On layoffs, very bad attendance, and Iger's legacy being one of disgrace

[Getachew]

So it has nothing to do with people and their actions? Common sense is lacking in quite a few.

A lot of people actions have a lot to do with what certain leaders in power have been saying. I'll leave it that.

 

[Getachew]

I've heard a lot of good things on hotel exec Harris Rosen. He was heartbroken when a large amount of his staff were laid off from his hotels.

He's well known and respected among the community in Orlando.

 

[Lilofan]

I've read all your back-and-forth in the COVID thread, and haven't found it to be healthy at all. Can we please keep it in any of those existing threads that have already been, um, infected?

An occasional talk around the covid thread is healthy. The constant doom and gloom is not.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

An occasional talk around the covid thread is healthy. The constant doom and gloom is not.

Neither is the” there’s nothing to see here” banter. There is a middle ground and that is.. if everyone does what they need to do until some help arrives we can keep it in kind of check. On the other hand it’s not going to just disappear and everyone should not be worried. That’s just as bad. Middle ground.

 

[Tom P.]

Neither is the” there’s nothing to see here” banter. There is a middle ground and that is.. if everyone does what they need to do until some help arrives we can keep it in check. On the other hand it’s not going to just disappear and everyone should not be worried. That’s just as bad. Middle ground.

Worry and fear, especially to excessive levels, does nothing to help anyone. A healthy dose of concern that prompts one to take reasonable precautions is good. But there is only so much we can do. You can't live your life in a bubble, totally isolated from the outside world. Even Dr. Fauci said that you can get to a level of paralysis that isn't workable.

So I think folks should be aware, have knowledge, and take reasonable precautions, but still live their lives. Where a luxury item like a Walt Disney World vacation factors into that remains open for debate.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I knew a guy from FL who had a German girlfriend. They both went to Dresden to visit her family. My friend said the Germans in Dresden hated Americans. He told me why.

Was that ONE Instance justified? Because it doesn’t qualify as a generality.

View attachment 494311
This from the Oragerie at SanSouci in Potsdam. That marble floor is so precise you could hold a curling match on it. After laying several tile floors, it was amazing.

Reminds me of Versailles.

Some renters though are taking advantage of extensions of eviction bans and not paying rent. Amazon deliveries are on the upswing in those locations.

That’s a false equivalency.

I'm an American. My wife is from Dresden. I am not hated when I go over there. In fact, people hear my accent and are excited to practice their English.

The only time I get concerned is when the AfD is having their rallies. And that's all I'll say about that because I don't want to get political.

Here here.

One of DUMBEST...in an extensive list...of things Americans do at home is foment the idea that every other nation on earth is jealous/hates us in their native land.

Not the case really much at all. Especially not in Western Europe.

Before I began traveling to France...all I heard was how they detested the US. Then I must be going to a Star Trek holodeck because that’s not the case at all.

Can you blast into a patisserie and start shouting orders in accented English? (Which I saw once)

No...but try shouting something in a pizza place in NYC in French...

There is mutual respect almost everywhere...as long as you pack yours and take it on the plane.

The Deutsch have a certain “blunt” quality that is unusual to Americans. But hate or disrespect?? No.
You do have to be somewhat sensible...for sure. That should be a constitutional amendment here as well.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Worry and fear, especially to excessive levels, does nothing to help anyone. A healthy dose of concern that prompts one to take reasonable precautions is good. But there is only so much we can do. You can't live your life in a bubble, totally isolated from the outside world. Even Dr. Fauci said that you can get to a level of paralysis that isn't workable.

So I think folks should be aware, have knowledge, and take reasonable precautions, but still live their lives. Where a luxury item like a Walt Disney World vacation factors into that remains open for debate.

Worry and fear...is exactly what got Texas, Arizona and Florida to take steps that got them in line.

Or are we doing the “partial truth” thing today??

Worry and fear - like it or not - broke the ice on the “you ain’t tellin me what to do” nonsense and saved suffering and/or lives. Whether they admit it or not.

They’ve studied these creatures we speak of quite extensively. Not the first rodeo.

 

[Heppenheimer]

The Deutsch have a certain “blunt” quality that is unusual to Americans. But hate or disrespect?? No.
You do have to be somewhat sensible...for sure. That should be a constitutional amendment here as well.

Germans have a mode of interaction known as "business polite" (I forget what the actual term is in German) that some American travelers mistake for coldness. For example, if you're accustomed to wait staff pretending to be your life-long friend and stopping by every 10 minutes to ask if everything is OK, don't expect that in Germany (or most of Europe, actually). There's no pretense that the interaction between two parties who don't know each other is anything other than a business transaction. Respectful courtesy is maintained, but don't expect to meet your new besty (looking at you, Rick Steves fans...).

As someone who naturally is a bit more introverted, I vastly prefer the honesty of a business polite interaction to the shallow friendliness we do here.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Worry and fear...is exactly what got Texas, Arizona and Florida to take steps that got them in line.

Or are we doing the “partial truth” thing today??

Worry and fear - like it or not - broke the ice on the “you ain’t tellin me what to do” nonsense and saved suffering and/or lives. Whether they admit it or not.

They’ve studied these creatures we speak of quite extensively. Not the first rodeo.

Please! Wear a mask, wash hands, disinfect surfaces, exercise, eat well, worrying is normal this illness is no joke and deserves to be respected not feared. Allow the medical and scientific communities to finish working out therapies and cures. Bottom line get out there and live not just exist. A trip to a Disney property and a brief dose of entertainment may just be the way to go, just give each other some elbow room (yea, No Crowding).

