Posted on 12/22/2012 4:28:53 PM PST by Doc Savage
My family and I just returned from a week long vacation at DisneyWorld. Just thought I'd share a few thoughts.
I suppose the first thing that comes to mind is that absolutely nothing at Disney World is small,...with perhaps the exception of 'Small World' which actually isn't all that small. 43 square miles can be a very large place. To give you some comparison, All the existing DisneyWorld current properties could fit into 'Animal Kingdom' -alone - with space left over. If you've been there, you know!
If you're going,...bring comfortable walking shoes. You have never walked so far in the midst of so many people. DisneyWorld could actually change it's name to 'ScooterWorld'. There are literally thousands of 'ancient mariners' scooting around the parks. They go fast and they do NOT care who they run over. So be careful.
We stayed at the Yacht Club and it was very nice. I can't even begin to tell you how nice and polite the Disney staff are,...and they do it under difficult circumstances with hundreds of thousands of people asking questions they've heard and answered a million times. It's as if Disney somehow discovered who all the really nice people are in the world,...and hired them. I take my hat off to everyone who works there. They are absolutely amazing.
That having been said, I hope you like crowds. They are massive,... especially around Christmas. But we had a great time. We rode all the major rides and had excellent food. Because there was a computer error for a reservation Disney gave the family a special pontoon ride for the EPCOT 'Illumination' which cost $400,...but it was free. We also got $150 worth of credit at the new 'Be Our Guest' restaurant,...and a photo with the Beast!
The only thing I would point out is that the exhibits and rides in the now 30 year old EPCOT pavilions are a bit dated and need to be re-done. Also, they could skip the stupid Aerosmith video before you get on the 'Rock and Roll' coaster. Good ride, but NOT an Aerosmith fan.
If you like fireworks, this is the place to come. Good grief! I have no idea how much money they shoot up into the sky each night, but it is considerable and spectacular.
Well, I'm sure you have many comments of your own. Just thought I'd share a few thoughts. Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
It’s cold, windy, and liberal here in Massachusetts. Thanks for the two minute mental vacation.
Merry Christmas!
If he went last week, he was one week to late. The week around Dec 10th, WDW is dead.
We use to go every Christmas that week. Then we adopted a 13 year old and school comes first. Now we only go in late May or June, and, any other time we can work it.
Best thing to do at Christmas at WDW is the Christmas Hoop-de-do show at Ft Wilderness.
For last trip to Disney World in Sept., I was ready to wear shirt “For Shorter Lines at Disney World, Vote for OBAMA!”.
For last trip to Disney World in Sept., I was ready to wear shirt “For Shorter Lines at Disney World, Vote for OBAMA!”.
I’m glad you had a good time, but I must take exception with your observations about “ancient mariners” on scooters. I am disabled and living in Florida and have made quite a few trips to Disney. I can no longer walk around the parks, so I’m forced to use a scooter. The scooters they rent do not go fast enough to be much of a menace. The real problem is, most guests are so distracted by all the things to see around them, they don’t pay attention to where they’re walking. I am so cautious when I’m using one because I know to expect this, but I have still had some very near misses. People also treat you like you don’t exist and just walk right in front of you, forcing you to stop suddenly, which can affect people walking behind you. Of course, there are always exceptions, but I have seen very few scooter riders being the cause of the problems.
Great overview of Disney World. Was there for the 2nd time for a beautiful military wedding in July (niece married a 1st Lieutenant in the Army).
I especially loved Disney Hollywood — I had to travel to FLORIDA to visit “old” California. It was spectacular and they did a beautiful job! I walked in and wondered why I was at the Farmer’s Market!! Employee told me each building was an exact replica of buildings in Hollywood. It brought tears to my eyes (really) to realize how much has been lost...
Agree about the Aerosmith ride! Great ride— didn’t like listening to “Walk This Way” blasted at full volume right in my ear!!
There was this one old lady in a scooter chair who, I swear, must have been following us around in Florida. I called her Granny Gertie. She ran over my feet at least ten times. I saw her by the Rock And Rollercoaster entrance looking at the signs. I told the Disney Cast Member that she was my grandmother and he let us in a special side door right by where they load the roller coaster. I told the oldest step daughter to flirt with the guy running the coaster to distract him. Do you know that scooter chairs are the exact same size as a roller coaster track.? They use something like a rail gun to launch the coasters there, and they get up to 60mph in nothing flat, but there’s some weight to those coasters. Granny Gertie and her scooter chair didn’t weigh much. She shot out of there like Big Daddy Don Garlits trying to set a drag record. I exited out of that side door, almost as fast. My fondest Disney memory is the sight of Granny Gertie hurtling into the darkness as the sound of DUDE LOOKS LIKE A LADY mixed with her shrieks. Oh, don’t worry, she made it. They gave her a pin or something.
