The appeal of Disney parks

maXairMike said:
A playful "haunted" tour where grim-grinning ghosts come out to socialize.

MaXair Mike has a new fan.... :)

billb7581 said:
2 instances of anticipointment off the top of my head were

Sounds like your kids inherited your ability to look for anything and everything not to like. Apple from the tree and what not.

Really? They have never been glass half empty types nor have they ever been disappointed in an amusement par, even a crappy one like Clementon.

I think they just had unrealistic expectations due to the Dizney Echo chamber.

1. That's exactly how it's supposed to be. A playful "haunted" tour where grim-grinning ghosts come out to socialize. If you would have gotten stopped in the eyes corridor or one of the other early spots, she might have had a different reaction (I know I do). ;)

2. And what about the rest of the ride? Honestly, it is right up there with some of my favorite "normal park" rides. The backwards portion gives some very unique sensations. That's also how the ride works, building more excitement because you don't know what it's going to do next.

1. I know it's disney and they can't have Jason pop out rockin a machete and hockey mask, but I see her point, nothing happens! It's television, you're just sitting in a moving lazy boy and watching stuff rather than things actually engaging you.

2. Eh, it was ok but Everest implies height, and ascending the lift at such a steep angle kinda got my hopes up too, but it really isn't any wilder than the other train coaster at the other park. Riding Rolling Thunder backwards was more thrilling than that backwards portion.

I'm kinda surprised to read that about Everest. I thought the backwards portion was *seriously* forceful, and was extremely surprised (and pleased) that Disney went for something that wild. I was honestly a little queasy on my first ride, being unprepared.

The appeal of Disney parks? 16 pages and counting... that's typically more than you'd get for any parks outside of CP, HW, and Knoebels! :)

About Disney's Haunted Mansion, and most, if not every, other attraction at the park...

The ride has a very full and involving story, rich with eccentric characters and a well thought out "history". Ride it more than once, and you begin to notice small details that build into and add onto the story. Ask a cast member questions about the attraction, and they will give you even more details. Fantasy becomes real.

Plus, when you are not giving your attention to that, hidden Mickeys are so much fun to look for and find! Excitement!

Just trying to figure out (and discuss with friends and family) how in the world they pull off all of the magic (tricks) makes a visit there more enjoyable.

And, like I said, this can be said about almost everything in the park and not just Haunted Mansion.

Visit Disney with a good attitude, and you will have the kind of experience so many other people have year after year. Let loose. You are on vacation for crying out loud.

skip forward to 7:18.....

or just watch the whole thing.

Waldorf and Statler have officially closed a thread...

I remember standing in line for the Haunted Mansion once and it was so funny when one of the workers guys said, "what you call personal space, I call room for 3 more." I had never heard that before and now whenever I go on the Haunted Mansion I remember it

CPJ said:
Waldorf and Statler have officially closed a thread...

I want them to do a speech at my funeral
Followed by the walk-em-off keyboard cat song

This thread reminds me that I am way overdue for a Disney World trip. I haven't been there since 1994. I have never seen Islands Of Adventure or Busch Gardens Tampa either. I still have a lot to cover, I know.

I have been to Disney World five or six times growing up, and I don't EVER remember having a bad visit. Actually, I enjoyed it more as an adult than I did as a kid. I am trying very hard to remember anything negative about my visits but I can't come up with anything. I went to Disneyland for the first time about six year ago. I liked it but it wasn't quite the magical experience that I have had at the Florida park. :)

I hope to get down to Florida soon, maybe next year. I just don't think I will ever go in the summer again, though. In 1994 we went at the end of September and it was perfect, weather-wise and crowd-wise. :)

-Tina

My wife and I learned our lesson to never go in the summer as well. September/ October has been good to us.

We went in June 2009. Crowds were pretty good (never waited more than 30 mins for anything and most things were less than 15 minutes). Went in mid August this year and the crowds were a worse. Both times it was hot and humid though. Crowds at Universal were light though the same week this year.

never go in the summer

We're still tied to school calendars, so we go when the kids are off. As often as not, that means summer. We retreat back to the villa's AC and/or resort pool mid-day, from lunch to about 6PM, though, and that helps keep things reasonable---we avoid the worst of the crowds and the weather that way.

I would try to avoid mid January too. My family went mid January this year and there were a ton of groups from Brazil that terribly crowded the parks. I assume that's cause there summer is our winter.

http://yourfirstvisit.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/The-Best-Times...Order1.jpg

LostKause said:

Plus, when you are not giving your attention to that, hidden Mickeys are so much fun to look for and find! Excitement!

Excitement? You're kidding.

Nope. I'm not kidding. Excitement!

You need to get out more.

I gots nothing else. The most attended parks in the universe and one person doesn't get it. I think the problem is not with the parks.