Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ Those lucky Brits. They pay through the nose for housing (have you ever seen House Hunters - Britain? GAK). They have to pay WAY TOO much for houses that aren't all that great (sorry British friends). But they get everything in the U.S. for about half-price. Maybe this Queen thing isn't so bad after all!! LOL
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well trippy, we do indeed pay through the nose for shoeboxes (Our 950 sq foot 3 bedroom house is worth $380,000), pay 50% income tax and national insurance (National Health Contributions), 17.5% sales tax, and $9 a gallon for fuel. But on the upside, 25 days annual leave a year and the exchange rate does make vacations in the US very affordable for the middle classes. But I think besides the economy, part of the problem is the lack of WOW! EE and Soarin' are big hitter improvements, but let's face it - other than those , what was the last big addition in Otown - IOA? Test Track? DAK? The theme park industry does not seem to wow people anymore. Instead of reaching for the sky, they reach for the marketing report from the last focus group. Maybe if the MK wasn't such a rubber head hole that feels like an upmarket 6 Flags, people would start going again.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Instead of reaching for the sky, they reach for the marketing report from the last focus group. Maybe if the MK wasn't such a rubber head hole that feels like an upmarket 6 Flags, people would start going again.>> Ohhhhh. Ouch. That's gotta hurt. Not that I disagree or anything. With all the new stuff coming to Disney-MG..oops, I mean Disney's Hollywood Studios, I see the day very soon where the MK is by far my least fave WDW park ... and I think that's a crying shame and very much an indictment on both current WDW management and WDI for what they continue to pump into the park.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Maybe if the MK wasn't such a rubber head hole that feels like an upmarket 6 Flags, people would start going again.>> Yes, it is really shocking the way attendance has fallen... Attendance in Millions 2000 15.4 2001 14.7 2002 14.0 2003 14.0 2004 15.1 2005 16.1 2006 16.6 With declining attendance like that it is a miracle they don't go broke!! :-\ Source: <a href="http://scottware.com.au/theme/feature/atend_disparks.htm" target="_blank">http://scottware.com.au/theme/ feature/atend_disparks.htm</a>
Originally Posted By Jiko and the Man 1 I will tell you why these Europeans come to this great United States of America because not only it is cheap for them but they secretly want to be us. They will never admit it but they wish that they had our standard of living. Most of us have our own cars and we eat like kings(and pigs, but you knew that). Our houses are bigger, our cars are bigger, our tv's are bigger and our food is bigger(as well as our bellies, but you knew that also).
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Have you ever lived in another country ? I lived in Germany for a while for work and I can tell you I don't think this is the case....in fact would make for a good discussion over a few beers there....and in some places would qualify for the 'ugly American' type of discussion. It might surprise you that they own their own cars, and homes ....in fact the more I read this I am hoping it was done just tongue in cheek... and not seriously. But I'll let our UK folks here take over...I am sure they may have a different viewpoint also.
Originally Posted By MPierce I sure hope this goes the way I think it's going to go. Discussions here have really slowed down this week, so I think it's time for another good knock- down-drag-out fight. I mean who really wants to discuss WDW when we can have a good old-fashion brawl!
Originally Posted By danyoung >...so I think it's time for another good knock- down-drag-out fight.< OK, I'll start - TDLFAN is short, ugly, and his mom dresses him funny!!!
Originally Posted By Jiko and the Man 1 Are you actually saying that Europeans don't envy us in the Great US of A? Are you saying that they don't envy our access to cheap, large and plentiful foods and excessive lifestyles? If you are then why are the Western Russians and east Europeans coming over? I read East European ladies will marry our men without much fuss to get their foots on US soil. I can't blame them because this is the land of the free and the home of the brave. What about all those young tall blondes from Holland coming here for nanny jobs and getting hitched to Americans We can cook pig ribs any day of the week here and jump in our big trucks and go 4 wheeling(It is so fun and I started when I was 15). They don't drive 4x4 like us Americans. I heard they take trains, buses and their cars are small(for the ones who own cars). They may ridicule or even pity us but they wish that they had a bite of some good tasting US of A lifestyle even if it is secretive.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 What is it about my threads that attract trolls? Is it the smell of my freshly baked chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies?
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Ok, I admit to being a proud, content and ignorant of the rest of the world American, so I'm curious... Do other countries have all the illegals that the US has? Depending on the answer, that might tell us something about whether or not the US is desirable to others.
Originally Posted By Jiko and the Man 1 I'll tell you what, I never turn down some tasty macadamian nuts from Hawaii. One of my buddies brought some back when he went Hilo. They are great with beer. See, even the tastiest nuts come from the good old US of A. even if it aint the <real US of A>. We got it all here like Bud lite, Cadillacs, Zenith and fine eats like Jikos and Bomas and Ohana beef and pork slices down in Orlando.
Originally Posted By Jiko and the Man 1 I have a secret so please don't tell anyone. Last season I got me one of those Japanese flat screens, Pioneer, to watch some bowl games. I'll you what I like it better than RCA and Zenith. That picture is more crisp than a carrot sitting in water.
Originally Posted By Jiko and the Man 1 And to answer yous question as to where all the <magic> has gone? It is still right here in the great American city of Orlando, Florida. Red, White and Blue forever!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Ok, I admit to being a proud, content and ignorant of the rest of the world American, so I'm curious... Do other countries have all the illegals that the US has? Depending on the answer, that might tell us something about whether or not the US is desirable to others.< the short answer is yes. Here is a quick fact for you that my wife and her realtives in Ireland were just discussing. 25% of the population in Ireland is now considered minority. This is quite a change in a short period of time. People going there looking for a better life.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Most of the Scandinavian countries beat the U.S. in almost any quality of life measure there is. Plus they have hot blond women. What more could a person want? ;-)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I think there are many, many, many places with a higher quality of life than we have here in the WalMarted USA. But most Americans are content in their ignorance. If folks like George Bush says we're the best in the world, by golly how can we not be? But I'd really rather discuss the the magic (or lack thereof) in WDW's MK. If you ignore the trolls, they tend to get bored and go find an empty box to play with.
