Worst of the 4 Parks?

[justintheharris]

Maybe not the most popular opinion, but I think Test 2.0 removed a lot of the personality and appeal of the original. It feels so soulless now, where there used to be genuine wonder in learning about how manufacturers test their cars. The new tone just removes any of the excitement or chaos the ride used to have for me especially with that reassuring computer voice. The whole game thing is confusing for me as well, since we have six or so people that designed different cars... all getting in the same physical car.

As for Soarin’, it’s mainly the new video. Any of the original’s raw beauty answer majesty is muddled by CGI whales and awkward transitions. Just ruins the immersion for me.

Soarin Around the World took everything about the California edition and broke it over its knee.

1. CGI. CGI everywhere. Fake whales fake boat rowers, fake kites, fake elephants, fake Taj Mahal in its entirety and the list goes on.
2. The score probably needed to change somewhat to suit the ride better but it's not as charming as the original one
3. The transitions are actually quite frightening at some points. The ones with clouds are fine but.. who's idea was it to fly an AIRPLANE at guests??? It's like some idiot imagineer in the production said "hey that golf ball scene in Soarin Over California? Let's put that at the end of every scene!" Due to this, cast members tell me that there are little kids who are now actually afraid of the ride.
4. The ride itself bites off far more than it can chew. In a period of 5 minutes, you could cover most of California. The scenes in Soarin Around The World are not very cohesive simply because the world is too large. This problem could've been solved by adopting the technology of Star Tours - The Adventure Continues.
5. It's out of place in California Adventure. The reason I feel the need to bring this up is the fact that everybody makes the argument that the new version needed to be created for Shanghai (and soon Tokyo as well) because they wouldn't really recognize any of the places in California and that the new version fits the worldly theme of EPCOT better. While this is true, when one makes that argument, they immediately need to address the fact that it took an equally large and awkward step backwards with theming in California Adventure.
6. Oh I almost forgot. How could anyone forget the distortion for 67% of the seats?

So in conclusion, it's not relaxing, immersive or cohesive. I know I may be overdramatic about this but some imagineers should've lost their jobs over the final product. I'd barely consider it a good ride at this point.

ps. I miss the smell of the oranges.

 

[21stamps]

We did a quick 2 night stay in November.. only had time for 3 parks.. After a tough decision we chose to skip Epcot.
That’s only because my kiddo loves Expedition Everest and couldn’t visit Disney without riding it.

 

[TheGuyThatMakesSwords]

All personal opinion - I'm not necessarily right, no one else is necessarily wrong....

AK. It's a GREAT Zoo. But GREAT Zoos exist in MANY parts of the Country. Oh yes - the new "lands" and "rides".... can you actually GET on them? Do they Work?

Again - just us... not going there. Went ONCE recently for an FOP fastpass, blowing all other FPs for that day. Dearest wife could not deal with it, not going back. NOT even starting on the fake Yeti . Snakes? Oh yes, Dear Wife LOVES that.... .

We hope you LOVE, and ENJOY AK. Not for us, and besides, if you are THERE? You are NOT at the MK . So everyone is happy .

 

[Dunston]

Very sad to say my answer is Hollywood Studios. It used to be my favorite park, but with the tram tour, Great Movie Ride, and stunt shows gone without a current replacement, it is currently the worst of the four.

 

[joshjoned]

The Magic Kingdom. Not a "bad" park by any means, but highly overrated in many aspects. Epcot is the most disappointing simply because it's the park with the most unfulfilled potential, but i still enjoy it the most out of all four parks during the festivals.

 

[joshjoned]

I think Aaronardo raised some valid points concerning Epcot. You suggest that FW is just gravy to you, and I'm genuinely curious if you visited when FW anchored that park? IMO, WS lacks any real depth save the American Adventure. The movies are tired, Frozen seems out of place, and don't even talk to me about the boat ride in Mexico. There's only so many times you browse the trinkets in those shops. We still enjoy a half day or so at Epcot, but it's lost so much that it just can't compete with MK or AK at this point.

I like the boat ride in Mexico. I would actually take it over "it's a small world", and in fact several attractions at MK.

 

[PaulZ]

Hollywood Studios and it’s not even close. They’ve had this distinction for 29 years.

