"Just like Disney"....but not

[Mackflava99]

I was discussing this with a friend and thought i'd share-
What are your worst experiences with other parks that claim to be "Disney like"
Here are 2:

1.) I was working in Singapore and one weekend, we went to this bad amusement park that had a "Seven Deadly Sins" rollercoaster- that had macabre pictures all over the ride.
2.) My parents took us to this ginger bread castle park in northern NJ , Definitely geared towards younger kids. i forget what it was called, but they had a ride about Hansel and Gretal..
but they had an exhibit where they had a big pot in the witch's house with bones all over the floor and some in the pot, and these were supposed to be the bones of the kids the witch ate. No Joke !!- my sisters and i still remember it.

I just can't see the value in creating bad memories for children, the return incentive is dramatically reduced...

I guess this could result in some other funny stories so I am anxious to hear some others.

[PhilHarHarMagic]

I love the idea of this thread - I haven't had any "bad" experiences that have weighed heavily on my mind like those, though!

[Mackflava99]

Sometimes i think disney spoils us - but i actually dont like other parks, nor do i give them a chance...
i guess thats good

[dismommy]

I believe the place in NJ is called the Fairy Tale Forest and I know from experience that it is the stuff of childhood nightmares.

[andreallybadeggs]

I actually love Silver Dollar City (Branson) but one hot day last summer came across the employee (not sure if they're called CM's but she didn't deserve it anyway) from Hades.
She worked in the children's area and was screaming at all the little kids. Couldn't believe my ears. My daughter and I were wondering what was coming next...perhaps Hello Kitty (it was during KidFest) tripping toddlers as they came up for hugs?

[mouseketeer mom]

I believe the place in NJ is called the Fairy Tale Forest and I know from experience that it is the stuff of childhood nightmares.

That place is certainly the stuff of childhood nightmares. We took our kids there at Christmastime years ago and it had to be one of the creepiest experiences we ever had. These very dated, very unlifelike figures, placed in famous fairytale scenes. The figures all looked dead, it was so scary. Mom and Dad were as freaked out as the children! Wonder if its still there?!

[Mackflava99]

WOW, yes that's it- I remember now, Fairytale forest- i asked one of my sisters yesterday-
Its a wonder that place stayed in existence- But i guess old time fairy tales were very "grimm"
and not as happy ended as we would have liked.
But my kids get nightmares way too easy, i would never bring them to a place like that-

They had a fireman come into their school recently to talk about fire safety, and showed them some video about home fires etc... Over the past 3 weeks we have been woken up to " I had a bad dream about a fire" 6 times.....

[autumn]

my husband was searching online and found a disney rip off park in...i think it was japan. a search for this oddity will not be disappointing, i promise. it has many extremely similar rides and a castle that looks like a backyard version of sleeping beauty castle in disneyland. i wish i could remember what it's called! it's kind of eerie.

[autumn]

ah! it's called nara dreamland. a must-search.

[DisneyDog]

We went to Lion Country Safari in Southeast Florida (around Palm Beach County) this past fall. I took my DS5 on a ferris wheel. The employee wasn't paying attention. No one was on the ride, so DS and I stepped up on the stairs. She started yelling at us that we had to wait for her to give us permission to approach the ride! I wish I had gotten her name. I sent an email to their customer service website and gave the exact time we were on the ride and her physical description (and I wasn't very complimentary!). Customer service sent me an apology and offered me free tickets for a future visit. I declined the tickets.

[Mackflava99]

My mom lives near lion Country safari-
I agree their amusement area is awful !!!

[Gooftroop5]

The only thing that I find that I hear myself saying all the time is comparing the cleanliness of places. When I see a mess on the ground, garbage cans over flowing I say "If this was Disney there wouldn't be this mess."

Also some of the rudeness & lack of caring about their jobs of people that work there. I'm always saying "never had people like that had Disney."

I pretty much go in knowing full well its not going to measure up to Disney so I try to just enjoy what I have.

[beachezncream]

I really didnt enjoy busch gardens.. but I guess the person who said Disney has spoiled us.. was right thats not really a bad thing