Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom We have had a couple of threads going lately where we continually discuss the Magic Kingdom and upgrades there. And I have been finding myself reminding folks that there are other parks at WDW becides the MK. Just because the MK is for some reason always the one championed by WDW's management team doesn't mean other Disney parks don't exist on property. I happen to really enjoy the "other" parks. Perhaps it is time for WDW management to devote more attention to some of its other parks instead of the MK for a change.
Originally Posted By hopemax The thing is up until this New Fantasyland thing, MK was the "other" park. Sure, they had stuff like MILF, Stitch redo, spinner in Adventureland but it was hardly the stuff of advertising campaigns. Epcot got a lot between Soarin & Mission:Space, not that long after following the Test Track debacle. The Studios, while it has been awhile, still had a run with RnRC, Lights, Motor Action, and Idol. The last 2 might not have had the impact management wanted, but they were supposed to be big improvements. And of course, AK had Everest. It wasn't that long ago that message boards were full of, "When are they going to do something big at the MK, they haven't had anything major since Splash!" threads. After New Fantasyland comes online, it will probably be another 20 years before MK will get anything major again.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<The thing is up until this New Fantasyland thing, MK was the "other" park. Sure, they had stuff like MILF, Stitch redo, spinner in Adventureland but it was hardly the stuff of advertising campaigns.>> I'm going to have to disagree. The MK has seen more redos, paint jobs and lighting shows done on the castle than Mattel's Barbie doll has dresses. So while the MK was swapping out shows and preformances EPCOT lost their only parade. You didn't mention redos to HM, PotC, Pooh's forget place, queue plussing at Pooh or HM. While the MK castle got constant nonstop redos EPCOT's SSE got to wear Mickey's hand and wand for seven years. WoL got turned into a DVC presentation center. The 2nd floor of the Imagination Pavallion was permantly closed. As already stated DAK lost it's boats, one entire land at DAK was never and still remains never built. Even Everest was left without a parking lot facing finished backside. And when you consider just how much time, money and energy WDW spends on decorating the resorts, DtD and the MK for the holidays while the other parks get ignored, there is no comparison. WDW doesn't even put halloween decorations anywhere else becides the MK.
Originally Posted By leobloom WDW has neglected MK far more than the other parks over the past ten years. All you need to know is the last major attraction to open at MK was Splash Mountain. The other parks have had major attractions (or been built, in the case of DAK) since then.
Originally Posted By Manfried Actually there have been two major attractions since Space Mountain. Big Thunder and Splash Mountain.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well, buzz, philharmagic, and alien encounter/stitch encounter all opened after splash. While they may not be my favs, and replaced something else, they were built after splash as was pooh.
Originally Posted By leobloom That's a fair point about Alien Encounter opening after Splash. The other attractions seem less ambitious, but AE definitely tried to push the envelope for MK. Of course, since it's gone, it's sort of a moot point.
Originally Posted By tashajilek When i was at WDW i did notice that the other parks didn't have many decorations. Out of all the parks at WDW i preferred DAK and Epcot. After visiting DL many times it's really hard to like the MK much.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Lol Tasha, ain't that the truth. I have met so many brits that "love" the MK, but have never been to Disneyland or DLP, both of which are superior imho. In fact, I get grumpy when I go to WDW because the MK is so poor, and not Disneyland. I love epcot and DAK, but I live in Europe and find the san Diego zoo to be amazing. So I am no longer compelled to go WDW any longer. Next year we are doing two weeks in France inc. DLP and 2 weeks in Tuscany to include Pisa, Florence, Siena, Portofino and Venice for less than the cost of 2 weeks at WDW for us.
Originally Posted By tashajilek We have been to San Diego zoo and the wild park which are the best zoo's i have ever visited. I do love how beautiful and relaxing DAK feels and Everest is pretty great!
Originally Posted By disneyfreaksk <<The MK has seen more redos, paint jobs and lighting shows done on the castle than Mattel's Barbie doll has dresses.>> I love you Tom! I agree except I think they spend too much on the hotels instead of the parks. I still prefer DL over MK/WDW. Just saying.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I'm not keen on them letting things like painting and general maintenance go at the Magic Kingdom...but...when you are the most heavily visited theme park in the world...how much do you really need to spend on capital (ie..new attractions)?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think the MK is definitely the park in the greatest need of SUBSTANTIAL change, and hope the Fantasyland redo does the trick. Right now the MK is a half-day park for me.
Originally Posted By danyoung >The MK has seen more redos, paint jobs and lighting shows done on the castle than Mattel's Barbie doll has dresses.< While that may be true, these are all minor, cosmetic fixes (much needed!). But it's been forever since there was a true, crowd-driving change in the MK. MILF is at best a C+ attraction. And while I'd give Philharmagic a strong D, it still didn't take all that much, both in bucks and in infrastructure changes, to bring it about. Even though I'm not the demographic for the new Fantasyland, I'm really glad they're putting so much into it, and can't wait to experience it. And then, once the MK is doing well, then it's on to another park and further improvements. Seems like good use of time, effort and money to me.
