Preconceived ideas about America/Disney

[Frances999]

Whilst I agree there are also benefits of living here compared to the USA, I disagree about the health care situation. In my opinion the NHS is a mess - and it isn't really free as we pay for it in our ridiculous taxation rates. Personally, I would much prefer a similar system to the USA with regards to the health care.

The sales tax rates in the USA are much more favourable when compared to our 17.5%.

Housing, generally, is cheaper and of higher quality.

However, I prefer the character and history of the UK. The diversity of our cities and coastline. The compactness and easy access to many great countries. The monarchy.

The UK and USA are both great countries - both with positive and negative points. We are lucky to be here

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I do not think that one country is better than another, it is more of a difference in natural resources etc. What works for one might not for another. It is a very good idea to investigate different ideas and see if they are adaptable sometimes though.

If we do not like how our governments are run we could change things. Rebel. Worked for us. LOL

Sounds as if I might have to save up a few extra bucks for my upcoming trip though. Guess I am lucky to have a free place to stay though.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[Miffy2003]

Linda - I wish you a wonderful trip over here in July

 

[Queenie]

I think my lasting memory from my first trip to the US was the size of everything. I first went to America on a school trip when I was 14 and we flew into Newark. The coach ride into NYC was something I'll never forget, as was the size of the burger I ate that evening! For WDW, I'm always at the adverts by the roads, the ones with moving bits especially. They're wonderful to look at as you drive along.

I have to say both the Hall of Presidents and the American Adventure make me smile to myself in the way all the bad bits are glossed over but of course we would do the same here. It does sadden me that the UK could never do something like that - unfortunately it seems being patariotic about Britain, especially England is now associated with either football hooliganism or extremist right wing politics, neither of which I agree with! If England tried to make a patriotic film like that, the makers would probably end up being exhiled from decent society by the same people who claim that Christmas celebrations should be banned as it offends people of other religions - even though we are a Christian country.

As for the NHS, it is a mess. I went to my doctor about something this summer and she wanted me to have an ultrasound up at the hospital. I'm having it done in two weeks - here's hoping there's nothing seriously wrong or it may now be much worse! Scott is an NHS accountant and is permanently stressed from work. I see it from the inside and can tell you that everyone who actually works for thr NHS works their butts off trying to make it better. Unfortunately it seems to be a losong battle.

Rant over!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Queenie, I laugh at the American Adventure too because of its revisionist approach. Most people try to make themselves look better than they are and I guess countries are the same. What you say about what some would say if your government tried to gloss over things applies here as well.

Ouch, I hope they got you in time and can figure out and cure you. As long as you have insurance and or money you can get seen quickly here. Not necessarily correctly. Seems that if you have insurance/money you are offered a lot of stuff that you might really need too.

Miffy, thank you for your kind welcome. I hope you are shown as nice a welcome when you wander over the waters here also.

Slightly Goofy

 

[SammieG]

the thing that shocked me the most about being in the USA is how clean the toilets are and how they all seem to work! (Compare that with a visit to Alton Towers!!)

mind you over the last 8 years I have seen a decline in this area in Disney..
still, we fly back into Gatwick and use the bathrooms there.. and.. you KNOW you are back in England.. yuk!!

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

Large people...and I don't mean tall!

I was amazed at how many fat people there were. You'd see families of very fat parents with their very fat children that were squeezed into buggies to save them from walking...

...and conversely, women with perfect figures and men with the perfect "V" shaped body. Where are the "normal" people, you know, the slightly over weight or slightly skinny.

OK, a bit of a general statement, but these people did seem to "jump" into your vision.

 

[Queenie]

Large people...and I don't mean tall!

I was amazed at how many fat people there were. You'd see families of very fat parents with their very fat children that were squeezed into buggies to save them from walking...

...and conversely, women with perfect figures and men with the perfect "V" shaped body. Where are the "normal" people, you know, the slightly over weight or slightly skinny.

OK, a bit of a general statement, but these people did seem to "jump" into your vision.

I know what you mean, it does seem to be one extreme or the other out there! I went on the single riders line at Test Track one day and ended up between two of the largest people I'd ever seen. It took the gentleman until we reached the seatbelt check to even FIND the bit to clip it into under all the layers of flab! Urgh!

