Vote Cedar Point for Best Park in America!

Aaronosmer said:
I think you're looking at it wrong. If you are there just for the rides, then of course you're going to look at it as overpriced. However, you're not looking at all the other stuff they have to offer. As Jeff mentioned, there are plenty of places that are known for their rides. To me Disney is about the experience and the all-inclusive packages.

The non-ride activities weren't that great either, so it just isn't my kind of park.

Visiting parks with you doesn't sound like much fun. :)

I have never been to a Disney park. My best friend has been to three over the years. She enjoyed them all but as an adult she realizes how much of the experience was based on Disney characters and how much was the actual park itself (she went twice as a kid, once as an adult). She told me a few years ago that she didn't think I would enjoy them enough to justify the financial sacrifices I would have to make to take my family there compared with Cedar Point.

It is weird that with as popular as Disney parks are the two parks in the lead in the survey when I looked last were Cedar Point and Kings Island. I don't remember what #3 was but it wasn't Disney. Are Disney fans just not the type to care if they're park is #1? Do us people in Ohio vote more because we feel like we have something to prove? Did Cedar Fair make a point of making sure that their customer base knew about the survey so that they would vote for them when other parks haven't? It's not important but I find it interesting.

Disney Parks and Cedar Fair parks can not be compared. Disney is known for their theming which I think any one who has been there can agree that they do an outstanding job. Sure they have rides, but Disney is more known for their family style attractions which includes shows, dining, etc. But for the rides they have the theming is amazing.

Cedar Fair parks (and even Six Flags) are more known for their rides, not theming. I agree that they try on the rides and in some parks such as Cedar Point (Frontier Town/Trail), however they have never come close to the theming that Disney is able to pull off.

This is why I feel the two parks (Cedar Fair/Disney) cannot be compared, they are just two different. But even in saying that I find it hard to believe that people don't go to Cedar Point for the atmosphere. Instead of transporting you into a different world or country (i.e. Epcot) Cedar Point puts you in a park in the middle of a Great Lake, what greater atmosphere/theming could you want in a park that does not put its main focus on theming? Stop comparing theme parks to amusement parks, they are way too different from one another.

Disney and CP shouldn't be in the same category. Disney and CP are like apples and oranges, they're not the same thing and not the same target demographic.

Thabto said:
I've been to all Disney parks and out of all parks, the only rides I really enjoyed were Test Track and RNRC. Not worth the overpriced admission for just 2 rides in separate parks.

Yeah, you're definitely doing it wrong.

Pete: Here's an example of a restaurant visit that I couldn't get elsewhere. We had evening reservations for Tokyo Dining, where we had Japanese food, prepared by Japanese people, where we watched Illuminations, arguably one of the best fireworks-to-music shows anywhere, from our table. You can't get that outside of the park. This isn't even getting into the fun that can be had at Boardwalk and Downtown Disney.

If your opinion is based on Magic Kingdom, as others have said, that's pretty much the last place you go if you're without kids. Come down to Epcot during Food & Wine. It'll make your life. :)

How am I doing it wrong? I even said the non-rides weren't that enjoyable either. Disney isn't my type of park, and that's just my opinion. I can see where it's a good park for families, but for someone like me, it's not that great.

You are doing it wrong by going to Disney expecting big thrills and more importantly not caring about anything else at all other than the rides. Going to Disney looking for thrills is like going to the Apple store looking to by a Windows phone.

Jeff, I could not agree more about the entire dinner and Illuminations experience at Epcot. I personally prefer Italy's Tutto Italia but then again you can't go wrong with any of the restaurants.

I'd say that Hersheypark is right up there with Cedar Point and I see they are #3 in this poll. The rides there are great, the food choices are better and the atmosphere is pretty nice. Drawbacks include not being on the lake.

Of course, you don't have to go to Ohio then either. ;)

Having never done the Disney experience, I can't comment on that. I imagine you wouldn't have fun if you are the kind of person that has less fun the more money you spend. Those types of people are annoying as hell to travel with.

