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Trip Coach: July 15, 2008

Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, answered your questions about theme parks.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 |

Independence, Mo.: If Cedar Point were not located in Sandusky, Ohio, where it is closed half of the year due to the weather, but instead was located in the vicinity of Orlando, Florida, would it become the most frequented theme park in the world, taking the mantle from the Magic Kingdom? Why, or why not? What is it about that Magic Kingdom that keeps pulling the huge crowds every year?

Robert Niles: I think that it would have higher attendance, but not much higher. A large part of Cedar Point's appeal is its connection with the Greater Cleveland community. My wife is a Cleveland native, and the last time we visited her family there, a great aunt (in her 80s!), went on about her love for Cedar Point. And I don't think she'd been on a ride there in years.

Take Cedar Point away from Cleveland, and you break that connection. It'd still draw millions of roller coaster fans in Florida, but there are more people interested in the theme, the setting, the overall experience and the variety of rides and shows available at a park like the Magic Kingdom than in the line-up of roller coasters available at Cedar Point.

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Independence, Mo.: The Wonders of Life Pavilion at EPCOT and the attractions inside, at least one of them (Cranium Command) considered a hidden gem, have been closed for some time. Except for the occasion flower show, Disney seems to be using this pavilion for storage, leaving a tragic hole in the park that once served the entertainment purposes of paying customers. What, if anything, is Disney doing to resurrect the Wonders of Life pavilion, and what can Disney do to prevent such atrophy at other pavilions within EPCOT?

Robert Niles: That was a cost-cutting move by Disney, and yes, you are right, that's means less value for Disney customers. The rides in that pavilion, while nice, were not among the more popular at Epcot, and being a little tucked out of the way, made it an easy target for off-season closure. Then, "off-season" grew into "most of the time" and is now "almost all of the time."

If attendance goes up significantly and the lines get too long throughout the park, then Disney will give a hard look at keeping Wonders of Life open more often. Or, to scuttling it and building something new in the space.

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Palm Coast, Fla.: I'm of the opinion that Spiderman is one of the greatest attractions ever made, and I'm not alone, as TPI retired the award for best attraction because it kept winning year after year. My question is why it is that nothing has been able to come close to or surpass Spiderman, which was built back in 1999. Also, I'm wondering what kind of odds you would place on one of the new Harry Potter attractions taking the mantle from Spiderman ? Thanks for all you do. -Dan

Robert Niles: The Amazing Adventure of Spider-Man at Universal's Islands of Adventure truly is a great ride. But Disney's Twilight Zone Tower of Terror won our Best Ride in America tournament earlier this year and a handful of other rides approach Spider-Man in rating popularity, including Expedition Everest and Disneyland's classic, Pirates of the Caribbean.

Still, I know that many people are looking for a world-class ride from Harry Potter and I can't wait to see what Universal delivers.

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Robert Niles: Okay, everyone, it's 1 o'clock Eastern and time to wrap this up. It's been great fun chatting with you, and I thank BudgetTravel.com for the opportunity. If I didn't get to your question, or if you have any other questions about theme parks and family vacations, you can find me online at themeparkinsider.com, where we are always taking, rating and reviewing theme parks. Thanks for reading, and... I'll see you in the parks!

Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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