What's your favorite park, 2nd fav, 3rd and 4th and why?

[mamaprincess]

1. MK: It's a living storybook. The Castle is there and I am a princess nut. My fav rides are there.
2. Epcot: I looovve the WS. I love the corny rides. Great restaraunts. I love being educated in a hands on immersive kind of way.

3. I"m a kiddy woman so I love the shows. I feel that there is still so much more they can do with this park given the rich theme.
4. Animal Kingdom: I love it here too! The themeing is wonderful I'd like more rides here.

I look forward to really enjoying MGM and AK even more than I do now as they develop them further. :bluebloun

[gopherit]

Love questions like these... no matter what folks answer, it's all good!

For me:

1) EPCOT. I love the music, the countries, the Future World showcases, the food, the flowers, the fountains, the fireworks... If I had only 1 day to spend in WDW, that is where I would go, hands down! I have YET to see all there is to see there, but I make it my mission! THis is also my eldest son's fave park. (It's one of the very FEW ways I am certain his father didn't somehow entirely spawn him without any of my DNA....he's otherwise such a dad's boy).

2) MK - mainly because I have many happy memories of my kids as little tots there, and because it's the foundation park, if you will! I love people-watching here, too. THis is still dd's favorite park (because she's 5, because she still believes that's REALLY Pooh and REALLY Princess Aurora, and because the girl is WILD for any ride with the word "MOUNTAIN" in it! She is trying her hardest to grow to Space Mountain proportions for our next trip, LOL!)

3) MGM. I love the size of this park - it's SO do-able and compact! And I like the mix of shows with rides and interaction. We love dining at Sci-Fi, and DH and ds9 are totally enamored of RnRC and ToT and Backlot tours. It's DH's fave park... and probably tied for tops for youngest son with AK.

4) AK. We don't dislike this park - I think our main problem with it (and why I rank it fourth) is that we usually travel in August and AK has GOT to be the "hottest" (thermally) park of the four! I swear, it's like the heat rises up from the earth in volcanic intensity proportions... No where to run, nowhere to hide! It's a relief in many ways that they "force" you out of it early, LOL! What we DO love about this park: Kali (probably our fave family ride of ALL the parks!), the bird show, the Lion King show (my kids have been up on stage during the end part, much to their delight!), the intricate Tree of Life. My middle ds is a total animal lover; Jack Hanna has his idea of a dream job. His fave computer game: Zoo Tycoon. And while I realize Disney will tell you AK is "NahTa Zu"... to Ryan, it is, and that's a good thing, in his eyes.

[mamaprincess]

I love your detailed response! I too love AK especially for ITTBAB, it's one of my must do's. Safari is amazing. Lion king is wonderful. I actually like dinosaur! Kali is one of my twin dd's fav rides and a must do for them.

I agree that MGM is compact and therefore the easiest park to do. I love, love, the shows! Muppet vision 3-d is hysterical! OF course I adore the little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. My youngest loved Playhouse Disney. My twin dd's absolute favorite rides RnR and ToT are there. I haven't done backlot tours yet but I'm looking forward to it. One of our favorite rides to go on as a family is the Great Movie Ride. I haven't gotten a chance to eat at the Sci-fi but I hope to next trip.

[crisi]

Epcot - it has the most variety. Love going in for dinner. World Showcase is just enjoyable. Think Mission:Space is amazing. I wish they'd get the Wonder's of Life pavillion updated and going again, and Energy could use some work.

Animal Kingdom - incredibly well themed. We like watching the animals. The Safari ride at FotLK are amazing.

tied with

Magic Kingdom - traditional, kitchy and wonderful. Love Philharmagic and Buzz - although each year there are fewer things I MUST do here again and we spend less time here - part of it is our kids getting older. I find this the easiest park to do if there aren't crowds - everything is so close together and when you spend a day here you have a whole checklist of attactions you saw.

MGM - I may actually dislike this park. Since my family isn't a thrill ride family, our "rides" at this park are Star Tours and Great Movie Ride. Then we see Indiana Jones and now Lights Motors Action. Both those shows are good, but the whole day feels like you are waiting for something else to start. There are just scheduling problems for me here.

