KCheatle
Well-Known Member
I don't like "weep", but I definitely get teary-eyed
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
Let's keep it simple, your favorite park is???
- Thread starter JusticeDisney
- Start date
Disney4family
Well-Known Member
I can't speak for everyone here, but the WDW Resort is more than an amusement park you can find anywhere. People who "get it" have such a strong emotional connection due to memories from their own childhood, from their kids' childhoods, from "you-name-it". It's that connection that brings out all emotions and tears of all kind (happy, sad, etc) when we're there.
WDW is not just about the attractions. It's so "immersive". It's so unique. It's the "state of mind" you have before, during and even after your experience there. And the cool thing about it is that it's different for everyone and yet we're all smiling (or tearing up) when we're there.
My teenage kids love the crazy stuff. I take them to places around here to enjoy that. They know WDW doesn't have the insane rides that, when I'm forced to go on with them, I keep my eyes closed the whole time while they get thrilled beyond belief. And yet they are looking forward to going to WDW just for the total experience - the attractions, the shops, the CMs, the music, the resorts, the memories, etc.
I suppose you can objectively, without feeling, think of each park as just an amusement park. But then why would millions of people fly or drive there repeatedly to experience it? We could easily just go to whatever local place we have. My director does that. He refuses to try WDW. I told him that's okay. He won't be in line ahead of me.
Mickey5150
Well-Known Member
It's not tears, it's the humidity. Epcot for me, nothing better then walking around eating and drinking all day long.
SyracuseDisneyFan
Well-Known Member
Magic Kingdom has my favorite ride: Splash Mountain
That is such a great post. Totally captured feelings that I find hard to convey sometimes.I can't speak for everyone here, but the WDW Resort is more than an amusement park you can find anywhere. People who "get it" have such a strong emotional connection due to memories from their own childhood, from their kids' childhoods, from "you-name-it". It's that connection that brings out all emotions and tears of all kind (happy, sad, etc) when we're there.
WDW is not just about the attractions. It's so "immersive". It's so unique. It's the "state of mind" you have before, during and even after your experience there. And the cool thing about it is that it's different for everyone and yet we're all smiling (or tearing up) when we're there.
My teenage kids love the crazy stuff. I take them to places around here to enjoy that. They know WDW doesn't have the insane rides that, when I'm forced to go on with them, I keep my eyes closed the whole time while they get thrilled beyond belief. And yet they are looking forward to going to WDW just for the total experience - the attractions, the shops, the CMs, the music, the resorts, the memories, etc.
I suppose you can objectively, without feeling, think of each park as just an amusement park. But then why would millions of people fly or drive there repeatedly to experience it? We could easily just go to whatever local place we have. My director does that. He refuses to try WDW. I told him that's okay. He won't be in line ahead of me.
mergatroid
Well-Known Member
Magic Kingdom though we visit The Studios more as it's easier to just park and get in.
Christian Fronckowiak
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
At least Universal Studios Florida has lost a lot of its cohesiveness. Individually, many of the replacements were better attractions, but as a whole, the park has lost a lot of its sense of place.
Eric H
New Member
Exactly. Other than the Harry Potter areas, it's just a bunch of randomly thrown together rides with no real feel of immersion or flow.
Again, the Harry Potter areas are the execpetion and are simply the best that I've experienced anywhere.
Parker Clan
Well-Known Member
This was tough! I voted for Epcot because I love sauntering around the World & it's just so immersive. I love Soarin & Illuminations too.
That being said... Can't do a trip to FL without visiting both Universal & Disney. Love them both
That being said... Can't do a trip to FL without visiting both Universal & Disney. Love them both
Amidala
Well-Known Member
I definitely agree that the level of immersion at WWOHP far surpasses anything WDW has accomplished w/ regards to "transporting" guests somewhere else (Tokyo DisneySea might be a decent competitor here, but I've never been). Like many people, I grew up eating, sleeping and breathing HP, and seeing these locations come to life (especially Diagon Alley–Universal managed to top its first attempt, Hogsmeade, with even finer details and world-building) was an incredible experience for me. That being said, there isn't much outside of WWOHP that appeals to me at either Universal park. It doesn't seem fair to call the theming "weak" (especially compared to parks like Six Flags, which can't compare) but there's something severely lacking for me...being at US and IOA tends to just make me miss Disney. I'm definitely biased, because I'm not a thrill seeker at all so any coasters more intense than ROTM are out for me–but the fireworks and parades at Universal are so lackluster. There's no sense of being transported, there's no sense of history, and (again, with the exception of WWOHP) there's no sense of personal connection, sentiment, nostalgia, etc.
I'm definitely curious about how Universal might have been better in the 90s, though! Did it have to do with the attractions or were the theming and other aspects of the park (fireworks, parades, etc.) higher in quality?
MK is my favorite park by a landslide, for these exact reasons. Something about walking down Main Street and seeing the castle feels like coming home–and this is obviously something millions of people have already said, but that in itself is telling.
