Magic Kingdom ranks as 2nd most favorite amusement park in the U.S. !

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I've been a WDW fan for a while. Just went to UOR for the first time in late May. I have to say that IOA does rank as a new favorite. Not a big fan of USR because of all the screen rides that jostle you around. Like any theme park, there are some notable exceptions -- Mummy and HP:Gringotts among them.

Fair assessment

 

[LSLS]

I refuse to accept Universal Hollywood above Disneyland. That is just laughable.

Edit:

I looked at list and see Disneyland is 8th!!! (Slowly shrivels and dies)

As someone who has never been there, I don't know the answer, but how much has construction taken a toll on Disneyland?

 

[bhg469]

As someone who has never been there, I don't know the answer, but how much has construction taken a toll on Disneyland?

I went for the first time a few months ago, i cannot compare it to anything before Galaxys edge started getting build but it doesn't feel nearly as small as people who defend WDW would have you believe. Truth is, I would trade DL for MK in a heartbeat. It was cleaner, more charming, more attractions, much better food and better staff. If you have never gone, you should.

 

[Bocabear]

I went for the first time a few months ago, i cannot compare it to anything before Galaxys edge started getting build but it doesn't feel nearly as small as people who defend WDW would have you believe. Truth is, I would trade DL for MK in a heartbeat. It was cleaner, more charming, more attractions, much better food and better staff. If you have never gone, you should.

That is the truth! It is smaller footprint -wise, but has more attractions, better thematics, better food choices and scads more charm. I was shocked the first time I went having always been told that WDW Florida was the best....not so!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I went for the first time a few months ago, i cannot compare it to anything before Galaxys edge started getting build but it doesn't feel nearly as small as people who defend WDW would have you believe. Truth is, I would trade DL for MK in a heartbeat. It was cleaner, more charming, more attractions, much better food and better staff. If you have never gone, you should.

I would have no problem swapping out Disneyland for magic kingdom...it’s epcot and dak that break the “tie” though as far as overall appeal. And the hotels.

The quickserve at DL is much better than anything in Orlando. However the sitdowns are much worse. Very bad In comparison to the WDW offerings...problem there is mk has the worst offerings...bad, expensive food for the meat market.

 

[higgipoker]

How is this mean? If you like rides that are in different parks at WDW, you have to buy a park hopper - or you just go on a different day. Simple as that. Not "mean" at all.

It seems obvious to me why they spread Harry Potter land over two parks, requiring two entry tickets. To me, this is a bit mean and not in the spirit of things. That's all. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but that's how I see it.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It seems obvious to me why they spread Harry Potter land over two parks, requiring two entry tickets. To me, this is a bit mean and not in the spirit of things. That's all. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but that's how I see it.

Actually...you’re not being cynical enough...to Disney.

They would have done the EXACT same thing...

Instead, they pick different themes for four points within 4 Miles as the crow flies to each other and pack massively expensive hotels on waterways leading to them...then provide minor “incentives” to stay there with multiday tickets...

So you have to tell jimmy and Susie that you can’t afford “maximum magical memories”...which you don’t...you just put it on the discover card and pay it for 41 months.

It’s just consumerism...I’m not sure grading “degrees of evil” gets us to a moral high ground.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

Well duh, I won’t even date someone who doesn’t love Disney, lol. I spent one day there and it was the worst day ever, I’d rather eat snow whites poision apple than go back.

Perhaps it was the worst day ever because you made it that way? I'm sure you're super fun at parties. It is in fact possible to like both parks and see the flaws in both.

However I'm sure you see WDW as the epitome of theme park potential and that they do their utmost every day to provide the best value for their Guest's dollar, don't do any sort of obvious price gouging, and offer opening day quality maintenance and upkeep on all their attractions. Whoops, I was talking about Tokyo there. My bad.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

It seems obvious to me why they spread Harry Potter land over two parks, requiring two entry tickets. To me, this is a bit mean and not in the spirit of things. That's all. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but that's how I see it.

It's called common business sense. After Hogsmeade opened, attendance lagged at USF behind IOA. People were only buying 1 day 1 park tickets to see Harry Potter. The logical thing to do was take out an attraction that was taking up a crap ton of real estate and replace it with multiple shops, restaurants, a brand new state of the art attraction and a transportation system between the two parks. Clearly it didn't hurt them because attendance at both now is equally bonkers.

