Would you rather pay less for an “Only Disneyland Park” annual pass?

[MK-fan]

If Disneyland was more like DCA, this would be the roster:

Carousel
Dumbo
Mad Tea Party
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Autopia
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Chip n Dale Go Coaster
Astro Orbiter
Space Mountain
Alice in Wonderland
Smuggler’s Run
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Star Tours
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Rise of the Resistance
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

 

[Animaniac93-98]

DCA having more intense thrill rides and alcohol go a long way in making it popular with some guests

But when the annual attendance estimates get released, there's always a large gap between it and Disneyland.

 

[Professortango1]

If Disneyland was more like DCA, this would be the roster:

Carousel
Dumbo
Mad Tea Party
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Autopia
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Chip n Dale Go Coaster
Astro Orbiter
Space Mountain
Alice in Wonderland
Smuggler’s Run
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Star Tours
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Rise of the Resistance
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

I wouldn't even give them Star Tours, Pinocchio, or Alice as those three have character and charm. Heck, Pinocchio and Alice are two of the best FL darkrides. I'd say that Monsters Inc is similar to the new downgraded Snow White. Soarin' is too bare bones and unthemed to be compared to Star Tours. Little Mermaid is hard to find a comparison. I'd say Buzz Lightyear with the underwhelming, but still not terrible application as well as the omnimover system.

 

[Too Many Hats]

So many people just can't get beyond "oh I/my kids love Pixar" or "oh I/my kids love Marvel". It's like people have completely forgotten that Disneyland used to be something other than just a straight Disney commercial and stood for something much more for 50 years and instead it's become "oh Disney's for kids, I want to go to the grown up park/the parks with the brands I like."

I have been in the position on Reddit in particular many times, having to justify why people should go to the park that's actually good rather than the one with the IPs That Are Somewhat Stereotypically Less For Children and it's infuriating, and, yes, having to explain that just because you like Marvel doesn't mean the Spider-Man ride is good or that just because your kids like Pixar doesn't mean Pixar Pier is a must-see.

I hope Disney's happy that they finally got what they wanted to achieve in 2001; it just took the dumbing down of society and the flooding of Disney-owned IPs at the expense of all else to get people there.

Totally. And as you're pointing out, Disney is responsible for cultivating this.

At the end of the day, my only issue here is that the attractions/lands aren't very good. If a guest is interested in Marvel or Pixar and has no interest in the classic Disneyland stuff, fair enough. It's just a shame that (aside from Cars) the IP in those cases was used as a means of distracting from subpar effort/investment.

I have been in the position on Reddit in particular many times

I hope you're not referring to the Disneyland subreddit. It's best to steer clear of that cesspool.

 

[mickEblu]

If Disneyland was more like DCA, this would be the roster:

Carousel
Dumbo
Mad Tea Party
Casey Jr. Circus Train
Autopia
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Chip n Dale Go Coaster
Astro Orbiter
Space Mountain
Alice in Wonderland
Smuggler’s Run
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Star Tours
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Rise of the Resistance
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Haha I like the exercise but I’m not seeing the comps on some of these.

I’m guessing ROTR is RSR and TBA is GRR (which I don’t think is a good 1:1) but Storybookland?

 

[PiratesMansion]

If Disneyland was like DCA, it would be...pretty close to Hong Kong Disneyland, probably, which was very much developed around the same time and in the same spirit as DCA and WDSP.

I hope you're not referring to the Disneyland subreddit. It's best to steer clear of that cesspool.

Nah. I comment there occasionally but mostly avoid it, not because of anything I've seen or heard, really, but mostly because it is so weirdly restrictive on what can/cannot be posted there, and what is allowed through seems very superficial as a result. I spend more time on the Disney Planning subreddit, because I enjoy answering trip planning questions and we don't get that many of those around here. That's the only Disney subreddit I spend much time on.

 

[Touchdown]

You guys also set impossible standards no non castle park outshines its own castle park in terms of number or quality of rides, yes even Disney Sea. Just because you can ride a lot of those rides stateside doesn’t mean the typical Japanese person can.