 

[basas]

I would have to agree with several of the posts in this thread already. I've found from my visits to the UK:

--> Heathrow is a dump (LOL... i was actually expecting some huge airport thing so it was kind of disappointing!)
--> Generally Service and 'Friendlyness' wasn't as good as here in NA, but still above France
--> Fast-food was absolutely horrendous (including BMI's sandwiches!)
--> Don't think i could ever drive over there...the signs, the 'wrong side of the road', and the round-abouts and the street system just seemed insane! Thank goodness for those 'look left, look right' markings in London or i certainly would have been in trouble!
--> Was slightly surprised that alot of things looked 'run-down', and many places were also very dirty (really noticed how clean it was back here apon my return)...

Sorry if it seemed slightly negative...there was alot of good about it too. Overall it was just really neat to see everything so compact. Our cities here are very spread out compared to over there (and i do like alot of space)...oh, and they talk funny there too

Wouldn't hesitate to go back though

 

[SammieG]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Bruvofetc
Large people...and I don't mean tall!

I was amazed at how many fat people there were. You'd see families of very fat parents with their very fat children that were squeezed into buggies to save them from walking...

...and conversely, women with perfect figures and men with the perfect "V" shaped body. Where are the "normal" people, you know, the slightly over weight or slightly skinny.

OK, a bit of a general statement, but these people did seem to "jump" into your vision.


Queenie wrote:
I know what you mean, it does seem to be one extreme or the other out there! I went on the single riders line at Test Track one day and ended up between two of the largest people I'd ever seen. It took the gentleman until we reached the seatbelt check to even FIND the bit to clip it into under all the layers of flab! Urgh!

wow - Im kind of SHOCKED by these comments!!

any other personal comments we want to make about the Americans!?

People of all shapes and sizes go to WdW... do we have to say URGH about them?

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

It is very true that many Americans are large. I am one of them. We have more than we need and tend to drive from one place to another rather than walk, partly because we have a lot more room to move around in. Not that is perfect to be overweight but since we are human that is what we deal with. I do not smoke, drink, hardly ever cuss and have taught at least two generations of children to read and want to explore the world and accept people from everywhere. In short, I am far more than the sum of my "parts".

I used to hate myself for being fat so I can forgive others who might feel the same but I will give you the wisdom I have learned from my journey toward being 'perfect". I used to avoid skinny people just assuming that they would not like me. I have found out that I missed out on a whole lot because of my being 'bigoted". I have lots of friends, skinny and otherwise now because I have learned to judge people by their hearts rather than their exterior.

It seems to me that most everybody has some sort of problem that they need to work on. I have been dieting, like crazy, for about two years and am still very large. I am working on my problems.

That is part of why I love Disney World. I can ride most rides and meet very nice people who seem to respond to my smile rather than judge me only by my size.

IMO, it is not just an American problem. Some people are just more judgmental than others. I tend to avoid them. However that being said I always give everyone a chance, everyone.

Slightly Goofy (who gives a great big fluffy hug to you ALL)

 

[Dicky Knee]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Bruvofetc
Large people...and I don't mean tall!

I was amazed at how many fat people there were. You'd see families of very fat parents with their very fat children that were squeezed into buggies to save them from walking...

...and conversely, women with perfect figures and men with the perfect "V" shaped body. Where are the "normal" people, you know, the slightly over weight or slightly skinny.

OK, a bit of a general statement, but these people did seem to "jump" into your vision.


Queenie wrote:
I know what you mean, it does seem to be one extreme or the other out there! I went on the single riders line at Test Track one day and ended up between two of the largest people I'd ever seen. It took the gentleman until we reached the seatbelt check to even FIND the bit to clip it into under all the layers of flab! Urgh!

wow - Im kind of SHOCKED by these comments!!

any other personal comments we want to make about the Americans!?

People of all shapes and sizes go to WdW... do we have to say URGH about them?

I think this is an observation, not a personal comment against Americans. There are people of different shapes and sizes, colours and creeds all over the planet. It's just that certain "types" appear more visible than others. For example, a friend of mine recently visited a very religious muslim country and one of the things he noticed was how the women were all covered except for their eyes...not a personal comment against the muslim faith, just a simple observation.

 

[Dicky Knee]

I would have to agree with several of the posts in this thread already. I've found from my visits to the UK:

--> Heathrow is a dump (LOL... i was actually expecting some huge airport thing so it was kind of disappointing!)
--> Generally Service and 'Friendlyness' wasn't as good as here in NA, but still above France
--> Fast-food was absolutely horrendous (including BMI's sandwiches!)
--> Don't think i could ever drive over there...the signs, the 'wrong side of the road', and the round-abouts and the street system just seemed insane! Thank goodness for those 'look left, look right' markings in London or i certainly would have been in trouble!
--> Was slightly surprised that alot of things looked 'run-down', and many places were also very dirty (really noticed how clean it was back here apon my return)...


