Originally Posted By Shooba I haven't been to WDW since 1993, but based on my memories of the parks and current attractions lists, there was never any doubt that Epcot would probably take up the most of my time on my upcoming trip. As scheduled, it will work out this way for me: Epcot Magic Kingdom Animal Kingdom Studios
Originally Posted By tonyanton It used to be MK, but with the closing of attractions, dumbing down or poor maintenance on others, and the poor excuse for shopping that it has become, the park has sadly moved to third. Epcot comes in first for sure, then Animal Kingdom. Studios is last, mostly because I don't stick around for Fantasmic! anymore (I wait to see it in DL, the version I like better) and I want to look at the big ugly hat as little as possible. Even with the wand, Epcot still hasn't been ruined for me. :]
Originally Posted By u k fan I would say Epcot. We like to wander around World Showcase for eating and shopping and would probably opt to do that for an evening instead of visiting Downtown Disney. Then it would be a toss-up between DAK and The Studios and finally, MK because as DavewasBaloo said living near DLP just makes MK kind of redundant!!!
Originally Posted By Boca Chica Our favorite park is the Magic Kingdom. We love all four parks. Animal Kingdom, which was not our cup of tea at first is becoming one of our favorite places to be. But, the Magic Kingdom is what ties us emotionally to Disney. In a six-night stay, we close the Kingdom five nights. We spend mornings in the other parks, but end each evening in the Magic Kingdom. That one odd night is spent at Epcot for Illuminations. We will also make an exception if we have a Priority Seating time for The Brown Derby.
Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire I'll also have to say Epcot. There is just so much to see and do there. Second is Magic Kingdom. It's probably a tie between AK and MGM for least amount of time spent in.
Originally Posted By Labuda Epcot & DAK for me. MK is 3rd place, and D-MGM a distant 4th. And, a special thanks to MPierce for reminding me that I need to finally try a Dole Whip this trip!
Originally Posted By Labuda "We actually spend more time at Downtown Disney than we do at the studios." You are definitely not alone there, Chelle! DH & I will spend at least a few evenings in the Downtown Disney area, and likely part of one morning or early afternoon there when we do a bit of shopping.
Originally Posted By kpwdwfan With two six-year-olds, the Magic Kingdom is where my family spends most of our time with Epcot a close second. We can do DAK in half a day but have been spending more and more time there with the addition of Everest. MGM is another story, it seems that just about everyone in this thread is putting MGM last on their list and I have to agree with them. MGM used to be one of our favorite parks but it's losing it's appeal fast. I hate to beat a dead horse here but this park is in dire need of help and it's clear by all the reponses here that many people agree. The closed attractions, the practically non-existant backlot tour, Sounds Dangerous and the fact that there is very little to do after 7:00 o'clock has made MGM a half day park for my family. I won't hold my breath but I hope someone is seeing this!!
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun DAK is definately our favorite. Epcot is a close 2nd, but harder to do multiple time with young kids (they don't care too much for the countries, YET), then MK and then studios.
Originally Posted By sjdimon 1. EPCOT 2 - 3 Days to just get all around the park (it's HUGE, and the FW attractions all have a lot of things to do) 2. Magic Kingdom 2 - 3 Days - it's the most "FUN" of the parks (most like DL) - and there's a lot to do here as it is the original WDW Park 3. D/MGM 1 - 2 days - this is my wife's favorite of the WDW parks. On day 2 it's mostly returning back to redo some of our faves. 4. DAK Sorry - but about 2/3 of one day. With EE there now - that might change up to a full day - but we just weren't all that enamored with this Theme Park...
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp Epcot and Studios in a tie - mainly because of the eating establishments in the two parks. Isn't as much to do in the Studios, but we have to alternate between the four restaurants where we eat (Brown Derby, Prime Time, Sci-Fi and Mama Melroses). Epcot has Canada, France and Living Seas for regular eating, with Morrocco, Italy, Mexico and China as possibilites depending on how we feel that day. (Japan would be included, but they don't take the DDE card, so they are eliminated.) MK has the best selection of attractions, but other than Liberty Tree, can't eat there. And love AK, but with only the Rainforest, we tend to only go after dining elsewhere, so our time becomes limited. (Does it seem like we base our trips on food? Yep.)
