Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 It would seem that WDW is doing better than expected this holiday weekend where we honor our loved ones and our Presidents (all except for the last one in my case). WDW, very late in the game, extended hours to what they normally would be this time of year. MK was supposed to close at 10 tonight and tomorrow, but got pushed back to midnight (with 3 a.m. EMH tomorrow). On Monday what was scheduled as a 9 p.m. close went to 11 p.m. Wednesday also saw an hour added from 9 to 10. TPFKaTD-MGMS also saw 7 p.m. closing pushed to 9 this weekend and 7 to 8 on Monday night. Also, CM's were informed their Maingate passes would be blocked out this weekend at MK and DAK (which will be open until 8 tomorrow) ... interestingly enough, not at Studios, where AIE officially debuted today. I have no idea what any of this really means, but I spent four hours this afternoon at Fort Lauderdale Beach (84 and sunny, VBDAD!) and I was pleasantly shocked by the traffic and crowds ... seemed a mix of locals, Europeans and Spring Breakers (wonder if the economy is pushing them away from hot spots in the Caribbean and back to an old standby). Stopped into the Marriott Harbor Beach and they were packed with major conventions from McDonald's and colo-rectal docs ... so many opportunities for teen boy humor, but I'll resist! Anyway, it is good to see people out and spending. Hopefully, it's a good omen all around.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 My daughter was at the MK today and said the place was packed. She said they were using the outside queue at Small World with a 45 min wait.
Originally Posted By -em I was at the MK yesterday and was surprised how busy it seemed- Mansion was a solid 30 with both rooms operating, Pan was 60, Small World was 30.. I know we are hopping this week/end at the Convention Center The blackouts caught some by surprise and one was on their way to get people into the MK today when he found out luckily he rerouted his guests to Epcot... I do think its peculiar that TPFKaTD-MGMS wasnt blocked out and DAK was...
Originally Posted By hopemax Yeah, I talked to my parents today and my Mom said that on Thursday, the MK had a predicted attendance of 38K, which was higher than the original prediction. But before the day was over, they revised it upwards again, but she didn't know what the new number was, just that it was raised. The question is, are the shops and restaurants busier or not?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 It's a holiday weekend. Parts of the country are out of school. They just debuted a new attraction. It kind of shows you just how WDW's exec 'leadership' team has on day to day operations. It's always busy this weekend. Every year. I don't get why this took them by surprise unless so many of the folks either are staying off property or booked in the last 2-3 weeks. I was shocked at how short the operating hours were before they extended.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^TYPO ALERT ... <<It kind of shows you just how WDW's exec 'leadership' team has on day to day operations.>> That should read what kind of handle WDW's exec ....
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < but I spent four hours this afternoon at Fort Lauderdale Beach (84 and sunny, VBDAD!) < oh man- now that does make me jealous -- headed to auto show tomorrow ( inside is the nameof the game here in winter)- a rousing 18 degrees here right now
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy There's been a lot of chatter at my workplace from families who are taking advantage of the year-long military discount. A number of my co-workers were headed down this weekend for a getaway. The free park tickets and other discounts for military whacks a lot off the cost of a Disney vacation.
Originally Posted By MPierce We are Americans. We don't let a little thing like a financial crisis get in the way of a 3 day week-end. Maybe our Government can start implimenting more holidays to stimulate the economy.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<oh man- now that does make me jealous -- headed to auto show tomorrow ( inside is the nameof the game here in winter)- a rousing 18 degrees here right now>> Today has been another beauty ... unfortunately haven't really been able to enjoy as I've either been inside or going from place to place. But after a VERY COLD (by our standards) winter, it has really been very nice this week.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<We are Americans. We don't let a little thing like a financial crisis get in the way of a 3 day week-end. >> Exactly. It's also a busy time in general in FLA ... Daytona 500 this weekend (so the redneck crowd is out in force with their Palin stickers on the RVs!) ... many baseball teams started spring training too. In my area we have a major art festival going on and a Champions Tour golf event. The bigger question is if this bodes well for the next two months (because this is generally the start of a fairly busy time that runs through mid-April) or if it is just a long holiday weekend blip. The parks (all of them Disney, Uni and Busch) have been very uncrowded post Super Bowl and didn't really start to pick up until Friday. <<Maybe our Government can start implimenting more holidays to stimulate the economy.>> Great idea. But the GOP would stand in the way of it hoping in four years no one would remember that it was their alleged leader who broke the world and ... oops, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, more holidays ... I'm all in favor. I proclaim April 1st should be known as Pierce Day. All in favor ...
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Great idea. But the GOP would stand in the way of it hoping in four years no one would remember that it was their alleged leader who broke the world and ... oops, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, more holidays ... I'm all in favor. << I strongly suggest you look at the Conressional leaders involved before you cast the first stone. Don't you think if we are capable of bankrupting the rest of the World it's about time they started kissing our A$$ more often? >> I proclaim April 1st should be known as Pierce Day. All in favor ... << Somehow I can't help but feel there could possibly be a touch of Satire in you picking that particular day.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Exactly. It's also a busy time in general in FLA ... Daytona 500 this weekend (so the redneck crowd is out in force with their Palin stickers on the RVs!) << Their very expensive RV's. Red Necks stimulate the economy purching RV's, tickets to NASCAR, gallons of Beer, Ton's of Steak for tailgating. Red Necks are helping to keep America afloat.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I strongly suggest you look at the Conressional leaders involved before you cast the first stone.>> You know I agree ... I just feel the two evil dudes in charge set the tone and likely should have criminal charges brought against them, which will never happen. Congress was/is largely a waste. <<Don't you think if we are capable of bankrupting the rest of the World it's about time they started kissing our A$$ more often?>> Honestly? Yeah, I do. But we have made it so they don't have to ... by offshoring our jobs ... letting them manufacture everything ... interfering in everyone else's business but not taking care of our own etc ... >> I proclaim April 1st should be known as Pierce Day. All in favor ... << <<Somehow I can't help but feel there could possibly be a touch of Satire in you picking that particular day.>> Nah. I just thought it's a nice day ... spring ... nothing else going on. ~Pass the Pixie Dust~
Originally Posted By MPierce >> You know I agree ... I just feel the two evil dudes in charge set the tone and likely should have criminal charges brought against them, which will never happen. << He could have covered his, and Cheney's butt, before he left. He chose to leave it exposed. I don't feel what they did was criminal, only wrong, and stupid. Just like Barney Frank. The pepole that were involved in the private sector should be punished to the hilt. If The President wants my vote in 4 years, all he has to do is tell the Attorney General "I don't care how long it takes, you get those people. Let's show the World we are not a nation that condones this sort of behavior in business.". >> Nah. I just thought it's a nice day ... spring ... nothing else going on. << You sure?
