Thanks to Kevin for the Positive Outlook!

[8lovesmickey]

So I'm a little behind and just finished listening to the latest DisBoards version of the podcast. I wanted to thank Kevin for his positive outlook, specifically related to the discussion regarding disappointing rides / restaurants / etc. His point that it's possible to find a negative review of everything if you look hard enough is well taken - as is his point about refusing to let others' opinions be your only basis for making decisions. Just because someone else doesn't like Dumbo / Crystal Palace / All-Star Sports (or whatever!) doesn't mean you won't like it.

I understand that opinions make for lively discussions, but I also know that most people in the world would give anything to experience WDW and all it has to offer, and I think it's good to remember that once in a while, too.

Thanks, Kevin (and the rest of the team!) for reminding us to think for ourselves. And as a somewhat-related aside, I saw a great bumper sticker yesterday: Wag more, Bark less. Wouldn't that be great?!

 

[DisneyKevin]

I'm always amazed when I get angry emails because I didnt like a certain restaurant.

It's an opinion folks.....agree, disagree....it's all up to you.

 

[lodgelady]

Anyone who has been around the boards for even a short time, knows that everyone has a valid, yet varied opinion.
If you weigh all opinions the same way and do not factor in that people's tastes always differ on EVERYTHING, you will become discouraged from trying new experiences. Listen to others, then go and form your own opinion!
I do appreciate Kevin's reviews and Pete's rants because they challenge Disney to do what we all know they are capable of. They are our consumer advocates! This is good for us, and good for Disney. Hopefully they keep WDW management informed of their weakest links. Thanks Podcast team for not being afraid to say you love what is great about Disney too much to let mediocrity ruin it. You Rock!!

 

[Disney Anna]

I just hurt this podcast discussion today also. Ironically as I was on my way to hear a complaint from a disgruntled employee-but I digress.

I thought this was discussion was right on and that lodgelady hit it on the head - an opinion is an opinion is an opinion. And the purpose of the podcast is to review and critique. This is their job. They go to the parks, etc., experience it for those of us who can't, and then relay information (their opinion) back to us.

I also thought the discussion on what attractions are disappointing was good. As was said, I don't think anything is really disappointing. The attractions are just different. Whoever said a day at Disney ebbs and flows was right on. THat is a great way to put it. It's like a smorgasborg - a little Space Mtn, then a bit of Dumbo, mix in the Dapper Dan's, have a muffin on Main Street. IT'S ALL GOOD PEOPLE!!!

 

[mainegal]

Totally agree - why take the time to bother to be disappointed?

I will see at least 24 films at a film festival this week. Some I am pretty sure I will like, some I am taking a chance. I know at the end of the festival some will come out on top as favorites. But nothing in the experience of viewing diverse films from different countries, feature films and documentaries, will be a disappointment.

 

[dmccarty]

I'm always amazed when I get angry emails because I didnt like a certain restaurant.

It's an opinion folks.....agree, disagree....it's all up to you.

The DW and I love the California Grill. It is a place we HAVE to visit every trip. Our first trips to WDW as a couple were spent at CR and CG. Staying at CR has been a long time dream of mine since I was a kid on the monorail riding through the CR. I told myself that one day I would stay at CR. The open space in the CR is still awesome to me. I never tire of seeing it. It took a couple of decades before I could afford a stay at CR but it was worth the wait. We ate at CG ever night on the two visits except one night when Eisner bought out the restaurant for one evening. At the time we were late risers so we ate late. On our first trip we had NO ADRs for CG but we got a seat at the Sushi bar with Yoshi since we ate late.

We would close the CG. Since we were there late, the staff had time to talk to us. And after seeing us night after night they would come over and chat so we got to know them a bit. The cooks would give us different things to try off the menu. Yoshi would make us what we wanted and it was so good we would over eat. Then they were giving us samples. The good thing was we were staying at CR and did not have to drive "home". The bad thing is we were not staying in the tower but in the building that used to be were BLT was built. We needed someone to wheel us back to our room.

The reason I bring this up is that we found one particular server that we like at CG. This was back in the late 90's and that server is still at CG as of our last trip. We always ask if she is working and can we get a table in her section. We have been lucky enough to have her as our server every year. But we don't always get her for every visit....

A few trips back we ate at CG one evening and had the usual excellent meal. There was one particular appetizer that was outstanding. VERY good. We went back to the CG the next evening and I had to have the appetizer again. I was telling my dad how good it was and that he had to try it....

Well we did and it was good but nothing like it was the night before. Different oysters? Different seasoning? Who knows.

