Spirited Spring Break News, Observations & Thoughts ...

[PREMiERdrum]

I'm your Huckleberry.

I will be 40 years old this summer. My first trip was in 1985. It was a road trip from Texas and took two full days of driving. My mother told me we had 5 day tickets, but she thinks we only used four because we saw everything there was to see. Multiple times. During the time we were there we also went to Cape Canaveral and a day trip to the beach. My second trip was after 1989 sometime when MGM opened. This trip we also drove, but it was my Dad and stepmother this time. 3 parks to choose from. In 1992 I made another trip, it was a band trip and we rode busses stright through from Dallas to Orlando. Last year we were on a cruise and one port was Port Canaveral. We had a day for however we wanted to see the parks. Having just a day with a 4 year p;d and a 2 year old, we decided on the Magic Kingdom. We were there from opening till the kids gave out about 3:00.

I do remember more trees.

The majority of my WDW time is different than many.

Aside from about 6 or 7 hours last year,
I have never been to Epcot. All my trips have been to EPCOT Center. I have never been without Horizons or World of Motion being part of the day. Communicore was COOL!!!

I have never used or seen a Fastpass, much less a the plus version.

Splashwater Falls wasn't even complete when I was there in 1992.

DHS was still MGM and the animation tour was still open and operational. There was no hat. The backlot tour was still interesting.

We call this "Quitting while you're ahead"!

 

[WDW1974]

Someone go heckle @Gary_Jerry, he just tweeted he is heading to MK for dole whips

Perhaps he can explain to Jason Surrell that you only put meaningless drivel like that on your Twitter, not stuff that brands you an out of control psycho.

 

[WDW1974]

Honestly, it all looks like a big money grab.
Singer gets popular, will have one of its most waited franchise movies out.. and suddenly a guy standsup and accuses them of sexual abuse that happened DECADES ago.

I disagree. Often times, it takes decades for abuse to come to light for a variety of reasons (and male on male is always the worst because boys/men are supposed to be strong and be able to ward off an attacker, so if a boy gets it in the end, well, he wanted it ... or so goes the crazy thought pattern in our society.)

Look at the scandals in the Chruch or at Penn State U., it often takes a VERY long time to come out.

Now, if you're saying that this has been in the hands of the lawyers for months and they waited until now for maximum damage, then I might agree.

 

[WDW1974]

Can't look away even tho I should ... are there screencaps?

And while the labor thing is crazy, I also agree if retweeting violent threats under your own name, which is synonymous with a company, gets you fired from pretty much any corporate job.

There are ...

Not at TWDC/WDI. Unless he gets caught with a 15-year-old fanboi, he apparently can behave however he wants. I actually was angry enough with his Kippel retweet to take some action behind the scenes, but since Disney employs people who hate me and hate Lee and hate Martin and I can't even recall who else he threatened ... it may well have been Steve (he has on other occasions) it seems he can do whatever he wants. Especially since his M.O. is once he's shot his anger load on Twitter, he simply goes back and makes the Tweets disappear like they never happened before. So either someone screen caps them or they never happened and Disney will always view things like they never happened as long as it is convenient to do so.

This time the excuse, if there is one, will be he was stressed over his wife's labor. My answer to that would be then his should have been at her side and not fighting with fanbois either here or on Twitter.

 

[WDW1974]

You know where it's easy to find a cheap hotel room? Ukraine. Where I am spending the next 6 weeks despite the State Dept telling me I shouldn't. Now, finding WiFi so I could actually get caught up on this thread took a little more searching. I took the sensible route and asked someone in fatigues manning a barricade where to find WiFi. Poof.......here I am!

Let me guess, you're going for the theme parks?

Seriously, why would anyone want to go to Ukraine (even before this political upheaval it wasn't exactly a Conde Nast Top 10 Vacation Destination)?

I had a friend who did so about 15 years ago, but she was adopting a child ...

 

[HenryMystic]

It is my impression that Jason Surrell was engaging Spirit's pal Andy Castro (who admittedly cast the first stone). Surrell incorrectly included WDWMagic which should tell you something.

Why can't all Disney tweeters be as cool as Eisner and Joe Rohde?

 

[WDW1974]

So you could get 2 rooms at the Ritz 'M'fing' Carlton for less than a studio at BLT or BWI? WOW

Just want to repeat that point.

