A War-Time Disney World

[pax_65]

As has been mentioned, I think the threat of war is hurting Disney attendance more than the war itself will. The war will likely be short, and when it's over and stability is restored things will likely rebound quickly. For those traveling in September, I'll predict it will be pretty much "normal" by then (whatever that is these days), except possibly for terror alerts around 9/11 again. I'm going in May, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's all basically over even by then.

Disney is an escape, and that's ok. I'm one of these guys who watches CNN and MSNBC often to stay on top of the latest developments. When we go to Disney, I watch only a few minutes of "Headline News" or just read the paper to get updates. Otherwise I give myself a break from all the bad news in the world and just enjoy some quality time with my family. It's called VACATION... and that "escape" is a big part of what makes Disney so special.

Pray for peace... but support our brave troops if it comes to war... and help the economy by spending your money in Disney!

Jon

 

[strobe]

Originally posted by pax_65
As has been mentioned, I think the threat of war is hurting Disney attendance more than the war itself will. The war will likely be short, and when it's over and stability is restored things will likely rebound quickly. For those traveling in September, I'll predict it will be pretty much "normal" by then (whatever that is these days), except possibly for terror alerts around 9/11 again. I'm going in May, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's all basically over even by then.

Disney is an escape, and that's ok. I'm one of these guys who watches CNN and MSNBC often to stay on top of the latest developments. When we go to Disney, I watch only a few minutes of "Headline News" or just read the paper to get updates. Otherwise I give myself a break from all the bad news in the world and just enjoy some quality time with my family. It's called VACATION... and that "escape" is a big part of what makes Disney so special.

Pray for peace... but support our brave troops if it comes to war... and help the economy by spending your money in Disney!

Jon

I'll tell you what, I was down in early April for my honeymoon last year, and it was great. If we had the extra money (just bought a house), we would ABSOLUTELY be going back and retracing our footsteps this year too. War is not a fun thing, but life goes on.

I guess growing up with military in the family might have desensitized me a little. I've come to accept that we are essentially always at war, it just isn't on the front page news, and it doesn't involve as many of our people.

I think the best thing anyone can do for the country right now is to go ahead and do what they do. Keep our soldiers in prayer, and live your life to the fullest. Enjoy Disney, enjoy going out to dinner, enjoy doing all of the American things we do and don't feel guilty about it. You are helping the economy (which needs it) and you are taking your mind of the horrible prospect of war.

My two cents on the issue!!

 

[Mediman]

OOPS... Sorry Erika, it was my first visit and wanted to get my name noticed, i think i succeded....and you are sooooo gorgeous.

Hey Strobe...Thanks for the welcome.

:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[Erika]

Originally posted by pax_65


Pray for peace... but support our brave troops if it comes to war... and help the economy by spending your money in Disney!

Jon

NICE!!!

Jon, you have just given me yet another excuse to shop. I'm a patriot! I'm a patriot!:sohappy: :king:

 

[dreamer]

Uncle Sam WANTS YOU to go to Disney World!

:lol:



On a more serious note:

Remember the question at the end of "Private Ryan?" Are we living lives worthy of the sacrifices our troops are making for us? I don't think that means avoiding fun. I do think it means abandoning a self-centered life.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Yet isn't it a bit self-centered to just go on holiday while others are out there risking their lives?

 

[strobe]

Originally posted by cymbaldiva
Yet isn't it a bit self-centered to just go on holiday while others are out there risking their lives?

No, it really isn't. My dad is going over to the Middle East and he is a big WDW fan. He would want people to enjoy thenselves.

Someone has to keep the economy going and the parks running while our brave friends and family members are over seas. Certainly, keep them in our thoughts and prayers at all times, but if we all stayed home and were depressed, the country would grind to a halt.

It's tough, but we have to keep on being ourselves regardless of what is going on.

 

[cymbaldiva]

I'll have to talk to my b/f and and get back to you on that one...

I still personally believe that if/when we go to war, Disney (which is usually really important to me) won't be very high up there on my "things to do" list.

Just my opinion, of course!

 

[Woody13]

Hi strobe! My son and 2 of my daughters are in the Navy. I can't say where they are stationed but I can tell you that they asked me to take another trip to WDW with the rest of our family and send over some pictures. I intend to follow orders!

 

[Erika]

Originally posted by cymbaldiva
I'll have to talk to my b/f and and get back to you on that one...

I still personally believe that if/when we go to war, Disney (which is usually really important to me) won't be very high up there on my "things to do" list.

Just my opinion, of course!

Think of it this way- there are thousands of people out there whose jobs depend on you to continue to go to WDW. Despite my joking comment earlier, Jon is right- the economy depends on those of us not overseas continuing with our normal lives.

Everyday whether or not we are at war there are millions of people suffering. Should no one ever have happiness? I can understand your guilt but where would you draw the line?

