Has Disney ruined other parks for you?

[Lucky]

I agree with others it makes sense to think of theme parks (Disney, Universal) and amusement parks (6 Flags) separately, or you'll inevitably be disappointed by amusement parks.

The problem with Busch Gardens is that it tries to attain the theme park standard but doesn't quite achieve it. Many people think of it as a bad theme park when it could just as easily be viewed as a great amusement park.

 

[Crazy Harry]

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.

Of all of the parks that have been mentioned, I am suprized that Dollywood was not brought up. It is in my opinion the best non Disney/Universal park. It has incredible theming, great food, and a wide range of entertainment offerings including great shows, demonstrations by crafts people (blacksmiths, candle makers ect) family rides and thrill rides. They even have a church with services on Sunday. It was fun to hit six rides then go to a church service. :sohappy:

 

[MichRX7]

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.

Hah, just got done posting about this in the are disney fans wimps thread. My family (except my wife) love Cedar Point, but it is a day trip for us when I play hookey from work so there are short lines. I love being shot 400+ feet up in the air on a roller coaster (which is something Disney doesn't have). But it isn't a vacation, and it isn't a THEME park. So I don't compare it to Disney which is always a great family vacation.

 

[worldfanatic]

Yes, Disney has certainly raised the bar, and I certainly notice little things at other theme parks that I probably wouldn't otherwise.

For instance, we made a trip this July over to Islands of Adventure to try out Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
The ride, for me, was every bit as impressive as anything Disney has.

But we were disapointed when we went for counter service food 1st thing in the morning and found dried food stuck to several of the tables.
And then we encountered very dirty, smeared glass doors on our exit.
The restaurant had just opened minutes earlier.:shrug:

Nothing major of course, but we couldn't help but think "There's no way a Disney park would start the day off like this".

 

[cowanfamily]

The lack of AC and long lines outdoors are big downers for me when it comes to Six Flags. I never realized how much Disney does to keep you comfortable while waiting for an attraction.

 

[Krack]

Does EPCOT Center count?

 

[GOT2SAMMIES]

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.

We live about 40 min from williamsburg. I love BG..yes your right about the rides. My hubby is not a ride person. He loves the shows at Disney and BG only has a few.. The animal show and the irish dance show. Yes, they are good but when you compare them..there really isnt none. Heck during Illuminations during the fireworks I kept thinking" This aint Wishes"! I will still make my yearly (or bi-yearly) trips to Disney!

 

[Dznycrzy]

Compared to other parks, Disney has it hands down. We can't go anywhere else without comparing and usually complaining that the park we are at isn't like Disney.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Of all of the parks that have been mentioned, I am suprized that Dollywood was not brought up. It is in my opinion the best non Disney/Universal park. It has incredible theming, great food, and a wide range of entertainment offerings including great shows, demonstrations by crafts people (blacksmiths, candle makers ect) family rides and thrill rides. They even have a church with services on Sunday. It was fun to hit six rides then go to a church service. :sohappy:

Agreed. We went to Dollywood summer before last. Theming and cleanliness on par with Disney. Food and friendliness beat Disney. Its a two day park at most. However you throw in the water park for a day, Dixie Stampeed, and Gatlinburg, you can make a week out a beautiful area of the country.

One might ask how Dollywood peeps were friendlier than Disney. I can only say that I got more of a feeling of the cast members at DW just being grateful that you are there and interacting with you just like you are friends or family.

 

[Crazy Harry]

Agreed. We went to Dollywood summer before last. Theming and cleanliness on par with Disney. Food and friendliness beat Disney. Its a two day park at most. However you throw in the water park for a day, Dixie Stampeed, and Gatlinburg, you can make a week out a beautiful area of the country.

One might ask how Dollywood peeps were friendlier than Disney. I can only say that I got more of a feeling of the cast members at DW just being grateful that you are there and interacting with you just like you are friends or family.

Agreed, we had that experience as well. But could that just be part of the culture of the area. For some reason I'm thinking that Florida is not as known for its southern hospitality as other southern states, but I could be wrong.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Agreed, we had that experience as well. But could that just be part of the culture of the area. For some reason I'm thinking that Florida is not as known for its southern hospitality as other southern states, but I could be wrong.

I think it's because the people at DW for the most part are lifelong locals that know that if it were not for DW the area would be very different economically. It's just down home friendly.

 

[David S.]

I am a hardcore, lifelong Disney fan so those parks are my favorite! With their emphasis on the Disney characters, charm and warmth, young-at-heart Magic, and immersive theming, the Disney parks have a unique niche in the theme and amusement park world.

However, I am also a hardcore, lifelong fan of parks in general, and roller-coasters (especially wooden ones), so even though I live near WDW seasonally, I still enjoy travelling to other parks around the country, and enjoy them for what they are rather than what they are not!

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.

I comepletely agree. I am a HUGE fan of both Busch parks, and both are completely different from each other. Williamsburg is one of the most beautifully landscaped parks in the country, and usually wins the Golden Ticket industry award for being so. I love the quaint, charming, European villiages, and how each one is an entity unto itself, blended perfectly into the natural, heavilly wooded landscape. The Tampa park is more flat and open, but still has nice African theming and a great collection of animals.

Both parks have a great collection of coasters like you would find at a SF or Cedar Fair thrill park, but the Busch parks have better theming, entertainment, and operations IMO than the typical regional theme parks.