BUT the RITZ HAS NO MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WDW1974]

It is my impression that Jason Surrell was engaging Spirit's pal Andy Castro (who admittedly cast the first stone). Surrell incorrectly included WDWMagic which should tell you something.

Why can't all Disney tweeters be as cool as Eisner and Joe Rohde?

That is sorta what I got out of it. It seemed to be Castro and good, old, dead ECardonWalker. But I didn't get his talking about WDWMAGIC and arguing with (well, let's leave his description out) folks here part of it ...

And there was also drama because, apparently, everyone finally realizes that Jimmy Thickhead is a troll (only took what? seven years?) ....

It was just a bizarre spring night and makes me long for my upcoming escape even more!

 

[WDW1974]

Sure I will chime in, IMO I think sites like Trivago, Hotels.com among others with their constant and ever expanding marketing seem to be making inroads. The Disney "bubble" has lost its luster. They have had to up the % of discount to.....theres pin codes coming out that will now give up to 35%.....who says the discounts are on the way out? Infact they are cutting deeper. This wont stop either. Woth Uni upping its game and opening CB, and the opening of other attractions I think Disney is already on the way down the slippery slope as far as occupancy and the resorts go. Don't be surprised if they pull out the FP+ card soon....offering up extra FP's. With that we will see an extra charge fo FP+, making FP a perk for staying on property.....OH this is coming...not a matter of if....but when!

Maybe "unlimited" FP, Disney doesn't care about FP. It was never the "real" reason for NGE to begin with ( IMO) it had more to the tracking and the ability to squeeze more money out of its guest. FP+ was just a tool to execute that function.

Oh yeah, they are already offering 35% off this summer on their deluxe resorts to FL residents, but that trick doesn't keep working when the rates keep going up. I won't pay their rates when I can get 50-60% off cast discounts, so 35% is something I just laugh at.

I don't know where our resident occupancy expert @ParentsOf4 went (I hope all is well ... maybe Disney got smart and bought him off when he was down there a few weeks ago?)

That reminds me, seeing Thickhead's fake 'I went to Tokyo and WDW is better' BS trip thread, whatever happened to @Buried20KLeague ? He hasn't been seen since he went to TDR ... where's the trip observations?

 

[WDW1974]

Why would Disney fear this? Bryan Singer and the X-Men franchise are at Fox.

If anything this is probably a classic hollywood hit job by Disney to tarnish Fox and the X-Men films.

You missed my point, Neo. Disney fears a similar incident/accusation against one of its creatives (most likely Imagineering as they ... um ... ahm ... have a rep). The only thing I can think of that would be worse than a sex scandal involving minors would be a terrorist attack. Nothing else.

And this story has nothing to do with Disney trying to tarnish anything. It's just a sad tale that you hope isn't true, but a voice inside tells you something else.

 

[WDW1974]

But as you pointed out...look at what the rates really are for a 3-4 star room around the WDW area. And look at the premium tacked on to an onsite deluxe room..

Those hotels I selected were not 3-star caliber. A few maybe 3.5 ... most 4-5. Most, well above what Disney Deluxes offer.

 

[jlsHouston]

That is sorta what I got out of it. It seemed to be Castro and good, old, dead ECardonWalker. But I didn't get his talking about WDWMAGIC and arguing with (well, let's leave his description out) folks here part of it ...

And there was also drama because, apparently, everyone finally realizes that Jimmy Thickhead is a troll (only took what? seven years?) ....

It was just a bizarre spring night and makes me long for my upcoming escape even more!

JImmy Thick is a troll?

 

[WDW1974]

The Tweets that went out were meant to be personal messages, not Tweets for everyone to see. Not a defender, don't know him but they weren't meant for consumption by the public. That's one of the many unfortunate downsides of social media. Even an honest mistake that was never meant to be public can bite you in the .

Exactly how do you know this?

 

[Blueliner]

I'll add my family's favorite: Orange Lake Resort.
2 Bedroom Villa (1 KNG, 2 QUEEN BEDS): $209/night
"2 bdrm villas with 1200 sq.Ft can sleep up to 8 comfortably and includes luxury items such as a fully equipped kitchen separate dining room area a family room area with pullout sofa sleeper full size washer and dryer spa tub dvd player furnished balcony or patio area and much more."

