kathleena
<font color=FF99FF>Because everyone needs a Fairy
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2001
- Messages
- 2,216
Well, since I'm the American that my touring buddy Bavaria was talking about, I guess I will chime in.
It's not hard to notice differences between the two parks or the two cultures. You can either let them bother you, or you can smile about them and move on. I guess for me it was a mixture of both, but always with the acknowledgement that I was a guest in someone else's backyard.
The smoking is very evident, but the culture allows it. I'm asthmatic so it really bothers me. I just covered my nose and moved, just as I do when those blasted Americans don't smoke in the smoking sections at WDW.
The trash was more prominent than at WDW, I must admit. But it wasn't in my way or causing me problems. I didn't take that as cultural - I took that as lack of staff at the park.
I wished for ice cream at the end of the night, and missed it, but I suppose I really didn't need it! Again, lack of staffing.
I didn't notice line jumpers any more than at WDW.
Bavaria and I sat in the POTC boat twice, just us in one row. We were allowed to stay on for a second ride because the lines were short though. I guess I don't have a problem with it if they had put people in with us. I would expect it actually.
The bathrooms were atrocious. I will never complain about WDW again. I think those and the smell of urine around the park were really the only two things I found objectionable. I just couldn't get past the hygiene aspect of it.
I didn't notice anyone invading personal space anymore than a crowded day at WDW. While waiting in line for a movie last month here at home, I definitely had my space invaded by a family behind me. I think it can happen anywhere, I don't see it as very cultural myself - I see it as individual (he's a close talker.......etc)
And about all those photos. At WDW, I never use flash photography. At DLRP, I noticed all the flashes, asked Bavaria if it was common to do it, she said yes, so I flashed with abandon and loved it. When in Rome.....er....Paris.....And surprisingly - the flashing from other people never bothered me. Oh, except when those women in front of us on POTC took a camera, faced it on themselves and then took a picture. Can anyone say blind? Stupid isn't desigated by culture.
I was rather amazed when on RNRC, the CMs all moved away from the loading area and said "seat yourselves!" Bavaria later explained they don't have the lawsuit issues in France as we do in the US. But it didn't become a free-for-all or anything. People were very orderly about it.
I had a blast at DLRP. I can't imagine what European folks must think of these OCD Americans who have to have controlled lines etc.
And I just have come to realize that my nose and sense of smell has become my mother's nose.....
It's not hard to notice differences between the two parks or the two cultures. You can either let them bother you, or you can smile about them and move on. I guess for me it was a mixture of both, but always with the acknowledgement that I was a guest in someone else's backyard.
The smoking is very evident, but the culture allows it. I'm asthmatic so it really bothers me. I just covered my nose and moved, just as I do when those blasted Americans don't smoke in the smoking sections at WDW.
The trash was more prominent than at WDW, I must admit. But it wasn't in my way or causing me problems. I didn't take that as cultural - I took that as lack of staff at the park.
I wished for ice cream at the end of the night, and missed it, but I suppose I really didn't need it! Again, lack of staffing.
I didn't notice line jumpers any more than at WDW.
Bavaria and I sat in the POTC boat twice, just us in one row. We were allowed to stay on for a second ride because the lines were short though. I guess I don't have a problem with it if they had put people in with us. I would expect it actually.
The bathrooms were atrocious. I will never complain about WDW again. I think those and the smell of urine around the park were really the only two things I found objectionable. I just couldn't get past the hygiene aspect of it.
I didn't notice anyone invading personal space anymore than a crowded day at WDW. While waiting in line for a movie last month here at home, I definitely had my space invaded by a family behind me. I think it can happen anywhere, I don't see it as very cultural myself - I see it as individual (he's a close talker.......etc)
And about all those photos. At WDW, I never use flash photography. At DLRP, I noticed all the flashes, asked Bavaria if it was common to do it, she said yes, so I flashed with abandon and loved it. When in Rome.....er....Paris.....And surprisingly - the flashing from other people never bothered me. Oh, except when those women in front of us on POTC took a camera, faced it on themselves and then took a picture. Can anyone say blind? Stupid isn't desigated by culture.
I was rather amazed when on RNRC, the CMs all moved away from the loading area and said "seat yourselves!" Bavaria later explained they don't have the lawsuit issues in France as we do in the US. But it didn't become a free-for-all or anything. People were very orderly about it.
I had a blast at DLRP. I can't imagine what European folks must think of these OCD Americans who have to have controlled lines etc.
And I just have come to realize that my nose and sense of smell has become my mother's nose.....
