Schneewittchen
Well-Known Member
You begrudge the Gatorland Zoo, Orange World and Medieval Times? Yes, I know Orlando has suffered culturally since the closing of Xanadu....
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Merits of DLR vs. WDW
- Thread starter HMF
- Start date
You begrudge the Gatorland Zoo, Orange World and Medieval Times? Yes, I know Orlando has suffered culturally since the closing of Xanadu....
DDLand
Well-Known Member
When was the last time you went to Disney's Animal Kingdom? I would actually put that as a major plus for coming to Walt Disney World.
I suppose if you declare before heading there "no animals, we have a zoo back at home" then you might run into constraints. With that said, Disney's Animal Kingdom has some of the most immersive areas at Walt Disney World and even the entire chain. Africa and Asia have recently seen work and they're both simply stunning. Incredibly detailed and beautiful. Just really cool to walk around those areas. Those areas open the door to Kilimanjaro Safaris which in turn is incredibly immersive and beautiful. Probably among the best rides Disney has ever produced. It blends the theme park immersiveness with a zoo's diversity and it's quite spectacular. It's a completely non intimidating approach to a Safari. Obviously it's not the real thing, but neither is World showcase of New Orleans Square.
I'd choose Kilimanjaro Safaris over RSRs any day.
Discovery Island too received some love and has considerably better facilities and a new dining option. That's also not even mentioning the new Nighttime entertainment.
It's distinctive and fabulous, and worthy of at least being visited by Disneyland fans. It does some things in ways that can only be compared to Sea. It obviously still needs more capacity and variety, but if Sea is worthy of an all day moniker (and it is) then so will DAK when Avatar comes out.
Edit: Come to think of it, Disney's Animal Kingdom may be the reason to visit WDW.
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Travel Junkie
Well-Known Member
Have to disagree. I can spend all day at AK (and did recently) and not feel it was enough. It's a gorgeous park and hot take time, the best theme park in Central Florida.
Yes it borrows ideas from zoos and the San Diego wild animal park, but is done on a much higher level. Both AK and Epcot are unique in the theme park world and make WDW worth visiting.
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
The last time I was at WDW was 2002. Over 15 years and the only thing that park got was Expedition Everest and Pandora and they still can't get the Yeti to work. Pandora will be the reason to see the park again. Hopefully they can keep their effects working properly but I doubt it. The rest of the rides where not very good. Dinosaur was just Indy with less stuff and more darkness. The raft was really nothing special compared to DCA's raft or even Magic Mountain's. The surroundings with jungle and buildings that were a little too realistic. Let's face it, Africa's dilapidated buildings are not exactly pretty. At least at Disney Sea buildings are pretty. I didn't having to search for animal exhibits in a jungle. It makes it very confusing for the average guest. The Safari was ok but all the animals could not walk up to you like they do at San Diego Safari park. The Safari park has a lot more realistic surroundings for the animals unlike DAK and it's AA baby elephant and poaching story line. I understand some of the effects have been removed from Kilimanjaro safari since I've been there. The train to see baby animals was a waste of time. I could see that at any zoo in the country. It needs to be replaced with Zootopia land. As I said for someone traveling across the country, DAK doesn't offer much and Pandora will be the only reason to get a park hopper for there.
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
I guess if you like walking around in Central Florida's heat and humility in a jungle pretending your in Africa with very few rides and a search for animal exhibits that any zoo has is your cup of tea then go for it. Personally if I have to be in Florida, I'll spend it in air conditioned EPCOT looking at AA dinosaurs. Don't even get me started about the 'theming' of DAK's Dinoland.
Earl Sweatpants
Well-Known Member
I can tell this is going to be a fun thread...
DL's merits:
-It has the "original" status that's hard to quantify, but its there.
-It has Walt's apartment
-It has better Pirates, Buzz, BTMRR, etc.
-No humidity
WDW's merits:
-Epcot and DAK
-MK has great Splash Mtn, Haunted (though I love DL's too), Liberty Square, etc.
-The Downtown district is great
-Water Parks
-Everything just seems bigger
-Did I mention Epcot?
DL's merits:
-It has the "original" status that's hard to quantify, but its there.
-It has Walt's apartment
-It has better Pirates, Buzz, BTMRR, etc.
