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2012 Golden Tickets: SEA and Dolly Beat Out Disney In Most.
- Thread starter ScoutN
- Start date
828tnt
Well-Known Member
me too! what town? i'm originally from sunbury, but now i live near mt pleasant mills. nice to know a "neighbor" on the boards.
fractal
Well-Known Member
me too! what town? i'm originally from sunbury, but now i live near mt pleasant mills. nice to know a "neighbor" on the boards.
I live in Berks County. We get up to Knoebel's every year or so.
sshindel
The Epcot Manifesto
Ahhh, what a blast from the past. I still fondly remember how excited I was on the 6 hour drive over to CP as a kid, solely based on how excited I was to ride their new ride, Disaster Transport. People talk about their level of disappointment based around some of Disney's recent additions, but I can tell you, they've got nothing on the hype-to-disappointment ratio given by that attraction!
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
I guess I'm not as much of a doom-n-gloomer as I thought. What's missing from these awards is the overall feeling that these parks bring to you. The Magic Kingdom doesn't have the best food. Epcot doesn't have the best dark rides. Hollywood Studios doesn't have the best coaster. Animal Kingdom doesn't have best water ride. But no 4 parks put together make me any happier than the 4 at WDW. I've never been to CP, but I have been to my fair share of Amusement Parks elsewhere.
michmousefan
Well-Known Member
Yep, WDW as a whole does have a unique feel that can't be surpassed, from the moment you drive under those "welcome" arches. The closest analogy for CP -- and it's a weak one at that -- would if WDW ever created the mythical "fifth park" and made it a thrill ride park. But I don't ever see that happening. I don't think they need that -- just continue to develop the four parks and two waterparks that you already have.
AgentB911
Member
OK being a Yinzer (one from Pittsburgh,) I can tell you that these awards are WAY off. Idlewild now has been voted best kid's park two years straight and this is a crying shame. Idlewild, while charming, is far from the best. Most of the structures appear old and decrepit, and lack obvious upkeep and maintenance. Some even show visible termite damage. Most of the rides lack standard upkeep. Granted, they are vintage rides that one usually won't find anywhere else. But just because they are old doesn't mean that they should not be maintained. In addition, the park is dirty, the food is mediocre at best, and the staff is rude and inattentive.
And as for Kennywood's Noahs Ark...well this attraction is on the same level as the infamous Yeti. The last scene is habitually down, and guests have to use a side emergency exit. When the last scene is functioning, it really has no correalation with the ride itself. This attraction was much better before it's refurb, and should have been left in its original form. There are far better dark attractions at Kennywood than this.
So take these awards with a grain of salt. To me, they mean absolutely nothing since at least two of the categories are way off base.
And as for Kennywood's Noahs Ark...well this attraction is on the same level as the infamous Yeti. The last scene is habitually down, and guests have to use a side emergency exit. When the last scene is functioning, it really has no correalation with the ride itself. This attraction was much better before it's refurb, and should have been left in its original form. There are far better dark attractions at Kennywood than this.
So take these awards with a grain of salt. To me, they mean absolutely nothing since at least two of the categories are way off base.
ChrisFL
Premium Member
This doesn't surprise me at all.
ChrisFL
Premium Member
I haven't been to many of these, but those of you thinking about a coaster park that has other things it does well too, I'd say definitely BGW AND also Hersheypark. Hershey has a TON of rollercoasters, but many other attractions also, including a massive water-park inside without separate admission, decent food and a nice staff every time I've been there.
Naturally this park list is incredibly biased and most people voting have probably never seen DisneySea in their life.
Best Park 2012
Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 21%
Europa-Park Rust, Germany 14%
Dollywood Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 13.5%
Knoebels Amusement Resort Elysburg, Pa. 9%
Disneyland Anahiem, Calif. 8%
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 7%
Magic Kingdom Orlando, Fla. 6% tie
Universal's Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 6% tie
Tokyo DisneySea Tokyo, Japan 4.5%
Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Blackpool, England 4%
Naturally this park list is incredibly biased and most people voting have probably never seen DisneySea in their life.
