Help me to love Magic Kingdom more....

[BetsyAnn]

:shock: I know, but honest it is my least favorite of the WDW parks. I have a hard time getting into the make believe in most of the lands, it is very hard to tour in my slow paced, never re-trace steps touring style, and it always seems really crowded to me.

So after you get over the shock - help me with this park that so many of you just love!

BetsyAnn is now going to duck behind something :lol: http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/_950/hides.gif

[Sheryl]

Betsyann,

Let me start with the excitement of riding the Monorail or taking the boat ride over to Magic Kingdom. We always look at that as an extra ride. :wink:

When we walk through the train station and onto Main Street, for me, it's like stepping out of the real world and into a fantasy world that is worry and trouble free. I love the look, the feel, and the smells of Main street. And a huge Plus for us "shoppers" is there are plenty fo stores to cruise and spend money at.

Again, as my boys are getting older, there are many new things that they find interesting. Zachary who is 12 absolutely LOVES Tom Sawyers Island. Now, I could personally pass on it, but going there with him, makes it all new to me. And Nicholas (our 9 year old class clown) really LOVED the Hall of Presidents and Splash Mountain last year. However, they both still LOVE the old time favorites like Dumbo, Teacups, Peter Pan and Small World.

At first my boys only wanted to spend time at MK, but now we are also enjoying the other parks. I find I am able to see the MK through my childrens eyes which has made it like a new adventure for me.


And BetsyAnn, always remember at MK, there are lots of SHOPS to shop at!!! :notworthy:

Sheryl :mickeyWalk:

[SammieG]

OOh im with you BetsyAnn. Just GETTING to MK really puts me into a bad mood!!
Sadly with a 4 year old it is the best park for us, but its busy, longest lines, most difficult place to find a PS for a meal... but the parking situation is the worst!!

[Tagrel]

Oh, lets see...

Cinderella Castle, and those amazing Mosaics inside!!!
More attractions (by far!) than any of the parks!
SpectroMagic!
Wishes!
Philharmagic!
Dole Whip!

:D

While MK is definitely the busiest park, I have to guess its because the MOST number of people like it best. It does have the highest attendance from everything I've read... Which MEANS that you can go there LESS if it isn't your favorite!! :)

And we never wait in long lines there. With EE and FP we never wait much longer than 10 minutes, if that! But it is all in the planning and execution. Guess you just have to pay a higher price if you don't want to modify your touring style. But thats OK, we can't all choose the same favorite parks! :)

Now, its time to be honest, BA - MK isn't your favorite, because DisneyLAND is! And I'm thinking DL will always be your first love! :)

[BetsyAnn]

Now, its time to be honest, BA - MK isn't your favorite, because DisneyLAND is! And I'm thinking DL will always be your first love! :)

http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/_950/wink.gif Well, now how would you know that Tag - I mean I never talk about DL or anything! :rofl: And yes for me DL has always been and will be my first love! http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/y/eyelove.gif

But that does not mean I can't learn to enjoy MK more :D So let me hear more!

[Tagrel]

Ooooo, new smilies... I like those, and MUST add them! :)

http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/_950/wink.gif http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/y/eyelove.gif

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

I love going over to the MK and just riding the TTA over and over just watching all the people. When Nicholas was younger, he would fall asleep and take his nap here! Since there was never a wait for people to get on, I would just stay put for an hour or so! sooooo relaxing!!!
Another great relaxing thing is to get lunch and eat at the Plaza Pavillion and look at the castle!
And you have to ride the train around the magic Kingdom at least 1 and 1/2 times around the park!!!

LindaC :sun: :mickeyWalk:

[Sandfisher]

Our first trip to Disney World was in 1982 before Epcot opened. Magic Kingdom was my first love!! Our sons are adults now, so it's been a long time since we stood in line for the favorite "kiddie" attractions. For me the magic begins when we get off the monorail or the ferry. Walking under the railway station and entering Main St. is so special.
I love all the storefronts, the detail, the little side streets, the smells -- all of them, and even the sounds. We don't do much in Fantasyland any longer, but usually head for Adventureland and do the "wheel" in reverse. Too much to list, but I even love the little out of the way paths and places to just sit and people watch.
Someone mentioned getting lunch at the Plaza Pavillion and looking toward the Castle - but even sitting down with a cool drink and doing that is neat. I've never been to Disneyland so I can't compare, but I do love MK. :-)
Sandy

[smallworld0]

Magic Kingdom and EPCOT always tie as our family's favorite park. Our first trip in December 1986 brought us to both. EPCOT was still fresh and new and MK was just stunningly beautiful, especially in the unbelievable cleanliness of the park and the friendliness of the CM's. It's just become tradition for us to always begin and end our vacations with MK. It's a park we can either relax in and watch the world - and all the people go by - or we can get busy and ride all day long.