We stayed at Bonnet Creek Resort in a 2BR villa for 7 nights last month. The villa was very nice, well-maintained, and comparable in size to 2BR DVC villas. The staff was courteous, the grounds were well-kept, the pools were fun, and the resort offered numerous recreational and dining options. The location was as central as the Boardwalk (our home DVC Resort, which I really, really like). The grand total for 7 nights at Bonnet Creek was $1,200.00!

We had our own car and drove where we wanted when we wanted, instead of waiting for Disney buses. We had an absolute blast at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach while the weather was warm. We had a great time in Lakeland one afternoon watching Max Scherzer pitch and Miguel Cabrera belt homers as the Tigers finished up spring training. We spent one full day at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, using express passes to maximize our visit. Other than the day we went to Universal, we slept in and made "surgical strikes" in the WDW theme parks each day using our alotted FP+ (as annual passholders). It was one of our most enjoyable trips to Orlando ever, and: 1) we did not stay "on-property"; b) we did not spend all day in the theme parks; and c) we did not spend a whole lot of money in the parks.

 

[HenryMystic]

The Tweets that went out were meant to be personal messages, not Tweets for everyone to see. Not a defender, don't know him but they weren't meant for consumption by the public. That's one of the many unfortunate downsides of social media. Even an honest mistake that was never meant to be public can bite you in the .

I'd buy it if it wasn't the first time.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I disagree. Often times, it takes decades for abuse to come to light for a variety of reasons (and male on male is always the worst because boys/men are supposed to be strong and be able to ward off an attacker, so if a boy gets it in the end, well, he wanted it ... or so goes the crazy thought pattern in our society.)

Look at the scandals in the Chruch or at Penn State U., it often takes a VERY long time to come out.

Now, if you're saying that this has been in the hands of the lawyers for months and they waited until now for maximum damage, then I might agree.

My professional experience tells me you are correct. And "consent" can be made under severe coercion.

 

[jlsHouston]

We stayed at Bonnet Creek Resort in a 2BR villa for 7 nights last month. The villa was very nice, well-maintained, and comparable in size to 2BR DVC villas. The staff was courteous, the grounds were well-kept, the pools were fun, and the resort offered numerous recreational and dining options. The location was as central as the Boardwalk (our home DVC Resort, which I really, really like). The grand total for 7 nights at Bonnet Creek was $1,200.00!

We had our own car and drove where we wanted when we wanted, instead of waiting for Disney buses. We had an absolute blast at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach while the weather was warm. We had a great time in Lakeland one afternoon watching Max Scherzer pitch and Miguel Cabrera belt homers as the Tigers finished up spring training. We spent one full day as Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, using express passes to maximize our visit. Other than the day we went to Universal, we slept in and made "surgical strikes" in the WDW theme parks each day using our alotted FP+ (as annual passholders). It was one of our most enjoyable trips to Orlando ever, and: 1) we did not stay "on-property"; b) we did not spend all day in the theme parks; and c) we did not spend a whole lot of money in the parks.

Well it sounds really nice. I'm not sure how I would feel about a week in Orlando and not 100% up disney's butt though. Or immersed or whatever the lingo is .

 

[PhotoDave219]

We had our own car and drove where we wanted when we wanted, instead of waiting for Disney buses. We had an absolute blast at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach while the weather was warm. We had a great time in Lakeland one afternoon watching Max Scherzer pitch and Miguel Cabrera belt homers as the Tigers finished up spring training.

Then you saw me working. Especially if it was Scherzer's last start in Lakeland.

 

[71jason]

Idea: (Don't take the name seriously) MARVille

An alleyway in Disney Springs with a couple of Marvel themed experiences, meet/greets, restaurants, and shops all built to rack in $$$.

Sounds a lot like "The Marvel Universe," sort of a Marvel-themed DisneyQuest-meets-Disney Store-meets Planet Hollywood concept Marvel was developing backed when it signed its contract with Universal.

Disney could still build it ... anywhere outside a 60-mile radius of IoA.

 

[Blueliner]

Then you saw me working. Especially if it was Scherzer's last start in Lakeland.

v. the Braves? That was it! It was a very good game for Tigers fans.