Fantasyland Expansion - Part 2

[Felipe]

That's great rhino4erv! :thumbs: Glad to hear that your daughter had such a magical birthday! ixiedust:

 

[jtsalien]

Thanks for the report rhino. Glad you had a good time. I vehemently disagree with the current state of the parks being okay, but I'm glad you had such a good time. It's good hear other opinions on here.

If you liked Fort Wilderness, I highly recommend seeing/eating at Hoop-Dee-Doo on your next trip.

 

[Mike]

Fort Wilderness is the one area of the resort I can still tolerate. Not just the HDDR, but also Crockett's, the campout/sing a long, the shoreline, etc. It is still very charming and very relaxful. I am not looking forward to the traffic a DVC addtion would create. I haven't been back for a few years but I heard that they clear cut a bunch of trees to expand the sizes of certain campsites? If so, too bad.

 

[J03Y]

i'm going over to MK in April for the first time since May last year so i'll probably give my own review of the Expansion with fresh eye experience. my friends and i are getting reservations for BOG, and we've basically been planning for this for months.

 

[Disneyhead]

I do really like Fort Wilderness. And I agree that the Magic Kingdom is aimed a little kids. It didn't used to be and that is one of my big complaints about it. It used to be one of the most well rounded parks on the planet. Now it's Legoland on steroids. The CMs in general are great, but service there has declined from the Golden Age. But as far as the condition of the park, they have done a lot of work to the facades on Main Street and in Adventureland , Fantasyland and Frontierland/Liberty Square. Tomorrowland is still in pretty rough shape though. But my big problem is with the condition of a lot of the attractions and their non working effects. But a LOT of the MK looks better than it has in years.

 

[maxairmike]

Trust me when I say that the Grey Stuff is delicious! I am so stuffed...

 

[J03Y]

I do really like Fort Wilderness. And I agree that the Magic Kingdom is aimed a little kids. It didn't used to be and that is one of my big complaints about it. It used to be one of the most well rounded parks on the planet. Now it's Legoland on steroids. The CMs in general are great, but service there has declined from the Golden Age. But as far as the condition of the park, they have done a lot of work to the facades on Main Street and in Adventureland , Fantasyland and Frontierland/Liberty Square. Tomorrowland is still in pretty rough shape though. But my big problem is with the condition of a lot of the attractions and their non working effects. But a LOT of the MK looks better than it has in years.

i think that whole complaint that it's become a park for only kids is silly, it only seems like that because of the whole Fantasyland thing but if you think about it that's just one area of the park, and you can maybe argue the same thing for that whole Seven Seas thing near Pirates other than that the park is still fairly well-rounded imo.

Trust me when I say that the Grey Stuff is delicious! I am so stuffed...

nice to hear! i trust Lumiere's input on the matter as well!

 

[jtsalien]

i think that whole complaint that it's become a park for only kids is silly, it only seems like that because of the whole Fantasyland thing but if you think about it that's just one area of the park, and you can maybe argue the same thing for that whole Seven Seas thing near Pirates other than that the park is still fairly well-rounded imo.

I posted this in the thread that got poofed, but no ride since Splash Mountain has been aimed at the whole family at MK.

2007: MILF (Not a ride. Not really aimed at more than the kids in the family)
2004: Alien Encounter becomes Stitch (the most adult ride in the park becomes a kid's crapfest)
2003: Philharmagic. (The whole family might like it, but it's still just another 3D show and a good trailer for Disney films)
2001: Magic Carpets (Ugh. Kids.)
1999: Pooh (Small families and kids)
1998: New Tiki Room (Not even kids liked this)
Buzz (I guess this is a family ride, but a cheaply done one at that)
1996: Mickey's Toontown fair
1995: Timekeeper (I liked this a lot. But it's still just a circlevision show. Alien Encounter also got built).
1992: SPLASH

So since that magical year in 1992, we've gotten two attractions that teens and/or adults could enjoy as much as the kids. They then took one away. I don't think wanting more is too much to ask.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

2007: MILF (Not a ride. Not really aimed at more than the kids in the family)

For a second I thought that was something else ound:

 

[Mike]

I posted this in the thread that got poofed, but no ride since Splash Mountain has been aimed at the whole family at MK.

2007: MILF (Not a ride. Not really aimed at more than the kids in the family)
2004: Alien Encounter becomes Stitch (the most adult ride in the park becomes a kid's crapfest)
2003: Philharmagic. (The whole family might like it, but it's still just another 3D show and a good trailer for Disney films)
2001: Magic Carpets (Ugh. Kids.)
1999: Pooh (Small families and kids)
1998: New Tiki Room (Not even kids liked this)
Buzz (I guess this is a family ride, but a cheaply done one at that)
1996: Mickey's Toontown fair
1995: Timekeeper (I liked this a lot. But it's still just a circlevision show. Alien Encounter also got built).
1992: SPLASH

So since that magical year in 1992, we've gotten two attractions that teens and/or adults could enjoy as much as the kids. They then took one away. I don't think wanting more is too much to ask.

Now add the family attractions that have been removed since then:

20K
Mr. Toad (Both sides)
Snow White
Skyway
Mike Fink Keel Boats
Davy Crockett Canoes

Even if you write off the last two, the first four are real losses using your criteria.

