Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
I'm surprised to see people putting down Disneyland as the best. Wouldn't expect that here.
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Islands of Adventure, best theme park?
- Thread starter BryceM
- Start date
flynnibus
Premium Member
Good - but it still has it's weaknesses... too many to call it the best park overall.
IOA has great anchor attractions, some second tier attractions, and is weakest in some of the connecting stuff. Weak as in it doesn't really resonate with guests well enough.
If IOA were a stand-alone park not in Orlando... would it survive and thrive? I don't think so. It's not balanced enough.
If you want 'one theme park' - I'd say Disneyland still.
IOA has super strong points that make you look over the weaker ones.. but if IOA were all you had.. it's not strong enough.
Toon area unfortunately is too old for most to connect with
Marvel Island is lame except for Spidey
Lost Continent has lost all it's use
And the park still (even with Suess) doesn't cater well enough to the smaller folks or necessarily to the older folks.
IOA has great anchor attractions, some second tier attractions, and is weakest in some of the connecting stuff. Weak as in it doesn't really resonate with guests well enough.
If IOA were a stand-alone park not in Orlando... would it survive and thrive? I don't think so. It's not balanced enough.
If you want 'one theme park' - I'd say Disneyland still.
IOA has super strong points that make you look over the weaker ones.. but if IOA were all you had.. it's not strong enough.
Toon area unfortunately is too old for most to connect with
Marvel Island is lame except for Spidey
Lost Continent has lost all it's use
And the park still (even with Suess) doesn't cater well enough to the smaller folks or necessarily to the older folks.
AndyMagic
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure why Toon Lagoon gets such a bad rap around here. It is wonderfully themed to me. I think people rightfully judge Ripsaw Falls for its lack of quality show scenes but then make a blanket judgement about the rest of the land. To me, Toon Lagoon nails it. It's wonderfully kinetic, fun, colorful, and immersive. The only land at IOA that lacks in the theming department is Marvel and even there, it works for the most part.
flynnibus
Premium Member
what is so immersive about Toon Lagoon? The main drag of it is a bunch of store fronts... with big cartoon flats spread around. In that regard, it's really not much better than the Superhero island. It also suffers from being based on content that anyone born after about 1975 have no real understanding. Mostly newspaper comics that never made it outside the newspaper, and cartoon characters that never made it past the 40s. Honestly if it weren't for Popeye.. most would likely have no clue about the area. I love the two water rides, they look good and are fun IMO. But the rest of the area would never get any traffic if it weren't on the circle around the lagoon.
AndyMagic
Well-Known Member
When you take out rides any land can be left with "store fronts." The water elements bring a kinetic energy and the "cartoon flats" are a little more than what you describe. The area around Popeye is particularly nice and the fact that it is based on older content is what gives the land its charm. Do we need to upgrade everything so that kids instantly recognize it? I hope not.
flynnibus
Premium Member
mainly because there is nothing there outside the two attractions. The lands really don't have anything to keep you engaged or pretending you are part of it all. I look at it like the queue of spiderman.. that area is real, dimensional, takes you TO the spiderman universe. Outside.. all that kind of 'Im there' feeling is lost.
flynnibus
Premium Member
Be honest.. if you aren't going to ride the water rides.. what would you do in Toon Town? Go there for the photo ops? The place is far too one dimensional...
GLaDOS
Well-Known Member
I'd disagree. There are a lot of hidden details in both Marvel and Toon Lagoon if you explore the lands.
I also don't get the bad reviews about Marvel Superhero Island and Toon Lagoon. Both are very immersive and look amazing for their purpose... Comic books and classic cartoons. Like Toon Town!
And many people don't recognize old things at Disney World. I mean, how many people have watched Song of the South? Not many. But that doesn't make it a bad attraction...
I think both "islands" do an amazing job of putting guests right into the comics.
And many people don't recognize old things at Disney World. I mean, how many people have watched Song of the South? Not many. But that doesn't make it a bad attraction...
I think both "islands" do an amazing job of putting guests right into the comics.
AndyMagic
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't do anything there if there weren't rides and the same can be said for any area of any theme park. What else do you want them to put in there?
Yeah seriously, it's the water-ride based land. Hence the name Lagoon and the countless other water activities that can be found around the land.
disney fan 13
Well-Known Member
I sort of agree with Flynnibus that the Islands need more non water rides to balance it out.
