Which park needs the most urgent attention?

[Mondo]

To me, it’s Epcot. That place is gorgeous, but there just isn’t much to actually *do* there that doesn’t involve buying things- something I’m not that keen on doing much more than I have to given the price at the gate.

World Celebration (terrible name) needs more exhibits. World Showcase needs more rides. Spaceship Earth needs new seats, better speakers, a new narration, and a better descent. Journey Into Imagination needs to be restored.

The whole place just feels tired, like a giant outdoor mall overcrowded with people trying to get their money’s worth out of a small handful of attractions. It really pains me to say that, but from an experience point of view, I’d honestly put it at the bottom of WDW right now. And from what I know of its heyday, it used to be at the top. Yeah.

Anyway, go ahead and sound off with your opinions on which park is in most need of TLC.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I just spent 2 days at Epcot and couldn’t disagree more. The place is so alive with the art festival - they just need to make the art festival permanent!

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

IMO, I'd generally say HS, but right now all the parks are in somewhat sad shape until the updates/new additions open.
MK- the loss of Buzz, BTMRR, and TSI/riverboat is palpable.
AK- in really bad shape right now, but itis the least crowded of the parks.
HS- still kind of miserable to tour as there is little to do that isn't a wait. Even with LLMP, you will still likely wait between passes. The dining there is also very lackluster.
Epcot- At least it has GoG. Sure, it could use more attractions, but it has things to see/do outside of rides. The festival is a bit of a bonus, but all year there are gardens, the aquariums in the Seas, the Moana water walk-through, the free Coca-Cola place, the post ride areas of TT, Space, the Japan gift shop, the Japan koi pond/garden, the little museums, live music, and plenty of places to grab a snack.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

IMO, I'd generally say HS

Agreed - it’s a small park with only a few rides - a double spinner should never have long waits.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

To me, it’s Epcot. That place is gorgeous, but there just isn’t much to actually *do* there that doesn’t involve buying things- something I’m not that keen on doing much more than I have to given the price at the gate.

I suppose it depends on your view of things to do. I agree it could use more rides, but there are quite a few gardens and quiet nooks. We can fairly easily fill time in the Seas pavilion looking at all the critter tanks. (We have a much harder time finding anything to do in HS between attractions.)

Right now, during the festival, the lands have two little scavenger hunts. there is a paid version (w/prize), but you can also just do them for free. One is to find the Figment paintings in each land. (Like the Figment Mona Lisa) the other is to find the hidden character paintings in each land (small mural type paintings of characters). There's another hunt around Easter/Garden Festival.

The new Moana water attraction is also a fun little stop. It has been criticized in this forum, but it is a refreshing little stop, IMO. Children and adults seem to really enjoy all the water features and photo ops. IMO it is a success in that people generally seem happy to be there. Many folks say they enjoy the big rides, but they don't always appear to enjoy them. By that I mean, with bigger rides, what we often (actually) see of other people is that they aren't happy to be in a long queue. When you're actually riding most coasters, for example we don't really see other people (smiling) very much. With Moana, you get to actually see everyone having fun together.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

When’s the last time anything was done with “urgency”?

 

[BrianLo]

Depends on the perspective. Arguably Epcot was the least in need of immediate attention because it’s getting the least attention.

As of today DAK > DHS > Epcot = MK

As of post everything we know of occurring;

Epcot = DHS = DAK > MK

DAK desperately needs a night show revival and enough to keep people around for the day who skip out on key experiences. DHS desperately needs to fix up its rotting elder shows and find an all ages family attraction with a low barrier to ride. Epcot needs to deal with its remaining rot. China/France films, Imagination and SSE is overdue for a refurb amongst other closed facilities.

All that said I wouldn’t be surprised if the next thing we hear about is another MK refurb, like Space Mountain… which still wouldn’t be a wrong choice.

