Are the memories > the present?

[tl77]

The place has changed so much over the years and there have been different things to see and enjoy at different times. Our first trip was 1979 and we went again in 1981 both trips were before EPCOT and there was no Splash Mountain or Birthdayland/Toon Town, but we stayed at the Poly and saw The Mickey Luau, The Hoop De Doo, River Country, Discovery Island, and the old Shopping Village

We went back in both 85 and 86 to see Epcot, those early years are some of my best times, I was still a child too, but as long as they were adding attractions I always had a positive experiences/memories of the place. When they began "removing things" I found I liked it less, I remember in the late 90's World of Motion was closed to become Test Track and they reopen Horizons. Riding Horizons that last time, seeing how neglected it was, knowing it would be torn down is my worst memory of WDW. All of Epcot Future World is pretty depressing now, generally avoid going there.

Typhoon Lagoon is one of my favorite things to do at WDW, in part I think because it's changed so little, every time there feels like "the first time". There's always something new to check out, and I was at Wilderness Lodge for the first time in 2018 and loved it way more than I thought I would.

We always spend our first and last day of the trip at Magic Kingdom, fitting new stuff in between. I still love the Magic Kingdom the best, it's all there was originally, and being on Main Street after the park has closed, with all the little pop corn light lit up is something that's never changed. Everything else is nice, but I always want to see Magic Kingdom every few years, that's always a good memory for me

 

[ermccartin]

I think I qualify to respond to this. I went to Magic Kingdom for 1 day while on a business trip about 4 years ago, but prior to that it's been 12 years for me. You really just can't experience WDW in 1 day, so I don't count it. I just wanted a taste while I was there. It's been 12 years since I visited any of the other parks. For the first 5 of those years it was personal circumstances, but honestly over the last 7, I haven't had a strong desire. Lately, I've really been itching to return, but I'm petrified that it just won't be the same anymore. There are several rides that have been changed, removed, or I hear are in disrepair that I really don't have a strong desire. To name a few TT2.0, SotW, PotC, Spaceship Earth, etc. Those rides specifically have been changed in a way that I fear won't be enjoyable when I finally do get back.

I really am not looking forward to exiting those rides and having no desire to go back on before leaving. They're all rides I have a strong sentimental attachment to back in the 2000s, so I fear it'll have been ruined for me after my next trip, whenever that will be. And that's not to mention rides I've heard are in a bad state of disrepair like Dinosaur, Everest (d@mn yeti), Peoplemover, Splash Mountain, on and on. Despite the few thrill rides WDW has, for me and I'm sure most on these boards, the biggest part of why Disney is a favorite is due to the theming, the pre-show, the attention to details, the submersion. It's hard to be submersed in a ride when the human element of disrepair is introduced. That really kills the buzz when a dinosaur you know is supposed to eat you because you rode it before is not replaced with simple darkness. Or Yeti that's supposed to lunge at you and take your head off is just dancing in a nightclub. Or the Peoplemover which for a long time wasn't moving people. It's such a simple ride, but I loved the theming, and audio. They changed the audio for the worse, so even if it is working, it's just not the same anymore.

It's really such a sad state. I mean, I'm sure first time visitors will love it as is, but those of us blessed to have visited the parks in a better era know what it could be and once was.

Well Am 82 now. As I write my younger daughter and her brother are there now. We have been there many times. Of course rides may break down . consider the frequency of their use.Even with covid, I have noticed from videos, there is a significant amount of people there. Obviously I don't do splash or other thrill a new rides. But overall,b from what I have observed, the yeti tears up tracks. Been on Dinasour ride,which is rough and that seems to be the point. People mover was being renovated, is moving,and anew coaster called Tron, is under construction. A thrill ride. Rocky is largely being updated. Walt Disney believes in Moving Forward. Its ok you don't like Disney any more. There are other theme parks.
Great Adventure maybe?