Can a theme park ever be greater than Disneyland?

[WaltFan]

I want to hear your guy's opinian... do you think it's possible for there to be a theam park greater than disneyland in the future...

[Loomis]

My short answer is: No.

Having been to a number of other parks - Movie World on our Queensland's Gold Coast; Knotts Berry Farm and Universal Studios in California - the thing they all lack that Disney has is the cohesive theme. You literally step out of our reality and into an alternative one. Disney maintains the illusion most of the time you are there, and the attractions and rides are even more effective at doing this. Look at the way Indiana Jones, a relatively "new" ride (well, 11 years old), has integrated so well into the existing Disneyland, and backs on to the Jungle Cruise. Even the queue of Indy is immersive.

The appeal of Disneyland for me is summed up in the plaque: ""Here you leave today and enter world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy." The only other place that comes close is Las Vegas, and that is groovy in a whole other way.

A park that was greater than Disneyland would have to offer the same cohesive level of interactive experience. If there was a real-life Westworld - you know, without the killer robots - that would be the ultimate park. Where everybody there plays out the illusion that you are actually in the Old West or a medieval castle. It wouldn't be tongue in cheek, and it wouldn't have sponsored kiosks and attractions. The whole thing would be a realistic simulation of a given era, right down to the rooms that you stay in. I know places like this exist on smaller scales, but something with the size and money of Disneyland could do it so well.

[MinnieMe]

I want to hear your guy's opinian... do you think it's possible for there to be a theam park greater than disneyland in the future...

Yes. It's called Disney World.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

I want to hear your guy's opinian... do you think it's possible for there to be a theam park greater than disneyland in the future...

Yes. It's called Disney World.

Wrong. That's a resort with 4 theme parks! NOT a theme park!

As for the question, for a while, I thought Epcot was the best, then I went back in July 2005, and found that Disneyland is the champ.(yes, better than the 4 parks in Orlando)

[dizfan]

I havent been to one yet. The other Magic Kingdoms have certain aspects that are superior to Disneyland. But as I walked through TDL, DLP and WDW MK, it really felt like "this is like Disneyland, made larger, then they took out many attractions here and there." Although they also added a few things.

Not even Tokyo DisneySea beat Disneyland in my book just because of the diverse and huge amount of attractions and entertainment that Disneyland offers.

[MichaeLeah]

Yes. It's called Disney World.

I have to say I agree. The Magic Kingdom was called Walt Disney World when I was a kid. EPCOT was EPCOT and Walt Disney World was Walt Disney World.

Anyway, back to the point, maybe my opinion is invaild because I have never been to Disneyland. I have read about Disneyland, however, and I think that Disney World was an improvement over Disneyland. I think of Disneyland as the trial run. I also like Disney World because it was the wonderful Liberty Square that didn't work out for Disneyland.

[MickeyMousePal]

Nope...we have Knots Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountian, Bush Gardens, Sea World and Universal Studios and they all failed!!!

Maybe a theme park called Luke's Land might override Disneyland...LOL

My opinion is that no one is smarter then Walt Disney himself...I mean no one!!!

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

I have to say I agree. The Magic Kingdom was called Walt Disney World when I was a kid. EPCOT was EPCOT and Walt Disney World was Walt Disney World.

Hey, MichaelLeah, I don't mean to sound like a broken record or rude, but please, IT'S CALLED Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World is the ENTIRE resort. Sorry, it's just us die hard Disney fans want to be technical.

As for resort, well yes, Walt Disney World is better than the Disneyland Resort! However, if you were to compare seperate parks, nothing could beat Disneyland.

Magic Kingdom doesn't have near as much as Disneyland, and Disneyland has a lot of stuff at the Magic Kingdom done MUCH better.

IMO, Epcot is the only theme park that could compare, however, even it is not as amazing as Disneyland!

Of course, I still haven't been to the parks outside the U.S.! I would love to visit Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. I've heard TDS been called "the best theme park in the world" on the net!

[Escapay]

I have to say I agree. The Magic Kingdom was called Walt Disney World when I was a kid. EPCOT was EPCOT and Walt Disney World was Walt Disney World.

