Has Disney ruined other parks for you?

[Candlejack]

Pardon me, as I'm sure this has been discussed before...

I've visited places like Six Flags Great Escape since I was little (before I had gone to WDW or at least before I could remember), and I recently went to Dorney Park, but having experienced the atmosphere, service, magic, and overall experience of Disney parks makes other places seem... meh. I mean, it's not like I don't enjoy myself while I'm there, but I can't help but compare the two places, consciously or subconsciously. The service at other places is just kind of :/, with high school kids hanging around in neon yellow shirts for a summer paycheck, and the rides are far more generic and uninspired. There's little to no storyline for anything, and the music is usually just an irritating mix of G-rated pop. The entertainment is mediocre, too.

Oh, and the part that frightened me the most -- the food was more expensive. :lookaroun

y/y?

 

[New2WDW]

I have only been to a few other amusement parks, but after visiting Disney I do not care to waste my time or money anywhere else. So much effort was put into the Disney parks and Resorts that when I walk into other places I noticed the lack of detail right away.

 

[WDWmazprty]

Its not that Disney ruined it for me, its that I never considered any other park to be better anyway. Yeah, you can still have fun at Six Flags, Dirney, etc. but the experience all around at Disney is one of a kind.

 

[bgraham34]

I don't know if it ruined it for me but the last time I went to a non Disney Park was a water park in Georgia in 01 and before that was Six Flags in NJ in the late 90's.

 

[foreverbelle]

I don't know if it ruined things for me, we have just found no interest in going to any other amusement parks since then. If that is what you call ruin then sure...

 

[NutsForFlorida]

There's a park up here in MN called Valleyfair that's only open May-September. The first time I went down to Disney World was in 1992. I've only been back to Valleyfair once since I started going to Disney. And that's because a friend of mine's son wanted to go. So, I went along. The coasters are ok. But, it's nothing even close to Disney World. I'd rather spend my money at Disney than there.

 

[njDizFan]

Just got back from Busch Gardens Williamsburg last month and yes, Disney sorta ruined my experience. BG is widely considered one of the better non-Disney parks but it just fell flat. They have a few emmersive(Darkcastle,Pompei) rides and a few cool dining locations(Biergarden). But since thrill rides are really not my thing it left me with little to do. The animal exhibits were almost laughable. It just seemed small and kinda sad.

Thanks alot WDW.

 

[mcjaco]

Just got back from Busch Gardens Williamsburg last month and yes, Disney sorta ruined my experience. BG is widely considered one of the better non-Disney parks but it just fell flat. They have a few emmersive(Darkcastle,Pompei) rides and a few cool dining locations(Biergarden). But since thrill rides are really not my thing it left me with little to do. The animal exhibits were almost laughable. It just seemed small and kinda sad.

Thanks alot WDW.

Bushc Gardens (Tampa and Williamsburg) are fantastic parks. Maybe not up to par with Disney...because they're completely different experiences...but beautifully landscaped, with rides you won't find anywhere else. To anyone reading, do not pass up a chance to go to these two parks. Well worth the visit.

There's a park up here in MN called Valleyfair that's only open May-September. The first time I went down to Disney World was in 1992. I've only been back to Valleyfair once since I started going to Disney. And that's because a friend of mine's son wanted to go. So, I went along. The coasters are ok. But, it's nothing even close to Disney World. I'd rather spend my money at Disney than there.

Valleyfair.....yeah. It's not a place I'd go out of the way to visit. Oh wait, I have! :lol: It's a quaint little park, and Renegade is a wonderful woodie. Other than that, there's nothing special about it.

Basically, and I've been over this before with other forumites, you CANNOT compare Six Flags, Cedar Fair parks, etc, to Disney. Each has it's own niche, and should be taken for what they are supposed to be.

 

[cbettua]

WDW just has that magic, you can't find it anywhere else. So to answer your question yeah in a sense. But I love islands of adventure not as much as wdw but still love it.

 

[NutsForFlorida]

I've been to BG Tampa too and it was ok. Nothing like Disney though.

 

[NutsForFlorida]

Yeah, the coasters there are ok. Renegade was a surprise to me how good it was. But, it's an amusement park for the most part and the only park close to me. I agree you can't compare the two. But, I'd still go 1500 miles and spend my money at Disney than that place.

 

[Mickey_777]

I think you just have to see Disney Parks as a unique experience and other parks simply as "Amusement Parks". I go to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg because I can drive there easily and it gives us something fun to do in the summertime. We only visit Disney during slow season. I can't go to WDW every month and even if I could, I'm afraid I'd find it stale after a while. Plus we enjoy big and bad roller coasters. It's a different experience.

 

[SAV]

It's a little of both for me. I do not expect Six Flags to be as immersive as Disney, but at the same time I do compare them to each other for other things. Food quality for example. There is no reason Six Flags has to have as bad of food as it does. For thrills, Six Flags wins that battle. One day every couple of years at Six Flags is good with me. 7 Days per year at WDW isn't enough. And I always think..."The money I spending here could have been saved for a Disney trip".

 

[Doombuggy13]

Yes, Disney has jaded my appreciation for other parks. There is no Disney Magic. At other parks, the employee's don't make an effort to get the whole family on the same ride together. Disney cast memebers are all willing to help you and are cheeful. Sure I can go to a local park with a 200 + foot roller coaster but it is not a Disney Attraction!

 

[Mukta]

I consider Disney and Universal parks to be theme parks. I look forward to the story and Audio Animatronics more than the thrill factor.
I have visited other amusement parks including Dorney park and Six Flags Magic Mountain. I don't go into them expecting anything but rides and junk food. No story, no theming, no magic.
I can enjoy both, but I greatly prefer the creativity that goes into a theme park.

 

[Mr. Spock]

Yes except Universal.

 

[draybook]

I would agree overall. Although I must say that Six Flags St Louis is a nice park. Now, there's not much for me to do since I don't do thrill rides, but the workers there are great and very friendly. I will say that the detail and setup at Universal Olrando is extremely well done. Especially their Xmas decorations, well done indeed.

However, I always find myself comparing everything to Disney.

 

[Korfar]

Yes it has. We went to Six Flags Great America this summer for a day and all I did was compare it to WDW and SF did not fare so well. Disney is the cream of the crop and I haven't found anything else that is even close to comparable.

 

[Pepper's Ghost]

I understand that Disney is different from Six Flags so they probably shouldn't be compared, but I still do. I just can't help it. I've gone to Six Flags Great America all my life and have loved it. I went to WDW as an adult, and only been back Six Flags a couple times since. Six Flags has many rides that are more thrilling than Disney, but it falls short in every other aspect. SF feels more like a small carnival to me now. Never did before, but it does now.

The biggest difference is obviously the storyline though. I don't mind waiting in line for a ride at WDW because the queue is part of the story, and Disney keeps your attention even while you wait in line. SF.... not so much. Since being to WDW, when I've gone back to SF I feel like cattle in a herd waiting in line and being led through steel bars. An hour wait while doing nothing at all for a 45 second thrill. At least Disney emerses you in the story while waiting in line.

So yes, Disney has defiled me for all other parks. LOL!

 

[Master Yoda]

I do not think it has ruined other parks for me but it has definitely set the Mendoza Line by which I compare other parks to. I know that at Disney I will spend X and get Y. If I go to another park and X is greater than Y then I will be disappointed. If they are equal or Y is greater than X then I will have had a good day.