Here now. Need to say a few things.

[King Triton]

I agree, you have to find your own magic and embrace it. Disney is so many things to people. I still tear up everytime I watch the Christmas parade and fireworks because it brings back fond memories of past holidays with my mom who is now in heaven.

I've been gonig to Disney every year since 1989. I have seen some changes I didn't like. A tradition I was trying to start with my family was going to the Jolly Holiday Christmas show and dinner but it was canceled. Then Epcot lost a lot of it's charm when Disney removed Horizons, World of Motion and the first Imagination ride with Dreamfinder. Epcot hasn't been the same since.

My thoughts of some of the lost magic. Don't get me wrong, I love Disney but I love Disney enough to be honest here. In the mid 80's the top Disney executives (Eisner) lost the vision. Disney lost some of their best imagineers and those making decisions just didn't get it. Disney took their eyes off the magic and focused on getting off into ventures they had no business getting into. The parks suffered. Example. Look at the huge mistake with California Adventure. Walt is turning over in his grave now. I was there this past weekend and there is an exhibit where you watch people making tortillas. What the ???? This isn't Disney. Then I walked into another building, the doors shut and they showed a movie on how to make sour dough bread. WHAT!!! I couldn't get out and had to finish that so called exhibit of fun. Once I got out of there I ran back to Disneyland for my sanity. The point is the top Disney suits lost the magic and it showed by some of their bone head decisions starting in the mid 80's. Disney needs to stay with the Disney quality and magic. Make Disney for the whole family - that is Walt's motto. You can't take a young child or your grand parent on Mission Space and Test Track. Hello.

As far as having scooters and wheelchairs there. I think that's great. Those who complain about that should be grateful they are healthy and don't need one. You never know, you might need one in your future. I think it's great Disney makes it accessible for everyone. Thank you Disney. I had foot surgery this past summer and my feet were killing me by the end of the day. I was in pain all because I was too stubborn to get a scooter. My wife kept saying, "You should get a scooter." Boy, was she right. Next time I will.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Concussion (singular) from the explosions. Obviously very different from percussion, but probably a similar effect.

I'm sorry....I'm extremely slow today. Is she saying she could feel vibrations from the explosions in her legs? That makes more sense to me. Thanks for trying to clue me in. lol

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm sorry....I'm extremely slow today. Is she saying she could feel vibrations from the explosions in her legs? That makes more sense to me. Thanks for trying to clue me in. lol

Yes. I would have said "booms" instead of "concussions", LOL, but then I wouldn't be talking about Illuminations b/c I've never been to WDW, but I would relate it to Fantasmic at Disneyland.

And I totally, as a female, agree with you about the standing thing. Even when I was pregnant I would stand, because especially while hugely pregnant it was just easier than sitting my bulk down and then trying to get back up! I wasn't at WDW, but wherever I was. Let me tell you, people will try hard to not let a pg woman stand up, even when she is telling them flat out that they WANT TO, that it hurts less.

Anyway, I will often let someone who looks more tired than I am sit down if I'm on a bus, any bus, but gosh...at WDW, just like at DLR, isn't EVERYONE tired? I just can't get behind the "let women and children sit while men, no matter how tired they are or how much their feet hurt or whatever hidden problem they might have must stand" thing.

 

[Twende]

I'm sorry....I'm extremely slow today. Is she saying she could feel vibrations from the explosions in her legs? That makes more sense to me. Thanks for trying to clue me in. lol

The best explanation I can find for what I think she was trying to say is when using this definition.

1. A shaking or agitation; a shock; caused by the collision of two bodies.

The two bodies in this case would be the compressed air and her legs.

I feel it more in my chest. I only really notice it during the extra ending for the Christmas Illuminations.

 

[OK!]

The best explanation I can find for what I think she was trying to say is when using this definition.

1. A shaking or agitation; a shock; caused by the collision of two bodies.

The two bodies in this case would be the compressed air and her legs.

I feel it more in my chest. I only really notice it during the extra ending for the Christmas Illuminations.

I actually felt it everywhere, but I noticed it most in my legs because the air actually made my jeans move against my legs. Freaked me out a bit the first time.

