Kind of disapointed in MK

[ujpest_doza]

You have got to be kidding. I go to the Universal parks quite often since I'm an annual passholder and the parks are always very crowded. esp. IOA.

I enjoy ALL the parks with the MK being my very favorite, but I also enjoy US/IOA and Seaworld too. the parks are like Ice cream. why limit yourself to just one flavor? they are all fun and have their different "feel" to them.

I have never understood people who act like they are cheating /having an affair on WDW by venturing off to another park. not everything has to have Mickey Mouse on it to be fun and this is coming from someone who REALLY loves Mickey but, I also love seeing Shrek and Shamu too.

I like US and IOA but the past 2 trips i've made they have been very quiet except for the day The Mummy officially opened (21st may 2004?).

IOA was embarrassing it was that quiet in both May 2004 and March 2005 especially in the Dr Seuss part of the park. It meant we had no wait times at all for the attractions in that section but we were a bit lonely on those rides.

I also walked straight onto Duelling Dragons, Hulk, Spiderman, Jurassic park without having to wait in line at all. We were able to whizz around in no time at all. US was the same in March 2005 with wait times of no more than 10 minutes for anything.

When we were buying our tickets in May 2004 we asked about the Universal Express passes and the CM in the ticket booth told us to save our money as the park was quiet and we wouldn't need them. We visited mid week (tuesdays at IOA i think) and they were extremely quiet, perhaps they are busier at weekends and perhaps more people see them as theme parks for teenagers and older not realising that there are attractions for younger children and families as well.

 

[bicker]

Really Great is subjective of course

That's a really good point: What we see changing at MK is a reflection of what the general public thinks is really great, voting with their wallets. Our own personal appraisals of what's good and what's not; what's important to keep the same and what should change; is all rather insignificant.

 

[LVSWL]

I see what you are saying but I can't say that I agree with you. Each park at Walt Disneyworld has it's own charm and it's own "magic" and "attraction" and we look forward to visiting them for those reasons. While the Magic Kingdom may not have the thrill rides that some of the competition may boast, I wouldn't trade the "thrill of being squirted by camels on Aladdin" or the "excitement of a runaway train" or a chance to give bunny ears to a ghost riding with us for anything. The feeling we have as a family while at the Magic Kingdom isn't measured in how high or how fast we go, but how Walt Disney himself and now his Cast Members spark our memories and our imagination as we walk through the gates. This keeps us coming back, year after year.

 

[snowbunny]

Our own personal appraisals of what's good and what's not; what's important to keep the same and what should change; is all rather insignificant.

Yup...except to us Mr. Toad reminds me of when I was young, and most especially when my parents were young, and our trips to Disneyland. I can admit to myself that that is a big part of it for me...it's like seeing my childhood put on the scrap heap.

[BTW Bicker, your sig is the best on these boards.]

 

[revgadd]

I'm sure the MK's attendance is always higher. it is the "biggie" as far as the theme parks go, but half of the people in there bring two or three kids with them, so attendance will always be higher there mainly because of the children coming into the parks with their families.

That MK's attracts families with kids is THE point of MK. Walt wanted attractions that the whole family could ride on. I love the "mountains" of MK and wouldn't want them removed. However, because they are rides that have restrictions that exclude children, they violate the very philosophy that birthed Disneyland and the MK. (This same philosophy is being violated by the playgrounds that are springing all over the place such as Pooh's Playful Spot)

I like thrill rides as much as the next guy. But now that I'm a father, the greatest "thrill" for me is to watch my children experience and enjoy the very rides I enjoyed when I was a kid.

BTW, I just returned from an 8 day visit to WDW and didn't ride one attraction that my 5 year and 3 year old didn't also ride. It was one of our best trips ever!

 

[revgadd]

Really Great is subjective of course, but the Pooh ride is one of the lamest I've ever been on, certainly not a worthy replacement for the classic antics of Mr. Toad. I hope no one else 'sees the light' anytime soon.

