Little upset at the NYTimes....

[sheryl0521]

The article below actually states that as a WDW guest, you can use your parking pass to park at the Beach Club & BCV and walk to Epcot through the International Gateway. I do know that this happens often, but to publish it in the NYTimes?

This bothers me a bit, how about you?

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/28/travel/escapes/28HOUR.html

 

[dianeschlicht]

Send it along to someone at DVC and see if they will set the paper straight.

 

[PamOKW]

I was a little shocked to read that "hint" myself this weekend. Once it's out there, it's too late to do much about it. The only thing WDW can do is to enforce their parking policy.

The whole tone of the article was disappointing. The premise was "having to do WDW" to please your children even though you'd much rather be somewhere else like South Beach. and to do it as quick and dirty as possible -- even totally skipping certain areas and parks.

 

[garylpn]

prior to dvc we used to occasionally drive from fw campground over to some resorts such as bc or akl to eat, gate house always issued us a 4 hr parking pass with prominent date and time shown and we always placed it in our window as instructed
has anyone ever heard of wdw ticketing and or towing cars not showing these permits or cars over their time limit?

 

[canda]

The NY times has to issue more retractions and mistakes than any other newspaper. Any other paper that would "on pupose" print as many mistakes, lies, and fabrications as they do would be considered a super market tabloid.

AS for the tone, an elite reporter for the times would rather be at south beach and would feel that being at WDW with all the "common peasants"is a burden. It is further proof of how out of touch the media is getting with the public.

 

[Pa@okw95]

One of the few perks left for DVC members is to valet park at other DVC resorts for free. I usually use BWV but have used BCV to valet park to go to EPCOT. I don't think others should be allowed in the front gate unless they have a reservation at a restaurant of some kind. Pool hopping is something I would never do, so this is the only perk left for me. I would be upset if others caused me not to be able to use this perk.

 

[mhochman]

DW and I both felt that the article is very negative. It has an incredibly cynical tone to it. One point that really bothered me was something along the lines of: "your kids only know what you tell them, so don't tell them about Mickey Toontown". Well, if that's what would make one's kids happiest....

Leaving out MGM, the park that has arguably the two most popular attractions at WDW, is another interesting twist to the article.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by PamOKW
...The whole tone of the article was disappointing. The premise was "having to do WDW" to please your children even though you'd much rather be somewhere else like South Beach. and to do it as quick and dirty as possible -- even totally skipping certain areas and parks.

Notably, my DS and her hubby are regular NYT readers (I enjoy it at work frequently too), and really do share the attitude of that travel writer who wrote the article in question. DS keeps hinting that my 9 yr old niece would love to come on vacation with our family instead of her own; they have a penchant for 7 hour nature hikes when on vacation, while DN prefers a nice resort with a pool. That way my niece could go to WDW and the rest of DS's family wouldn't have to "suffer thru it". Now even tho I'd love to take those kind of hikes, I would not foist it on a 9 yr old (and since our DS is wheelchair bound, it would not be a realistic possibility anyway); and puh-lease: "suffer thru"? Gimme a break. There are certain things you do for your children and this is one of them; and you just might enjoy it yourself, thank you very much. BIL was something of a spoiled child, and he seems to inflict his preferences (and neuroses) on his children, and the older daughter is becoming as picky and insufferable as her father; the younger one is something od a black sheep in her family, and wants to do some more normal childhood things. I just need to convince DW that my niece could help more than hinder us on vacation; maybe in a couple of years... Hmmm, I'm on a rant here. I had better finish up.

Anyways, the point is, there are folks among us who do not share our love of the Mouse and WDW, and all we can do is pity them, and hope that they do not deprive their children of the chance to enjoy a truly special experience. So in many ways, I think this article may do some service, and allow some kids with parents as selfish as my BIL to enjoy WDW, even if just for a little while.

 

[Disney Doll]

I thin parking at the BW for folks who want to walk the BW shouldn't be a problem. I mean, the boardwalk is sort of an attraction in itself, with the shops, restaurants, entertainment etc. However, to give people the hint to go to the BW or BC to park to walk to Epcot is a little much!

