Other Theme Parks-Disappointing

[#1hoosierfan]

OP - What did you think of Camp Snoopy? I LOVE Snoopy and can't wait to take my 3 year old there this summer.

WDW Animal Kingdom ruined zoos for me. It took me a time or two going back to the Louisville Zoo to bring myself back to reality and force myself to enjoy it again for what it is..... of course my one year pass is less expensive than a one day pass at AK, so that helped too.

 

[imthatgirl]

IDK, we still enjoy other amusement parks. Cedar Point of course is at the top...but even the small ones like Canobie Lake in NH have it's place in my heart.

Honestly I don't compare them. When we go to Disney we ove every minute of it...but I can have an amazing time anywhere.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I could not agree with you more. All othere theme parks compare badly to Disney.That's why we have been going to WDW ( plus a few trips to Disneyland) for the past 30 years.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

One morning last summer I was chatting with a family from San Antonio who were first in line at Typhoon Lagoon, waiting for the time we could open the gate and let them in. They were mentioning they had annual passes to the New Braunfels Schlitterbahn Water Park, which is one of the top rated water parks in the world.

I happened to be working the exit gates when they were on their way out in the afternoon and asked them what they thought of Typhoon compared to Schlitterbehn. The response was: "We now have a new favorite water park".

 

[twokids0204]

NO.

I am the exact opposite.

I have been to Cedar Point every year (sometimes more than once) since I was 4yrs old. (am now 41).
And my first trip to WDW was at 40......

It was so magical and so much more than I ever dreamed that I was afraid when I went back to Cedar Point aftwards that it wouldn't be the same....nope I was fine.

To me it is apples and eggs. Not even in the same catagory. Cedar Point is an amusement park (and the best in my opinion) WDW is NOT. It is a world all unto it's own. To even compare them is like comparing a great dane to a yorkie....yes they are dogs, but not the same breed.

WDW has attractions not rides....it is being emersed into another world. Amusement parks have rides...not real theming, no restaurants, no magic, it is just rides and thrills. WDW takes us on a journey while we are there, so to say it is an amusement park is missing the boat.

 

[Doc CW]

We dont even go to other theme parks anymore b/c nothing comes close to how great Disney is so we dont really waste our time.

 

[xApril]

I don't really compare. I enjoy going to any theme park in general. You went to an amusement park, so that's different than a theme park, really.

 

[Bembol_Rocco]

I don't think it's fair to compare other 'inferior' theme parks to Disney. IMHO, Disney is the premier theme park destination for all those theme park aficionados. What other theme park makes families drive and fly from across the country toting their kids to spend thousands of dollars at DisneyWorld? Also from reading other posts on the boards, some families that have trouble making ends meet still save up just to visit the park sometime in the future.

 

[DOOM1001]

they only have 2... US and IoA...unless you count CityWalk..

They have 3 resorts,Portofino,Royal Pacific and Hard Rock.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

No, not disappointed. It's a different feel to it when you go to an amusement park. It's got a carnival atmosphere to it. You get rides you will never see in Disney (a lot of coasters, a music express, scrambler, etc.). Customer service might not be as good, but what the heck.

It's like comparing a movie to a play. Both are entertainment that happen in a theatre, but it's not the same thing.

 

[Planogirl]

You can't compare other parks to WDW fairly. They are in different categories and fun in their own way, just not the same way. Of course those who prefer WDW parks are here but there are others out there who don't.

Personally I think that the Universal parks and resorts are every bit as good in their way as the Disney parks. I also think that Typhoon Lagoon is better themed than Schlitterbahn but Schlitterbahn has better rides overall. It really depends on what's important to you.

I can have fun at the local carnival though because I just expect it to be what it is, a simple little carnival.

 

[Lizzybee]

I live 15 minutes from Six Flags Great America (Gurnee IL). I even worked there are a college kid. For YEARS it was trashy and dirty and there was smoking and swearing etc. We would still go for the rides but once I went to Disney I was like "Well, this is NO DISNEY" "They don't allow THAT at Disney" However, over the last couple of years, they have really made improvements. They seem to have taken alot of cues from Disney lol. They have an indoor Gotham City themed coaster (similar to Rockin Roller Coaster), they set up their quick service areas in the water park similar to WDW, they got better 3D movies (real 3D not this
--> ), designated smoking areas, package pick up at the front of the park, character meals.
Now granted - its all still NOT WDW quality, but hey I gotta give them credit for studying from the best and making some positive changes. The parks is TONS cleaner as well.

 

[powellrj]

I guess my kids and I just love amusement parks because we love different things about all of them.

