Why do people look down at Disney?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is that people who desperately want to be some blend of hip, intellectual (they believe), urbane, educated, elite, sophisticated, etc. don't do disney because they say it isn't worth the money (as compared to Europe or whatever). I don't think those people actually travel much at all, when they do, it is home to their parents, they don't really like laughing and being silly with their kids for the short time that their kids are kids but would rather play "we are all so sophisticated, even our kale eating snowflakes who, by the way, are grades ahead at their montessori, bilingual, immersion, organic, free range school."

I'm the Provence poster. My DH and I are very much into letting our kids being kids. We get silly with them ALL of the time (I just had on a princess cape 5 min ago). I think because of this our kids have a great time wherever we are. So why not take a vacation that we want every now and then - our kids will have fun, we will have fun. It doesn't need to be Disney every single time.

A princess cape. You sound like an absolute hoot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Europe = Gettysburg?

Have you actually been to Europe? LOL.

Yes smarty pants, I have been to Europe. My point was, I'm not dragging my young children all the way to Europe to listen to them whine. I can listen to them whine locally...no need to spend $10,000 to do so. You are either obtuse or just trying to stir the pot.

If my kids were that whiny I probably wouldn't take them anywhere.

We priced out Disney for a week - nearly $10k. So instead we flew to France and stayed at a rental house in Provence for a week. We explored the local markets, went to the beach, hung out on our beautiful patio/pool, made international friends hanging in the village square while eating ice cream. It was very low key and fun for the kids. No stuffy museums, no forts, no battlefields, no "site seeing", no waiting in line, no crazy crowds, no long bus rides back to the hotel, no rush to map out rides and get fast passes, etc.

Again, I don't hate Disney and we will go to again sometime in the future, but Europe isn't necessarily more expensive and isn't necessarily boring for kids. It is a real option for families. As are many other places in the world. There are many fun places around here too.

You must have worked hard to make a week at Disney cost $10K! Way to crunch the numbers for the trip YOU really wanted.

I just priced it out again for spring break week - $8k for one very basic room on the monorail, mid-level dining option (only one sit down meal/day), only 5 days in the park, etc. With the current spring "sale" prices. Plus add in the extras and you are pretty close to $10k.

Crazy expensive. Especially compared to similar experiences at Dutch Wonderland, etc.

None of the resorts on the monorail are standard. They are all the best resorts in Disney and are like the Ritz versus the Hampton Inn. If you are really trying to find cheaper, you could look at Disney's value priced resorts (as low as 150 per night) or outside of WDW proper. I found a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with washer dryer and full kitchen, about 5 minutes from WDW for 110 per night. Slept 10 people.

[Anonymous]

I just priced it out again for spring break week - $8k for one very basic room on the monorail, mid-level dining option (only one sit down meal/day), only 5 days in the park, etc. With the current spring "sale" prices. Plus add in the extras and you are pretty close to $10k.

Crazy expensive. Especially compared to similar experiences at Dutch Wonderland, etc.

We just came back from Disney.
Airfare (direct) $1200
Room (2brcondo) $1200 3 star
Tickets $1300
Food $1300
10 days, 9 nights
$5000
We are not really into souvenirs. seems expensive to us, but its not 10K
Our trip to Europe will be 12K by the end for the same 10 days; 8K for the same time 10 days in Caribbean resort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is that people who desperately want to be some blend of hip, intellectual (they believe), urbane, educated, elite, sophisticated, etc. don't do disney because they say it isn't worth the money (as compared to Europe or whatever). I don't think those people actually travel much at all, when they do, it is home to their parents, they don't really like laughing and being silly with their kids for the short time that their kids are kids but would rather play "we are all so sophisticated, even our kale eating snowflakes who, by the way, are grades ahead at their montessori, bilingual, immersion, organic, free range school."

I love disney. Love travel in general. We will do what we feel is appropriate for us and our kids at each age. I could go jawbone with some "international friends (i just met)" in provence and drink wine with my 3 year olds but that isn't the type of vacation I want to have in Europe since i can drink wine with people I don't know in Virginia with my 3 year olds. I'd rather go to Museums, castles, historic sites, etc. and I would rather wait until my kids are old enough to appreciate it. So maybe the first it will be London where there is a "queen" and lots of easy to see cool things (red buses, Big Ben, a place where peoples heads were chopped off!) and a big zoo. But later it will be harder places that are a bit more of a challenge. But for right now, with 2 little kids, Disney, cruises, the beach, exploring East coast cites are all good. We will always go back to disney, though, because the rides are fun and the food can be good.

