To everyone who thinks WDW is less than it use to be.

[shafke]

Here's my take on the whole Six Flags as a company...

If the queue is not at least 30 minutes, lower the capacity of the ride... IE, why run two trains on a coaster when one is not enough.

For Maintenance and cleanliness... never do today what can be put off until tomorrow.

The last SF park I was at was Darien Lake, near Buffalo NY. I remember when this was a family owned place. SF moved in and it went downhill (for me it seemed overnight due to over 10 years between vists). As an example of not maintaining equipment... they have a Giant Ferris wheel that used to put on a nice light show at night. Last visit I would say half the lights do not work and the other half are not wired properly.

The only other Six Flags park I have been to is Great Adventure in NJ.

As a plus... these park do have a large number of artists that visit. They leave their works on all the rides and management likes the art so much it is never cleaned up. I like being able to go on a ride and see who has been there before me, when they were there, and who they were seeing at the time.

OH well, enough SF bashing. I just wish I lived closer to DW so I visit more often.

 

[10drum]

Eeyore2003, Be careful with the guide thing. I took my ds freind's family around last month, when we were all there for our dd's high school band gig. I think they thought I was 12 year old who was legal to drink.

I don't think they really appreciated how much fun an adult can have at wdw.

Anyway, the boys did.

My dw stayed with the other parents, just to let them know we aren't all insane.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Thanks 10drum. I've already done the "guide" thing for my in-laws once. I'm a firm believer in "early days" and getting there when the gate opens and then the rest of the day is relaxing. This was kind of an "experimental" trip to try some of these ideas out and they were working beautifully.

We had come back to the Cont. for afternoon swim and break and Pop-pop and eldest DS decided I was full of it, and THEY were going to go out there and do allot of things mid-day. They didn't think there would be long lines, heat, etc. at all since we really hadn't hit any in the morning. (This was mid August) WELL, they came back about 1 1/2 hours later, had gone on ONE ride, were hot and miserable (tried not to show it) and never second guessed my judgement for the rest of the trip!!!

 

[caitycaity]

i totally agree, though wdw may not be what it was in the past, it is still leaps and bounds ahead of other amusement parks.

our six flags here (baltimore/dc) is NASTY. though it was somewhat cleaner that the 6 flags, we were rather unimpressed with BG williamsburg as well.

 

[christinou]

We went to SF in Lake George, NY a couple of years, ago. It has a little bit of the disney flavor, with princesses and such, one thing was to ride in a carriage with Cinderella, well here comes the carriage wich has paint peeling, the horse was a donkey, and cinderella, had bleached blond hair with black roots showing, and a really awful dress, my girls loved it, my husband and I could barely stop laughing.....
We did enjoy the rides, and the park was actually quite nice, it just is that one ride, that made us realize this was not Disney...

 

[Snoozan]

We call ourselves "vacation snobs" in our family. We compare everything to WDW and unfortunately, nothing comes close. I live within 45 minutes of Six Flags New England and I refuse to ever visit. I went to BG-Williamsburg a couple of weeks ago and it's just not even close to WDW. I was rather disappointed and it just reinforced the reason why I choose to vacation at WDW. I don't even bother to tell people at work that I'm vacationing(again!) at WDW-there's just a few people that "get it".

 

[Beanie]

I couldn't agree more...We have been to Six Flags New England and also the one in New Jersey and I do not like either of them! The rides are spaced so far apart there and the lines are sooooooo long...I have never waited so long to ride something, not even in Disney!! We would much rather go to Disney then Six Flags again!

We have also been to the Six Flags in Lake George, New York and out of all of them, I like this one best! It isn't dirty and most of the rides you don't have to wait too long. It still isn't Disney though!! LOL

 

[Eeyore2003]

The only place that we really enjoyed besides Disney, was Opryland in Nashville. Now it's closed, but we always had a nice time there and it was clean in comparison to anything other amusement parks I've been to and it had good entertainment too. It WASN"T Disney, but we liked it too for a nice "smaller" vacation.

 

[sneezy1956]

Originally posted by 10drum
Go to 6 Flags.

We went to 6 flags(Eureka, Mo) last weekend and I don't think they've cleaned that place since '95. Everywhere you turned they had something that cost extra. I've been to small town carnivals that were better.

