A Spirited Perfect Ten

the.dreamfinder

the.dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
raven24 said:
You forgot @GiveMeTheMusic. :) And yes, I always scratch my head when people travel all the way to California just to visit Disneyland and no place else.

I love Buena Park and Cerritos.
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Would that be anything similar to traveling from Europe to Florida or New England to Florida and then being sequestered on WDW property for a couple of weeks. People are the same everywhere and simply, if you aren't interested in the other things, then you have no reason to go to the effort and expense to see them.
 
WDW1974

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Spirited Tuesday Musings:

I was a wee bit shocked that no one mentioned the following by Seth Kubersky (@skubersky) in the Orlando Weekly on the subject of the Washington Post piece that ran on Friday. Generally, I find that Seth is pretty even-keeled and fair, but I am not sure what the point of this was (Clickbait? As he accused the the WaPo of the same thing ... Guess what? Everyone who puts something online is looking for attention. That's why my million-plus threads drive many people crazy, because they know they couldn't do the same, draw those eyes. Maybe he was just looking to do a favor for a friend? I dunno ...)

@ParentsOf4 should be happy since he or actually one of his childr... I mean charts was quoted in the piece.

My issue really boiled down to 'what's the point?' (yes, I fully expect Seth to explain himself here and garner 32 likes by people who feel my criticism is somehow an attack ... but maybe he should ask his friends at Celebration Place for a photo of Bob Iger at Shanghai Disneyland if he wants to do bigtime journalism or really generate clicks!)

Nothing was all that off in Seth's column. It just has all been said. ... Until his final graph as follows:

<<Finally, for a much more thoughtful dissection of the article’s basic premise, check out this piece from Robert Niles on Theme Park Insider. His basic point is that Disney didn’t abandon the middle class, America did. Rising theme park prices, and the relative shrug they are greeted with by visitors, might be a symptom of our nation’s growing income inequality, but it’s unreasonable to pin Mickey as its poster child.>>

I've already poked holes in Robert's weak piece in other posts, but I need to just jump on that faulty conclusion yet again. Mickey is the PERFECT poster child to attack for zealously working to enact laws, policies and lowered industry standards that have decimated the ranks of our middle class.

There is no business in the state of Florida operating today that has more lobbyists in Tallahassee than The Walt Disney Company (and a huge amount in D.C. as well). They are the largest private site employer in the state of Florida (the third-most populous state in the USA) and I believe in the entire country as well (but would have to double check that).

That gives Disney TREMENDOUS power in not simply matters of how much it costs for a day in the Ghetto Kingdom, but how much workers from Pensacola to Hialeah will make and what kind of healthcare they'll get and what kinds of taxes and laws will suddenly apply to them. If that doesn't make Disney and Mickey (and his good friends from George Kalogridis to Robert A. Iger) the perfect poster child, again then I don't know who it should be.

What happens in Florida happens in Florida doesn't stay in Florida. By virtue of our size, we have much more influence in what happens from Iowa to Oregon.

Again, the story that Robert, and now Seth, missed was this fact. Nobody cares really in broad scheme of things how much a day at DAK or IOA or SW costs. They do care about living wages, healthcare and corporations paying for both infrastructure they impact as well as their fair share of taxes. Let's be honest, the folks who claim that the US has become a Welfare State are 100% right. It's just that the welfare goes to corporations by and large and not to individuals.

Anyway, in looking forward to the fun likely to ensue (and I'd welcome Seth and Robert as well as Drew Harwell of the Washington Post) to stop in, pull up a chair, have a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and discuss some the important points that they ALL missed, here's the link:


http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/...-that-walt-disney-world-tickets-are-expensive
 
Stevek

Stevek

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
Before I head off ... just wanted to comment on the great review @WDWFigment had of the CBR on his blog. I often make some good-natured fun of Tom (but, hey, he has a hot wife and now lives where I'd like to -- he can handle it!)

