Do you get "defensive" about Disney?

[Cowboy Steve]

I get more defensive when they say "Why go to Disney when you can go to Six Flags for half the price? It's the same thing. It's just an amusement park.

PFFFT. uh.. PFT. NO. I'm so defensive about this topic I had to make an 8 minute video discussing the difference between an amusement park and a theme park.

Totally onboard with that! As my side 'fun' job I worked 14 years in the safety department of the amusement park voted best on the planet 14 of the last 15 years here in Ohio. I'm very passionate about the park and still would go several times a month with anyone that wanted to go (working there did not sour my enthusiasm for the park one bit)! But I will be the first to point out there is a big difference between an amusement park and a theme park. They are 2 entirely different cultures and experiences. Disney is still king of the theme parks! But I will admit Universal is nipping at their heals. Very impressed with the WWoHP additions to UO. The HP theming (is that a word? Theme - ing?) and quality of the marque attractions are definitely on par with Disney... as is the ability to milk every dime possible from my pockets

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I get defensive when people complain its too expensive....it's not if you do your research. I 've booked a few trips thru expedia and AAA. When I tell people that our May of 2015 trip for 2 adults and 3 kids(2 over 10, so Disney adults) for 5 nights at POR with flights and 4 day hoppers BOOKED THRU DISNEY was only $835 per person they are SHOCKED! I also can't stand when people complain about the price of food and drink, especially when they live around here(Philly) a bottle of Dasani has been $5 for YEARS at Phillies games...half that price at Disney? Yes please! It just comes down to people who are uneducated about the situation...

I love the price comparisons comparing a captive audience of 3.5 hours to a week on property. Let me know the next time you spend a full week in the stadium.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I know exactly what you're talking about! Living here in east TN a lot of people go to Dollywood. I've not been there in probably almost 20 years and have no desire to ever go there again. I always refer to taking your kids there instead of Disneyworld as "child abuse". LOL!

Dollywood is one of the best theme parks in the country.

 

[Courtney6682]

I love the price comparisons comparing a captive audience of 3.5 hours to a week on property. Let me know the next time you spend a full week in the stadium.

As season ticket holders we spend a fair amount of our free time at games. We also enjoy travelling to DC to see the Nats and up to Boston to see the Sox. I was merely pointing out when people complain about how pricey Disney is...they probably aren't checking this on their own as there are many ways to do Disney on a budget. In MY opinion it's not a super expensive place to visit as I have made 16 trips to WDW from Philly and we are by no means rich. So when I talk to others I tell them that my family has found it to be an affordable vacation spot

 

[mf1972]

I'm kind of 50/50. depends on the topic I guess. 1 has to take a little criticism in life. it doesn't bother me as much when people criticize Disney. I know how I feel about traveling there. that matters a heck of a lot more to me than what other people think.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

My problem's that I do care what others think.

 

[epcotisbest]

My problem's that I do care what others think.

See, now I think that is completely silly. I think you must be immature. I think you must be insecure. I think you must be a republican. I think you must actually not like Disney but just post here out of boredom.
Are any of those true?
See I just proved what I think makes no difference.




And I don't really think any of those things, but if I actually did, it still makes no difference.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

maybe its a colonial thing but Ive never had to justify, as if I would, where I take my holidays. Most folk are quite envious in a nice way. As for defending the current running of WDW I reserve the right to act as a consumer of a self proclaimed premium brand and comment accordingly.

 

[DuckTalesWooHoo1987]

My problem's that I do care what others think.

My problem is that I don't care what they think but I do care about what they think they know. LOL!

 

[DuckTalesWooHoo1987]

Dollywood is one of the best theme parks in the country.

Which is the equivalent of being the tallest dwarf. It has no comparison to Disney and that's what I was saying. Because it doesn't.

 

[ShoalFox]

Disney is one of my top 3 favorite things, so I'd be a hypocrite NOT to defend it.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I know exactly what you're talking about! Living here in east TN a lot of people go to Dollywood. I've not been there in probably almost 20 years and have no desire to ever go there again. I always refer to taking your kids there instead of Disneyworld as "child abuse". LOL!

I've been once, and it was enough. I'm not saying it isn't a good park, but, if you don't like or are just borderline on country music, it can be really tedious. Riding a real steam train and having to guard against getting cinders in your eyes, is not my idea of a good time either. The kids ride are not even as nice as a road side carnival (even if they do have flying elephants and spinning tea cups, I wonder where they got that idea from) and unless you love large coasters you better love the country music. Yet, there are some that love the place. I'm happy for them, but, for me it was once and done.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Which is the equivalent of being the tallest dwarf. It has no comparison to Disney and that's what I was saying. Because it doesn't.

Dollywood is not Disney. This is true. That doesn't mean it's not a great theme park.

I just rode 2 fantastic E Tickets in soft opens today that the elitist Disney fans are going to eviserate. Kong and Mako are great attractions. But I can see the track on Mako and Kong has screenz! Happily ignoring the train wreck that is WDW.

 

[BAChicagoGal]

Most people that I know, know that I am a frequent visitor to either WDW or Disneyland. They don't ridicule me. In fact, I have been asked for advice. I do defend my point of view that I prefer heading one way, over the other way. I respect their right to vacation their way. If they frown at my choice, that's fine with me.

 

[epcotisbest]

Which is the equivalent of being the tallest dwarf. It has no comparison to Disney and that's what I was saying. Because it doesn't.

Based on what? You said you have not been in almost 20 years.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I'll always defend Walt Disney against the stupid slander that he was an anti-Semite, misogynistic, money-grubbing tyrant.

But defend the current Disney Company under Iger? Not on your life.

 

[BigRedDad]

I don't get defensive at all. I just ignore them. All people enjoy vacations differently. I didn't get it until I posed the question on a cruise forum. People view vacations differently and to each their own.

One neighbor always asked why we go to Disney. There is no way to explain it to someone that is not a Disney person. His idea of a vacation is to go to a very nice hotel, lounge in a chair, and let his wife and kids run around where ever. Others want to spend $4,000 for a cruise to sit on a veranda and read a book all day every day.

 

[rsoxguy]

I've been given a look or two, but I've never had anyone actually criticize me verbally. I guess I hang around socially polite people. In any case, I tend to enjoy myself in life regardless of the opinions of others.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I understand how you feel. I get a little defensive, too. It's not so much that I can't see any validity to some people's common criticisms of Disney (yes, the prices are sky-high; no, WDW hasn't added or improved much in the past few years; and yes, big badly-behaved crowds and long lines are a bother), but what really annoys me about Disney complaints is that most of them don't result from Disney mistakes, but from "user error." It's the families who ignore all the good advice, waltz into the parks mid-morning with high expectations but no game plan, no knowledge of what the park has to offer, no ADRs and no FP+s, and no patience for waiting in lines, and then are "saddened" and "disappointed" when they're stuck in long lines, miss out on headline attractions, and are turned away from restaurants, or end up spending far more than they intended because they didn't research prices ahead of time. They complain because they spent huge amounts of cash on a vacation they didn't get to enjoy, yet they never sought to protect their investment ahead of time by doing a little research into how to make the most of their trip.

 

[BAChicagoGal]

Such sound advice Weather_Lady. I am presently planning a trip for me and 6 other people. They are Disney Newbies, and hopefully, my knowledge will help/guarantee them a great trip. I have planned many successful solo trips, and I just did a trip with just one friend. This is the first time I am planning for a large group. I hope to not make too many mistakes, but you definitely must have a plan. Not too many people can get by by just "winging it" anymore.