The first meal in which I had the most excellent oysters we managed to get our favorite server. The second trip with my father we had a different server. He was not bad by any means but he somehow did not click with us for whatever reason. Did it ruin the meal? Nope. But it did knock it down a bit.

Point being that any place or dish can vary from day to day, server to server, cook to cook.

A Kevin or DISBoarder review are interesting to read or hear. But what makes them most useful is when the review is of a meal that is a disaster. THAT is something to pay attention too. Shudders is a perfect example. On our last trip on our last day I was sick. It hit me at EPOCT and went back to the resort at lunch time. The family decided to have lunch at.....

Coral Reef.

If I had been there I would have told them so things.

They ordered....

The Crab Cakes.... Errr. Crab Cake.

My dad wrote a letter to Disney complaining about the high price and scarcity of food.


Later,
Dan

 

[alaskanmommy]

I agree. I've spent a LOT of time, think years, researching a variety of topics here on the boards.

The most important think I have learned is to keep everything you read/hear in perspective. Take Kevin's recent Shutter's review: we ate there one stay and had pretty good food and service, not outstanding mind you but tasty and worth the money. In my personal opinion it's not the worst food I've had on property, but at the same time it's not on my list of ADR's either. It was a spontaneous dinner and they had room and we were staying at CBR. So either my DH and I ate there on a good night or John and Kevin ate there on a bad night or...........

If you look at the big picture what's so great about the boards is that it brings together all these different types of Disney fans and their likes/dislikes with them into one ginormous forum.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Exactly.

Kevin thinks bagels and lox are a match made in heaven.

Nikki, on the other hand.... -hurl-

 

[DisneyKevin]

Kevin thinks bagels and lox are a match made in heaven.

Not opinion....fact.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Point to a history book that says that please.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Point to a history book that says that please.

Oh Honey....

History books dont usually contain food references.

Those are called c o o k b o o k s.

Fact: You should wash your hands after touching raw chicken.

Now, you probably wont find that in a "history book", as it's not really history...now is it?

You'd find that information in a c o o k b o o k.

See the difference?

Ok...there goes my positive attitude. The OP might want to change the title of the thread.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

ROFL

Question...what about this then??

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Dining-History-Cooking-Eating/dp/0810919400

 

[Justin Jett]

FACT:

Nikkibell does not need forward-facing tentacles to appreciate the Peoplemover.

FACT:

The WEDway is the right way.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Skippy!!!! -thwap-

 

[disneyholic family]

i'm still in the US, so i haven't been on the boards at all (while i've been doing my part for the detroit economy - powershoppig until i drop from exhaustion every day)..

anyway, i did hear the podcast about disappointing rides and i meant to respond....

i don't recall what was said specifically, but do remember thinking - oh...i love that one ...i love that one....and on and on..

i remember specifically thinking that about the tiki room - we love that attraction.....we miss the original version (that still exists over in DL), but we like the new version too (try to stay behind at the end to hear the funny one liners as everyone is leaving)..

maybe we love it because of our memories of it from years ago.....it really was pretty special back in the 60's (the first time i saw it in DL)...or maybe we love it because my dad fell in love with it the first time we saw it in 1974 in WDW and that's one of our fond memories of him (he died 13 years ago)....or whatever....we do love it...
but it doesn't bother me that other people don't...
that's what's great at WDW - something for everyone..

and we LOVE the wedway peoplemover (and the commuter computer and the TTA)..

and we love journey into imagination (or whatever it's called - though we loved the original a LOT more....and the guide on one of our tours claimed that we don't see much of figment anymore other than in that attraction because it's not owned by disney - it's owned by kodak....don't know if that's true or not)..

and what other stupid attractions do we love...

carousel of progress...a must do for us each trip...(possibly also because of fond memories)..

and tom sawyer island - definitely another favorite of ours..

and we miss Mr. Toad and Horizons and World of Motion and Cranium Command and Hunchback of Notre Dame and on and on and on and on and on....

i could go on and on....probably name any attraction people make fun of and my family loves it

oh and we absolutely ADORE Animal Kingdom....just walking into the park i start to smile, it's soooooo beautiful....i could just walk around there without going on anything and be happy....
and when i go, i sometimes just go to see Nemo and nothing else other than walk around and enjoy the beauty of the landscaping...call me crazy....

 

[disneyholic family]

and one more thing i should add - i LOVE the podcasters!!! i loved them before i had the good fortune of meeting them a few weeks ago....such nice people....i expected them to be nice from listening to them on the podcasts, but they're even nicer than that in person!!!!!!.....

isn't life grand!!!!!!