-No humidity
WDW's merits:
-Epcot and DAK
-MK has great Splash Mtn, Haunted (though I love DL's too), Liberty Square, etc.
-The Downtown district is great
-Water Parks
-Everything just seems bigger
-Did I mention Epcot?
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
You can't compare one park to four parks and their attached mall.
Travel Junkie
Well-Known Member
As you already admitted you haven't been to WDW in a long time so you probably don't have a good understanding of how the park currently operates. I'll leave it at that and let you continue your incessant get off my lawn ramblings.
Earl Sweatpants
Well-Known Member
But DCA is just so throw-away like DHS (currently), so I'm more comparing one park to 3, plus 2 water parks, and attached shopping district.
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
Don't be insulting....
Just tell me how it works now. What's changed? It just doesn't seem to be what it once was. Personally, I'd rather go to Paris or Tokyo for not only the parks but the culture around them.
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
That makes more sense.
Earl Sweatpants
Well-Known Member
....Isn't comparing the two the whole point of this thread?That makes more sense.
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
DCA is not DHS anymore. A better comparison would be DHS to WDS in Paris.
Earl Sweatpants
Well-Known Member
My only reason to compare them is that I don't really feel like (currently) they add much to either resort (minus DHS' TOT). That will change as more is added.
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
Always interesting to read different perspectives from more seasoned theme park 'vets'. Hopefully, if this thread is still alive then, I can contribute to the discussion after this summer.
(low key melting down at the lack of love for DAK which is easily the best park at WDW)
Agreed. DAK is where I choose to spend most of my time at WDW. MK is overcrowded and the worst of the six castle parks (IMO). DHS is a joke. Epcot, once my favorite, is such a shell of its former self that it's hard to feel anything but sadness there.
DAK is lush, immersive, beautiful. Everest is a great ride but it is inexcusable that they won't fix the Yeti. With Pandora and ROL, it really steps up its game. It also has the two best shows on property by a mile, Lion King and Nemo. Great food and drink options, the fantastic Kilimanjaro Safaris, incredible walkthroughs like Maharajah Jungle Trek...wish I was there now!
And I would disagree with those above who say DCA doesn't add anything to DLR. BVS, Cars Land, World of Color, Soarin', Grizzly Peak in general, Frozen at the Hyperion - all big assets to DLR. DCA is the most complete secondary park domestically (I love DAK, but DCA has it beat on attraction count).
dweezil78
Well-Known Member
I want to defend MK a bit. I think it gets a bum rap compared to DL due to having less attractions and not being "Walt's Park." While there are areas that for sure need updating/improvements (just like DL), there are some really great things about the park. I feel like Caribbean Plaza never gets the praise it deserves and Liberty Square also gets completely ignored as people run through out to HM and the big hits in Frontierland. As I'm older now and not in much of a rush, I've really started to appreciate this quiet part of the park and its unique details.
Also, can we talk about the water? There are waterways all over the park wherever you go. This is a huge difference IMO compared to DL. Same goes for EPCOT and AK. So much water. It adds so much to the design of the park and really allows them to open up and breathe. Whenever I return to DL after a WDW I can really feel it missing!
Also, can we talk about the water? There are waterways all over the park wherever you go. This is a huge difference IMO compared to DL. Same goes for EPCOT and AK. So much water. It adds so much to the design of the park and really allows them to open up and breathe. Whenever I return to DL after a WDW I can really feel it missing!
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Earl Sweatpants
Well-Known Member
To each his own on DCA. I just can't imagine someone making a trip to California just to specifically experience anything at DCA. Unlike Epcot or DAK.
My domestic park's ranking:
-Epcot
-DL
-DAK
-MK
-DHS
-DCA
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
No one makes a trip to California just for DCA or even Disneyland. They come for the weather, world class beaches, culture, movie stars and amazing theme parks and zoos. People who make money want to live in California. Old poor people retire to Florida.
My domestic park's rankings:
- DL
- Epcot
- DCA
- DAK
- MK
- DHS
My domestic park's rankings:
- DL
- Epcot
- DCA
- DAK
- MK
- DHS
Earl Sweatpants
Well-Known Member
Actually, I'm pretty sure people DO fly to California specifically to go to Disneyland. That's why they have a shuttle service at LAX.
Also, lol, no one plops down hundreds or even thousands of dollars to fly to California for weather.
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