As far as the coasters, Gwazi in Tampa is one of my favorite woodies and has nice airtime, and the airtime-packed hypercoaster Apollo's Chariot in Williamsburg is my current #1 steel!

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.

I liked Renegade as well, and also the steel hypercoaster Wild Thing, a genre of steel I'd love to see come to Florida one day.

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.

I COMPLETELY agree. It's like the way I enjoy Tchaikovsky and the Beatles in completely different ways, and don't expect one to be like the other!

 

[David S.]

Of all of the parks that have been mentioned, I am suprized that Dollywood was not brought up. It is in my opinion the best non Disney/Universal park. It has incredible theming, great food, and a wide range of entertainment offerings including great shows, demonstrations by crafts people (blacksmiths, candle makers ect) family rides and thrill rides. They even have a church with services on Sunday. It was fun to hit six rides then go to a church service. :sohappy:

I agree! I am a HUGE fan of Dollywood and its sister park, Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. (Dollywood started out as the second SDC before Dolly got involved, but both parks are still operated by Herschend, the original operators).

In addition to what you mentioned, I also like the natural setting of Dollywood in the foothills of the Smokies. It's a beautiful park, as is Silver Dollar City, which sits on an Ozark mountaintop! And Dollywood's wooden coaster, Thunderhead, is one of my favorites!

I agree with others on the amazing friendliness of Dollywood Cast Members, which is also true for SDC. Both parks give me a very warm and friendly vibe!

My favorite time to visit both parks is during their Christmas events, which begin every year in early November. Both parks are transformed into a Winter Wonderland in the mountains, with lights everywhere, and the holiday entertainment at both parks is FANTASTIC! Dollywood has several great shows, including "Babes In Toyland", "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and "Christmas In the Smokies", and their simulator attraction becomes The Polar Express! SDC also has several great Christmas shows, my favorite of which is the "A Dickens Christmas Carol" musical.

Both parks have Christmas Trees with have lights synchronized with Christmas music, and the train rides at both parks become Christmas sing-alongs. Both parks also have nightime Christmas light parades, which, although they aren't as technically elaborate as Disney's, are both very charming and have catchy music!

Lastly, both Dollywood and SDC run all of their coasters and rides (except water rides) during their Christmas events, although some have to close if the temps drop into the 30s.

 

[LuvMyLatte]

Has Disney ruined other parks for me

I love going to Disney b'cz everything is so easy to enjoy. The effects on the rides are incredible and really throw you into the adventure. I wouldn't say that I am "ruined for other pards" but I feel that my expectations that VERY high. Nothing is like a Disney experience, but isn't that the point of Disney.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Hm I wouldn't say 'ruined' but Disney has definitely raised my standards so when I do go to other parks like Universal or the Six Flags near me, I know not to expect what I expect from Disney and I know it won't be even close to the standards or Disney.

 

[Susan Savia]

We were Season Pass holders for Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA for many many years. Although we took our kids from birth to Disney World every year we also went to Kings Dominion every summer, multiple times. The park was clean, fun and offered great live shows...Beach Boys, etc. at reasonable prices. As the kids got older and into highschool we didn't go as often and finally quit. We tried going to Disney in different months to decide when we liked it best and settled on the winter. We've been going steadiliy to Disney World now as annual pass holders for 26 years.

 

[Mark_E]

Not really, I don't tend to visit theme parks unless I am in Florida on Holiday, and i'd put Disney/Universal on the same standart (although I enjoy the universal parks more).

 

[Bravo 229]

It hasn't really ruined other parks for me, but I do find myself comparing the parks to WDW. I've noticed at other parks, they don't do a very good job of hiding wires/speakers/backstage and other things that Disney wouldn't allow a guest to see. And I also take notice of their load/unload and line jumping policies to see how they handle things. I do find myself saying a lot "that wouldn't happen at Disney" but it never ruins my experience.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Well, maybe ruined isn't the best choice of words. How about "Raised the bar too high"? Here is an example:

I went with 3 other friends to Cedar Point this summer. Three of us had been to WDW before and the other one had only ever been to Disneyland. All 4 of us grown men (aged 29-34) all agreed that Cedar Point was a spectacular park that we would always remember, yet we all agreed that Disney is still better. It's just the entire experience of Disney that can't be replaced and I can say this to people on this board because we've all been there but an average person can't understand how Disney totally gets into a person's head.

I think in a way I like to compensate for NOT being in WDW. I live near Toronto and am within driving distance of Canada's Wonderland, Cedar Point, Darien Lake and a few hours away from Kings Island, Hersheypark and Kennywood. Those are great parks and the day can be quite memorable but when you compare it to Disney it just isn't fair. Those other parks are cookie cutter versions of most of the Six Flags parks, which is fine, but NOTHING is similar to Disney and I think that's the thing you miss and wish you were able to just drive there whenever you wanted to.

 

[MillerPoppins]

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!

I started a thread like this a bit ago and got jumped all over by a troll for "spending my whole day comparing 6 Flags to Disney". I agree with you, it can't be helped. I went in with no thought at all that it was going to be like or anywhere as good as Disney. All the things you have pointed out were all things I noticed as well. I will say that you have to be a thrill ride fan in order to really enjoy parks like 6 Flags. What I like about Disney is that there is really only one ride I won't do.