Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "I'll be curious to see if all these non-Disney people even show up at Aulani. It says right under the name in promotional material, "A Disney Resort & Spa." So if I'm a non-Disney person, I will put it on ignore, and go look up the prices for the Hilton, or other Hawaii resorts." Indeed. For a lot of people, whether it's true or not(or becoming MORE true!), "Disney" means "kids"....and LOTS of the little buggers! Screaming, crying, running around and getting underfoot.....KIDS!!! I am sure there are lots of people with quite a bit of money that pay to go to fancier, more expensive places just so they don't have to be around them.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Ok, no one should ask me for advise on what to see at Washington DC, I have never been there. >> That's OK. Beyond the historical sites and museums, you aren't missing much. I also feel like sharing that I have friends that keep getting lost there and winding up in the parking lot of the Nationals baseball stadium. <<I understand what you are saying: it is a matter of personal taste and priorities and everyone has a right to be different. And I think in a way Spirit was taking that into account. He says "if you are a disney fan" and assumes that everyone posting here is.>> I must wonder why anyone in their right mind (not that we are the sanest group) would ever waste time on a Disney fan site if they weren't a Disney fan. Like why?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Note to myself: not getting into another discussion comparing food prices in Orlando to places like Chicago, Boston or NY or the 'value' of a Disney day vs. a concert or ballgame. Been there. Done that. Repeated ad nauseum.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<I must wonder why anyone in their right mind (not that we are the sanest group) would ever waste time on a Disney fan site if they weren't a Disney fan. Like why?>> That's a bit harsh. Perhaps there are varying degrees of Disney fanhood? I don't tithe the Disney Company. I would consider myself a moderate Disney fan as opposed to a Disney fan extremist. And why wouldn't I or anyone else hang out here... some of the people here are pretty kewl!!!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I disagree. If you are a one-day-tripper I see your point. But if you are there for a week I think you get more for your money now. My first trip to WDW was in 1991 and if I remember correctly a one-day ticket cost somewhere between $40 and $50. Currently a seven-day hopper is priced at $45.80 a day, and there is MUCH more to see now than there was then. The Studios has far more attractions now than it did in 1991, and of course Animal Kingdom added a whole new (and in my mind fantastic) park.<<< I'm talking about from Park, to Park. When you look at things in Disney closer, they've cut most of the details away.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>That's OK. Beyond the historical sites and museums, you aren't missing much. I also feel like sharing that I have friends that keep getting lost there and winding up in the parking lot of the Nationals baseball stadium<<< No, you are missing a ton. It's a beautiful city, has tons of culture, and the surrounding areas are packed with History, too.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I'm talking about from Park, to Park. When you look at things in Disney closer, they've cut most of the details away.>> Much of what has gone away I honestly don't miss that much. I guess that makes me a darned crummy Disney fan. 'Dumbed down' merchandise? I could never afford the good stuff anyway so I don't really care. Less live entertainment? It was a nice touch but do I miss it? Not really. Reduced maintenance? That I've noticed, but WDW is still far cleaner than any other park I visit. Back when you could smoke in the parks you would put out a cigarette on the ground and 10 seconds later someone would be around to sweep up the butt. Now you can't smoke so there is no need for such vigilance. Cleaner air but dirtier grounds. I guess you can't have everything. Would you rather go back to the way it was with people smoking wherever the heck they wanted? What do I miss? The detailed guide books being replaced by a crummy map. After my first visit I would read those guidebooks at home and re-live my experience. Can’t do that anymore. It doesn’t really impact my enjoyment while I’m there though… especially since I now know from experience more than the guidebook ever told me anyway. So I guess I’m the type of person you hate. The person that the Disney suits figured wouldn’t really care if that stuff were gone. Yes, I take personal responsibility for the downfall of WDW. Oh well…
