A British Invasion in Orlando!

[jersey shark]

Having just returned to the New York area from Florida (a quick 4-day getaway), I just needed to let all of you "over the pond" know what a great time my family and I had meeting many British visitors at every turn (hotel, WDW, shopping, airport etc...).

Everyone we met seemed to have such a great time, and the British children were oh-so-polite! With kids too young to appreciate London now, we very much look forward in a few years to visiting the UK seeing your country!

One thing I didn't explore in casual conversation ....why not go to EuroDisney? How does it compare?

Also, what's the best thing about visiting America...and the worst thing (from the UK perspective)?

 

[susie2]

hi jersey shark, the reason our family doesnt go to euro disney is that we found it to expensive, and that we got btter value for our money going to florida, i have been to disneyland paris as they call it now! and it was nice but nothing like florida, i havent been since they built the new park, before it was just like the magic kingdom but on a smaller scale, we really like everything about going to florida, mostly the lovely hot sun!! we have always found the people to be lovely and helpful and the food is very good and plentiful, glad you enjoyed your holiday susie

 

[disney daft dad]

HI JerseyShark

Thanks for the lovely comments about the Brits!!!!!

In answer to your question about Disneyland Paris.... it's too expensive......

I have just priced up a 3 night stay at the Cheyenne (similar to the all stars resorts in terms of quality) with flights from edinburgh to paris for 2 adults and 1 child the cost = £831= $1325 approx !!!!!!!!

Compare this to a typical 14 nights holiday flying from edinburgh staying at the all stars would be what in the region of £2000 = $3200...... also PARIS is NO WARMER than here!!!!!

What we love about going to the states is the friendlyness of everyone, the service is amazing..... (wait till you come over to London....it is a major culture shock!!) You guys have got Customer Service to a T.

The worst thing, this is really picking at things as there is nothing too major, but the introspective arrogance of some people that they are the start, middle and end of the world and their utter disbeleif that there is a world beyond the United States.... (like I say tho that is really picking holes and these people are very much in the minority of lovely people we have met and chatted with in the past.)

I hope that sounds ok, I'm sure there'll be plenty more comments soon

Take Care

Val
Disney Daft MUm
xx

 

[Mike Jones]

Hello again! Thanks for your compliments! Euro disney does not appeal to me due to (1) it's in France!(2)The French live in France! (3) The French are not renowned for their empathy with the Brits (4) the climate won't be much more attractive than southern UK, potentially wet at the ends of the season (5) it's comparatively expensive relative to Florida (6) it's not finished yet!

On a more serious note, friends who have been to ED but not Orlando think it's great, but those who have been to both say it's the poor relation! For me, the Florida experience is mostly about high service standards, particularly, but not exclusively in WDW... I'm 6'3", tattooed and have both ears pierced... UK and european hotel staff etc tend to assume that I'm just above pond-life... we have never been treated other than courteously in the US (quick tale: we were sat at DT Disney watching a choir perform on the small outdoor stage, having a coffee... I knocked mine over under the seat! A cast memeber walked up, said " hey guys, having a good time? Coffee smell's great!" I reply: " Mine does, as it's all over the floor!" He walks off and returns in 2 minutes with a fresh coffee! " Have a great day folks!" I assure you, this could not, WOULD not happen in either the UK or Europe!)

Worst thing about US/Florida?WDW? Coming home!

Mike

 

[Astrid]

Hi Jersey Shark

Thank you for your comments re the Brits you met in Florida.

I mostly echo what the others have said above regarding Disneyland Paris. I have visited there and had a great holiday but it really didn't compare to the whole Orlando experience, the kids spent a week at the Davy Crockett Resort with their Dad and had a wonderful time, BUT, it was the Resort that was the selling point and the fantastic weather they had rather than the two Parks.

Over here in Britain we generally have more annual leave than the Americans and so we like to take two weeks off for our holidays which makes Orlando the perfect place to visit as Disneyland Paris is more a destination for a short break and, as Val says, it works out a lot cheaper for us to go to Florida.

Best things about visiting America .... the service is second to none compared with over here (take Mike's example), the cleanliness in the Parks, the friendliness of the Americans, the bargains we can pick up and, in Orlando, the warm weather!!

Worst things? Hmm, like Val, I think the introspective view of some Americans, watching the US News Channels makes you believe no other country exists!! The tea in America and the fact we have to sit on a plane for 9 hours to reach you!!

Astrid

 

[WDWfan uk]

... may I return the compliment and say how much we enjoy meeting Americans/other nationalities when we go to WDW ?

