Excuse me, you'll need to see security. What has Mickeystoontown done? Update 3/25x2

[mommytothreeboys]

Downtown Hot Springs is really pretty. I love all the cute little fountains!

To say that the "Disney" way of running a theme park has spoiled us is an understatement. Every time we go to a non Disney park we are amazed at the lack of organization and caring by the employees. Disney really needs to run seminars on how to effectively load a roller coaster.....that song and dance to be sure your entire party gets on the same ride is ridiculous!

Oh...and I chuckled at the part about John getting a phone call. Some things never change!

 

[AvasMommy526]

The town looks so cute! And how cool to be in the old bathhouse! I just never understood how people went to those places. could you imagine someone bathing you?

I totally understand what you mean about Magic Springs! It is exactly like The Great Escape, which we have in Lake George (which is now owned by Six Flags so its a little different from when i was younger)!! From the Desperado Plunge (the log flume ride) to the hot small water slides to the inconsiderate faux CM! There's nowhere like Disney {sigh} We are just spoiled by the Disney Magic and pixie dust

I am enjoying the mini trip report though and I think it's great that Hunter is with you guys, our DD is going to be on our Honeymoon, lol, I mean it's at Disney World after all Glad you had a nice anniversary!

 

[jenseib]

all caught up. I know what you mean...many amusement parks are just so different once you become so familiar with Disney. We've done Cedar Point many times growing up, but now when I go back it's so filthy and unorganized. Better than some parks, but still just not the same.

 

[ditsypixie]

I have really enjoyed reading your TR and your mini TR! I love how your family truly enjoys spending time together

I know what you mean about going to other non-Disney parks. We just took our kids to Six Flags over GA and truly didn't enjoy it at all. It was dirty, the loading areas of the rides had no organization so it was just a mess. But the kicker was witnessing 2 girls make fun of a "larger" teenager that couldn't fit in the coaster seat, right in front of everyone, including my kids. It was heartbreaking. I went and complained to someone as soon as I could but who knows if anything happened.

Looking forward to reading more of your trip!

 

[RachVH]

While this certainly isn’t a thrill ride, I am always thrilled to see it because it brings back memories. John and I rode the log ride on our honeymoon twenty-eight years ago. They took our picture and gave it to us in one of those little viewfinder things. You know those things where the picture is about the size of a quarter, you look through the opening....let me see if I can find a picture of one to show ya’ll................................................................................................

Here you go, it looked like this:

I loved those viewfinder/keychain things! We used to go to Busch Gardens with my grandmothers when I was younger and I had a picture of all of my cousins and my grandmother in one of those from getting our picture taken when we entered the park. Wish I still had it since my cousins are scattered all over the country now, and both of my grandmothers are gone. Thanks for sparking my trip down memory lane!

 

[TinksThree]

All caught up...finally!! I was way back at the fireworks and pirate party posts! The first picture of Hunter cracked me up!! And how cool to see fireworks over the ocean!

Loving the Hot Springs posts. I am thinking it would take us about 6 hours to get there so maybe a long weekend one of these days!

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

My Oh My is that skin WHITE!!!!! Do you ever see the light of day? I really enjoy your TR's. Thanks!

 

[Angies1274]

Enjoying your mini-TR!!

I completely understand what you mean about being spoiled by Disney. When we went to an amusement park last summer, we always found ourselves comparing it to Disney in terms of service, organization and upkeep. We had fun time but it just wasn't the same.

 

[shan23877]

I remember those viewfinder picture keychains! All of our vacations growing up were to places like that, they were very cool back then!

Disney does 'ruin' other places doesn't it? The customer service is so high that it really makes bad customer service more obvious. And, DD was really bored watching 4th of July fireworks this year. "I like the ones at Disney World better mommy"

I can't believe that lifeguard! #1 cursing at work is never ok-unless you work away from the public. #2 how many lives could she have been guarding while she was wrapped up in her friend drama?

Sounds like you had fund despite all that, can't wait to hear the rest!

 

[KatMark]

Nope...not doing some of those rides. Not happening!!!!

Waterpark looks like you had a lot of fun. I do love me a Lazy River.

 

[madsmom22]

I am LOVING your Magic Springs mini-trip report! We live in Little Rock and actually have season passed to MS but have only been 3 times and sadly, only on the weekends since I now work full time. It's been SO CROWDED that we didn't even partake of the water park section. We mainly got the passes for the concerts there this summer. And we get to go again on weekends in October for Magic Screams. AND I loved seeing your pictur of the little view-finder things. My DH and I had one of those from our trip to Six Flags over Texas 15 years ago. I love that thing!