And 2 additional points.

Animal Kingdom has real animals and has some animals that are not seen at most zoos. Many animals that our National Zoo doesn't have anymore.

Victoria and Alberts at the Grand Floridian Resort in Walt Disney World is ranked as one of the best restaurants in the ENTIRE COUNTRY ever year. I have eaten there and it is wonderful. No kids allowed. They have babysitters at he resorts because Disney knows who is paying and how to keep those people happy too!

+1 on this entire post.

A few thoughts - a lot of people who criticize Disney vacations not only vacation by going home to their parents, they are vacationing at the beach. Every. single. summer.

When I go to Europe with my kids, you bet I'm going to take them to castles, museums, historic sites, etc. I also don't want to have the European vacation of renting a house in provence, not seeing any sites but drinking wine with new international "friends" in the market square. Sorry, but that type of vacation can be done in the States. What is so special about doing it in Europe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I just priced it out again for spring break week - $8k for one very basic room on the monorail, mid-level dining option (only one sit down meal/day), only 5 days in the park, etc. With the current spring "sale" prices. Plus add in the extras and you are pretty close to $10k.

Crazy expensive. Especially compared to similar experiences at Dutch Wonderland, etc.

We just came back from Disney.
Airfare (direct) $1200
Room (2brcondo) $1200 3 star
Tickets $1300
Food $1300
10 days, 9 nights
$5000
We are not really into souvenirs. seems expensive to us, but its not 10K
Our trip to Europe will be 12K by the end for the same 10 days; 8K for the same time 10 days in Caribbean resort.

$1200 for a 9 night stay? Something seems off. Even a value hotel costs more than that.

We don't always stay at the nicest hotels but it still costs $200-300 per night for 1 room with 2 beds. You are saying you got a 2 bedroom condo for $1200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Europe = Gettysburg?

Have you actually been to Europe? LOL.

+1. I just LOLed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would rather take my kids whitewater rafting in West Virginia than on the whitewater raft ride at Disney. One is outdoors, teaches them a new skill, involves getting exercise and is actually cheaper. The other is more expensive and synthetic.

I would rather take them to a zoo or a nature park to see real animals rather than animatronic animals.

I would rather take them to an actual foreign country than a simulated one at Epcot.

And Disney characters are sexist.

Aren't there real animals at Animal Kingdom, at Disney?

I would rather take my kids to Disney where I know it is safe.

You obviously have never been to Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom is full of animals with very few rides. My dinosaur loving boys adore Dinoland at Animal Kingdom. The broadway level Nemo and Lion King shows are fantastic for younger crowds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would rather take my kids whitewater rafting in West Virginia than on the whitewater raft ride at Disney. One is outdoors, teaches them a new skill, involves getting exercise and is actually cheaper. The other is more expensive and synthetic.

I would rather take them to a zoo or a nature park to see real animals rather than animatronic animals.

I would rather take them to an actual foreign country than a simulated one at Epcot.

And Disney characters are sexist.

I do both, actually. I've taken my kids all over the US (Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Montana, Texas) and to many National Parks. We've gone white water rafting several times. We go to zoos and science museums. We've been out of the country a few times.

That doesn't mean Disney isn't fun.

(And you clearly haven't been to WDW if you don't think it's exercise. I lose 5 lbs every time I go to Disney. It's several miles of walking per day.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look down on ppl who only go to Disney, go year after year, and don't expose their children to any real history or I culture. A man in my office takes his kids out of school every year for a week for Disney. Yet he's never taken them to any of the smithsonian museums right in our backyard. I view that as not valuing education and learning.

Oh, God, what a bore you are.

if going to disney every year for a character breakfast but not ever seeing the inside of air and space or archives makes me a bore, then sign me up!

If we go to WDW every year, but take time to drive over to NASA or St. Augustine, what does that us?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would rather take my kids whitewater rafting in West Virginia than on the whitewater raft ride at Disney. One is outdoors, teaches them a new skill, involves getting exercise and is actually cheaper. The other is more expensive and synthetic.

I would rather take them to a zoo or a nature park to see real animals rather than animatronic animals.

I would rather take them to an actual foreign country than a simulated one at Epcot.

And Disney characters are sexist.