As far as the NYT in general, I have always felt that the paper had a holier than thou attitude about many things.

 

[chainkid]

New York Times has become so unreliable in its sourcing material that it is probably only fit for the bottom of a bird cage.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

My impression of that article is that the author was forced to go for some reason. She seemed to focus more on the food than anything else. There is nothing saying a family has to go to Disney. If you want to go to South Beach then go there. It is unfortunate she pointed out the back way into Epcot but as long as there is as much shopping and dining at BWV as there is that back entrance will remain. Of course Disney could discourage people by requiring the parking be validated by a restaurant.

 

[LakeAriel]

The NY Times and the Washington Post are the only newspapers where you can find out what is actually going on in our country and around the world. The lies are coming out of the White House, not originating in the press! As far as people not enjoying Disney there are some poor souls that don't! My daughter and son in law were downers on our trip. I took my granddaughter by myself with another daughter and we had a ball! So if you are more interested in South Beach for yourself, remember this. Your children will be grown and gone before you know it. This is their moment! Go to South Beach before you have kids and when they are grown. Or do both.

 

[trishy]

Of course Disney could discourage people by requiring the parking be validated by a restaurant.

Excellent! Should be suggested to the "suits" at DVC with a copy of that article.

 

[KNWVIKING]

..... there really isn't anything wrong with doing this. The resorts restaurants, as well as the entire boardwalk complex, are open to the general public for business, you do not need to be a resort guest. Showing a PS at the gate wouldn't help, as most restaurants accept walk-ins. Maybe the valet parking charge was an attempt to stop the freeloaders. The only other answer would be an additional parking lot- a remote one- for those customers that do not have a resort parking pass in their windshield.

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by LakeAriel
The NY Times and the Washington Post are the only newspapers where you can find out what is actually going on in our country and around the world.

Puh-leeze! They just published another round of retractions and apologies, thise time for their prewar WMD reporting. And in any case, to say that the NYT is the only newspaper where you can find out what's going on in the rest of the country is pretty far fetched. Believe me, out here in the flyover states life is pretty different than what you read in the NYT.

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
..... there really isn't anything wrong with doing this. The resorts restaurants, as well as the entire boardwalk complex, are open to the general public for business, you do not need to be a resort guest. Showing a PS at the gate wouldn't help, as most restaurants accept walk-ins. Maybe the valet parking charge was an attempt to stop the freeloaders. The only other answer would be an additional parking lot- a remote one- for those customers that do not have a resort parking pass in their windshield.

Or solve the problem the way they have at the Poly, GF and CR - which is to say that non-hotel guests get a time limited pass of two hours. Then tow after two.

Now, its easy to spend more than two hours at the BW at night - with Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance. So two hours during the day (which should be plenty of time to have breakfast at Spoodles or lunch at Big River and even do a little shopping). Maybe three hours after five PM (which would make early diners move their car to catch Illuminations - and allow people staying at the BW leaving AK at 6:00 some chance to park - but still give people a chance to catch some entertainment with dinner). And four hours after 8:00 or 9:00 pm - once Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance open.

 

[RumpleMom]

I think parking would be harder to monitor at the Boardwalk because it is an entertainment destination, more so than the Poly. As far as NYT and Washington Post, their liberal bias is glaring daily.

 

[JohnNJ]

Originally posted by crisi
Or solve the problem the way they have at the Poly, GF and CR - which is to say that non-hotel guests get a time limited pass of two hours. Then tow after two.

There is no time limit if you use valet parking.

 

[grimgrinnin]

Originally posted by LakeAriel
The NY Times and the Washington Post are the only newspapers where you can find out what is actually going on in our country and around the world.

ROFL!

That is just about the funniest thing I've ever heard. I hope to goodness you were being sarcastic.


grim

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by JohnNJ
There is no time limit if you use valet parking.

No, but I don't think people are using valet parking to save money/time parking at the BW and going to Epcot. And, to the best of my knowledge, people are not abusing valet parking. (If they do, I'm sure Disney will add a time limit to that).