Walt Disney World is popular because of 2 things.
The name
The reputation for being "magical"
and TDO will run on that as long as their greedy, green eyed, egotistical attitudes allow them to either that or when their parks are almost dead....idk..kinda like splash mountain
This is why people think some of you are "trolls"..although I've been called a "fanboy" for being one of the few people on this forum that sticks up for Disney occasionally. SO whatever, its' all just opinion. Though I question how much of your opinion is in reality with statements like this.
Disney is popular because it's a fun place to visit for a LOT of people. Plain and simple.
Do their attractions appeal to young families opposed to late teens and 20 somethings? Yes.
Do they rely a lot on nostalgia business? Yes.
Have they spent more time and money building their resort then updating their parks? Yes.
Does this make Disney a terrible theme park/resort to visit? No.
Disney is still the number one tourist attraction in Orlando for very good reason. They are a very very well oiled machine. As mentioned earlier in this thread, they have the "vacation resort" experience down pat. It's something that Universal Orlando is trying to replicate as well. Disney has thought of everything, every detail.
I'll give you a perfect example from my recent trip.
Due to my daughter wearing her birthday button, almost every employee, character, and even people in that parade wished her a happy birthday.
There is literally something going on at all times in the park, wether it be the opening ceremony, the entrance of the mayor(?) to mainstreet, the lowering of the flag at dusk with the national anthem, street performers, the many many character meet and greets, the multiple parades, castle shows, fireworks, etc. You could literaty not go on ANY rides and be entertained.
That's the "magic" experience that you feel at Disney. It operates like no other theme park I've been too.
It's much more of an "expereicne" then Universal Orlando is. They do not even come close in my opinion, and I have been to both parks considerably more in the past decade.
On a final note..
A month after we returned from our vacation, we were sent a "Thank you card" from Disney with all the characters signatures. It's small touches like this that put them above the competition.
Someone brought up Springfiled earlier...so we are getting some extra places to eat and drink, and possibly a new spinner? And this is such a great expansion? I understand the love for the Simpsons brand, and I want a Flaming Moe/Homer too, but the overall enthusiasm over there, compared to the general disgust and cyncism over here just further proves the point that this is really a Universal Orlando message board, with other theme park related news as an afterthought.
Now I'm completely fine with that, as Universal is building amazing things, and I look forward to progress every day on this site, but to try and deny that is really really silly. This forum is not "fair and balanced" in any sense.