 

[Kram Sacul]

DHS has it's problems but they are entirely Disney's doing. They could've replaced the old shows and added a bunch of things over the years but instead they mostly sat on their butts and let it rot and even removed the things that worked like the GMR. Toy Story Land and Galaxy's Edge are nice additions but how they treated this park over the years is unforgiveable.

I voted for Magic Kingdom because I live in CA and MK has always felt like a half-hearted remake of DL. MK has more space and a few nice things but the original Disneyland has way more charm.

 

[rio]

I only spent 1 day in Hollywood Studios my last couple trips and really love Epcot, but I had to cast my vote for Epcot. The park is just feels stuck in the past far worse than Hollywood Studios, and has an uncertain future to boot. This decision may change as we get more information and confirmation of stuff actually being built and changed.

I almost feel like the new Soarin should’ve been the 7 natural wonders of the world instead of what Disney did. The transitions are awful, and make me mixed overall on the “upgrade”. I’m honestly fine with Frozen, and I love the new Test Track if not solely for the interactive element in the experience.

 

[MuteSuperstar]

Studios for sure. As it moves farther away from the old Hollywood theme, I get less and less interested.

Epcot remains my favorite but is dropping as they keep replacing attractions with inferior versions. I didn't love Test Track 1.0 but it was infinitely more entertaining than the utterly generic snooze of the newer one. Haven't been on the new Soarin but the mere mention of all the CGI pretty much guarantees I will like it less (and I thought the first was vastly overrated anyway, especially in a row where you can see dangling feet which destroys the immersion. It still baffles me that they couldn't figure out a way to avoid that).

 

[Tori]

Epcot.

 

[LUVofDIS]

For me it is definitely EPCOT. The world showcase is nice but Future World is dearly lacking. I am not a big fan of Test Track, Journey into Imagination, Innoventions and the Nemo ride. It is completely lacking in attractions. When Ellen's was shut down, lets just say that nailed it.

We still will take a whole day here, we just start later. We will be there for Food and Wine and during Christmas. It will be more for a relaxing stroll than attractions though. The sad part is this use to be my favorite park and now drops to number four. I almost enjoy Typhoon Lagoon as much as EPCOT. If it wasn't for the American Adventure, Space Ship Earth and Soarin Typhoon may have been above it.

 

[noodles]

Magic Kingdom. Insane that Disney hasn't addressed the overcrowding. It's just not much fun, anymore.

 

[crxbrett]

First, agreed that the wording "worst" isn't the best choice - "least favorite" or "least enjoyable" park is probably more fitting or appropriate.

I take cleanliness, theming, landscaping, immersion, attractions, shopping and restaurants and food all into consideration at the parks. This was hard to narrow down - until I decided to rate them all in those categories.

For me:

MK (79% approval rating)
8 9 8 8 10 6 6 55/70

EC (90% approval rating)
9 8 10 8 8 10 10 63/70

DS (66% approval rating)
8 6 5 7 8 5 7 46/70

AK (83% approval rating)
7 9 10 9 8 7 8 58/70


I voted DHS. After Galaxy's Edge opens, it will probably be closer to MK's score for me. Mickey's Railway may help it, we'll see. Now, if they put in an Indiana Jones related attraction to replace the stunt show, then it may very well pass the MK on my list.

 

[Damon7777]

NOT even starting on the fake Yeti

I think I have to give Disney a pass on that one only because it would have been a public relations nightmare to snatch the real yeti from its natural habitat.
I mean look what happened to Sea World's Shamu.....so much controversy. Disney just doesn't need that kind of a headache.

 

[Bartledvd]

The worst? None of them but we try to spend as little time as possible in MK it is far to crowded and full of unhappy people pushing and shoving also food options are pretty terrible.

The rides no doubt some are fantastic but things like playing bumper boats on splash or pirates for the whole ride or not having a good skipper on jungle cruise or constant stopping on omni mover rides all just makes it feel like to much effort to queue for the reward.

As for the parades or night time fireworks shows what a fight to keep your spot thats become always have others constantly trying to push in front of us.

On one of those really rare days when it is not too busy MK is fantastic but boy am i happy we get 14 nights a year so we dont have to stay in MK all day just to get our moneys worth and do all the things we want.

 

[BlakeW39]

Magic Kingdom - the king has problems like all of the WDW parks, but even though it is the least developed of the castle parks, it still has the most. Crowds can only be kept at bay so much for MK... so I only attribute this to less attractions in comparison to its sister castle parks. If MK could get some more great attractions and updates to its lands ckncerning aesthetics, many issues would clear up for me. The crowds are thick but MK is certainly not the worst.

