Playground in the Parks?

[Mickey91]

Okay, for my 600th post, I decided to find out how you all feel about the playgrounds inside the parks.

I personally feel like they could use this space for a more family oriented attraction. I guess I can't see paying to be in a theme park to let my kids play on a slide, etc. when I can do that at home.

What do you guys think?

[Catwillow]

Not having any little children anymore I thought this would be a tougher one to answer but when I thought about it ... I was pretty quick in the answering.

I think the playgrounds are a great spot for the kids to well....be kids. You know, run --jump--climb on things--interact with other kids. It's got to be hard having to stand in line for this and that ALL day, keep up with mom, dad, grandparents, etc and "behave". It's also a great way for mom, dad or whomever to sit and take a usually much needed break.

[snifflesmcg]

Playgrounds are great........for the resort. Keep them out of the parks please.

[Ian]

Playgrounds are great........for the resort. Keep them out of the parks please.

Exactly how I feel.

Come on ... let's face it ... putting playgrounds in the parks is nothing more than a really cheap way to take up some space, boost the list of "attractions", and save a few bucks. Playgrounds don't belong in Disney theme parks.

The resorts? Sure ... no problem ... but not somewhere where I'm paying $75 a day to get in. I want something more.

[Sean Riley Taylor's Mom]

I think they are a great idea.

I would not want my kids to stay on a playground for longer then 20 minutes or so but, they are a great way for the kids to run around and not have to worry about people, strollers, etc. Like Catwillow said, a spot to let them just be kids.

My children love the Honey I Shrunk The Kids one at MGM. They would stay at that one for hours if I let them.b The small one at Splash is great too. Great thinking for the kids that are not tall enough to ride. Much better then just sitting on a bench.

I am all for new attractions, I just think the playgrounds are a great idea.

[Lizzie]

I think its a great thing. As a parent its a great place for kids to play freely for a while. A chance to run and climb things and not worry about lines. Especially for the kids 8 and under.

[bcornette]

The Honey I shrunk the kids playground is my son's third favorite attraction in all of WDW. It is behind PoTC and Buzz Lightyear.
We spend over 30 minutes in the playground every time we are at MGM.

[SBETigg]

We haven't been to WDW when my kids were young enough to enjoy them, but I still love them and voted in favor. It gives families with little ones a place to go to let the kids move around and blow off some steam, which builds up with all that waiting in lines in strollers. I think it keeps everyone happier in the end.

[Jared]

My family does not utilize the playgrounds anymore, but they are definitely a worthwhile part of any theme park.

When the older kids rode Dinosaur, my sister would run around The Boneyard. Nobody should make the playgrounds a major part of an itinerary, but I have no problem with their existence.

[Dizneyfan]

I think the playgrounds are a great idea. I feel that each park should have only one fairly large playground for the kiddies to plan on. They are a nice way for parents and children to relax after waiting in line all day.

[LibertyTreeGal]

Yes to playgrounds! Kids need to run (especially little boys) and that is their only opportunity to do so in the parks --

One question though, how come the playground positive comments are 8 to 2 and the vote is 6 to 5????

[Eric87]

I don't have any kids yet, but I believe playgrounds will help break some of the monotony of waiting in lines. I remember all the great times I had as a kid at the parks, but the next thing that sticks out in my mind are the lines. During peak hours, taking kids to a playground where they can just run around and explore is a great idea. Tom Sawyers Island is a good example of this. Also, I recently visited Epcot and Peter Pan and Wendy were playing with the younger children on a Disnified play-set in Futerworld East.

[Rica]

I really just prefer the playgrounds at the hotels too. As far as the parks go, its all about the attractions for me. Plus, my kids don't want to leave the playground once I let them go, and that's not what we came to do. We came to ride.

[RAIDER]

No
i would rather have that space for an attraction that all would use ... As basically WDW is a playground anyway

[KAJUNKING]

No
i would rather have that space for an attraction that all would use ... As basically WDW is a playground anyway

i agree, its a waste of space, and i have 2 young children and i dont spend thousands of dollars so my kids can play on a 6 foot slide

[BritCody]

I'd rather not see them in the theme parks. I'd rather see attractions for the whole family

[January-2007]

I like them. When I was a kid we played in the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground in MGM and let me just say, that was about the coolest thing ever! I think it's good to have a place for kids to burn the energy they have after having to stand still and wait in line and behave in restaurants. Just let loose!

[DawsonAR]

We love to go to the playground to take a break. The kids can keep going while DH and I take a rest.

[cvzdesign]

They need to have a small playground near all attractions that have a height requirement.

The one under the train at Splash is a perfect example.
While waiting to do the child swap, it was the perfect out of sun place for my 3 year old to play and not just be bored.
We never saw the Pooh one because we didn't go that direction, but it seems like the wrong place to put that - in an area where every ride is suitable for all ages...
Put one over near Space Mountain instead.

[GrmGrninGost]

We have been bringing our children to WDW for 12 years now. In my opinion the playgrounds should be at the resorts. It seems for some reason most people feel a need to take their DKs back to the resort during the day for a nap/swim anyway. Leave the prime park real estate for the majority of people to enjoy. A nice family ride would suit more people than a playground.