If you have a car in SoCal and are visiting more than DLR (and why wouldn't you? right @TP2000 and @raven24 and @Mukta and anyone else from the DLR forum ... who am I missing from down there @Endor Sightseer ... anyone else?), a suggestion to you for your Blog and any potential visitors: you do NOT need to stay in Anaheim. Plenty of nice quality locations in Buena Park ... in Fullerton ... in Cerritos ... in Santa Ana ... in Costa Mesa etc ... Location isn't everything there. And what I have noticed is if you stay in those locations many don't charge resort fees or parking. And depending on location, you are talking between a 15-30 minute drive ... like a Disney bus in O-Town.
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Where are the Bricker's living now? Last I read it was Indy? Anyways, the only reason you'd ever want to stay in Anaheim is if you felt it was an absolute necessity to be able to walk to the parks in the AM. Beyond that...eh. I'd much rather go to Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Newport, Balboa, Laguna...all reasonably close with beautiful coastline. If that doesn't float your boat, all the cities you listed but only portions of Buena Park and Santa Ana (think closer to South Coast Plaza) are all great alternatives. Most visitors don't realize how close all of those cities really are and provide easy access to the resort.
 
WDW1974

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
hopemax said:
Oh, that's hilarious. Barbasol was the brand of the shaving cream can that Nedry was supposed to use to store the frozen embryos for transport. So I think using it to promote JW is fantastic.
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Yep. A friend reminded me of that. I totally forgot. I still didn't buy any. But I'll bet there are people who would buy it and save it ... isn't that a little nuts?
 
Stevek

Stevek

Well-Known Member
WDWFigment said:
Now, as for alternatives...Buena Park and Cerritos are both as bad or worse than Anaheim. Buena Park, in particular, has a long stretch on the road leading to Knott's (can't recall the name of the road) that are really, really scary. Orange has some nice hotels, as does pretty much everywhere south of that. If it's a casual visit or people are interested in the ocean, as well, I highly recommend virtually any of the hotels along the PCH...
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Probably thinking of Beach Blvd, south of Knott's which can be pretty nasty. I personally woudln't stay in BP. I worked in Anaheim from 1992-2006 and would agree that many parts of BP are just as bad as the bad parts of Anaheim.
 
Californian Elitist

Californian Elitist

Well-Known Member
Goofyernmost said:
Would that be anything similar to traveling from Europe to Florida or New England to Florida and then being sequestered on WDW property for a couple of weeks. People are the same everywhere and simply, if you aren't interested in the other things, then you have no reason to go to the effort and expense to see them.
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I really don't believe you can compare Florida to California, although if I were to visit Florida, I would visit not only WDW, but Miami and most likely the Everglades. California has a wealth of things to see and do, and visiting it solely for a theme park doesn't do the state justice, in my opinion.
 
WDW1974

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
WDWFigment said:
It's partly about demonstrating that I'm more than willing to evaluate a range of experiences probably(?), maybe(?), hopefully(?) helps people understand I'm not just some snob.
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Just some snob?!! Does that mean you are more than that?!! :D;):cool:
Seriously, you do a great job in offering real trip planning advice. I don't think you owe anyone anything (but you could take part in the fully tax deductible Take a Spirit to Dinner program sometime soon!) I wouldn't waste time on total dumps. People staying there ... well, I find it hard to believe that they will ever represent a significant amount of your readers.

WDWFigment said:
More importantly, it helps people who otherwise might be on the fence stay away from awful places like this. Our first Disneyland trip, we stayed at a similar hotel because we didn't know any better, and that really taint the experience for Sarah. If this review even helps one person avoid that (and I know it will/has, as I got an email already saying someone canceled there) it was worth it. I can handle staying at a crappy hotel for a night.
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Stay at the Red Roof Inn in Tallahassee and then we'll talk!

WDWFigment said:
Now, as for alternatives...Buena Park and Cerritos are both as bad or worse than Anaheim. Buena Park, in particular, has a long stretch on the road leading to Knott's (can't recall the name of the road) that are really, really scary. Orange has some nice hotels, as does pretty much everywhere south of that. If it's a casual visit or people are interested in the ocean, as well, I highly recommend virtually any of the hotels along the PCH...
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I think you are referring to Beach Blvd. I've never felt it scary, anymore than Harbor Blvd. If you head on any SoCal road long enough, you'll wind up in impoverished and scary 'hoods. I realized that when living in Beverly Hills. You go very quickly from sickening wealth to sickening poverty.

