I've heard negative comments about Orlando...

[Kilted_Yank]

...but with millions of...americans returning several times a year...

Thats me!

WDW is the best place on earth!

 

[missingthemagic]

That is Hillarious " orlando just like Blackpool" Thats the same as comparing a skate board to a ferrari!! These are probably the same mums/dads that always say that your kids are to young to go to disney,and you should wait until they are older as they wont remember a thing.It is just the best destination for anybody of all ages,and no mater your age you will always dread coming home to the real world. We wouldnt go anywhere else, it just wouldnt feel right.

 

[castanea1985]

Hi PChef,
Please just book!!
It took me 10 years to get my husband to go to the US, and now he won't go anywhere else!!! He'd live there tomorrow!! He works in Blackpool, and believe us, it's nothing like Orlando!
Try and get a few nights either down in the Keys (you can swim with the dolphins down there for a lot less than at Discovery Cove), or maybe St.Augustine (thats only about 2-3 hours north east of Orlando). St. Augustine is real American history, and well worth the drive.
But, don't listen to anyone - just get it booked!!!! You'll love it!!!

 

[shingle]

been to blackpool and i will never go back. went to orlando and so far have gone back nine times, to be blunt blackpool is 4th division orlando premier league.

 

[Lisash]

I absolutely hate Blackpool! There is no comparison. As many of the others have said anyone who says this has probably never been. I've also heard WDW compared to Alton Towers and it's nothing like that either. Please give it a go you will have a great time

 

[Laurafoster]

I completely agree, although you have your usually touristy tacky gift shops Orlando really is not like any other place i know.

And as for saying Orlando and WDW is just for kids? me and my fiance are both in our 20 and love the place so much that we chose to get married there in December!

 

[Lisash]

And as for saying Orlando and WDW is just for kids? me and my fiance are both in our 20 and love the place so much that we chose to get married there in December!

I took my parents last summer (both in their late 60's) and they had a fantastic time.

 

[missingthemagic]

I was at alton towers for my ds 8th birthday on sunday, Oh my god that place is a joke. Tatty uncared for and plain boring!! Alton towers or with wdw ioa us and the rest orlando has to offer. i know where im going AGAIN!

 

[Red-Snapper]

Just avoid the top end of I-Drive. basically the further up you go the more tacky it seems to get.
The lower end is however quite nice and there are some decent restaurants and hotels there.

I personally dont like Kissimmee/Old Town/192 for the same reasons but that is maybe just me.

Winter Park is a great place to spend an afternoon and also try Celebration.

As all have said it is nothing like Blackpool, however like all places if you stay in the cheapest motel in the cheapest area it will certainly not be representative of the majority of Orlando/WDW

 

[UKDEB]

Thanks for your comments, everyone. It certainly was not the impression I had received from reading these boards, so I was confused!

Playing Devil's advocate for a moment, you're not exactly going to get an objective view from a forum dedicated to WDW addicts! I love Orlando, but I am more than willing to accept that there are those who don't. Having said that, I've only ever come across a few people who have truly hated it (and one of those was in a really bad place in her life, so I'm convinced it was simply an association thing).

What's far more common, in my experience, is for people to claim they dislike it because it's not cool to admit they do. They seem to think that it's not PC to be patronising a corporate giant and like to give the impression that they would rather be visiting somewhere more cultured. They rarely convince me.

One of the board members of the organisation for which I work isn't embarrassed to admit to a huge love of WDW (he visits every year). You couldn't imagine a more unlikely candidate - he's a sharp-suited toff. I was seated next to him at a dinner a couple of years ago and it came up in conversation. What had potentially looked like being a very boring night, turned out great!

 

[AndRu]

What's far more common, in my experience, is for people to claim they dislike it because it's not cool to admit they do. They seem to think that it's not PC to be patronising a corporate giant and like to give the impression that they would rather be visiting somewhere more cultured. They rarely convince me.

Spot on!!!!

99% agree with the statement except for the "visiting somewhere more cultured" part. I find the people that dislike Disney / Florida fall into one of two camps (sometimes both). They're either

a) Anti-American because that's a "cool" place to be . . . or
b) Only ever visit the med for two weeks of crowded beaches/pool in the day and drinking by night - If this is 'cultured' then I am Robbie Williams!

Any holiday is what you make it. However, the beauty of Orlando is that it provides you so many opportunities to create a fantastic holiday.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Spot on!!!!

99% agree with the statement except for the "visiting somewhere more cultured" part. I find the people that dislike Disney / Florida fall into one of two camps (sometimes both). They're either

a) Anti-American because that's a "cool" place to be . . . or
b) Only ever visit the med for two weeks of crowded beaches/pool in the day and drinking by night - If this is 'cultured' then I am Robbie Williams!