 

[Skibum1970]

In my opinion, Disneyland is a better one-day park because of the number of different rides and the level of rides. E-tickets such as Indiana Jones, revamped Space Mountain, longer Pirates, etc are very enjoyable. DL still has some of the older dark rides as well. However, it really depends on how crowded it is. The place gets crowded quickly. However, I do appreciate WDW's Magic Kingdom does feel more spacious.

I like IOA/UNI better than WDW but that is comparing for one or two day trips. We can ride more attractions in a single at IOA and get multiple rides on favorites without stressing ourselves. It just feels more enjoyable at times due to the manageable wait times and no reliance on Fast Pass. However, a good trip to me would a week in Orlando with one or two days at Universal and the rest at WDW.

IOA is a blast. Great theming and fun rides. Wait times are very manageable except on days when all the parks are packed.

 

[imperius]

It seems obvious to me why they spread Harry Potter land over two parks, requiring two entry tickets. To me, this is a bit mean and not in the spirit of things. That's all. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but that's how I see it.

Or the fact Diagon is a comepletely different place than Hogsmeade and riding the train is every HP fans dream.

 

[HauntedMansion513]

It seems obvious to me why they spread Harry Potter land over two parks, requiring two entry tickets. To me, this is a bit mean and not in the spirit of things. That's all. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but that's how I see it.

See Big Thunder Matt's post for why this makes business sense, but I still don't see how this is mean spirited. At Disney if you want to go to multiple parks in one day, you pay for Park Hopper. At Universal you buy a Park-to-Park ticket. If you don't mind waiting a day, you just buy individual day tickets to each park. Same for both resorts. Yes, Hogwarts Express is unique in that you have to have a park-to-park to ride, but I don't think Universal did this in a mean-spirited way. They built Hogsmeade. It was a runaway success, so they followed up by building Diagon and adding a ride that connected the two.

Not trying to come at you by any means, I respect your pov, but I just don't see how Universal building Harry Potter stuff in both of their parks is mean-spirited in any way.

 

[higgipoker]

Yes it makes perfect business sense... let's end this back and forth on that point of agreement.

 

[Piebald]

I like Universals parks, but my biggest criticism is that their food is crap. Like a step above crappy carnival food. The only thing worth eating is the pizza place (Red Oven Pizza?) in citywalk. Disney has made and continues to make huge strides in upping their food options.

I will say Volcano Bay is superior to both Disney water parks and for some reason the food there is actually good.

 

[bhg469]

I like Universals parks, but my biggest criticism is that their food is crap. Like a step above crappy carnival food. The only thing worth eating is the pizza place (Red Oven Pizza?) in citywalk. Disney has made and continues to make huge strides in upping their food options.

I will say Volcano Bay is superior to both Disney water parks and for some reason the food there is actually good.

I havent been but i hear great things about cowfish and toothsomes. I have to say that the quick service in springfield is pretty great for what it is and the wizarding world offerings are all pretty good too. The rest of the parks though, i completely agree. Both resorts could step their game up big time.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

lol not according to the attendance numbers
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/most-popular-theme-parks-in-the-world.html

 

[HauntedMansion513]

Yes it makes perfect business sense... let's end this back and forth on that point of agreement.

Fair enough. Cheers

 

[DisneyGigi]

In all the years (20) of going to WDW, I have never set foot in any other park in Orlando. I have thought about it, but just cannot waste a Disney day somewhere else. We never leave Disney property the whole time we are there since we started staying onsite. Maybe one day, but I doubt it.. lol. Probably missing out, but Oh well.

 

[SJN1279]

In Orlando now, and Disney is a much more pleasurable experience than Universal. The Express system in Universal is overused, and results in long lines on many attractions. FastPass+ works extremely well in comparison.

The atmosphere in Disney trumps Universal in a big way as well.

 

[sonoma15]

In Orlando now, and Disney is a much more pleasurable experience than Universal. The Express system in Universal is overused, and results in long lines on many attractions. FastPass+ works extremely well in comparison.

The atmosphere in Disney trumps Universal in a big way as well.

I would say this the opposite, the only ride I ever see an express line for at Uni is the mummy, and fastpass+ makes the lines much longer at Disney. Especially for things like peter pan.