Disney's Animal Kingdom - lacks attractions in comparison to MK, though still has more to do than the others. Immersive and miraculously has kept its meaning in tact - and has expanded upon it - throughout its lifetime. To those saying it's just a great zoo, I say two things: that is not a bad thing since perfecting a park is perfecting a park and a good zoo is good, and second is thst DAK is far from just a zoo. I've been to many fantastic zoos and DAK masters everything more than them Kilimanjaro Safaris is phenomenal and is so immersive into various east African ecosystems that any zoo from Miami to Toronto, pales in comparison. Besides, it is a theme park for sure. So certainly not the worst.

Disney's Hollywood Studios - I started really thinking here... so DHS is pretty bare bones I guess, and it was a rushed park in the first place, unlike the second coming of Disneyland, the cautiously crafted Epcot, and the artistically developed Animal Kingdom. It hasn't a real identity... right now. At first I said that DHS was the worst, but then I thought to myself that DHS is forming new identity that still celebrates film - but the stories and worlds rather than the way that they're created. There are direct signs that tell me DHS is at least on the right path. So I hate to say this, but... Epcot is the worst to me, even World Showcase needs work and more rides.

Epcot - this one has an identity, but its execution is lesser. I agree with the original post that Epcot, Future World in particular is a great idea but is dated and executed poorly, its edutainment sometimes forgets the "tainment" bit. Future World is so dated, every attraction there except maybe Test Track needs a near entire overhaul and the aesthetics should be redone.

 

[justintheharris]

After giving it thought, I’m gonna stand by the word “worst” because your favorite park could still be the worst one. Hollywood Studios is my favorite but I acknowledge it’s in bad shape

 

[justintheharris]

First, agreed that the wording "worst" isn't the best choice - "least favorite" or "least enjoyable" park is probably more fitting or appropriate.

I take cleanliness, theming, landscaping, immersion, attractions, shopping and restaurants and food all into consideration at the parks. This was hard to narrow down - until I decided to rate them all in those categories.

For me:

MK (79% approval rating)
8 9 8 8 10 6 6 55/70

EC (90% approval rating)
9 8 10 8 8 10 10 63/70

DS (66% approval rating)
8 6 5 7 8 5 7 46/70

AK (83% approval rating)
7 9 10 9 8 7 8 58/70


I voted DHS. After Galaxy's Edge opens, it will probably be closer to MK's score for me. Mickey's Railway may help it, we'll see. Now, if they put in an Indiana Jones related attraction to replace the stunt show, then it may very well pass the MK on my list.

Should you really weigh all those categories equally though? Is having good shopping options as important as have good attractions?

 

[crxbrett]

Should you really weigh all those categories equally though? Is having good shopping options as important as have good attractions?

That is a good point. I would say attractions, immersion, theming and restaurants are the most important to me, followed by cleanliness and landscaping and then shopping behind all of those.

I decided to break the categories down into a sum that equals to 100 for a perfect score. Attractions = 40. Theming & Immersion & Landscaping = 20. Restaurants/Food = 20. Shopping = 10. Cleanliness = 10.

MK - Total Score - 77/100 (77%)
Attractions - 37, Theming/Immersion/Landscaping - 16, Restaurants/Food - 11, Shopping - 6, Cleanliness - 7

EC - Total Score - 82/100 (82%)
Attractions - 27, Theming/Immersion/Landscaping - 18, Restaurants/Food - 19, Shopping - 9, Cleanliness - 9

DHS - Total Score - 54/100 (54%)
Attractions - 21, Theming/Immersion/Landscaping - 10, Restaurants/Food - 12, Shopping - 4, Cleanliness - 7

AK - Total Score - 84/100 (84%)
Attractions - 34, Theming/Immersion/Landscaping - 19, Restaurants/Food - 15, Shopping - 8, Cleanliness - 8


I would guess after Galaxy's Edge opens, my score for DHS would probably shoot up maybe 15 pts. Still only making it about 70%, but that's better than where it currently sits for me right now. Mickey's Railway and one other D or E-ticket attraction in the future would get it near the MK's level. But TRON will push the MK up a point or 2 for me, still leaving the DHS at the bottom.