Originally Posted By MPierce I keep waiting for the people to spend us out of this recession. The money is still out there. We can still spend it using reason of course. Maybe this is the turning point. Who knows. Spring is the season of rebirth.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<He could have covered his, and Cheney's butt, before he left. He chose to leave it exposed. I don't feel what they did was criminal, only wrong, and stupid.>> Breaking/ignoring the Constitution to me is treason, pure and simple. We impeached Bubba because he got oral pleasure in the White House from a fat, Jewish girl with Daddy issues ... but taking away anyone's basic constitutional rights isn't a crime? Starting a war for no good reason (Iraq not Afganistan)? Presiding over the largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world as the country was going belly up? I dunno ... I am reasonably sure there's a couple crimes in there. <<Just like Barney Frank. The pepole that were involved in the private sector should be punished to the hilt. If The President wants my vote in 4 years, all he has to do is tell the Attorney General "I don't care how long it takes, you get those people. Let's show the World we are not a nation that condones this sort of behavior in business.". >> Agreed. Of course, I also think if he went after Bush (or even just Cheney plus companies like Haliburton and Blackwater, which can change its name but not its evil soul), we'd be beloved again in 95% of the world. I spent three months of 2008 out of the country between Europe and China (and I guess we can toss the Bahamas in too) and people want to love us, they really do. They just don't get how such a great nation that has accomplished so much for so many could go so wrong in a short period. I don't get it either, except we let it happen. <<I keep waiting for the people to spend us out of this recession. The money is still out there.>> Where? I'd like to get me some more ... <<We can still spend it using reason of course. Maybe this is the turning point. Who knows. Spring is the season of rebirth.>> Why am I picturing you as Benjamin Button? ~Pass the Pixie Dust~
Originally Posted By MPierce >> We impeached Bubba because he got oral pleasure in the White House from a fat, Jewish girl with Daddy issues ... but taking away anyone's basic constitutional rights isn't a crime? << He lied to a Congressional investigation committee. >> Breaking/ignoring the Constitution to me is treason, pure and simple. >> Starting a war for no good reason (Iraq not Afganistan)? Presiding over the largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world as the country was going belly up? << I would love to discuss those in another venue with you. However leave me out of anything to do with the lack of fiscal responsibility on Bush's part. That was his largest transgression in my opinion. >> we'd be beloved again in 95% of the world. << If we can bankrupt them we don't need their love! >> I spent three months of 2008 out of the country between Europe and China (and I guess we can toss the Bahamas in too) and people want to love us, they really do. They just don't get how such a great nation that has accomplished so much for so many could go so wrong in a short period. << You only love someone for what they are. Not what you want them to be.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Why am I picturing you as Benjamin Button? << I am not familar with Benjamin Button. Is he a Red Neck?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<He lied to a Congressional investigation committee. >> True. But it was witch hunt that shouldn't have happened. Maybe if the folks going after him had been looking out for us they may have prevented the 9/11 attacks. >> Breaking/ignoring the Constitution to me is treason, pure and simple. >> Starting a war for no good reason (Iraq not Afganistan)? Presiding over the largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world as the country was going belly up? << <<I would love to discuss those in another venue with you. However leave me out of anything to do with the lack of fiscal responsibility on Bush's part. That was his largest transgression in my opinion.>> I hate hypocrisy (check out the note I just sent you for an example) ... and it blows my mind that all the talking GOP heads just keep pushing this absurd idea that we shouldn't spend to try and save jobs and Americans (because this depre... I mean recession) is causing many deaths (be it suicide, heart attacks, strokes, just anything that stress leads to) but it was perfectly OK for the party that wants smaller government and no deficits to spend trillions on what? Bad wars. Bad investments. Bad companies that were responsible for the latter. How anyone can say we shouldn't spend to try and shore up the economy on the Main Street level is just beyond me. I guess they're just greedy, arrogant, ignorant or a combo. I didn't want to give one penny to a war in Iraq ... or to bailing out AIG ... and Lehman Bros and Citi and BoA ... but I didn't have a choice. >> we'd be beloved again in 95% of the world. << <<If we can bankrupt them we don't need their love! >> The problem with breaking the world is it leads to instability, which leads to more anti-American hatred and can foment evildoers. >> I spent three months of 2008 out of the country between Europe and China (and I guess we can toss the Bahamas in too) and people want to love us, they really do. They just don't get how such a great nation that has accomplished so much for so many could go so wrong in a short period. << <<You only love someone for what they are. Not what you want them to be.>> Is that what Mrs. Pierce says? I am sure that's what TDO execs would tell me about WDW! ~Pass the Pixie Dust~