You got a photo with the Beast? So did my wife! It’s our wedding photo.
Just back on Tuesday night. Great time. Just the daughter and me this trip. Celebrating her first semester away at college. Our re-connection time. Plus son didn’t finish up 10th grade semester until 12/21 so left husband and him @ home. haha Weather was pretty good, cool and rainy two of the days. Bought a pedometer and DD wore it. Most days we clocked in 8+, 9+ and 10+ miles. About 60 miles in all. Last two days, one did World Showcase and took it easy, last day caught a cab to Premiere Outlet malls and shopped for her Christmas and January birthday and did our last hoorah’s at the Magic Kingdom that night. Had a blast trying to beat each other at the newer Toy Story Mania @ Hollywood Studios, three times she beat me . . . and last time on Buzz Lightyear in Magic Kingdom she beat me with a 999,999 which is the best score anyone in our family EVER got. We had a GREAT time.
We slept in the car. I told the kids we were staying at THE DISNEY JUNK CAR RESORT. We had Bob The Wino for our character breakfast. The maid came in every day and folded the towels to look like.....well towels.
Me and my Son decided to make a Kurosawa Samurai movie at the Japanese Pavilion at EPCOT. I gave my wife the videocam and me and the boy grabbed a couple of plastic swords and had at it. Well, all you hear about is how polite those Japanese people are, but let me tell you, they can toss you out on your behind with the best of the New York City Bouncers. Me and the boy kept walking up to the door like we were going back in, and there’d be seven or eight Japanese holding the door and yelling, “You no come in here! You very bad people!” So, we went and got a stroller. I tied a white scarf around my head and loaded Junior into the stroller. We charged the door yelling “Tora! Tora! Tora!” and I launched Junior and yelled “Torpedo away!” Well, they were a tricky bunch and opened the doors. Junior and the stroller hit a kimono display and he came running out with half the store chasing him. Now, whenever we have Japanese food, I hold up my glass and toast “The very bad people”.
Thanks for vacationing in my state.
We used to go up for a week around 12/10 every yr, but we’re going Galt for a while.
We’re 3 hrs South of Orlando.
I was there 4 weeks ago. I was astounded at the number of people on scooters, not disabled people but grossly obese people. Thousands of them - everywhere. Like nothing I had ever seen in my life.
When you ride the shuttle bus it takes an extra 10 minutes for the driver to lower the ramp, get them on board and strap these things down so they don’t fly in a crash. Total pain in the @ss.
These folks will be in big trouble when the Death Panels are in full operation.....
Beautiful state. Lovely weather. I applied for a job as an alligator wrestler. They had me tryout with what they considered to be “just a baby” alligator. Well, alligators are painful at both ends. I’d grab his tail and he’d bite me. I’d grab his snout and he’d whip me with his tail. So I grabbed him by both legs on his right side and I gave him the old Singapore Swing and The Highland Toss and danged if he didn’t land in the middle of the gift shop. A tourist from Minneapolis, Minnesota bought him for ten bucks. They said I had no talent as a wrestler but they’d let me sell snocones. I took a job as an engineer with NASA, instead.
YES. OMGosh . . . . this is so much worse than in all our previous trips. HUGE people, no way can they even fit or ride 98% of the rides. And the strollers. IF you are over the age of 3 you should be walking the parks and not riding in a stroller. NEED be to get somewhere quick or out of a crowd after a parade or Fantasmic or Illuminations or Wishes . . . and a quick hoist upon Dad or Mom’s shoulders . . . get out of your stroller and WALK. My kids did it and we went from 7 a.m. to first bus stop for early entry until almost midnight with NO NAPS. And ice cream sandwiches with HUGE cookies for lunch at Main Street Ice Cream Shop. haha
The first thing you learn is that despite what they say, Disney World is NOT the happiest place on earth.
I have never heard so much whining, bitching, and sniveling.
And that was just the adults.
I personally know a few folks who work at WDW and I thank you for your kind words about their kindness and courtesy.....
WDW is a special place, and while not everyone is perfect, I will tell you a quick story:
A lady I know who works at WDW went to a local eatery for lunch, a place where if you show your WDW ID you get 25% off your bill......
When she went up to pay and asked if they needed to see her ID, they told her no, she was so nice they knew she worked at WDW.....
And that’s a true story.
We love WDW and were there earlier this month. Osborne Lights, Candlelight Processional, and cooler temps make it our favorite time of the year to visit.
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