Any holiday is what you make it. However, the beauty of Orlando is that it provides you so many opportunities to create a fantastic holiday.

or C) drinking all day and night , resulting in sleeping in all of the following morning.

 

[Ali and boyz]

well we went with family last year (there first time) and they didn't like it they moaned and moaned and moaned. too hot, didn't like the fact that you had to walk at the parks flight was too long if fact it was so bad they totally spoilt our holiday. he was 58 and overweight so hence didn't like to walk (my view anyway) the daughter is spoilt and was bored on the plane , flight to long etc she is 18 !! (mine were 14 and 19 and were fine) heat well I felt it was his weight again and the wife wanted to lie at the pool 24/7 so she would have been better off at spain or the likes.

I do agree, sorry if I offend anyone here, that International drive had got a bit busy and built up but then if you don't drive or book a car then it is the place to be, we prefer kissimmee or downtown disney area but again not suitable if you don't have a car.

we love it Michelle for all sorts of different reasons,

the food
the rate of exchange
the people being friendly
the shops
the parks
the weather

and lastly but huge for us because my son had a sporting accident 4 years ago and we thought we would never get on holiday again never mind Florida . trying to get accomodation or a holiday here in the UK or Europe suitable for him is near nigh impossible. as soon as we touched down in Sanford it was like chalk and cheese. poeple we so so helpfull from the airport staff, car hire for the disabled, disney accommodation, parking you name it and for me that sums up why we go.

go for it Michelle and have a fab time

 

[carolfoy]

Oh Ali, I know you had a terrible experience last time, it just shows that even WDW is not for everyone but I agree with other sentiments that people just kid themselves they're 'too cool' to enjoy it.
I did an eco safari trip to India 18 months ago and the others on the group were all very ' environmentally-aware' and 'PC' (they seemed to forget the fact that we had to FLY there!) and when I asked them about their families etc they all said that their kids were all gagging to go to WDW!
I really hope you have a fantastic trip next time and it goes some way to brushing all those bad memories under the carpet

 

[Kilted_Yank]

My name is Bill, and I am a hard-core Disney Commando, but I wasn't always.

I'd like to tell you my story:

In 1996, my wife and I were planning to go to Melbourne, Fl. to meet some friends for a weekend (we live in Virginia, near Washington, DC). Susan had some passes for Typhoon Lagoon so we planned a really short trip to Orlando to use them and to see what else we could see.

I have to tell you that I was less than thrilled about any Disney aspect to our trip. My thoughts were in line with most Disney-Haters: "This is just a colorful way to separate stupid people from their money", "I'd rather make MY OWN fun, rather than having the fun someone else wants me to have" etc... etc... etc...

So we went to TL and to DownTown Disney. I was not the best companion and Susan let me know about it.

The following year, Susan suggested that we go again, because she was sure I'd like it if I gave it a chance. By this time we had been married almost two years and if I had learned anything in that period, it is that my wife is one of the smartest people ever. So... we made plans to go to wdw!

I decided that I was going to "give myself permission" to have a really good time, and just enjoy whatever we did in the spirit in which it was meant to be experienced.

As soon as we entered the MK, I bought a set of Mickey ears, and that was it.

I have been addicted ever since.

We went again in 1998, adding a week at Longboat Key for some time on the Gulf side of Fl., while Susan was pregnant (but not hugely so) with Olivia.

We went again in 1999 (twice)

and in 2000 (twice... I had to get a PT job at the Disney store to be able to feed the family habit)

er... and in 2001 (twice)

Well, you get the picture... in 2004 we bought into the Hilton Grand Vacation Club because we knew that wdw was always going to be our vacation of choice (followed closely by Williamsburg, Virginia).

What did it for me?

The texture of the place. There isn't just a thin veneer of happiness and cheer... there is a depth that has to be experienced to be understood.

This is particularly important to me, as I am exceptionally detail oriented when it comes to many things. To see the incredible thought processes that went into not only the designs, but also the engineering of the roads, the resorts, the efficiency of hiding all the restrooms, the cleanliness of the parks, the locations of the trash recepticles, the water features, the use of infectious music... the tangibility of the place. It was overwhelming.

As I said, I am detail oriented, and I really love seeing anything done particularly well. Well, my friends, Disney did it for me... the place was/is efficiently run. Clean, bright, and loads of fun.

Try to get your friends to give Disney a chance. Ask them to allow themselves to EXPERIENCE the place instead of just passing through. Tell them it is ok to play, if they want to.

Going to Disney allows me to spend concentrated time with my family (and friends) in an atmosphere of joy that is outside of our day-to-day lives.

Let your friends know that it is alright for intellectuals to have fun that doesn't include watching C-Span or the Discovery Channel, or going to the local Shakespear Society meeting.

Tell your friends to let their hair down (so to speak). You will be guiding them through the happiest place on earth. All they have to do is ALLOW themselves to enjoy it.

