Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<So I do think it is a WDW thing. It's a real shame. The scary thing though is I see some of the behaviours coming into DLP (buffets, dining plans, flex hours, menues dumbed down).>> Take a look at who is heading DLP daily ops and who some of his top consultants are and you'll understand why. But, yeah, after doing HKDL-DLR-WDW back to-back-to-back, it was very easy to spot the differences in quality and the way things are run daily. There's just a huge difference. A Disney Difference if you will between WDW and the other resorts.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I brought back $800.00 in cash that I had alloted for things. >> I'll take it. For that kind of money I can Priceline a decent place in O-Town ... suite type with free breakfast and high speed for seven nights. Have a nice dinner at California Grill. And still have about $400 left for meals for the rest of the week. See, Orlando can cost next to nothing ... depending on how you do it!
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<Jan 15 1968, until Sept 8 1969. Tell them I said HEY!>> I'm glad to see you were defending our Country on the day the Planet was graced with my birth! As for "Hey".. they are both dearly departed. The Marines actually came to my FIL's wake & gave my MIL a plaque & what I think is a Marine pin. My DH was the only son, so we now have the plaque. Don't mean to bum everyone out on a Saturday morning.. My FIL raved about The Main St. Electrical Parade & Discovery Island, so I know you too would have got along! I'll introduce you when we get to the otherside!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> <<I brought back $800.00 in cash that I had alloted for things. >> I'll take it. For that kind of money I can Priceline a decent place in O-Town ... suite type with free breakfast and high speed for seven nights. Have a nice dinner at California Grill. And still have about $400 left for meals for the rest of the week. See, Orlando can cost next to nothing ... depending on how you do it! << I'd give it to you, but my wife already took it back. She only gives me a $10 a week allowance. She said she would double it if I would quit snoring. I just can't seem to find the bargains like you Spirit. I guess that's because I'm not a worldly savvy traveler.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Sometimes I can't tell the difference between worldy savvy and cheep. My mil's sister use to go from store to store to see who had the best deals, to me that was too much waste of time and gas. I just try to get the best I can without putting too much effort into it. I too thank you for your contribution to our country. Hopefully that had nothing to do with you needing the EVC at WDW. I would have put the $800 aside for my next trip.
Originally Posted By MPierce No, wild living for decades is what put me on an ECV. That $800 dollars could possibly draw a lot of interest before my next trip to WDW.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I'm still sorry to hear that. Nice people shouldn't be held back from enjoying what they like. Not at today's interest rates!!!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I'd give it to you, but my wife already took it back. She only gives me a $10 a week allowance.>> She is cheap! <<She said she would double it if I would quit snoring.>> Tell her you can't help it, you're dreaming of magic, wishes and dreams ... <<I just can't seem to find the bargains like you Spirit. I guess that's because I'm not a worldly savvy traveler.>> It's easy. And I wouldn't be able to travel as much as I do if I weren't so savvy. The information is out there all over the web, you just need to do a little searching. Of course, some people are very inflexible ... those are generally the ones who wind up paying the most for flights, hotels, car rentals etc ... When I said I could do that vacation I listed above for your $800 (and even likely come back with money) that wasn't hyperbole. That was leaving out only admission (I have an AP already paid for), gas (what a bargain, only cost me $2.15 for premium today!) and about $22 in tolls up and back.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<That $800 dollars could possibly draw a lot of interest before my next trip to WDW.>> If your bank doesn't collapse ... I still think I could put it to better use!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> It's easy. And I wouldn't be able to travel as much as I do if I weren't so savvy. The information is out there all over the web, you just need to do a little searching. Of course, some people are very inflexible ... those are generally the ones who wind up paying the most for flights, hotels, car rentals etc ... When I said I could do that vacation I listed above for your $800 (and even likely come back with money) that wasn't hyperbole. That was leaving out only admission (I have an AP already paid for), gas (what a bargain, only cost me $2.15 for premium today!) and about $22 in tolls up and back. << I waited as long I could on the airline tickets. They reached a peak of $530 a piece. I got them at $212. I checked travelocity, and the other discounters, and they always seemed to fall in line with Continental. I didn't think WDW was going to give any bigger discounts, but I checked anyways. I now wish I had taken a taxi down to Hess for beer, and snacks. Luxury German cars come with a price tag. Premium gas is just one of them. Florida is turning into the toll road State. That's what Houston is starting to do also. What happens to all that tax money the Feds, and States collect for our free roads? We get a whole 1.5% for a couple of platinum savings account. .5% for our checking plus account 1% for our credit union. 1.2% for our money markets. 1 CD at 2.5%, and 1 at 2%. Gosh what more can we ask for. If my bank collapses I'm counting on President Obama to take care of my financial needs. Change we can believe in.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad <<I brought back $800.00 in cash that I had alloted for things. >> I said the same thing in Nov. when I got back from WDW. There just wasn't a diversified selection. Every shop had the same merchandise. I don't remember it being like that a few years ago. Some things my kids buy every year are just not there anymore
