Originally Posted By BPSJP I can just sit in Disneyland, and never go on a ride. It's both strange, and wonderful, that with all the ugliness in the World, just being inside Disneyland makes one forget it all. The World is so full of petty people that to see the beauty of Disney is a great blessing. Oh yea, I do like the rides too!
Originally Posted By Moon Waffle I can't separate the two. Without the atmosphere, well, I can ride rides many other places - and much more exciting rides at that. And yet without the rides, I'm not sure I would visit more than perhaps once or twice in a lifetime. What makes Disney special is the seamless integration of both atmosphere and rides - it all flows together so well. That's why I go back every year. There is nothing else that can match the experience.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Yes, BPSJP, duckling. The rest of the world can be a pretty ugly place. ORGOCH: Try livin' yer sorry life in place like Morva--with two looney sisters like mine--if'n ya really wanna' see what's ugly!! ORWEN: Or try sleeping in a cold, moldy attic every night with a certain nasty old biddy of a sister who keeps us awake most of the night with her disgusting noises while she bites off her toenails right in front of us! Yes, I'd say Disneyland is a LOT more appealing than that!!!
Originally Posted By danyoung >What makes Disney special is the seamless integration of both atmosphere and rides...< That's why Walt was insistent on calling it a THEME park and not an AMUSEMENT park!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "I can't separate the two. Without the atmosphere, well, I can ride rides many other places" You can ride ToT, Soarin, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, It's a Small World and the Haunted Mansion in other places? Tell me where those parks are because I've never heard of them. "What makes Disney special is the seamless integration of both atmosphere and rides - it all flows together so well." Exactly.
Originally Posted By danyoung I think the point was that there are rides in other parks that come close to the experience you might find in a Disney park. But without that atmosphere, it just isn't the same thing.
Originally Posted By sjdimon It is a combination - heck - I am a "ride wimp" who gets fairly motion sick on a lot of the motion-based rides (like Indy; Star Tours; Soarin) - but the queues are so immersive, I have been known to go thru the queues with the rest of my party only to "bail out" at the last second and not take the ride part - the lines are so great (in some cases) that I don't feel like I missed anything!
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <By most accounts, it is the ultimate Magic Kingdom (with all due respect to the amazing original!). > DLP is my second favorite Disney park, after DL. It's probably the most beautiful, but it's not as comprehensive as DL in terms of attractions, the entertainment isn't as good, and it's lower on that certain charm that DL has in spades. When I went, the maintenance was fine, but dave has said that in recent years that has suffered, which of course would be a problem (though I also think he's said that in the past 1-2 years it's improved a bit). Still, it's beautiful with great atmosphere, which yes, is one of the things I go to DL and other Disney parks for. I don't get to go often, though, and if I didn't get on certain rides I would be bummed in the extreme. So for me it's the combination.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "I think the point was that there are rides in other parks that come close to the experience you might find in a Disney park." Then the same argument could be made for atmosphere too. Disney doesn't have the lock down as the most beautiful or interesting places to visit. Of course it's the combination of the two (attractions and atmosphere) that sets Disney apart, but for me the attractions will always be at the top of the list.
Originally Posted By crapshoot I have to go along with Atmos being the utmost for both area development and attractions simaltaneously.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper If I'm looking for a thrilling ride (ie a rollercoaster) there are a lot of places I will go before Disney. Heck, Universal and Sea World have a better collection of thrilling rollercoasters. If I sat down and created a top ten list of my favorite rollercoasters (and, that nerd factor in my vanishes many years ago) I doubt a Disney coaster would crack my top ten. That doesn't mean I don't think Disney has good coasters, but there are a number of B&M coasters that I think are brilliant and I don't need a faux mountain to enjoy them any more.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I do...I hate coasters that are just coasters. Won't ride them. I need a theme to draw me into it to the point where the coaster is secondary to the experience. I can honestly say that I have never ridden a coaster outside of Disney in my life.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper When a coaster is 400' tall and 100 mph I don't need a theme to draw me in. 400' and 100 mph draws me in plenty. I like Thunder Mountain and Space (and to a lesser extent Everest and Rock 'n Roller) but I don't consider any of those exception rides. Great attractions, but not exceptional rides....
Originally Posted By danyoung I think it's fair to say that there are coasters out there that put Disney to shame. But it doesn't bother me in the least that Disney doesn't cater to this type of coaster, as I don't ride the extreme rides anyway!
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I really enjoy extreme coasters, but I'm not sure I enjoy them MORE than Space or Matterhorn or other Disney coasters - they're just different animals. I love the speed and power of something like Millennium Force or The Voyage (best woodie anywhere!), but I enjoy the Disney coasters' combination of atmosphere and fun. I enjoy both kinds on different levels.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I do...I hate coasters that are just coasters. Won't ride them. I need a theme to draw me into it to the point where the coaster is secondary to the experience. I can honestly say that I have never ridden a coaster outside of Disney in my life*** If you've never been on one, how can you say you don't like them?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***When a coaster is 400' tall and 100 mph I don't need a theme to draw me in. 400' and 100 mph draws me in plenty*** Yup. I'll never forget my first ride on (then) world's largest coaster, Fujiyama. At first I looked at it and was like "no loops? pretty lame". Then I rode it. Yowza. Amazing experience (Magic Mountain's Goliath is a pretty similar experience but didn't exist back when I first checked out Fujiyama).
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>If you've never been on one, how can you say you don't like them? <<< I don't have to get hit in the head with a wooden mallet to know I wouldn't enjoy it. Some things you just know.
Originally Posted By friendofdd This is an interesting topic, especially when one realizes there are no right or wrong answers. Only opinions which are right for the one expressing the opinion. I go for the atmosphere, but feel it flows freely into the attractions.
Originally Posted By BPSJP >>ORGOCH: Try livin' yer sorry life in place like Morva--with two looney sisters like mine--if'n ya really wanna' see what's ugly!!<< It's said (I think ) ugliness is in the eye of the beholder, or something like that.
