observations from a week spent in orlando

[chad]

if shtf, you don't want to be there.

i'm sure the locals are nice, but it seems to be populated 50% wise from the most retarded, ignorant, least able to take care of themselves people in the world. almost all of them seem to be:

a) idiot americans who are charging 5 grand to take the kids to disney for a week. total soccer moms worrying about tegan and dylan's take home gifts and clueless dads wandering around numb to what is going on. anything to shut mom up. get out the credit card.

b) clueless people from other countries. there's laws in america? you mean i'm not in brazil and i can't just do whatever i want?

i cannot even begin to tell or list the amount of idiocy i saw there the past week. these people would be stealing, robbing, doing anything for a bottle of water or a plate of pancakes from denny's inside of 2 days if there was trouble.

packs of people who looked to be from there "hanging out" everywhere. not sure what they were doing, probably waiting for a chance to do crime.

lord.

if you are from orlando, i have the utmost respect for you. how you can deal with the packs of feral tourists roaming the streets is beyond me.

[MNeagle]

Thanks for the report. Husband would love to take the kids there, but it's one of the last places in the world I'd ever want to go visit.

Will be sure he reads your account!!

[chad]

i'm not even kidding you mneagle, if i listed individual stories, you'd swear i was making them up.

i think the general consensus there is "i'm spending 5 grand for a week at disney, so i'm going to do whatever i want, abandon all sense of decency + morals, because i'm owed, since i'm spending so much on this trip."

[MNeagle]

How'd your family like it? Were they thrilled, lifetime memories, etc.?

[EE_]

Can we see your credit card statement of what you charged for the week at Disney?

[chad]

the kids are 4 + 7. their favorite thing was the swimming pool at the hotel. parks were completely packed, hour wait at almost anything, and the prices are not just insane, they're pretty much unbelievable. 3 sandwiches, 2 boxes of fries, 3 drinks: around $32.

i wouldn't even think of taking kids there unless they are at least 13 or so. anything else is just a complete waste, they're tired out before you even begin. getting in to magic kingdom consists of:

a) 1/2 hour drive from anywhere drive to the park, $14 parking.

b) 20 minute drive on a shuttle tram to the tram entrance

c) standing in line for 20 minutes to catch a tram, 5 minute tram ride to entrance

d) stand in line at ticket cue for 10 minutes

e) 10 minute walk to get inside and away from people being 2 inches from you

DO NOT take your kids there unless they are in their teens. they enjoyed it, but were completely burned out after maybe 3 hours. then you have to do the reverse of the above to get out.

[Carbon]

Did Goofy try and grope your buns?

[chad]

Can we see your credit card statement of what you charged for the week at Disney?


zero, paid cash for all of it, that's even more of why i am upset :boohoo

[MNeagle]

Well, you at least only had to cover the "Disney" part of it right? Wasn't the rest covered?

[chad]

Well, you at least only had to cover the "Disney" part of it right? Wasn't the rest covered?


i only had to pay for the disney tickets, so yes, i can't complain finance wise. although, i did have to buy some disney princesses and star wars action figures. ;D

i don't understand how normal people could do it if they had to pay for it. WOWZA.

[philo beddoe]

Taking your kid to Anaheim Disney, and finding out it's some gay day, is worse..........

[chad]

Taking your kid to Anaheim Disney, and finding out it's some gay day, is worse..........


never thought of that angle, but yes, you would be correct.

[Skirnir]

I went to Orlando as a kid; we went on the off season so the lines were short and as a result, I rode Space Mountain a few times too many. I also overheard my father say that we were not going to do this again so I should remember it.

[sunshine05]

Thanks for the report Chad. It's what I would expect honestly. We've planned a trip there about 3 times now and end up changing our minds. I just can't bring myself to do it. Because this trip for sure is all about the kids and lots of work for the parents. I like at least some relaxation. If we go to the beach for a week at least we can get some sun and watch the kids play in the sand or at the pool. I went to Disney several times as a child and have great memories of it but it wasn't like it is now. My brother lives in Sarasota so I think we may go down to visit him in late Oct, early November and just do a day trip to Disney since it will be off season. I can't handle crowds. We would like to take them to Seaworld more than Disney so we may just do that.