 

[chadwpalm]

I hope you're not referring to the Disneyland subreddit. It's best to steer clear of that cesspool.

I try to stay away from any fan-related subreddits. They get toxic real fast, and if you make one single critique on anything that isn't supported by the group-think you get downvoted to high heavens.

I prefer to stick to tech subs where I can help support people who are having issues.

 

[Professortango1]

You guys also set impossible standards no non castle park outshines its own castle park in terms of number or quality of rides, yes even Disney Sea. Just because you can ride a lot of those rides stateside doesn’t mean the typical Japanese person can.

Epcot is MUCH better than Magic Kingdom. Especially back in its heyday.

 

[MK-fan]

You guys also set impossible standards no non castle park outshines its own castle park in terms of number or quality of rides, yes even Disney Sea. Just because you can ride a lot of those rides stateside doesn’t mean the typical Japanese person can.

I don’t think anybody is truly stating that. A 2nd park should be like the cheese that goes with that really good bottle of wine, basically a good pairing where both of them work together well. DCA just suffers too much from not having memorable Disney style rides like Radiator Springs Racers.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

DCA is way too busy these days. It’s getting more popular, not less. For what it’s worth, I’m the only one in my family who prefers Disneyland.

 

[Touchdown]

Epcot is MUCH better than Magic Kingdom. Especially back in its heyday.

Only because you’ve been to other castle parks, most people just don’t. And HM, PotC, PPF, BTMRR, etc are going to win over any other WDW park.

 

[Professortango1]

Only because you’ve been to other castle parks, most people just don’t. And HM, PotC, PPF, BTMRR, etc are going to win over any other WDW park.

Haunted Mansion and Pirates are world class. Big Thunder is an impeccably done themed mine train coaster that we see done everywhere. No shade, it's one of my favorites, but to a generic tourist, it's just that. Space is a generic tame coaster in the dark that we see replicated a bit. Peter Pan is my least favourite Fantasyland Ride. If they had Alice or Pinocchio or Toad still, you'd have a point, but PPF screams "that's it??" energy.

With Epcot, I get two parks. I get a fun interactive science museum park with some fantastic exhibits, I get Spaceship Earth, one of the best darkrides around today, I get Test Track and a much better generic coaster in the dark with Guardians. I always grab seafood at the restaurant where you get to watch the fish. Soarin' is overrated for me, but people love it so that can be a wash with PPF. Living with the Land, always a fun way to relax for 15 minutes.

Then you got World Showcase!!!! Exhibits and attractions in a ton of well themed pavilions. American Adventure puts Hall of Presidents to shame. Frozen, as a generic tourist. is a much bigger draw than Tiana's. Ratatouille adds a fun trackless darkride (which MK lacks). Then you have incredible restaurants, tons of entertainment, and some of the best views in all of WDW.

Sorry, no way I'd pick MK over Epcot. Even modern Epcot. And, as a tourist, I know HM and Pirates are at a ton of other parks all around the world. I might only visit WDW once, but I may be in a situation to visit another castle park elsewhere, so no rush. Only one place to ride SSE, CR, TT, JIYIwF, LwtL. It's unique and that adds the final nail in the coffin for MK.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

I would go so far as to say that WDW has two parks that are better than it’s castle park. It’s not a rule or expectation of fans that the other gates can’t be better that the castle gate, it’s just that there’s only two resorts where that has turned out to be the case and Disneyland is not one of them.

 

[mlayton144]

Haunted Mansion and Pirates are world class. Big Thunder is an impeccably done themed mine train coaster that we see done everywhere. No shade, it's one of my favorites, but to a generic tourist, it's just that. Space is a generic tame coaster in the dark that we see replicated a bit. Peter Pan is my least favourite Fantasyland Ride. If they had Alice or Pinocchio or Toad still, you'd have a point, but PPF screams "that's it??" energy.

With Epcot, I get two parks. I get a fun interactive science museum park with some fantastic exhibits, I get Spaceship Earth, one of the best darkrides around today, I get Test Track and a much better generic coaster in the dark with Guardians. I always grab seafood at the restaurant where you get to watch the fish. Soarin' is overrated for me, but people love it so that can be a wash with PPF. Living with the Land, always a fun way to relax for 15 minutes.

