I just have no desire to go to any other theme park but WDW!!

[TreeOfLife]

We like WDW but also USF! I refuse to stick to only one theme park, I do not get paid for my extreme loyalty to either.

So, both are different and I enjoy them for different reasons. I have no rational excuse to avoid one or the other during our vacations. I am glad they're both around and cater to different moods and crowds.

I'm not all for same ol' same ol'... A little open mind and a spirit of discovery and adventure can lead to a very different, exciting vacation!

 

[jeannej]

You know it is amusing to see many of the same writers that will defend WDW lack of cleanliness in some areas and the shabby condition of some parts of WDW but will not give other amusement parks the same break.

WDW is a wonderful place but I can think of a dozen different places I would rather vacation that WDW. WDW, for me, doesn't come close to comparing to a rented home directly on the beach in a sleepy Florida town or on an out island in the Bahamas. Nor does it comparing to see in animals in the wild in Yellowstone or in Alsaka.

I enjoy WDW and so does my family, but, come on...................

jeannej

 

[Alice42]

I ONLY go to WDW! The other theme parks do NOT compare. It's funny because I often wondered this same thing myself. I'm glad that there are others like us!

 

[FloridaCat]

It's not just you and what is in your area. I live 45 minuetes from WDW. People come down to see us (or is it WDW?) any way we get to the point we don't care to go.

When the weather starts to cool our interst will start to peek. Two or three times a year is pleanty for us.

You would be amazed how many locals have never been and don't care to go. It' the beaches and golf courses for them.

 

[tonilea]

We actually TRIED to plan a NON-Disney vacation this year. We just couldn't do it, we knew we would be comparing SixFlags w/ WDW and SF would be found lacking. We live about 30 miles from Silver Dollar City in Branson and just don't care to go. We find it over-priced and under "Magic-ed".

 

[jwfla422]

We're WDW fanatics too. I've been one since my first visit to MK in 1976.

Since moving to FL in 1988 we're lucky to be just a 2 hr and 50 min car ride away. We've been there countless times and even had our honeymoon there. That magic just can't be found in any amusement park or even at any vacation getaway. The CMs just give you that warm and fuzzy feeling that can't be found at other parks or vacation destinations. As a matter a fact, we're terrible in that when we do go to "other" places we have this AWFUL habit of comparing it to WDW and WDW always wins hands down.

It is our great escape from the real world...or weekend at the mountains per se.

I love it even more now since we started taking my 4 yr old dd. She loves it. Some of our friends are "disneyed out"...I just can never see myself getting "disneyed out"...maybe that's why we've never gone to Universal or Seaworld. I could never drive up there and not go to Disney I'd feel like I was missing out on something

 

[miko]

I think Disney parks are certainly different than most other amusement parks. WDW and DL have been vacation destinations to me, other parks are day trips. I really enjoy the thrill rides at Six Flags and other parks, and I don't "compare" these with Disney attractions. I have AP's to WDW, seasons tickets to Seaworld (Bush)and Six Flags. I will say Bush parks come close to Disney in themeing and attractions.

 

[skoi]

We love Disney- well the kids and I and dh thinks it's okay. Due to distance and cost, we always assumed it'd be a trip we made infrequently-- every three or four years. Well, we've been there every year since 2001. DH warned me once the discounts are gone, start looking for another vacation spot.

We would try other parks if our son were big enough to ride the coasters and thrill rides. DD is, but isn't a thrill ride type. I can't see spending big bucks for three of us to sit around and do nothing. Plus, in a lot of places (I'm thinking of up North where we are) there's no "off season" which is when we go to Disney to beat the crowds.

When the kids are older we'll definitely try other places, but know they won't be the same as Disney because they're not trying to be.

That said, from what I remember about Six Flags, I'm not looking forward to that trip though ds wants to go when he's big enough.

It's all a state of mind, I guess. Total immersion in a concept (Disney) versus, like the OP said, an amusement park. Nothing wrong with either, IMO.

Julie

 

[Castillo Mom]

We just went to Six Flags Magic Mountain on Saturday. I've never been to WDW, so I can't make that comparison, but I've been to DL many, many times. We love Magic Mountain for the thrill rides, but definitely not the atmosphere. It doesn't have the theming that Disney does, is not as clean and the one show they had when we went (Batman) was very cheesy. But like I said, we go for the thrill rides so we had a blast. DL is unique, a world all it's own. No they don't have super fast rides, but the shows are great, the food is much better and the rides are classic and well-themed. I believe each park has it's good and bad points. Can't wait to go to WDW to see what it's like!

 

[SnowWhite33]

It's so funny for me to find this thread. Just this weekend we ventured to our local Six Flags and honestly the only thing I could think was "I wish I was at Disney!"

It was so crowded and dirty. The employess were less than happy to be there and at times rude beyond belief. Even the other visitors were pushy and unfriendly.

I know that before I started going to Disney I wouldn't have noticed these things and would have accepted it as a matter of fact that amusement parks are like that. But they don't have to be... and that's proven every day at Disney. I'll still go to these parks but only for my ds.

I guess I've become spoiled to the Magic of Disney

 

[NancyIL]

I love going to WDW, and try to visit at least once a year. I was fortunate to be able to visit Disneyland Paris last October, WDW in December, and Disneyland in May. Having said that, I would never make Disney theme parks my only vacation destination, because it's a big world out there. We'll be on vacation next week in Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria, BC - a part of the U.S. and Canada I've never visited. As someone else pointed out - quit comparing every other location with WDW and you might find that there are other enjoyable places to visit besides central Florida.

 

[FloridaCat]

Please don't deny yourself the experience of a National Park. We visited many over the years and Glacial is mine. Look out your room window, walk around a corner and the view defies yourimagination. Not concrete, plastic or man made, but by the great Park Creator.

Animals in their own enviroment, things to do and see that are beyond belife.

 

[ariel_459]

i've been to only cedar point, wdw, and disneyland, and i've found that wdw have the best staff... but cedar point isn't too far behind... i have run into some very kind and courteous "castmembers" there(i know they're not cast members, but disney has made that word second nature to me). also if you're going for thrills, cedar point is top. i go about twice a year, i live in michigan, about 3 hours away from the Point, and stay for 1 or 2 days. in that time, you can ride upwards of ten great roller coasters, other thrill rides, and go to their awesome water park, Soak City, and go in their lazy river, renegade river, all their slides, a cool family area, and a huge wave pool... its got nothing a typhoon lagoon, but in some ways you just can't beat disney... i love both cedar point and disney.