I do both, actually. I've taken my kids all over the US (Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Montana, Texas) and to many National Parks. We've gone white water rafting several times. We go to zoos and science museums. We've been out of the country a few times.

That doesn't mean Disney isn't fun.

(And you clearly haven't been to WDW if you don't think it's exercise. I lose 5 lbs every time I go to Disney. It's several miles of walking per day.)

A week at Disney though is a week not spent out in nature doing something more worthwhile.
It’s fine for some I suppose. Thankfully, DC has not been interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would rather take my kids whitewater rafting in West Virginia than on the whitewater raft ride at Disney. One is outdoors, teaches them a new skill, involves getting exercise and is actually cheaper. The other is more expensive and synthetic.

I would rather take them to a zoo or a nature park to see real animals rather than animatronic animals.

I would rather take them to an actual foreign country than a simulated one at Epcot.

And Disney characters are sexist.

I do both, actually. I've taken my kids all over the US (Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Montana, Texas) and to many National Parks. We've gone white water rafting several times. We go to zoos and science museums. We've been out of the country a few times.

That doesn't mean Disney isn't fun.

(And you clearly haven't been to WDW if you don't think it's exercise. I lose 5 lbs every time I go to Disney. It's several miles of walking per day.)

A week at Disney though is a week not spent out in nature doing something more worthwhile.
It’s fine for some I suppose. Thankfully, DC has not been interested.

You're quite the Puritan. Having fun with your family is something worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would rather take my kids whitewater rafting in West Virginia than on the whitewater raft ride at Disney. One is outdoors, teaches them a new skill, involves getting exercise and is actually cheaper. The other is more expensive and synthetic.

I would rather take them to a zoo or a nature park to see real animals rather than animatronic animals.

I would rather take them to an actual foreign country than a simulated one at Epcot.

And Disney characters are sexist.

I do both, actually. I've taken my kids all over the US (Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Montana, Texas) and to many National Parks. We've gone white water rafting several times. We go to zoos and science museums. We've been out of the country a few times.

That doesn't mean Disney isn't fun.

(And you clearly haven't been to WDW if you don't think it's exercise. I lose 5 lbs every time I go to Disney. It's several miles of walking per day.)

My 3yo and 5yo absolutely love collecting badges at Animal Kingdom. They love seeing animals. We get to visit different worlds and try out food at Epcot. We love the live shows, parades and parties. Maybe your kid won't find that fun but my kids' eyes light up and have a fantastic time.

A week at Disney though is a week not spent out in nature doing something more worthwhile.
It’s fine for some I suppose. Thankfully, DC has not been interested.

[Anonymous]

Disney is a commercial entertainment company. They do an excellent job of it. People who do not like Disney are the ones who think that Disney needs to be more "artsy" and less commercial. They are obviously missing the point of why Disney exists.

For people who want to get their money's worth in entertainment and experience - Disney invariably delivers.

- Not a "Disney" fanatic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would rather take my kids whitewater rafting in West Virginia than on the whitewater raft ride at Disney. One is outdoors, teaches them a new skill, involves getting exercise and is actually cheaper. The other is more expensive and synthetic.

I would rather take them to a zoo or a nature park to see real animals rather than animatronic animals.

I would rather take them to an actual foreign country than a simulated one at Epcot.

And Disney characters are sexist.

I do both, actually. I've taken my kids all over the US (Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Montana, Texas) and to many National Parks. We've gone white water rafting several times. We go to zoos and science museums. We've been out of the country a few times.

That doesn't mean Disney isn't fun.

(And you clearly haven't been to WDW if you don't think it's exercise. I lose 5 lbs every time I go to Disney. It's several miles of walking per day.)

A week at Disney though is a week not spent out in nature doing something more worthwhile.
It’s fine for some I suppose. Thankfully, DC has not been interested.

You're quite the Puritan. Having fun with your family is something worthwhile.

DC had a lot of fun hiking down into the Kilauea crater; asked tons of questions of the park ranger who led the trek.
Still talks about the hikes we took on the Napali coast on Kauai.
Really just haven’t had the time to squeeze in Disney. Maybe someday when we run out of more authentic and satisfying destinations.

[Anonymous]

DC had a lot of fun hiking down into the Kilauea crater; asked tons of questions of the park ranger who led the trek.
Still talks about the hikes we took on the Napali coast on Kauai.
Really just haven’t had the time to squeeze in Disney. Maybe someday when we run out of more authentic and satisfying destinations.

or money...........