The Florida Project (2017 Film)

[Raineman]

I just discovered this movie recently, and watched it for the first time last night. It is not really directly related to WDW (except for one fairly impactful scene), but the fact that it is based on US 192 in Kissimmee, in the area just south of WDW, I'm sure quite a few people on here would find it interesting. I have spent a week staying at a nice timeshare on 192, but I still was able to see the seedier side of 192, so the setting of the movie was kinda familiar. The movie is very gritty, and very real, almost seeming like a documentary, thanks to the amazing acting by all the cast, especially the kids. How many have seen this film? What did you think, and, based on the fact that there are actually people living in the seedy motels on 192, did it change or reinforce your opinion on the effect that WDW has had on this area, especially after Disney started building resorts on property?

 

[JusticeDisney]

I saw it when it was first released. Didn’t care for it at all. I agree with you that the acting was fantastic (indeed, Willem Dafoe was nominated for an Oscar for his role in it), but other than that I don’t have much good to say about it. Anyway, just my $.02.

 

[LMSB]

I just discovered this movie recently, and watched it for the first time last night. It is not really directly related to WDW (except for one fairly impactful scene), but the fact that it is based on US 192 in Kissimmee, in the area just south of WDW, I'm sure quite a few people on here would find it interesting. I have spent a week staying at a nice timeshare on 192, but I still was able to see the seedier side of 192, so the setting of the movie was kinda familiar. The movie is very gritty, and very real, almost seeming like a documentary, thanks to the amazing acting by all the cast, especially the kids. How many have seen this film? What did you think, and, based on the fact that there are actually people living in the seedy motels on 192, did it change or reinforce your opinion on the effect that WDW has had on this area, especially after Disney started building resorts on property?

I saw it in theaters last November- I liked it! Really made you see what 'day to day' life can be like for the locals outside the Disney "bubble"

 

[acollins876]

Fantastic movie and I'd bet that it's 100% realistic. Good art will make you feel something and maybe tell a truth and this was good art.

 

[Raineman]

Fantastic movie and I'd bet that it's 100% realistic. Good art will make you feel something and maybe tell a truth and this was good art.

The characters in this movie are so realistic-I'm sure most people know someone that is low class white trash like Moonee's mother, or someone like Bobby that sees the kind of lives these people are living and does as much as he can for them, knowing it's never going to be enough. The empathy and disgust/loathing I felt for the different characters definitely left an impression on me-the scene where Moonee is crying to her friend really got me, as well as the runaway scene at the end.

 

[JiminyandTink]

I just discovered this movie recently, and watched it for the first time last night. It is not really directly related to WDW (except for one fairly impactful scene), but the fact that it is based on US 192 in Kissimmee, in the area just south of WDW, I'm sure quite a few people on here would find it interesting. I have spent a week staying at a nice timeshare on 192, but I still was able to see the seedier side of 192, so the setting of the movie was kinda familiar. The movie is very gritty, and very real, almost seeming like a documentary, thanks to the amazing acting by all the cast, especially the kids. How many have seen this film? What did you think, and, based on the fact that there are actually people living in the seedy motels on 192, did it change or reinforce your opinion on the effect that WDW has had on this area, especially after Disney started building resorts on property?

Yes, I thought it was pretty good movie too. If your interested in the topic of the impact that WDW has had on the Orlando (and surrounding) area and its residents, I reccomend the book "Married to the Mouse", it's a very interesting read.

 

[Raineman]

Yes, I thought it was pretty good movie too. If your interested in the topic of the impact that WDW has had on the Orlando (and surrounding) area and its residents, I reccomend the book "Married to the Mouse", it's a very interesting read.

Without having all of the information, just my own opinion based on what I've seen/heard, I think WDW both helped and hindered Orlando and it's residents. With Orlando originally being a smaller, agricultural city, WDW was really the originator of the tourism industry in Orlando; once Disney invested in the area, everyone else followed. The hotels/restaurants/gift shops/attractions spawned on US 192 were, IMO, almost completely based on out-of-town visitors coming to Orlando specifically for the entertainment it offered. When Disney started to build their own resorts, restaurants and shopping on their property, and basically created the "Disney bubble", areas like 192 suffered, as people were paying Disney for every part of their vacation, not just park tickets. As Orlando became a bigger, more attractive city to live in, housing prices climbed drastically, driving low income residents to living in bad neighborhoods or cheap hotels.
I definitely want to read the book you mentioned, as, after experiencing US 192, and now seeing the movie, it really holds my interest.

 

[geekza]

Yeah, early Disney was a blessing to the Orlando area. It wasn't uncommon to visit WDW and also several of the smaller local attractions. Once Eisner came in and the WDW Resort boom happened, every decision that was made was for the purpose of keeping you on Disney property. Back in the day, you either drove to Orlando or, if you flew, you probably rented a car after you landed. As more people began to fly into Orlando, Disney created the Magical Express to pick you up. On the surface, it seemed like Disney was doing this great thing by offering free bus service to and from the airport, but there was nothing philanthropic about it. If you didn't rent a car, then once you were dropped off by the bus, you had to make an extra effort if you wanted to go somewhere off-property. People will do it for someplace like Universal or Sea World, but the smaller places just weren't worth the extra money and effort. Disney does everything in it's power to provide any type of service, food, or amenity you could want within the WDW property. The upshot was that the businesses around WDW have collapsed.

 

[worldfanatic]

I loved the movie.
Ended up buying the DVD.
Amazing acting....even the kids.
And very eye-opening.

The scene where the honeymoon couple checks in (or doesn't) had me rolling on the floor.
The misleading hotel name got the Disney-clueless husband in deep trouble with his Disney-expert wife.
Classic!!

 

[Bairstow]

The film certainly puts the issue of income disparity in America into sharp relief. I loved the way it was shot and the way it captures the heat and colors of central Florida.

 

[Nemo14]

Here's a few more comments about the movie:

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-florida-project.935843/

 

[SeaCastle]

I saw it this summer and it quickly became one of my favorite movies. It was a tear-jerker and I am certainly not one to get emotional about movies. The movie was humanizing in the way that it puts in perspective that the people living in those motels are real people-- not saying that to sound corny or preachy but it was a very human movie.

The most interesting part for me was that Disney World was the elephant in the room and was not acknowledged explicitly until the last minute or so. We live in a part of the country that is almost totally dependent on the tourism economy. The income disparity is real, and luxury SUVs speeding past motels-turned-apartments is a regular sight. People do not realize that the folks living year-round in beach towns, ski resort towns, etc. are significantly poorer than people elsewhere in the region or state. In Atlantic City, New Jersey there used to be a saying: "three months to hurry, nine months to worry"

 

[Raineman]

I have to point out that, even though I loved this movie and that it made an emotional impact on me, as a WDW geek and daily visitor to this forum, I was probly laughing at, and noticing stuff that most people wouldn't. For example, the scene with the honeymooning couple-he said his wife was from Brazil, and that she loved coming to WDW; based on the general opinion on this forum of the Brazilian tour groups, that made me laugh. The scene where Moonee and her mom are selling the Magic Bands, and the guy asks "Is park hopper on them?" The ending of the movie had me scratching my head (**spoiler alert for anyone who has not seen this movie**)-the run that the two girls made from the hotel to MK is about 10 miles; I don't know any 6 year olds that can run for 10 miles, down busy roads, and get through the security checkpoint and the turnstiles to get in to MK lol.

 

[SteveAZee]

I really enjoyed the movie and I have no trouble believing that people live that way. That said, it doesn't diminish my view of Disney or WDW... but then again, I think I have a pretty realistic view of the business in the first place.

 

[wendysue]

Yeah, early Disney was a blessing to the Orlando area. It wasn't uncommon to visit WDW and also several of the smaller local attractions. Once Eisner came in and the WDW Resort boom happened, every decision that was made was for the purpose of keeping you on Disney property. Back in the day, you either drove to Orlando or, if you flew, you probably rented a car after you landed. As more people began to fly into Orlando, Disney created the Magical Express to pick you up. On the surface, it seemed like Disney was doing this great thing by offering free bus service to and from the airport, but there was nothing philanthropic about it. If you didn't rent a car, then once you were dropped off by the bus, you had to make an extra effort if you wanted to go somewhere off-property. People will do it for someplace like Universal or Sea World, but the smaller places just weren't worth the extra money and effort. Disney does everything in it's power to provide any type of service, food, or amenity you could want within the WDW property. The upshot was that the businesses around WDW have collapsed.

