Has this happened to you? - a non Dis TR

[Jenn1116]

Disney has ruined my trip to Discovery Kingdom (formerly Marine World)!

I swear this is Disney-related!!!

I took DD4 to Discovery Kigdom in Vallejo CA for a Mommy Daughter day before she starts Kindergarten. What a waste of time an money!! She insisted on riding the new Tony Hawk ride, which is a short coaster-like ride that spins. The guy who was supposed to help people on was busy texting on his cell phone when I was trying to ask if we should get on with the two girls who were in front of us (4 to a car). Finally the worker on the other side of the track waved us over. As we got off the ride, I turned to exit and DD mistakenly try to get out on the other side (where people get on) and cell phone guy didn't notice until DD's foot was hanging over the very large gap between the ride and the platform where he stopped her as I was turning back around... and DD climbs out my side missing a flip flop. I was told we could not get it until the park closed. DD was in tears as we walked down the exit ramp.

So I go to 4 different stores and finally find flip-flops that will fit her. I paid $7.00 for extra-hard rubber and plastic. But we made due.

Later that day DD wanted to go on this boat ride that swings back and forth so we get on and two other girls are sitting in our row. The lap bar is automatic and we were instructed to put our hands up. I'm a pretty big girl but didn't expect a problem. I had been on kids rides all day! To my dismay, the ride operator tried three times to lock the bars in place. I thought I was going to die, it hurt so bad, and the whole time she was giving me nasty looks. Finally DD and I exitted the ride - I was mortified! And DD kept asking why we had to get off. (The least the little snot could have done was warn me quietly before boarding )

So all I could think about all day long is how this would NEVER happen at Disneyland. I tried so hard not to let those things ruin our day but by the time we got home I was in a foul mood The place was filthy, the food was nasty, and the employees were mostly a bunch of I-couldn't-care-less teens. Now I miss DL more than ever and I sooooo wish I hadn't spent a dime there and had saved it all for our next DL trip!

At least now I appreiate DL's magic all the more!

If anyone else has had similar experiences please share!

 

[bumbershoot]

FWIW, my hubby has yet to fit on Maliboomer, and while they were polite when they realized the clip wouldn't clip, no one mentioned before they tried, that he might not fit. His body type right now is still just too big, and the clip from seat to shoulder harness just won't go.

 

[hartyrollins]

My family and I visited Discovery Kingdom earlier this summer. We had not been there in a few years and it seems sort of run down from what I remembered. I kept comparing EVERYTHING to Disneyland, and I think they were tired of me saying that by the end of the day. Our son is only 2 years old so there were limited rides he could go on due to his height. He enjoyed the animals but I too would have rather saved that money for our September DL trip!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I haven't been to Marine World since it changed over from all animals to mostly rides. I just can't bring myself to go to a non-Disney place. Marine World was great when it was just animals. We took the boys when they were about 2 or 3 years old and all they talked about was "Wanna see whale show!"

DH wanted to go to Knotts this time and I still just can't bring myself to go there either. It is all the little touches that Disney does that makes the difference.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We went probably 4 years ago. We also found it run down, and the employees just mean. I think we got yelled at like 3 times. LOL For stupid crap too. Like the penguin area, they have a bunch of rocks, and the penguins are higher up. My son was 6, was sitting up on one to see (not standing). They yelled at us. Um, maybe not put rocks there with penguins too high for all kids to see! Then at the dolphin area, my DH put his hand in the water and moved it around. Got yelled at for that. Yeah, we wouldn't want to have the dolphin come over to us, in the DOLPHIN EXPERINECE. That was only for paying extra to feed them, did you get the experience. Stupid.

Some of the rides were okay, but no DL that's for sure. Everything else just seemed run down and dirty. Haven't gone back. I'd rather go to Great America if I can't go to DL.

