Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well not frequently. We have been to WDW twice in the last 10 years, and DL twice in the last 10 years. But commando style does not feel like a vacation. Maybe because we go longer: 1998 - DLP for 2 trips - 3 days and 6 days 1999 - 10 trips to DLP for between 3 - 9 days 2000 - WDW for 14 days - inc. USO, SW, and KSC 2002 - DLP for the opening of WDSP, DL for 10 days with side trips to the SD Zoo, KBF and USH 2003 - 2 trips to DLP 5 days each (having our son slowed us down) 2004 - No Disney - bought a house and couldn't afford to go. 2005 - 4 trips to DLP - between 4 - 7 days each 2006 - 1 week DLP, 13 days at WDW (didn't leave property) 2007 - 2 weeks at DLP (including numerous side trips) 2008 - 6 days at DL (planning a couple of trips to DLP) So, for people in the UK we go often, but there are many more that go more often. But it's my vacation. I go,go,go all week every week - meetings, appointments, deadlines, travel. The last thing I want is to go, go, go on vacation. Some people pay a fortune to go and lay by a pool in the Carribean, Egypt, Dubai etc. Some people pay a premium to go to a city to basically get drunk. Me, I like to window shop, wear silly ears, skip to music hand in hand with my family, watch streetmousphere, take in a show etc. I like to take my kids to nice restaurants where they are readily accepted. So I am willing to pay that sort of money. Now, as the stores lose their luster and stock cheap junk, and the restaurants are homoginized and offer the same 5 - 9 items throughout resort, the entertainment lessens to incorporate rubber heads everywhere, and the attractions lose their meanings in the name of synergy, relevence and thrills. Well frankly, I might stop going. I was on the cusp until our trip to California in Feb/March. But the GCH and the parks in California showed me they still work their magic. Just not so much in Florida, except Epcot and DAK.
Originally Posted By dshyates And I definitly felt that had we spent our $54 at one of the more well rounded parks in town we would have gotten a better value and a full days worth of entertainment.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>"Also, I would never pay $1000's of dollars in airfare for a 1 day ticket." So, are so saying its not worth the $72/day? When I went the first time, I lived 23 miles from the park and paid the full one day admission price. Which at that point was, I believe, $54. Didn't have a parkhopper, and ate dinner at home and spent the evening watching cable<<< No, what I am saying is I am not going to really worry about what 1 day tickets cost. I think about what is the value I derive in the timeframe I am there. And I think DAK is a bargain at $72, considering other much lesser parks full of steel and no substance charge similar, or here in Europe even more. A day at Alton Towers (the UK's premier park - think 6 Flags meets Cypress Gardens) charges $65 a day, with no live entertainment, nothing really for families to do together, horrid food at rediculous prices. I stopped going about 7 years ago (though I do track their projects hoping for a turn around). To me DAK is worth 10 - 20 Alton Towers, even though AT has supposedly "more to do". We also live near 2 internationally reknowned zoological parks (one zoo, one safari park)- they charge $45 to get in and have no theming, attractions, shows (other than some animal displays) and they have about the same number of animals as DAK. To me, $72 is a bargain. Also, I looked into taking Mikey to see the Lion King in London. The cheapest tickets are $80 each. While Nemo is not quite on par, if you look at just that one show (running half that time), if you just do that, it is $40 value, add FotLK I suppose there's your admission ticket, without counting the animals, attractions etc. I also see my $72 adding to the cost of animal care and the conservation effort, which is key at DAK. DAK and the San Diego Zoo have some of the best track records for the reproduction of endangered species. For that alone, I feel the $72 is worth it. So, in short, I would not call DAK light. Yes, I would love more, just as I love encores at a good concert. I would just say it's not for you, just like I have not stepped foot in a Six Flags park for over 25 years, and I am unlikely to step foot in a Cedar Fair park either.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>And I definitly felt that had we spent our $54 at one of the more well rounded parks in town we would have gotten a better value and a full days worth of entertainment.<<< And that is how I feel about the MK.
Originally Posted By dshyates Here is our track record since we moved out of florida in 2000. 2001 DLR-3 days (may), DLR-4 days (Dec) 2002-DLR-4 days 2006-WDW-6 days 2007-USF/SW(no Disney)-6 days. You obviously have a lot more money and free time than I do. I get one week (5 days) vacation a year.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We get 5 weeks of vacation a year excluding public holidays. One of the many reasons I like the UK! But I think I can understand a little better your feelings. Personally I hate the lack of vacation time in the US. I would hate to be on the go alllllllll the time. I need some breaks.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo As for money, well we don't really drink, we don't smoke, we don't go out much between vacations, we don't wear designer clothes. Our money pays for us to live, some treats for the kids, museums and vacations.
Originally Posted By dshyates And I'm a news photographer that involves me driving an average of 150 miles at day at light speed everywhere we go. So I live everyday in an extremely fast paced, high stress job. Nothing like getting shot at. So theme park a go-go IS slowing it down. Because of my job i have found that my natural pace is enough to kill the elderly.