[mamaprincess]

Our family are huge Mission Space fans. Thankfully none of us get dizzy. :bluebloun

[cobbler]

Number 1 is really a toss up between MK and Epcot but I would say probably Epcot edges out just a little bit more.

Epcot- I love The "big ball" ride and The Land ride. I really like future world and Illuminations.

MK - Castle, classic rides like haunted mansion and BTMRR. Also Wishes

AK - I like Camp Minnie/Mickey and being able to meet the characters.

MGM - Its ok but if I missed it I wouldn't be that upset. However I do like the hat, its cute. Animation place where you can learn to draw.

[idratherbeinwdw]

Fun thread mamaprincess, thanks for starting it!

My choices:

MK: Great place for all us kids who never grew up, Fantasy Par Excellence. It's "Walt's Park" to me, even though he didn't live to see WDW open the MK is so similar to Disneyland, the park Walt first imagined all those years ago. Although it's undergone some changes it's still the "most walt" of all the parks, and I just think Mr. Disney was a creative genius. The one time I went to DL I couldn't stop thinking "Walt actually walked along these streets where I am now". I also love spectromagic and wishes, and a number of my favorite WDW attractions, (HM, POTC, Peter Pan and COP) are in the MK. Oh, and a trip isn't complete for me unless visit Push the talking garbage can! About the only thing I don't like are the full service restaurants there, with the notable exception of CRT.

Epcot: No shock to anyone here who knows me that I love Off Kilter (OK), and this is where they can be found! One of the reasons I bought at BWV was the proximity to the OK stage. Additionally I like how large it is, it never feels crowded there to me (admittedly I have never been there during a major holiday). I like many of the attractions, but I can be happy just strolling around world showcase or future world, taking in all the sights and sounds. I usually travel when F&G runs in the spring, and F&W in the fall, both faves of mine. I also really like the music there, and a new favorite attraction--Soarin'!

MGM: Love Walt, One Man's Dream, I can wander about in there for ages and I think the movie at the end is great too. Also enjoy muppetvision, wwtbam, great movie ride, little mermaid, and the actors who put on little scenes on the streets. I don't really like the way this park is laid out though, it's much more confusing than Epcot and the MK. I do know my way around after over 20 trips, but it took a while to get used to the layout.

AK: Not a favorite of mine. It's OK, but there isn't enough to keep me interested for very long. Have only gone once and although I did like some of the shows, I didnt like any enough to want to run back. The safari ride was fun, but that was about hte only attraction that really appealed to me. I posted this on another thread--I live right near the Bronx Zoo, and I am a member there. I get my animal "fix" there, I go to WDW for the fantasy aspect, and there's just not enough of that in AK for me.

[PoohsPal]

MK - Just means Disney to me. My trip does not start until I have entered!

Epcot - Lots of rides that even dh can do. Plus TT, M:S. On eof dh's favorite items in Disney is there. ANyone know where I can buy a replical marble track like the one in Mouse Gears? I swear he could watch that for hours!

AK - ITTBAG and I had a chance meeting with Pooh there.

Only spent a couple hours at MGM. DH is not a movie person, sio it's a hard sell adn we're so content with the other parks, that not a big deal. Have Brown Derby/Fantasmic ressies fro next trip and plan to do RnR, Great MOvie Ride and Beauty and the Beast. (Maybe ToT if I feel real brave.) So, MGM may move up into the ranks after that.

[chimera]

1. MK...it's where it all began and where most of my childhood memories are. The Haunted Mansion has been and always will be my favorite attraction. If any of y'all are around then, please spread my ashes between Master Gracey and Madame Leota's tombstones :)
2. EPCOT...I love WS! Journey into Imagination, the Land and Living Seas are fun, too. Second date with DH.
3. AK...love the bats and Kali. DD2's favorite park!
4. MGM...not really my favorite. I'm not a fan of ToT, but love the Millionaire show (hot seat twice, but no cruise :mad: )

[jnrrt]

Carrie, if you go to Beauty and the Beast next time, make sure you get there at least 15-20 minutes early. There's something that doesn't always happen, but if it does, it's worth being there for.

Our family would say that we're tied between MK and EP for our favorites. They're totally different, but there're so many wonderful things at each park, I can't pick. We'd also say that MGM and AK are tied in our book. Also completely different, but there are things we love about both, just less than the things we love about MK and EP.

