Lets talk about the Magic Kingdom

[Simply Phenomenal]

Lets chat about this magical place

When was everyones last trip to WDW...mine was never..Anyone want to share experiances at WDW

[norcal1219]

I've never been either.:icon_cry:

[HMF]

The Magic Kingdom Park is not as good as DLs.:old_wink:

[BCC]

I love Stitchs Great Escape and TTA! That's about it, Space mountain isn't that great compared to DL!

[jagfkb]

I go about every year in February. My favorite ride there is Expedition Everest, and my favorite show is Fantasmic!

[Disneyland_Wolf]

I have never been to WDW before. My mom says it is too expensive.

[Kileli]

It is not as good as DLs.:old_wink:
i dont agree. they both have their ups and downs, but i like them about the same. in my journal, i had a whole trip report when i went "thogh its gone now" but i loved the tta, we rode that at least 40 times

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Peoplemover is a great attraction, in any park. :wink:

-- PMM :cool:

[HMF]

i dont agree. they both have their ups and downs, but i like them about the same. in my journal, i had a whole trip report when i went "thogh its gone now" but i loved the tta, we rode that at least 40 times It would be better if they fixed these two attractions Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain. See my How to fix the Haunted Mansion thread for more details.:old_wink:

[Tigris]

been there twice, not as good as Disneyland, but all together the whole WDW is better than disneyland, not just the Magic Kingdom

[Chris]

Guys, I've already announced this in other threads, but if topics devolve into senseless arguements over WDW vs. DL, the thread will be closed. If you are constantly stirring the pot by adding off-topic comments in a thread, you may lose your privillages to certain boards on VF. Please don't let that happen, and lets all get along. We're here to celebrate ALL Disney Theme Parks.

Also, in the future, please don't start topics where you really don't have a specific question or topic in mind. General "Lets chat about such and such" topics are difficult to keep on topic since there WAS no topic. It also makes it more difficult for people to use the Search function to find existing topics.

[DV Brer Rabbit]

Chris has a point here.

[snowwhite-4ever]

In the summer 2006 :D

[tomserwin]

Peoplemover is a great attraction, in any park. :wink:

-- PMM :cool:
I'm sensing some bias in that statement...

Anywho, I went to WDW in January. The very besthing was watching the fireworks of Wishes! form Cinderella's Royal Table. That was awesome!

[crystaltink]

Last time I went to WDW I was 10. I remember thinking Epcot was a heck of alot cooler. Since I didn't think WDW was as great as DL. I'd love to go back though.

[Tell_No_Tales]

i went in april. it was wonderful. i watched the country bear jamboree and went on the peoplemover. two attractions i wish they'll bring back to the DLR. i also watched pillarmagic for the first time and absolutely enjoyed the show. i liked MGM a lot, mainly because of the great movie ride and rockin rollercoaster. this is basically a better version of what they tried to do in space mountain (which is obvious because it was designed from the start instead of a bit of remodeling here and there). i went to Epcot as well but didn't care for that part of the WDW too much. i did eat at the italian restaurant in italy and thought the food was pretty good. oh yeah, the motor action stunt show at MGM is good as well.

[LoehnWolf]

If you are comparing just MK's there is no doubt that DL is much better looking. The attention to details is so much more obvious at DL. Just look at any of DaddyB's photosets and you can see. The hidden little courtyards and the flowers. Dont get me wrong I love my WDW, but if I had a choice between our steamboat and your Galleon(?) hands down Columbia wins. Each HM is from a different period and location so its apples and oranges. And I think DL is much better maintained than WDW. If you are talking resorts, I lean back to WDW only because my favorite parks are AK and Epcot.

[Big Disney Fan]

I once saw an article by one Ted Tamburo, who tried to fairly compare the parks to see which of them was the ultimate best by using four categories:


ATTRACTIONS (what is there, how many, what quality, etc. as compared from one park to the next. A maximum total of 15 points is used)
ATMOSPHERE (the look and feel of one park as compared to another. Also worth 15 points maximum)
DINING (how many restaurants there are between the parks and how varied they are. 5 points maximum)
INTANGIBLES (a catch-all that covers all the odd little things that don't fit anywhere else. Also 5 points)

The scores are tallied for their totals and whichever park has had the biggest score wins. In the case of Disneyland and Walt Disney World's MK, the results were thus:

