Deacon on Disney - Perfection

[secondstar]

I couldn't agree more with rdeacon's sentiments.

[casrin]

nancynohorse & I have often said that if/when we went back, we'd really only have an interest in the MK anymore. We liked the 1980s era for Epcot and we're not so crazy about what's come since. Same with the changes to the Studios, since we're not that familiar with the newer TV shows & programs that attractions are based on. And we were never into AK to begin with, so...

Glad you got to go though, Rich!

[subsonic]

I think both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center came very close to perfection during their time (Only because the idea of perfection kept changing by the time they had acheieved it), but both are headed drastically away from it now.

I'm with Cheshire on this. Rdeacon, who are you? You're not the same person I know in chat.

I think they MK and most of the other parks have lost site of what they once were. While, I have to say MK is a wonderful park I would not agree that it is perfection anymore. A quick look at Tomorrowland shows us how the park has lost sight of what it takes to be a "theme" park. How are cartoon characters that are from another world "futuristic?". I thought Tomorrowland was supposed to inspire our minds with what the future could hold. Burping chili dog smells into my face and monsters telling jokes just doesn't do it for me.

Again, MK's a great park. All the other lands are themed wonderfully, but Tomorrowland makes it not perfect.

[rdeacon]

Hmmm I guess I should have been more descriptive with the article.

It was hard to type on the iTouch so I kept it short, and maybe I missed my target point.

By perfection I didn't mean to suggest that MK is perfect. It is far from perfect. I have major issues with Tomorrowland attractions and the removal of 20k Leagues for a play area, just to name 2 right off the top of my head.

My main focus was to point out that MK is the main draw because originally it was designed right from the start. It was designed with balance of rides for all ages, themeing, and good crowd management. The other parks fall short in these areas, for one reason or another.

So while I feel fundamentally its a perfectly designed park.. it is currently far from perfect.

Hope that clears up my point.

Rich

[subsonic]

Rich, you just need to come to Disneyland and see the original. Even, addlema, a die-hard WDW goer says it's better. Perhaps now is a good time to drop the hint that I'm planning a meet for the 5th Anniversary of Subsonic Radio in Feburary!

[Cheshire Cat]

So while I feel fundamentally its a perfectly designed park.. it is currently far from perfect.

Aha, thanks for clearing that up. Then yes, I think MK has all the ideals of what a perfect park is, but I also think EPCOT Center, while different from Magic Kingdom, had everything also (although maybe a few years after opening). DHS and AK were and still are missing something

[Lumiere]

Next time you are in the Magic Kingdom slow down and enjoy its spender, marvel in its wonder. It truly is a magical place.

AMEN, Rich. This comment ties into so many topics like "Inform or Entertain" or "FastPass system"..... People today are addicted to HURRY sickness. Overstimulated, always feeling 3 steps behind. Walt understood the excitement of ANTICIPATION. Waiting in entertaining and informative queues or even long walks/rides into the various themed areas only heightened the excitement of eventually getting there.

People may cram the maximum amount of rides on SM or TOT in a day, but in the process have MISSED the hundreds (maybe a thousand) magic moments, sights, sounds, smells, and DETAILS that imagineers and cms so painstakingly have created and maintained.

[DisBeamer]

I agree in principal that you get so much more out of the parks when you have the time to slow down and enjoy them, but at the same time I'm really starting to think that's a luxury that only those of us who go/have gone a lot have. I mean ... considering an 'average' family of 4 is looking at around 10k for their 5 day vacation, and how enormous WDW is (in comparison with other theme parks ... or, like, Manhattan), I can understand the urge people have to rush around like chickens with their heads cut off so they can make sure to see everything and 'get their money's worth'.

As Lumiere says, I think people place too much emphasis on hurrying and cramming in 'everything' - which I don't think is possible at WDW; I've been several dozen times and haven't done everything - and don't have the same sense of vacation and relaxation as they might somewhere else. Lots of people even phrase it as 'This year we're doing Disney', like it's a chore or something they have to get over with, rather than a ... week at the beach or ... well, whatever non-Disney people do.

A couple years ago, my husband and I were sitting on Tom Sawyer's Island, playing checkers on one of those checkerboards they have on one of the old landings. This little girl and her mother were passing by on the path at breakneck speed, and the little girl paused and pointed and said "HEY CHECKERS!", obviously excited to play. Her mother, no word of a lie, said, "We're not going to waste time playing checkers; we can play checkers at home," and hurried on. (I don't know where the heck they were hurrying to - I can only assume the fort wasn't gonna do it for her either but hey. ) All I could think was 'You can play checkers on Tom Sawyer Island at home? Must be nice...'. I don't understand how taking 5 minutes to actually sit and relax and enjoy the scenery and some time with her daughter was gonna louse up her vacation, but I don't think she's alone in feeling that way.

I feel bad for those folks. And their kids.

[Lumiere]

I don't understand how taking 5 minutes to actually sit and relax and enjoy the scenery and some time with her daughter was gonna louse up her vacation, but I don't think she's alone in feeling that way.

I feel bad for those folks. And their kids.

I once actually heard a mother bark at her crying kid who she was yanking around by the arm, "We've got three days to have fun, now shut up and get in line."

[MinnieMousegirl]

I also have to agree. Magic Kindgdom IS the whole package. The parades, the shows, *sigh* and then the fireworks! I wanna spend the whole day there again soon!

[figment34786]

I don't see Magic Kingdom as a whole package, but more of a sample of everything! It has separate lands of completely different themes, unlike the new parks, set on one topic. If you think about it, Future World and AK are large expansions of Tomorrowland and Adventureland. I don't mind this at all, but the beauty of MK is that you get a little bit of tomorrow, adventure, fantasy, etc. in one park.

It's a variety pack!

About that mother yanking her kid around to have 'fun' against his will, that just got me sick to my stomach. That's is horrible! That's the WORST attitude to have at Disney. Fun isn't crying.

I'm with lumiere on this. Once I went to Disney with my best friend who hardly ever goes to Disney, and I think we went on two things. But we still had a great time.

[subsonic]

I don't see Magic Kingdom as a whole package, but more of a sample of everything! It has separate lands of completely different themes, unlike the new parks, set on one topic.

But you have to remember, while there are samples of everything each land is supposed to be "themed". So a bleh to Tomorrowland right now.

[sandicinderelli]

People today are addicted to HURRY sickness. Overstimulated, always feeling 3 steps behind. Walt understood the excitement of ANTICIPATION. Waiting in entertaining and informative queues or even long walks/rides into the various themed areas only heightened the excitement of eventually getting there.

Couldn't of said it better myself!

I'm so glad I took advantage of this on my last visit. Sitting on the porch in Frontierland with a Mickey premium is one of my favorite traditions now.