It's funny how personal park preferences change with time

[PeasandCarrots]

I've noticed in the last few years my park preferences have changed - for what it's worth I'm in my mid-40s. A few years ago here was my order:

MK
HS
Epcot
AK

Now:
MK/Epcot (truly tied - I can't put one over the other)
HS
AK

For me MK moved down to tie with Epcot due to the crowds. Maybe I'm wrong, but MK just seems more crowded than ever before and mid afternoons in MK for me are almost unbearable due to crowds. I still love the park, but I like the relaxed feel of World Showcase. HS moved down below Epcot for me simply because they've closed a few things - once they build up Star Wars and Pixar it may shift. Honestly the only thing that has stayed the same is AK. I could almost skip it. Sure I like things there, but there's nothing there I feel like "oh my trip won't be complete if I don't ride/see X at AK". Out of our recent 8 day trip we spend maybe 4 hours at AK.

I don't want this to be a debate thread - we all like one park over another for personal reasons. I'm just curious if your preferences have changed over the years and how so?

 

[Doug M]

I agree, when i was younger it was
MGM
MK
Epcot

Now it is

Mk
HS
Epcot (futureworld demise kept from moving ahead of HS)
AK

I see this list changing quite a bit too for our next family vacation in 2017 or 2018 after AK is done and hopefully some new stuff at a few other places.

 

[Shmily01]

When we first started taking our kids in 2008 it was
MK
HS
AK
EP
But now as my kids have gotten older and we have gone several times
MK
EP
AK/HS
I think MK will always be our favorite because of the atmosphere. You really feel like your are in WDW when you see the castle. The kids love exploring WS now in EP. But, I know we are in the minority here, they also love AK and HS. There is something about every park that sets it apart and keeps us going to that park every year instead of skipping it. I'm hoping all of the changes at AK and HS will live up to the hype and then maybe it will go something like this....

MK/EP/AK/HS

 

[PK Disney Dork]

I'm right there with you. Although my preferences haven't changed all that much...they're still present.

10 years ago:
MK
Epcot
DHS
AK

Now:
MK
Epcot
AK
DHS

I think it has a lot to do with how in transition Studios is at the moment. I loved this park in its prime. I'm hoping with all the changes it will return to its former glory.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Yup, used to be
MK
HS
EP
AK


NOW:
EP
MK
HS
AK

 

[ilovebassets]

MK has always been my number one. The music, the smells, the attractions...it can't be beat IMO. But with young children, AK has now become a major favorite of mine, too. The kids love the shows, the safari, the train ride to conservation station, and especially the Boneyard. I also think it has amazing atmosphere, kind of like MK. I always spend more money there on souvenirs than anywhere else.

Epcot has lost its charm a little bit for me. The World Showcase just doesn't hold much attraction for 2 and 4 year old boys so they're never particularly happy there. And if they're not happy, Mommy isn't happy. But they do enjoy the Future World attractions. I just wish everything wasn't so far apart. I think it makes Epcot particularly difficult to tour.

DHS is definitely last. I can't believe I'm saying this because I never understood how any park could be a half day park. But for our next 8 night trip, I have exactly one half day scheduled for there. We will start with the Lights Motor Action show, then the Disney Jr show, Star Tours, and Toy Story. Nothing else holds major attraction for us there.

So in order for me is

MK
AK
Epcot
DHS

 

[Oneanne]

I like EPCOT, MK and AK equally, all for different reasons, but DHS has always been a half day park for me... I may pop in and out more than once during a trip but just to hit the things I really like. My touring style has changed a lot over the years (I'm now at 30+ trips)... I used to do four days of go-go-go until I couldn't take any more, then crawl back to the hotel and repeat the next day. Now trips are seven to eight days and include afternoon pool/nap breaks, touring of resorts, leisurely sit down meals. And I used to always start with EPCOT the first day, so Spaceship Earth is one of my "now I know I'm really here" triggers, but now I pay more attention to EMH and fix the order up accordingly.

 

[nilla]

Ride preferences, too!

I used to think Space Mountain was ok, but it's now one of my favorite rides in WDW.

 

[Rachel In Red]

When I was a teenager: 1) MK 2) EP 3) HS 4) AK

Now: 1) EP 2) MK 3) HS 4) AK

 

[Planogirl]

My change is ever more radical. I was:

Epcot
DHS
MK
AK

Now I'm:
MK
AK
DHS
Epcot

 

[wookiebeck]

Is it 'our' preferences that changed or did WDW change them for us? I was a serious fan of EPCOT Center and MGM Studios in the 90's. I regret the changes that have happened since that made me less of a fan of those two parks.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Mine never changed:
MK
EPCOT
HS
AK

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

Now that it's generally just my wife and myself til the grandkids get a bit older, our list of preferences is much different. The last time we vacationed and spent time at the parks we didn't even go to MK and spent out time at EP, AK and HS in that order. I'm sure MK will move back to the top, or at least close to it, when the grandkids start going with us. We spent a couple weeks in the area in February of this year and didn't even go to the parks. We did go to some of the resorts to eat but that was the extent of our Disney exposure.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

It is funny actually. Although Magic will always be my "favourite" as it all started there for the parks and myself, holding personal memories and reasons. My list has changed. Mine used to be:

Studios
Magic
EPCOT
AK

Now it's more along these lines:

EPCOT
Studios
Magic
AK

 

[DonaldDuck77]

For as long as I can remember, and still current order:

MK EP AK HS

 

[tlmadden73]

Makes sense .. I don't know if I have an order.

MK is just "Disney World" to me . .wouldn't miss it for the world no matter my age.
DHS/MGM - has been my second favorite park ever since it opened .. even though I had only two park days I hopped here last October. I just love the neon at night.
AK - I just love the way it looks and feels (though last time was meh due to all the construction walls)
Epcot - despite having fond memories of it when it opened .. it just doesn't have the same feel anymore. I've skipped it last few trips.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

My personal preferences have shifted a bit through the years. Originally it was:
MK
Epcot
MGM
AK

Now it is:
MK (always far and away my favorite place to be; I love it more every time I go)
DHS (hoping for more attractions soon, but I love the feel of the park and some restaurants there)
Epcot (I d love some restaurants there; so painfully few attractions; we go there now more out of duty and habit than anything else)
AK (about equal with Epcot now, but I think Avatarland will pull it into my top 3 since Epcot doesn't look to change anytime soon)

 

[Rosebud123]

I agree! Although our family is strange and we've gone the opposite of most people's preferences. When my kids were younger, they liked AK the most and we'd spend 1.5 or 2 days there. Now that they're almost 11 and 13, MK is what they're most excited for! I think it's because they love Space Mountain so much.

 

[djc9699]

When we first started going our preference was

1. MK 2. AK 3. HS 4. EPCOT

Now it's
1. MK 2. EPCOT 3. AK 4. HS

Part of that is because my kids are real animal lovers so when they were younger we enjoyed they slow leisurely pace with the animals. And my oldest fell in love with FOLK. Now that they are a little older they enjoy visiting the different countries. We still enjoy HS and spend at least one full day there but if we HAD to skip a park it would probably be HS. MK will always be our #1. We start and end every trip there.

 

[cjparker0110]

When I first went they only had MK so that was obviously on top!

I guess Epcot was always near the bottom of my list when I was younger. 8 years ago my list was:

1. MK
2. Epcot
3. HS (MGM I think at the time)
4. AK

I'm guessing it will probably be about the same when I go back...except AK and HS may trade spots. It's hard to know. Next time I'll have kids so I'll be looking at it all through different eyes.