A Spirited Perfect Ten

[the.dreamfinder]

It's kind of like going to Europe to visit a Wal-Mart. But the next time I'm in Europe I'm going to Burger King to see what they call a Whopper.

Don't forget the Royale with Cheese at McDonalds!

 

[Ariel1986]

There is an absolutely HUGE multi year improvement program currently going ahead. Hopefully their finances will be sorted out now for good. The place simply cost too much to build in 1990-92 and has been paying for it ever since.

As an example, the hotel refurb program is ELEVEN years long. One resort at a time is being virtually rebuilt and refurnished. It ends in 2021. Sequoia is done. Newport is halfway though. Then it's New York and then Disneyland.

In the parks, again as an example, Space Mountain is down for six months this year, six next year. Thunder Mountain is closed for 11 months next year. By April 2017 the plan is to have the parks like new.

I've seen atrocious conditions at DLP, in attractions, the village and the resorts. And I've seen huge improvements over the years and am confident things will continue in the same direction.

Wow I knew that there was improvements and re-investment happening, but all that sounds great and really promising- I'd love to have a little true Disney escape to go to now and then, so much closer to home when a long haul trip isn't in the near future.

 

[WDWFigment]

That's a great point, and it works well the other way too: Europe isn't exactly short of things to do and destinations to see, but that doesn't stop me from taking "yet another" weekend trip to DLP.

I think part of the problem is that a lot of people travel with the philosophy that they "may never be back". On the face of it that's reasonable... But the result is that you end up running around like a mad person, and sacrificing activities you'd find enjoyable in-the-moment for activities lauded as worthy or culturally significant.

I've always thought it's interesting that "seeing local culture" is one of the most frequently cited reasons for international travel, followed by visiting "local tourist attraction" after "local tourist attraction". Most of the time, you can either see local culture, *or* great tourist attractions, but not both. International Disney Parks, that attract locals, are a rare opportunity to do both simultaneously.

Plus, I love coming across Americans in DLP - I always end up talking to them; it's like the trademark signature of a Disney Parks nerd. ;-)

Very good point here. Of places Westerners are likely to go, some of the places they are *least* likely to see other Westerners in Asia are HKDL and TDR. Tokyo Disneyland is a more authentic and less touristy slice of culture than Harajuku.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

http://nytimes.com/2015/04/20/busin...-deleted-because-of-advertising-pressure.html

 

[GoofGoof]

I respect people's opinions on foreign travel, but if you're the kind of Disney fan who goes to WDW once a year or more out of habbit, then it's actually a better use of your time and money to combine a short Disney "stop-over" with another locale. You'll still get your Disney fix, but see more of the world in the process.

What's the difference between forgoing the great cultural experiences and natural wonders we have in America for another WDW trip, and doing the same in a foreign country?

I think people feel a greater sense of urgency since trips to foreign locales have a rarer quality about them, but the truth is that most people will never see all the amazing things there are in the US.

And there is not so much to see in the U.S. that people settle for Disney theme parks?

These are all valid points. Here's the way I look at it. I'm going somewhere on vacation every year. Usually if I'm lucky and having a good year, multiple trips but 1 big trip a year. I love Disney parks, but I also love doing other stuff. I'm on about an every other year pace visiting WDW. There are so many other things to see and do in both the US and the world as you guys have pointed out. I couldn't see only visiting WDW (or any Disney park) exclusively for vacation. If I decided on a trip to Paris one year I wouldn't be likely to spend my time at DLP instead of doing something else Paris has to offer. Just like I wouldn't give up a trip to the Grand Canyon or even a week at a beach house somewhere to go to WDW 3 years in a row. I also suspect that with a 5 and 8 year old if I swung something like a long weekend in Paris it would be a trip without the kids so any Disney park would be out. It's ironic that I think that way now considering my wife and I went to Disney together (WDW and DLR) numerous times before we had kids and even got engaged at WDW. Now that I have kids if we "get away" the last thing I want to deal with is other people's kids.