Hey, MichaelLeah, I don't mean to sound like a broken record or rude, but please, IT'S CALLED Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World is the ENTIRE resort. Sorry, it's just us die hard Disney fans want to be technical.

Guest: Do you have any beer here?
Escapay: No, we don't serve alcohol in the Magic Kingdom.
Guest: You mean there's no alcohol at all anywhere?
Escapay: It's available at other parks, but not in the Magic Kingdom.
Guest: The Magic Kingdom? I thought I was in Disney World.
Escapay: You are in Walt Disney World. All the parks and hotels are part of the Walt Disney World Resort. This park is called the Magic Kingdom.
Guest: So it's not Disney World? Where are the rides?
Escapay: You're in the Magic Kingdom, which is a park in the Walt Disney World Resort.
Guest: So where are the rides?
Escapay: Go straight through Main Street.
Guest: What's Main Street?
Escapay: You're on Main Street. Beyond Main Street is Cinderella's Castle.
Guest: And that's Disney World?
Escapay: No, that's still the Magic Kingdom.
Guest: Then where's the rides for Disney World???

ETA:

To nitpick even more, Epcot was originally EPCOT Center, until they decided no longer to make it an acronym and they simply shortened it to Epcot (no caps), making it an actual word, and dropping the "Center". All the signs had to be changed, you can still see how the stickers are arranged over the road signs.

Escapay

[MichaeLeah]

I have to say I agree. The Magic Kingdom was called Walt Disney World when I was a kid. EPCOT was EPCOT and Walt Disney World was Walt Disney World.

Hey, MichaelLeah, I don't mean to sound like a broken record or rude, but please, IT'S CALLED Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World is the ENTIRE resort. Sorry, it's just us die hard Disney fans want to be technical.

I wasn't clear. I was saying that it used to be called Walt Disney World. I know it is now the "Magic Kingdom" but it used to be called Walt Disney World. Maybe Escapay could answer to this for sure.

I remember when Epcot was called EPCOT Center.

Escapay, I think I might get to meet you in a few weeks. We got our annual passes for Disney World in the mail the other day and we should get to go to the Magic Kingdom before long.

[Escapay]

I wasn't clear. I was saying that it used to be called Walt Disney World. I know it is now the "Magic Kingdom" but it used to be called Walt Disney World. Maybe Escapay could answer to this for sure.

Aaron or Fidget1234 would likely know more about it than I would, but I'm pretty sure that the Magic Kingdom was always called the Magic Kingdom, even back in 1971 when all there was to the Walt Disney World Resort was the park, and the 3 hotels (Contemporary, Polynesian, and Fort Wilderness).

Escapay, I think I might get to meet you in a few weeks. We got our annual passes for Disney World in the mail the other day and we should get to go to the Magic Kingdom before long.

Looking forward to it! It's always fun meeting up with a UDer in real life!

Escapay

[dizfan]

Of course, I still haven't been to the parks outside the U.S.! I would love to visit Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. I've heard TDS been called "the best theme park in the world" on the net!

When it comes to theming, yes it is the best. It is jammed packed with detail. But when it comes to offerings, Disneyland tops it again.

And yes, the Magic Kingdom was ALWAYS the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

[dizfan]

I have read about Disneyland, however, and I think that Disney World was an improvement over Disneyland. I think of Disneyland as the trial run. I also like Disney World because it was the wonderful Liberty Square that didn't work out for Disneyland.

It is fact that Magic Kingdom improved on the handful of things that Walt saw as flaws at Disneyland. But it's also fact that the actual park does not offer nearly as many attractions or entertainment offerings as Disneyland does. And certain things like, the fireworks spectaculars, are much more impressive at Disneyland.

And New Orleans Square is MUCH more appealing than Liberty Square, IMO.

[sames1]

I want to hear your guy's opinian... do you think it's possible for there to be a theam park greater than disneyland in the future...

Do you mean all of Disney's theme parks?

I've thought about this a lot. Walt had the idea to "theme" an amusement park. Up until he did that every amusement park was pretty much like Great Flags, no themes, just lots of rides and games.

What could be the next level? I don't know and I'm sure Disney is always thinking about that. They are the masters and the originals. Universal is trying hard and they have some nice stuff, but the "magic" is still at Disney. (IMHO)