Originally Posted By TP2000 Post #18, great examples of the big bold world beyond an amusement park! Southern California is a wealth of riches and experiences, both natural and man-made. Disneyland is just one of the man-made experiences to be had, but when all you do with your free time is visit theme parks (much less theme parks run by one specific company), it's time to back away from the Kool-Aid.
Originally Posted By Tikiduck Funny, I am planning a Southern Cal trip soon, and I am debating going to Disneyland at all. I have been in a self imposed exile for about three years,(crowds) and seem to have lost some park passion.
Originally Posted By TP2000 There were several decades of the modern era, post World War I, where Southern California was a HUGE tourist draw even without Disneyland. Even in the 1950's, people visited SoCal willingly and didn't include Disneyland in their plans. The wildly popular SitCom "I Love Lucy" included more than an entire season (Much of Season 4, and into Season 5) where the Ricardo's and Mertz's drove out to Southern California in a Pontiac convertible and visited there in 1955. And Disneyland, although it was newly opened during the filming and airing of most of the episodes, never was mentioned or thought of during any episode. Yet somehow the I Love Lucy writers were able to create locations and plotlines in Southern California that didn't involve a trip to Disneyland. There is a big, bold world beyond amusement parks. And in Southern California, that world includes some of the planet's most impressive cultural and natural wonders. Out in Orlando, however, not so much. It's good for everyone that they have some amusement parks out there in the swamp to help kill the time. With lots of air-conditioned buildings and nice, long air-conditioned theater shows with singing robot bears or dead Presidents who can nod their heads and tap their foot while another dead President says something nice. What else are you going to do out there? But in SoCal, the local amusement parks are just the cherry on top of the huge and very attractive sundae.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I have been in a self imposed exile for about three years,(crowds) and seem to have lost some park passion.<< Four years for us. Add rapidly rising costs to the equation for us.
Originally Posted By hbquikcomjamesl "Tikiduck": If you find yourself in Southern California on a Saturday, and not in DL, please consider the International Printing Museum, in Carson (yes, Carson!) <a href="http://www.printmuseum.org" target="_blank">http://www.printmuseum.org</a> Another place to visit is the Watts Towers (yes, they're in Watts, and yes, as long as it's daylight, and you keep your wits about you, it's safe; it's not like I'm suggesting you visit any real armpits like Hawaiian Gardens). The Towers were the work of one man, an illiterate Italian immigrant tilesetter, working in what, at the time, was his back yard. "TP2000": Thanks for Post 21. And as to what else there is to do in Central Florida, may I suggest three simple words: Kennedy Space Center. It's easy enough to get bus transportation from WDW to KSC and back; in my trips, I've gone with an outfit called Gator Tours (either directly, or subcontracting for Gray Line). And to paraphrase what one of their bus drivers tells his passengers on the outbound trip, there's no Mickey Mouse, no clowns [at KSC]; this is REAL. One very specific thing about the introspection that led to my letting the pass lapse: I realized that in my adult life, I had spent more time in museums hundreds, or even thousands of miles away than I had in museums in my own backyard. (Kind of like the Seattle residents who never bothered to take the Bill Speidel Underground Tour until they had out-of-town guests who wanted to see it.)
Originally Posted By TP2000 OOH! I did the Underground Seattle tour as a resident once in the late 70's. It was excellent. I also did the Boeing jumbojet factory tour just north of Seattle in Edmonds; once in the early 80's and again a few years ago. It has been polished up and includes slick media and a sparkling Future Of Flight museum now, but in '82 it was a rough and tumble climbing tour that children under 16 weren't allowed on. (Seriously, you had to be 16 to do the Boeing tour back then) It's much safer and more polished now, and a must-see for anyone remotely interested in aviation. I have yet to do the Kennedy Space Center visit. But with WDW holding less of an allure for me in recent years, I might piece together an Orlando visit that has 2 or 3 days at WDW, 2 days at Universal and Potterland, and a day out to the "Space Coast". Trips to Orlando up until a few years ago would have been based solely on WDW property, but no longer for me. The parks there are stagnating and tired, and the world beyond Disney property has kept evolving and improving. I once tried to Google up some art museums or history museums in the Orlando area, and couldn't come up with anything really. I also once contemplated staying downtown in a boutique hotel, as is my want in cities small and large, but again the Orlando offerings were few and the cityscene around the lone boutique hotel was sparse to non-existent. Orlando really is a city offering just theme parks, minigolf, generic outlet shopping, and rubber chicken dinner shows. All with ample parking and freeway close.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 This is one reason I prefer DLR to WDW. The Kennedy Space Center is indeed a fine way to spend the day, but after that, Central Florida can't come close to offering what SoCal does. As an adult who enjoys Disney parks but also enjoys many things outside of them, I'd rather spend a few days at DLR and then a few more exploring the many things SoCal has to offer than spending a week doing just theme parks. Of course, WDW is fun too, mostly (for me) for EPCOT and DAK.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "The wildly popular SitCom "I Love Lucy" included more than an entire season (Much of Season 4, and into Season 5) where the Ricardo's and Mertz's drove out to Southern California in a Pontiac convertible and visited there in 1955. And Disneyland, although it was newly opened during the filming and airing of most of the episodes, never was mentioned or thought of during any episode. Yet somehow the I Love Lucy writers were able to create locations and plotlines in Southern California that didn't involve a trip to Disneyland." Who, whoa, whoa. Not everyone comes out here to star in a movie for MGM and have access to any number of A list movie starts to occupy their time, either. Where did they go or what did they do that had nothing to do with the movies or movie stars? Answer: nothing.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder One more thing- the Lucy Hollywood episodes were filmed from November 4, 1954 to April 15, 1955, then resumed again September 9, 1955 through September 29, 1955, Only four episodes were filmed after Disneyland opened. Don't go bringing that Lucy stuff around here without knowing your business, young man.
