Anyone else agree????

[ShannonMB]

While I respect and admire and am VERY grateful for the jobs that these folks do, it is that "without traveling away from home" part that is the huge difference in terms of Disney.

Cops and firefighters may work long shifts, but they are not separated from their kids for 6 or 12 or 18 months at a time. Military families have an incredibly hard time reconnecting when one parent comes back after a long absence. The marriage is often strained and the parent-child relationships are chaotic for a while, while everyone tries to fit Mom or Dad back into the daily routines.

Disney is a safe, fun place to get away from that. Everyone has fun together. Grown-ups don't fight about who cooks or cleans up or takes out the trash, and kids have something to DO with the parent they miss but may not really know right now.

Police, fire and EMTs can take a long weekend at the Jersey Shore to escape. Military families sometimes need a little more.

I think this post says it very well.

Give up now...most people are not going to give that kind of credit to police or firefighters.My dh is a cop and we are very use to him getting NO RESPECT.

I'm sure your DH has been disrespected in his job, but I hope you don't think anyone on this thread feels that way. I'm not getting that at all, it's just a question of who deserves a Disney discount. In the grand scheme of things a discount is a nice gesture, but not necessarily the ultimate sign of respect. You have a right to be proud of what your DH does, and I'm glad you are!

 

[Mysteria]

Perhaps Disney should take away all discounts based on profession. If this type of attitude towards it keeps up that's what will happen. No matter what you do for a living Disney has had the best discounts lately since post 2001. There is no reason right now to ***** about discounts.

Wait a minute. My DH delivers mail everyday in a not so nice area of the Bronx. He has no back-up and doesn't get to carry a gun. Pretty dangerous right? I think he should get a discount.

P.S. My personal opinion is that military should always get great discounts. Like a few people have stated they don't get to go home at night.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I agree ! Firemen are paid quite well for the risks, military folks make next to nothing for thier service.

Our firemen are volunteers.

That said, there are many dangerous jobs. And there are many jobs that are a sacrifice of some sort. It would be too hard to deal with. And someone would always be complaining that they, too, should get a discount.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

When you get down to it NOONE deserves a discount. Discounts are sometimes made available by various companies. In this case Disney. Disney offers dicounts throught the year to AP Holders, Disney Visa holders, recently yes, the military under specific circumstances that must apply to them. They also offer AAA discounts. There are discounts for UK, Canadian and Florida residents at various times. There are dicounts or offers to schedule another trip before you leave from the current one. Disney also offers discounts to the general public. With all those discounts if you choose to go to WDW during the time the discounts are offered, it seems that one can be had regardless of profession.

 

[Matt'sMom]

Does anyone else think that Disney does not pay enough respect to Police, Firefighters and EMT? ...something like discounts on rooms or tickets or something like that would be nice.

I fail to see how the lack of a 'career specific' discount somehow equates with disrespect?

As others have said, where do you then draw the line regarding who is and is not entitled to a special discount, as a 'demonstration of respect' for the work that they do? Am I somehow less deserving of respect (or discounts) simply because my career isn't one of the three the OP mentioned? Personally, I find that general public discounts tend to be far more appropriate across the board. There are frequently a variety of great deals available, such as the 4/3 package, or the 30%-40% room discounts currently out there. I feel that WDW is being far more respectful by not limiting such discounts to specific career categories.

Just some food for thought.

 

[quantumottle]

Wow, I did not expect to read something on the Dis forums today that would hit me as hard as this did. I know this is a bit off topic, but I feel I need to respond.

My daughter is a honor student in HS and is currently being actively pursued by a handful of Universities. I have always known that she is a wonderful student, and feel very fortunate to have a daughter as intelligent, good hearted, and spiritual as her. My problem, and it is certainly MY problem, is that she is being offered scholarships because of her abilities in science and mathematics. Her future seems so very bright to me, but she has no desire to be an engineer, or doctor, or research scientist, etc. She wants to be a teacher or a professor, and has said so since she was in elementary school.

