WondersOfLife
Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
insideuniversal... But there just isn't as strong of a nostalgic fanbase for it to muster up a bunch of forum sites.
Disney fans are a (scary) different breed.
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Islands of Adventure vs Magic Kingdom
- Thread starter DisneyAndUniversalFan
- Start date
Disney fans are a (scary) different breed.
bhg469
Well-Known Member
Just a hunch, but Disney die hards tend to lean harder into the never Universal stance. I see a lot less of that from the Universal fans that I follow on other platforms.
JusticeDisney
Well-Known Member
Wait, are you saying you truly meant 15 out of 34? I just be misunderstanding you.
JusticeDisney
Well-Known Member
You’re free to do so.
bhg469
Well-Known Member
And I'm probably correct based on the replies here. Either way neither of us can prove it to be correct or incorrect. The fact still remains if this poll was taken 10 years ago, there would be a major difference in MKs favor. Had this poll been cast on a universal site I would expect that the votes would be much closer.You’re free to do so.
Disney apologists (no offense) are a harder nut to crack.
cheezbat
Well-Known Member
My sentiments exactly!
Disneyland is THE gold standard for theme parks. Magic Kingdom should be right behind it but it’s been so mismanaged over the past few decades….no solid refurbs or additions or reimaginings of older attractions, poor parade decisions…a lesser Pirates and an outdated Space Mountain…
Only thing MK has going for it over Disneyland is the animatronics shows: Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, and Carousel of Progress.
As for IOA, it has the best thrills lineup of any of the parks in orlando. Also has some stellar dark rides and the best trifecta of water rides. It just keeps getting better. Can’t say the same for the busiest theme park in the world.
JusticeDisney
Well-Known Member
You’re right, neither one of us can prove it, yet here you are insisting that you are correct. Okay, whatever makes you feel better!
As for your Disney apologists comment, I’m not sure why you felt the need to say “no offense.” Maybe you are revealing a bias on your part? In any event, the one thing that we can know for certain is that your comment doesn’t apply to me.
JusticeDisney
Well-Known Member
This poll would have had a wider margin 10 years ago and a closer margin on a Universal site.
Captain Obvious has reported for duty!
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Even allowing for the fact that the MK's popularity by necessity means it must make some tough operational choices, it is still painful to watch what should be the world's greatest theme park be the least enjoyable theme park experience in Orlando.
I've written smoother sentences...back to studying my grammar books....
UpAllNight
Well-Known Member
When I’m in Islands, I enjoy it knowing it’s the best version of the park that exists.
With Magic Kingdom, deep down I know Disneyland is better in just about every way imaginable, with the exception of a few rides (Peoplemover, a better version of Splash…for now)
The ride count at Disneyland vs MK is ridiculous. Magic Kingdom feels like the unloved child. One that they don’t even make an effort with on their big birthday!
And for that reason, Islands feels like the better park. I don’t think Magic Kingdoms highlights come close to topping Islands, where Velocicoaster, Hagrids, Potter, Popeye & Spiderman all are leading rides in their field. Magic maybe has Haunted Mansion & Splash. Disneylands Pirates, Space Mountain & Thunder Mountain are better versions - and they also have RotR and soon Mickeys.
With Magic Kingdom, deep down I know Disneyland is better in just about every way imaginable, with the exception of a few rides (Peoplemover, a better version of Splash…for now)
The ride count at Disneyland vs MK is ridiculous. Magic Kingdom feels like the unloved child. One that they don’t even make an effort with on their big birthday!
And for that reason, Islands feels like the better park. I don’t think Magic Kingdoms highlights come close to topping Islands, where Velocicoaster, Hagrids, Potter, Popeye & Spiderman all are leading rides in their field. Magic maybe has Haunted Mansion & Splash. Disneylands Pirates, Space Mountain & Thunder Mountain are better versions - and they also have RotR and soon Mickeys.
Last edited:
Walt Disney1955
Well-Known Member
Which I always say is a shame. I tell a few people that I know who routinely will do a Disney trip but have never even been to Universal. I mean, why? Do it already. To some of them it feels like a form of adultery enjoying Universal. Not me. I've loved it since I first went in 1993. How can you not? Yes, it is not Disney, but it has some excellent rides, excellent theming and it is easily the best theme park to visit outside of a Disney property. Check out Toon Lagoon. That's some well thought out theming.
A day at Islands of Adventure is a day you are talking about the whole time the rest of the night with your family. You don't forget it either. Now, I picked Magic Kingdom on here, even if it is behind Disneyland overall. But I picked MK because at the end of the day it is hard to say you had a better day at IOA than at MK.