But it only has three...
Nickelodeon
Member
I generally agree here. With the exception of Potter and Seuss, I don't feel too much of a emotional connection with the islands. (but even Potter has its flaws with the still mostly unthemed Dragon Challenge).
Marvel Island, I'm not a big fan of (and this is coming from someone that loves comic books!). The area does have nice hidden details and such, but I think it would look much better if it were themed more like that cancelled Marvel theme park that was planned for Dubai. I also feel the island doesn't quite manage to completely capture the whole mythology of Marvel. There's just something about that feels, well, "incomplete".
Toon Lagoon, the only quibble I have is that, in all cases of theme park attractions, I don't think you need to have previous knowledge of the characters in order to have an emotional connection with the attractions (Although it certainly does help). I believe the emotional connection mainly comes from how the attraction is executed. But I agree that Toon Lagoon's execution isn't very memorable (outside of the well-done Popeye ride).
Jurassic Park, excellent idea and decent execution, but also suffers from having a "incomplete" feel to it. If they can add another ride or two and add in some more dinosaur experiences, then that area will feel much better.
Lost Continent, yes, that island desperately needs improvements or just an outright replacement all-together.
I do appreciate IoA a lot, I mean, an entire day can be spent there just by trying to find all of the hidden details and walkways throughout the park. Not to mention a lot of the rides there are fantastic. But the rest of the park outside of Potter and Seuss just needs more "depth". With a stronger connection to the guests' hearts, I believe the park would be truly remarkable.
George Lucas on a Bench
Well-Known Member
Islands was especially cool when it first opened. These days, it feels a bit haggard. Harry Potter is sure awesome. But so much of the park feels empty, like huge sections of Jurassic Park and everything in Toon Lagoon before the water rides. It's not maintained as well, either. Honestly, the themes for this park never captivated me aside from Jurassic, the super heroes and now Potter. I like it overall, but they could definitely improve it with more attractions and areas given the same love as Wizarding World.
flynnibus
Premium Member
Bull
In fact, that's a large part of what differentiates a THEME park from an AMUSEMENT park. The experience doesn't start and stop at the entrance to the ride.
Does New Orleans Square have a draw without Pirates? Yes it does
Does Main Street have a charm and feel without Great Momments with Mr Lincoln? Yes it does
Does Adventureland have detail and wit without the Jungle Cruise? Yes it does
That's the problem with Toon Lagoon.. the main drag of it are pretty forgettable shops hiding behind comic panels... with subjects that don't resonate with large swaths of people.
Don't get me wrong.. I love the raft ride, and even rip saw falls. I think they are world class attractions.. but if we are rating the THEME PARK - it needs to stack up against the competition as a whole.
@flynnibus - Whaaaaat? I'm pretty sure that the only difference between Toon Lagoon and the lands you mentioned is the difference in themeing. Toon Lagoon is supposed to be bright, colorful and like you stepped into a comic book, and it does a pretty dang good job if you ask me.
And I'm pretty sure if you took away those attractions from the lands you mentioned, you would still have forgettable shops selling Disney merchandise, but with different theming than Toon Lagoon.
And I'm pretty sure if you took away those attractions from the lands you mentioned, you would still have forgettable shops selling Disney merchandise, but with different theming than Toon Lagoon.
flynnibus
Premium Member
Theme is not a 'do you have it? yes/no' and all else is equal proposition.
If you believe that.. then Disney would have been cloned around the world successfully time and time again. Yet it hasn't been. Ponder that one..
Want another one? Liberty Square.. something that can be enjoyed and taken in by without ever stepping in the HoP. And it's far more engaging than Toon Lagoon.
TalkingHead
Well-Known Member
I prefer the Marvel rides, but I would rather wander around Toon Lagoon. The paths that wind around Popeye's are charming. And it's fun to watch the people getting drenched on the rides.
The main drag through Toon Lagoon might be a little heavy on shops/dining, but there are lots of props and gags scattered around as well.
Do I think Toon Lagoon is the equal to New Orleans Square? Not at all.
But as an area, I think it's competently designed and I enjoy it more than Jurassic Park, which I think is the least of the islands at IOA.