The Disney Elitist Attitude

[Mango7100]

Just here to say Dollywood has amazing coasters. One of them is one of the best in the country. And it's stunning. And peaceful.

And fast becoming a hipster haven, so you will need to adjust your demographic.

We live near Dollywood and agree it is amazing considering It’s considered a second tier park. Is it like WDW? Of course not. But our season passes were about $450 for a family of three—we get free parking, 20% off all food and souvenirs and got 9 bring a friend free tickets. Can’t beat that.

 

[Lizgistix]

I've heard great things about the food at Dollywood!
Not having a car, or not wanting to rent a car, limits what you can/cannot do on vacation, since Busch Gardens is about an hour and change down the road in Tampa. Great for thrill seekers in the family. Sure, their Howl-o-Scream isn't as polished as Halloween Horror Nights, but some feel that adds to the scariness.

I've seen the elitist attitude online more than in the park, but it's probably because I'm not paying attention to other people in the park unless they're being obnoxious. I have met some very nice people while riding the Skyliner, though.

 

[tex1989]

We have been going since 1989 and still enjoy our trips a lot. Now it is just the wife and I and we are both 60 years old. We have annual passes and go about three times a year. As far as the elitists go that has been there for years. My most vivid example was when we did the dining option with Fantasmic. At the time you entered a backstage area near the front of the park that lead you down a walkway to your preferred seating. It was me, my wife and our two kids. We had plenty of time to get to the show because it was ridiculously early. As we were leisurly strolling down the path a family of five came rushing up behind us, passed us and as they did the Mother said "we need to go ahead of you because we have reserved seating" Now we were able to verify when we got there that they were on the same plan we were and wound up with actually much better seating than her group. At some point my wife and I turned around looked back and waved to her. Man if looks could kill I would not be typing this today!

The other elitist attitude sadly comes from this forum a lot of the time. I read a lot more posts than I make and garner the information I need. I will not ask for information 99% of the time because instead of a simple answer you wind up with a lecture, followed by a fight between two confilcting answers and those posters taking the thread into a knowledge death match. Also many times answers here are based on posters personal preferences. Since every visitor to WDW has their own style and touring plans I don't need others do's and don'ts but you always get them. And finally I don't answer questions much because I seem to never answer them correctly. I actually got told I was wrong, did not know what I was talking about and could not do something by another poster after telling someone what my wife and I had actually done it on a trip we had taken that year and then my Son and Daughter in law did the same thing on a trip with us 6 months later. Really didn't matter because the guru on the boards concerning the subject told me I was wrong so I must have been wrong in the eyes of everyone else even though I did it. Must have been a Magical Moment for us!

 

[BrianL]

It's really apples-to-oranges. No other parks anywhere, with maybe the exception of Universal, can be compared to the Disney parks. They can both be good experiences, for what they are and some may prefer one over another for their own tastes but it's kind of like comparing camping to going on a cruise. (And no, that doesn't imply camping is inferior - just very different.)

RIght, and this is a wedsite devoted to Disney's theme parks - it stands to reason that it's what we like best. There are websites out there for coaster afficianados and such, and there's nothing wrong with it at all. I like coaster parks and such just fine, but they offer something different than what Disney does. I don't really see the "elitism" here - at least in that regard.

 

[ronandannette]

RIght, and this is a wedsite devoted to Disney's theme parks - it stands to reason that it's what we like best. There are websites out there for coaster afficianados and such, and there's nothing wrong with it at all. I like coaster parks and such just fine, but they offer something different than what Disney does. I don't really see the "elitism" here - at least in that regard.

And truth be told, there are many of us here on the CB that are actually past our Disney-or-die stage and have moved on to prefer other types of (non-theme park) vacations. I don't visit the other boards here on the DIS too often anymore; maybe the "elitist" attitude is more prevalent on Trip Planning.

 

[manning]

I own DVC. Bought Beach Club at $ 65 a point and go every year to relax.

I Don't go to the parks. Maybe some times not very often. The quiet pool is great.

 

[Jrb1979]

I don't

And truth be told, there are many of us here on the CB that are actually past our Disney-or-die stage and have moved on to prefer other types of (non-theme park) vacations. I don't visit the other boards here on the DIS too often anymore; maybe the "elitist" attitude is more prevalent on Trip Planning.

I see the elitist attitude not that much on here just a couple of times. More so on other sites that have to do with theme parks. I have seen it a few times from Disney fans calling places like Cedar Point a park full of steel with no theming and a bunch of people screaming. IMO it feels like a lot don't give these other parks a chance and assume that they are all the same.

