Gripe - Food in the Parks

[lillygator]

and ya'll - today is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS here - we could all be on the beach for a Disney party!!! It will definitely be a green flash sunset tonight, hopefully I can get a picture!

 

[apostolic4life]

Wow, you must be one of the few original Floridians, who want the tourists to stay home. I think you would be shocked at what your costs in Florida would be, without the tourists. I remember well, after 9/11 the resorts alone shut down at Disney, when the rooms couldn't be filled, as well as the CM's let go to try to find other jobs. It affected way across the board, when the tourists stayed home. You'd rather have no tourists, just so you could find a table at a CS? Interesting.
I know those of us in NYS appreciate the tourist money spent here, and all are welcome. It keeps our taxes lower and our people employeed.

Also, FL residents discounts may be a few bucks more than AP rates, but you don't have to buy the AP to get them, and the rooms seem to be more plentiful. My friend was able to make her WDW plans to meet us much sooner than I could, since she knew about her discount. I have no problem with that..it's a perk of living in FL, but I wonder, if there were no tourists, who would be paying rack rate?

So very true DMRick!

I too live in an area that thrives on tourist dollars, and I am fully aware of the impact it has on our local economy. Whitewater rafting pumps millions of dollars into our local area for 4-6 months of the year (and yes, things are hectic during this time) but we are dead during the fall and winter months. We appreciate the tourists for providing jobs to our communities year round even though they only spend money 6 months of the year. Businesses locate in our rural area not because we are all independantly wealthy and can support the business, but rather because of the intense tourist traffic........we don't look a gift horse in the mouth!

The only solution to the dilemma of not liking tourists: MOVE (Nebraska would be good, maybe South Dakota - nothing but fields and cows there)! !

 

[apostolic4life]

and ya'll - today is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS here - we could all be on the beach for a Disney party!!! It will definitely be a green flash sunset tonight, hopefully I can get a picture!

See, the tourist traffic is all worth while when you have something that magnificiant to experience. I feel the same way about our rivers and mountains!

 

[apostolic4life]

if you are talking the DDE - do you know about it? It's 20% table services rest and you have to pay to get it.

Yes, I believe that is it.........it is for AP or FL residents.........hey , could you pick one up for me


I don't have the AP (yet) and I am not a resident (never)!

 

[Sylvester McBean]

Remember one thing before you mount the white stallion you obviously have parked in the garage: Florida residents get huge discounts on food programs and lodging. This may make it easier for these self annointed rule makers to afford this wonderful park.

Wait, I have an idea, seal off the Florida border to all tourist traffic so nobody except state residents can enjoy this part of the country. I bet then you may get to see what full admission and food costs are!

I am not trying to be mean, just poking a little fun

we're a family of 3, with a 12 year old daughter.

WDW SP's - $650.00
Universal AP's -$300.00 on renewal, about $550 initially
Busch Gardens Seaworld AP's- about $400.00

so we're at about $1300.00 per year to visit the parks. Univeral and BG's offers are open to anyone. the SP's are available only to FLA residents, so we save a whopping $300.00 per year over AP's. FLA resident rates on hotels are found generally in the off-seasons, when the parks rely on us anyway.

thanks to tourism, I can afford to feed the white horse living in my garage.

 

[apostolic4life]

I guess I've never seen that. I do think tourists are important though (no matter what state it is), and I have to admit I resent when the Yankees are told to go home. Collectively, we spend a lot of money in FL and that money does help in FL. There are a lot of Floridians employed by the theme parks...with no tourists they would hurt. We hae a lot of friends in Florida..and they seem to like the moola we bring in, to keep parks open.
Just turning this back to Disney..it's really too bad they aren't clear on issues. If they didn't want the tourists or the Floridians to bring in food, with the guards checking the bags, it would be able to be fixed easily..but they have all these "unwritten" rules, that the only way we find out about them, is on the Disboard. The other million people who don't read them, have no idea about these issues.

Well said!!! Seems the "rules" are not spelled out, they are given out with different responses, and left in a fog for people to make judgement calls for themselves.

This could all be silenced if WDW could and would issue and ENFORCE a stable policy. A "policy" without enforcement is not a policy at all (just your lips beating in the wind)

 

[apostolic4life]

thanks to tourism, I can afford to feed the white horse living in my garage.

Glad you saw the humor.........I got a good laugh out of your response.

Thanks for the laugh...........sometimes people don't get my sense of humor

 

[Sylvester McBean]

and in no way am I smashing all tourists. I wouldn't be on a board helping people paln visits to FLA if I was. I actually get a kick giving out a bit of knowledge or advice to people in the parks. I was at Busch Gardens yeaterday and sat down with a family and their map and gave them a touring plan. we'll be at Universal tomorrow. we live a pretty fun life. I don't appreciate it when people from up north infer we couldn't afford to live here without tourism. real estate continues to skyrocket because of tourism. I'd gladly go back to paying state income taxes if it kept people with that attitude out of here.

