Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Slightly off topic from the current dragon coaster/ AAA talk....

Wanted to post this earlier but couldn't get photobucket to cooperate with my work computer.

Outside of BoG, a kid having a complete and total meltdown because it was a restaraunt and not a ride as he (and apparently, his Dad) thought it was.

I'd hate to stand in that ridiculously long line only to realize it's not a ride. Nobody told them?

 

[cheezbat]

No, I don't think so. It is the job of a travel agent to set up and take care of the details of what the customer wants. Not to be the judge and jury of whether or not the customer will like the destination. WDW isn't everybody's cup of tea, but, it just might be for the person that she was trying to convince was making a mistake. Couple that with, it's the job of the travel agent to not get in their own way when it comes to making a plan for someone else. Maybe some other travel agency, but, certainly not AAA that has a long and close relationship with Disney Parks and relies on that connection to make a whole lot of money for themselves.

Whether or not Disney is overpriced is not her decision to make. It is the decision of the traveler. It started with a request for a park hopper. The job of the agent was to inform them that if they hadn't been before they might not need a PH, because they can easily spend the whole day in a single park. That's it, not a long lecture on how Disney isn't going to return the investment. That's a personal opinion and not a professional one.

Telling someone that they shouldn't go to a particular place because it's dangerous, unsanitary or just miserable to be in is one thing. This does not apply to a Disney Park and therefore had no basis of mention. What something is worth is an individual decision and not something that she should be trying to "save" them from.

I think it's smart for them to be honest. I had friends visit and they were given the pixie dust pitch, and were quite disappointed in their vacation. Afterwards, they told me that it wasn't what they expected...and I told them they should've listened to me and gone to Universal and Sea World/Busch instead!

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Slightly off topic from the current dragon coaster/ AAA talk....

Wanted to post this earlier but couldn't get photobucket to cooperate with my work computer.

Outside of BoG, a kid having a complete and total meltdown because it was a restaraunt and not a ride as he (and apparently, his Dad) thought it was.

I'd hate to stand in that ridiculously long line only to realize it's not a ride. Nobody told them?

Well...

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Well...

HAHAHAHAHHA. Ok, then there's that.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

I buy my tickets from AAA all the time, great deal.

 

[tissandtully]

I buy my tickets from AAA all the time, great deal.

Yeah, I do as well, I guess I forgot they throw travel planning into the car service too.

 

[tissandtully]

Slightly off topic from the current dragon coaster/ AAA talk....

Wanted to post this earlier but couldn't get photobucket to cooperate with my work computer.

Outside of BoG, a kid having a complete and total meltdown because it was a restaraunt and not a ride as he (and apparently, his Dad) thought it was.

I'd hate to stand in that ridiculously long line only to realize it's not a ride. Nobody told them?

Did this not tip them off?

 

[bubbles1812]

Did this not tip them off?

To be fair, the "restaurant" part of the sign is pretty small, especially compared to the "Be Our Guest." I can see a guest not looking down and mistaking it for a ride, at least at first. I wish it were a ride... Sigh.

 

[tissandtully]

There was also Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg and the Wax Museum on St. Petersburg beach.

Sunken Gardens is still open and my family has an annual pass to Sunken Gardens, I say family because the AP gets 4 extra people in for free.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Sunken Gardens is still open and my family has an annual pass to Sunken Gardens, I say family because the AP gets 4 extra people in for free.

Is it really. I think the last time I was there was in the late 80's. I am amazed that it has survived.

 

[tissandtully]

Is it really. I think the last time I was there was in the late 80's. I am amazed that it has survived.

Yep, it's still in pretty good shape too.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

My feelings are that if you are going to pay a lot for a meal that it should resonate with you beyond the digestion period. I would highly recommend any of the locations we went to. They are also places that, for the most part, you can either walk in or book a few days out. None of that six months ahead and please give a CC bull--&% ...

I agree, and this seems to becoming quite a problem with signature dining at WDW. My party and I got dressed up in 2011 to go to dinner at the California Grill, heck, I even wore my best belt, and still felt like we had walked into an Outback Steakhouse perched on top of the contemporary. Fortunately the food and service made up for it.

I think Disney should seriously consider 21+ sections of signature restaurants or time slots where only adults or families with children 13 and up can dine.

