Originally Posted By HMButler79 The truth shall set you free.... <a href="http://orlandoweekly.com/arts/culture/live-active-cultures-1.1116572?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4db57ce57e2b43f3%2C0" target="_blank">http://orlandoweekly.com/arts/...43f3%2C0</a>
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I would say most of that is grounded in truth. But, it really is a bit of an unfair comparison. It's like trying to compare Fenway Park to the new baseball stadiums around the country. The new stadiums feel almost antiseptic compared to the classics. The staffing is another good point but again, how do you really compare? WDW needs some 60,000 employees. There are plenty of very good Cast Members (often times in the resorts, transportation and back of the house areas) who get lost amongst the throngs of college aged kids who are there for six months and then leave.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes... and no. Disneyland has it's advantages, but if I want a week-long Disney trip and to stay at a Disney hotel without having to take out a second mortgage, WDW is far superior. Disneyland is great for a 3-4 day trip, but anything longer than that and I'll take WDW. In many ways it is like comparing apples to oranges.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper What a terribly written "article". Bashing for the sake of bashing, and none of the points, save for maybe the CMs(and even then he's way too harsh), are valid.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 I've been to both DL and WDW. For me they are both alike in many ways. Also very different in many ways. I don't think you can fairly compare DL to WDW. I grew up in DL, now I make my stays at WDW. Dl and WDW have very good CMs, they also have worn out and tried CMs.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 amazing some of the 'hacks' that can get article space -- agree with Hokie- very poorly written/researched -- so even valid points mean nothing as far as I am concerned. more like a blog post than an article of course this is the Orlando Weekly..not exactly the pinnacle of journalism
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Bitter much? I will never understand the dissing of the WDW CMs. I have never had a standout bad CM on either coast but plenty who have made my trip nicer on both coasts. Maybe the fact that I smile and treat them all like humans helps get me decent service. As for the weather, well what can I say? We in SoCal have hit the weather lottery. I guess that's why so many people live here . Oh, the $50 per night hotels near DL are every bit as craptastic (unless you catch lucky w/ a Priceline bid) as the $35 a night places on 192 in Kissimmee. But yes you can walk to the resort from many of these, as well as some much nicer places if you drop the coin. The author also fails to mention that it will cost you the same or more to stay at the "cheap" on property hotel at DLR than to stay at a WDW deluxe. The Paradise Pier is nice, but it's not near as nice as Port Orleans for the price of Fort Wilderness or Animal Kingdom Lodge. Yes I love Disneyland, but with high gas prices and cheap APs keeping it full to the gills almost all the time I find I prefer a week in Florida at WDW to a Disneyland trip these days. I hope the author likes crowds with his nice weather.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 As for the weather, well what can I say? We in SoCal have hit the weather lottery. I guess that's why so many people live here . --- you have - that's why a house that would sell even where I am for $500K is $1.25M or more-- can;t change the weather, everywhere is not So Cal.....
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I lived in Southern California for much of my youth and as nice as the weather was I would not invite the higher cost of living and horrendous traffic in order to move back there. South Florida, for all it's faults, ain't all that bad.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Hooo boy do I know about the cost of living here, especially my town which doesn't have terrible traffic or much smog. Believe me, I know if I could make what I make here in another part of the country I could afford a nice home instead of renting rooms in my dad's house. But I tried leaving and both my son and I hated it, we lasted less than a year and only lasted that long so he could finish his school year. I guess it all goes down to the choices we make, I choose less life style to live here near DLR instead of near(er) WDW.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I lived in Southern California for much of my youth and as nice as the weather was I would not invite the higher cost of living and horrendous traffic in order to move back there. South Florida, for all it's faults, ain't all that bad.>> It really does amaze me how living costs are so different in various parts of the country. I only became aware of that when I started pricing what it would cost to retire in various parts of the country. The home I have now was built in 1999 and is the largest home I've ever owned. It cost 43% of what I sold my home in Minnesota for, and that home was 25% smaller. I can't even imagine what it would be like to try and afford a home in New York, Chicago or LA. I don't really want to get political in this thread, but I think that is a major reason for the difference between the prevailing philosophy in red and blue states. Here in "the heartland" we face a whole different economic reality than those on the coasts. Politically I am something of an outcast here. Recently Springfield MO (I live in a suburb) was determined to be the least diverse large city in the United States. The people here like it that way. What can I say? On the other hand, if I ever needed the help of my neighbors for something I would be far more likely to get it here than I would have back in Minnesota.