Originally Posted By FerretAfros To me, MK's biggest problem is that it is heavily based in architecture from 1970. No matter how well kept Main Street is, the details and flourishes just always look dated to me. Toss in the angular buildings of Tomorrowland (especially when seen from afar), and much of your first impression of the park feels rather stale. Mix in the wider walkways (which really are a blessing), and it loses the closeness that DL has in most places. It's still a very nice park, but never quite lives up to my expectations >>Frontierland is actually a land in WDW instead of the weird blob it is in DL. And it's Adventureland in Florida instead of Adventure Alley.<< Funny that you pick Frontierland, as it's one of my least favorite parts of MK, when compared to DL. In DL, there's the little town near the hub, as well as the secluded Big Thunder Trail and the river. In MK, there's half a town smashed up against the river, with an odd plaza between Big Thunder and Splash. Since all of Frontierland has the river right next to the walkway, I have a tough time feeling like I'm actually 'in' the land; it feels more like walking through a western-themed World Showcase pavilion.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Because of course the West doesn't have Rivers. The Missouri and the Colorado must be in the East. ;-)
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<To me, MK's biggest problem is that it is heavily based in architecture from 1970. No matter how well kept Main Street is, the details and flourishes just always look dated to me. Toss in the angular buildings of Tomorrowland (especially when seen from afar), and much of your first impression of the park feels rather stale.>> To me it says "classic" and I like it. Of course I also like the angular, massive white buildings of Epcot's Future World and the Contemporary Resort.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros It's not the river that I have a problem with, it's that there isn't a place where you can be surrounded by buildings. For me, water features sort of make an area thematically ambiguous. Even along real waterfronts (Philadelphia's Penn Landing comes to mind), I don't really feel like I'm anywhere in particular; that same feeling translates over to Frontierland. I guess in the back of my mind, I expect some sort of NOS-type streets in that corner of the park, but they're nowhere to be found (replaced by Liberty Square) >>To me it says "classic" and I like it. Of course I also like the angular, massive white buildings of Epcot's Future World and the Contemporary Resort.<< I really like the looks of the Contemporary and Future World. They are sleek and unadorned (for the most part). I think it's the small scale details on those long sleek lines (like the gingerbread woodwork atop long skinny posts supporting the roofs on Main Street) that just don't feel right to me. The 60's/70's had a very distinct aesthetic for Victorian architecture and typeface, and a lot of that translates into MK's Main Street. It's not a bad feeling, but it just doesn't feel like the turn of the century in the same way as DL's Main Street (which doubtless uses proportions and styles from the 50's in its interpretation of Victorian architecture)
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt It's clear that when the MK was built Disney had money, lots of money, to build a bigger and better Disneyland. Consequently a lot was lost in the translation. Still, overall, I like the Magic Kingdom, and it's the first Disney park that I remember visiting. If anything it's nice to visit a park that isn't full of know-it-all locals.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I guess in the back of my mind, I expect some sort of NOS-type streets in that corner of the park, but they're nowhere to be found (replaced by Liberty Square)>> NOS is certainly charming, but I have yet to go in there without getting hopelessly disoriented and lost trying to find my way out. It looks so simple on the park maps, but check it out by zooming all the way in on Google Maps satellite view and you can see the tangled charm that is New Orleans Square.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt LOL. New Orleans Square is only charming if you visit the park on the light to moderately crowded day. Trying to navigate through that bottleneck and soak up the atmosphere is pointless when it's crowded.
Originally Posted By tashajilek " If anything it's nice to visit a park that isn't full of know-it-all locals." You are right Hans, thats why i go to DL when your not there
Originally Posted By u k fan Just to qualify my "ugly" assessment of MK - compared to most themeparks it ain't ugly. Compared to other DL style parks it's definitely the ugly sister IMHO!!!
Originally Posted By gardenrooms I wonder if the "ugly" comment refers to the Fantasyland part of the MK, which looks like a carnival, with all those tents. I did find that section of the park disappointing. The facades in DL's Fantasyland are much more interesting (the strangest contrast, IMHO, is IASM, though I'm sure most people don't care about that). Usually we spend very little time in the MK, though next visit I am very much looking forward to the new area and I wouldn't want to skip it on a visit next year. It's too bad you can't park hop. I wouldn't want to skip any park - I love them all. To really appreciate WDW's ToT, you would want to be familiar with the intro to Twilight Zone, as you go right through it (might be fun to watch the episode with William Shatner, "Nick of Time" and look for the "Mystic Seer" in the library if you haven't already - not a scary Twilight Zone; wish they also had the little girl in the 4th dimension as they do in CA). I think the queue in TSMM is worth seeing at least once, too, but that's me (and at least at WDW you can also get FastPasses - first thing in the morning - unlike at CA where you have to stand in a very boring and very long line). If you aren't park hopping, skipping rides probably wouldn't help, but if I was short on time I would skip DHS's Fantasmic! - DL's is way better. To me, AK is only a half day park. I could easily skip Dinosaur - a very poor cousin to Indiana Jones - and in fact, Yeti or not, the only "must do" ride there is EE, after which you can see as many or as few animals as you have time for, keeping in mind that many of them disappear as the day wears on. For us also the water park (we have only done Bilzzard Beach, but I love it) is also only a half day park because it gets so busy later in the day but sounds like you will be going at a better time of year. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time - i can hardly wait to go back.
Originally Posted By danyoung Well, after 71 posts there's no clear concensus (no big surprise there!). Everyone has their own favorites, and I'd betcha if you tallied the for and against votes for each park they'd be almost equal. I say for a first timer - hit all the parks at least a 1/2 a day. Make up your own mind. Every park has something going for it, something that's unique to that park. For me, I could spend a whole vacation in Epcot and come home happy.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh I second what Dan Young said. If it was my first time and I had seven days, I would buy a 5 day water park and more ticket. Hit Epcot and MK the first two days, go to a water park the third day, then visit the Studios and AK on days four and five. If you run out of things to do at either or both, you can hit the hotel pool or, if time, DisneyQuest. On day six you can hit the other water park, or Downtown Disney, or DisneyQuest. Or spend some time walking around the hotels on the monorail line, taking in the sights. On the last day, go back to whichever park you most want to visit again.
Originally Posted By Blufusion12 If you have more than 7 days in Orlando. Go to Kennedy Space Center. Spend a day there it's great to see history and see it before it's all gone . They will be tearing down the shuttle launch pads which were the ones that were used for the Apollo launches. They now give tours to the pads and to the launch control room and the VAB Building.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I appreciate all the opinions, if we get to go next year, I will definitely spend time in all of the parks.
Originally Posted By tashajilek ^^ It's true, every park does have it's good points and each park should be seen. I almost love visiting the resorts just as much as visiting the parks. Anyways, im off to Hawaii tomorrow! it will be my first big vacation that doesnt include Disney or Las Vegas.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Thanks guys im sure i will have great time. I will try and not drink too many Pina Colada's.