Like Astrid, I consider Disneyland Paris a short break rather than a complete vacation but France is a popular holiday destination for many British people particularly in Summer, and there are plenty of people who include a trip to DLP as part of their vacation. ( France was the second most popular destination last year, Spain was top - Here's some statistics )

The DLP Magic Kingdom is a beautiful park and we have had fantastic trips there - I hope you'll go and see it too someday

Just moving this thread onto the Community Board and hope you'll all follow it over there

 

[Enright78]

Just wanted to add that contrary to other opinions we love the French and have a holiday home there. We have never found them anything other than pleasant and courteous. Whereas some Brits we have met....well!
We also love the US but contrary to what Mike says our dd has had quite a few adverse stares and comments when in Fla about her tattoos and body piercing, especially from large groups of South American girls.
Oddly, when we went to San Francisco in Feb no one mentioned them at all except to be complementary or ask her where she had had them done (surprisingly by a US guy in Cheltenham as it happens).
Personally, however, we like people because of how they treat us, not because of their race. I would certainly agree about US customer service, and the weather, it is certainly what keeps us going back!

 

[signtalker]

I think for us, its the service.The way when you walk into a restaurant, you are greeted by one person, seated by another and served by somebody else!.Nothing ever seems to much trouble in america, and people who youve never met before smile and strike up a conversation!.

The way children are treated, as a part of a family,in england they seem to be deemed too much trouble once in a restaurant ,not many places cater for families and if they do the service is poor!.

The layed back lifestyle,the weather,and that lovely accent!!!

Jules

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by Mike Jones
Hello again! Thanks for your compliments! Euro disney does not appeal to me due to (1) it's in France!(2)The French live in France! (3) The French are not renowned for their empathy with the Brits ...

Mike

More French-bashing

Negative generalisations about Northerners, Geordies, the Welsh, Irish, etc would not be deemed acceptable by most people, so why is it acceptable to paint such a negative picture of every French person? Saddens me, it really does.

Regards

Rob

 

[Olaf]

Originally posted by signtalker
. . . and that lovely accent!!!

You're joking! Right? I think American accents sound "orrible"!

Rob, we've beaten this subject to death on the board before. It's a cliche that the French are rude, and like most cliches it has a basis in reality. Virtually everyone I know (who's visited France) can cite some example of being treated badly by the French. Now perhaps we head over looking for that kind of thing to happen, I don't know. Perhaps it's a cultural thing.

It's the pushing and shoving in the lines (queues) that drives me nuts. It's not just the French who don't know how to queue properly, it's virtually everywhere on the continent. That's one of the reasons I love the UK. We'd been living in Germany for about a year and DH and I took a trip to London. Got off the train at Victoria, and we were absolutely thrilled to see a long queue for a taxi. No pushing and shoving to get on/off the train. It was wonderful.

That's why you Brits like WDW so much. It's those beautiful designed queues. It's a balm to your British soul.

 

[kazzie]

When I visited DLP last November the only objectionable, excuse for a human being I met was English

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by Olaf
Rob, we've beaten this subject to death on the board before. It's a cliche that the French are rude, and like most cliches it has a basis in reality. Virtually everyone I know (who's visited France) can cite some example of being treated badly by the French. Now perhaps we head over looking for that kind of thing to happen, I don't know. Perhaps it's a cultural thing.

How can you possibly say that the basis for this cliche is that French people are rude? Have you questioned everybody living in France? I can happily accept people reporting that in their experience many of the French people they have met have been rude, but gross generalisations about the nation as a whole are completely unacceptable in my book. For the same reason I think it is unacceptable to criticise Americans for being narrow-minded and unaware of the world beyond their border. In my experience it is simply not true (for example, I've visited a large number of US schools and universities and found many of the students to be passionately interested in, and articulate about, world affairs).

For the record, I ski in France three or four times per year, I visit Disneyland Paris two or three times a year and occasionally visit Paris. I'm also in the process of buying an apartment in the French Alps. Yes, I've met French people who I've not liked because of their attitude. But this has been in similar proportions to the British or American people who I've found rude or unpleasant.

What angers me is that some people think it is acceptable to express dislike of all French people. They wouldn't do it for other nations or races, yet it's OK to do it for the French. We might have beaten this subject to death before, but that won't stop me for standing up and putting the other side of the argument.

Rob

 

[Astrid]

Like Rob I love France, especially Britanny and Normandy where I find the French more approachable and friendly than in Paris.

I will always prefer Orlando to Disneyland Paris for my earlier reasons.

Just clarifying my views!

Astrid x

 

[Olaf]

Originally posted by rob@rar.org.uk
For the same reason I think it is unacceptable to criticise Americans for being narrow-minded and unaware of the world beyond their border.

That particular cliche exists, and in many cases it's correct.

I lived ten minutes from the French border for over 8 years, and worked with many French people. I liked a few of them (one in particular), but most of them wouldn't even give us the time of day. I know what I'm talking about. I can't tell you how annoying it was to listen to those people gripe about America and Americans, all the while collecting a big fat check from Uncle Sam. I have to admit it was somewhat delicious to watch the base close and see the majority of them, and their union, go packing.

