I was asking a specific question that most posters have avoided. I’ve answered all the questions posed to me, so no I haven’t been stuck on one thing. The thing is several posters are trying to do this comparison to DL, and as I said DCA never will be a comparable park so don’t know why posters are stuck on that in terms of price other than to say that don’t want to visit DCA for any price.
You said DCA could never be comparable, but based on what? You're saying that Disney isn't capable of creating attractions and lands better than they did in the 60's?
When we look at the Disneyland classic E's (POTC, HM, SM, Splash, BTMRR, Matterhorn) its not that difficult to do something similar in scale and majesty. Given how technology has progressed, it's even easier than when these attractions were built. And they can be based on newer interests and concepts rather than things that were popular 50 years ago. Plus a Darkride cluster based on new Disney/Pixar films.
Had DCA opened with a long indoor E-ticket omnimover or flume, a well themed coaster, and a collection of 3-4 charming smaller darkrides; it would have been a whole different story. Instead we got a lifeless GRR, a proof-of-concept-themed IMAX experience, and two well done theatre shows cloned from Florida. When Muppet Vision and Tough to be a Bug are your best experiences in the park by far, you don't offer a lot of variety.
While adding Radiator Springs has helped a ton, that is the only massive improvement that has really affected my part experience. Buena Vista street is lovely, but it doesn't offer anything other than generic shopping. Its like Main Street without the Firehouse, Movie Theatre, Opera House show, and Magic Shop. And, let's be honest, RS is a well executed looking land with only one good attraction. Had they built a cute dakride where Luigi's sits and/or a drive-in experience, it would be a land I spend time in rather than walking through to get to RSR.
The simple fact is that nothing was preventing DCA from overshadowing DL other than nostalgia. EPIC Universe is a brand-new park that will likely overshadow all of the WDW parks. And Disney chose to make DCA and DL comparable by pricing them the same and trying to sell the park as comparable to one another. They knew they had a stinker on their hand and instead of pricing it appropriately, they abused our goodwill.
As for the argument about Castle Parks being the known parks by the public, that's because they are the consistent park. They are the brand park, essentially. They all have castles, similar layouts and lands, similar attractions and experiences. No matter which part of the world you are in, your castle park is pretty similar overall to the others. But look at USO. The Studio park is a copy of the Hollywood park original, but IOA overshadows that tried-and-true branded park experience. Why? More interesting lands and attractions.
And as for the unvoiced argument that Disney's Florida project had multiple parks for years with the same pricing; I'd argue that most of the Florida parks have been half-day parks. They are all a little more lackluster, yet each park contained one or two Disney quality experiences to draw you in. MGM had a working studio, Star Tours, and TOT. AK had Dinosaur and Kilimanjaro Safari, MK had the DL clones, and Epcot has SSE, Maelstrom, and Journey into Imagination. Basically each Florida park offered a little something different, but still Disney quality and something unique.