I, secretly, wish she would do just about anything else in this world but be a teacher. They get paid so poorly and are, frankly, disrespected and undervalued to the point of ridiculous in America. I have always felt that she could do so very much more with her life, but I have never let her know this, at least not intentionally, although she can probably tell that it would not be my preference.

At any rate, I wanted you to know Robindianne, that your post has made me think a bit. I have copied it to a text file that I will re-read each time I struggle with my daughters decision to be a teacher. I know it is not my life but my daughters life I'm talking about, so I must let her live it. Your story will undoubtedly help me to accept it as I know my DD will be an amazing teacher. She has been teaching me something new almost daily for years.

Sorry for the long message, I mainly just wanted to say "Thank You"...

I do think Disney pays tribute to those in certain helping professions with their artwork and such. I think Disney is a business and we (meaning me too ) sometimes forget that; because we get such magic from it we start to believe it's a committee of magic makers only.

Also, like pp said, where would they draw the line? Every helping profession is vital to our world/community/kids.

OT for teachers, this was sent to me:

WHAT TEACHERS MAKE...

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a big, important corporate executive, decided to explain the problem with education.

He stated firmly, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided that his best option in life was to become a teacher?" Then he reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest now. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You really want to know what I make?" (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental..."

"You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table...)

"I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math."

"I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, because we live in the United States of America."
"Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life." (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued...)

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention to them because of their ignorance..."

"You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE! What do you make!?"

 

[MOmousefan]

What do teachers Make? is originally by Taylor Mali. You can also see him on YouTube.

 

[kmk1180]

Does anyone else think that Disney does not pay enough respect to Police, Firefighters and EMT? They don't have to go as far as any extent that they do for the military but something like discounts on rooms or tickets or something like that would be nice. I know the swan and dolphin have these discounts and they are nice but some variety would be nice as well.

While I have the upmost respect for the police, firefighters and EMTs
and feel that 9-11 only pointed out their efforts and wish that kind of respect would continue without such tragedy to point it out...sorry
I don't really agree a special discount is needed.
Especially since many of the health and retirement benefits are already way better than the average person. (at least in our area)
I think that kind respect and benefit goes way beyond $40 off a room or tickets.

 

[marius97]

I understand what you are saying... but where would they draw the line? I work for child protective services, I go in and take children out of homes where they are being raped, beaten and/or neglected. Many times, I'm on the scene of child abuse before a police officer, my investigation is the exact same as theirs, and I work side by side the entire time... so I could be saying, where is my discount?

Holy smokes...talk about taking the words right out of my mouth. That is the exact arguement that I was going to use. My wife has worked for CPS for 10 years and has had knives pulled on her, threatened with assault rifles, punched, and just generally verbally assaulted and threatened. Don't get me wrong, the police have backed her up, and even saved her on a number of occasions, but there are too many worthy groups to give discounts to everyone...police...fire...teachers...nurses (sorry Dr's, you make too much money)

 

[marius97]

You do a wonderful service in protecting children and I have total respect for you but I am refering to persons who knowingly put ther lives at risk every time they put on a uniform.

Sorry, but you loose that arguement when you throw in the EMT's (no disrespect to the EMT's, they just don't have the same level of danger as police/fire do). You put your physical life in danger everyday and we thank you for that. But my wife walks into the same homes that you do, but without the self defense training, gun, or backup that you do. Her mental well being is devastated everytime she has to see the physical signs/graphic pictures of physical and sexual abuse. Not to play your life is more at risk than mine, but that is the point. Where would the line be drawn. As a pp mentioned, the men and women that work the NICU and PICU's that deal on a daily basis with sick children and at times have to hand over a dieing child to their parents one last time. There are just too many worthy groups to give discounts to all.

 

[livie1205]

Holy smokes...talk about taking the words right out of my mouth. That is the exact arguement that I was going to use. My wife has worked for CPS for 10 years and has had knives pulled on her, threatened with assault rifles, punched, and just generally verbally assaulted and threatened. Don't get me wrong, the police have backed her up, and even saved her on a number of occasions, but there are too many worthy groups to give discounts to everyone...police...fire...teachers...nurses (sorry Dr's, you make too much money)

LEO are the ONLY people that run TOWARDS the man with a gun in a crowd while everyone else is running away.