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ I certainly don't hate you, but what you don't care about a LOT of other guests do, myself included. I would hope that management isn't so myopic as to only cater to those who look for a specialized experience when in the parks. What's great for you, isn't great for everyone.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Less live entertainment? It was a nice touch but do I miss it? Not really.>> Seriously? I mean I can understand not caring much about merch. Hell, I can even understand not being bothered by dumbed down menus. But the dwindling amount of live entertainment does nothing to detriment your trip? I just can't wrap my head around that one. <<Reduced maintenance? That I've noticed, but WDW is still far cleaner than any other park I visit.>> Cleanliness aside, ride maintenance and show quality leaves something to be desired in too many places, although that's improving,t here's still a lot to be done.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 the reduction of live entertainment probably bothers me the most of all the negatives listed above...that is usually high quality stuff and does set Disney apart- or used to. I like the interaction with live people, not just animatronics.. not saying the other things don't bother me, but I can work around the menu's because quite frankly after all these years I ahve my favorites at most rstaurant and most of those still around- or you can request them
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<the reduction of live entertainment probably bothers me the most of all the negatives listed above...that is usually high quality stuff and does set Disney apart- or used to. I like the interaction with live people, not just animatronics..>> I have to agree. It's probably the reason why I spend half my days at DHS watching/interacting with the Citizens of Hollywood, and why I'm still hopping mad about the Adventurers Club closing. There's something about streetmosphere that makes a park come to life. It's what makes Disney special.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "My only point in this is that I don't think that resorts like the Aulani will drive additional traffic to the parks." This statement seems to ignore the fact that the parks, resorts, and cruise line are all operating under the same division. Just as DVC is promoted at the parks I would imagine that DLR, WDW, et al will be marketed to folks staying at properties like the Aulani. Whether or not hordes of newly enshrined Disney fans will funnel into the parks as a result of a stay in one of these places is yet to be seen, however it doesn't take a nuclear physicist to see the synergistic relationship between the theme parks and the off site resort destinations.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Seriously? I mean I can understand not caring much about merch. Hell, I can even understand not being bothered by dumbed down menus. But the dwindling amount of live entertainment does nothing to detriment your trip?>> Seriously. For the same reason I don't really care about the resort pools. There are many places close to home where I can swim. Likewise, there are many places close to home where I can hear bands or barbershop quartets or whatever. To me it is like elevator music... pleasant enough but I'm not going to miss it terribly if it is gone. I travel 1,000 miles and spend fairly significant money to do things at WDW that I can do nowhere else... not for things I can do easily and cheaply at home. Sorry. That's just the way I roll.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I just came back from a weekend in LA and stayed at the Standard in West Hollywood. I literally laid by the pool for two days soaking in the sun, sipping margaritas and watching the Hollywood types who populate the place. It was awesome.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I just came back from a weekend in LA and stayed at the Standard in West Hollywood. I literally laid by the pool for two days soaking in the sun, sipping margaritas and watching the Hollywood types who populate the place. It was awesome.>> Yup... but you never get that at WDW. At WDW you get fat Brits in a Speedo. If I want to watch semi-naked beautiful people I go to Vegas! LOL
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Yup... but you never get that at WDW. At WDW you get fat Brits in a Speedo. If I want to watch semi-naked beautiful people I go to Vegas! LOL Are you kidding? Most Vegas hotels are full of the same middle aged overweight people who go to WDW. Where do you stay when you're there? I can think of a couple of places that might be exceptions (The Hard Rock Hotel comes to mind), but for the most part Vegas seems to be a catch-all for every kind of bad tourist imaginable.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Mandalay Bay offers pretty good eye-candy. Any hotel with a swimsuit optional pool is also usually a pretty good bet. They're usually filled with good looking women and paunchy middle-aged men watching them! LOL
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt You learn something new every day. Which hotels have clothing optional pools? I was unaware that there were such places on the strip.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think quite a few do. The only one I know of for sure is at the Flamingo. As you would expect, they have a cover charge for men.
