luv
Well-Known Member
And that is part of why it is my favorite of the Disney parks.
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Is it all about the rides?
- Thread starter Nemo14
- Start date
rct247
Well-Known Member
Ask any cast member that has worked any attraction at a Disney theme park, one of the most common questions is "Is this a ride?" As soon as you say the magic word "show", you get responses like "oh, where are the rides at" or "so, its a simulator" or "is it a 3D movie?".
There is a good chunk of Disney guests that will miss out on a ton of stuff just because they only want to ride rides, but it does happen. I know guests who get really disappointed at Magic Kingdom when I point out what are rides and what are shows. Inside, I'm thinking to myself, "just wait until you visit the other parks".
Can you imagine the Disney experience without:
-Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
-Stitch's Great Escape
-Carousel of Progress
-Mickey's Phillharmagic
-Enchanted Tales with Belle
-Hall of Presidents
-Country Bear Jamboree
-Enchanted Tiki Room
-Swiss Family Treehouse
-Turtle Talk with Crush
-Circle of Life
-Captain EO
-Oh Canada
-Impression de France
-Reflections of China
-American Adventure
-Beauty and the Beast
-American Idol Experience
-Voyage of the Little Mermaid
-Disney Junior
-Magic of Disney Animation
-Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow
-One Man's Dream
-Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
-Lights Motors Action
-Muppet Vision 3D
-Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playset
-Festival of the Lion King
-it's tough to be a bug
-The Boneyard
-Flights of Wonder
-any of the nature trails, street entertainment, parades, etc.
Even so, attractions that are too slow (Ellen's Energy Adventure) and even nighttime shows with not enough fireworks (Fantasmic) turn some guests off. Some guests with teens ask me where are all the roller coasters. I list everyone of them for all 4 parks and they say, "that's it?!" It's their waste of money though due to their poor research and planning.
There is a good chunk of Disney guests that will miss out on a ton of stuff just because they only want to ride rides, but it does happen. I know guests who get really disappointed at Magic Kingdom when I point out what are rides and what are shows. Inside, I'm thinking to myself, "just wait until you visit the other parks".
Can you imagine the Disney experience without:
-Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
-Stitch's Great Escape
-Carousel of Progress
-Mickey's Phillharmagic
-Enchanted Tales with Belle
-Hall of Presidents
-Country Bear Jamboree
-Enchanted Tiki Room
-Swiss Family Treehouse
-Turtle Talk with Crush
-Circle of Life
-Captain EO
-Oh Canada
-Impression de France
-Reflections of China
-American Adventure
-Beauty and the Beast
-American Idol Experience
-Voyage of the Little Mermaid
-Disney Junior
-Magic of Disney Animation
-Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow
-One Man's Dream
-Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
-Lights Motors Action
-Muppet Vision 3D
-Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Playset
-Festival of the Lion King
-it's tough to be a bug
-The Boneyard
-Flights of Wonder
-any of the nature trails, street entertainment, parades, etc.
Even so, attractions that are too slow (Ellen's Energy Adventure) and even nighttime shows with not enough fireworks (Fantasmic) turn some guests off. Some guests with teens ask me where are all the roller coasters. I list everyone of them for all 4 parks and they say, "that's it?!" It's their waste of money though due to their poor research and planning.
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
Rides? It's all good. Restaurants are an experience at WDW. Shows, Meet n Greets, fireworks, parades... WDW is a complete vacation IMHO for all ages and everyone's tastes.
Restaurants are an experience at WDW. Shows, Meet n Greets, fireworks, parades... WDW is a complete vacation IMHO for all ages and everyone's tastes.
Thanks for compiling that list - it speaks volumes!
GoofGoof
Premium Member
So true, but that is why you hear people say its a half day park. If you actually stop and spend some time at each exhibit and show plus the rides it's hard to fit it all into one day, especially if its not summer and AK closes at 5PM. If you just skip to the rides you can be done by noon or 1PM if you plan right.
Walt Disney1955
Well-Known Member
I think this is why I believe Disney to be the perfect balance. When the Super Bowl MVP wins at the end of the game he doesn't say "I'm going to Six Flags." Disney offers the perfect balance of both worlds. Yes, there are more thrills in several parks but it isn't all about that and I even realized that as a 10 year old my first time. Last year in my first visit to Disneyland I was excited and running around all over the place - just on Main Street. The only thing I did that was considered an attraction the first 45 minutes was Mr. Lincoln and the Main Street Cinema.
It is the attention to detail, the immersive feeling and the fact that you are transformed into a different world that make Disney what it is. The thrills are a part of it but they aren't the be all and end all. There are a few things that will help a thrill junkie but most of the time it is seeing things that aren't seen in any other park in the world.
It is the attention to detail, the immersive feeling and the fact that you are transformed into a different world that make Disney what it is. The thrills are a part of it but they aren't the be all and end all. There are a few things that will help a thrill junkie but most of the time it is seeing things that aren't seen in any other park in the world.
MarkTwain
Well-Known Member
This is something I noticed in my CM days as well. A lot of guests will immediately write off any attraction that isn't a ride or any show without fireworks.
Funny side story - I have a decent degree of fluency in Spanish which I used sometimes talking with guests, but I didn't realize the Spanish word for thrill (in a ride context) is "emoción". I don't know how many Hispanic guests I sent over to Spaceship Earth or American Adventure for an emotional ride experience, when they really just wanted a good roller coaster.
Another pet peeve of mine was when I recommended good viewing spots for Illuminations, guests would respond with how they'd just watch it from the front of the park on their way out, with an attitude like "I'm sure we'll see it just fine" or like it wouldn't be any different. Oh vey.
Stu bailey
Well-Known Member
i go there to go to Tambu Lounge.
MarkTwain
Well-Known Member
Anyway, I see it both ways. I have, multiple times, gone into AK and not ridden anything. Take in some of the trails, try out some amateur photography, and grab a cup of flavored tea from that stand between Africa and Asia. I've loved my experiences doing this and I think it would be great if everyone could try it.
But I think it is unfair for Disney to expect that all guests should adapt to this mindset just so they can feel they got the most out of the park they may have paid almost $100 for. WDW should make sure that all four of their theme parks can appeal to as large a group as possible, by providing a large variety of attraction experiences. That's why the Magic Kingdom/Disneyland formula, with its diverse array of lands and attractions, continues to be the most successful and universally loved.
But I think it is unfair for Disney to expect that all guests should adapt to this mindset just so they can feel they got the most out of the park they may have paid almost $100 for. WDW should make sure that all four of their theme parks can appeal to as large a group as possible, by providing a large variety of attraction experiences. That's why the Magic Kingdom/Disneyland formula, with its diverse array of lands and attractions, continues to be the most successful and universally loved.
AintNoOtherMan
Well-Known Member
I think the stories are why I return to WDW. If I just wanted fun rides, I'd go to another theme park.
The Mighty Tim
Well-Known Member
I like WDW because you don't have to worry about anything. Everything is taken care of for you. Transport around the resort, transport to the resort, taking care of purchases made on site. It's the little things.