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I will never understand the dissing of the WDW CMs. I have never had a standout bad CM on either coast but plenty who have made my trip nicer on both coasts. >> It's all on how you look at the trip. Have I seen/experienced bad CMs? Yes, of course. I've worked with some. But they're far outnumbered by the CMs who want to make things special. yes, even the majority of the CPs are there doing a great job, no matter what people say. <<Maybe the fact that I smile and treat them all like humans helps get me decent service.>> That does help a lot. Guests who are there, happy, and enjoying themselves are so much more fun to deal with, and running into them can really brighten a CM's day. Especially at Jungle Cruise, when you get the people that have to desire to be on the ride or play along. You know, the kind of people who are on the ride "because it's there". Those people can really suck the fun out of one of the best jobs in the world.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I will never understand the dissing of the WDW CMs. I have never had a standout bad CM on either coast but plenty who have made my trip nicer on both coasts. >> It's all on how you look at the trip. Have I seen/experienced bad CMs? Yes, of course. I've worked with some. But they're far outnumbered by the CMs who want to make things special. yes, even the majority of the CPs are there doing a great job, no matter what people say. <<Maybe the fact that I smile and treat them all like humans helps get me decent service.>> That does help a lot. Guests who are there, happy, and enjoying themselves are so much more fun to deal with, and running into them can really brighten a CM's day. Especially at Jungle Cruise, when you get the people that have to desire to be on the ride or play along. You know, the kind of people who are on the ride "because it's there". Those people can really suck the fun out of one of the best jobs in the world.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 It's all on how you look at the trip. Have I seen/experienced bad CMs? Yes, of course. I've worked with some. But they're far outnumbered by the CMs who want to make things special. yes, even the majority of the CPs are there doing a great job, no matter what people say. --------------- on the basis of 60,000 workers- you bet..I agree
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom OK, I just read the artice. I wouldn't have been as harsh on the Magic Kingdom as the writer. Yes, they are totally different parks. But, in many ways whats' the harm in comparing? If your a WDW junky and then you visit DL expect a few surprises! First off be preparred for a long wait to get in because DL has long lines and no automated gate equiment. You must pass by a live ticket taker to get in. And DL doesn't split lines into "check bags" and "no check bags". You simply get in line with everyone else ( people with bags and without) and have to wait your turn to get in the parks. DL is a smaller park, easy to get around unless your in the back of the park and there is a parade going on and then your stuck in the back of the park. DL has the matterhorn, remodeled space mountain with sterosound, operating subs, full size Pirtes, INDY!!!, it's got a totally different vibe than MK. Personally I thought DL had much better, tastier food. I preferred Downtown Disney in DL, I thought is had shops that appealed to me and that were not all about selling Disney merchandise. I also enjoyed being about to just make a short walk from DL to a varity of restaurants outside the park. I also think another shocking difference between WDW and DLR is that FL pretty much all looks the same, sure it's got lots of more greenery. But, within 90 minutes of DLR there is much more spectacular communities. So, your also kinda comparing CA to FL, CA has more pizzaz.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<The truth hurts, doesn't it? >> If there was basis in most of this article, it may have.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 first off -- Compact - well DUH ! had to be- is this given as something better ? Not to many Cheaper $199 for 2 parks or $299 for 5 parks ? Let's compare apples to apples Charm- well yeah, for the most part it is charming- however there are issues as well, like location and outside views-- and I grew up on DL so I am not just a WDW fan No Clones- really ? SOmeone please knock down the tower of terror then. Since the park opened in 1955 it did get things first- it has a better version of Potc- given. Hauned Mansion- I prefer WDW's Climate - well geez- of course- SO Cal has some of the best climate in the world which is why most people can't afford to live there. I lived with rel's in Newport Beach for a while after HS - yeah it's really cool weather wise- is that some groundbreaking news however ? the writer has an axe to grind-- I say move to So Cal or get over it...they are different locations entirely. And a Cali Adventure lover- wonder how he'd be received in So Cal...
Originally Posted By RoadTrip America has voted and what is the favorite Disney resort? WDW is. Even though America's population is shifting south and west, Florida still draws more people. WDW has the number 1, 3, 4, and 5 parks. Disneyland has numbers 2 and 6. Say what you will, people vote with their dollars and WDW wins. I really enjoy Disneyland and think Disneyland Park is the single best Disney Park. But as a vacation destination, WDW still wins.