 

[drcandon]

We were at Disney from the 8th to the 16 th and I was in for a total surprise..I have followed the posts here and was expecting low to moderate crowds and like other pp's have said it was packed ..on the 12/9 MVMCP it was totally unmanageable..Disney grossly oversold that night and should be ashamed of themselves for trying to suck as much money as possible..yea I know that maybe it is a Disney knee jerk reaction to hard times and get as much as you can before it goes away but this was ridiculous...needless to say we will never do it again...now please don't say "good more for the rest of us"..I have been a loyal Disney fan for many years travelling quite a ways to get to Disney, and have suppported Disney's off times strange changes in policy but really...truly limit the tickets please, there are lots of days for everyone...

Fastpass for Soarin and Toy story both sold out early in many days or the load time was 4:45 pm and it was still 10 in the morning..geezz...

As far as Disney dining goes, well there are many cartoons where there is a guy sitting next to you on a table at chef Mickey's selling you a reverse mortgage for a meal..

 

[nhl66pens]

WHOOO HOOO I totally agree!!! As a woman who is totally capable of standing I stand up and cheer. If I feel that I can not stand the 15 minutes on the bus I wouldn't get on the full bus! I just let everyone who wants to stand pass me and wait for another bus. I would NEVER expect anyone to give me a seat EVER.

I may be wrong, but I think my original statement included children. I'm sorry though, I still think men should offer their seat to women. It may be because I was raised that way and I spoke with a few women at work to see what their thoughts were. After speaking with them, I stand by my belief that it is just common courtesy to offer your seat to women and children. Do you believe it is fine for the kids to stand as well? One woman here suggested it is the way young people are raised today to only think of themselves and not to concern themselves with other people's problems. Probably explains why on the boat one morning I was talking with a family with a person in a wheelchair and they didn't move to get off and I told them to go ahead and they said that they would rather wait because the other passengers would probably chastise them as others had done. I told them I would block the aisle for them while they disembarked but they declined. I guess I am old-fashioned and I can live with that but I think its a sad statement about the state of our country when people only think of themselves and look at the elderly and handicapped people as nuisances rather than seeing their civic responsibilities to help others. I realize you weren't there that day when the woman with 2 kids (appeared to be ages 7 and 10) had to stand with the 2 girls while a gentleman appearing to be in his late 20's sat and conversed with his girlfriend oblivious to the woman and her kids, so you may feel differently based on specific situations. Either way, I was raised that way and will continue to act in the manner I think is correct.

 

[selina4disney]

Because WDW is one of the few truly accessible vacation destinations for those of us who happen to need an ECV or wheelchair due to mobility disabilities. It is wonderful to actually be able to vacation together as a family in a place that provides appropriate HA accomidations, and where the family member in a wheelchair is able to share in the experience just like any other 'able bodied' person. WDW happens to be a wonderful, magical place in that respect.

Couldn't have said that better myself. One of the reasons we go back over and over.

 

[dburg30]

I'm sorry though, I still think men should offer their seat to women. It may be because I was raised that way and I spoke with a few women at work to see what their thoughts were. .

I thought women were supposed to be treated as equals to men? So treat them fairly in jobs, sports etc, but then turn right around and say that men should give up their seats for women? No wonder us guys walk around with a confused look on our faces. Actually we do understand, pretty much anything we do, we're wrong.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Thanks guys and gals with helping me understand the whole leg concussion thing. I really do appreciate it.

Even when I was pregnant I would stand, because especially while hugely pregnant it was just easier than sitting my bulk down and then trying to get back up! I wasn't at WDW, but wherever I was. Let me tell you, people will try hard to not let a pg woman stand up, even when she is telling them flat out that they WANT TO, that it hurts less.

This is good advice for me as I will be six month preggers when we get to WDW in a few weeks. Some people really do get offended when they are being polite but you don't take them up on their offer. I find that .

I may be wrong, but I think my original statement included children. I'm sorry though, I still think men should offer their seat to women. It may be because I was raised that way and I spoke with a few women at work to see what their thoughts were. After speaking with them, I stand by my belief that it is just common courtesy to offer your seat to women and children.

{snip}

I guess I am old-fashioned and I can live with that but I think its a sad statement about the state of our country when people only think of themselves and look at the elderly and handicapped people as nuisances rather than seeing their civic responsibilities to help others.

