Any other Florida residents feeling slighted?

[sodaseller]

I think I'm qualified to answer the question...I was born here as was DH. Our kids are second generation. I've been hovering around this thread 'cause I wasn't sure if I should get involved, but here goes.

I don't feel slighted by Disney. If it weren't for the FL resident discount, there's no way we could afford the AP for the entire family. I'm sorry to see the room discount codes becoming more restrictive. If that continues, we'll stay offsite or make more day trips.

As for the other issues, I live on the SW coast of FL where the snowbirds flock. I'm sure it's hard for someone who doesn't live here to understand that phenomenon, but try to imagine what it's like when the population of your area doubles or triples for six months out of the year. That's what happens here. It's kinda like when your grandparents or extended family come to visit and stay with you in your house...it's nice to see them, but you're happy when they leave and life gets back to 'normal'.

As for state income tax, I'd be THRILLED to pay it if it meant more money for our schools. Our governor's trying to repeal a recent class-size amendment because they dont' know where the money to pay the additional teachers will come from.

I think what scares me the most is the uncontrolled development. There used to be cows and orange groves between my house and I-75. Now there's strip malls and housing developments. They're building on every square inch of available land. We're slowly losing our green spaces and beachfront...the things that make Florida, Florida.

JMHO...your mileage may vary

I am also a native, second generation. I enjoy Disney, but feel sad at what the state has become. Blame John Gorrie, one of two Floridians in Statuary Hall. Just wanted to say that you have a very insightful post.

 

[debbiedoo]

you do not have to be a fl res to get the perks at BG, Sea world, UN or IOA. i have that plan to a well as an ap with disney. Since my whole family still lives in fl I still go there 6/8 weeks a year. 4 weeks are at my home at DVC.

this thread needs to be closed with all the harsh feelings. Fl is not the only one who is experienciing growth. Believe it or not we have horse farms where I live in atlanta and is being bought out to build 500,000 and up homes. bottom line a lot of us stay at disney a week or more sometime twice a year, and I believe that after sept 11th that disney is trying to recover everything. I will mention that I was at epcot that day and have the first hand experience!!

I agree with other posters that our local themeparks do not offer the same discounts but there are season passes that are offered to everyone.

don't open the can of worms if you do not have to.

 

[Immelman]

you do not have to be a fl res to get the perks at BG, Sea world, UN or IOA.

yes, you do. there are FL resident perks to all of the above parks.

 

[DianeV]

I just want to say that most of the "nasty" sounding posts seem to be coming FROM the Florida residents..honestly I didnt see many posts from people from other states being very rude however the ones from Florida people are downright defensive and pretty rude...its true that you wont find many other states with amusement parks etc. offering discounts to their residents..what is wrong with someone stating that?

 

[eeyore0062]

"I find this very rude...we have many fine arts, theatre and museums"\

Yes we do, and that is part of the reason we moved TO Florida. Disney supports Arts in the Schools and gives much money to the schools so they can continue to offer music and art programs. Without the money that Disney contributes, there would be no arts in the schools. I feel very deeply about my child being exposed to the arts, be it music, visual arts, or theatre, and feel that it is a very important aspect of the childs' education that should be taught in school. Not every family can afford to expose their children to the arts, and by putting it in the schools, it gives all children that important opportunity. Unfortunately, in our quest to pass this state exam, or that standardized test, important aspects of childrens' educations are getting swept under the rug. Did you know that people who learn to play a music instrument have a higher capacity to understand the concepts of math? It has been proven! Teaching to the test, as many of our esteemed educators seem prone to do to get high scores on these tests and make themselves look good with A+ schools is not creating a well rounded student, it is creating a robot that can spit facts back onto a sheet of paper and then forget it. There is no creativity left in schools, there is no excitement about going to school. That is part of the reason that we did move to Florida because where we moved from, arts in the schools is virtually NON EXISTANT. No, Florida may not have the best school system (and YES, we HATE the FCAT--- more state tests), and like many other places, the communities are growing too fast for schools to keep up, but at least there is someone here who cares and can give children the opportunity to be exposed to the arts. Here, in every town you will find a community theatre. Tampa has a regional children's choir. There are many museums in Central Florida, if you choose to look for them, as well as theatre groups and a Civic Ballet. Central Florida is NOT just theme parks and congested roadways, although many people may feel that way. I am proud to be a transplanted Floridian and look forward to many warm winters and hot summers (really, the summers are NOT that bad!) to come!

 

[Immelman]

I just want to say that most of the "nasty" sounding posts seem to be coming FROM the Florida residents..honestly I didnt see many posts from people from other states being very rude however the ones from Florida people are downright defensive and pretty rude...its true that you wont find many other states with amusement parks etc. offering discounts to their residents..what is wrong with someone stating that?

really? shall I go back and quote them ALL?

this is where we separate the tourons from the tourtards.

 

[Immelman]

I'm from NY State - Here our Income Tax is roughly 9.5%. I spend an awful lot of money in FL with multiple trips a year which puts money in the coffers that you don't have to. .

number 1

 

[Immelman]

It's a blessing, not something you "have to fight". If it weren't for the large numbers of tourists that visit Disney from outside of FLorida, Disney would not exist as we know it today.
-

number 2

 

[eeyore0062]

Immelman, you are JUST TOO MUCH!!!!