People I work with thinks wdw is a rip off, I guess it's what you value.

After going to Kings Island in Cincy last yr I'll never complain about disney food or how clean the park is.

We spent more on 3 slices of pizza and 2 drinks then we spend doing Cinderella's Royal table for lunch. And the Pizza was AWFUL! It tasted like cardboard with tomoto.

The bathrooms were so filthy that I was afraid to use them and the lines were horendous.

Never again.

 

[Elk34]

The sad thing is Six Flags used to be a lot like WDW or DL. I grew up going to the original Six Flags Over Texas and in the 70's it was a really wonderful place. It was clean and had a lot of fun rides that had a lot of character. Does anyone remember the WildRotoRiculous, Casa Magnetica, Astro Lift, the slides from the Tower?

The park was named for the Six Flags that have flown over Texas throughout history and the park was seperated into 6 areas with each one taking on the theme of the flags: Spain, Mexico, US, Texas Republic, Mexico, and France. Slowly though the rides with character went away and were replaced by the new big thrill rides. At the same time Warner Brothers took over and the cleanliness and quality control seemed to go away. It can still be a fun day with the kids but it in no way compares to WDW. But the 20 minute drive sure is a lot more convenient.

I hope that Disney doesn't keep replacing the rides with character with more thrill rides (Spaceship Earth?). If it does it could end up just like 6 Flags but cleaner.

 

[mommystieg]

Elk34-I remember the SFOT of old!! We were season-passers when we were kids and couldn't get enough of the place. I even worked there for 2 seasons during high school. We have SP's now because it is a cheap way to entertain the kids for a few hours during the summer but it is certainly not the same place it once was. The thing that makes me the saddest is the carousel. They have this fabulous antique carousel and the horses have not been painted in at least 3 years. Some of the horses are actually missing It just breaks my heart to see those beautiful horses with pieces missing, people's initials carved on them and lots of the paint chipped off

 

[WDWalways]

I just wanted to say that I agree that NO WHERE compares to WDW and though I've been to quite a few other amusement/"theme" parks and had a good time for the day, these are not places I would purchase time share in if offered or planned 2 - 3 vacations per year to visit - a day is plenty.
Now those in the NY/CT area - want to be totally disgusted?? Go to Rye Playland - that is the sure-fire way to appreciate a Disney park!!

 

[jeannej]

When I was at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Febraury and both places werre extremely clean. The restrooms were extremely clean and I had no complaints.

While WDW isn't as clean as it has been I would say that those parks are cleaner than other theme park I have attend save Universal Studios. Both are on par with the other.

Jeanne

 

[julieannbabe]

I have to stick up for Universal Studios - when i went in March this year - it was very clean.

Come to think of it - Florida itself is very clean

 

[Maxwell]

Just got back yesterday. The parks were neat as a pin!!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Does anyone remember the WildRotoRiculous, Casa Magnetica, Astro Lift, the slides from the Tower?


I remember the original Six Flags Over Texas. We always looked forward to a trip there. This last summer, I wanted my kids to experience what I had always looked forward too. BIG mistake!
After spending close to $200 dollars for admission (for one day), I was told by security that I had to throw my toddlers juice away (can't bring in drinks). The park was filthy, employees rude. They didn't even have a tram running in the parking lot to pick people up. When I say filthy, I mean it was beyond filthy. I felt like I needed to take a shower after being in there for five minutes. I was so disappointed. It was 100 degrees in the shade and they didn't have any fans or misters to help cool you off. Paint was peeling. There was no theming like I had remembered from childhood. Most of the rides looked like they were ready to collapse. My whole family was walking around saying "This sure isn't Disney" I will never go to a Six Flags again.
In fact, I am afraid to go to any amusement park now. We used to enjoy going to local parks like Knoebels. Last year we went on a free day and walked around disappointed because it wasn't Disney. I am really afraid to try Hersheypark or Dorneypark now!

 

[shafke]

Originally posted by Chim Chiminy
I am really afraid to try Hersheypark or Dorneypark now!

Chim Chiminy,

Do not be afraid of Hershey or Dorney... both are good parks... I have not been to Dorney in a few years but I prefer it over any Six Flags park.