 

[tissandtully]

I agree, and this seems to becoming quite a problem with signature dining at WDW. My party and I got dressed up in 2011 to go to dinner at the California Grill, heck, I even wore my best belt, and still felt like we had walked into an Outback Steakhouse perched on top of the contemporary. Fortunately the food and service made up for it.

I think Disney should seriously consider 21+ sections of signature restaurants or time slots where only adults or families with children 13 and up can dine.

If only there were some sort of separate area where adults could have fun.. maybe an island... that would be a pleasure.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

If only there were some sort of separate area where adults could have fun.. maybe an island... that would be a pleasure.

Sounds so springy and refreshing doesn't it?

 

[bubbles1812]

I agree, and this seems to becoming quite a problem with signature dining at WDW. My party and I got dressed up in 2011 to go to dinner at the California Grill, heck, I even wore my best belt, and still felt like we had walked into an Outback Steakhouse perched on top of the contemporary. Fortunately the food and service made up for it.

I think Disney should seriously consider 21+ sections of signature restaurants or time slots where only adults or families with children 13 and up can dine.

I would love a 21+ section or time slots like that, especially with the demise of Pleasure Island. Yes, I understand fully that Disney is a place geared towards kids, and I'm not suggesting huge chunks of time be dedicated to the older set. But if Disney wanted to increase their appeal to couples and the like, and really peddle that WDW as a "romantic getaway" I keep seeing on the commercials, this would be a nice way to do it.

Or people could be less rude and take their screaming child outside until they've calmed down... That happened the other night where I lived. Kid screamed for 15+ minutes, and the parents did nothing.

 

[lazyboy97o]

How about just going back to enforcing a dress code and not allowing the true signature experiences to be watered down by participation in the Disney Dining Plan?

 

[tissandtully]

How about just going back to enforcing a dress code and not allowing the true signature experiences to be watered down by participation in the Disney Dining Plan?

Not to mention that signature restaurants on the DDP are even a worse deal.

 

[Bolna]

Because it is? It's also from a movie with a prince who turns into a monster. Good grief, the nitpicking. I'm not saying it isn't without flaws, but come on. Yes, the angels are a bit creepy, I wish they were more subtle.

See, I don't think Disney parks are about creating fake copies, but about creating whimsical interpretations of themes.

And a place where Disney really surprised me in the regard during my last trip was the Biergarten. I am from Germany, I grew up in a Bavarian small town with old houses. The city I live in is a place that is visited by loads and loads of tourists who want to see just the type of Germany the German pavilion at Epcot is portraying. I went to the Biergarten more out of curiosity and because I was there with American friends who were interested in my take on it as a German. And I was impressed. I thought it had a lovely atmosphere that came surprisingly close to a typical summer fair in a small town. Even though it is supposed to be night there, the lighting was still ok for eating in, but still had atmosphere. And the food was actually very good and mostly very authentic. It did not at all feel like a fake copy, but like a lovely tribute to my home country.

I wish I could feel the same way about BoG. I am thinking maybe wanting to chose the ballroom from Beauty and the Beast as a restaurant location was not the best decision in the first place?

 

[Bolna]

Slightly off topic from the current dragon coaster/ AAA talk....

Wanted to post this earlier but couldn't get photobucket to cooperate with my work computer.

Outside of BoG, a kid having a complete and total meltdown because it was a restaraunt and not a ride as he (and apparently, his Dad) thought it was.

I'd hate to stand in that ridiculously long line only to realize it's not a ride. Nobody told them?

Actually, I think all the artwork for the promotional material for New Fantasyland is leading people to that conclusion. They feature the Beast and the Beast's castle so prominently, that I am not surprised that people think that this New Fantasyland must have a Beauty and the Beast ride. When I was at MCO and looked at the banners they had up there I even commented to my friend that these looked as if they were advertising a ride, not a restaurant.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Actually, I think all the artwork for the promotional material for New Fantasyland is leading people to that conclusion. They feature the Beast and the Beast's castle so prominently, that I am not surprised that people think that this New Fantasyland must have a Beauty and the Beast ride. When I was at MCO and looked at the banners they had up there I even commented to my friend that these looked as if they were advertising a ride, not a restaurant.

Very true!

The castle is featured all over the banners I saw at MCO. Too bad it looks better on the banners than in real life... IMHO, it just doesn't 'work'. I dunno. I tried a bunch of angle and none made it seem like it was more than a small castle perched on rocks. Maybe when the coaster is complete it'll.. or.. maybe when the walls are down it'll look better?