Then you got World Showcase!!!! Exhibits and attractions in a ton of well themed pavilions. American Adventure puts Hall of Presidents to shame. Frozen, as a generic tourist. is a much bigger draw than Tiana's. Ratatouille adds a fun trackless darkride (which MK lacks). Then you have incredible restaurants, tons of entertainment, and some of the best views in all of WDW.

Sorry, no way I'd pick MK over Epcot. Even modern Epcot. And, as a tourist, I know HM and Pirates are at a ton of other parks all around the world. I might only visit WDW once, but I may be in a situation to visit another castle park elsewhere, so no rush. Only one place to ride SSE, CR, TT, JIYIwF, LwtL.

This is a great advertisement for Epcot, and I agree wholeheartedly , magic kingdom is still a strong park though

 

[PiratesMansion]

I would go so far as to say that WDW has two parks that are better than it’s castle park.

Would definitely agree with that.

It’s not a rule or expectation of fans that the other gates can’t be better that the castle gate, it’s just that there’s only two resorts where that has turned out to be the case and Disneyland is not one of them.

I disagree, and I see many, MANY fans who love the castle parks and don't much get/care for the others.

Now, a big part of that is because Disney has absolutely fumbled the bag with most of its second gates, by either cheapening out during construction (Paris, California) or diluting what makes the other parks special by just trying to make them more like the castle park and keeping their ride capacity absurdly low (WDW). But those fans very much exist, and while I'm sure part of it is personal preference, part of it is absolutely Disney's own fault.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Would definitely agree with that.

I disagree, and I see many, MANY fans who love the castle parks and don't much get/care for the others.

Now, a big part of that is because Disney has absolutely fumbled the bag with most of its second gates, by either cheapening out during construction (Paris, California) or diluting what makes the other parks special by just trying to make them more like the castle park and keeping their ride capacity absurdly low (WDW). But those fans very much exist, and while I'm sure part of it is personal preference, part of it is absolutely Disney's own fault.

Oh there are absolutely are those fans yes. I just mean I don't think there are many out there who treat it as a rule that Disney should never build a park that outshines a castle park. In some people's eyes, they have never done that, but I don't think that means they think Disney should never do it.

 

[Touchdown]

I’m talking about general rules not trying to tell you what you think. However, just look at annual attendance numbers, the MK wouldn’t be so heavily the most visited park if it wasn’t the most beloved but there are always exceptions. I would also add that MK in particular has a feature that sours local passholders and frequent non resort guests, mainly its parking lot. While it’s majestic and wows infrequent visitors, there is a reason all the resort buses drop you off right by the gate, it’s an incredibly inefficient use of your time that adds, sometimes, literal hours to your commute if you are a local passholder (not to mention its massive size usually requiring a tram trip.). That can sour people rather quickly (I mean look at all the cheats they have had to police against like parking at the MK resorts) and affect their perceptions.

 

[Misted Compass]

You guys also set impossible standards no non castle park outshines its own castle park in terms of number or quality of rides, yes even Disney Sea. Just because you can ride a lot of those rides stateside doesn’t mean the typical Japanese person can.

The gulf between DL and DCA is undoubtedly larger than that between TDL and TDS. And then you have Universal Orlando where their "main" park is the weakest of the three.

 

[coffeefan]

If people want a Knott's/Six Flags experience with thrill rides and carnival rides over anything immersive, DCA does satisfy that.

I just don't understand why you'd pay Disney prices when you could just go to Knott's or six Flags and get more thrill for less money. It's why I always wished DCA would be priced appropriately rather than at the same price as Disneyland despite not delivering anywhere close to Disneyland's value.

To be fair none of those parks have anything at Monsters inc, Cars Land, or Guardians level of quality (even TSM). I'll agree that the rest of the park's attractions are at a level below.

DL is of course the gold standard, which makes it even more important for Disney to put money on DCA. Regarding ticket prices - it's more likely for Disney to add a premium to DL than a discount to DCA.