DISNEYLAND
The park delivers a near knockout blow in the attractions category. Featuring ALL of the classics like Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain, it also boasts the original and still best version of Pirates of the Caribbean. The attractions are varied and far flung. There is something for everyone here of all ages and tastes. It is the only Magic Kingdom-style park with the Indiana Jones Adventure and has more Fantasyland attractions than any of the others (to say nothing of the Matterhorn, which is found only at Disneyland). However, Disneyland has faltered with its latest version of Tomorrowland. The removal of the Submarine Voyage (returning this summer) and the removal of the Rocket Rods has made Tomorrowland into a mere shell of its former self. While all is not perfect, overall Disneyland does very well with its selection of attractions (when they are all functioning) and so the park manages to pull down a near perfect 14 out of 15 for attractions.
However, Disneyland takes a bit of a beating in the atmosphere category. While it is a beautiful park full of old growth trees, it is by far the smallest of the parks, roughly half the size of the rest. No matter how hard it tries, Disneyland gets caught on the ropes because of the tight spaces. Odd relationships pop up like Haunted Mansion side by side with Splash Mountain, and Sleeping Beauty Castle is tiny when compared to WDW's MK. There is no doubt that Disneyland has a wonderful atmosphere, but its size works against it and it comes up short of WDW's MK with a score of 10.
Disneyland is at a 50/50 mark when it comes to dining. With the wonderful environment of the Blue Bayou restaurant the park delivers a solid body blow, but sadly its big gun, Club 33 is not open to the public and therefore does not count here. Other options include a variety of counter service and fast food establishments as well as churro and popcorn carts. Disneyland pulls out a respectable 3 out of 5.
But beware, because Disneyland battles back with a vengeance and a vicious string of jabs and crosses where intangibles are concerned. Here the park really shines. It has all the history any one could want. It has transcended being simply a theme park and has become a true American icon. It is the only park Walt himself worked on and walked within. It reeks of charm in every corner and has a brilliant layout that has become the template for all the others to copy. Disneyland rocks back with a 5 out of 5 in this category.
So as the bell rings Disneyland comes away with 32 out of 40. Not bad for so small a park, but against Florida's MK, will it be enough to take the title?

WALT DISNEY WORLD'S MAGIC KINGDOM
Coming on strong and chomping at the bit is WDW's Magic Kingdom in Florida. Bigger and flashier than Disneyland, it just might have the raw firepower needed to take down its big brother way out west.
In the attractions department, the Magic Kingdom is solid, but cannot go toe to toe with Disneyland. While it matches Disneyland with most of the classic attractions, its version of Pirates pales to the original. Moreover, it is missing the Matterhorn and Indiana Jones entirely. Sure, it counters with a solid combination of Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Stitch's Great Escape (just opened), Country Bears (removed from Disneyland), PhilharMagic (great new 3D show) and Carousel of Progress, but it has far fewer attractions and comes up slightly shy with 12 points.
The Kingdom rallies back in the atmosphere category. It is bigger than Disneyland and it's not afraid to take great advantage of its space. Cinderella Castle is majestic, the building facades more encompassing and the mountains stand taller. The Magic Kingdom avoids the cramped spaces of Disneyland while still creating an engrossing and enveloping experience. It stands tall and pulls down an impressive 13 points for atmosphere.
In dining, the Kingdom comes out swinging with a restaurant right in the castle as well as a few other sit-down affairs. However, the lack of a Blue Bayou hurts its chances. It rallies back with a respectable selection of counter service options and ends up with a 3 out of 5.
In the intangible category, the Magic Kingdom comes in with a solid score. It shares the same theme as Disneyland and is well laid out. However the Magic Kingdom has neither the history nor quite the same charm as Disneyland. Therefore, it gets a 3 in this category.
Dazed but still standing, the Magic Kingdom pulls down a total score of 31.

So in the final score, Disneyland beats WDW's MK 32 to 31, just one point ahead! I think one of the advantages of that DL has is the history. And I just plain love that park! Especially since I grew up with it. Magic Kingdom, as much as I love it, too, it just pales in comparison to DL. Don't let the size of MK fool you; it just pales in comparison, as far as the attraction selection is concerned, anyway.

What are your thoughts?

[James N.]

I love MK and have been there tons of times. It's my favorite of the WDW parks the second being EPCOT.

I haven't been to DL in about 12 or 13 years so I have very vague memories of it and can't really compare DL to MK. I remember having the time of my life though.
And since I live in Florida and am on a low income I can hardly afford to fly out to California to go to DL so MK is good enough for me.

[Big Disney Fan]

And since I live in Florida and am on a low income I can hardly afford to fly out to California to go to DL so MK is good enough for me.

What a coincidence. I can't just fly out to FL repeatedly whenever I want, but DL is good enough for me, because I live in California, namely, eight hours north of DL (near Sacramento). My last WDW trip was in November 2003, when my family visited my sister while she was working there via the resort's College Program.

However, isn't it a bit pricey just to go to MK? Where do you live, anyway?

[James N.]

However, isn't it a bit pricey just to go to MK? Where do you live, anyway?

It's $60 for Florida residents ($67 normal price). I live in Downtown Orlando.

I don't go all the time because it IS expensive but I go often enough. I'm thinking of getting an annual pass... but heck, for that price I mine as well go to CA 0_o

I used to go ALL THE TIME because my dad was an animator over at Feature Animation right behind MGM. We had silver passes and could go any time we wanted and we just hitched a ride with him.

But anyway, I'd love to go back to DL sometime. I wanna ride Indian Jones (I was too little to when I lived there) and the Matterhorn :frown: And I hear Pirates and HM are better there.

[mistymutt]

MK, for me, holds the all time record for hours spent at one park in one day.
Arrived at MK at 7:30 am and didnt leave until 12:30 AM 17 hours in all.
Of course, that was 14 years ago in 1993. I probably wouldnt last that long if i tried it again

[Wig]

Chris has a point here.

......... except on: "We're here to celebrate ALL Disney Theme Parks."


Sorry ! Freedom of speach.... and thoughts !
"WE" are not obliged to celebrate anything on command...
:biggrin:

We can be crunching critical as well !