I'll respectfully disagree. I believe kids are the targeted demographic for Magic Kingdom, and for all intents and purposes, it is a "kiddie park". I know of families with teens that skip the Magic Kingdom entirely because it's a land of kiddie rides. You could make the argument that Splash Mountain is a thrill ride, but Big Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain are relatively tame coasters that kids adore. The Magic Kingdom has more offerings for kids than any other park at the resort. Parents with children have a plethora of attractions to enjoy...as a matter of fact they are all family oriented.
I agree with you that the MK has more attractions that a kid would likely enjoy than any of the other parks.
Where I respectfully disagree is where you said for all intents and purposes, MK was a "kiddie park".
I believe it's for all ages, and not just for the young, but for the young at heart! I'm over 30, and it's EASIILY my favorite park, and Fantasyland (which other posters in this thread have called "kiddie", and I strongly disagree) is my favorite section! Fantasyland is for the young at heart, the timeless land of enchantment where storybook dreams come true! Just like Walt's Animated Classics on which it is based, it's for everyone!
Based on people I am aquaintances with who aren't into Disney, I will agree that many unfortunately have a PERCEPTION that the MK and Fantasyland are "kiddie", but then again those people feel that way about all of WDW!
Unfortunately, we live in cynical times, and I think perhaps the reason some adults consider MK "kiddie" is because some (NOT all, and I don't mean you or others in this thread!) have lost the ability to be charmed by things that speak to the inner child in everyone.
You could make the argument that Splash Mountain is a thrill ride, but Big Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain are relatively tame coasters that kids adore.
I respectfully disagree. As for Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain, I may be in the minority, but I am a coaster enthusiast with a "track record" somewhere between 270 and 280 coasters ridden, in 53 parks, and they are my favorite steel coasters in Florida! Not as thrilling as a wooden coaster (such as Gwazi at Busch Gardens) or steel hypercoaster (which Florida lacks), but I definitely prefer them over positive-g heavy, constantly looping endurance tests like Kumba or Manta, and find them WAY more thrilling then those! I don't consider being pressed down into my seat, or going upside down, thrilling.
From the point of view of prefering old-school coaster elements (mainly, like AIRTIME!), SM amd BTMRR are really solid, thrilling, coasters, and I would definitely NOT consider them "tame" or "kiddie"!
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They whip you around real good and toss you out of the seat (until the lap bar catches you!) and sadly, many so-called more "intense" coasters COMPLETELY lack this! The loopers need those restricting shoulder harnesses, so even if they were designed with airtime-producing drops and camelback humps (which they usually aren't), you wouldn't catch any air.
For me, it's ALL ABOUT THE AIRTIME! Woodies deliver this, and thankfully so do Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!
Ironically, I don't find Splash as thrilling as SM and BTMRR. It has no airtime. The drops are fun, but you never have the continuous SUSTAINED speed like you get on a coaster. I always think of Splash as primarily a dark ride more than anything. Having said that, it's my co-favorite attraction in WDW (along with IASW) because of the heavy charm, cuteness, humor, and musical factors! Factors which the MK in general, and Fantasyland, have in abundance, and I don't consider "kiddie!"
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