 

[MissyDVC]

"I also do not care about other peoples thoughts are on a job that they have not spent one day doing....be a firefighter or L.E. for one whole day and then make that judgement"

LEO are the ONLY people that run TOWARDS the man with a gun in a crowd while everyone else is running away.

I don't really understand why you are turning this discussion into people who don't appreciate police officers, when it is a discussion about who "deserves" a WDW discount? It actually makes me a little sad and a little mad that you assume that all who say that they do not think a certain group should get a discount are against law enforcement and firefighters. From the responses in this discussion, it is quite the contrary. No one is arguing that point. You even acknowledge that you DO get a discount but choose not to use it. So I don't understand your anger. Especially since you do not know what the others members or their families do for a living. And for the record. I absolutely respect and appreciate Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters, as well as many other professions and without a doubt, the Military. But I also respect and appreciate many other professions that make the world safer, better and happier. But that doesn't mean that I think they should all get a discount at WDW.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

LEO are the ONLY people that run TOWARDS the man with a gun in a crowd while everyone else is running away.

I would hope they are well compensated for that. Our military folk are underpaid, have terrible life insurance--that $10000 barely paid for the funeral of a friend--and are called to be away from family for extended time periods.

I know that I am from a small town, but our police are seldomly in danger, and you are much more at risk as a cps worker. Our fireworkers, however are volunteer. I'd love to see something special for them,

 

[khgreen]

I have to agree with the previous post. My BIL had to leave a 2 week old daughter and then was gone for 15 months. He missed her whole first year of life. How wonderful that they can have a special trip to reconnect. This was his 3rd tour of duty in 7 years.

 

[mom of 3G's]

Our fireworkers, however are volunteer. I'd love to see something special for them,

That's why I wish the Give a Day/Get a Day program had room in it for the volunteer firefighters and EMT's.

 

[quantumottle]

What do teachers Make? is originally by Taylor Mali. You can also see him on YouTube.

Thanks for the info and link!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I would hope they are well compensated for that. Our military folk are underpaid, have terrible life insurance--that $10000 barely paid for the funeral of a friend--and are called to be away from family for extended time periods.

Just as an FYI, SGLI is a minimum of $50,000 coverage and a maximum of $400,000. If a service member opts for lower than the maximum, they actually have to file very specific forms.

I am very sorry for your friend.

 

[caroline1851]

No need for special discount for fireman, policemen, etc. Military discount-yes. Other groups-no. where do you stop? who decides what career is worthy of a discount?

 

[Ember]

I'm with the group that feels there is no change needed to current system. If Disney chooses to offer discounts to military families, that's their choice. Those families deserve the break, with enlisted people missing weeks and months of their families lives. This discount does not mean that military personnel are more important, it just means a company is choosing to honor what they do in a way that will allow them some special time with their families. I've followed countless threads of brave families sharing how their family member was missing yet another Christmas, birthday, or anniversary. I don't begrudge these families a single moment of happiness.

Disney has hardly been stingy with the discounts lately, so I don't see how anyone could be complaining on that score.

Also, it seems that there are so many people who could be said to deserve special treatment. What about scientists who dedicate their lives to curing disease? What about those who are bringing animals back from the brink of extinction? Those are pretty important jobs that most people never recognize. What about the teacher assistants who work one on one with the most at risk students? They get so little respect it's silly. How about social workers? Garbage collectors? Also invaluable contributions to society. I guess my point is that many people work very hard every day, and a great number of them make a difference in our world. These people deserve respect. However, I don't think they automatically deserve discounts or special treatment for doing their jobs. That's pure entitlement.

 

[carrie6466]

Just another FYI, a tenured teacher in my district has a salary of $125,000/year. That is just a regular teacher. Special education teachers and teachers who work the summers make more than that. I certainly don't think it's anything to sneeze at or that they are undervalued. Their current starting salary is more than anyone working for the Sheriff's dept or the State Police and, again, our volunteer fire/ambulance get paid nothing either.