NEW ENGLAND THEMEPARK VENT About This Page:

[DLinNH]

It's been a while since I posted and I wanted to share my experience at a Non-Disney Theme Park. I know you can't compare Disney to anything else, BUT I must say you really and truly do get the most for your money by going to Disney! I was so miserable at this New England park that all I could do was compare in my head the cost of everything! I mean the cost of food was so outrageous I practically made my kids starve until we got home rather than put out $12.00 for three little chicken tenders..Yes, folks you read correctly - $12.00. I know Disney food is on the expensive side, but this place was nuts....You just get so much more by going to WDW - that is why I can't understand when people ask me why I am planning to go again - thanks for reading my rant! Glad to be back on the board

[mattnkatsmum]

I hear you! Not too far from where I live (got to be vague in case they sue me) my son's friend works in a theme park cafeteria. A burger and fries costs about $10 (£7) but the wholesale cost of the burger is 15p (20 cents) and he has to actually count out 20 french fries.

If you visited any English theme park, you would never complain about the quality of WDW food.

[DLinNH]

One more thing on this subject....At Disney, it doesn't really matter how hot it is outside, because in almost all cases, you wait in line inside the attraction in AIR-CONDITIONING! And you can plan your day by taking a break in an air-conditioned show/ride! At this place, it is ALL HOT ALL THE TIME - no escape. I thought I was gonna die. Does $16.00 for four bottles of water seem a bit much to any of you folks? hmmmm I am far from cheap, I'll spend my last dime happily if I'm having a good time, but $16.00 for H20

[toddjodybrent]

Well, Disney stands alone. And, I do compare it to most of our other travel experiences theme park or not. Walt always said do what you do so well that people will want to come watch you do what you do. Disney get a lot right!

[mechurchlady]

Old saying is that you do not know how good something is until you loose that thing. I been to other parks and while I am spoiled at some I still miss my Disney parks. Sorry you had such a bad time.

[DisneyDana]

I have a tough time going to non Disney parks...as a matter of fact, I have a tough time going anywhere on vacation that doesn't have a Disney. I have to keep telling myself over and over, "try to enjoy it for what it is" when I'm at other parks. The problem is, there is NO enjoying it really. I'm always just so disappointed in the lack of theming and I sit there thinking, "How hard could it be to put a little effort into a basic theme and make this place 10 times better?" Like my mom always said, "Once you've experienced the best, everything else is just eh".

[revral]

I'm the same way and not just with theme parks but with zoos too. I live in the Seattle area so the zoo I go to is Woodland Park Zoo homepage - Seattle, Washington - Woodland Park Zoo Seattle WA. Woodland Park Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country and was the first zoo anywhere in the world to put it's animals in to areas that are like the habitat(s) that the animal would live in if it were living in the wild. Needless to say that while I have and will go to other zoos when I do they get compared to Woodland Park.

[wmanderson]

Originally Posted by revral

I live in the Seattle area so the zoo I go to is Woodland Park Zoo homepage - Seattle, Washington - Woodland Park Zoo Seattle WA.

I've been there! It truly was beautiful. (I loved the aquarium, too!) However, I really didn't enjoy our time at the zoo, but that was because of the company (ex-MIL). Seattle is a place I want to visit again, now that I don't have to spend any time with her.

I, too, compare other theme parks with Disney. And none of them truly can compare. I actually made several comparisons when we were at a nearby theme park this past June. I kept telling DH, "Disney will not do this," or "Disney would do it this way," or "You will see the difference when we get to Disney."

I totally feel your frustration!!

[DLinNH]

I try to tell myself to enjoy other "vacations' too - why?? because other people that don't "get" Disney tell you that you should be enjoying yourself. And although I do have fun and enjoy being with my kids, it is not the same. Resting by a Disney pool is different than resting at a pool in say Bar Harbor. Nice, but not the same. Hard to explain to most folks - but not to any of you on these boards

[chezp]

I hear you! We have two for the price of one vouchers to some of the leading theme parks over here and didn't use them last year. Whether we'll use them this year remains to be seen...

[dutchdisneyfamily]

Originally Posted by revral

I'm the same way and not just with theme parks but with zoos too. I live in the Seattle area so the zoo I go to is Woodland Park Zoo homepage - Seattle, Washington - Woodland Park Zoo Seattle WA. Woodland Park Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country and was the first zoo anywhere in the world to put it's animals in to areas that are like the habitat(s) that the animal would live in if it were living in the wild. Needless to say that while I have and will go to other zoos when I do they get compared to Woodland Park.

I've been there! It is a good zoo. We go to Brook field in Chicago and it's nice too. They are really trying to do the natural enclosure thing now. San Diego Zoo remains my favorite!

[MichaelF]

I don't know any theme park that stands a chance when compared to WDW.

[bsblady01]

that is the reason we no longer go to any six flags parks becuse they are dirty and very expensive.

[notjustamom]

Thank goodness I'm not the only one!! We are planning a trip to a non-Disney (think chocolate) park in 2 weeks. While getting away will be nice, for room and tickets it's $1000 for two nights for four. Every time I spend $$ on a non-Disney vacay I think of what I could get at Disney for the price.

[yalibrarian]

My husband had similar feelings after we visited one of the other major parks in Orlando. There was much to like, and the people were nice, but everything in the line of food was very expensive, even compared to WDW. And there were few places to sit, plus instead of using music as a subtle background, it blasted so much in some areas that we had to hurry through them. Another major park near us in VA has food prices that would choke anyone. Three years ago, I paid $22.00 for a couple of pizza slices and two drinks. Gag. The pizza was decent and good-sized slices, but still. This was the same basic price as a whole pizza and three drinks at WDW last year.

My husband appreciates Disney so much more now that he has been exposed to what other companies offer.