 

[sewmess]

Rollercoasters and Lazy Rivers!

Before leaving home, I had ordered a Hot Springs vacation guide which came with $8.00 off admission for up to six (or was it four?) in your party. I told John and Hunter to wait and I’d go buy the tickets. No need to have everybody standing in line.

To say that Disney’s way of doing things and their efficiency has spoiled us is an understatement. The poor little senior citizen ladies working the ticket counters were trying their best but people were coming at them with Mountain Dew cans that had $ off admission on them, others had printed coupons, some, like me, had coupons out of the visitor’s guide and then still others had what looked like flyers in their hands. A lot of the hold up simply had to do with the people in line. Even though there were bars that separated the lines to the windows (and exit lanes as well), people were standing back in one big lump and not moving forward through the bars. Or they’d try to come out the entrance lane. I just wanted to shout and tell everybody “look, this is what the bars are for....this is how you go forward to the window....please have your money and coupons ready.....this is how you exit after getting your admission tickets”. I swear some of those folks acted like they had never been anywhere in their entire life.

One of those such women just happened to be in front of me. The piece of paper that she had in her hand said $10 off admission for each person in the party and then something about a “friend” ticket. Apparently, she didn’t looked at the fine print (which, by the way, wasn’t that little ‘cause I could read it from behind her) which said that the $10 off wasn’t valid on weekends. The lady in front of me got pretty mad and said “well I would have brought the $8 off if I had known that”. Oh well, lady....read your stuff before you get to the ticket window. She ended up paying full price for the tickets, turned around, pushed past me and walked down the entrance lane.

I got to the window, handed over my coupons and my money all at the same time. I could see the look of relief on the lady’s face when I did this and she gave me a big smile and said thank you. I bid her goodbye, found my men and we were through the turnstiles and in the park within minutes of me approaching the ticket window.

Oh sweet woman!! I thank you for all front line ticketing personnel at all local attractions, big and small. I have worked in ticketing of one sort or another for almost 20 years (Uh that makes me feel old) and you'd be AMAZED at how many people act like they've never been out of the house before, much less ever been somewhere they needed to purchase admission. There is no reason what so ever for people not to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of pricing and ticketing and so forth, what with the internet and all...but sometimes people just don't want to think when they are at an attraction. A manager I once had used to say "People can't read the signs that are actually there, but they have no problem seeing the invisible ones at the curb that say 'Leave Brain Here'"

So, again, I thank you for having your act together and knowing what's happening around you. Bless You.

 

[MHTeacher]

I think we are all definitely spoiled by Disney customer service. While it's fun to visit other places, it always is apparent to me how well Disney does everything!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I know I've been spoiled by Disney when it comes to customer service and organization.

Hot Springs looks nice, as does Magic Springs (minus the foul-mouthed lifeguard ). I have a bucket list, and one of the things on there is to take a vacation in each state. I think I might know where I'll go in Arkansas now!

 

[mickeystoontown]

This mini trip report is going to be what I point to when people say [insert whiny know it all voice here]:
"WHY go all the way to FLORIDA just to go to an AMUSEMENT park??? There are AMUSEMENT parks in [insert state of choice here], and THEY don't cost HALF as much as DISNEYLAND [not a mistake--you know they can't tell the difference]."

I like how you guys have positive attitudes and are going to have fun together no matter WHERE you go!

I have heard that whiny voice many times myself! "Why do you want to go to Disneyland again?" Um, it's Disney World and I go over and over because we love it!"

We try to have positive attitudes but it can sometimes be hard (as you'll see in an upcoming Disney installment)

Downtown Hot Springs is really pretty. I love all the cute little fountains!

To say that the "Disney" way of running a theme park has spoiled us is an understatement. Every time we go to a non Disney park we are amazed at the lack of organization and caring by the employees. Disney really needs to run seminars on how to effectively load a roller coaster.....that song and dance to be sure your entire party gets on the same ride is ridiculous!

Oh...and I chuckled at the part about John getting a phone call. Some things never change!

Hot Springs is a neat town that's just dripping with history. One of these days, we are going to visit the Gangster Museum that's in the downtown area.

You've got a great idea on having Disney do seminars. I'm betting they don't want everybody to know how to run things so smoothly. It might keep people away from the Disney parks.

