What year was the apex of Walt Disney World?

[Bairstow]

A lot of people, myself included, often say that Walt Disney World is not quite as great as it once was. Nostalgia or no, I'm curious, can anyone pinpoint a date or a rough date in time when the park wasn't at a state of "it used to be better"?

To make things interesting, please explain why you think that year was "the best" for Disney World.
Feel free to add whether or not you got to experience the resort during that year and if you were a kid or an adult.

 

[disney4life2008]

I will get jumped on but I thought the 25th Anniversary celebration was outstanding. The pink castle cake was delicious and the new entertainment offerings and theming was spectacular. I have read the Millennium celebration was great as well but I did not get a chance to go.

The worst has to be 2013 and the horrific theming of once in a lifetime pop up events - its so bad I cant even think of what it was called. That coupled with the introduction of FP+; the confirmed elimination of spectromagic; and countless other things disappearing or closing makes 2013 a horrible year. I would say they have rebound nicely with FP+ and the new fantastyland is finally complete.

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

1995-1998 because I worked there.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Has to be around 1991 Studios was still in it's infancy, the Disney Decade was just starting and Deluxe hotels were $85 a night....

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I'd say anytime up until the final quarter of 1994 was when WDW was still in the best shape it could be from a maintenance and new attraction standpoint (at least to the naked eye and not including pre-existing internal issues that were probably already occurring). 1994 was a transitional year as far as i'm concerned. WDW was still getting some excellent additions and plussing with the Tower of Terror and Jeremy Irons version of SSE (and upkeep still seemed great from outward perspectives), but the end of the year was kind of when things began going sour. Horizons lost its sponsor recently before that and first closed in 1994 (later reopened for a fair amount of time while the rest of the park's rides were being redone, but this was the first sign of bad things to come IMO). And we lost 20k Leagues late '94 as well (which has only just now been replaced with an actual ride). Still at least during the first three quarters of the year, the attraction roster was still excellent at all the parks and we got the excellent Tower of Terror. Also maintenance still seemed pretty impeccable to the naked eye for another year or two after (though maybe there were signs of decline even at that point). The entire resort still seemed to be run with a lot of quality, though i'd argue this was officially the final year this was the case.

After that final "good" year, EPCOT would be systematically mutilated from '96-'99 with the devastating loss of World of Motion, the original Imagination, and eventually (and finally) Horizons. Magic Kingdom in late 94 lost 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and the land would remain squandered until FLE. Not to mention the number of other messes that were done to other attractions such as the Tiki Room and Dreamflight. Maintenance (while not as horrible as it has been under Iger's reign) also took a gradual but noticeable decline due to the last of WDW's "old guard" that adhered to Walt's philosophies of upkeep being forced out of the company. The one plus throughout this dark era of ruination after 1994 was Animal Kingdom opening. Though it also was value engineered by shortsighted budget cuts and remains to this day an incomplete and heavily problematic (though gorgeous and STILL ripe with infinite untapped potential) park.

I'd say the latest year that still had the most consistent quality and lacked any sort of noticeable decline was probably 1992. WDW was still blessed with impeccable world class upkeep, all of the original EPCOT classics were still open, everything overall seemed pretty much ideal. Not even to mention we got Splash Mountain that year- a ride that was, is and perhaps may always be held as among the best Disney attractions. WDW also got the fantastic Spectromagic the previous year, still a new and amazing night parade at the time.

 

[Communicore]

1991, the 20th. I would pick the years I worked too but It was no longer EPCOT Center.

 

[marni1971]

Everyone will have a favourite. Depends on the reasoning as to who is.... less wrong... than others.

Perosnally I'll go with 90-93. Amazingly long park hours every day. Fully fleshed and open EPCOT Center. D-MGM being plussed left right and centre. Great entertainment in all parks. EPCOT hadn't been ruined yet. Maintenance was spot on. Guest areas weren't closed. Virtually everything and everywhere was utilised.

Ideally I'd go for a time frame with Cronkites SSE but including AEv2 and Timekeeper. Ideally.

 

[Kuzcotopia]

I'll be that guy. . .