Originally Posted By dshyates And when i get my 6 days at Disney that I paid a billion $$$$ for. I feel like I have "Restless Body Syndrome" when I try to sit and soak. I feel I am wasting time and money.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>And when i get my 6 days at Disney that I paid a billion $$$$ for. I feel like I have "Restless Body Syndrome" when I try to sit and soak. I feel I am wasting time and money.<<< Well, that is interesting. I see people pay that to go to the Seycelles, Mauritus, the Caymens to basicaly sit and get drunk in the sun. Those people are not like you and I. I used to be a lot more like you. I felt I had to go go go. But once I was forced to take it in my stride (taking babies seems to do that), I found I enjoy it even more that way. We took Lulu and Dr Frootloop around DLP commando style (12 attractions, parade, Tarzan, a nice meal, and exploration of all the nuances of the park). We had a great day (in the park Eisner green lit - nod to topic), but we were exhausted that evening and the next day. Tempers can get freyed (see all the parents screaming at their kids around Disney parks). I much rather take our time and smell the roses - though I still find the fact that we spent 6 days at DL and still didn't see Billy Hill, ride Peter Pan, climb the treehouse, see ITTBAB, and miss a few other attractions to be increadible. But we had a blast. Just being in a Disney park makes me happy. Makes me feel like the money is worth while. If they ruin it like Cedar Fair ruined Knott's Berry Farm, then I would not feel the same way. And I think this highlights my point. Cedar Fair has put more to do attraction wise in KBF, and in doing so there is little reason for us to go. Everything that made it special and unique was ripped out to make it relevent. I believe they have financially suffered as a result. CF put in steel, Disney are putting in toons. Same difference really. And Disney may suffer as a result too.
Originally Posted By mawnck <-------- apparently the only guy in the world who actually LIKED Tarzan Rocks. Wow, that's weird.
Originally Posted By dshyates "I see people pay that to go to the Seycelles, Mauritus, the Caymens to basicaly sit and get drunk in the sun. Those people are not like you and I." See, If I want a sit and soak vacation, I go to Key Largo. That way I am not surrounded by 47 square miles of frenetic fun. And I'm not paying $72/day on top of lodging to sit. This, on my limited budget, soothes my mind better.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I understand. You see, coming from the UK market, Disney vacations including tickets cost pretty much about the same as going to Key Largo and staying at a nice hotel. My problem with Disney is not the prices. It is just the fact they do not quite offer the value they once did. I do not mind paying the price for quality. For us, no Disney park is a local park. They are international destinations. Ironically the local parks of Anaheim seems to get this better than WDW.
Originally Posted By dshyates But I don't do the sit and soak vacation very often at all. The last time was shortly after my divorce. I kind of look at those kinds of vacation more like emotional rehab. I am far more likely to throw the kids in the car at dark, drive all night, catch a nap in the parking lot before the park opens theme park a go-go all day and into the night. Be so exhausted that I'm speaking jibberish by the time I pass out in the hotel. Get up the next day, eat at the complimentary continental breakfast bar and then drive home.
Originally Posted By dshyates For us, We can spend a week in Key Largo, go on a snorkeling trip, and a sunset champagne sail at a quarter the cost of a WDW vacation.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Can I have what keeps you going please ;-) I feel like I want to collapse at the end of the week let alone a go, go, go vacation.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Can I have what keeps you going please ;-)" Even though I'm in my mid40s, I am blessed with the emotional maturity of a 15 year old.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep, today is not so bad because I am working from home. But normally I either spend 5 hours travelling each day, work 10 - 15 hours, and have soooo much on. By the time I get to Saturday, I'm dead. Maybe it's because I am morbidly obese, but to me, I don't want to kill myself. But by the same token, I will not travel just to sit in the sun either. I like to mix it up. On our last vacation, we spent 5 days in San Francisco on Nob Hill and enjoyed the city. Drove around the bay area on the last day and took H1 to Half Moon Bay, visited San Juan Batista State Historic Park and Mission, and then around the Monterrey Peninsula. We walked around old Monterrey, had dinner and went to bed. Next day up and to the Aquarium until about 3pm, then in the car to Santa Barbara, with Dinner at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. We got up the next morning, walked around Santa Barbara, went to the Mission then got in the car and drove through LA (inc. Bel Air and Beverly Hills) to Newport Beach where we stayed in a Villa for a week. During the week in Newport we visited Legoland, Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Newport Beach Fashion Island, and enjoyed some resort time - smores, activities, swimming. Then it was off to the GCH at DL for 6 days including lot's of LP meets and enjoying the parks. Overall, considering we had our 4 and 2 yo's, I would say it was a pretty action packed vacation.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Whereas our trip to Mallorca in November was a lot more laid back. We still visited about a dozen sites on the Island and covered 700 miles, but we also had some pool time, messages, and resort time too.