[LuckyStrike]

If you are to navigate your way around orlando (or anything south of) make sure you speak spainish.

[madfranks]

i'm not even kidding you mneagle, if i listed individual stories, you'd swear i was making them up.


Come on, give us a few stories! :)

[Libertytree]

Disneyweird ;D Better you than me Chad, I hate Orlando.

Sunshine, ya might want to come down here before Oct/Nov, right now is our off season and it's much less congested, besides, ya might want to consider missing any of the oil that's sure to come.

Nordic's right, it's good to know some Spanish.

[willie pete]

Yea, this is probably the Worst time of the year to go to Orlando/Disney, just like you say; long wait times, hot and humid and crowds everywhere, you didn't mention the seasonal afternoon rains...lol off season it's great, you can find specials, especially for FL residents :D I got a multi-pass to Isle of Adventures one year, went in October on a school break, man the place was Empty, rode Spider-Man 3D like 10 times, no wait at all, it's basically get off, and go get back on..it was Cool ;D

[sunshine05]

Disneyweird ;D Better you than me Chad, I hate Orlando.

Sunshine, ya might want to come down here before Oct/Nov, right now is our off season and it's much less congested, besides, ya might want to consider missing any of the oil that's sure to come.

Nordic's right, it's good to know some Spanish.



Really? I thought Oct/Nov would be considered off season since kids are in school. We'll have to see.

[Libertytree]

Disneyweird ;D Better you than me Chad, I hate Orlando.

Sunshine, ya might want to come down here before Oct/Nov, right now is our off season and it's much less congested, besides, ya might want to consider missing any of the oil that's sure to come.

Nordic's right, it's good to know some Spanish.



Really? I thought Oct/Nov would be considered off season since kids are in school. We'll have to see.


The snowbirds start coming down then Oct/Nov and the prices start going back up too. I think disney is a pain in the kazoo no matter what time of year it is.

[willie pete]

Disneyweird ;D Better you than me Chad, I hate Orlando.

Sunshine, ya might want to come down here before Oct/Nov, right now is our off season and it's much less congested, besides, ya might want to consider missing any of the oil that's sure to come.

Nordic's right, it's good to know some Spanish.



Really? I thought Oct/Nov would be considered off season since kids are in school. We'll have to see.


In Orlando I think Oct/Nov is considered off-season

"The snowbirds start coming down then Oct/Nov and the prices start going back up too. I think disney is a pain in the kazoo no matter what time of year it is."

Not really, depends on when you're there, I've been there when you could literally get off a ride, run back around and get right back on it

[Libertytree]

Disney is a different animal I reckon...going to the beach here during season is a pain.

[LufT76]

Sounds like someone went at the wrong time of year. My wife homeschools, so we can go on vacation whenever we want. We spent a week in Orlando at the end of April beginning of May with 3 kids and had a great time. Maybe you were staying at a bad place, vacationing on the cheap? Lines were short and manageable, and for those that were not, fast pass was easy to set appointments for the rides..

We went to 5 parks in 5 days and everyone enjoyed it.. My kids woke up at dawn and we stayed until the parks closed 4 / 5 / and 12 year old. Never had an "I'm tired complaint" out of any of them.

Seriously tho.. did you go to the same place? Our hotel had a free shuttle in the morning to whichever park we wanted to go to.. I had tickets purchased so I didn't have to "wait in line" to buy tickets.. Was a good time don't let his horror story scare you away.. The middle of summer will most likely be a little busier than when we went, but then we thought our trip out and planned to go before school was out.

[Gaillo]

I remember going to Disneyland in California about 35 years ago (when I was a kid) and being COMPLETELY freaked out and overwhelmed after about two hours of it...
I can't imagine what it must be like today in this media-saturated mega sensory-overload culture! :o

[silver solution]

Sounds like someone went at the wrong time of year. My wife homeschools, so we can go on vacation whenever we want. We spent a week in Orlando at the end of April beginning of May with 3 kids and had a great time. Maybe you were staying at a bad place, vacationing on the cheap? Lines were short and manageable, and for those that were not, fast pass was easy to set appointments for the rides..