 

[duder]

Never had a problem overseas with thinking a particular culture was rude or hated americans.

Just be a decent respectful person and more than likely, you will receive it back in kind. Learn a few local phrases, make an effort to conform to the proper etiquette and learn the P's and Q's before going.

People are people, all over the world. Yes, languages and social etiquette may change from place to place, but the more you travel, the more you will find that there is not that much difference. Thats the joy of traveling out of the country. Its a shame that more people dont do it, the world would be better off.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Never had a problem overseas with thinking a particular culture was rude or hated americans.

Just be a decent respectful person and more than likely, you will receive it back in kind. Learn a few local phrases, make an effort to conform to the proper etiquette and learn the P's and Q's before going.

People are people, all over the world. Yes, languages and social etiquette may change from place to place, but the more you travel, the more you will find that there is not that much difference. Thats the joy of traveling out of the country. Its a shame that more people dont do it, the world would be better off.

Lived in Europe off and on for over 7 years. Lot's to see as the whole place is drenched in history, different art forms and architecture spanning centuries. Learn to speak some of the local language / languages. You will see the locals actually appreciate the effort to communicate with them in their language and reciprocate. Communication is a wonderful thing.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Never had a problem overseas with thinking a particular culture was rude or hated americans.

Just be a decent respectful person and more than likely, you will receive it back in kind. Learn a few local phrases, make an effort to conform to the proper etiquette and learn the P's and Q's before going.

People are people, all over the world. Yes, languages and social etiquette may change from place to place, but the more you travel, the more you will find that there is not that much difference. Thats the joy of traveling out of the country. Its a shame that more people dont do it, the world would be better off.

And don't talk so loud in Europe. Inside voices, people.

The stereotypical "ugly American traveler" in Europe is actually an almost extinct species (I think most of these types only travel domestically now), but if there's one thing that makes us stand out in a less-than-desirable manner is that our loud volume can easily become intrusive.

As for the comment of "the world would be better off", if more Americans could see
how cruddy and primitive much of our infrastructure is compared to western Europe, parts of Asia, Australia and New Zealand, perhaps this would create public pressure to actually improve things here.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Please! Wear a mask, wash hands, disinfect surfaces, exercise, eat well, worrying is normal this illness is no joke and deserves to be respected not feared. Allow the medical and scientific communities to finish working out therapies and cures. Bottom line get out there and live not just exist. A trip to a Disney property and a brief dose of entertainment may just be the way to go, just give each other some elbow room (yea, No Crowding).

Just to be clear...I agree with you.

But the pigheadedness needed to be cracked open like a walnut...

And mandates, rules and yes - the press - serve a role in breaking the bad habits. It needs/needed to be done.

Ignorance is never much of a viable plan.

Now if people do the right things - collectively - then resume all activities. By all means.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And don't talk so loud in Europe. Inside voices, people.

The stereotypical "ugly American traveler" in Europe is actually an almost extinct species (I think most of these types only travel domestically now), but if there's one thing that makes us stand out in a less-than-desirable manner is that our loud volume can easily become intrusive.

As for the comment of "the world would be better off", if more Americans could see
how cruddy and primitive much of our infrastructure is compared to western Europe, parts of Asia, Australia and New Zealand, perhaps this would create public pressure to actually improve things here.

I blame bars for that.

Why on earth is it a “custom” to have to shout over something most agree paying attention to anyway??

 

[GimpYancIent]

Just to be clear...I agree with you.

But the pigheadedness needed to be cracked open like a walnut...

And mandates, rules and yes - the press - serve a role in breaking the bad habits. It needs/needed to be done.

Ignorance is never much of a viable plan.

Now if people do the right things - collectively - then resume all activities. By all means.

Ahhhhh! You mention "the press". The data, information and presentation done by the media about this illness, simply put, has been lacking. I find myself doing a lot of fact checking and research because "the press" has not been doing due diligence producing its product.

 

[Heppenheimer]

I blame bars for that.

Why on earth is it a “custom” to have to shout over something most agree paying attention to anyway??

View attachment 494420

It seems to have infected theme park behavior too. I notice in old home movies of our Disney trips, you didn't hear the constant rumble of loud conversations drowning out the pre-show dialogue that is now the norm.

 

[Lilofan]

Lived in Europe off and on for over 7 years. Lot's to see as the whole place is drenched in history, different art forms and architecture spanning centuries. Learn to speak some of the local language / languages. You will see the locals actually appreciate the effort to communicate with them in their language and reciprocate. Communication is a wonderful thing.

I did that with my Spanish in Central and South America. We actually got more respect and better customer service. I just wouldn't wear any American flag on my hat or shirt. I'm not that stupid. My friend was physically assaulted because of his t-shirt bearing our flag.

 

[John park hopper]

It seems to have infected theme park behavior too. I notice in old home movies of our Disney trips, you didn't hear the constant rumble of loud conversations drowning out the pre-show dialogue that is now the norm.

Overall the level of civility and respect for other people has declined dramatically over the years. The attitude -- I paid my money it's all about me.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I did that with my Spanish in Central and South America. We actually got more respect and better customer service.

...anywhere.

I spoke little to no Francais...and rudimentary Deutsch...and never have had issues.

Damn near all Europeans in travel areas speak English...but why should that be the standard?

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Overall the level of civility and respect for other people has declined dramatically over the years. The attitude -- I paid my money it's all about me.

Truth.