The one thing we could do is skip WDW one year and instead visit another Disney park. We are planning on doing this in a few years and going to DL. That will likely be a combined trip and include some national parks and San Diego/LA. We could do the same thing with Paris I guess, but logistically it's so much easier to get to WDW. We know our way around and own DVC there where we usually stay. If we can get it we will trade in to the DVC at DL, but there aren't any options in Paris or Japan since we bought resale and can't trade in for Disney hotels. I just don't see there being enough of a draw to change one of my trips to DLP. I know they have some better versions of rides, but I'm not sure that's enough for me to want to do it.

 

[wdisney9000]

I think that's 3 now, in a year an a half or so. So that's a little exaggerated.

BUT... What is inexcusable is them not having a full proof backup plan when it does go down. How that slipped through the cracks is crazy.

They dont even have an appropriate response prepared if guests ask why its down. According to some twitter feeds, Disney was telling guests that the system was down because they were doing
"magical upgrades". While Im sure that was just an explanation to make the situation sound better, it made Disney look foolish because everybody was asking "why would they do an upgrade on a busy Saturday morning"?

Question for any of the IT folks here- Is it common to take a an entire system offline to upgrade or could you just redirect traffic to a different server and wouldnt a better time of day be in the later hours?

 

[WDWFigment]

http://nytimes.com/2015/04/20/busin...-deleted-because-of-advertising-pressure.html

Having dealt with BuzzFeed's CFO, legal, and others on multiple occasions, I've come to the conclusion that their business ethics are non-existent.

 

[SJN1279]

Disney stock rises to 2 billion, and Spirit is quiet. Coincidence, I think not.

 

[NearTheEars]

They dont even have an appropriate response prepared if guests ask why its down. According to some twitter feeds, Disney was telling guests that the system was down because they were doing
"magical upgrades". While Im sure that was just an explanation to make the situation sound better, it made Disney look foolish because everybody was asking "why would they do an upgrade on a busy Saturday morning"?

Question for any of the IT folks here- Is it common to take a an entire system offline to upgrade or could you just redirect traffic to a different server and wouldnt a better time of day be in the later hours?

Yikes, that's terrible. Sometimes you just have to admit that things aren't working.

 

[wdisney9000]

Disney stock rises to 2 billion, and Spirit is quiet. Coincidence, I think not.

What are your thoughts on the stock price rise?

 

[SJN1279]

What are your thoughts on the stock price rise?

That Iger and Disney have given new life to Star Wars. I never thought Episode VII would happen, and I am so happy that the story is continuing thanks to Disney.

 

[Cesar R M]

We can't stop, you didn't use the safe word.

 

[Cesar R M]

I too will admit that after 3 weeks in Poland, the first McD's I saw in Vienna was a blessing. All I got was a Coke with ice in it. The ice was luxury.

the occasional fast food isn't that bad.
I was talking about people who refuse to try anything local.

 

[Cesar R M]

Well, that's all very elitist, but whatever floats your boat. I'm heading for Europe in October. I am going to be in Paris for 4 days and one of those days I will be at DLP. The reason is simple, I am a Disney fan. I have spent a great deal of time discussing, reading about and researching Disney related things. I don't consider myself obsessed, just a Disney hobbyist. I have been to Paris before... I have seen the Louvre, I've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I been to Notre Dame, the west and the east bank sides of the river, I have dined in sidewalk cafe's (including one time when I found a chicken bone in the bottom of my wine bottle), I have walked the Champs Élysées. What I have not done is go to DLP which is just as much a part of the culture now as those dusty old buildings.

The one day that I am going to spend in DLP will not deprive me of the history and culture surrounding it. I will be spending almost a month in Europe so I will have absorbed plenty of culture during that time. I also went to Tokyo and didn't see TDL, course, it didn't exist at the time so that made it quite difficult to see.

Clearly you were not the target of our comments, since you clearly absorbed and experienced the culture and what the locals have to offer.