We went to 5 parks in 5 days and everyone enjoyed it.. My kids woke up at dawn and we stayed until the parks closed 4 / 5 / and 12 year old. Never had an "I'm tired complaint" out of any of them.

Seriously tho.. did you go to the same place? Our hotel had a free shuttle in the morning to whichever park we wanted to go to.. I had tickets purchased so I didn't have to "wait in line" to buy tickets.. Was a good time don't let his horror story scare you away.. The middle of summer will most likely be a little busier than when we went, but then we thought our trip out and planned to go before school was out.


It's too hot now for small children. April May is better.

We alway went early left when it got hot hit the pool eat rest then as all the idiots are leaving we go back. They take one look at us and know we are smarter than them:-)

[LufT76]

I remember going to Disneyland in California about 35 years ago (when I was a kid) and being COMPLETELY freaked out and overwhelmed after about two hours of it...
I can't imagine what it must be like today in this media-saturated mega sensory-overload culture! :o


Surprisingly enough there were not many televisions in the parks.. We went to Six Flags in San Antonio the year before last and I was turned off by all of the TeeVees they had in every line. Fortunately Disney had none of that. All the rides are themed and if there is a television it's because it's part of the ride theme.

GM Test Track, Everest, and Splash Mountain were my favorites.. ;)

[Libertarian_Guard]

I remember going to Disneyland in California about 35 years ago (when I was a kid) and being COMPLETELY freaked out and overwhelmed after about two hours of it...
I can't imagine what it must be like today in this media-saturated mega sensory-overload culture! :o


Surprisingly enough there were not many televisions in the parks.. We went to Six Flags in San Antonio the year before last and I was turned off by all of the TeeVees they had in every line. Fortunately Disney had none of that. All the rides are themed and if there is a television it's because it's part of the ride theme.

GM Test Track, Everest, and Splash Mountain were my favorites.. ;)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjFd3ekLXVI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=170fIOfmoeA&feature=related

[Johnny Ringo]

I live about 8 hours from Orlando, and we have a time share (inherited from my in-laws). We go there at least once a year.

As several have pointed out, timing is everything. From mid-June through August, it's hotter than hell, the crowds are huge, and it's just a miserable time. Many times the wife has taken the kids and left my asocial ass at home - I don't do well in the heat (thanks, Desert Storm), and I hate crowds (that's all my fault).

Up until a couple of years ago, our school schedule had the kids out by Memorial Day or the first day or two of June. That was when we used to go. The crowds aren't too bad, and though the weather's hot, it's not unbearable.

As for the holidays, my wife took the kids down the week of Christmas this past year, and there were no lines at all. But if you go the week between Christmas and New Year, be prepared to closely socialize with several thousand strangers every second you're in the park.

In contrast, we went to California last June (second week). Did Knott's Berry Farm, Sea World San Diego, and Disneyland. Knott's was practically deserted. The crowd at Disney was pretty sparse one day, but much larger the second day we went. Sea World was a good time, too. Compared with Orlando, it was a much nicer time simply because of the weather.

I agree with Chad about the crowds in Orlando during the peak season, and how a large number of these people are obnoxious and inconsiderate. But while I think it's important that people get out and have fun instead of hunkering down in a bunker 24/7 wearing an adult diaper and a tin-foil hat waiting for TEOTWAWKI (a la the Mogambo), I get completely turned off by the rampant consumerism I see on exhibit at these places. Makes one wonder if any of them have even remotely considered any of the contingencies we routinely discuss in the Preparedness section here. And I agree with not wanting to be around them when TSHTF. :o

[LuckyStrike]

Surprisingly enough there were not many televisions in the parks.. We went to Six Flags in San Antonio the year before last and I was turned off by all of the TeeVees they had in every line. Fortunately Disney had none of that. All the rides are themed and if there is a television it's because it's part of the ride theme.

GM Test Track, Everest, and Splash Mountain were my favorites.. ;)


Glad to see you made it over here Luft.