 

[bonita_babe232]

I havn't been to our local fair since going to disneyland last october, as it is only open in the summer, but i think you just have to keep in mind that these are just little fairs/places that will never hold up to disneyland and you gotta enjoy them for what they are!!! That being said maybe i will hate it this year ............ but as i said... i know that its not supposto be anything like disneyland and its mostly just highschool kids looking for summer work (or adult drop outs) doing all the work, so you just have fun and try not to compare everything to disneyland casue you'll never get something that good!!!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

My BIL has had annual passes for Discovery Kingdom for the past few years. Last year they gave us the "family & friends" tickets they got, so we went. Even for the cost of parking and food, it still wasn't worth it. I hate how run down it is and how rude everybody is. My kids are small, so we were limited in what we could do. They do like the dolphin show, but I'm thinking spending the money to go to Sea World with a Disney trip would be money better spent.

My BIL chose to forgo their annual passes this year and is currently at Disneyland with his family. I'm glad I could convert!

 

[DL4my2kids]

Disney has ruined my trip to Discovery Kingdom (formerly Marine World)!

I swear this is Disney-related!!!

I took DD4 to Discovery Kigdom in Vallejo CA for a Mommy Daughter day before she starts Kindergarten. What a waste of time an money!! She insisted on riding the new Tony Hawk ride, which is a short coaster-like ride that spins. The guy who was supposed to help people on was busy texting on his cell phone when I was trying to ask if we should get on with the two girls who were in front of us (4 to a car). Finally the worker on the other side of the track waved us over. As we got off the ride, I turned to exit and DD mistakenly try to get out on the other side (where people get on) and cell phone guy didn't notice until DD's foot was hanging over the very large gap between the ride and the platform where he stopped her as I was turning back around... and DD climbs out my side missing a flip flop. I was told we could not get it until the park closed. DD was in tears as we walked down the exit ramp.

So I go to 4 different stores and finally find flip-flops that will fit her. I paid $7.00 for extra-hard rubber and plastic. But we made due.

Later that day DD wanted to go on this boat ride that swings back and forth so we get on and two other girls are sitting in our row. The lap bar is automatic and we were instructed to put our hands up. I'm a pretty big girl but didn't expect a problem. I had been on kids rides all day! To my dismay, the ride operator tried three times to lock the bars in place. I thought I was going to die, it hurt so bad, and the whole time she was giving me nasty looks. Finally DD and I exitted the ride - I was mortified! And DD kept asking why we had to get off. (The least the little snot could have done was warn me quietly before boarding )

So all I could think about all day long is how this would NEVER happen at Disneyland. I tried so hard not to let those things ruin our day but by the time we got home I was in a foul mood The place was filthy, the food was nasty, and the employees were mostly a bunch of I-couldn't-care-less teens. Now I miss DL more than ever and I sooooo wish I hadn't spent a dime there and had saved it all for our next DL trip!

At least now I appreiate DL's magic all the more!

If anyone else has had similar experiences please share!

We live in concord and everytime I have been thre, something always makes me

I don't remember the ride but over in the little kids area, there was a ride that parent were allowed to go on witht he kids and I had issues with the bar. Finally we got off. It was not pleasant. I am big but not that big. The lady working there said it could have just been the way I carry my weight. WHATEVER

 

[disneyluvbug]

I won't go there either.. I took DD after a disney trip when I was pregnant and miserable..it was windy as heck and the people were horrible and it is not disney!!! My DH loves the rides, I do not..its over priced and crappy weather with no seats to rest in.. so I will not go back anythime soon!!

I can't wait for disney next week!

 

[travelmel]

I haven't been to Marine World since it changed over from all animals to mostly rides. I just can't bring myself to go to a non-Disney place. Marine World was great when it was just animals. We took the boys when they were about 2 or 3 years old and all they talked about was "Wanna see whale show!"

DH wanted to go to Knotts this time and I still just can't bring myself to go there either. It is all the little touches that Disney does that makes the difference.

I hope you made it to Knott's. It is actually the home of American's FIRST theme park (you can bet that's where Walt got some of his ideas!). Granted, it's convoluted since the take over but there are still lots of cute things if you have an open mind.

 

[pixiewings71]

We used to have AP's for DK/MW but we let them lapse last year. It's not as much fun, the food is way overpriced and picnicing there is not a fun experience. We would go in the afternoon after eating lunch and leave when it was close to dinner. We like going to DK but not that much, we'd much rather save our money and go to DL. The employees don't want to be there and the park is dirty, overall much worse than DL! LOL

BTW, the not putting your hands in the Dolphin enclosure is because the Dolphins have been known to bite people who just stick their hands in the water, that's why they tell you to put your hand flat on the water and not swirl it around. The Dolphin sees the swirl and things "food", they just don't want you to get bitten. Same with the boy sitting on the rocks, they just don't want him to fall. Disney would do the same, they would ask you to not to do that, you know, like sitting on the chains. They ask you to not sit on the rails/chains all the time.

 

[Jenn1116]

I'm glad I'm not alone! At least I was able to learn from the experience that when I want to go to a theme park, I need to set that money aside and just put it towards a DL trip.

JenDisneylandlvr - I agree that they shouldn't put rocks there is they don't want people on them. I also understand it could be a hazard so they don't want you on them, but geez, they could be nice about!

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Disney has also ruined our local themepark/water park for us too.

We went last summer to our local themepark/waterpark and found it dirty and sorely lacking in friendly employees. We paid over $200 for 4 of us (2 adults, a 9yo and a 6yo) to enter, park and eat (1 meal each). The water was too cold, the park dirty with lots of trash on the ground, and the loading process of rides painfully slow. Half the time, the employees were busy talking to one another about their life rather than directing people to their seats/rides or answering questions. We have vowed to not return again.

We have so enjoyed our disney vacations and have realized that not very many places have "disney" standards. I guess going to the local themepark had a positive. We have a greater appreciation of the disney parks than before, if that's even possible.

 

[pixiewings71]

I also understand it could be a hazard so they don't want you on them, but geez, they could be nice about!

They definitely should be nice about it!! And if you go complain about an employee they don't care. At Disney you get the impression it will be addressed but not at DK, nope, they could care less as long as they have people working there. Sad and pathetic. Will we go again? Sure, but not much. DBF and I were talking about that yesterday, we'd rather go play mini golf at Scandia then spend our $$ at DK..

 

[PRINCESSplazola]

everyone in my family keeps trying to get me to go to discovery kingdom, but i just dont want to! hahaha i feel like i could be saving that money for disneyland...and i know its nothing like DL b/c ive been there. its fun and if i were rich i wouldnt mind going, but that money could be spent on better things like churros, tigger tails, and all sorts of things at DL!

 

[Bread&Butterflies]

Thanks for saving me some $$$.
I had been thinking of going but just won't now.
If I want to do something local between Disney trips I can take dd to Children's Fairyland in Oakland.
We pack a picnic & it is only $12 for us to both get in.

And did you know the history of Walt himself visiting there...
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...+circa+1950&start=200&ndsp=20&um=1&hl=en&sa=N
(be sure to click to see all 3 parts for the full story & loads of pics)
it is pretty cool. But still needs to be cleaned up a bit. The Alice walkthru was covered in cobwebs and leaves last time we went, but it was still fun. They have been doing some refurbishments in park to bring it back to life the past few years. One project at a time. It's a wonderful day trip for the little ones. (but not too little or they will not be able to ride.. as parents are not allowed on the kid sized attractions with them)

 

[pixiewings71]

We've never been to Fairyland, so it's a good place to go? I think it's something my two would really like.

 

[CrazyDuck]

And...... that's why you don't wear flip-flops!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I haven't been to Marine World(or whatever is they're calling it now) since I was in high school. My brother and his wife went there about two years ago and while they enjoyed it, he told that I would hate it there because I'm literally too tall to ride some of their roller coasters since they have height restrictions as in you can be too tall to ride an adult roller coaster.

Now, I'm 6'4. I realize that's tall, but I'm glad to know that Autopia and Mulholland Madness are the only rides in the DLR that I'm too tall for.

 

[perlster]

I didn't see any height restrictions for Autopia on the Disneyland site, so are you "too tall" meaning you can't sit comfortably on that ride?