The town looks so cute! And how cool to be in the old bathhouse! I just never understood how people went to those places. could you imagine someone bathing you?

I totally understand what you mean about Magic Springs! It is exactly like The Great Escape, which we have in Lake George (which is now owned by Six Flags so its a little different from when i was younger)!! From the Desperado Plunge (the log flume ride) to the hot small water slides to the inconsiderate faux CM! There's nowhere like Disney {sigh} We are just spoiled by the Disney Magic and pixie dust

I am enjoying the mini trip report though and I think it's great that Hunter is with you guys, our DD is going to be on our Honeymoon, lol, I mean it's at Disney World after all Glad you had a nice anniversary!

I couldn't imagine letting somebody bathe me either. I guess back in the olden days, the rich people had servants who dressed them so why not bathe them too?

There's definitely no other place like Disney but we do like to get away every once in a while. Even with our $24 savings, it cost us almost $130 to get in and $10 to park.

Hunter doesn't mind going places with us which is great considering the attitudes of teenagers now a days. Oh how sweet that you're taking yoru dD on your honeymoon! I can't ever see myself going to Disney without my kids. Well, I guess once they move on and have their own families, I might.

 

[mickeystoontown]

all caught up. I know what you mean...many amusement parks are just so different once you become so familiar with Disney. We've done Cedar Point many times growing up, but now when I go back it's so filthy and unorganized. Better than some parks, but still just not the same.

Magic Springs was super clean and it was a lot of fun. It just wasn't Disney!

I have really enjoyed reading your TR and your mini TR! I love how your family truly enjoys spending time together

I know what you mean about going to other non-Disney parks. We just took our kids to Six Flags over GA and truly didn't enjoy it at all. It was dirty, the loading areas of the rides had no organization so it was just a mess. But the kicker was witnessing 2 girls make fun of a "larger" teenager that couldn't fit in the coaster seat, right in front of everyone, including my kids. It was heartbreaking. I went and complained to someone as soon as I could but who knows if anything happened.

Looking forward to reading more of your trip!

I'm so happy that you're enjoying the trip reportand mini-trip report. We are a famly who has fun pretty much all of the time. (knocking on wood as I type that),

Six Flags over Georgia! Lacey used to live in Cleveland, Georgia and we had to pass Six Flags on our way to there.

Some people, like the teenagers, that you encountered are just cruel and have no manners whatsoever. I always make a point to let my kids see how those people are acting and then tell them that I better not ever see them acting that way....ever! It's a shame that they had to talk outloud like that for the person to hear. The least they could do is whisper it among themselves.

I loved those viewfinder/keychain things! We used to go to Busch Gardens with my grandmothers when I was younger and I had a picture of all of my cousins and my grandmother in one of those from getting our picture taken when we entered the park. Wish I still had it since my cousins are scattered all over the country now, and both of my grandmothers are gone. Thanks for sparking my trip down memory lane!

Oh I wish you could find out where the pictures is! It's so nice being able to look at pictures from when all of the family was togther.

 

[mickeystoontown]

All caught up...finally!! I was way back at the fireworks and pirate party posts! The first picture of Hunter cracked me up!! And how cool to see fireworks over the ocean!

Loving the Hot Springs posts. I am thinking it would take us about 6 hours to get there so maybe a long weekend one of these days!

The fireworks at sea were so neat! I would have never thought we'd be watching fireworks while on a cruise ship.

I think ya'll would like Hot Springs for a long weekend. I wouldn't want to make it my full blown vacation destination but there's enough to keep you busy for two or three days.

My Oh My is that skin WHITE!!!!! Do you ever see the light of day? I really enjoy your TR's. Thanks!

Wow! Way to make a girl feel good about herself. Seriously, I have never been able to get a tan. I might get a little bit of color but definitely not a tan.

We had a good time at Magic Springs and in Hot Springs.

Enjoying your mini-TR!!

I completely understand what you mean about being spoiled by Disney. When we went to an amusement park last summer, we always found ourselves comparing it to Disney in terms of service, organization and upkeep. We had fun time but it just wasn't the same.

Even though we try our hardest not to compare other places with Disney, we can't help ourselves. It's so hard not to.

I think the thing that we miss the most is the service compared to the service you get at Disney.

I remember those viewfinder picture keychains! All of our vacations growing up were to places like that, they were very cool back then!