Originally Posted By RoadTrip As mentioned previously, we spend the most of our time at Epcot. I have to stick up for the poor dissed Studios though. I'd thought the same -- in fact I had routinely said over on the DCA board that DCA was a far better park than the Studios. When we were at WDW last February we decided to take a fresh look at the Studios and see what we thought. We tried to go in with no preconceived notions as to what we liked or didn’t like. What did we find? We really LIKED it. Great Attractions **Tower of Terror – still the best attraction in Orlando as far as I’m concerned. **Rock N Roller Coaster – a thrill every time. My favorite coaster anywhere. **Great Movie Ride – although it could use some updating, GMR is an absolute Disney classic. It is one of the few Disney attractions these days that lasts almost 30 minutes. The Munchinkinland scene has some of the most complex animatronics of any Disney attraction. **Lights, Motors, Action – A GREAT stunt show. I haven’t seen stuff like that since Joey Chitwood’s Thrill Show played State Fairs in the 60’s. **Fantasmic – It may not be as good as the Disneyland show, but I still love it. Very Good Attractions **Voyage of the little Mermaid – a very unique and well done Disney Stage show. I always enjoy the underwater effects. **Star Tours – the ride could use updating, but just the queue would justify calling it a very good attraction. One of Disney’s best queues ever. **Indiana Jones Stunt Show – again, this attraction could use some updating, but if you look at it with a fresh eye it is really very good. And either I’d forgotten what the show was like or they actually had made some changes since I’d last seen it. **Muppet Vision 3-D – yes, it is the same as it has been since the place opened. Thank God it has, for it is a true Disney classic. ** Millionaire - Play it! – Sorry, I know it may be a little cheesy but I LOVE that attraction. I could sit there and play it all day, and someday I will. So that makes a pretty nice day at a theme park, especially if you include a meal at the Hollywood Brown Derby, which I feel is one of WDW’s finest restaurants. If you eat there at lunch the prices are also quite reasonable. And of course there is Sid Cahuenga’s. For awhile Sid’s had deteriorated into a poster and photo shop. Last February though it had reclaimed some of its former glory with all kinds of stuff once worn by the Stars. Sure, you’d probably never buy it, but it sure is fun to look at. I must admit, the park is better than I’d given it credit for these past few years.
Originally Posted By kpwdwfan >>So that makes a pretty nice day at a theme park, especially if you include a meal at the Hollywood Brown Derby, which I feel is one of WDW’s finest restaurants. >> I wish I could share your enthusiasm about MGM Studios but if you take TOT and RNR out of the equation this park has a lot to be desired in my opinion. Superstar Television has been closed for years, Sounds Dangerous is long, long overdue for replacement and fails in comparison to the interactive Monster Sound Show. I completely agree that LMA has been a great addition to the park and always draws a very large crowd but it was at the expense of an already dismal Backstage Tour which, in my opinion, was, and should still be a staple of the "studio" theme park. The current backstage tour is a complete let down. >>Millionaire - Play it! – Sorry, I know it may be a little cheesy but I LOVE that attraction. I could sit there and play it all day, and someday I will. >> I loved this attraction too but I beleive Who Wants to be a Millionaire has seen it's last day and closed in mid August. I realize that there are making way for a new attraction but in my opinion they are taking away a fairly good attraction which still appeared to be fairly popular. Heck, where I live Millionaire just started airing on ABC five nights a week. Go figure!!! With the current condition of MGM it would have been nice if they could have kept WWTBMM online until something else opened. Now the park has another closed attraction which held between 400 and 600 people, six or more times a day. This closure will have a negative impact on the other attractions in the park. The Hunch Back show has been closed for years and nothing has taken it's place. Star Tours and The Great Movie Ride are very good attractions but definately could use some updating. I agree that the queue for Star Tours is one of the best in WDW. In total, MGM now has three areas with closed attractions and two attractions which have a lot to be desired (Sounds Dangerous and the Backstage Tour). Many of the attractions in MGM close by six or seven o'clock each evening even when the park is open late. EMH can be a nightmare during busy times of the year. Beleive me MGM used to be one of families favorite parks. TOT and RNR are among my families favorite attractions in all of WDW but the lack of spark and magic in MGM is quite evident. I guess I'm a little disheartened by the current state of MGM and remember the olden days when MGM Studios was actually a studio and you never knew what to expect when you came to the park. The Animation department always had a project in the works and guests could get a sneak peek of what was coming soon. I still remember loving the Backstage Tour and the anticpation of possibly seeing a celebrity or seeing the taping of a movie or show as we traveled "backstage". Now the tour gives the guests a great view of the cast member parking garage and the back of the grandstands for LMA. RoadTrip, I respect your opinion and try to have have a positive outlook on things but when it comes to MGM I have become very disheartened because I remember what MGM used to be. The thirty plus posts in this thread show that many people consider MGM to be the fourth best park in WDW. I still enjoy going to MGM but from my perspective it has turned into a half day park and the areas mentioned above have been neglected for far too long.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip kpwdwfan... I also respect your opinion, and agree that it is disappointing that the Studios part of the MGM Studios isn't really there any more. On the other hand, I really enjoy the attractions I listed and feel that it is a full day. In my view writing off MGM because a few attractions closed is like writing off Epcot because World of Motion, Horizons and Wonders of life are gone. The time of year we go to WDW the Magic Kingdom usually closes at 7 PM, so MGM closing after the 8:00 Fantasmic show doesn’t really seem bad. And since I can never get my wife out of bed to get to a park earlier than 11:00 AM, it is a full day for us. All that said, I would also place MGM Studios as our 4th place park. I just think it is a very enjoyable 4th place. Of course what do I know? I like DCA too.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I seem to spend more time at EPCOT over the other parks, for the simple reason that it allows room to breath. All other parks are more contrived. Yet another reason why I love TDL, for it's expansiveness and room to move, even if some of the quality of show suffers from that (eg- transitions from one land to the next).
