Originally Posted By davewasbaloo For me, the themed walk throughs in SDZ are similar to the ones at Disney, and there are more animals at Disney. Yes, I would love it if the SDZ had even more theming. Now if Disney ever got Panda's and many other species, I might get more excited. Don't get me wrong, but as I think the MK is the worst MK style park in the world with the possible exception of HK, and I prefer DCA and even WDSP to DHS, it leaves Epcot and DAk for me. Now I love those two parks, but as I found out last trip, Future World has been raped, and World Showcase is fun, but I have been to all those countries for real, and all the European ones I can be to within an hour or two. Illuminations is awesome, but not worth the flight on it's own. DAK is wonderful too, and we always spend a couple of days there. But we find San Diego Zoo equally enjoyable.
Originally Posted By grlweatswchpstx I'm sure as I grow up my own views of these will change as well. Unfortunately, I've only travelled out of the USA very minimally, and barely remember my trip to Canada. I've been to Singapore once, which is where my maternal family lives and we visited Malaysia while in the area. Perhaps being in the AK's Asia area is just like reliving those memories for me, because it is very similar to how some of the Malay countryside looked and some of the temples I visited. I do hope to make it to the other countries Disney represents in WDW someday, and I know they are cultural stereotypes, but I guess I just look at it as a different type of art for what it is.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I'm not having a go at Epcot. If I was like so many of the visitors that have never/rarely travel outside of the US, it would be worth it. We ALWAYS enjoy our days in Epcot, but the same can be said about Disneyland and DCA. That said, I love Epcot, just not as much as Disneyland. In it's prime, Epcot was a key rival, but we found last trip that with all the negative changes, we did not love it as much. We did spend at least a part of 6 days at Epcot, and still did not manage to squeeze everything in. And if I could only go to one park east of the Mississippi or even the Colorado, it would be Epcot (if two, then DAK). But as someone who needs to budget $5-10k for a US Disney trip, DL is far more likely to get our time and money. Different strokes. There is no right answer, and everyone has their own tastes. It's great that Disney can cater to them. But it is Tokyo Disney Sea that I really want to try out.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<Happy Haunt is going to DL next summer, they're also planning the Zoo,>> We are NOT planning a visit to SDZ!! carribean queen said it was 2 hrs from DL, I live 3 hrs from The Bronz Zoo I would just go there! Anyway, after DAK it's all really a let down
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Happy Haunt, I cannot urge you enough to visit San Diego Zoo. It is world class, and indeed DAK took almost all their inspiration for DAK's animal enclosures from SDZ. The most successful breeding programme of Panda's outside of China, the largest collection of Koala's outside of Australia, one of the world's most diverse botanical gardens, themed walkways with mixed animals (the first zoo to do this in the world), a skyway over the park. To be honest, if we had to choose between DL and SDZ, I know my wife would choose the zoo, and we are 18 hours and 6000 miles away. Do not discount it, plus the drive down is beautiful, especially as you are an East Coaster.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo To be honest, if I could easily go to DAK or SDZ, I would actually have to flip a coin. And if it is about the animals, SDZ wins.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt Oh all right!! I'll upgade SDZ to a possible maybe!! no wait..I looked it up in my AAA guide, it's another $75- a person for bus/tix/lunch to add on to my DL extravaganza!! UGH!!
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 ^^^But one of my favorite questions is "how often do you expect to go?" If it's a once in a life time thing, DO IT! Do not miss out. Remember what you paid for those Paul McCartney tickets!! I never intend to let her forget what she paid to see him. Happy can afford the SDZ.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt It's really NOT the $$$$, it's the 4 HOURS of sitting on the bus!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Sounds like the commute from AKL to WL at WDW ;-) Rent a car. But like I say, it is a beautiful trip. Sit on the right hand side of the bus going down, that's for sure.
Originally Posted By grlweatswchpstx You could take the train! The metro ride down to SD is really nice, I've done it a couple times when gas prices were really high and I had to visit family.