 

[John park hopper]

All

 

[Disneyfanatic30]

Since Magic Kingdom is now getting an expansion if I was on here back in 2022 or 2023, especially after my last visit to magic kingdom I would definitely say magic kingdom especially since it’s the smallest park I’m glad it’s getting an expansion especially since my last visit was a really crowded experience during the 50th in February 2022

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Since Magic Kingdom is now getting an expansion if I was on here back in 2022 or 2023, especially after my last visit to magic kingdom I would definitely say magic kingdom especially since it’s the smallest park I’m glad it’s getting an expansion especially since my last visit was a really crowded experience during the 50th in February 2022

Magic kingdom is not the smallest park…that’s mgm by a mile

 

[JIMINYCR]

I can spend a day at EP being entertained and finding enough to do without buying merch. I do need to eat so any money spent can easily be kept to a minimum If I'm selective.
As far as which park....They are ALL are in need of attention and have been for some time now. The 2 Bobs have ignored/ delayed/ put off so much for so long that it will take more than what's being built now to right the ship. Prior to this year its been abysmal with minimal funding for what attention/ maintenance any park received and its showing up more so now.

 

[Brer Panther]

Prrrrrrrrrrobably Hollywood Studios. Even when Monsters Inc. opens, there's still gonna be a lot of wasted space, too many long lines due to there being so many E-Tickets and an overall lack of capacity, and a theme that's pretty inconsistent.

The other three parks need some help too, but I'm terrified to see what they'll do to Animal Kingdom after Indiana Jones and Encanto Land open.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Hollywood Studios, but you could make any argument for EPCOT.

EPCOT at least has a lot to look at and some restaurants in WS.

HS is literally undoable without waiting in lines and/or buying LL. They took out almost everything you could do without waiting. Honestly, I hate what HS has become.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Iger’s replacement can’t be named soon enough.

He has been SO BAD for Disney and the Parks, it’s truly unbelievable he’s still there.

 

[TalkToEthan]

That place(EPCOT)is gorgeous,

that’s too strong; I can’t think of any single significant feature, section, facade, waterway or landscape that is —-considering we’re talking about theme parks—-“gorgeous”…….not one.

About the closest I can think of is the koi pond and immediate rock formations in Japan but I’m not ready to call it gorgeous.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Animal kingdom really needs more attractions. Yes I am aware two new rides are being built, and Dinosaur is being rethemed, but I do think some small flat rides would be helpful for the littles and at least another ride in either Asia or Africa.

 

[Brer Panther]

it’s truly unbelievable he’s still there.

He's not Eisner or Chapek. That's clearly the entire reason.

 

[Chef Mickey]

He's not Eisner or Chapek. That's clearly the entire reason.

I’m not convinced Chapek would have been worse.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Hollywood Studios, but you could make any argument for EPCOT.

EPCOT at least has a lot to look at and some restaurants in WS.

HS is literally undoable without waiting in lines and/or buying LL. They took out almost everything you could do without waiting. Honestly, I hate what HS has become.

But at least at Epcot you can drink your troubles away around the world…

 

[esskay]

They all need significant work that goes far beyond the ongoing/upcoming improvements IMO.

- HS needs a good 3-4 more attractions (they dont all need to be high cost items, just people eaters), and it's entire food needs a total overhaul as its by far the weakest of all parks there.

- MK needs general love, it feels incredibly tired when you start looking closely at things. Once cars is out the way they really need to either ditch the speedway or go electric and give it a futuristic themed overhaul (nothing fancy, slap some led lighting around the track and some sound effects, anything to make it not feel stuck in the past). The rest of Tomorrowland is looking awful, needs some money spent to bring it up to scratch.

- Epcot's half arsed update needs finishing properly. They need something more going on in world celebration as it just feel like a long dull 'bridge' to world showcase. Oh and SSE needs its cancelled update doing asap. The seas needs gutting and being given a total overhaul too, get rid of nemo or redo the ride.

- AK just needs love as well, again feeling a bit tired and dated in places. Hopefully tropical americas will help a fair bit.

Oh and the water parks both need leveling and starting again, they've got nothing on Volcano Bay or even Aquatica. If they wont go that far then at least sort out the crummy changing blocks and get some proper private changing areas and decent shower facilities in place, it's 2026 not 1986.