Originally Posted By Tikiduck My favorite Hollywood episode had to be Lucy and Harpo Marx. Speaking of Hollywood, my trip is going to be centered around there. With the Autry Museum, the Reagan Library showing the Disney Archives stuff, Tar Pits, graveyards, the strutting freakshow of surgically altered faces in Beverly Hills...who has time for Disneyland?
Originally Posted By TP2000 SingleParkPassholder>> "Don't go bringing that Lucy stuff around here without knowing your business, young man." Yikes. I shouldn't have tried to use Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in my argument, I can now see. I won't do it again, I promise. I'm going to bow out of this thread with my tail between my legs and go watch Burns & Allen. Or maybe Jack Benny. Speaking of Jack Benny, my apology gift to you SingleParkPassholder is this absolutely fabulous guest appearance of Walt Disney on the Jack Benny variety show in 1965. I LOVE the big aerial photo of Disneyland behind Walt's desk, with the Flying Saucers still in Tomorrowland but some mysterious expansion notes placed over Tomorrowland and the western side of the park where New Orleans Square was about to get under construction. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-54gVEfDDY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...4gVEfDDY</a> Funny stuff from Jack and Walt! And without a redhead in sight.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 We are undecided. We've had a DAP or PAP for several years. We do let it lapse at some point during the year if we don't have a trip planned. We usually explore the S CA area during a DLR trip. Last month we went to Mission San Juan Capistrano and checked out some of the towns along the PCH. Another day we went to the Queen Mary and Seal Beach. We really do enjoy our S CA road trips. Next DLR vacation will be with the parkhoppers from Costco. We likely won't upgrade as we won't return for 5 or 6 months. It will be weird using the parkhoppers after so many years of AP's!
Originally Posted By tashajilek I was actually considering upgrading to a DAP because i could visit again in September or October when there are no weekends blocked. However seeing as i would have to upgrade at the end of my trip because a DAP will be blocked my whole time there i will not be able to use the discounts or upgrade the parking which too would be worthwhile. I probably shouldnt upgrade anyways so i would be obligated to go back.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE We were just in Disney..there is a seperate entrance set up for the 4-5 day park hoppers..you have to show ID on every entrance...they use different coloured markers to sign your name...One lady used blue..but the marker for that week was black...they made Cindy feel as if she had forged a ticket...they since apolozied...but it was a terrible feeling..they took her pass away, made her wait a long while and had security there...seems there have been a lot of scamming going on..renting out of passes..leasing them...Disney is working on a new way to do things that will eliminate the crooks out there...heard a rumor prices may be going up in early Jan...Disneyland in California.made a clear 40 Billion dollar profit last year...this year it is expected to reach 70 Billion..with all the increases...guess a price is in order...... : (
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Disneyland in California.made a clear 40 Billion dollar profit last year> I think you mean million, yes? If not, I want a new Tomorrowland STAT!
Originally Posted By fkurucz <Disneyland in California.made a clear 40 Billion dollar profit last year> Actually, the $40B number is Disney's total revenues (sales) The themepark unit had an operating profit of $497 million. Operating income the the money left after deducting all of the expenses related to operating the business. It's a proxy for net profit, which is typically somewhat smaller a number. How that is broken down between the various resorts is not disclosed.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE I was told 40 Billion..by Disney themselves when we were down..fkucruz..seems to have researched it more...Thank you for clarifying it all fkucruz.. : )..still a lot of money..hey they did say that California Park has increased 5 per cent more in attendance, it sure was busy a few weeks ago..and very cool too... was told also that the premium pass has hit an all time high...they are expecting huge returns after Christmas ....they are working on a new park hopper which will allow more visits than the standard 3-5..for families and persons who come on extended holidays..which is going to be good news for many.. : ) We are going back for christmas..Dec 14 to the 24th .thanks to a 40 year gift from my company..a nice tribute for 40 years of service.. : )
Originally Posted By tashajilek "We are going back for christmas..Dec 14 to the 24th " Looks like i will miss you by a day.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE Sorry Tasha...hopefully one day...we will be there at the same time...Cars Land is Great...We went thru the single rider line a lot..you might not sit together all the time...sometimes you do...other times one is in the front ..the other in the back..no matter..it is a fun, fun, fun..ride. Mater is fun too...Wheels was always extra busy..when we were there
