .. you have to admit is pretty boring. A lot of rides where you sit and get "educated" .. a disjointed theme .. and half the park is just a big shopping and eating area (which people who like rides will find awfully boring). If it wasn't for Soaring and Test Track I think a lot of newcomers to the park would just say "That's it" when it comes to rides there. I wonder what attendance at Epcot would be WITHOUT the festivals?

Nailed it

 

[cakebaker]

And so Magic Kingdom is not a theme park?

As I said, the particular label you use doesn't really matter. By definition, the MK is a theme park- but it's unique in a way no other park is. Personally, I consider the MK to 1 part of an entire experience called WDW.

And while I often use the 2 phrases interchangeably, I realize that there is a difference between a theme park and an amusement park. Since those rankings are based on the popularity of amusement parks, I can see why the Disney parks as a whole didn't fare all that well.

Again, I don't care how they ranked on TA. It's not anything that affects me in any way. I'm just curious as to the weird rankings- and I think the poster who brought up the point that TA is ranking amusement park popularity explains a great deal. In my opinion, Universal most definitely beats WDW in the amusement park category. And that's perfectly fine with me.

 

[momof2n2]

Here it is... The 2014 Annual Theme Park Awards by Amusement Today... They are called the Golden Ticket Awards.

2014 Awards

Dollywood ranks 3rd overall on that list. Ranking #1 on Friendliness, Food, and Shows.

It looks like the 2015 awards will be handed out in September.

Dollywood rocks. Been there twice. Kids beg to go back. Clean and friendly - "Good Golly, yes." And they've got some amazing thrill rides. ❤

 

[momof2n2]

Yep.

https://www.kennywood.com/

I went to school in East Tennessee, and we made jokes about Dollywood - you can imagine. Anyway, it's as much a surprise to me as anyone that it has emerged a reputable (much less award-winning) theme park.

The thing with Dollywood is they are always putting in new, cutting-edge attractions, and do a great job maintaining the older ones. You could go all day and watch show after show, or do QQ and ride yourself silly.

I don't think Discovery Cove is in the same category. It's such a boutique, premium experience (and priced that way).

It is boutique - but I think guests feel they have a great ROI. Plus they get the add on of SW & Aquatica as much as desired for 14-days and can add on BGT for very little. It really delivers on product.
The dining being included pleased many. BG parks have very good food IMO & the opinions of many.

 

[flicx]

EPCOT at least cracked the Sweet 16. Once they drop to 17th or lower, maybe EPCOT's implementation of FP+ will start to work well.

How sad is that a park with lots of room, history and a huge bankroll to back it is 16th. Of course when you shudder more rides than you open popularity falls quickly!

 

[itchin2go]

As I said, the particular label you use doesn't really matter.

Actually, labels seem to matter a lot. You know - rides vs. attractions and the like ....

 

[bcrook]

Dollywood rocks. Been there twice. Kids beg to go back. Clean and friendly - "Good Golly, yes." And they've got some amazing thrill rides. ❤

I have used the chicken door twice in my life. On my first trip to Tower of Terror, and the CM shamed me into going on the next ride. Since then it's one of my favorite rides. The other is the Mystery Mine ride at Dollywood. I got up to the loading area and bailed. My kids love to tease me about that. But I swear the ride photos on that ride are hilarious. It captures pure terror!!!! Funniest thing ever.

 

[momof2n2]

I have used the chicken door twice in my life. On my first trip to Tower of Terror, and the CM shamed me into going on the next ride. Since then it's one of my favorite rides. The other is the Mystery Mine ride at Dollywood. I got up to the loading area and bailed. My kids love to tease me about that. But I swear the ride photos on that ride are hilarious. It captures pure terror!!!! Funniest thing ever.

We can wear matching "cones of shame".
My 7 year old son braved it with DH in 2009, so we bought him a hat to commemorate.

