Has Disney ruined you for other parks?

[Laurajean1014]

Most definately. Everywhere we go, we compare it to WDW and nothing can (not even DL). I have been happily ruined.

 

[Quinn222]

There are other parks?

 

[golden1]

As a total vacation experience, WDW blows other parks away, IMO. It reallt is all things to all people. I like other parks but only for a day or two. Six Flags has better thrill rides but the theming is sub-par. I liked Busch Gardens Williamsburg second best after Disney.

 

[momandseandodisney]

Not only has WDW ruined me for other parks, but for basically any other vacation spot. Everytime I start to think of going someplace else, I think to myself "or we could go do Disney World..."

Ahh, me too!

 

[JPN4265]

You mean they have other parks?

 

[MissMagnolia]

We just got back from Hershey Park in PA and I was SOOOOO disappointed. They even have a ride called Reese's Extreme that is trying to mimic Buzz Lightyear's Ranger Spin - not even close. They actually had people from the park polling those getting off the ride to ask what they thought - one of their questions was if you'd been on another ride similar... .

For those with small children (mine are 3 and 6) other parks certainly don't have the magic. All the rides that are for my 3-year-old's height are little midway type rides.

Everything was expensive and not up to Disney's level. Now, when I factor in the FREE DINING we are getting at the end of August (considering all the $$$ we spent on food at Hershey) HOW can you NOT love Disney!

 

[Jalva22]

Yes. We're another Oklahoma family leaving for Branson on Saturday. After WDW last year, I'm having a lot of trouble getting excited about this trip. I've been looking for a place to buy the t-shirt featured on an episode of the Simpsons: "We settled for Branson". Just kidding. We love the Ozark mountain area, and it will be a different kind of trip. Silver Dollar City is not in the same universe as WDW, but it's very nice in its own way. Still, if I had the funds for WDW this summer, I'd be there in a heartbeat!

 

[Karibeth19]

Yes. We're another Oklahoma family leaving for Branson on Saturday. After WDW last year, I'm having a lot of trouble getting excited about this trip. I've been looking for a place to buy the t-shirt featured on an episode of the Simpsons: "We settled for Branson". Just kidding. We love the Ozark mountain area, and it will be a different kind of trip. Silver Dollar City is not in the same universe as WDW, but it's very nice in its own way. Still, if I had the funds for WDW this summer, I'd be there in a heartbeat!

That is too funny!! My DH and I went to Las Vegas for a weekend back in May, and as we were driving into Branson, we kept quoting Bart Simpson: "Branson is like Las Vegas if it was run by Ned Flanders."

The Ozarks are very beautiful, and it is a nice weekend trip for us Oklahomans. Be sure to visit Branson Landing, which is just east of downtown on the lake. It's a brand new shopping/dining district, and it's very nice. In fact, I think this weekend they are having their grand opening celebration. It is also "Welcome Home, Vietnam Vets" week, and they had the travelling Vietnam Memorial wall at the Mansion America theater parking lot last weekend. I'm not sure if it's still there this weekend, but it was very interesting and moving to visit. Have a great weekend, and try not to think of Disney too much!

 

[mordux]

No question about it.
We have completely given up on 6 flags.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

In our minds, nothing compares to Disney. Has it ruined us from other parks? No. We just choose to keep doing Disney instead of other parks!!!

 

[BamaFan121s]

Lol...most definately! It makes everything else feel like a Wal-Mart parking lot carnival!

 

[orljustin]

Be sure to visit Branson Landing, which is just east of downtown on the lake. It's a brand new shopping/dining district, and it's very nice. In fact, I think this weekend they are having their grand opening celebration.

Or don't. We went a week ago. It is basically mall stores in an outdoor venue by the river. However, you can't see the river because it is like one big 2-3 story hallway. There's no landscaping at all. Basically a big concrete world you can walk down and not buy anything at.

 

[sameyeyam]

My kids absolutely love the Disney waterparks. They were so excited when our local community center built a new pool, complete with a "Lazy River".

I warned and warned them, it won't look like a Disney waterpark!

When we entered the new pool for the first time my kids and I started laughing so hard we had tears running down our face, an employee even asked if everything was ok.

The "Lazy River" was about 50 feet long and had about 30 kids in it that looked like a bunch of hamsters running on a wheel. Quite a change from the (2 mile??) long lazy rivers at TL & BB.

Well we knew it wouldn't be Disney, but we still absolutely crack up every time we go swimming there! We get out of the car and yell "well it ain't Disney is it!".

 

[MartDM]

I guess I'm in the minority as WDW hasn't ruined parks or any other vacation destination for me. WDW is great & we visit every few years and always have something new to try, but it isn't the "be all end all" for us.

We like Universal Orlando about as much as any of the WDW parks. We've also visited other theme parks in Florida and around the country and enjoyed them too. Likewise, we've done many non-theme park vacations to great areas around the country (Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and more) and had an equally enjoyable time and have even had some real thrill rides, such as helicoptering to the bottom of the Grand Canyon!

Every vacation we take stands on it's own merits - each destination, WDW included, has it's own character, charms, and pitfalls. We don't compare every trip to WDW or any other location; we just accept it for what it is and maximize our enjoyment of the experiences.

 

[checkwriter]

It's tough for me, as I have a good friend who just took a management job with "the largest regional theme park company in the country." He's a great guy, very creative, but it's not Disney. And in our experience, the parks JUST DON'T MEASURE UP. Go to AK, and tell me that any park in the country can hold a candle to that themeing.

On the other hand, sometimes the kids just wanna go ride some roller coasters. You pile in the car, do the drive, do the park, and you're home the same day. Sometimes you don't need WDW, I guess. That's not to say you're not comparing everything you see to WDW . . . .

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

Not only has WDW ruined me for other parks, but for basically any other vacation spot. Everytime I start to think of going someplace else, I think to myself "or we could go do Disney World..."

Could not have said it better.... I highly agree!!!!!