[DSNY FN]

1. Epcot our entire family loves this place even our youngest 2
2. MK hey what can you say it is the original and the kids love the tea cups.
3. AK this place is a wonder I am amased it isn't busier.
4. MGM it is fun but the kids get bored with it quickly it is the only park we feel we have been through in a day but it is hard not to love Fantasmic.

1. BB the best waterpark I have ever been to.
2. TL great wave pool but teh slides are lacking but shark reef is cool.

[dianeschlicht]

1. Epcot- It's always been our favorite. We always start and end every trip there, and often end each day of our trip there!

2. This one is tough, because I really like MGM and Animal Kingdom about equally, but I think I'll say MGM because there is a bit more to do there than AK.

3. Well if MGM was second, than AK has to be third, even though we really like this place!

4. Definitely the MK. Just a bit tired.

[AFMom]

1 - EPCOT - usually I'd want to say MK, but Disneyland in CA takes that for me, so for WDW I'll say EPCOT. It's also my kids' favorite at WDW, whereas their fav in CA is Disneyland.... funny those little differences add up! We love Mission Space and Test Track, and you just can't beat the atmosphere around the World Showcase... Figment is just so cute!
2 - MK - what's not to love?
3 - AK - I'm a sucker for animals, love the themeing, can't wait to see EE, and really enjoyed the Lion King show. I have a feeling they are going to add mroe in the future - and IMHO - the Trazan show needs to go!
4 - MGM - We'll probably enjoy this more when the kids like shows more - when they're older. Love Rockin' Roller Coaster, the Indiana Jones Stunt Show was great, there was a lot to like there - but it seems flat - they need to add more to the park. We love Fantasmic - but were spoiled for the one in CA too many times and really weren't too thrilled with the FL version by the time we saw it there.... it was still fun though!

[kathyseb]

I would have to say EPCOT is first. We spend so much time there. We can wander the front of the park for hours and hours. Even after WS opens up, we are still hanging around up front.
We probably spend 80% of our time at EPCOT, if not more.

Second would be MK. Can't beat it. We love to walk down Main Street and just take in the sites. The rides are great and our favortite place to eat lunch (CHH) is there.

Third would be MGM. The first time we went there with another couple we were done in a few hours. The next time we went back by ourselves, it was like, man there is a lot to do here!!

Last would be AK. We have been there twice. We just can't get into the park. Maybe it is because we have been there so few times, we have to walk around with a map in our hands :beaniepro :beaniepro :beaniepro

[WDWSTAR]

MK adults can be kids too, love the rides & HM
Epcot love the countries and then the rides
MGM the rides & shows
AK animals & the dinasuor ride Restaurantosaurus (secret Mcdonalds)

TL the wave pool
BB the winter theme

[Rash]

1. MK - no doubt - the most magic here. If it was the ONLY park, I'd still own DVC.
2. MGM - I just like the adult feel, the more modern stying. I like to go here by myself when the kids and mom are taking a nap. Thrill rides rock.
3. Epcot - mostly for World Showcase. AAMOF, if World Showcase was it's own park, it would be #2 for me. Future World is improving lately, but just seems a bit outdated and irrelevent to me. It needs a major overhaul.
4. Nothing wrong with it, but just not as much Disney magic here for me. It's a 1/2 day for us usually. Perhaps if DW and I were without kids, we'd take our time and enjoy the details more. As it is, we eventually have to cave in to the constant "where are the rides?" pleas and head back to MK.

[mickeyndvcfan]

1. MK......This was the only park when I first visited and my son had just turned five so it will always be my favorite. I think it is because it is the one that reminds us the most of Disney. My DH & I go down by ourselves right now (won't be long before the grandkids will be with us) but it is great to see the smiles on all the children's faces. They make it fun for all of us. There is nothing like the reactions of the kids.
2. Epcot......Great restruants and shows. Love CP and Illuminations.
3. MGM......Great restruants here also. ToT, RnR are my favorite rides. Love Fantasmic and Osbourne's Spectacle of Lights.
4. AK....Love the Safari ride, It's a Bug's Life, and the Lion King show. We are ususally down in Dec. so the heat doesn't bother us here. We usually go over in the morning and only stay a 1/2 day.