Would you skip a Disney trip to go see the Winter Olimpics?

[sweetpee_1993]

I guess I just don't see the point. I don't watch those sports on any kind of normal basis, I have absolutely no interest in it...why would I pay so much, to go watch a portion to watch "history being made'....lol It's sports. Its just a bunch of countries who hate eachother, coming around to play sports. Poor kids in overseas countries being abused to preform (huge scandal last year about it), people lying about ages/weights to get their kids in it....

Yeah, no thanks! I'll go stand with the Brazilian tour groups before I go to the Olympics. Now THERES something I've never done before.

Actually, the athletes often tend to transcend the politics between the countries. Yes, they're competing which puts them at odds but then they also have the opportunity to bond with their peers who have lived similar existences and shared the same dreams/goals. Definitely there are sportsmanship lessons to be learned both good and bad. Good examples of BOTH. Also, the athletes are a good example of what people are capable of when they set goals and focus on achieving them. Yes, there's young athletes that have never known any different but how about the older athletes who have competed in other games and still felt the drive to continue in their chosen passion?? So much to be inspired by for all ages. There's always bad stories, I've heard many about Disney, too. BUT, there's also good stories, things that inspire and are irreplacable. When you go to the games it's not about shuffling from your hotel to the venue, sitting, watching, then going back. It's a full-on festival. Attractions. Displays. Activities. Cultural opportunities. Disney and the Brazillians are gonna be at WDW in 2015. The Olympics will be in Russia in 2014.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

AND, even if you don't go to the games in Russia, at that time tourism will be focused on that specific location in that country. Might be a good time to go see other parts of Russia...may have some good prices available on hotels, etc. Yes????

 

[jlsHouston]

Well.. I just got back from Atlantis... My boyfriend is not a WDW nut like I am and it had been a year since I took him on vacation...so I owed him one. If I could have persuaded him to go to WDW over Bahamas we would have been at the World. It is not that I don't want to go experience other places but if I have a choice at this point I pick Disney... no choice: I go wherever the other person wants.

 

[jlsHouston]

However in thinking about it... if I had a choice of Paris or WDW.. I would take Paris.. and I would make a side trip to DLP of course.. The Winter Olympics in Russia don't really interest me. I would go and experience all the other things a visit to Russia had to offer but if I had a choice...it would be WDW..

 

[DisneyGuyNYC]

Well.. I just got back from Atlantis... My boyfriend is not a WDW nut like I am and it had been a year since I took him on vacation...so I owed him one. If I could have persuaded him to go to WDW over Bahamas we would have been at the World. It is not that I don't want to go experience other places but if I have a choice at this point I pick Disney... no choice: I go wherever the other person wants.

Write up and Atlantis review in the "Everything Else" or Chit Chat section! I'd love to see it.

Message me if you do!

 

[Britt]

Actually, the athletes often tend to transcend the politics between the countries. Yes, they're competing which puts them at odds but then they also have the opportunity to bond with their peers who have lived similar existences and shared the same dreams/goals. Definitely there are sportsmanship lessons to be learned both good and bad. Good examples of BOTH. Also, the athletes are a good example of what people are capable of when they set goals and focus on achieving them. Yes, there's young athletes that have never known any different but how about the older athletes who have competed in other games and still felt the drive to continue in their chosen passion?? So much to be inspired by for all ages. There's always bad stories, I've heard many about Disney, too. BUT, there's also good stories, things that inspire and are irreplacable. When you go to the games it's not about shuffling from your hotel to the venue, sitting, watching, then going back. It's a full-on festival. Attractions. Displays. Activities. Cultural opportunities. Disney and the Brazillians are gonna be at WDW in 2015. The Olympics will be in Russia in 2014.

Right, differences in opinion. I don't find them to be of any value, so I wont go spend my money to watch it.

I so dont think it brings anyone together. In fact, countries put themselves into crazy debt trying to impress other countries with their lavish nation, opening ceremonies and so on ($15 billion on the UK government), in hopes of tourism that it has no proof it brings (outside of the actual events). It puts tremendous strain on areas already struggling to GET tourism and rarely pays off. They're hoping more people eventually come and rarely does it actually pay off.