Jeff said:

If your opinion is based on Magic Kingdom, as others have said, that's pretty much the last place you go if you're without kids. Come down to Epcot during Food & Wine. It'll make your life. :)

Yup, I realize I probably did it wrong. I went to Magic Kingdom because I wanted to experience Disney and I figured that was the closest thing in Florida to Disneyland. If I can get to Florida for food and wine I will be sure to let you know!

IMO Epcot is by far the best Disney World park.

Unfortunately I barely had any time to explore all the countries so I really want to go back.

Jeff said:

Thabto said:
I've been to all Disney parks and out of all parks, the only rides I really enjoyed were Test Track and RNRC. Not worth the overpriced admission for just 2 rides in separate parks.

Yeah, you're definitely doing it wrong.

Pete: Here's an example of a restaurant visit that I couldn't get elsewhere. We had evening reservations for Tokyo Dining, where we had Japanese food, prepared by Japanese people, where we watched Illuminations, arguably one of the best fireworks-to-music shows anywhere, from our table. You can't get that outside of the park. This isn't even getting into the fun that can be had at Boardwalk and Downtown Disney.

If your opinion is based on Magic Kingdom, as others have said, that's pretty much the last place you go if you're without kids. Come down to Epcot during Food & Wine. It'll make your life. :)

The fact that you have to do the parks a certain way to enjoy them should tell you that it may not be the best.

That sounds like it was a cool experience but, i could only imagine how much that cost. When talking about the best park you have to think about value.

Dead Sexeh said:
When talking about the best park you have to think about value.

Who ever mentioned value when rating best park? Who rates these things anyway?

The highest rated park on TripAdvisor is Discovery Cove and it starts at $200 and goes north of $400. You get what you pay for. (Disclaimer: I worked for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.)

Is it possible to not like WDW or is it the case that anyone who claims not to like it is just doing it wrong?

I love Disney parks and the immersive rides and environments there, the attention to detail. I remember one time I was in Morocco at Epcot and for one moment in that little alley at my viewpoint with the musicians coming through, it just felt and looked like I was in Morocco.

I haven't been in quite a few years, though. My husband was pleasantly surprised how well he liked Disney, for the same reasons I did, the details and the special effects adding to the rides. Maybe it's because we're so used to places like Cedar Point without those things, that we are wowed by bats hanging from the rafters on a lift hill.

Not really into the character/synergy thing that has gotten worse over the last decade or so, including princess meet and greets everywhere. It is rumored Maelstrom may turn into a Frozen ride.

GoBucks89 said:
Is it possible to not like WDW or is it the case that anyone who claims not to like it is just doing it wrong?

It's not possible, and people are doing wrong, correct. Glad you're on board! :) Mostly I'm just annoyed by people who are all like, "OMFG teh Cedar Point is teh OWNLY place that rulez!!!1!!" Styling added for hyperbole and dramatic effect.

Besides, the answer to everything is Dolewhip, with rum.

How can I be doing it wrong? It was a good place when I was younger, but when I got older it lost it's appeal. I also don't like Dr. Pepper. Am I drinking it wrong?

Of course you are going to get that kind of reaction on a CP fansite! I feel most here arguing the WDW point have never really let themselves enjoy the ambiance of what a park can do for you. Instead a park to them is bigger, faster, more. I love WDW and I am older, the rides are just a small part of the total experience. I also love CP just as much as anyone on here, but arguing that CP is the best park in the world is just senseless, it shows you really have no appreciation for a theme or amusement park.

Personally I went to the disney parks on my senior trip this yr, I had only been once before and I knew going in I wasn't going to get my thrill fill, but I was with my friends I didn't care. Illuminations at Epcot really didn't impress me. I did enjoy visiting the different countries but I wouldn't go back. If I would go back I would want to go back to universal and the parks I did go to( Busch gardens and seaworld) disney just isn't worth it for me