I'm definitely curious about how Universal might have been better in the 90s, though! Did it have to do with the attractions or were the theming and other aspects of the park (fireworks, parades, etc.) higher in quality?
MK is my favorite park by a landslide, for these exact reasons. Something about walking down Main Street and seeing the castle feels like coming home–and this is obviously something millions of people have already said, but that in itself is telling.
SyracuseDisneyFan
Well-Known Member
My family and I always start at Magic Kingdom and end at Magic Kingdom.
Edward M
Active Member
Universal is fantastic with Harry Potter, some of the best themed lands ever. However, the rest of the parks are very messy and tend to be either cartoony or generic. Plus, the screens thing really gets on my nerves. I did Universal in a day once, and I was so tired of being placed in front of screens by the end of the day. I love Islands of Adventure for Spiderman and that it has actual themed areas outside of Harry Potter! I find Universal park utterly boring.
I'm shocked Animal Kingdom is getting no love! Right now, I think it is definitely Disney World's best park. It is certainly my favorite. Avatar Land is the best land in America, surpassing Harry Potter and even some lands at Disneysea. Flight of Passage is my favorite ride in America. Rivers of Light is currently my favorite night show, ever. The park itself is arguably the best themed in America with the theming being so gritty and realistic. It just has the most to it right now. The park has so much quality to offer, more than any other park I would argue.
Magic Kingdom is a close second since it has the most complete ride collection and the most nostalgia for me. However, it is in need of more rides, less people, and a lot, lot more upkeep.
Epcot is sad these days. World Showcase is my favorite area in Disney World, but Future World is just looking sadder and sadder with each visit. I think the new Epcot will be much better than our current messy version however it stings that EPCOT Center is gone. I never was able to visit it, and I'll never be able to ride Horizons or Journey into Imagination
.
Is Hollywood Studios even in the equation? It has always been a half park, but it's not a one-fourth park. Four rides there now. FOUR.
I'm shocked Animal Kingdom is getting no love! Right now, I think it is definitely Disney World's best park. It is certainly my favorite. Avatar Land is the best land in America, surpassing Harry Potter and even some lands at Disneysea. Flight of Passage is my favorite ride in America. Rivers of Light is currently my favorite night show, ever. The park itself is arguably the best themed in America with the theming being so gritty and realistic. It just has the most to it right now. The park has so much quality to offer, more than any other park I would argue.
Magic Kingdom is a close second since it has the most complete ride collection and the most nostalgia for me. However, it is in need of more rides, less people, and a lot, lot more upkeep.
Epcot is sad these days. World Showcase is my favorite area in Disney World, but Future World is just looking sadder and sadder with each visit. I think the new Epcot will be much better than our current messy version however it stings that EPCOT Center is gone. I never was able to visit it, and I'll never be able to ride Horizons or Journey into Imagination
.Is Hollywood Studios even in the equation? It has always been a half park, but it's not a one-fourth park. Four rides there now. FOUR.
ShoalFox
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
It's rather complicated for me. Epcot was my favorite park as a kid, but in recent years with all the closures and in the future with all the changes coming, I'm not so sure. I definitely wouldn't say MGM or DAK as I feel they're incomplete parks. It would be easy for me to say MK, but the huge crowds it gets nowadays make me wary.
I would have to say a tie between MK and Epcot.
I would have to say a tie between MK and Epcot.
World_Showcase_Lover007
Well-Known Member
I don't know if I have a favorite park, but my favorite land/section of a park is a tie between Sunset Blvd/Hollywood Blvd area of the Studios, and Liberty Square.
If we're factoring in nostalgia and past experiences, nothing really beats 80s/90s Epcot.
If we're factoring in nostalgia and past experiences, nothing really beats 80s/90s Epcot.
World_Showcase_Lover007
Well-Known Member
I'm shocked Animal Kingdom is getting no love! Right now, I think it is definitely Disney World's best park. It is certainly my favorite. Avatar Land is the best land in America, surpassing Harry Potter and even some lands at Disneysea. Flight of Passage is my favorite ride in America. Rivers of Light is currently my favorite night show, ever. The park itself is arguably the best themed in America with the theming being so gritty and realistic. It just has the most to it right now. The park has so much quality to offer, more than any other park I would argue.
Magic Kingdom is a close second since it has the most complete ride collection and the most nostalgia for me. However, it is in need of more rides, less people, and a lot, lot more upkeep.
Epcot is sad these days. World Showcase is my favorite area in Disney World, but Future World is just looking sadder and sadder with each visit. I think the new Epcot will be much better than our current messy version however it stings that EPCOT Center is gone. I never was able to visit it, and I'll never be able to ride Horizons or Journey into Imagination
Is Hollywood Studios even in the equation? It has always been a half park, but it's not a one-fourth park. Four rides there now. FOUR.
You have a point with AK, since Africa and Asia are very well themed. I forgot to mention earlier how much I like Harambe village and the ability of Disney to immerse guests. The recent expansion of Harambe is great (in terms of facades), but I just wish there was more to do inside these buildings besides shops and restaurants.