Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<I really enjoy Disneyland and think Disneyland Park is the single best Disney Park. But as a vacation destination, WDW still wins.>> You said it RoadTrip. DL is incredible and the best... but I love WDW and Epcot.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "But as a vacation destination, WDW still wins." Maybe as a closed Disney destination it does, but as an adult traveling without kids Orlando can't hold a candle to Southern California. Don't get me wrong, I think WDW does top DL, but beyond that there is just no comparison.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, Orlando doesn't offer much other than the theme parks. If I felt comfortable driving off Disney property in LA I would probably have a great time!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Yes, Orlando doesn't offer much other than the theme parks.>> Ehhhhh...I don't necessarily agree. Now, it definitely doesn't have as much around it as DL, there are things relatively close by I'd definitely recommend checking out, namely Clearwater Beach.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt <<Yes, Orlando doesn't offer much other than the theme parks.>> "Ehhhhh...I don't necessarily agree." Orlando may actually have as much or more to see and do than LA does (I doubt it though), but from what I can tell most of it is mediocre programmed tourist junk.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Orlando may actually have as much or more to see and do than LA does (I doubt it though), but from what I can tell most of it is mediocre programmed tourist junk. >> Yea, you have to get outside the city if you want good stuff that isn't theme parks. Basically you have to get to the Tampa area, but that's not a far drive at all.
Originally Posted By HMButler79 ""America has voted and what is the favorite Disney resort? WDW is."" Wow really? America has deemed MK the Gone With the Wind of US parks? ummmmmmm more like WDW and TDO dominate every marketing sector east of the Rocky Mountains. The guests don't even know what WDW IS till they get there so ....PLEASE....
Originally Posted By RoadTrip << ""America has voted and what is the favorite Disney resort? WDW is."" Wow really? America has deemed MK the Gone With the Wind of US parks? ummmmmmm more like WDW and TDO dominate every marketing sector east of the Rocky Mountains. The guests don't even know what WDW IS till they get there so ....PLEASE....>> You may want to try reading posts a little more closely. I said DISNEY RESORT. No other US Disney Resort comes CLOSE to WDW in number of visitors. That's OK. I've realized for some time now that you don't really comprehend other's posts..
Originally Posted By fkurucz If you live east of the Rockies, it's WDW that gets marketed: TV ads, junk mail, etc.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb It get's marketed pretty heavily here 135 miles from Disneyland. I'd say for every two Disneyland ads we get at least one WDW ad. And most of the DL ads are for 2fer or other So Cal specials as opposed to the WDW ads which are selling a vacation package. Come to think of it I have never seen a TV ad trying to sell me a week (or even more than 2 days) at the parks with hotel stays.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Here in the Bay Area I definitely see more TV ads for WDW and Disney Parks than I do for DLR. The only time I see DLR ads are when there's a special promotion like Halloween or when World of Color debuted last year.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I read the story. I agreed with all the basic points. I agreed with the conclusions. I don't agree with the criticism it has received here (except perhaps that it really is more blog-like ... I would have written a few thousand words on every thing Seth mentioned). And here is more of why WDW just doesn't do it for me much anymore: (Yes, they are about to RUIN my favorite moderate resort and turn it into another DISNEY BRANDED PRINCESS FEST!) <a href="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/04/specialty-rooms-will-give-guests-the-royal-treatment/" target="_blank">http://disneyparks.disney.go.c...eatment/</a>
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Sorry Spirit, but your bitterness is starting to color all of your opinions. I may not agree with all of your posts, but I've always respected them. Not so sure lately when it comes to your opinions of WDW. You seem to have gone over the edge.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Sorry, Trippy. I call them as I see them. And I agreed with the writer of the O Weekly piece. WDW isn't what it once was. And I am not gonna pretend otherwise. DLR gives me far more joy when visiting. ... As do DCL, DLP, HKDL ... and well, I can tell you that no true Disney Parks fan has lived until they've set foot in TDR. But I may stop by the place this week since I'll be in O-Town for business and personal reasons ... if so, I'll be sure to take in everything MAGICal and not so. As to going over the edge ... I think our society has done a great job of that and it is tough to be a relatively sane intellectual Spirit in a country populated more and more by people who can't put a rational thought together, yet somehow lead our government and our courts and our corporations. But that's another matter.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Spirit might seem to be different lately,perhaps. I think recent tragedy in Japan and the insight Mr.X has given us has forced us all to have a different perspective on life. The journalist should have used LP as his source of inspiration for the article.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub ...familiarity breeds contempt... I am just as familiar with DL as I am with WDW. And believe me their are negatives and positives to both resorts. The "local" problem at DL makes me prefer WDW over DL,lately. But the character taking over WDW is making me lose all desire to visit. And the themed hotel rooms look scary and cheap or cheesy..never cheap; I am sure they are expensive!
Originally Posted By TP2000 If the only form of vacation entertainment you go for is amusement parks and cheesy dinner shows, then WDW and greater Orlando is heaven on earth. Disneyland and the small Anaheim Resort District could never hold a candle to Greater Orlando when it comes to theme parks and Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede with all-you-can-drink Pepsi-Cola. But take away all the pre-fab theme parks and dinner theaters and "Adventure Golf", and there's not much to Orlando. Not much at all, really. Except swamps and a horrible crime rate and cheesy tract homes and big box stores and bad humidity. I once tried to take a day to drive off Disney property and see Orlando. Big mistake. There's no there, there. I love me some theme parks on vacation, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. At least on some of my vacations. But to base your entire leisure-time on theme parks and themed dinner adventures and themed hotel rooms and bug spray in Orlando's jungle-like climate? Yikes.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper There is plenty to do in Orlando (and the surrounding areas) if you are willing to venture off the extremely beaten path. Orlando is home to some fabulous parks (not amusement parks...but real parks) including a number of springs. Wekiwa Springs is a wonderful place to go snorkling and swimming. The West Orange Trail is a fabulous bike trail that takes you through many "old Florida" communities. The Tibet Butler Preserve is a 440 acre preserve with all types of trails just east of WDW. Of course you aren't too far from fabulous beaches on either coast, the Kennedy Space Center which isn't duplicated anywhere. And, contrary to popular belief, the weather in Florida is really only miserable in the summertime. We don't get too many complaints about the weather from November through May. If you choose to come here in the beginning of August then I can't really help you.
Originally Posted By standor Most of Florida is a fun place and is more affordable than California. Love the beaches. You have to get away from the theme parks to really enjoy the relaxation. Great restaurants all through the state.