I wish I were there right now. Siiggghhhhhhhhhhh.... :greedy:

Nancy

[Joe]

Like BetsyAnn, DL will always be my first love. Heck, I grew up there! But, I have grown to love the MK as the next best thing to being in SoCal. I think it's just the atmosphere there that gets me every time. I love it!

[Kaycee]

I was wondering how anyone could be a Disney fan and not love MK, then I read Tagrel's post about how you love DL. Now it all makes sense. It seems that everyone who went to DL before MK has been disappointed in MK. And I guess that makes sense. I first went to WDW in 1972 when I was 8 years old. Back then, the MK was all there was. So now, when I go to WDW, MK reminds me of all those great childhood memories. I've never been to DL, but I'm sure if I ever go I'll be disappointed because, for me, it won't live up to my beloved MK.

The only way you'll probably ever learn to love MK is if you can bring yourself not to compare it to DL, and instead try to enjoy the ways that the two parks are different. If you'll do that, then I promise I'll try to do the same if I ever get to go to DL! :wink:

[LimeGreenCheri]

OH my dear friend Betsyann... You know that MK is my first love!! :eyelove: Walking down Mainstreet for the first time each trip brings tears to my eyes!

Seeing the castle is like no other emotion I've ever had or probably will have. It is simply indescribeable.

Things to love for me. Pirates of the Carribean. I just love hearing that cannon outside kaboom! Splash Mountain all the hidden Mickey's to look for. Country Bear jamboree, how can you not clap your hands. Haunted Mansion and that same creepy ghost that rides home with me EVERY single time I've ever been on this attraction. Fantasyland, makes me feel like a kid. Buzzlightyear, a challange to me everytime. Teacups, a feeling of a night a tequila that only lasts a few minutes. :drinking:

And what makes me love MK even more are the special memories I make each visit. Some highlights that I shared with you... "taking too many steps". A Dole Whip. TTA. Seeing the parade from lots of different places. :waving: Holding our hands up on Splash Mountain. A certain hitch hiking ghost and a "I told you so". LOL And finally the best of all. Potatoe casserole! :eat:

[cshore]

Oh dear BetsyAnn. I have absolutely no problem reverting back to age 6 as soon as I enter onto main street so I don't know what to tell you. Just a year ago October, Ali and I went to Tom Sawyer Island and played. We headed there right after park opening and we shot guns filled with PD and happy feelings at imaginary foes and protected the fort from grumpies. We ran around and climbed the hills. Stopped for a whole game of checkers (I won) and sat in the rockers and watched BTMR rumble through the mountain. We let the child in us out, and this is one of our most memorable times in recent years. We ride Dumbo, without caring what other people think. We just let go of our inhibitions and totally enjoy ourselves.

I also think taking a newbie to WDW is a great way to get the wonder back. I am trying to talk my sister into taking her kids this summer. They have only ever been once and that was over 5 years ago. There is so much they didn't experience. Seeing it and experiencing it with them would be like seeing it again for the first time.

Do you always tour the same way? Shake things up a little bit. Watching the little ones interact with the characters is always uplifting, seeing how they believe renews my belief.

Good luck rediscovering the child inside! It is FUN!!

[Thumper]

Hi there,

Maybe you should mix up the way in which you tour MK. I've been there so many times and always just head from one attraction to another till I'm done, but this time, I want to do what I'm calling my "nook-n-cranny photo trip."

I'd like to spend some time checking out all the small places in the park. Taking time to read all the signs and take some pics of the decorations, flowers and buildings that are not rides.

The most magical part of MK for me is seeing the castle for the first time and heading down Main Street till I get to the Partners statue.

How about chatting up some of the CM's? I bet you get some great stories and trivia!

:D
Thumper (Sue)

[Joe]

Great ideas Thumper, and it sounds like something we should take a look at doing to keep the parks 'fresh'. Will have to see if I can sell it to DW and DD for the next trip.

[BetsyAnn]

Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas!

I have no problem becoming child-like (I say 8 yr old) when I am at Disney (others might say all the time :winking: ) -- MK is just a lesser DL to me - I tend to not spend a lot of time there - go in hit the attractions I love, grab a hot dog at Casey's and then leave. It is not that MK is better or worse than DL - it is just very different - and for me it is the details!

I am creating memories every time I go - thanks to some friends. I can see how magical MK can be - it just is not my favorite Disney park. But it is growing on me!


So now, when I go to WDW, MK reminds me of all those great childhood memories. I've never been to DL, but I'm sure if I ever go I'll be disappointed because, for me, it won't live up to my beloved MK.

The only way you'll probably ever learn to love MK is if you can bring yourself not to compare it to DL, and instead try to enjoy the ways that the two parks are different. If you'll do that, then I promise I'll try to do the same if I ever get to go to DL!

:rofl: Kaycee - I have had lots of luck creating Disney believers out of all but one of my friends and family - so you tour DL with me and I will show you my DL and then you can return the favor! :winking: