August 9 Eastern trip report

[rae519]

Maybe she'd like to go somewhere else then. Another type of vacation may suit her better.

Rae

 

[TeensMom]

Originally posted by rae519
Maybe she'd like to go somewhere else then. Another type of vacation may suit her better.

Rae

Wow, Rae, I hope you are not in marketing! I usually enjoy your insights in posts but that was a bit harsh.

We have been on several DCL cruises and entire family had wonderful time. But, as mentioned earlier and agreed by others, Disney is dropping the ball for those 18 and over (say college age) who don't want to sit in an oldies bar.

I hope the DCL marketing heads did not miss the class on "meeting customer needs". We drop $10,000 or so on each cruise and won't take another one unless the entire family wants to go. As long as the ships are full, I guess they can ignore all of us with college aged kids but if they want to fill more ships and if the economy stays soft, they need to look at the marginals. It wouldn't take a lot of programming - just convert one of the nearly empty venues into a pool hall/game room/sports bar serving alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks.

 

[Starz723]

As a professional singer in a band, your report on Spirit really disturbed me. There is nothing worse ( to me especially) than a lackluster mediocre frontperson.

Im very surprised at Disney as they usually hire excellent musicians at their theme parks. They even hold auditions here in NYC and they hire the vocalists that are not working on Broadway at that time.

I honestly hope they get a new band by the time I cruise in July, 2004 or I guess Ill have to entertain the masses on Karaoke night. LOL.. Kidding aside, I would definetly make a complaint if I found the entertainment to be below par. To me thats unacceptable cause thats my profession.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by TeensMom
Wow, Rae, I hope you are not in marketing! I usually enjoy your insights in posts but that was a bit harsh.


HARSH?

You have to be kidding?! That was harsh?
"Maybe she'd like to go somewhere else then. Another type of vacation may suit her better." -

I fail to see anything harsh about that. She may like to go somewhere else!!!!! And another type of vacation may suit her better!

I am speaking from experience here - years ago we took our 15 year old son to Europe for 2 weeks, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and England. He would have liked to go somewhere else and another type of vacation would have suited him better! She might feel the same way.

No, I'm not in marketing - but I don't feel that young adults should be made to go on family vacations if they don't want to. Over the past 4 years that we have been cruising Disney, we have asked him to come along - he has refused stating he has NO interest. He is now 23 and we have finally stopped asking!

Sorry to disappoint you with my reply but I have learned over the years I can only please one person at a time and that's the one who is looking back at me in the mirror. ; )

Rae

 

[jlawall]

Seriously, I've met Rae. I don't think she CAN be harsh!!!

 

[TeensMom]

The DCL was DD choice of a graduation present. Her choice when given a blank check.

With our various work schedules, school and sport schedules we only have a couple weeks a year when we can all get away at the same time. Parts of our family go on frequent trips - DD and I have been to France, Spain and Canada last 3 Junes, DS and DH always go to Florida for spring training and DS and I have traveled domestically quite a bit. DS spent almost 3 weeks in New Mexico this summer with friends and DD spent time at beach with friends.

BUT, one of our family values is an annual family vacation. Emphasis on family. Our kids love it and we bond as a family. We even talk about when they have families DH and I want to be those grandparents who take the whole family on vacation.

I hope it can continue to be DCL, but they need to address the young adult entertainment. Perhaps you could understand that, Rae, since your son doesn't want to go.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by TeensMom
I hope it can continue to be DCL, but they need to address the young adult entertainment. Perhaps you could understand that, Rae, since your son doesn't want to go.

It wasn't that I didn't understand. I responded based on the information provided and my experiences with a male in that age group - not a female. They do have different interests and focus.

I think that if you and she can come up with some ideas - Disney would listen to them. My Mother is 74, she's cruised twice with us since last year. Disney has enough activities to satisfy most seniors yet there is nothing special or particular to their generation.

I believe every vacation/travel experience is what you make it.

Rae

 

[Cornhogio]

Originally posted by rae519

Originally posted by TeensMom
Wow, Rae, I hope you are not in marketing! I usually enjoy your insights in posts but that was a bit harsh.


HARSH?

You have to be kidding?! That was harsh?
"Maybe she'd like to go somewhere else then. Another type of vacation may suit her better." -

I fail to see anything harsh about that. She may like to go somewhere else!!!!! And another type of vacation may suit her better!

I am speaking from experience here - years ago we took our 15 year old son to Europe for 2 weeks, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and England. He would have liked to go somewhere else and another type of vacation would have suited him better! She might feel the same way.

No, I'm not in marketing - but I don't feel that young adults should be made to go on family vacations if they don't want to. Over the past 4 years that we have been cruising Disney, we have asked him to come along - he has refused stating he has NO interest. He is now 23 and we have finally stopped asking!

Sorry to disappoint you with my reply but I have learned over the years I can only please one person at a time and that's the one who is looking back at me in the mirror. ; )

Rae

I remember being 18. I would rather have chewed aluminum foil as go on vacation with my parents. I think it's really, really great that your daughter wanted to do that though! I would imagine that the number of kids her age onboard was rather small, and probably caused her to have to socialize outside her age group a good bit. Are any of the bars smoke free? If not, that's one thing they definitely need to change. I spent a few afternoons in the Skybox watching the Bosox play (I was the guy you may have seen running around ship in a Boston Red Sox cap), and the smoke was awful. There were even people smoking stogies in there! Nasty, nasty, nasty!

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by TeensMom
I hope it can continue to be DCL, but they need to address the young adult entertainment. Perhaps you could understand that, Rae, since your son doesn't want to go.

IN 1995 - Part of my 14 year old son's reluctance to travel to Europe with us was the fact that our vacation was planned before the death of his sister the year before (Kayla was our only daughter). He wanted to go but he didn't. A child/even one that's a teenager grieves differently from an adult.

From 1996-present - HORMONES kicked in and although he wanted to be with us and would do short family trips, he didn't want to go for any length of time.


I am a Catholic homeschooling parent, a Registered Nurse, and a happily married woman - I speak only from MY experience and feel that I can understand most of spoken English although it is not my first language. What I have trouble with is the inferrences made and double speak.

Cornhogio - I agree with you, that if the 18 year old daughter wants to join the family - it is wonderful. I would do anything if I could have my daughter back and just enjoy the teens years with her - "raging" hormones and all!!!!

Rae

 

[AnnMorin]

just wanted to say that Rae is a real sweetie and she would never dream of being harsh. She (like I) has strong opinions and voices them. I sincerely think she was trying to make a suggestion not a critique...

 

[lsmac]

I know she didn't mean anything harsh...I actually didn't even read the comment as anything but a statement of fact.

My niece and nephew (18 and 20 at the time) went on DCL and had much the same comments as Teensmom's dd. I think Disney should look into a bit more activity for the 18-20 year olds.

Ann: "strong opinions"??? So THAT's what it's called!! LOL

Lastly, Rae...next time you go to Europe for two weeks...can I go? Puuleeze?


Lisa

 

[rae519]

Lisa - you certainly can! I am sure you would be much better company that a teenager who had a permanent frown (the original Robert Barone)!!! It was a wonderful trip started in Germany and we travelled to Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France and England. Of course, Italy has always been my favorite country - lived there three years and never wanted to come back!!! Next time I go to Europe - I am going to stay permanently! One way or another!

Ann - "a real sweetie" - you are ruining my reputation with those kind of remarks!!!!

; )

Rae

 

[lsmac]

Rae,
"the original Robert Barone." LOL...I have a 14 yo that is like that now! "Everybody loves....someone else!" LOL

Wow, your trip sounds fantastic! I would LOVE to visit Italy (Ciao Baby), and Switzerland (though I am "neutral" on this one...LOL), I can take or leave France (they don't like us anyway from what I hear), and my grandparents are from Germany so I would love to go see where they are from. So, I promise to be good, and to be positive ....

Lisa

 

[rae519]

Lisa - I vowed that I would never take him on another vacation after that little "adventure in Paradise". And that was 8 years ago and I kept my vow.

No offense to the French - but I didn't care much for Paris or France. Again, I am an Italian in my heart!!

Switzerland was fabulous for it's scenery - work up to the sun coming over the Alps and could have died right there a happy woman. HATED the cable car ride down from Mt. Pilatus though - quote the Raven - "nevermore" - I actually screamed most of the way down much to the dismay of poor hubby and son - but hey, it helped and I did feel so much better since it also released a lot of the tension that had built up from dragging Mr. Personality/Attitude with us through most of the vacation. One little redeeming fact was that he did like Italy and actually was almost tolerable during our stay there.

Germany is always a great place to visit, as is Austria (where my grandparents came from). So many beautiful places to see and such great food.....ahhh, yes the food.......

Rae