We went to Dollywood over spring break and had such a great time we bought season passes and are planning on going back in the fall and over christmas. I disagree that the staff wasn't friendly. I thought they were much more friendly and outgoing than Disney staff. I used an ECV and people were so engaging and friendly and seemed to bend over backwards at being helpful.

We try to get to Holiday World at least once a year and it could give Disney lessons on being clean and guest friendly. I mean where else do you get free soft drinks and sunscreen and can a family eat a nice meal for under $30?

My parents take the kids to Indiana Beach every year for their special trip and its still something the kids look forward too. It maybe small and old, but they still have a great time!

I don't go to Kings Island anymore, but my kids love going. DD is going with her choir in 3 weeks. She is as excited about that trip as she is about our WDW trip 2 days later. Its her hang out with friends trip where she rides with her friends.

I love Sea World and we go every few years and can spend 2 or 3 days just taking our time and seeing the shows and riding the rides.

I also love Universal and have had a season ticket there too! I like the coasters and thrill rides. I also love the Universal hotels and would always pick an onsite universal hotel over a disney one.

Six Flags are really the only parks that I don't have a love for, but I guess Ky Kingdom is now closed, so it doesn't matter.

While I love WDW and we go to Orlando yearly, I still love other parks too. We are going to WDW in 3 weeks!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Disney has us SO spoiled.

 

[alicia080979]

OP - What did you think of Camp Snoopy? I LOVE Snoopy and can't wait to take my 3 year old there this summer.

WDW Animal Kingdom ruined zoos for me. It took me a time or two going back to the Louisville Zoo to bring myself back to reality and force myself to enjoy it again for what it is..... of course my one year pass is less expensive than a one day pass at AK, so that helped too.

I thought Camp Snoopy was cute. I love Peanuts so I liked the theme. I thought they could have done more (Peanut Characters on the carousel, changing the Scooby ride to like a great pumpkin theme or something, Peanut Characters walking around or a place to meet them, etc.). Just seemed like they added signs and could have made it more immersive. That said, it is still one of the best kiddie lands around! I can't wait to take my daycare kiddos bc they will love it!!

 

[Jetta8300]

I live about an hour away from Cedar Point. This will be my first Disney trip in the fall, but I am really excited that everyone seems to think a 1 hour wait at Disney is LONG.

At Cedar Point, I rarely ride more than 3-4 rides a day, and wait in 2-3 hour lines for EVERY ride. I have waited in 4+ hour lines before, and when I got to the front the ride was shut down. talk about a waste of a ticket.

So I am very excited to go to Disney and see these "hour long or less" lines for myself!!!

 

[disneymomma1978]

maybe they need a 5th park with 8-10 thrill rides...

I've been following the other thread you're referring to in this post and this comment just cracked me up!!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I don't compare wdw to other theme parks either. For me it's about expectations.

I really don't expect other parks to be like disney, and I can enjoy them for what they are - a fun day full of rides.

 

[DOOM1001]

there are parks out there that are not Disney but in my opinion are just as nice as Disney.Busch Gardens Williamsburg for example is a park that if they just added Disney characters and a couple Disney touches would easily be transformed into a Disney park.The one in Tampa is still very nice but the outside location of the park is not very Disneyish.I can have fun at a county fair,an amusement park,a theme park or at Disney so I'm easy to please,I just know what to expect from each and enjoy them all.

 

[wmharley]

a whole park for kids...11-17 yrs old that would be cool! and they are old enough to go off on their own!

No... unless its aimed also older too. I don't need a park with Kick Buttkowski or Suite Deck theming.

They have 3 resorts,Portofino,Royal Pacific and Hard Rock.

I misread it as 3 parks, not hotel resorts as someone earleir said... thus the 2 park comment by me.

I've been following the other thread you're referring to in this post and this comment just cracked me up!!

I was waiting for someone to notice..

there are parks out there that are not Disney but in my opinion are just as nice as Disney.Busch Gardens Williamsburg for example is a park that if they just added Disney characters and a couple Disney touches would easily be transformed into a Disney park.The one in Tampa is still very nice but the outside location of the park is not very Disneyish.I can have fun at a county fair,an amusement park,a theme park or at Disney so I'm easy to please,I just know what to expect from each and enjoy them all.

Busch TB has made it look better. I remember the entrance wall along Busch Blvd was chainlink fence. The tunnel the trams use was nonexistant and you had to cross the street to get over.

That said, Busch TB is an urban type park and doesn' thave much place to grow anymore.. sad.