 

[Immelman]

Without tourism and the money that outsiders from all over the world bring to the state of FL, Fl would not be anything. So I would not be gripping since we are giving the floridians a somewhat of a paycheck. As everyone knows you can not may a decent living in Fl unless if you own and operate your own business. Take this from someone who knows
QUOTE]

we do. you're number 3 and the first bad seed. FL would be a HORRIBLE state without you.

 

[Immelman]

Why should Florida panhandle residents be treated better than residents of bordering states or residents of Wisconsin or Maine for that matter?

I may sound silly, but I'm serious in my confusion over this matter.

you do, they're state residents, you're number 4

 

[Immelman]

We don't get special rates at our local amusement park. At some parks, I can buy a season pass, but anyone can buy those. I wouldn't be complaining about the resident perks.

the last time I checked, pittsburgh wasn't the number 1 tourist destination on earth. I doubt it's cracking the top 1000. you're number 5

 

[Immelman]

people's you seem to miss one point of my whole post, that is why I left FL!! Too many tourists, and the bashing etc, etc, etc. . .I could go on and on about the horror that is on the news but I do not feel that it is needed.

that doesn't even make sense. sooo. you're 6.

 

[Immelman]

Nobody would have brought up the Tourism Supports FL argument if someone hadn't stated they were more entitled to benefits because they "have to fight the tourists"

You attack, you best be ready to defend.

Launching the "fighting tourists" bomb on a board primarily made up of tourists is bound to provoke some anger, don't you think?

hmmm, don't make the tourons angry... I'm done with number 7. I love the rolleyes little smiley. it masks anger.

 

[Immelman]

I live in a great city with low crime and great schools. my family has a 6 figure income. I'm a car ride from some of the most beautiful and magical places on earth. humidity and hurricanes aren't making people leave. I love living here and I love the extra perks. I'm human so I want more. your tourism dollars aren't going to make a dent in our income. I'm sorry if that makes people mad. you can sit back and deride FLA, but I don't care. you're not living my life. and it's good.

 

[DianeV]

I dont know..with all that anger it sure doesnt sound so great to me. Guess i will stick with my not so great life in Michigan - no anger here )))

Your last few posts were ridiculous..THOSE comments you pasted were nasty and rude? Maybe you should buy a mirror

I have never seen posts like this on these boards before and I am disappointed actually

 

[Immelman]

I dont know..with all that anger it sure doesnt sound so great to me. Guess i will stick with my not so great life in Michigan - no anger here )))
I have never seen posts like this on these boards before and I am disappointed actually

there's no anger around detroit is there? Florida is not the nation's welfare recipient due to tourism. I'm no liberal but 'roger and me' is worth a rent for you michigan dwellars. sorry to disappoint you, I was trying so hard not to.

 

[Leota]

FYI- It wasn't masked - it was right out there, along with disdain.

 

[Mermaid02]

I live in Maine- I know how unbelievably frustrating the tourist season can be. That being said, I also know how much money they pump into our economy. I resent being called a "touron" or a "tourtard" now THAT is rude.

Frankly Disney owes NO DISCOUNTS to ANYONE and if they give them, I'd say the recipients, be they FL residents or AAA members, ought to take them and be thankful. They give them because they feel it's in their best interest to do so- not as a reward to any of us.

 

[MiaSRN62]

There were a couple glib/snide remarks made by FL residents since you're making a list Immelman. I'd have to agree with DianeV on this. I don't see the point in listing them here as we all have read them and felt the undertones (particularily from one FL resident). As for some of the ones you listed, I don't find a couple of them hostile or nasty in the least. Particularily CarolMN and Gardener14.....imo they're simply stating facts or their opinions and doing so in a civil/rational way. Not sure what you see angry/nasty in their posts ??
And as far as Pittsburgh not being a #1 tourist destination, I think we all realize that. But, since Disney is the #1 tourist destination in our country maybe this is why they feel the need to not offer any other discounts than they already do ? They're most likely doing ok with what they're offering now. Alot of Europeans travel in off season. We tend to vacation in the fall and early winter and have run into tourists from England, South Africa, Australia, Ireland etc. They take those prolonged "holidays" (lucky them !) You would think it's the smaller amusement parks and resort areas in other states that would need to attract more people with offering resident discounts ? Just a thought. They pretty much have a very limited time period in which to draw people in to their parks. I'm only 40 minutes away from a fairly large amusement/water park. I wish they'd offer a resident discount, but I pay the same amount as tourists coming in from NY/NJ/DE/CT (the most likely to visit from license plates in the parking lot). And I'm only 90 minutes away from Hershey Park....again, no discounts that aren't offered to everyone out-of-stater also.
I think Disney's research folks probably keep tabs on when they feel they need to offer discounts to bring the FL residents into their parks and restaurants. So more power to you all if you are offered further discounts in the future, but I don't think as it stands now you have too much to complain about ? I feel Disney does recognize and reward you (as they should as far as good PR goes).