Four Parks,One World,But is it still Magic?

[BryceM]

I can sit at the Port of Entry and just listen to the music and look at the lighthouse. I would never categorize it as painted concrete by any stretch of the imagination. The new areas are going to be awesome (by the descriptions). Plus, who can look across the lake at Jurassic and WWoHP or from the other direction across the lake at the Hulk and the lighthouse without feeling relaxed. Of course, I also own the IOA soundtrack so I might be a little biased.

I own it too! I'm with you on being able to sit in the Port of Entry and just listen to the enchanting soundtrack that was made for it. It's such a beautiful land and the music that they play is truly magical to me. I just wish that slower version of Ocean Market Trader was on the soundtrack.

Nothing beats seeing the lighthouse in the distance and then as you approach it, you're automatically immersed into the Port of Entry. Such a smooth transition from the energetic CityWalk.

 

[Bloopers]

The magic is there if you want it to be. Even working behind the scenes haven't ruined it for me. When I go to Disney, I truly don't think about anything else and just enjoy myself fully. Then again, I'm also not a nit picky person, so things don't bother me easily. Not everything can be perfect, even at Disney. I do think that if you go too much, the magic may fade a little over time. But while I watch 'wishes' at MK, all the magic comes back.

 

[Pateerick]

But good to see you adopting the fan boy fail safe of mysticism.

Wait, wut?

Edit: Nevermind, I get it, but I know what I meant with that post and is in no way a "fail-safe" of mysticism...
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy both Universal and WDW very much. I was talking about theming and atmosphere. Now let's stop defending them as if they were our children.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I look at it like a scary movie...if you want to be scared, you likely will be. If you walk into WDW with the right mindset to make it magical...then it will likely be as well. There are things sometimes out of our control, kind of like what I recently experienced, which can be a buzz-kill with the magic...but I think making it magical is in your hands. In fact, it's why I didn't go nuts complaining while we were there. You can be there and let every little thing get you down, or you can embrace all of the positives while in it all "live the Disney dream." So, ride your favorite rides, clap along in the shows, talk to friendly CMs and share in the magic, dance/sing along when it's not disruptive to other guests, act like a big kid, etc. Not to sound like total Velveeta, but the magic is sometimes only there if you want it to be there and the degree all depends on what you make of it. So, are things like they were in my early trips...no...are there things I miss...yes....are there things that need improvement...DEFINITELY YES... Can I still have a magical time...HECK YEAH!!!

 

[jlsHouston]

Course its still there. Otherwise we wouldn't go.

Its just not there as much.

aw this makes me sad.. I am glad I am a newbie to WDW because enough has not changed since my first visit for me to feel like any magic is missing..

 

[GoofGoof]

The magic is still there for me. Maybe not the same as being a kid there, but now as an adult I get to watch my kids enjoy the magic. It's a state of mind as much as anything else. If you go in looking for problems you will probably find them. I say throw on some rose colored glasses and snort some pixie dust and do whatever other catch phrase people use around here and enjoy yourself. it's your vacation.

The mood around these parts has turned downright ugly in the last few weeks. Seems nextgen has really gotten people worked up.

 

[jlsHouston]

Oh for sure!! It's not so much caring what others think and letting their opinion ruin things, but it's like when you're super excited about a concert and someone jut goes on and ON about how much that band sucks, you start getting annoyed. You don't really wanna talk with that person about it anymore and you really DO start noticing those flaws that you accepted before!! LOL

Someone made a post that had pics of a ride, never mind that it was a dark ride and they used flash, which we all know you're not supposed to do, but it showed WDW in an awful light.

It's not so much a "I care what this person thinks" so much as a "we get it, take it to people who will do something about it, an leave us pixie snorters alone" haha.

But really, I respect everyone's opinion, I respect everyone's right to an opinion (or hell, it's usually pointing out FACT that I don't want to hear/acknowledge), but it really does harsh my mellow! Haha <3

Hmm yah kind of like the mold in Maelstom.... I rode it I dunno 3 or 4 times at Thanksgiving never saw none of the nasty worn out stuff that was in the pics from that same time period..hey I still had a great time on the ride..when I feel like my thousands spent at disney do not give me the enjoyment I paid for I will go elsewhere and I will have all these great memories I made to take with... in the meantime, we just have a blast at WDW and there is so much I haven't done yet or seen. While I may be annoyed by some changes occuring or changes that aren't happening that should in terms of refurb and repairs I am still EAGERLY looking forward to our next trip to WDW.

