Line starts here for a true guide to theme parks
Published May 6, 2003
The people at Consumer Reports must have been testing bongs last month. The proof is in the June issue, the magazine's first-ever review of theme parks.
And coming in first is ... Epcot?
This is like ranking Old Milwaukee as the top beer. Oops, I forgot. Consumer Reports has done that too.
Don't get me wrong. I like Epcot. The older I get, the more I like it.
The rankings are based on a national survey of almost 2,500 people.
What did the magazine do, survey people at Winter Park Towers?
The park's only "thrill" ride is a General Motors infomercial called Test Track. I go faster in my minivan.
As for the World Showcase, it is dominated by the Axis of Weasels, including France, Germany and China.
This isn't to say Epcot is without merit. You can get something to eat besides bad hamburgers and smoked turkey legs. And Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is themost clever 3-D movie I've ever seen.
But Epcot is hardly the park I'd recommend for someone cominginto town for only one day.
Even more absurd is the ranking of Disney-MGM Studios as second best. I have a pass to allof theparks, and this is the only one I haven't visited twice. It has the least to do and the least to see. Its marquee ride is the Tower of Terror. My unterrified preschooler went on it three consecutive times.
The local tourism people should be happy with the rankings, however.
Of the 14 parks listed, Orlando parks sweep the top five spots. Coming in third, fourth and fifth aretheMagic Kingdom, SeaWorld and Universal's Islands of Adventure.
Animal Kingdom is seventh, and Universal Studios comes in at11th.
With all due respect to Consumer Reports, let me put the parks in proper order. I begin by saying water parks are not included. If they were, Wet 'n Wild and Blizzard Beach would be high on the list.
1. Magic Kingdom. It has tradition, it has Cinderella Castle, it has screaming kids and sweating, exhausted parents. It has Mickey -- although you have to wait in line 45 minutes to see him. This park doesn't have the best rides, but it makes up for that with quantity. It is the premier park for kids but also has enough variety for all age groups. If you can visit only one park, this is it.
2. Islands of Adventure: This place has more thrills than all the other parks combined. It has the area's best ride, Spider-Man, and the best roller coaster, the Incredible Hulk.
3. SeaWorld: Consumer Reports actually said this park was not crowded. Maybeit got the survey results mixed up with Splendid China, because SeaWorld packs them in like sardines (ha ha ha). The difference from other parks is that a crowded SeaWorld is more manageable because you generally don't have to wait in line to look at fish. You go in auditoriums. Kraken is second only to the Hulk among coasters.
4. Animal Kingdom: Like SeaWorld, there are things to do that don't require standing in line. And while you're doing them, you can get a FASTPASS to Kilimanjaro Safaris.
5. Universal Studios: Terminator 2 and Twister are top-notch. Back to the Future and Jaws still amuse. But Men in Black is a poor rip-off of Magic Kingdom's Buzz Lightyear.
6. Epcot: Indian food would help.
7. Disney-MGM Studios: If Cypress Gardens were included,it would have tied forseventh.
and some bad news---------------------------------------
'Major victory' claimed in Epcot intellectual property lawsuit
Bob Mervine
An Orlando attorney says U.S. District Judge Patrica Fawsett has cleared the way for an October 2004 trial on a potentially expensive lawsut that charges of the theft of intellectual property byWalt Disney World.
Fawsett ruled April 10 on requests by Disney attorneys to dismiss the case.
Orlando attorney John Stemberger heads a team of five law firms handling the suit. They represent an Ohio man who claims his father conceived a concept which eventually became Epcot, long before Walt Disney's company decided to build the theme park.
The suit charges that Disney stole the idea and asks for "potentially hundreds of millions of dollars," from Disney in damages, according to Stemberger.
Stemberger says, "For now, this is a tremendous victory," adding, " This gives us the green light to do the extensive investigation and discovery needed to set the record straight."
A Disney spokeswoman says, "This hearing provided the judge an opportunity to try and prove that they have a case. When the facts come out, it will be clear that they do not." Disney has 30 days to respond to Judge Fawsett's ruling.