We're talking about the crowd who specifically just go to a certain thing that as not much to do with the locals.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Disney stock rises to 2 billion, and Spirit is quiet. Coincidence, I think not.

I think we need to do a hypecheck on DIS. Plus, Spirit is spending the weekend at Dizzy World.
http://blog.turbinenreiter.eu/hypecheck.pdf
http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/7/7172061/the-vergecast-126-hypecheck

 

[Cesar R M]

They dont even have an appropriate response prepared if guests ask why its down. According to some twitter feeds, Disney was telling guests that the system was down because they were doing
"magical upgrades". While Im sure that was just an explanation to make the situation sound better, it made Disney look foolish because everybody was asking "why would they do an upgrade on a busy Saturday morning"?

Question for any of the IT folks here- Is it common to take a an entire system offline to upgrade or could you just redirect traffic to a different server and wouldnt a better time of day be in the later hours?

Agree, I am surprised that they seem to lack redundancy.

 

[NJBrandon]

Disney stock rises to 2 billion, and Spirit is quiet. Coincidence, I think not.

So your point is that The Walt Disney Company is worth a lot of money? That's the surprise of the century.

 

[michmousefan]

What's the difference between forgoing the great cultural experiences and natural wonders we have in America for another WDW trip, and doing the same in a foreign country?

I think people feel a greater sense of urgency since trips to foreign locales have a rarer quality about them, but the truth is that most people will never see all the amazing things there are in the US.

Indeed... In an attempt to get the most out of a NPS Annual Pass this year, I'll be driving to D23 Expo (from Michigan) and hitting the Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon on the way out and Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Great Basin, Arches and Rocky Mountain NPs on the way home.

If anyone has additional "must-see" National Parks along that route, let me know. Not going far enough north to hit Yellowstone on this trip.

 

[WDWFigment]

Indeed... In an attempt to get the most out of a NPS Annual Pass this year, I'll be driving to D23 Expo (from Michigan) and hitting the Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon on the way out and Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Great Basin, Arches and Rocky Mountain NPs on the way home.

If anyone has additional "must-see" National Parks along that route, let me know. Not going far enough north to hit Yellowstone on this trip.

Personally, I'd skip Petrified Forest NP. Instead, consider Page, AZ and the lower Utah NPs (Zion, Bryce Canyon). That would also likely mean the North Rim of Grand Canyon NP. I'd also add Canyonlands on the way out. I say this with the caveat that I have not yet done any of the Utah NPs, but they are high on my list, and I'm itching to get out to Zion ASAP.

With Zion, I'd highly recommend reading up on the permit system: http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/thesubway.htm

 

[GoofGoof]

Well, that's all very elitist, but whatever floats your boat. I'm heading for Europe in October. I am going to be in Paris for 4 days and one of those days I will be at DLP. The reason is simple, I am a Disney fan. I have spent a great deal of time discussing, reading about and researching Disney related things. I don't consider myself obsessed, just a Disney hobbyist. I have been to Paris before... I have seen the Louvre, I've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I been to Notre Dame, the west and the east bank sides of the river, I have dined in sidewalk cafe's (including one time when I found a chicken bone in the bottom of my wine bottle), I have walked the Champs Élysées. What I have not done is go to DLP which is just as much a part of the culture now as those dusty old buildings.

The one day that I am going to spend in DLP will not deprive me of the history and culture surrounding it. I will be spending almost a month in Europe so I will have absorbed plenty of culture during that time. I also went to Tokyo and didn't see TDL, course, it didn't exist at the time so that made it quite difficult to see.

I agree with the notion of whatever floats your boat and see no problem with people choosing to visit DLP or choosing not to. I'm not sure how what @doctornick said was elitist. Probably most of the other stuff to do would cost less than DLP. I see no problem with someone putting other attractions in an area ahead of DLP. It's not elitist, just a matter of their opinion. You listed all of the things you have done on previous trips to Paris. Was DLP open at the time of those trips? If so were you being elitist by choosing those places over DLP?