Disney does 'ruin' other places doesn't it? The customer service is so high that it really makes bad customer service more obvious. And, DD was really bored watching 4th of July fireworks this year. "I like the ones at Disney World better mommy"

I can't believe that lifeguard! #1 cursing at work is never ok-unless you work away from the public. #2 how many lives could she have been guarding while she was wrapped up in her friend drama?

Sounds like you had fund despite all that, can't wait to hear the rest!

Heck yeah, those little viewfinders were cool! I wouldn't mind it if they still had them.

Disney definitely does "ruin" other places. But, we try to go into other parks with an open mind. We had a great time at Magic Springs and will definitely go back again in the future.

I have to admit that the lifeguard was still at her post and would walk back and forth down her section of the river to keep an eye on people BUT that also meant that she was having to talk very loudly so that her friend could hear her. That's why we kept hearing the cursing.

I'm not saying that I don't curse every once in a while. The S word is a word that seems to slip out when people pull out in front of me, I bump my toe or drop a whole 2 liter Coke onto the floor. But, I don't curse when in public nor would I ever do it while at my workplace.

Nope...not doing some of those rides. Not happening!!!!

Waterpark looks like you had a lot of fun. I do love me a Lazy River.

I wish I could have found a picture of The Hawk in action so that Mary Ellen could see it. It reminded me of the Salt & Pepper ride she got stuck on.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I am LOVING your Magic Springs mini-trip report! We live in Little Rock and actually have season passed to MS but have only been 3 times and sadly, only on the weekends since I now work full time. It's been SO CROWDED that we didn't even partake of the water park section. We mainly got the passes for the concerts there this summer. And we get to go again on weekends in October for Magic Screams. AND I loved seeing your pictur of the little view-finder things. My DH and I had one of those from our trip to Six Flags over Texas 15 years ago. I love that thing!

If I lived as close to Magic Springs as ya'll do, then I'd probably have a season pass as well. We had a great time there but it did get very very crowded. We had hoped to stay long enough to see the concert that evening but we were ready to leave by 3:00 or so.

I love the viewfinder picture thing too! I have our's stored away in my dresser drawer.

Oh sweet woman!! I thank you for all front line ticketing personnel at all local attractions, big and small. I have worked in ticketing of one sort or another for almost 20 years (Uh that makes me feel old) and you'd be AMAZED at how many people act like they've never been out of the house before, much less ever been somewhere they needed to purchase admission. There is no reason what so ever for people not to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of pricing and ticketing and so forth, what with the internet and all...but sometimes people just don't want to think when they are at an attraction. A manager I once had used to say "People can't read the signs that are actually there, but they have no problem seeing the invisible ones at the curb that say 'Leave Brain Here'"

So, again, I thank you for having your act together and knowing what's happening around you. Bless You.

Oh don't feel old about working for almost 20 years...'cause if you do, then that means I would feel old too. I've worked in the legal field for 29 years now.

I always try to have my stuff together before I get to a ticket booth or even to a cash register. Most times, you have to stand in line anyway so why not be prepared when you get there? I had to laugh at what your manager said. It's so true! I really thing that the lady in front of me thought the ticket castmember would let her have the $10 off if she looked angry enough.

I think we are all definitely spoiled by Disney customer service. While it's fun to visit other places, it always is apparent to me how well Disney does everything!

Yes m'am, you're right. Going someplace else certainly makes us appreciate the way Disney runs things.

I know I've been spoiled by Disney when it comes to customer service and organization.

Hot Springs looks nice, as does Magic Springs (minus the foul-mouthed lifeguard ). I have a bucket list, and one of the things on there is to take a vacation in each state. I think I might know where I'll go in Arkansas now!

Hot Springs is a nice place to visit and I think you should add it to your bucket list. I know that you like nature/history and Arkansas would be a good State to visit. We've been all over the State and have visited many caves, historic sites, fish hatcheries, natural bridges, etc. If you ever decided to go there, let me know and I'll give you some destination ideas.

 

[eandesmom]

Despite the inappropriate lifeguard, it seems like a pretty fun day! I love that kind of log ride, reminds me of the one at Knott's Berry Farm which has a very special spot in my heart.

 

[francis6306]

That park sounds nice though, even if it's not Disney! I haven't been to another park since I was in college... Disney has my heart!

But I think i'd like to visit that little town some day! I'm all about history, so I'm itching to go and tour that bathhouse!