 

[wm49rs]

The Olympics don't bring anyone together. Unless of course you count the thousands upon thousands who would gather to watch it in locales such as Hyde Park, when they couldn't even get into the venues:

 

[DisneyGuyNYC]

The Olympics don't bring anyone together. Unless of course you count the thousands upon thousands who would gather to watch it in locales such as Hyde Park, when they couldn't even get into the venues:

The above photo is my personal nightmare come true. Imagine if you had to pee.

I'll be at the Tangled restrooms, thanks.

 

[wm49rs]

The above photo is my personal nightmare come true. Imagine if you had to pee.

I'll be at the Tangled restrooms, thanks.

Of course. Because after all, scenes like that never happen in Disney....

 

[DisneyGuyNYC]

Of course. Because after all, scenes like that never happen in Disney....

Difference is you can choose when you go to Disney and choose not go during school breaks, etc. Also, I know where three bathrooms are off the top of my head in relation to this spot.

 

[Figgy1]

Difference is you can choose when you go to Disney and choose not go during school breaks, etc. Also, I know where three bathrooms are off the top of my head in relation to this spot.

4 I have kids! LOL

 

[wm49rs]

Difference is you can choose when you go to Disney and choose not to go during school breaks. Also, I know where three bathrooms are off the top of my head in relation to this spot.

And you can choose not to go to the Olympics, even though they only occur every four years, and they have pretty adequate markers as to where the restrooms are located.....

 

[DisneyGuyNYC]

And you can choose not to go to the Olympics, even though they only occur every four years, and they have pretty adequate markers as to where the restrooms are located.....

Yeah. I'd choose not to go to the Olympics.

I'd like to spend most of my vacation doing the main event, not an hour if I can get tickets.

 

[DisneyGuyNYC]

4 I have kids! LOL

I can't imagine keeping kids happy and safe during the Olympics. They're chaos.

 

[Figgy1]

I can't imagine keeping kids happy and safe during the Olympics. They're chaos.

Never had a problem in Disney!

 

[wm49rs]

I can't imagine keeping kids happy and safe during the Olympics. They're chaos.

You've been to many?

And my wife went last summer. Said it was the most secured event she had ever been to. Layers upon layers of (just) visible security. Fear should not be a precursor to attending such a seminal occasion.

 

[DisneyGuyNYC]

You've been to many?

And my wife went last summer. Said it was the most secured event she had ever been to. Layers upon layers of (just) visible security. Fear should not be a precursor to attending such a seminal occasion.

Yes I have. Lots of security for actual threats, sure, but lots of kids being pushed around in crowds, pickpocketing, screaming matches in different languages, huge crowds being constantly rude to each other (with justification they've got like zero personal space), spilling of food and drinks, etc.

Also the security can be pretty nasty themselves. We had one guy yelling in my Dad's face because we went to leave an event when we weren't "supposed" to and therefore were some kind of security risk.

Cast members might not be what they used to be but I've never seen anything like that.

 

[wm49rs]

Yes I have. Lots of security for actual threats, sure, but lots of kids being pushed around in crowds, pickpocketing, screaming matches in different languages, huge crowds being constantly rude to each other (with justification they've got like zero personal space), spilling of food and drinks, etc.

Also the security can be pretty nasty themselves. We had one guy yelling in my Dad's face because we went to leave an event when we weren't "supposed" to and therefore were some kind of security risk.

Cast members might not be what they used to be but I've never seen anything like that.

Ok....

 

[WDW 3]

Nope. Not the winter games. I live in the frozen north country and anyplace with snow is not a vacation.

 

[All Disney All The Time]

We lived just outside Atlanta when they hosted the Summer Olympics. We were lucky to be able to score tix to several events. It was fantastic. We hope to be able to attend a Winter Olympics some time. We've been to the X-Games twice also.
Several weeks ago there was an excellent article in Sports Illustrated about Sochi. Well worth tracking down and reading if you have any interest.