Published May 6, 2003
The people at Consumer Reports must have been testing bongs last month. The proof is in the June issue, the magazine's first-ever review of theme parks.
And coming in first is ... Epcot?
This is like ranking Old Milwaukee as the top beer. Oops, I forgot. Consumer Reports has done that too.
Don't get me wrong. I like Epcot. The older I get, the more I like it.
The rankings are based on a national survey of almost 2,500 people.
What did the magazine do, survey people at Winter Park Towers?
The park's only "thrill" ride is a General Motors infomercial called Test Track. I go faster in my minivan.
As for the World Showcase, it is dominated by the Axis of Weasels, including France, Germany and China.
This isn't to say Epcot is without merit. You can get something to eat besides bad hamburgers and smoked turkey legs. And Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is themost clever 3-D movie I've ever seen.
But Epcot is hardly the park I'd recommend for someone cominginto town for only one day.
Even more absurd is the ranking of Disney-MGM Studios as second best. I have a pass to allof theparks, and this is the only one I haven't visited twice. It has the least to do and the least to see. Its marquee ride is the Tower of Terror. My unterrified preschooler went on it three consecutive times.
The local tourism people should be happy with the rankings, however.
Of the 14 parks listed, Orlando parks sweep the top five spots. Coming in third, fourth and fifth aretheMagic Kingdom, SeaWorld and Universal's Islands of Adventure.
Animal Kingdom is seventh, and Universal Studios comes in at11th.
With all due respect to Consumer Reports, let me put the parks in proper order. I begin by saying water parks are not included. If they were, Wet 'n Wild and Blizzard Beach would be high on the list.
1. Magic Kingdom. It has tradition, it has Cinderella Castle, it has screaming kids and sweating, exhausted parents. It has Mickey -- although you have to wait in line 45 minutes to see him. This park doesn't have the best rides, but it makes up for that with quantity. It is the premier park for kids but also has enough variety for all age groups. If you can visit only one park, this is it.
2. Islands of Adventure: This place has more thrills than all the other parks combined. It has the area's best ride, Spider-Man, and the best roller coaster, the Incredible Hulk.
3. SeaWorld: Consumer Reports actually said this park was not crowded. Maybeit got the survey results mixed up with Splendid China, because SeaWorld packs them in like sardines (ha ha ha). The difference from other parks is that a crowded SeaWorld is more manageable because you generally don't have to wait in line to look at fish. You go in auditoriums. Kraken is second only to the Hulk among coasters.
4. Animal Kingdom: Like SeaWorld, there are things to do that don't require standing in line. And while you're doing them, you can get a FASTPASS to Kilimanjaro Safaris.
5. Universal Studios: Terminator 2 and Twister are top-notch. Back to the Future and Jaws still amuse. But Men in Black is a poor rip-off of Magic Kingdom's Buzz Lightyear.
6. Epcot: Indian food would help.
7. Disney-MGM Studios: If Cypress Gardens were included,it would have tied forseventh.
and some bad news---------------------------------------
'Major victory' claimed in Epcot intellectual property lawsuit
Bob Mervine
An Orlando attorney says U.S. District Judge Patrica Fawsett has cleared the way for an October 2004 trial on a potentially expensive lawsut that charges of the theft of intellectual property byWalt Disney World.
Fawsett ruled April 10 on requests by Disney attorneys to dismiss the case.
Orlando attorney John Stemberger heads a team of five law firms handling the suit. They represent an Ohio man who claims his father conceived a concept which eventually became Epcot, long before Walt Disney's company decided to build the theme park.
The suit charges that Disney stole the idea and asks for "potentially hundreds of millions of dollars," from Disney in damages, according to Stemberger.
Stemberger says, "For now, this is a tremendous victory," adding, " This gives us the green light to do the extensive investigation and discovery needed to set the record straight."
A Disney spokeswoman says, "This hearing provided the judge an opportunity to try and prove that they have a case. When the facts come out, it will be clear that they do not." Disney has 30 days to respond to Judge Fawsett's ruling.
. Sorry 
