2012 Golden Tickets: SEA and Dolly Beat Out Disney In Most.

[WDW1974]

Knoebels beating out EPCOT for best food? I say "hogwash!" And there's no way Busch Gardens is cleaner than MK...maybe I'm just super-biased or have too much pixie dust in my eyes.

I can't comment on the Knoebels food as I've never been ... but BGW is WAY cleaner than the MK. I went over a busy weekend at the start of its season and the place was spotless ... literally. The MK, OTOH, has steadily been either just OK to absolutely filthy. I've not been as much over the past few years, so I don't know what it regularly is. But I've had nights where there are cheeseburger baskets sitting in the middle of Main Street USA ... and where the parade route becomes a dumping ground at 10 p.m. and they just leave it until closing a few hours later.

The MK of 2012 isn't the MK of 1972 or 1982 or 1992.

 

[WDW1974]

30 year old IllumiNations beats out technelogically advanced/amazing and NEW World of Color as best outdoor production?

c'mon now.

Can someon also offer some more insight to the nature/background of these awards...who votes...etc?

True enough ... and how can the MK NOT possibly be voted best kids park when the park has been Walmarted to the level that the core demo is now 18 months- 8 years old?

Oh, and before anyone's hearts get crushed, the Spirit will be leaving this MAGICal realm after today for a work and fun sabbatical and won't be back as a regular until sometime later this fall (assuming Hill doesn't take me out at EPCOT's 30th!)

But I bet I have some great stories to tell when I am back.

 

[El Grupo]

I won't hesitate to criticize Disney whenever they deserve it (and they deserve it often).

With that said, I am quite familiar with Dollywood. Having it listed above WDW and Disneyland for best park, best food, cleanliness, etc. is entertaining to say the least.

This alone makes me question the value of the entire review and the standards that were used.

 

[TalkingHead]

I found it amusing how the OP mentions BGW beating MK in so many categories and then neglects to mention the five parks that beat BGW.

I was expecting BGW to sweep the awards after reading the first part of the thread.

 

[WDW1974]

Sorry, I'm as harsh a critic of WDW as anyone, but one thing they don't have to worry about is attendance.

Nah, trust me you can't come close to being as harsh a critic as someone like me (or fellow haters Lee and Martin -- although they are apparently viewed warmer and kinder here, just means they've fooled you all!)

BUT ... WDW's attendance trends are very concerning ... even to the folks at TDO. That is why they are looking at various plans for major projects, including a makeover of TPFKaTD-MGMS.

Their numbers have largely been stagnant, much like their product, for years. That's despite raising prices multiple times a year ... that's despite massive discounting ... that's despite massive cuts both on and off stage.

And worse, the projections looking forward aren't looking better, which is why you get press conferences called to announce new benches at Fantasmic the same day Legoland announces a Star Wars-themed addition.

WDW is in trouble. Their smoke and mirrors act worked well for a decade-plus ... but it isn't any longer.

 

[ScoutN]

I found it amusing how the OP mentions BGW beating MK in so many categories and then neglects to mention the five parks that beat BGW.

I was expecting BGW to sweep the awards after reading the first part of the thread.

Consistenly in the top five of several? That says quite a bit. Not many appear that regularly in several categories.

 

[WDW1974]

The last thing I have on when it comes to WDW, is blinders. Every year when I see the annual attendance reports come out, it's always the same 5 parks in the top 5 in the country, and they're all Disney. If they're hurting, then the rest of those parks must be close to dead.

WDW needs to have higher numbers. It is a world class resort that covers 30,000 acres, has over 25,000 hotel rooms and timeshares and camp sites ... that doesn't mean the other parks are dead.

If some local/regional park does six million annually, then they might be doing so much better than one of WDW's parks because the business model and costs are so different.

That's what people here (and elsewhere) miss about the AMAZING numbers that UNI-O-Town has been pulling in. They never have to touch attendance at Disney's No. 3 and 4 gates (although they may will down the road) to be doing much better than Disney is at parks that tread water annually.

 

[TalkingHead]

Consistenly in the top five of several? That says quite a bit. Not many appear that regularly in several categories.

But if you say BGW got 7% of the vote for "Best Park" it doesn't sound nearly as impressive as Cedar Point's 30%.

I get your message, I agree with it for the most part. But I don't think this poll is the most effective way to convince people that WDW is in decline. (Though I think it is, too.)

 

[captainkidd]

Didn't use the formula I would have liked to because it would have been time consuming and I have other things more important that proving someone online wrong for my own pleasure.

So with that let's put it in on a level playing field.

Since Mk's capacity is 2.9 times the capacity of CP; correction of MK's to that rate would be around 5,911,034. In twelve months there condensed overall twelve months for MK... not 35k just removed. Chop that in half for the six months being open. Looks like if MK had 35,000 capacity and CP's area that CP would be the winner by a couple hundred thousand with a few ten thousand margin of error more than likely.

