Do you think the word "commando" is a complement or an insult?

[missypie]

Most people here seem to be using the term "commando" as an insult. I'm not sure of the precise definition, but do you think of it as a good or a bad thing?

It sounds kind of bad, but if it means arriving early, hving a plan, and not waiting in long lines, then I think it's great.

Our first family Disney trip was to Disneyland 2 years ago. Armed with the touring plans from the UG I told my family to do whatever I said, and I promised that it would turn out great. Everyone was amazed at how many rides we rode in the morning. We had a nice afternoon swimming break.
We got characters' autographs. Fairly early on the second day, we even had time to get pastel portraits done of the kids. We ate. We shopped. We got pressed pennies.

If I was a commando, so be it - we got to do everything we wanted to do and had a great time.

 

[wildbill]

My entire family are "commando's" and durn proud of it

I'll sleep in my grave until then 'outa my way dopey"

Bill

 

[sc9500]

I thought you were referring to the FRIENDS commando. Whereas if someone said "I wish you went commando" it would be good or "Dont you ever go commando" would be bad...

 

[crcormier]

I don't think of it as an insult, I just think of it as one of the ways of touring WDW. It's not my style, I'm not big on planning everything down to the last detail, I prefer to relax and enjoy, but I also have been going solo the last few trips, and have had the advantage of doing more than one trip a year, so relaxing is a little easier to do. If I was only going once every several years, I would be much more likely to plan to make sure I got to see everything. So no, I don't think it's an insult, I'm just not one of 'em.

Oh, and PS... All you stinkin' commandos better not knock me over running to Splash Mountain while I stroll.

 

[Pedler]

Most people here seem to be using the term "commando" as an insult. I'm not sure of the precise definition, but do you think of it as a good or a bad thing?

It sounds kind of bad, but if it means arriving early, hving a plan, and not waiting in long lines, then I think it's great.

Our first family Disney trip was to Disneyland 2 years ago. Armed with the touring plans from the UG I told my family to do whatever I said, and I promised that it would turn out great. Everyone was amazed at how many rides we rode in the morning. We had a nice afternoon swimming break.
We got characters' autographs. Fairly early on the second day, we even had time to get pastel portraits done of the kids. We ate. We shopped. We got pressed pennies.

If I was a commando, so be it - we got to do everything we wanted to do and had a great time.

I think it depends on the persons vacation style. For those that are there to be active and ride a lot of attractions then being a commando is a good thing. For those that like to have a more relaxed vacation and not be in rush between attractions it could be a negative term.

Or a better way would be to see if you evaluate the success of a day at the parks by the ride count and average attraction wait multiplied by the max wait factor divided by the PS qoutient.... You get the idea.

 

[oogieboogie]

Our first family Disney trip was to Disneyland 2 years ago. Armed with the touring plans from the UG I told my family to do whatever I said, and I promised that it would turn out great. Everyone was amazed at how many rides we rode in the morning. We had a nice afternoon swimming break.
We got characters' autographs. Fairly early on the second day, we even had time to get pastel portraits done of the kids. We ate. We shopped. We got pressed pennies.

This is not what I think of when I think "Commando". I picture it more as people who get to the parks early and don't leave until they close the parks. It's people who go, go, go with no breaks in between, not even to eat at a nice restaurant, people who'll eat a quick bite at counter service because time is precious and if you can't use that time to ride the rides, then that time is wasted.

When I think of Commando I think of people who scoff at swimming at the resorts, and taking naps, or even god forbid, go to WDW and not go to the parks.

I don't think you're a commando, I think you're a prepared person and because you're prepared you had a great time.

 

[jason]

It's neither. It's just a preferance. I prefer to take a relaxed vacation. Do I get as much done as a "commando" family? Probably not, but I'm not there to do as many rides as possible. I'm there because I'm on vacation, and vacation is supposta' be a relaxing time. I see so many angy, upset, tired famies who keep pushing thier little kids to go on when it's obvious they need a break and that kina' irks me, but hey it's their vacation. Thats just my 2 cents.

 

[missypie]

Our first family Disney trip was to Disneyland 2 years ago. Armed with the touring plans from the UG I told my family to do whatever I said, and I promised that it would turn out great. Everyone was amazed at how many rides we rode in the morning. We had a nice afternoon swimming break.
We got characters' autographs. Fairly early on the second day, we even had time to get pastel portraits done of the kids. We ate. We shopped. We got pressed pennies.

This is not what I think of when I think "Commando". I picture it more as people who get to the parks early and don't leave until they close the parks. It's people who go, go, go with no breaks in between, not even to eat at a nice restaurant, people who'll eat a quick bite at counter service because time is precious and if you can't use that time to ride the rides, then that time is wasted.