But Beach Blvd is quite safe. And I've stayed at many places on it, from the Knott's Resort to Holiday Inn to Courtyard by Marriott to my favorite, the Radisson Suites (I regularly have Pricelined this place for between $40-55 a night. Full suite that sleeps six easily, separate rooms, great courtyard and pool area, cooked to order breakfast every day and hospitality nights Monday-Thursday with snacks and free booze -- strong, high quality, free booze). None of them are the Ritz or St. Regis or even Paradise Pier Hotel, but they are all clean and comfortable for a pittance. ... I've never been scared anywhere in Cerritos. It's a solidly middle class planned community. I've only stayed at the Sheraton there, but it's also very nice, doesn't charge for parking and has all sorts of dining and shopping and even movies within walking distance.

You are correct about Orange. I always enjoyed the Doubletree there and the Hilton Suites, which are on the border of Anaheim. But the further south you go ( as a resident, you should get this now) the pricier the options become. Newport Beach and Huntington Beach (love the Hyatt Regency there) are great, but they MUCH pricier options.

I just want to be clear that unless you are taking only a DLR trip and won't have a car (a huge mistake )that staying in Anaheim isn't the best idea. Parking and/or resort fees will add considerably to even a 'deal' ... and I know as I've stayed at most places that are 3-star level or better and have been there at least five years. I only stay in Anaheim now when using DVC points!:greedy::D:cool:
 
WDW1974

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Nmoody1 said:
Stayed at the Hollywood Hotel Last year.. it was nice. It did the job. All the amenities you'd expect from an Asian hotel (I think disney call it distinctively Chinese - I'm bored of reading that term in every release!) And the resort was very quiet during the day - ie pool was empty and you could walk around the grounds in peace - not that you really want to be outside in august!
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I didn't realize they were using that line in HK now as well. That's the PR line Bob Iger has been spouting about SDL. ''Authentically Disney, Distinctly Chinese''

I had a great meal at the 'supper buffet'' (the one that comes after breakfast, lunch and dinner and is basically dinner minus steak and lobster for a great price!) Just glad we were one of the first seated because there were many mainlanders staying there and they think they are still fighting for a bag of rice. Again, makes me sooo excited for SDL! The pool there looked relaxing as did the one at HKDL Hotel.

Nmoody1 said:
Breakfast was included and was ok. I wouldn't rush back for breakfast - there are much better places in HK to eat. It was interesting that our breakfast included a meet and greet with chef mickey... you got a voucher to go see mickey - it was one photo and that was your time done. No 2nd's. Very organised - would never work at the contemporary! ;)
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Yes. I loved that even at Chef Mickey's there were no characters inside at all. I recall running into Chuck and Dave in the hall and they really wanted a photo with me (my rep clearly proceeded me, or maybe it was just my western looks), so I posed with those crazy chipmunks!

Nmoody1 said:
Overall it was a little expensive, and I probably won't stay on site again until the explorers hotel opens. Busses were nicely air conned and everyone had a seat. Each resort had its own bus... no sharing as with contemporary/wilderness or polynesian/grand flo.

The walk from the park is fairly long and boring to the hotels. You get to see just how much room they still have to play with... A few shops, restaurants and entertainment options wouldn't go amiss - I'm sure these will come with a 2nd park!

It was somewhat sad to see the disused ferry pier sitting empty.

I'll be back at the end of July - I'll visit HKDL hotel for a bite to eat at Crystal Lotus.
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I like the walk. I find the area beautifully landscaped and so peaceful as most visitors clearly take the bus. The pier deal is interesting. I'm convinced there is a greater story there. It was built to get folks from downtown across to HKDL and it has never been used. Strange. You'll often see locals and even some off-duty CMs fishing off it.

Love the Crystal Lotus. One of my favorite Disney restaurants anywhere.
 

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