Do you think someone, somewhere, one day just decided to come up with this cliche? It's there for a reason. Yes, it's a generalization and like all blanket statements, it's flawed, but like all of them, therein lies a grain a truth.

I do believe it is cultural. I don't think the French are particularly nice/friendly to each other. At least not the way we (Americans) define friendly.

 

[DisneyDes]

Having read this topic I'll just put my two cents worth.

Have been to both DLP and WDW a number of times and both have they're advantages/disadvantages.

I like DLP because it's compact, everything is easily reachable by foot (I'm sorry but I just don't like the palaver of getting to MK at WDW) and dare I say it better themed (MK at least).

DLP dosen't take two days to get to, you can be in the park the same day as leaving home.

There are three problems I have with DLP, one is my own doing and that is the language barrier(I wish I could speak French, but due to my laziness when at school never learnt), the unpredictable weather and the cost .

I was hoping to celebrate my 40th next year at DLP in the Disneyland Hotel, but for the cost of 4 days at DLP we have just booked 8 days at WDW. Its not only the cost of getting/staying there either, the cost of eating at DLP with little alternative to park food without a car, this cost too builds up.

With queues, I've experienced bad manners at both DLP and WDW. At DLP I put it down to the european culture rather than merely French - seeing the appearnace of characters and the subsequent stampedes at DLP are real eye openers , but I also go skiing in the Alps and there's no problems there.

But the worse manners I've witnessed are probably in UK.

Des

 

[Mike Jones]

..ooohhh, hasn't this touched a nerve?! Just for the record.. I have only had positive experiences with hols in the US (3) and americans generally, whilst I have had significant negative experiences on French hols (2) including rudeness, bad service, lost bags at the French end and little help to recover them (until I went nuclear)... I have been known to be a bit slow to learn, but when my head's bleeding, I stop banging it on the wall. I know that many brits love France, and it's a beautiful place... as quite a large country, there must statistically be many lovely peole there. Unfortunately, we didn't find them when we visited. (incidentally, most of my comments would apply as equally to UK holiday experiences we've had!.. but, as we are already here, and have time/budget to explore in more depth, we've found the good places/people over the years! I can't afford to pay £1000s for main holidays to risk them going badly, so I play safe now.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Mike, do you honestly think that your experience of two visits to France gives you firm enough evidence to damn an entire country?

Criticising French people has become almost socially acceptable - it can be said with a grin or a wink and goes unremarked. In my view it is just another form of racism, and I, like a few other people on this board, am not prepared to let it pass without comment. Like you I've had frustrating experiences in France, with individual French people as well as with French bureaucracy, but I don't think that it puts me in a position where I can or should criticise an entire nation. I feel exactly the same about the growing sense of anti-Americanism that we see here in the UK: it's unwarranted and unnecessary.

Stephanie, if listening to "those people" gripe about America makes your blood boil why do you do exactly the same about France? Retaliation?

Rob

 

[Enright78]

I really didin't want to get drawn into this, but I must support Rob.
I have a second home in france and live there for part of the year.
There are good and bad and difficult and polite and rude people in all races, I wouldn't dream of assuming all are the same because of where they live.
All I am trying to say is why don't we take each individual at a time and at face value.
Life is far too short and the world far too troubled to write off whole nations as sharing particular characteristics.

There , rant over, let's all try to get on!

And the weather is generally better in Florida than France (tho not always!)

 

[Olaf]

Originally posted by rob@rar.org.uk
Stephanie, if listening to "those people" gripe about America makes your blood boil why do you do exactly the same about France? Retaliation?

My blood boil? Hardly. They were annoying, and I as a result I avoided them. Let's just say the American work ethic and the French work ethic (such as it is) didn't exactly mesh.

I'm very much like Mike. I have a limited amount of time and money to spend on a vacation. I've been to France more times than I can remember. I've seen the sights, eaten the food, and got the T-shirt. When my DS is old enough to appreciate it, I may take him over, but I'll definitely take him to London first.

If expressing my opinion on the subject qualifies as "retaliation" in your book, then so be it. We're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

[Mike Jones]

Rob - no, 2 trips have not caused me to condemn the whole french nation, simply to suggest that, at 100% of my experiences, to repeat again and again would likely be foolish...France was ok, but not special enough for me to go against my experiences. I've also had 'multiple' holidays in other countries (Netherlands x2, Spain x4, Greece x 3) and I have always had generally positive experiences. I know that Florida will welcome me and my family and reward us with good times. If I want scenery and Mediterranean climate I can chose one of the other European countries. If France works for you , as it seems to, I am delighted for you. I don't feel as strongly anti-France as you may think... it's a bit like Butlins when I was 11..it didn't do much for me and I wouldn't go out of my way to return. Racist? no, I don't think so... the French Press still call us 'les rost beef's or something similar.. I think the antagonism is fairly 2 sided and I don't personally feel inclined or concerned enough to be an ambassador for peace! Vive la waltdisneyworld!