 

[kennyj29]

Disney

You can't feel guilty doing what you would normally do if there is no war. You HAVE to go about your usual everyday life. My son would be the same way. He would WANT us to go and give him details because he loves it also but he would also expect to go as soon as he returned!@!@! That's just how disney fanatics are. And we would definitely oblige!!! You sound like you would feel guilty. Don't, if you were invited out would you turn it down because of the war? Would you stop going to restaurants or parties, or weddings? You have to do what you would normally do and we would normally go to Disney!

 

[pax_65]

A friend of mine hasn't been on a plane since 9/11/01. She is terrified. She cancelled her trip to Disney and now simply vacations at a local beach. She is considering purchasing materials for a fully-equipped safe room and is nervously contemplating the smallpox shot. I don't even want to know her blood pressure!

Is this the life our brave soldiers are fighting for? They are fighting for America, for our freedom, for our creativity, for our ingenuity, for our way of life. (All things Disney celebrates.) On the home front, we have to fight to keep all those things alive.

Imagine our soldiers returning home to find Disneyworld closed... the airlines effectively grounded... the economy in depression... and people locked in their safe rooms afraid to come out? That's not what America is about.

Jon

 

[Yellow Shoes]

MK was opened in 1971. We were at war in Vietnam then. This was the days of the draft, when every man aged 18-29 had a resonable expectation of getting a letter requiring him to report for military service. If you are younger than 40, you cannot imagine how stressful that was.

The announcement of the "Florida Project" was made in 1965, at the beginning of the troop buildups in Vietnam. In fact, MK was being inagineered, land was being bought, and construction happened during the Vietnam Conflict.

It stands to reason that Walt Disney was working on plans for Disney World in Florida even during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962--a time when many people were sure that the nuclear end of the world was imminent.

My point here is that life goes on. People plan, and build, and dream even in the midst of war, riots (Detroit, Watts, Chicago, Kent State, Attica), and uncertainty.

My postponing my vacation will not bring war, nor prevent war, nor hasten its end.

 

[Legacy]

Okay... I haven't read this entire thread... and frankly I don't feel I need to. Look at my avatar. A lot of people on this board knew me before I wore that rank. I've been on this board about a nine months (maybe more) and joined the Army a little less then six months ago.

I am currently learning a job that will support American soldiers by repairing electronics. The computers that are used to guide missles... I will be fixing. I am training to do my part to help America, and the ideals it was founded on, get past the crisis that we are currently suffering. It is stressful, it is hard, and a lot of my fellow soldiers are just as nervous as I am.

Frankly, I need Disney. I need the joy and magic that it brings to me when I walk through the turnstiles and see Cinderella's Castle at the end of Main Street. I need to be able to close my door and turn on Lilo and Stitch and for an hour and a half feel like everything is okay. Disney is my release.

I am scheduled to graduate my training on September 11th (and that is not a typo). If I go to the Middle East after that, so be it. But when I come home... one of the first places I am going is the Magic Kingdom. Disney magic is my escape.

 

[Legacy]

And cymbaldiva (hows it going anyway)...

I just read what you are saying about Disney not being that high up on your 'To Do' list, which I respect and admire. But I am doing what I am doing so you CAN go to Disney and so you DON't have to worry. Yeah, I am risking my life... but it is for a greater good. The ideals that America are founded on is that greater good, and on of those ideals is that you have the freedom to go and enjoy your life. That pursuit of happiness thing. Pray for us, be concerned about us, but please (and this goes out to everybody) do NOT get so wrapped up in your fears that you start losing what makes America so great to begin with.

It would make us wonder why we were fighting. We want life to continue as normal. That is why we chose this job.

 

[strobe]

Salutes Kicker. Good for you! Words cannot express my gratitude to all of the men and women of the armed forces.

 

[Erika]

Hi Kicker! Good to see you drop in once in a while. Keep us updated :wave:

 

[cymbaldiva]

Hi Kicker! :wave:

What's up?

I'm good, but this thread has really been weighing heavily on my mind.... *sigh*

I'll have to get back to ya'll on what I think

 

[kennyj29]

Kicker

I wasn't going to answer anything this morning because I have a lot of running around to do today but when I read what you wrote, I just had to. You said in your post that all of us were trying to say but you did it so beautifully it made me cry. Thank you, Thank you and for all the boys who are doing what they beleive in, I can't thank you all enough. I also want to thank you on behalf of all americans not to feel guilty about going on with their regular lives in any conflict. Thanks for everything!

 

[pepsistar]

:lookaroun Kicker you could not have said it better--- Take care and we will all be thinking of you and everone else "looking" after us!!!

Keep in touch and let us know when you get that next stripe mmmmmmmmmmm:animwink: