Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<It's a floating hotel. You walk around the hotel. You lie by the pool. You go to the beach. You watch a show. You eat. >> It is so much more than that. You can also call WDW simply an amusement park for children with rides and be accurate. But it's a very simplistic unfair way of describing the place. <<That's not my idea of a vacation. I need a place to walk around that's actually revolving around something rather than relaxation. Something with a bit of meaning, thrill, and history in there. >> Well, I'd argue that there's only so much meaning to a visit to the MK after you've been there many times. A nice place to walk around ... so aren't many malls (and they'll sell you better stuff than Disney). <<Now, if the Floating Disney Synergy Hotel On Water was taking me, to, say, Europe, or Alaska ( Where is Pierce? We need to slip a Sarah reference in here! ) I'd think it's justified. But if the FDSHOW is just taking me to a beach? Meh. >> You do know DCL can now take you to both Europe and Alaska!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Well the Med cruise with DCL takes in Barcelona, the South of France, Pisa, Florence and Rome, belive me, it is worth while. I would never do a trans atlantic cruise, but a European one, you betcha. And the Western Caribbean cruise is terrific too.>> TA's are great cruises, Dave. So relaxing ... and unless you are doing say the Queen Mary 2, where the only point is transport and relaxing and dining, you can stop at quite a few places as well. I admit, they've spoiled me because there's something great about being on the seas for 15 days. You can shut off the world. That said, I'd do just about any cruise locales except the Bahamas (why I won't take the Dream until it starts seven-night voyages next year). If I wanted to see a third-world, poverty-stricken place with poor education and healthcare, then I'd just stay in FLA. I know Disney's 3-4 night cruises are designed to get folks who have never cruised before to do so ... but Nassau?!? Really? In 2011?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<But I guess that's wasted on someone who lives on South Beach.>> Not quite ... for EE or myself for that matter. Although I will be spending some time there this week.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ***Guaranteed, if you went with us, you would love it too!*** <<I'll take your word for it. Although in fairness to ANY plus or minus of any Disney park (or any other place for that matter), the company you keep plays a major role. That's why Spirit enjoyed Tokyo so very much. ;D>> That is true to a large extent ... well, maybe except the last statement! ;-) But I know I'll enjoy WDW, but that's largely because of the people I'm with. I think I would have enjoyed TDR no matter who I was with or even alone ... As for DSP, I do agree with Dave. I really love some of the attractions. There's a lot of quality, but it is the ugliest, most thrown together Disney park ever created. HKDL is a masterpiece in comparison. The thing is, though, you can walk from DSP to the incredible DLP ... at HKDL you can walk into the South China Sea or to the MTR station!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<this is such a true statement X -- each and every year the entire vbdad family makes the trek - the last 10 including my sister/BIL and nieces-- the last two my oldest boyfriend and eventually grand kids. We all love Disney to varying degrees but this group could have fun anywhere..and it's nice to be together. We will not be going to WDW this year for the first time in 20+ because of various reasons..just can't swing it- other priiorities and it has caused great sadness in the vbdad extended world..which is why I am muchmore senstive to some of the WDW sucks jargon you don't know what you have till you don't have it anymore. WE are already looking forward to 2012 however when we will do a Disney cruise for my youngest's high school graduation...>> I feel your pain, VBDAD. A lot of things in life that I took for granted are no longer here for me. And I don't think for a second that WDW sucks, or else I plain wouldn't go, but the parks comparitively either to what they used to be or what Disney offers elsewhere ... well ... I wouldn't say sucks, but I might say 'kinda sucks'. <<for me as she heads off to college it's a celbration of what's accomplished but also the beginning of a new - empty nest life as well. Have never cruised but am looking forward to it from feedback I have from those who have..looking at the 7 day western cruise for more experience.. any thoughts ?>> My thoughts would be you'll have a great time. DCL offers a high quality product, and I can't imagine you not loving it. I prefer the Eastern ports myself (I love diving in St. John). If you're going in 2012, I take it you'll also be on the Dream since Disney is sending the Magic to Europe as soon as the Fantasy arrives. Any specific questions?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Probably not for at least 18 months to two years. I can't see them closing it before the Mine Train is close to opening.<< <<I dare to disagree, oh Spirited one.;-0 The new M&G is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. That would be somewhere July-September of next year. If they stick to schedule, SWSA will have to close sometime late this year/early next. >> Leewhateverthehellhecallshimselfbuthehasahotwife, so nice of you to drop in. Please wipe the fanboi drool off your feet before entering the LP! ;-) I defer to you on the timetable for meet-and-greets since I haven't paid much attention, so I'm sure you are correct. Maybe I'll ride it soon just so I can say 'good riddance, bring me some princess loving!'
Originally Posted By SSE <<That said, I'd do just about any cruise locales except the Bahamas... I know Disney's 3-4 night cruises are designed to get folks who have never cruised before to do so ... but Nassau?!? Really? In 2011?>> My girlfriend and I just did our first cruise in December and it was a 4 night cruise on the Wonder. While we had a great time and thought the offerings on the ship were nice, I think we spent a total of maybe an hour in Nassau. The whole area was not something I felt that comfortable walking around. We were told to head to Atlantis and just spend the day there, but we didn't even want to get in a cab, bus or anything else with the locals. Hopefully our next cruise will have nicer ports. My family is thinking about an Alaskan cruise next year, but not with Disney.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> While we had a great time and thought the offerings on the ship were nice, I think we spent a total of maybe an hour in Nassau. The whole area was not something I felt that comfortable walking around. We were told to head to Atlantis and just spend the day there, but we didn't even want to get in a cab, bus or anything else with the locals. << What's wrong with the locals?
Originally Posted By SSE ^^It was just their approach that I didn't like. They came off as overly aggressive trying to get you to use their cab. They didn't appear to be friendly and when we politely declined they kept following us and insisting that they take us somewhere.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<The new M&G is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. That would be somewhere July-September of next year. If they stick to schedule, SWSA will have to close sometime late this year/early next.>> Baloney. Dismantling a simple dark ride like SW takes no time at all, like one week, two weeks tops. Then adding the new sets (which will be built offsite), as well as lighting, queue rails, etc, will take about another two weeks. This will not be an elaborate set-up like another dark ride, with AAs to tweak and sound levels to adjust, but more like the M&G sets at Mickey's House in DL's ToonTown. SWSA can operate for most of the summer season next year, then close in August for a September opening, after Labor Day.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> ^^It was just their approach that I didn't like. They came off as overly aggressive trying to get you to use their cab. They didn't appear to be friendly and when we politely declined they kept following us and insisting that they take us somewhere. << Oh, okay. We actually had a great cab driver who we hired several times to take us to different places. I've found that areas where cruise ships dock tend to be the least interesting, culturally, aesthetically or otherwise. I've never taken a cruise and really have no desire to, either. I'd rather spend more time at the destination, rather than on the floating hotel. But I can see why some people would be drawn to cruises, just as I can see why some people would be drawn to staying on-property at Disney.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>As for DSP, I do agree with Dave. I really love some of the attractions. There's a lot of quality, but it is the ugliest, most thrown together Disney park ever created.<<< I wouldn't argue with that point. But I will say this, it was designed to be a Movie Studios park, and it does feel like being on the WB lot. And the attraction quality (and the shows and streetmousphere it used to have) means that it gets beaten down far more than it deserves. It is still one of the best parks in Europe, and more enjoyable to me than DHS. Also, as you say, you can be in the most beautiful MK park on the planet in minutes, so most people treat it like a new land.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< The thing is, though, you can walk from DSP to the incredible DLP ... at HKDL you can walk into the South China Sea or to the MTR station! >>> You did walk out to the HKDL ferry terminal, didn't you? The one that was built to service the regularly-scheduled ferries from Central and perhaps elsewhere to handle the hordes of guests that would otherwise overwhelm the MTR's capacity? Instead, we have a "ghost town" attraction at HKDLR, which as far as I know has never serviced a single revenue ferry in its 5+ years of existence. Occasionally, a Security CM will ride through it on a bicycle to make sure that nobody is out there vandalizing it, but other than that, it's empty. And even the MTR line usually runs only one train total, instead of its designed capacity of one train in each direction.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I wouldn't argue with that point. But I will say this, it was designed to be a Movie Studios park, and it does feel like being on the WB lot. And the attraction quality (and the shows and streetmousphere it used to have) means that it gets beaten down far more than it deserves. It is still one of the best parks in Europe, and more enjoyable to me than DHS. Also, as you say, you can be in the most beautiful MK park on the planet in minutes, so most people treat it like a new land.>>> If anything, that's what they should have done... Built a massive new land onto DLP. LOL.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Wouldn't have worked out. DLP is built with the most amazing transitions between lands, like not other park really.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ Well, that, of course, should have been done correctly, of al things.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Okay EE watching for 101 I think a warning bell should be installed or a flashing #100...