We like using Magical Express, but always rent a car for 2 or 3 days from the Disney Car Care center, drive down to Old Town Kissimmee, eat at the restaurants down that way, hit a grocery store for supplies, etc. It is cheaper to rent a car for 2 days and buy groceries than eat onsite at WDW.

 

[Raineman]

I would be very surprised if the Magic Castle isn’t experiencing a growth in business now that a lot of people have seen the movie. If anyone is planning to do that, might wanna check for bed bugs before you go to sleep

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Fantastic movie! I ran to the cinema to see it. Out of a certain interest into this wilder aspect of Orlando too.

I stay off-site mostly, and do sometimes somewhat deliberately seek out this local underbelly on my late evening walks. Just hanging out at the local 7-11, Wendy's, the dumpster-dotted parking lots out back. To stock up on my impressions of Americana.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I thought it was alright, however I also think it was a huge disservice to the real life people who are in this situation by having the main mother be a total deadbeat piece of trash. That's not why people end up in these hotels. It also didn't say anything bad about Disney, even though Disney created this situation in Orlando. However, I enjoyed the underlying message of childhood innocence.

Also, I've lived near this stretch of US-192 for years and I think people grossly exaggerate how bad it is. Most of it just tacky, it's not some dangerous slum, and it's in the process of being cleaned up and improved.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I thought it was alright, however I also think it was a huge disservice to the real life people who are in this situation by having the main mother be a total deadbeat piece of trash. That's not why people end up in these hotels. It also didn't say anything bad about Disney, even though Disney created this situation in Orlando. However, I enjoyed the underlying message of childhood innocence.

Also, I've lived near this stretch of US-192 for years and I think people grossly exaggerate how bad it is. Most of it just tacky, it's not some dangerous slum, and it's in the process of being cleaned up and improved.

I liked the movie for the realistic, if dramatised, portrayal of these characters. I didn't think the main mother to be total trash? Just doing what she has to do.

I later learned that she is not an actress, but simply a person they scouted off of Instagram! She's for real, at least her looks.
Which is still better dressed than half the MK visitors...

If I should level some criticism at the movie it is that nothing is more tired in art or social criticism than portraying Disney as a metaphor for the superficiality or even fakeness of the US/capitalism/established middle classes. There is a lazy juxtaposition between this metaphor and the film's subject matter. Either as 'this is the harsh reality instead of the fake dreamworld'. Or as two realities, that couldn't be further apart even if they couldn't be in closer proximity. I wasn't sure which one.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I liked the movie for the realistic, if dramatised, portrayal of these characters. I didn't think the main mother to be total trash? Just doing what she has to do.

I later learned that she is not an actress, but simply a person they scouted off of Instagram! She's for real, at least her looks.
Which is still better dressed than half the MK visitors...

If I should level some criticism at the movie it is that nothing is more tired in art or social criticism than portraying Disney as a metaphor for the superficiality or even fakeness of the US/capitalism/established middle classes. There is a lazy juxtaposition between this metaphor and the film's subject matter. Either as 'this is the harsh reality instead of the fake dreamworld'. Or as two realities, that couldn't be further apart even if they couldn't be in closer proximity. I wasn't sure which one.

The main mother refuses to get a job and tries to rely on scamming people and prostitution, which is contrasted by the other mother that gets upset with her who has a job and is a responsible adult. I found that this is a poor representation of the people living in those hotels as most of them do have jobs, some of which are at Disney.

I definitely agree about using Disney as said metaphor, hence why I really hate this video from a YouTube channel I otherwise enjoy which was done somewhat as a response to The Florida Project:


He cherry-picked a few abandoned locations on 192 and presented the entire area around Disney as a dangerous slum. His presentation of 192 alone is grossly exaggerated, and he completely ignores that the areas bordering WDW property in every other direction are nice and prospering - for example, Windermere to the north of MK/WDW property, Dr. Phillips to the North East, etc.