Mr.ToadWildRider wrote:It's hard for me to tell what is a "1/2 day park" versus a "full-day park" as I am not "the average guest to WDW". I can do MK in a 1/2 day and see virtually every single ride in the place through Fast Pass and planning. People who say DHA and DAK are 1/2 day are probably close to being correct, but I would have to reasonably conclude the average "Disney Park IQ" of anyone on this site is in the upper echelons comparatively. I could totally see how the average family who has been to the parks 0-3 times previously may very well take a full day at DAK; it is truly a huge (spatially) park and if you do take some time to shop, or see the animals, or watch a parade, or try some attractions that might not appeal to a repeat visitor I don't think it's unreasonable to believe people take a full day. I know a lot of people who stay on property also tend to go back to their room to take a pool (and/or nap) break; especially those with younger children.
I mean for me I prefer parks with a lot of attractions as I'm in the demographic who doesn't stop at shops, doesn't take a break either to sit down or go back to a resort, doesn't bask in the atmosphere (as quite frankly with thousands of people mobbing the place it's hard for me to really feel transported anywhere when I'm not on an attraction). That doesn't mean I can't appreciate that without parks becoming so-called 2+ day parks, I'll never get a full-day's worth of unique attractions. But that's fine, because when I go to DHS I just re-ride the heck out of ToT and RnR and I quite like Dinosaur at DAK (though I almost always reserve DAK for a day I know I'll be 1/4 daying it
).
You're one of those Disney people who is all about the "rides." You're probably in the minority on this website, but in at least a simple majority of all Disney park attenders on any given day. A lot of us have developed (? not sure that's the right word) an appreciation for the atmosphere and other elements of Disney parks in addition to the attractions. THIS IS NOT A PUTDOWN. You have a different way of approaching Disney and have different things you want to get out of your trips - which is great, because variety spices life. When you said MK is a half-day park I was like
because I can spend 2 full days in MK and not do everything I want to do.
So I guess my point is that what I might consider a full day or half-day park others might completely disagree, and we're probably talking in averages at best. And even then, it depends on the age group. What you say about DAK is completely right, especially if you have children in the group that love animals. They'd want to spend a lot of time there. When my girls were 7 and 3 we didn't even make it to MGM (now DHS and soon to be what, now?). They were too small for a lot of what was there and we decided DAK, MK, and Epcot fit them better, along with a water park. When we went back when they were 13 and 9, we loved DHS. What someone will call a full day park in one phase of life, too, will probably change in another.
Totally with you on "riding the heck out of ToT and RnR."