 

[eyehartdisney]

The thing with Dollywood is they are always putting in new, cutting-edge attractions, and do a great job maintaining the older ones. You could go all day and watch show after show, or do QQ and ride yourself silly.

I'm a fan of amusement and theme parks, but really, really not a fan of country music... would you think it would be worth it to look into dollywood even with that um, dislike, of her music?

 

[momof2n2]

I'm a fan of amusement and theme parks, but really, really not a fan of country music... would you think it would be worth it to look into dollywood even with that um, dislike, of her music?

Oh yes.
You may not be intrigued by some of the shows, but the rides are very cool.
Music is piped in in the many regions, but it could just as easily be Frontierland.

I'm not a fan of country music, although I do like Dolly some.

The waterpark is excellent, too. We bought season passes and went for a week. Came and went. Lots of other things I the area, too. Feel free to PM me.

 

[aVASTGrl]

Personally, I don't put much stock in any kind of review I find on TripAdvisor. We booked a resort in the Caribbean based on the overwhelmingly positive TA reviews, and the place turned out to be a dirty dump with rude staff. I love what I love, but everyone looks for something different when it comes to a theme park or an amusement park vacation. It's very hard to say which is better when I might base my assessment on the theming and you might base it on thrill rides.

 

[prudence64]

I rather disliked IOA.

 

[larryz]

... or the Ferrari roller coaster in Saudi Arabia not even ranked.... I mean the Ferrari has been ranked as a must do by every roller coasters dream ride.

Well, if they went to Saudi Arabia to ride it, that explains why they didn't review it.

Formula Rossa is in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

 

[larryz]

I think tripadvisor covering the huge national theme parks is kinda silly. I use the site quite a bit, but I use it for hotels and restaurants. eveyones experience at a theme park can be completely different, even under the same conditions. I think tripadvisor is more useful for making sure the Hyatt in Charleston SC is properly cleaned than to find out which theme park is slightly more awesome than another.

Trip Advisors can rate attractions as well. I use those ratings to guide my experiences in places like, say, the Wisconsin Dells.

 

[larryz]

I'm only surprised that Disneyland isn't higher. Personally I would rank Universal Studios Florida as number one, then Disneyland and Magic Kingdom and Islands of Adventure. However a lot of people seem to adore Discovery Cove so that makes sense.

The same is true when it comes to Dollywood. People really seem to enjoy this park when they give it a chance.

I do think that they are all amusement parks by definition. Except maybe Epcot, that one isn't clear.

But is Animal Kingdom a zoo with rides, or an amusement park with animals?

 

[bcrook]

Personally, I don't put much stock in any kind of review I find on TripAdvisor. We booked a resort in the Caribbean based on the overwhelmingly positive TA reviews, and the place turned out to be a dirty dump with rude staff. I love what I love, but everyone looks for something different when it comes to a theme park or an amusement park vacation. It's very hard to say which is better when I might base my assessment on the theming and you might base it on thrill rides.

For tripadvisor I like to throw out the 5s and 1s and read the 3s and 4s. If the place has lots of twos, I don't bother. I get my most helpful votes for reviews I write on 3 star ratings. I just railed on the disgusting Chef Mickeys and gave it a two. Nobody will ever mark that as helpful. Lol.

 

[bcrook]

But is Animal Kingdom a zoo with rides, or an amusement park with animals?

I was wondering about that too. It didn't make the zoo list.

 

[bcrook]

Trip Advisors can rate attractions as well. I use those ratings to guide my experiences in places like, say, the Wisconsin Dells.

I rate everything on tripadvisor. Anything that pops up in a city I visited.

 

[cakebaker]

Actually, labels seem to matter a lot. You know - rides vs. attractions and the like ....

Exactly.

 

[momof2n2]

I rate everything on tripadvisor. Anything that pops up in a city I visited.

Me too. I went hog-wild on our trip from NY-OR last month. I had HOURS in the car. I even rated KFCs!!!