Disney Parks #1, 2, 3, & 7 in consumer reports

[DisneyWorld30th]

The June 2003 edition of Comsumer Reports just arrived at my home and they rated the top Amusement Parks/Theme Parks.

There is a four page artitical about the different parks, how to save money and which are busier...etc...etc

There were a few websites meantioned in the article:

wdwinfo.com
mousesavers.com
themeparkinsider.com
themeparks.com

Here is how the parks were rated (by reader survey)
#1 Epcot
#2 Disney-MGM-Studios
#3 Magic Kingdom
#4 Sea World (Florida)
#5 Universal's Island of Adventure
#6 Sea World (California)
#7 Disney's Animal Kingdom
#8 Disneyland
#9 Cedar Point
#10 Busch Gardens (Florida)
#11 Universal Studios (Florida)
#12 Knott's Berry Farms
#13 Universal Studios (California)
#14 Disney's California Adventure

 

[DisneyWorld30th]

Personal Comments

I am very surprised by the how low on the scale Disney's California Adventure was and Disneyland.

Also, not that I am a huge fan, but I am also surprised Universal's Island of Adventure wasn't two or three on the list. And that Sea World beat it.

 

[SirNim]

These ratings are very surprising indeed.

 

[DMC-12]

Originally posted by DisneyWorld30th
Here is how the parks were rated (by reader survey)
#1 Epcot

Yay! :sohappy: :sohappy: Go Epcot!

 

[Disneyanna0521]

I am surprised epcot was number 1

 

[ToTBellHop]

I dunno about this...I think Disneyland, the hotels aside, is a far greater value than the Disney World Parks--I think we got our six-day park hopper for about $140 from them, and when I went in march, between construction projects, there was a lot more at Disneyland than any of the Disney World parks...I would argue it is the greatest value of any of the parks. I don't really understang picking Epcot as number one...and as for California Adventure being so low on the list, someone really needs to remind these people that this park "with nothing to do" opened with more attractions than any other Disney-paid-for park did...these ratings seem messed to me.

 

[SirNim]

Well, according to the poll attached to this thread, Epcot is number one!:lol:

 

[tmp]

Consumer Reports never impressed me much. I'm glad that Disney did well, but in general I think the magazine is not all it is cracked up to be.

 

[imagineersrock]

Originally posted by Disneyanna0521
I am surprised epcot was number 1

me too... im very pleased, but very suprised too. im just curious what the criteria was exactly...

i'll admit i love epcot, but im very aware that there are MANY who dont feel the same way. i would have been 100% sure that ONE of the MK's would be #1

-i also am suprised to see how low IOA scored; out of everyone i know, they have unfortunantly "grown out of" disney and IOA is now the place to be. (i am however a 17 year old- and that says enought about the age group i'm mostly around)

maybe new rides like M:S and EE will suck those damn teens back into disney!!! -lets show 'em whats good for 'em :lol:

 

[Epcot is my fav]

whats my favorite you ask????? what do you think??? think long and hard......its a real tough one.......

EPCOT!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO im so glad it is number 1......i love epcot

 

[amanda]

im very surprised. i NEVER would of guessed epcot would be 1st

 

[figmentmom]

Personally, I had a tough time choosing between Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, so I'll bet they were close in the national poll, too.

 

[ArchiDanDisney]

Wow....Disney is really going downhill.:hammer:

 

[Gregory]

Thats wierd... but I guess thats what you get when you stop improving the parks... I voted for MGM... thats deffantly my fav. followed by MK, EPCOT, and AK (respectively)

 

[lentesta]

I think CR ranked the parks by "value," right?

Epcot's got a lot going for it. The attractions are engineered for large capacities, so the wait times are relatively low (TT excluded). There's a variety of good dining options in World Showcase. It's got both monorail and bus access. It's big, so it handles crowds well. And there are a lot of attractions.

It's also open until 9 p.m. almost every night. The Magic Kingdom might be the sentimental favorite, but for value, it's hard to beat Epcot. Maybe I'm biased, as Epcot's always been my favorite park. But I can certainly see it in the top 3.

Sincerely,

Len

 

[GalacticGobbler]

Originally posted by tmp
Consumer Reports never impressed me much. I'm glad that Disney did well, but in general I think the magazine is not all it is cracked up to be.

Why, because it is unbiased in its reporting. Consumer reports accepts no ad money from any source, so guess what, they can report the truth.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Originally posted by GalacticGobbler
Why, because it is unbiased in its reporting. Consumer reports accepts no ad money from any source, so guess what, they can report the truth.

By nature, this particular article does not involve "truth". It is an opinion...that a lot of us disagree with. Not sure which guests they asked to get THOSE line ups...using attendance numbers would produce a line-up most of us would expect...and that would be more fact-based.

 

[TravisMT81]

well I see my favorite park came in number one as it should I cannot believe Disneyland was so low. And DCA should haven;t been on there :lol:

 

[Woody13]

Originally posted by imagineersrock
me too... im very pleased, but very suprised too. im just curious what the criteria was exactly...

According to the magazine article, "The ratings were based on a nationally representative survey of almost 2,500 people, reflecting more than 5,500 visits between November, 2000 and November, 2002." Also they stated, "We supplemented our survey with research from staffers who visited theme parks." Statistically speaking, this is a very accurate survey.

The categories judged were overall satisfaction with value, rides, shows, staff, souvenirs and crowds.

I think it is interesting to note (although not surprising) that all of the WDW parks were in the top 10. If you go to www.ConsumerReports.org and key in the report code 602 you can get more information about this article from May 5 until July 7, 2003.

 

[CTXRover]

Originally posted by DogsRule!
By nature, this particular article does not involve "truth". It is an opinion...that a lot of us disagree with. Not sure which guests they asked to get THOSE line ups...using attendance numbers would produce a line-up most of us would expect...and that would be more fact-based.

I didn't get a chance to read the article, but, if I understand it correctly, the order of parks was done by actually surveying guests who visited the parks. Of course, one should ask, did these people surveyed visit all the listed parks to make an educated decision? However, be it opinion of guests, it is infact still the guest's choice for this order, not the magazine's choice. (Of course, more people should have been surveyed to make it accurate)

I'm not surprised to see Epcot so high. They probably questioned a more "mature" audience than just thrill-ride fanatics. (I don't mean any offense, but I can't figure out another way to write what I'm trying to say. :lol: ) If you asked 2,500 teenagers which was their favorite park, IOA may be at the top. If you ask people in their 30's to 40's with kids, I would expect the ratings as they show (Disclaimer :lol: I do realize there are those out there in their 30's and 40's who wouldn't vote this way.) Epcot does offer a lot for its money when you think about it