Where do you take into account that WDW has 3 other theme parks that people are visiting on the same days?

 

[ScoutN]

But if you say BGW got 7% of the vote for "Best Park" it doesn't sound nearly as impressive as Cedar Point's 30%.

I get your message, I agree with it for the most part. But I don't think this poll is the most effective way to convince people that WDW is in decline. (Though I think it is, too.)

I get what you are saying completely. Once that large percentage is removed and what you have left is where it is interesting. This by no means is scientific and surveys various types of park goers and classes of people. Just some interesting results with how it has changed over the past few years.

 

[ScoutN]

Where do you take into account that WDW has 3 other theme parks that people are visiting on the same days?

Attendance IIRC is calculated on the first park ticket is used in each day. Either way you have people hopping parks in one day at WDW as much as they do due to a lack of attractions and innovations. People are spending multiple days at one park elsewhere because their offerings are far more than one park or some combinations of two parks at WDW.

 

[WDW1974]

I live near Knoebel's. It's a nice park and all, but better than every Disney Park? C'mon now.

I would agree without having ever been there.

I have been to TDS ... and DL ... and TDL ... and EPCOT... and DLP ... and IOA ... and SW ... and BGT ... and HKDL ... and ... well, many awesome parks.

IMHO, no parks on the planet compare to the first three and the shell of the fourth listed above.

 

[bethymouse]

I live an hour away from Holiday World. I'm surprised that they were not listed in most of the awards.Even though it's a small family park, They have three great coasters, and one of the best waterparks I have been too outside of Disney World, and Dollywood.

I was at Dollywood in late april of this year, and the WildEagle coaster looked amazing, But I couldn't ride it due to recovering from cancer.

Hope you're doing well. Dollywood's Splash Country is huge! I like Dollywood, but I prefer WDW. I haven't been to Holiday World as of yet, but it's featured on the Travel Channel and such quite a bit.

 

[WDW1974]

I found it amusing how the OP mentions BGW beating MK in so many categories and then neglects to mention the five parks that beat BGW.

I was expecting BGW to sweep the awards after reading the first part of the thread.

The OP has a soft spot for BGW, which to be fair is one helluva park. And better than Disney's in O-Town in many of the keys.

 

[TalkingHead]

True enough ... and how can the MK NOT possibly be voted best kids park when the park has been Walmarted to the level that the core demo is now 18 months- 8 years old?

Oh, and before anyone's hearts get crushed, the Spirit will be leaving this MAGICal realm after today for a work and fun sabbatical and won't be back as a regular until sometime later this fall (assuming Hill doesn't take me out at EPCOT's 30th!)

But I bet I have some great stories to tell when I am back.

Get some good photos of the John Lasseter-approved restrooms in Radiator Springs. I need to know what kinda restrooms we're talking about for DHS.

Have good travels!

 

[WDW1974]

But if you say BGW got 7% of the vote for "Best Park" it doesn't sound nearly as impressive as Cedar Point's 30%.

I get your message, I agree with it for the most part. But I don't think this poll is the most effective way to convince people that WDW is in decline. (Though I think it is, too.)

How can you say that with NEW MAGICAL TANGLED THEMED TOILETS ON THE WAY!??!?
Sorry for all the shouting, but that kind of stuff gets me so excited I feel like I need a bathroom quickly!

 

[captainkidd]

Attendance IIRC is calculated on the first park ticket is used in each day. Either way you have people hopping parks in one day at WDW as much as they do due to a lack of attractions and innovations. People are spending multiple days at one park elsewhere because their offerings are far more than one park or some combinations of two parks at WDW.

Not everybody park hops. In fact, I would say if half the people hop on a given day, that's a lot.

I'm not trying to deny the state the Disney parks are in. I'm simply saying, a list like this just doesn't tell me much. I've never been to CP, but I have no doubt, it's probably an awesome thrill ride park. If you're looking for top notch roller coasters, you better search somewhere other than Disney. Everybody knows that. Disney's niche is in the details.

 

[WDW1974]

Get some good photos of the John Lasseter-approved restrooms in Radiator Springs. I need to know what kinda restrooms we're talking about for DHS.

Have good travels!

Do you see what I posted at the exact time you did? Great toilet minds think alike!

I will do my best to get some great new DCA restroom pics!

 

[ScoutN]

How can you say that with NEW MAGICAL TANGLED THEMED TOILETS ON THE WAY!??!?
Sorry for all the shouting, but that kind of stuff gets me so excited I feel like I need a bathroom quickly!

Nothing tops two turkey legs before an inaugural visit to a MAGICal stool. Sadly you only get one inaugural per restroom. Just means they need more.

 

[TalkingHead]

The OP has a soft spot for BGW, which to be fair is one helluva park. And better than Disney's in O-Town in many of the keys.

I remember you were very complimentary of BGW, too. And I have no trouble believing it's surpassed some aspects of WDW parks.