Hershey is a very nice park. It is a clean and pleasant family park. My family has been going to Hershey since the early 70's. As a matter of fact we will going again in about 4 weeks. It is also reasonably priced. If you are in the area, give it a try.

 

[liquidsky88]

I think Disney happens to be one of the nicest theme parks. It's a very clean park and the landscaping is beautiful. I'm sure they have off days, it can't be perfect all the time.
I do agree with other people about Great Adventure in NJ. I live only an hour away and will never go back again. They have great coasters, but that's it. The park should change its name to Ghetto Adventure. They get such a disgusting crowd of people, they just ruin the park. I would watch people standing next to the garbage can, not throw it in the can, but throw it on the floor next to it. The same goes for the Paramount parks in Virginia and Ohio. Disgusting and same type of crowd.
Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is second to Disney in my opinion. Great park, clean and the landscaping is something to see. Hershey Park is also very nice.
Just my two cents on this topic.

 

[primax]

Originally posted by shafke
Chim Chiminy,

Do not be afraid of Hershey or Dorney... both are good parks... I have not been to Dorney in a few years but I prefer it over any Six Flags park.

Hershey is a very nice park. It is a clean and pleasant family park. My family has been going to Hershey since the early 70's. As a matter of fact we will going again in about 4 weeks. It is also reasonably priced. If you are in the area, give it a try.

Oh my .... I would have to give Hershey the biggest thumbs up when comparing Dorney, Hershey and Six Flags, but there is no way Dorney beats Six Flags. Dorney is absolutely horrible, pretty clean, but the rudest people can be found at Dorney. I see maybe 2-3 fights at six flags, but dorney were talking 10+ a day, half of which are over the lockers in Dorney. I have been noticing dorney making improves training to create a pleasant atmosphere but it just is not pleasant. I hate to stereo type but the people who visit dorney are thugs, not to say six flags NJ is any better.

The worst park Clementon Amusement Park And Splash World - Blackwood NJ

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

We're what I call park junkies. LOL We've been to WDW dozens of times and to many other parks arcoss the US and really comparing Disney parks to other theme parks is like comparing apples to oranges.

Disney parks and I'd have to add IOA/USF parks have the specialness to their rides that other parks don't. They just don't go up and down or round and round.

Theme parks, regular types SFs Carrowwinds and the like have mostly typical rides. Just last summer we spent 3 weeks in the south visiting some parks we hadn't hit yet.

SF - Gurnee Mills, IL - ok for a day, but dirty, food very high priced and not really great, lots of rides, but hardly anything for tots or older folks. Although my daughter and I love going to frightfest, very fun.

SF - Kentucky Kingdom - Poor excuse for a park. I was shocked at the state this park is in, words can't even discribe it. The rides were in poor condition, the food when you could find some was terrible. The place was dirty. The workers didn't have a clue, you'd ask them where a bathroom is and they wouldn't know or would direct you to someplace that was closed. Pittiful is all I can say.

Dollywood - Well I was a little unsure if we should go here, got some bad reviews, but it ended up being a very pretty park, clean, lots of rides for the whole family and the food was wonderful. Not up there with WDW or IOA/USF but darn close, we're planning on going back there one day. And no we're not Dolly fans. LOL We really didn't care for Piegon Fordge tho, too Wis. Dells like.

WDW Parks - Wonderful - need I say more? I like WDW parks because most of the rides are something the whole family can enjoy.

IOA/USF - I love these two parks, not as much as WDW parks, but very close. We've always found them clean, food is good, rides are great, just not a lot for tots or small kids to do. We go here if it's just me and my older daughter, we're into thrill rides.

Carrowwinds - Well we liked this park, it isn't WDW but we found it to be one of the nicer parks we visited. We found it to be clean, food was good. We loved the fact that there was a waterpark about halfway through and it was nice to cool off and relax before hitting the other half of the park. We found the service here was decent. Love the rollercoaster that goes through both NC/SC, pretty cool!!

Those are some of the parks we hit on our trip. We've been to a lot over the years. We love WDW, but we always remind ourselves to go with an open mind when visiting someplace else and just say this isn't WDW, but....

Pammy

PS-
Eeyore - Ditto on Opryland, when planning our trip we we saddened to learn Opryland is now a big mall. That use to be a nice park.