Good thing Universal enacted weekend night curfew - no one under 18 allowed at Citywalk unless being a resort guest, accompanied by an adult or seeing an evening movie . This hopefully will discourage the nearby local riff raff from the seedy and shady neighborhoods near Universal to create more disturbances .
bhg469
Well-Known Member
We'll see how HHN is this year.. My wife and I go early to avoid late crowds.. We get the frequent fear passes so we don't have to cram the whole event into one evening because IMO some of their snacks are way cooler than the F&W festival.
LittleMerman
Well-Known Member
Depends on what you're looking for. IOA has the better thrill rides and MK has better everything else. My fave theme park is MK.
"El Gran Magnifico"
Mr Flibble is Very Cross.
Internet Forums are a funny place.
I live within 2 hours of each. Have APs to both. I don’t personally know anybody that adopts the “I go to Disney so I’ll never step foot in Uni” mindset. Don’t personally know of anybody that considers Uni “the enemy”.
Just got back from Uni. Be at Disney in about a month.
But. Carry On. More Power to ya!
I live within 2 hours of each. Have APs to both. I don’t personally know anybody that adopts the “I go to Disney so I’ll never step foot in Uni” mindset. Don’t personally know of anybody that considers Uni “the enemy”.
Just got back from Uni. Be at Disney in about a month.
But. Carry On. More Power to ya!
I visit Orlando 3 times a year for 2 weeks at a time...every time I come i get the unlimited Disney/Universal/Sea world/Busch Gardens package....I always split my days 6 days Disney 5 Days Universal, 1 day Sea World, 1 Day Busch.
Out of all the Parks, coming from a middle aged man, My favourite park is IOA(Hollywood Studios a very close second) and my least favourite is MK. That is because MK is mainly catered for young children and toddlers. There's hardly anything there for me. Take today..We started in AK, completed that park by 11am..had lunch and then head for an aftwenoon at Epcot (Did GGCR twice)..then head to HS till 9pm close and we were about to head to MK to take advantage of the late opening, but we just didn't think there was anything worth travelling over for, so went back to our hotel. Yeah the fireworks are great, but for us there's just not enough to do for adults.
So for me...it has to be IOA. Velocicoaster is my favourite thrill coaster in the world and Hagrids is my favourite all round themed ride in Orlando.
Out of all the Parks, coming from a middle aged man, My favourite park is IOA(Hollywood Studios a very close second) and my least favourite is MK. That is because MK is mainly catered for young children and toddlers. There's hardly anything there for me. Take today..We started in AK, completed that park by 11am..had lunch and then head for an aftwenoon at Epcot (Did GGCR twice)..then head to HS till 9pm close and we were about to head to MK to take advantage of the late opening, but we just didn't think there was anything worth travelling over for, so went back to our hotel. Yeah the fireworks are great, but for us there's just not enough to do for adults.
So for me...it has to be IOA. Velocicoaster is my favourite thrill coaster in the world and Hagrids is my favourite all round themed ride in Orlando.
Walt Disney1955
Well-Known Member
I take it the crowds are pretty light if you were satisfied with what you did in AK by 11 am!
I think with MK it is, to me, the 2nd best park in the world (after Disneyland) based on the overall experience. I will admit the things they have added over the years hasn't been catered to all ages necessarily, but we still ride them. Still lots of shows/rides to see though if you want. The problem with MK is that is really should be superior to Disneyland in almost every way based on the blessing of space that they have, and yet it isn't.
I've never "gotten" those people either. They are similar to the "I won't do Disneyland I'll just do WDW" (or vice versa) crowd. I tell everyone to experience Universal Orlando. They won't regret it.
No matter what time of year we go, we are always done by 11am(ish). We run like this.
6.30(arrive)
6 45-7am get in (resort guests)
7.25am Off FOP
7.35am Off NR
8.15 am off KiliSafari
9.00 am off 2 or 3 x EE
9.25 am off KaliRiver
9.45 am off Bug
10.30 am off Lion King Show
10.45 am off Dino
11.15am off FOP (ILL)
Never use Genie+ at this park as there isn't a need and as long as you rope drop FOP early the rest are practically walk ons..but its imperative you're one of the first on FOP otherwise the rest falls down.
Wait? You think people who come to Orlando on vacation would not go to the 2 (Soon to be 3 ) Universal parks just because they like Disney? Who knows but the majority of people come to Orlando to experience all the theme parks (where financially possible of course) so would be extremely surprised many would be that stubborn they would deny themselves/their kids the opportunity to do a Universal Park just because they are Disney fanboys/girls.