I loved and now miss Mr. Toad. But I wonder, had the Pooh ride been replaced by Mr. Toad, would I have loved Pooh more? My children (ages 3 and 5) have never ridden Toad but they certainly do not think that Pooh is lame. In fact, it is their single most favorite ride in all of the World.

I DO think that a Mr. Toad E-ticket is an interesting idea and I know just a spot for it behind a certain mermaid's grotto.

 

[james15]

Splash,Space and Thunder Mountains are all coasters and all at MK.

US and IOA are always empty so perhaps Disney is doing something right.

Us and Ioa are amazing parks awsome coasters. shrek and terminator are incrediable. But would i drive 1100 miles to see them on there own.Nope disneys all about the experince from the time you check into the resort to the time you leave.I can drive down the road to six flags for thrill rides.But there are very few places to find the magic of disney.

 

[d4est]

I hear someone on the bus back to resort say something along these lines every trip.. this is what I say to them:

MK (Epcot, etc) is a theme park. Universal is an amusement park. There's a difference.

I would have to respectfully disagree. Universal is, VERY MUCH, a theme(d) park. IOA too! It may be themed differently, and may not have a "magical" feel, but it is very nicely done. Take Suess Landing...I felt as though I had stepped into a book. Very cool. Or Amity (Jaws), felt as though you were walking thru a small fishing village.

Nope, it's not Disney, but it's not supposed to be.

**Not knocking Disney...very magical indeed. Just giving Universal its due...

ETA: Universal/IOA was quite crowded when we were there. TG for FOTL with onsite stay. Line for Shrek was insane. I waited a good 10-15 min (with FOTL) for DD. Ripshaw falls was also a crazy wait. We would have skipped some things if not for FOTL.

 

[bamajill]

That MK's attracts families with kids is THE point of MK. Walt wanted attractions that the whole family could ride on. I love the "mountains" of MK and wouldn't want them removed. However, because they are rides that have restrictions that exclude children, they violate the very philosophy that birthed Disneyland and the MK. (This same philosophy is being violated by the playgrounds that are springing all over the place such as Pooh's Playful Spot)

I like thrill rides as much as the next guy. But now that I'm a father, the greatest "thrill" for me is to watch my children experience and enjoy the very rides I enjoyed when I was a kid.
BTW, I just returned from an 8 day visit to WDW and didn't ride one attraction that my 5 year and 3 year old didn't also ride. It was one of our best trips ever!

I understand what you are saying, but I also have kids and kids do grow. I want to see my nine and seven year old boys enjoying the rides just as much as my four year old daughter. Just because kids get a little older and enjoy more daring rides doesn't mean the magic is gone. But if every single ride is Pooh and It's a Small World, there will be precious few years that anyone could truly enjoy Magic Kingdom. I think the MK has a great assortment of rides that are good for the family. Family doesn't mean just young adults with kids five and under, I guess that is my point. I don't think having Splash Mtn. and Space Mtn. do ANYTHING to take away from what Walt intended.

 

[cleo]

If IoA were any more themed you wouldn't be able to get through the gates. Take the time to slow down and look around and you might be astonished at the themeing. We've spent an hour just browsing around in Port of Entry (yes, an hour!) and were amazed at the detail that goes into it. Did you know the entire park has a storyline? Hmmm....sorta like another park we know!

It isn't Magic Kingdom but it isn't supposed to be Magic Kingdom. Epcot isn't Magic Kingdom either, and neither are any of the other Disney parks. I never could understand why there has to be a comparison. SeaWorld is magnificent unto itself, Universal/IoA offer something completely different, Busch Gardens is spectacular....each has its own place and none of them are supposed to be like any other park. Thank goodness for the amazing variety of choice!

 

[Houston_Disney_Fan]

Just don't touch the Haunted Mansion...LOL.
Seriously, I think Disney's parks have a better "feel" to them. They're maintained a little better, and the landscaping is top-notch. I think that's why I'm a little uncomfortable at Universal, so much of it is just buildings and concrete. Jurassic Park is the best part of it for me.
We took a day our last vacation to go to Universal and experience their new rides. Their technology is good, the Mummy was awesome, but I sure was glad to get back "home" to the Wilderness Lodge that evening.