 

[DMRick]

I don't appreciate it when people from up north infer we couldn't afford to live here without tourism. real estate continues to skyrocket because of tourism. I'd gladly go back to paying state income taxes if it kept people with that attitude out of here.

I'm not sure who you are talking about..and I don't know your age, to know if you are in your 70's and remember Florida without the parks (of course they always had the snowbirds)..but the tourists are from every state but Florida (actually, if you live in Tampa, then you are a tourist to Orlando..and I'm sure you enjoy that) but there was a time when Florida didn't have all the nice houses (yes, real estate has skyrocketed, because people want to come and live there (have you heard of all the retiring baby boomers?)..not because of the tourists..we don't stay), and roads, etc, and were tax poor. Believe me, you may be able to live in Florida without the tourists, but I'd venture not as well. You'd have a lot of pretty empty buildings, closed restaurants, and unemployed people, without us. Our Lake George would suffer the same, without it's tourists...so they are much appreciated. It's the same all over where there is a tourist area..look at NYC after 9/11...empty and many places went belly up. My son barely had a job after 9/11 in the city..and he wasn't alone. Without the tourists supporting the shows and hotels and restaurants, it was pretty sad. I have no problem with the rest of you supporting NYC..in fact come more and maybe they won't need any of our resources from Upstate LOL!
Would it be nice if we could all keep our jewels to ourselves (like the Adirondacks, Catskills and the City)..sure, but we'd pay a much higher price.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I'm not sure who you are talking about..and I don't know your age, to know if you are in your 70's and remember Florida without the parks (of course they always had the snowbirds)..but the tourists are from every state but Florida (actually, if you live in Tampa, then you are a tourist to Orlando..and I'm sure you enjoy that) but there was a time when Florida didn't have all the nice houses (yes, real estate has skyrocketed, because people want to come and live there (have you heard of all the retiring baby boomers?)..not because of the tourists..we don't stay), and roads, etc, and were tax poor. Believe me, you may be able to live in Florida without the tourists, but I'd venture not as well. You'd have a lot of pretty empty buildings, closed restaurants, and unemployed people, without us. Our Lake George would suffer the same, without it's tourists...so they are much appreciated. It's the same all over where there is a tourist area..look at NYC after 9/11...empty and many places went belly up. My son barely had a job after 9/11 in the city..and he wasn't alone. Without the tourists supporting the shows and hotels and restaurants, it was pretty sad. I have no problem with the rest of you supporting NYC..in fact come more and maybe they won't need any of our resources from Upstate LOL!
Would it be nice if we could all keep our jewels to ourselves (like the Adirondacks, Catskills and the City)..sure, but we'd pay a much higher price.

tourism to florida is what drives the population spike. that's what is making the real estate boom and the overcrowded schools. I used to vacation to florida, and that made me want to move here. as far as the businesses, if they shut down, they shut down. they obviously weren't needed in the first place. oh no, no more chain restaurants? my career nor my wife's is in anyway interdependant on tourism. so we'd do just fine. maybe your ideas of florida and mine are just that different. I'm good with a cooler of beer on the boat, and the excitement of strapping on a mask and diving for a few lobsters for dinner. my daughter is 12 and has friends that have been to WDW 1 time, and we're 45 minutes away. some people that live here want nothing to do with the tourist scene, believe it or not.

 

[Sammie]

Not exactly. I saw a family complain to a CM at Pecos Bills last year about those sitting at the tables but not buying the food. A CM actually went up to another family that was eating out of a stand up backpack and told them they were not allowed to sit at a table unless they were buying something there. The father figure got up in a huff and went and bought a couple of drinks. The CM then went around to other tables and told folks and I saw some leave. So CMs do care. You just have to complain. I won't think twice about complaining if I need a table to eat my CS meal when they are being taken up by non buyers.

See this is the way it should be instead of pages here of people starting to get rude to each other and it really solving nothing. Everyone should do what is right, but gee we all know that ain't going to happen especially with some. They are going to do anything they please until someone else makes them do different. Sad but true.

If I go to Disney and buy a meal I expect to have a place to sit, if not I will find a manager and complain. It is up to them to determine if some are in the seating area that don't belong, its not my place and I really don't want the confrontation. These days someone might punch you out over a brought from home PB&J.

If enough guests complain to the CS staff about lack of seating, something will get done. Hashing it out here will not.

 

[lillygator]

one thing leads to another.

 

[Sammie]

tourism to florida is what drives the population spike. that's what is making the real estate boom and the overcrowded schools. I used to vacation to florida, and that made me want to move here. as far as the businesses, if they shut down, they shut down. they obviously weren't needed in the first place. oh no, no more chain restaurants? my career nor my wife's is in anyway interdependant on tourism. so we'd do just fine. maybe your ideas of florida and mine are just that different. I'm good with a cooler of beer on the boat, and the excitement of strapping on a mask and diving for a few lobsters for dinner. my daughter is 12 and has friends that have been to WDW 1 time, and we're 45 minutes away. some people that live here want nothing to do with the tourist scene, believe it or not.