This site has some very intelligent people involved in it and they are knowledgeable about disney. Add their passion to that mixture and wow ... it can get a bit overwhelming. On the other hand never a dull moment on these threads...one minute you think it's a light hearted muse about the happiest place on earth next minute whammo you are wondering how you could be perceived such a way... or you jump into the controversies and before long you aren't sure what your position is on a issue there has been so much muck thrown on the wall...

 

[spacemt354]

I say, go wherever makes you happy. As others have said, it's your vacation. And I agree, this site has gotten very depressing over the past few weeks, and the hateful commentary has just escalated since NextGen was announced. I'm sick of it all.

I joined back in June, and most the back and forth commentary regarded WDW was somewhat nasty back then, and I thought to myself, has this place gotten that bad since I last went in 2011? Sure, as a long time guest who travels mostly every year to the world, who studies WDW and such, I can tell for myself whether or not an effect is working. And I always notice things like that, but was I missing that much? That threads upon threads were constructed about how much Uni is better, or DL is better, etc etc.

I went last August with all the "knowledge" I attained from here and I gotta say, after all that negativity that I read leading up to the trip, I had an awesome time at WDW. Actually, it was one of the best vacations we all had in years. Sure did I notice some things? Yeah. But did that take away from the experience? Heck no. And would I have discovered those things anyway without joining this site earlier in the summer? Yes.

So after I got back, I ignored this site for quite a while. It just wasn't worth it. All that stuff about how the experience has changed, it's worse than ever, people are entitled to their opinions. And I'm sure those opinions stem from bad experiences which is understandable. But I realized, that I'm not going to let snarky remarks about how I'm a pixie duster, or I have rose colored glasses dictate how my family and I spend their vacation. I could care less. If we all have fun, and get to spend time with each other in our favorite place in the world, and we feel that even with the price increases that WDW is still our vacation destination, then I really don't care what anyone else thinks. To each is own, I guess.

I'm glad I found this thread, because I didn't join this site to get into psychoanalytical arguments about wristbands and other nonsense with anonymous members who's opinions I respect, but I could care less to argue with. I came to this site as a Disney fan, because I wanted to talk about, not argue about, Disney, with other Disney fans. So thank you to the OP for this thread.

 

[real mad hatter]

Really enjoying reading so many answers,but one thing has popped up now and again,and I totally agree.Too much of Disney can be a bad thing,like going twice or three times in a year,and I don't mean just for one days trip,like five or seven days at a time.Like Groundhog Day.Oh Yeh! I remember how this goes or here we go again,I could play this part.Just like a wedding cake,too many slices can make you sick.My opinion only.

 

[real mad hatter]

I say, go wherever makes you happy. As others have said, it's your vacation. And I agree, this site has gotten very depressing over the past few weeks, and the hateful commentary has just escalated since NextGen was announced. I'm sick of it all.

I joined back in June, and most the back and forth commentary regarded WDW was somewhat nasty back then, and I thought to myself, has this place gotten that bad since I last went in 2011? Sure, as a long time guest who travels mostly every year to the world, who studies WDW and such, I can tell for myself whether or not an effect is working. And I always notice things like that, but was I missing that much? That threads upon threads were constructed about how much Uni is better, or DL is better, etc etc.

I went last August with all the "knowledge" I attained from here and I gotta say, after all that negativity that I read leading up to the trip, I had an awesome time at WDW. Actually, it was one of the best vacations we all had in years. Sure did I notice some things? Yeah. But did that take away from the experience? Heck no. And would I have discovered those things anyway without joining this site earlier in the summer? Yes.

So after I got back, I ignored this site for quite a while. It just wasn't worth it. All that stuff about how the experience has changed, it's worse than ever, people are entitled to their opinions. And I'm sure those opinions stem from bad experiences which is understandable. But I realized, that I'm not going to let snarky remarks about how I'm a pixie duster, or I have rose colored glasses dictate how my family and I spend their vacation. I could care less. If we all have fun, and get to spend time with each other in our favorite place in the world, and we feel that even with the price increases that WDW is still our vacation destination, then I really don't care what anyone else thinks. To each is own, I guess.

I'm glad I found this thread, because I didn't join this site to get into psychoanalytical arguments about wristbands and other nonsense with anonymous members who's opinions I respect, but I could care less to argue with. I came to this site as a Disney fan, because I wanted to talk about, not argue about, Disney, with other Disney fans. So thank you to the OP for this thread.

You know,I've read this three times now,and it's so spooky.Why? Because its exactly the way I would have said it.As you say " To each their own." I feel sorry for the first timer coming onto this site and reading all the " Doom " They must be thinking Oh my god,what have I let myself in for. Cheers for you happy and not grumpy reply.