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

Now add the family attractions that have been removed since then:

20K
Mr. Toad (Both sides)
Snow White
Skyway
Mike Fink Keel Boats
Davy Crockett Canoes

Even if you write off the last two, the first four are real losses using your criteria.

How is Snow White a "family attraction" and Pooh bear not? They're the very same type of ride. I'd put them both in kiddie.

 

[Mike]

How is Snow White a "family attraction" and Pooh bear not? They're the very same type of ride. I'd put them both in kiddie.

I didn't say Pooh wasn't. Just showing that if you are looking for the NET, you also have to look at the ones removed. In my opinion, any Fantasyland dark ride is a family attraction and far from a traditional amusement park kiddie ride. Now, if you want to get into what makes a good Disney Fantasyland dark ride, I am happy to oblige!

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

I didn't say Pooh wasn't. Just showing that if you are looking for the NET, you also have to look at the ones removed. In my opinion, any Fantasyland dark ride is a family attraction and far from a traditional amusement park kiddie ride. Now, if you want to get into what makes a good Disney Fantasyland dark ride, I am happy to oblige!

Interactive queues? You were going to say interactive queues, right...

 

[J03Y]

I posted this in the thread that got poofed, but no ride since Splash Mountain has been aimed at the whole family at MK.

2007: MILF (Not a ride. Not really aimed at more than the kids in the family)
2004: Alien Encounter becomes Stitch (the most adult ride in the park becomes a kid's crapfest)
2003: Philharmagic. (The whole family might like it, but it's still just another 3D show and a good trailer for Disney films)
2001: Magic Carpets (Ugh. Kids.)
1999: Pooh (Small families and kids)
1998: New Tiki Room (Not even kids liked this)
Buzz (I guess this is a family ride, but a cheaply done one at that)
1996: Mickey's Toontown fair
1995: Timekeeper (I liked this a lot. But it's still just a circlevision show. Alien Encounter also got built).
1992: SPLASH

So since that magical year in 1992, we've gotten two attractions that teens and/or adults could enjoy as much as the kids. They then took one away. I don't think wanting more is too much to ask.

The things you mentioned were rides intended to keep the little kids interested while their family was in a specific land, while the teen was off on Space Mountain the brother could go do Buzz or Stitch. Something for everyone to do during their stay while trying to keep the kids occupied for the guests older than them and vice versa. I think people overlook that about MK it's still the park for children of all ages, it's just evolved to seem like it's the place to go for kids. THAT is what I don't like.

 

[rhino4evr]

Since a few of you also mentioned Fort Wilderness...I want to just say that it was one of the best resorts we've stayed at period. The boat to magic kingdom was always waiting for us when we arrived on the dock. The pool, free!? campfire sing along/movie, pony rides, and bike rides/trails were all great. WE didnt get to do the dinner show...there were quite a few of us, and getting everyone to agree on $55 per person was difficult..plus we did the character breakfast at Contemporary instead (which we also took the boat). I could see that if you were visiting other parks, and didnt have a car, getting around may be difficult, but it wasn't an issue for us.

We visited both the Wilderness Lodge and the Contemporary which are very expensive hotels...and came away unimpressed compared to the serene and quiet campgrounds. I would stay there again in a heartbeat. Seeing Bambi outside our window at dusk just added to the magic.

Added geeky bonus, when we were biking we found the fence that covered the old River Country water park, and were able to peek inside to see an abandonned pool and water slides. Really cool!!

 

[rhino4evr]

oh I forogt to mention the view of the Fireworks every night..along with the water parade.

Really there was a ton of stuff to do just at the resort, you wouldnt even need to visit a park with everything involved.

 

[J03Y]

Fort Wilderness is nice but I prefer the Port Orleans resorts. It's so peaceful when taking a walk.

And Contemporary was never too impressive as a hotel. It's nice to go visit for the character breakfast and the building looks cool, but it's overall bleh.

 

[IzzyB]

I posted this in the thread that got poofed, but no ride since Splash Mountain has been aimed at the whole family at MK.

2007: MILF (Not a ride. Not really aimed at more than the kids in the family)

I don't agree with your assessment of this one. I am not a fan of MILF and neither are my kids. But my nurse's teenagers LOVE this ride. So apparently MILF appeals to that age group, which is not the same age group that Pooh (which my kids love) targets.

So when you look at tomorrowland you have the following rides:

AstroOrbiter - Dumbo on steroids and fun for all ages unless you don't like spinny rides.
Buzz Lightyear - While this could have been done SO much better, it really targets kids of all ages and even some adults. I know I like it and so do all my in-laws. My husband is the only one that doesn't like it.
MILF - Teenagers
Spacemountain - Teenagers to adults
Stitch's Great Escape - Kids over 40 in tall until probably 18 (my nurses kids also like this one, so I am thinking teenagers like it)
Speedway - Kids
PeopleMover - Adults (of course my son likes the motion of it, so maybe infants too)
Carousal of Progress - Not sure, older adults?

So looking at the break down of just this one land and the one land people think needs the most work, I am seeing it pretty balanced.

 

[JungleSkip]

Nobody likes Stitch.

Also, the problem with Tomorrowland isn't so much the attractions are terrible (even though they all are) it's that it's becoming Fantasyland East. There's no reason to have so many cartoon based attractions there.

 

[J03Y]

we need to find a better abbreviation for the Laugh Floor than MILF seriously ._.

and there isn't much you can do with Tomorrowland though, since Epcot basically covers everything Tomorrowland used to be.