So you were a tourist to Florida once yourself. If everyone that lived in Florida had your attitude toward tourists you would not be living there now, as you would not have been invited.

Where did you come from and what is your career, just curious? I do find it interesting being a native Floridian that people who were once tourists themselves want to give the tourists a hard time.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

So you were a tourist to Florida once yourself. If everyone that lived in Florida had your attitude toward tourists you would not be living there now, as you would not have been invited.

Where did you come from and what is your career, just curious? I do find it interesting being a native Floridian that people who were once tourists themselves want to give the tourists a hard time.

our careers are both federal government. as far as the 'attitude' it's a learned experience over the years. as I stated above, I hold no ill feelings towards tourists. it's the brash statements that they allow us to live here at some sort of reduced cost. read my posts before replying.

 

[DMRick]

our careers are both federal government. as far as the 'attitude' it's a learned experience over the years. as I stated above, I hold no ill feelings towards tourists. it's the brash statements that they allow us to live here at some sort of reduced cost. read my posts before replying.

I read them..I'm still chuckling. As a retired State employee, I well understand who paid my bill. The people..all of the people. What happens when less people pay? Jobs go away. If places close, your taxes go up to support those now unemployed and without health care. I especially liked that tourists make your school overcrowded. We bring our grands back home with us, so they go to school up north. I think you are mixing up tourists and people like you who actually live in Florida.

Everyone should do what is right, but gee we all know that ain't going to happen especially with some. They are going to do anything they please until someone else makes them do different. Sad but true.

If I go to Disney and buy a meal I expect to have a place to sit, if not I will find a manager and complain. It is up to them to determine if some are in the seating area that don't belong, its not my place and I really don't want the confrontation. These days someone might punch you out over a brought from home PB&J.

I agree that we should all do what it right. I think why this is so many pages long, is, unless you are a disboard reader, you really aren't sure what is right at Disney (and to what degree..do you have to buy a full meal, will a soda do, can you rest in the air conditioning for a minute..only disboard posters know for sure LOL). If something bothers you, you can bring it to a manager..but the problem with Disney's managers, is they too, just want to please. A simple note on the brochure, just like six flags has would make it so easy. Sorry, please do not bring in food. Instead, because in person they and the guards let it slip by, even tell you food is welcome, people believe it's allowed. If food is allowed, then a place to eat it, should be. Those of us who have asked, now know the official answer and will be better equipped to tell that to the manager, if we can't find a seat. Although again, for us, take in isn't the reason we can't find a seat...although we make it easy and going during down times, and eat off time.

 

[Sammie]

our careers are both federal government. as far as the 'attitude' it's a learned experience over the years. as I stated above, I hold no ill feelings towards tourists. it's the brash statements that they allow us to live here at some sort of reduced cost. read my posts before replying.

I read your posts and this one lead me to believe you had ill feelings toward them.

yes, ahhh the tourists. no way could we ever afford to live here without them. property taxes, housing prices have nothing to do with that equation. I sleep better at night knowing the tourists allow me to live here. without them, orlando would go back to being an environmental area. the roads would unclutter. the erosion of the beaches and natural beauty due to condo and hotel encroachment would cease. the 27 million billboards on the GA/FL border promising 'last chance' discount tickets to WDW would be magically gone. and here we would be, drifting in the boat offshore sarasota with a couple of fishing lines in the water and a beer in hand watching the sunset

.

 

[Kath2003]

My folks used to bring us a picnic lunch to theme parks...but we had to go sit in the car in the parking lot to eat it because they refused to carry it with them all day long

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I read your posts and this one lead me to believe you had ill feelings toward them.

.

there's no ill will in that post. a grain of truth, yes.

 

[DMRick]

without them, orlando would go back to being an environmental area. the roads would unclutter. the erosion of the beaches and natural beauty due to condo and hotel encroachment would cease. the 27 million billboards on the GA/FL border promising 'last chance' discount tickets to WDW would be magically gone. and here we would be, drifting in the boat offshore sarasota with a couple of fishing lines in the water and a beer in hand watching the sunset

I'm just curious..have you lived in Florida over 35 years, and this is what it was like before the theme parks came? I assume you wouldn't be a recent transplant, because it sounds like you don't like it as it is now.

 

[DVC Sadie]

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That's your own personal preference that you choose to eat inside the parks -your personal choice that you don't mind paying triple or quadruple prices for "okay" food - and that you prefer not to cook in your hotel room.. But that's all it is - your personal choices..

I can't believe people are cooking in the resort rooms. Isn't this a really stupid way to start a fire?