All valid points.
I do think a lot of the things that are better at WDW, other than Splash Mountain, are things that are easy to ignore and the sorts of things you wouldn't do every visit if you were a local. It took me a few visits to get around to their TSI, their riverboat, etc. They're right there for the most part, things that often require little to no wait or action on the part of the guest, but they're not shiny headliners and so they're easily ignored.
A lot of these less-obvious attractions DO address a lot of complaints I've seen over the years about DLR's attractions-TSI really is still TSI with no awful pirates overlay! The WDW ROA still has the long and secluded route that people purport to miss about the DL ROA! The Swiss Family Treehouse is still there untouched in its original glory! But, alas, attractions like that'll never get their due. They're not perceived as being a valuable use of people's time despite being a lot of the very sorts of things people purport to appreciate about Disney parks over others.
It's sort of the perfect storm that the things MK is best at (and WDW as a whole, by extension) are the sorts of things that are likely to be missed unless you specifically seek them out. Part of that is on WDW for failing to build additional attractions and capacity, while also removing many of the attractions at MK that were better than DL's and/or couldn't be ported over very easily (Mr. Toad, 20,000 Leagues, etc).
That said, I feel like part of it too is that many people who are accustomed to doing DLR fail to consider WDW on its own terms and thus fail to appreciate the resort. WDW is not perfect-far from it-but it is the resort WORST served by being toured exactly the way that one tours DLR. To do so tends to immediately reveal WDW's flaws while doing little to illuminate its strengths. There's so much there worth seeking out that's not at all obvious if you don't know to look for it.
Again, a lot of this is on TDO and their terrible decision-making skills. But some of it is on people who march over to Florida, treat the place exactly the same way as they treat DLR, have internalized expectations about how a Disney resort is run (and how they've read over and over again online that WDW ain't it) and what is to be valued at Disney parks, and then find the Florida complex to be unsatisfying-a situation they in part created by assuming that WDW really is just DLR with the enlarge button jammed.
As a recent transplant to FL, I’ve toured WDW leisurely over several weeks using the cheap local AP. At this point, I’ve thoroughly explored just about every corner of every park accept for the left half of World Showcase (will do that soon). I agree with most of what you’ve said.
My main problem with the entire WDW resort is the lack of enough attractions in each individual park to soak up the crowds and the underwhelming condition of many of those attractions while I was there. All fixable.
But there’s a lot to enjoy and appreciate there. It is indeed a very different vibe from DL. Not better, but equal in its own spread out way. Both coasts could use a lot of improvement regarding their current state of presenting the experience to guests.
A few of my happiest discoveries at WDW:
The Ferry Boat to MK (and back at day’s end) is one of my very favorite things at WDW. That mile-long early morning ride across the lake is magical, relaxing, and unique. I will never take the monorail to MK again.
The hub at MK in front of the castle. I used to sneer from CA at the Florida hub’s lack of trees, the emphasis on viewing areas over charm, etc. But I get it now. I really love the community feeling, almost festival-like, that huge plaza creates. I especially love the way Early Entry is handled at MK, with non-resort-guests allowed to stroll about the hub. It’s really pleasant.
And I was very surprised at how much I liked the Be Our Guest restaurant. As a comfort food meat n’ potatoes guy, I loved the entire meal. Loved being encouraged to explore the other rooms afterward. Loved the living suits of armor. Loved the service. Loved not being the only one who dropped a spoon, as you can hear the distinct clatter every time it happens to someone.
As a once-a-year kind of thing, it was 100% worth the price, much more so than some of the other park eateries I tried.
And the collector shop by Gaston’s is my favorite store in any Disney park right now.
but WDW does have a few I think are better.