When I think of Commando I think of people who scoff at swimming at the resorts, and taking naps, or even god forbid, go to WDW and not go to the parks.

I don't think you're a commando, I think you're a prepared person and because you're prepared you had a great time.

That actually describes my HUSBAND. Left to his own devices, he would behave EXACTLY as you described. For months I've been preparing him for this trip...telling him that we have 9 days in the parks, so there is plenty of time to do everthing...telling him that we are paying a fortune for our deluxe hotel, so we need to enjoy it. I've also made a PS for lunch or dinner every day so he'll HAVE to sit down and rest.

 

[areno79]

I was thinking that same thing, oogieboogie! The first time DH and I went 2 years ago, the first 3 days were "commando" style...we were trying to do and see EVERYTHING! (Which I soon learned was pretty much impossible and also very tiring! ) This time I've got a plan, meaning I've made PS's for most dinners (and a couple lunches), I plan to get to the parks early and take a break during the middle of the day, but I don't think of that as commando. Being well prepared is not a bad or good thing, it just depends on what you think a "vacation" should be

 

[BostonRob]

I was thinking that same thing, oogieboogie! The first time DH and I went 2 years ago, the first 3 days were "commando" style...we were trying to do and see EVERYTHING! (Which I soon learned was pretty much impossible and also very tiring! ) This time I've got a plan, meaning I've made PS's for most dinners (and a couple lunches), I plan to get to the parks early and take a break during the middle of the day, but I don't think of that as commando. Being well prepared is not a bad or good thing, it just depends on what you think a "vacation" should be

Yes, I also agree with Oogieboogie - when I hear commando I picture the people who tour the park nonstop from dawn to dusk.

Somebody who overplans and forces their family or friends to go along with the plans, I think of them more as a planning Nazi. With apologies to anybody offended by the anti-semitic implications of the word nazi.

 

[cobbler]

HA! I thought this thread was about going sans undies.

 

[BostonRob]

HA! I thought this thread was about going sans undies.

Sand in your undies? I hate that!

 

[missypie]

HA! I thought this thread was about going sans undies.

Was that a term that was in popular use before Joey Tribiani said it, or did they make it up on Friends?

 

[cobbler]

You know I am not really sure. I swear I remember hearing it or using it before then, but sometimes my perception of time is distorted.
It tends to work in days, hours, minutes and seconds.

 

[BostonRob]

Was that a term that was in popular use before Joey Tribiani said it, or did they make it up on Friends?

No, I heard it for years before they used it on friends.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

No, I heard it for years before they used it on friends.

The term existed in the mid 80's, as I had a friend who often went commando (and we used that term to describe it).

As for going commando at WDW, it is what it is--just one of many ways to do the parks.

Now, going commando while going commando, that's another story...

 

[missypie]

No, I heard it for years before they used it on friends.

I must have led a sheltered life. (Of course, thanks to Friends, now my CHILDREN know what it means...)

 

[DLKT]

"Going Commando in DW" to me sounds like when you kill, with a bowie knife, a lot of Brazilians for line cutting.


[please see the Arnold Schwarenegger movie "Commando" for humor reference]

 

[DrTomorrow]

Well, since you asked....

I too think it means dawn.to.dusk folks who run from ride to ride, never take breaks, say things like 'I can rest when I'm dead' and might leave a small child or Grandmama behind if they're going to slow them down.

I'm prepared: I know my park hours, when the parade / shows are scheduled and what we'd like to do. But we almost always take a PM break, and we don't do EMH-AM much any more (maybe the MK) and we've learned to stop and smell the roses (and churros).

There's a passage in the UG that sums it up; something like "You can tell [a commando] by the fact that it's late in the afternoon yet they've been there since 7AM. The mom is wilting, the kids are crying, they are all hungry and can hardly take another step, yet the dad is yelling at them to 'Get going! We need to hit 5 more rides before we can eat!' ". To me, that's hard-core commando.

And yes, the "other" usage of that word has been around for a long time; and threads like this always put a on my face.

 

[Lizzybee]

1st thought on "commando" ...touring WDW without your undies on
2nd thought on "commando" ....if you are referring to yourself it is usually with a sense of pride
3rd thought on "commando"...if the word is being used by someone who prefers to sleep in late, wears underwear, and likes to lounge, it is probably a bit derrogatory
4th thought on "commando"...if someone wears underwear, is amazed at how much you can do and wants to know what is this DIS board you speak of incessantly, it's probably a big fat compliment!