To paraphrase Rafael Sabatini, they can only themselves if they go home empty-handed.

Then again... if they are people that just don't like being around Americans, it is a non-starter.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[carolfoy]

I decided that I was going to "give myself permission" to have a really good time, and just enjoy whatever we did in the spirit in which it was meant to be experienced.

As soon as we entered the MK, I bought a set of Mickey ears, and that was it.

I have been addicted ever since.

What did it for me?

The texture of the place. There isn't just a thin veneer of happiness and cheer... there is a depth that has to be experienced to be understood.

This is particularly important to me, as I am exceptionally detail oriented when it comes to many things. To see the incredible thought processes that went into not only the designs, but also the engineering of the roads, the resorts, the efficiency of hiding all the restrooms, the cleanliness of the parks, the locations of the trash recepticles, the water features, the use of infectious music... the tangibility of the place. It was overwhelming.

As I said, I am detail oriented, and I really love seeing anything done particularly well. Well, my friends, Disney did it for me... the place was/is efficiently run. Clean, bright, and loads of fun.

Going to Disney allows me to spend concentrated time with my family (and friends) in an atmosphere of joy that is outside of our day-to-day lives.

Let your friends know that it is alright for intellectuals to have fun that doesn't include watching C-Span or the Discovery Channel, or going to the local Shakespear Society meeting.

Tell your friends to let their hair down (so to speak). You will be guiding them through the happiest place on earth. All they have to do is ALLOW themselves to enjoy it.

To paraphrase Rafael Sabatini, they can only themselves if they go home empty-handed.

Then again... if they are people that just don't like being around Americans, it is a non-starter.

Cheers,

Bill

very well said Bill, I am totally in love with the detail of disney too, theres just soooo much effort in every little thing, we were lucky enough to be the last ones out of MK on a night last year and as we were leaving we were amazed by the hundreds of workfolk who were emerging from their underground tunnels to immediately start repainting, cleaning windows etc, a CM just looked at us and said 'yep, before you ask it happens EVERY night' where else in the world would even bother?

 

[Queenie]

WDW and Orlando are about as far apart from one another as it's possible to be!

My sister went in 2004 with her partner, 1 year old daughter and my mum. She hated it, refused to pose in any pics with her daughter becuase it was too "childish" - to be honest I don't know why they went. They're planning on going again but only for their daughter's sake. They honestly and genuinely prefer Alton Towers and weekends camping in the Lake District and North Wales. Nutters!

 

[Gillsfan]

What did it for me?

The texture of the place. There isn't just a thin veneer of happiness and cheer... there is a depth that has to be experienced to be understood.

For me, this sums up WDW very, very well.

On the surface, and to most adults its all commercial money spinning tack. But If you stop and allow yourself to enjoy it, then you will be hooked!

Roll on OCT 07!

Ohh and... Angel659 xxxx

 

[angel659]

For me, this sums up WDW very, very well.

On the surface, and to most adults its all commercial money spinning tack. But If you stop and allow yourself to enjoy it, then you will be hooked!

Roll on OCT 07!

Ohh and... Angel659 xxxx

You'll give it away were married

Cant say I agree with commercial money spinning tack though hun. I absoloutly love all the merchandise hence why we have a mickey mouse telelphone, mickey mouse toaster and disney tunes on my mobile

 

[angel659]

Thanks for your comments, everyone. It certainly was not the impression I had received from reading these boards, so I was confused!

I don't mind the odd tacky area, we can avoid those, I guess it was the drunken English gangs of lads that 'Blackpool' conjures up for me, that had me worried! (Found in many Med. resorts, not just Blackpool!)

The kids will certainly be coming along!! We have just back from DLP and have caught the Disney bug!!

Michelle

Well have to say I have never ever seen drunken lads in Orlando. You can expect that in med unfortunately. Either for cheap holidays for groups to go to and its been ruined by 18-30 clubs etc.... All there is to do really in my eyes and I could be wrong is sunbathing, little sight seeing, pubs, pubs, pubs.

In Orlando it really is the happiest place on earth. You can really let your hair down and enjoy it. Seeing the kids faces is great. I love it. My parents are anti-american which I find is totally insance just because his company was taken over by an American Company and those employers are lets just say not his best friend. So he has now presumed that all Americans are the same. He has now decided that he no longer wants to go to America. The funny thing is he loved WDW before he came boring and his company has been taken over. I feel its more because my parents have joined a group and they do not want to look tacky. Everything has to be prim and proper. I dont know. My dad is not dumb far from it with a Masters Degree. He has somewhat changed. I know for a fact if he went and let his hair down he will love it and remember why he loved a few years back. I think its a shame. People can be so narrow minded. A part I also believe my parents are jelous, hence why they slate Orlando everytime I mention the place.

Moral of my ever so long story is some people slate Orlando mostly due to jelously. Please ignore those silly comments. Have fun.