I'll say 2019 will be the best year. My DD will be old enough, and tall enough, to experience everything WDW has to offer.

By 2030, she'll look back on that year as Disney's best year!

 

[GeoDonJac34]

This is a very interesting topic. My first trip to the World was not until 2003, so I am interested in all the responses. Although I have not experienced the good old days, I still fell hard for the place. Would love to go back in time and check it all out.

 

[Bairstow]

Personally I'd put it at late summer of 1994.
Tower of Terror had just opened and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea had not yet closed. Coming attractions like Alien Encounter and the Innoventions pavilion were set to open.
On the resort side, the monorail loop was completed and not yet messed with, and Wilderness Lodge was fresh and open.

 

[Tim Lohr]

Looking back the early 90's were probably the best times, but I didn't realize it then. I remember in the late 90's riding Horizons after it had sat unmaintained for years, it was really depressing to see it in that state but World of Motion was still in the process of becoming Test Track, and there was still some hope the future would be better. After that I didn't get back until 2008 and that was a huge shock, the new rides in Epcot and The Tiki Room Under new Management, plus the lack of up keep and maintenance in general... I was not impressed

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

The BEST Is yet to be!

AKK

 

[muteki]

One more vote for ~'91.

New and awesome stuff had just opened up, and old and classic stuff wasn't torn out yet.

 

[EricJ]

Has to be around 1991 Studios was still in it's infancy, the Disney Decade was just starting and Deluxe hotels were $85 a night....

And....there were only three bus routes, and you went from Epcot to MGM by way of Fort Wilderness.

Me, I'll take the Two Years of Million Dreams--
Everything was in place for the four parks, the Castle was rehabbed, tourism was considered common, the Yeti still moved, and they rewarded you just for showing up. (Even though the Tikis were still Under New Management.)

Although now, with the Magic Band, more woods and a dedicated Princess meet, I feel like this is Carousel of Progress: "Yep, the parks just CAN'T get any better than they are now..."

 

[5thGenTexan]

This is all very interesting. My last trip was in 1992, aside from half a day in 2013 as a port excursion on a DCL cruise. Much of what I read here makes me question the desire to returrn to WDW. There are a lot of things that I remember from then that as just gone now. It appears from those that visit the parks regularly that what is new is not up the the level of what it replaced.

Nothing makes me want to "not go on a cruise", but from what I read here it would appear that another cruise would be the better choice over a week at WDW. I have even been researching DLR a great deal lately. Never been there and I have a 3 year old boy that is pretty interested in Cars.

 

[EpcotCenter82]

1989 was a great year at WDW. Disney-MGM Studios, Wonders of Life, Norway Pavilion, Typhoon Lagoon, and Pleasure Island all opened. Also Caribbean Beach Resort.

 

[Disvillain63]

1990 - 2000 was the most magical time for our kids, so the best years for us. 1990 was my DS's first visit and 2000 was when our DD lost a bit of the magic of princess and fairies as she moved into being a preteen.

 

[Tom]

Personally I'd put it at late summer of 1994.
Tower of Terror had just opened and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea had not yet closed. Coming attractions like Alien Encounter and the Innoventions pavilion were set to open.
On the resort side, the monorail loop was completed and not yet messed with, and Wilderness Lodge was fresh and open.

I was going to say the same thing, but I needed to look up all the dates, specifically when ToT opened. That was, in my opinion, the pinnacle of WDI's work and of WDW's development.

 

[AndyS2992]

2011.. lol I had an amazing time in both 2004 and 2008 but come 2011 I started reading forums like this and saw people moaning and then found myself agreeing and since then my Disney experience has been ruined somewhat since I now can't help but look for what it is wrong. Back then I wouldn't really have noticed.

My parents went in 1986, 1989, 2004 and 2008 and said it is better now than ever so this shows there is no definitive answer to this question as everyone opinion and experiences will be different. As seen from the posts above nostalgia is also a big contributor.

 

[GenerationX]

2006.

Epcot includes Soarin', Mission: Space, and Wonders of Life. Animal Kingdom adds an A mode Expedition: Everest. Disney Studios still features Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Play It! Pixar is purchased.