Sorry if it seemed slightly negative...there was alot of good about it too. Overall it was just really neat to see everything so compact. Our cities here are very spread out compared to over there (and i do like alot of space)...oh, and they talk funny there too

Wouldn't hesitate to go back though

Aaah! Yes, Winnipeg. The city where the roads are cracked and full of potholes and the telephone line posts are all at different angles. The tiny provincial airport, if you blink you may miss it. Flat!! You just don't know how flat a place can be. Mind you, you do have Stoney Mountain, the 200 foot high pimple with the state penitentiary on the top. The "Forks" are nice, but once you've had a couple of beers there, there's not much else to do.

You do have a bear, named after a bear at London Zoo, named after you though......

....Winnie the Pooh,
Winnie the Pooh.

 

[SammieG]

I think this is an observation, not a personal comment against Americans. There are people of different shapes and sizes, colours and creeds all over the planet. It's just that certain "types" appear more visible than others. For example, a friend of mine recently visited a very religious muslim country and one of the things he noticed was how the women were all covered except for their eyes...not a personal comment against the muslim faith, just a simple observation.

I think if the word "Urgh!" is used, then it is more than an observation.

Using your example... if the words "urgh!" had been written in connection with muslims - would that have been ok? What about disabled people? Or British people?

Observations are fine - no one objects to that, but when its derogatory then I think thats a step too far.

I didnt like the family of fat people comment in the first post and the second one was outrageous!

 

[Tink78]

For me, it was also the size of everything, but also how friendly everyone was.
I really hated going shopping when I got home as I couldn't believe how rude most shop staff were in the UK compaired to Orlando.
But after a while you get used to how we are over here, but I love going back and going shopping round WDW.
The staff always want to chat with you.

 

[Dicky Knee]

I think if the word "Urgh!" is used, then it is more than an observation.

Using your example... if the words "urgh!" had been written in connection with muslims - would that have been ok? What about disabled people? Or British people?

Observations are fine - no one objects to that, but when its derogatory then I think thats a step too far.

I didnt like the family of fat people comment in the first post and the second one was outrageous!

I agree with you with regards to the word "Urgh!". Unfortunately, I only intended to pick up Richard's quote.

However, if you read Richard's quote, it is an observation. He refers to "families" not a "family". He doesn't even refer to them as american. He also balances the statement with the amount of "perfect" people as well. Finally he points out that it is a general statement and its the "differences" that you see.

I also see you are not offended by "perfect" people. As a parent of a normal 12 year old daughter it concerns me that magazines etc portray men and women with the "in your face" perfect shape....but that's another story.

 

[malibuconlee]

Just wanted to subscribe because I think this is a really neat thread.

 

[basas]

Aaah! Yes, Winnipeg. The city where the roads are cracked and full of potholes and the telephone line posts are all at different angles. The tiny provincial airport, if you blink you may miss it. Flat!! You just don't know how flat a place can be. Mind you, you do have Stoney Mountain, the 200 foot high pimple with the state penitentiary on the top. The "Forks" are nice, but once you've had a couple of beers there, there's not much else to do.

You do have a bear, named after a bear at London Zoo, named after you though......

....Winnie the Pooh,
Winnie the Pooh.

LOL! Have you been here? It really is a dump, isn't it? Yep...welcome to the Canadian Prairies! We are getting a new airport terminal expected to open in 2009 so start planning your return visit!

 

[Dicky Knee]

LOL! Have you been here? It really is a dump, isn't it? Yep...welcome to the Canadian Prairies! We are getting a new airport terminal expected to open in 2009 so start planning your return visit!

I used to visit a lot a few years ago with my company. We had a major subcontractor there, Bristol Aerospace Ltd (now Magellan) at Berry Road(?). Had many a good time in the bars, Japanese restaurant, Steakhouses etc. Used to stay in the Lombard and Crowne Plaza.

 

[mandymouse]

What I love about America and the American people is how friendly everyone is, I think it's great when they ask you to speak just so they can hear our accents, and how they say 'Your welcome' all the time, and how clean everywhere is and finally I also love the food portion size, my face must light up when I see a huge dessert coming towards me and I'm thinking 'I'll never get through that !!' (but I usually do )