Are you equating perfectly healthy and able-bodied women with the elderly and handicapped? I'm not getting how you threw that into the mix.

In your initial post you said women or children. I don't know if I would necessarily give up my seat for a child. I don't think that should be expected. For a mother trying to balance a sleeping child, perhaps, but not for every child I come across. And I still don't understand why there's a different set of rules for my DH than there is for me when it comes to courtesy.

Yes, it may have been the way you were raised but that doesn't make it right. Many men and women were raised to see women as the weaker sex with prescribed roles but that doesn't make it right either.

And what dictates "common courtesy"? A few women at your workplace who demand a double-standard. Common courtesy doesn't mean, "Well, we've been doing it this way for 100 years so it must be right."

Listen, I wouldn't get offended if a man offered me his seat. If I was tired, I might just take it but because I was tired, not because I was a woman. Otherwise, I would politely decline.

 

[Honeymooners1021]

I thought women were supposed to be treated as equals to men? So treat them fairly in jobs, sports etc, but then turn right around and say that men should give up their seats for women? No wonder us guys walk around with a confused look on our faces. Actually we do understand, pretty much anything we do, we're wrong.

Are you equating perfectly healthy and able-bodied women with the elderly and handicapped? I'm not getting how you threw that into the mix.

In your initial post you said women or children. I don't know if I would necessarily give up my seat for a child. I don't think that should be expected. For a mother trying to balance a sleeping child, perhaps, but not for every child I come across. And I still don't understand why there's a different set of rules for my DH than there is for me when it comes to courtesy.

Yes, it may have been the way you were raised but that doesn't make it right. Many men and women were raised to see women as the weaker sex with prescribed roles but that doesn't make it right either.

And what dictates "common courtesy"? A few women at your workplace who demand a double-standard. Common courtesy doesn't mean, "Well, we've been doing it this way for 100 years so it must be right."

Listen, I wouldn't get offended if a man offered me his seat. If I was tired, I might just take it but because I was tired, not because I was a woman. Otherwise, I would politely decline.[/QUOTE]

-Ditto-

 

[Emagine]

Respect and Karma is earned in how you treat others. I stood many times holding up an Autistic Child and usually a sleeping toddler no one offered even when I leaned on the handicapped door for support. I once gave my seat to a mom who was holding two sleeping toddlers after fireworks at Epcot. Some of us do care but it would have been nice to have someone offer one seat for me and 2 kids to share. But we made it.

 

[1hero2princesses]

Well the original poster was not really on this topic, so I am a little confused on why everyone is having such a big discussion about bus seats. Sorry for the hijack. That being said - I do feel it is nice when someone offers you their seat. I have seen this argued about many times here. I have no idea why anyone would be offended if someone nicely offered them their seat. People never cease to amaze me. I got on a bus in September, holding my 1 year old, helping my 3 year old while my husband helped my 5 year old and carried the stroller. When we got on we realized it was full. Turned around to get off and about 15 people had piled in behind us. Door closes off we go. I am trying to balance the baby, diaper bag and the 3 year old who is struggling to hold on and crying she is going to fall. My husband is trying to balance the stroller and the 5 year old who is struggling to hold on. My husband starts telling me sit on the floor you are going to fall. I didn't know what to do. Finally a woman sitting near us hits her boyfriend/husband as says "get up so she can sit, can't you see she is struggling". I thanked him and I was very grateful to sit with the baby and 3 year old on my lap. It is not safe to except small children to hold on and balance on a bus. To all you offended by that, wow, I just don't get it. My 5 year old even struggled to hold on, even with his dad helping him. Small children have trouble balancing on a bus moving and turning. I feel this really is a safety issue and would always offer my seat if I can.

 

[King Triton]

Men and Women are equal in who sits or stands. You can't judge someone because you really don't know all the facts. I've had foot surgery over the years and I have to sit. Standing too long is very painful. Now if you didn't know me and you saw me getting on the bus, you might think I should gladly give up my seat for a lady. So the point is don't judge people because they might have a good reason to sit. Male or Female - it doesn't matter.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I have no idea why anyone would be offended if someone nicely offered them their seat. People never cease to amaze me.