 

[nc_disneyfreak]

Well our first trip was in april of 2010 and then again in april 2012...so for us anyway, weve spent a total of 15 days inside the WDW bubble. And what a magical 15 days it was!!! We havent even begun to see everthing there is to see, and until we get close to that, that is reason enough for us to keep coming back every two years. (that way we dont get burned out on it and we can fit a beach trip etc in between WDW visits) My stepson is only 6 so he is in primetime toy story and cars mode, and my daughter just turned 2, so she is just now getting into the princesses etc..so we have alot of time taking them down there. I can understand why some people would feel as if its lost some magic, but if you go more than once a year or even every year, that can be maybe one reason its like that. I like to see WDW as its meant to be...enjoyed with that "magic"...i dont get into the details of what Meg Croften is doing, (or not doing lol) or the politics of the parks. I dont know, maybe I have on the rose colored glasses lol...The only time I complain is when the time comes to book my package and the price is a little higher than last time..but the joy my family and I get when we first see the magical express bus, first open our hotel room door, see that castle, the tree of life, tower of terror and my inanimate lover that is epcot, its well worth the little extra...

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Wait, wut?

Edit: Nevermind, I get it, but I know what I meant with that post and is in no way a "fail-safe" of mysticism...
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy both Universal and WDW very much. I was talking about theming and atmosphere. Now let's stop defending them as if they were our children.

Im not defending anything, just questioning some of the complete Ertha Kitt spouted on here, especially when the claims are substantiated by the need to feel magic. Its a feckin theme park.

 

[Pateerick]

when the claims are substantiated by the need to feel magic. Its a feckin theme park.

Whoa! I guess that renders this whole thread useless

 

[real mad hatter]

Whits a theme park?

 

[ishmael0316]

I moved to Orlando specifically to be by Walt Disney World. It had always been a dream of mine, and I came from a very broken household and never got to experience the magic as a child. The second I walked into the Magic Kingdom for the first time (at 25), I openly wept, nay sobbed, at the sight of my castle. Fast forward to September of 2012 when I moved here, and I visit the park 2 or more times a week (especially if I don't have to teach that day). Is it like the first visit? No. I still get a tear every time I leave even though it is 10 minutes from my house. I love Walt Disney World. I know there are many things wrong with it, what in this systems of things is perfect? I know the magic, I love the magic, and the magic lives in me. Each and every time I enter my Magic Kingdom I am so thankful that I get to visit my princesses and enjoy the magic anytime I wish. Thank you Walt!

 

[Susan Savia]

it is just as magical as ever, but it is a shame a tiny bag of candy costs $7.00or a tee shirt for a baby is $16.00, I'm just not buying as much this time.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

I think it comes down to your expectations. There's nothing like that first visit but I've been going since I was 5 (1972 don't really remember those early trips lol) and it's still my favorite place to vacation. Some things are better some aren't but mostly it's like everything else...it changes and evolves. I think the people who have the worst times or most complaints are the ones who go thinking they're the only one's there on vacation and deserve to be treated somehow different than everyone else. I've had a few bad moments pop up that I wish didn't happen but by no means would I let it ruin my trip or stop me from going again. I can honestly say there's been something magical (even if it's something small or seemingly trivial to others) about each trip I've taken but I look for new experiences and go with various family members so the trips are always different that way.

 

[jlsHouston]

Really enjoying reading so many answers,but one thing has popped up now and again,and I totally agree.Too much of Disney can be a bad thing,like going twice or three times in a year,and I don't mean just for one days trip,like five or seven days at a time.Like Groundhog Day.Oh Yeh! I remember how this goes or here we go again,I could play this part.Just like a wedding cake,too many slices can make you sick.My opinion only.

oh NOOOOOO !! Don't tell me that !! I can't even IMAGINE waiting a year or two between trips I start missing WDW the day we are saying good bye to the World !!! I am an immediate gratification person I gotta go several times a year if I can swing the finances!!
Seriously as long as the resorts are nice and the dining is fun and food good with variety, I am not that big of a theme park person although I do love that my daughters and grandkids are entertained with the parks, and I am too, but for me WDW parks is alot of walking in circles....I get lost with the maps still, which subsequently requires me to hit the Mandara Spa at least once. So lounging around watching everyone, dining, a little shopping, the fireworks, the disney characters and a few rides everyday I have a great time at the resort and to me it is a great vacation to be had by all, as many times a year as I can get there!

 

[jlsHouston]

Im not defending anything, just questioning some of the complete Ertha Kitt spouted on here, especially when the claims are substantiated by the need to feel magic. Its a feckin theme park.

Who is Ertha Kitt?

 

[LuLaSue]

Who is Ertha Kitt?

Cat Woman...
She was a cabaret star back in the day.