Here we go again, AK this, DCA that, not enough to do here, don't like that there............
I love it though
because I had a thought that didn't seem to fit elsewhere but i can throw out in the context of this thread.
A little business first, and I know these weren't part of the original question.
I bet most on this board will agree that experiencing the Magic is expensive, but well worth it. If someone like my sister in law came here she would say, that WDW is just way too expensive and compare admission prices to lesser parks. However, she just doesn't 'get it'.
HB2K, here we go again
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I don't know about you, but I don't count the walkways & architecture as attractions to a park. They definitly are accessories to the atmosphere, but they shouldn't be considered attractions at a theme park.
Please!! What is Main St. USA all about. No rides or attractions there, unless you consider the walkways (called sidewalks) and architecture (called buildings) an attraction - which everybody does!!! THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST LOVED SPOTS IN ALL OF WDW!!! Why? Because of theming, attention to detail, the little details that take you to another place.
So to the point of this thread (I think). Does it cost more to produce the 'Magic'. Yes, it does. I wonder how much Main St. USA cost, and you can't ride it. Back to the AK. How many millions did they spend on plantings indiginous to Asia and Africa. It helps to transport you to another place, and that is a big part of the Magic, IMO. I always count the impeccable appearance of WDW as part of the Magic. Elaborate plantings everywhere (ok except the CR), cleanliness, use of space for places to just relax. All these things cost money. Other destination resorts may spend more on rides or roller coasters, but this is where they put all their money, and they don't have 'the Magic'. While I've never been, didn't Universal get that to some extent and then put in IOA. I get the impression that this has more of the attention to detail required to create 'Magic'. Then you have customer service. A quick example - the light in my DD's light up Magical Moments pin died and we would have gladly paid for replacement batteries, but they just gave her a whole new one. I'm sure everyone has such an example, and it all adds to the Magic, and it all costs money. I know if you aren't in Car #1 you think it is slipping, but I say it is alive and well and Disney is spending money to keep it alive.
Now for that thought I had. Seing as the Magic is expensive, should the decision to add or not to add to the theme park offerings be an all or nothing proposition? Walt said 'Give the people everything you can'. Some people believe in Walt's philosophy that if you can't do that, then don't do it at all. That, because this philosophy is not being followed, that the Magic is slipping away. I say no. Lets say I agree that AK is 'incomplete' and the additions are cheap carny junk. Would WDW have been better off had AK not been built because they didn't give 'everything'? Fact of the matter, for me at least, the AK is full of Magic, expensive Magic at that.