Best Park 2012
Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 21%
Europa-Park Rust, Germany 14%
Dollywood Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 13.5%
Knoebels Amusement Resort Elysburg, Pa. 9%
Disneyland Anahiem, Calif. 8%
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 7%
Magic Kingdom Orlando, Fla. 6% tie
Universal's Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 6% tie
Tokyo DisneySea Tokyo, Japan 4.5%
Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Blackpool, England 4%
Jane Doe
Well-Known Member
I agree, Pleasure Beach Blackpool is in there. The only other time it's had a top five finish was for the Golden Vomit Awards in the Best Stag Party (Thrills With Spills) Catagory.
He is super biased and has dust in his eyes. BGW has crews that travel the park several nights a week repainting graffiti, scraping gum, painting rails, redoing entire flower beds. Concrete surfaces are redone on a regular basis as is the cushioned San Marco bridge that is standing area for fireworks. Path are powerwashed five nights a week during the summer and look like you could eat off of them. The park is kept to a stupid high standard. Where these awards may be written off, the 22 years voted World's Most Beautiful Park cannot be. Facing that someone has better upkeep than something at WDW can be a hard pill to swallow for some.
I will say I visited BGW (and their water park) over the summer, and the cleanliness was noticeable. The landscaping was pristine, and even on a busy summer day the upkeep was non-stop. I haven't been to WDW since last December to compare, but BGW was indeed a very clean park.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
Wow. I haven't been to BGW since I was a kid, but it sounds like it's doing great. Need to return.
WDW used to keep the same standards of cleanliness and maintenance as well. It's shameful that they don't anymore.
It really is. Blackstone has large plans for the park and are very much on the path of fulfilling them. They want it to be the flagship park. Its waterpark WaterCountryUSA is going to be doubled in size with a beyond large overhaul of items already there. Expansions are coming to BGW including new darkrides and country with a new coaster. Resort hotel is on the way. With Colonial Willamsburg right up the road it is getting interesting. This summer they have had more out of town guests than they typically do (which was already high). As someone who has the park every 7-10 days I can say I have not once seen a slack in upkeep. It is well worth making a trip to the MidAtlantic to visit. The food (which is only QS) beats ANY park QS food that I have ever had (excluding TheLand's).
rodserling27
Well-Known Member
Ha, well I'm not the usual "OMG DISNEY CAN DO NO WRONG STFU" kind of fan, nor am I doom and gloomer "disney is doing everything wrong"...I'm somewhere in between with the truth.
I haven't been to Busch Gardens in a few years, so yeah, I guess I'm biased or just need to see Busch Gardens in-person to compare.
And for the record, I am a firm believer that WDW can and SHOULD learn from other parks about upkeep...Further proof that I need to get myself down there and visit!
majortom1981
Active Member
Keep in mind that a lot of the people who vote on this pole are the same people who say " ew Disney? thats for kids". I used to help run a coaster site.
This means nothing.Heck My local water park splish Splash here on long island gets ranked by the professionals and travelk sites as one of the top 5 water parks in the Country usually 3rd being disneys and Schlitterbahn and yet is not mentioned here at all.
This means nothing.Heck My local water park splish Splash here on long island gets ranked by the professionals and travelk sites as one of the top 5 water parks in the Country usually 3rd being disneys and Schlitterbahn and yet is not mentioned here at all.
Mickey_777
Well-Known Member
How would you judge "friendliness" anyway? If this list had actual credibility, consider how WDW is almost on every one of those "Top 5" lists. Plus, notice how DisneySEA has 8 other parks (7 within the U.S.) in front of it for "best park". No credibility (in my ever so humble and not-that-important opinion).
maxairmike
Well-Known Member
These awards are largely marketing and focused at the amusement park "crowd," which is very different from the theme park "crowd."
michmousefan
Well-Known Member
Agreed... BGW is worthy of the Most Beautiful Park; it's gorgeous. The hilly terrain with the trees & river helps, but it certainly seems to be the most "park-like" of any park, in the states at least. The only instance that WDW might be able to give it a run for its money is during Flower & Garden at EPCOT in the spring.
NADisney
Active Member
s.
Thanks. I'm in remission right now. I do enjoy Typhoon Laggon more the Blizzard Beach .As for Holiday World, it's a one day park .Everyone does the rides in the morning, then hits the waterpark in the evening.