{snip}

Finally a woman sitting near us hits her boyfriend/husband as says "get up so she can sit, can't you see she is struggling". I thanked him and I was very grateful to sit with the baby and 3 year old on my lap.

Nobody got offended when they were offered a seat. Where are you reading that?

Why didn't the woman get up herself and give you her seat. She could clearly see you were struggling since she informed her partner of this fact.

The argument isn't that it's wrong for people to offer others their seats on a bus. It is that it is wrong to expect a man to do this but not a woman and that it's wrong to assume that a perfectly abled woman, not carrying children or anything else, is unable to stand for a bus ride.

 

[crazyoldmaurice]

Well apparently the place to avoid at Disney these days is on the bus! Good grief. Scooters, wheelchairs, busses.

We were there last week, and yes the crowds were much higher than in year's past. I'm very surprised that early December is still considered "Value" season. The secret's out and everyone loves to come to Disney to see the Christmassy stuff. In fact, that's where the most crowds are. For the most part, the wait times for rides was not bad (TSM doesn't count). What was crowded was the Osborne Lights, Holiday Illuminations, any of the party related events at MVMCP.

As for the lost magic, perhaps this recesssion has us all a little pre-occupied or something, but in my opinion, the magic is alive and well. It could be because I have small children and I see how much they enjoy WDW and how well they are treated by CMs.

I thought the Christmas decorations were great as always. I actually prefer the Epcot tree lighting ceremony not being there, because it has freed up a lot more space in that area. I thought the parks and resorts were decked out as great as always. And to the person who said that the GF hasn't given out the roasted chestnuts at the entrance of the resort for years, they have been doing it every year at least up until and including last year, because they were doing it then. Not sure about this year though.

And this whole "discussion" about people giving up their seats is pretty funny. IMHO, I believe it's right for a man to open a door for a woman, or give up his seat for one. I am not going to judge some guy who refuses to give up his seat, but I sure will continue to do it.

 

[lea25]

We were there the 10th - 15th for our first trip to WDW and quite honestly I don't know that we'll go back.

I think our expectations were too high or something.

Transportation between Pop and the parks was horrendous.

Not knowing what to expect decoration-wise, I think it was moderately, and tastefully, done. Nothing gaudy or overdone. It felt like home.

The whole scooter/wheelchair debate seems to be one that will go on here. While I saw alot, I don't think I saw as many as I expected to see based on the posts I had read here on the boards.

And while I think it's great that WDW is so HA, I have to admit that I kept thinking of Wall-E and the "hover-chairs" they offered whenever I saw someone on a scooter. I'm not criticizing those who need, or want, to use a scooter because I have no idea what their circumstances may be.

It just seems as a society we're getting physically larger and larger, and it's hard on the body to move so we're becoming more and more reliant on things like scooters.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

We were there the 10th - 15th for our first trip to WDW and quite honestly I don't know that we'll go back.

Oh, you'll go back. You're posting on the DISboards, aren't you? Couldn't have disliked it that much.

 

[yeaitspootie]

Oh, you'll go back. You're posting on the DISboards, aren't you? Couldn't have disliked it that much.

I'm not flaming you, but it seems like you're been trying to start little arguements.

ANYWAYS, my trip has passed the halfway point, and I gotta say it is great! I've already done pretty much everything I want to do, I even went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure for my first time. The weather is barely on the warm side, BARELY. Crowds have actually mellowed out, but they will defintely be back. EE is incredible! I can honestly say I am feeling the magic again. But I totally agree that Disney has lost it's vision.

Scooters Don't get me wrong, I think it is really awesome that WDW is so accessable to handicapped. I'm just saying it's annoying how many there are, BUT I KNOW MOST PEOPLE NEED THEM! However, there are plenty of lazy people out there.
That being said, I NEVER judge anyone in a scooter, there are so many reasons why it's wrong.

Also, regarding the seat discussion. GET OVER IT. When guys offer their seats, it's not because we feel that anyone is weaker then us. It's a nice gesture. Which also means it is NOT required. If I don't want to give up my seat, I don't have to, and no one has the right to judge me.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I will gladly take the bad things at Disney and roll with them instead of the sucktastic misery we have in the Seattle area right now! It's freezing and I'm stuck in the house with my whole family, it's the stuff nightmares are made of.

Enjoy the magic, however you find it!