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed there is very little variety and quality in the merchandise at any and all of the Disney resorts, and it doesn't help that some of the same rubbish is sold at DL, WDW and DLP. I miss the days of attraction and land specific merchandise. I used to spend a fortune then. Now, not so much. But I would if there were decent things to buy.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I waited as long I could on the airline tickets. They reached a peak of $530 a piece. I got them at $212. I checked travelocity, and the other discounters, and they always seemed to fall in line with Continental. I didn't think WDW was going to give any bigger discounts, but I checked anyways. I now wish I had taken a taxi down to Hess for beer, and snacks.>> I think you got a good deal on the tix. And you flew the right airline! My point was more in general about the discounts one can get. For what you paid for your week stay, I could get you 2-4 weeks with APs IF you stayed at non-Disney accomodations. <<Luxury German cars come with a price tag. Premium gas is just one of them.>> True. But they last. I'll pay the slight extra to not drive an American car! <<Florida is turning into the toll road State. That's what Houston is starting to do also. What happens to all that tax money the Feds, and States collect for our free roads?>> Florida's turnpike was paid for in 1988 (it opened in the late 50s), yet the tolls not only stayed put, they have triped in that time ... and we have new tollroads all over. But if you get a SunPass (so that the state can monitor your comings and goings and speed by computer), you can save 20% ... <<We get a whole 1.5% for a couple of platinum savings account. .5% for our checking plus account 1% for our credit union. 1.2% for our money markets. 1 CD at 2.5%, and 1 at 2%. Gosh what more can we ask for. If my bank collapses I'm counting on President Obama to take care of my financial needs. Change we can believe in.>> So far, so good. The man comes off like a very decent guy and one who wants to do the right things. He even said he screwed up last week just weeks into his term (over his appointees who didn't pay their taxes I believe) ... in eight years I didn't hear his predecessor say he was wrong once (of course he was wrong a lot more but that's another story). Humility and humanity are good traits in true leaders.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < I miss the days of attraction and land specific merchandise. I used to spend a fortune then. Now, not so much. But I would if there were decent things to buy.< seems like they 'save' all the good stuff now for ticketed events - alaHM 40th
Originally Posted By dshyates I like the homoginized merchendise. It really save on the legs and the wallet. We always wait until the last day to shop. That way we get what we actually want instead of a carload of crap. But now on the last day I don't have to visit several parks and walk to the various lands to get Land/Attraction specific merchendise. Now I just buy a Disney Parks 20?? key chain at The TTC and I'm done. It is soooo much easier and cheaper.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Florida's turnpike was paid for in 1988 (it opened in the late 50s), yet the tolls not only stayed put, they have triped in that time ... and we have new tollroads all over. << You could just about rebuild every Interstate Highway in America for the amount of Money the Pennsylvania Turnpike has take in over 60+ years. Once a toll road always a toll road.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> So far, so good. The man comes off like a very decent guy and one who wants to do the right things. << I agree, but he has his work cut out for him with this Congress. >> Humility and humanity are good traits in true leaders. << That can be true. It can also be true that it's a sign of weakness, and poor judgement when humility becomes a day to day trait. Only time will tell.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I like the homoginized merchendise. It really save on the legs and the wallet. We always wait until the last day to shop. That way we get what we actually want instead of a carload of crap. But now on the last day I don't have to visit several parks and walk to the various lands to get Land/Attraction specific merchendise. Now I just buy a Disney Parks 20?? key chain at The TTC and I'm done. It is soooo much easier and cheaper. << Now that's cutting edge satire.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I said the same thing in Nov. when I got back from WDW. There just wasn't a diversified selection. Every shop had the same merchandise. I don't remember it being like that a few years ago. Some things my kids buy every year are just not there anymore << It wasn't like that at one time. The lame excuse as always is the guest prefer it this way. Dshyates satirical comment sums it up.