 

[ronandannette]

I don't see the elitist attitude not that much on here just a couple of times. More so on other sites that have to do with theme parks. I have seen it a few times from Disney fans calling places like Cedar Point a park full of steel with no theming and a bunch of people screaming. IMO it feels like a lot don't give these other parks a chance and assume that they are all the same.

I'm not really one for the "they should give it a chance" thing. Just go ahead and enjoy whatever you enjoy and don't worry about those who don't. My favorite post in this thread is:

I generally don’t give a flying fajita what other people think.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I've heard great things about the food at Dollywood!
Not having a car, or not wanting to rent a car, limits what you can/cannot do on vacation, since Busch Gardens is about an hour and change down the road in Tampa. Great for thrill seekers in the family. Sure, their Howl-o-Scream isn't as polished as Halloween Horror Nights, but some feel that adds to the scariness.

I've seen the elitist attitude online more than in the park, but it's probably because I'm not paying attention to other people in the park unless they're being obnoxious. I have met some very nice people while riding the Skyliner, though.

To be fair, the food at Dollywood is not great. It's mostly Kountry Kookin and they have some BBQ plus the usual burgers, hot dogs and pizza that everyone else does. Don't do the pizza. Just don't. The skillets have differing things every year. They've had Fajitas, sausages, cheesesteaks. It's usually good there. Nothing to write home about but good solid food at a fair price (by amusement park standards that is.) Over at Splash country though, the food is only food in the academic sense. It's filling. It won't kill you. It may have once had flavor. Dollywood's food is much better.

 

[YeOswaldianSociety]

I actually see the elitist attitude most on (Dis)Twitter. They see fit to hate everyone warranted or unwarranted. Everything is fodder for battle.. It’s entertaining until it’s not. I guess it simply depends on my mood. Such is the nature of tribalism I guess. Let us raise our fists to everyone in this community, we are all the problem! Honestly I’d rather be elitist about your terrible taste in music. :/

 

[tvguy]

I have noticed that ever since the shutdown happened the Disney Elitist Attitude has really come out online everywhere. Its been in the parks for awhile now too. Its the " I paid a lot of money for this vacation so I can do what I want" attitude. Where I see it online is how much people look down at other theme parks. I don't see it at other parks including Universal.

It hasn't always been there. I took my nieces to the parks about 6 years ago or so and never noticed it as much then. I went a couple of years and really noticed it. I have a 6 month old and an thinking of taking her next year. I know she would love the Magic but the elitist attitude is giving me second thoughts. I just want to know where it came from and why years ago you didn't see it as much.

I guess I am a Disney Elitist. No reason to go to any other park. I am also a Disney Snob. Made my first trip to WDW 3 years ago, see absolutely no reason to go back After 50+ years of DL, it just wasn't Disney to me. But that is also in line with the Disney family mindset that the Walt Disney Company has lost Walt's vision. Which is why the Walt Disney Family museum is not at any Disney park like the Disney company wanted. The family put it in San Francisco as a protest.

 

[Brett Wyman]

It isn't unique to Disney. Entitlement mentality is everywhere, and it can be quite ugly.

Correct. This is a reflection on the current, quite ugly and embarrassing, state of our nation. Not on Walt Disney World.

https://timesofsandiego.com/politic...t-masks-protest-lockdown-in-huntington-beach/
https://www.click2houston.com/news/...her-to-protest-harris-county-face-mask-order/

 

[nkereina]

Its the " I paid a lot of money for this vacation so I can do what I want" attitude.

The ones I consider elitist are the ones who look down on regional parks as low class.

I think you're describing two different things. The "I paid a lot of money for this vacation" stance is more of an entitlement issue. People who think since they paid SOOO much money for their Disney trip that they should be receiving X, Y and Z and will do X, Y or Z.

I haven't experienced many people who look down on other parks as low class. I think most people are astute enough to realize Disney parks are in a league of their own. But, I think that also indirectly leads to the entitlement factor. Since Disney parks are often placed on a pedestal and are considerably more expensive than other parks, people have much higher expectations out of the Disney product and service.

Then, a third category, would be the Disney apologists. Those who believe Disney can do no wrong and will justify all of their actions and decisions, always defend Disney, and don't look at anything from a practical or logical standpoint when it comes to Disney. That crosses over into an elitist mentality too.

 

[easyas123]

he other elitist attitude sadly comes from this forum a lot of the time. I read a lot more posts than I make and garner the information I need. I will not ask for information 99% of the time because instead of a simple answer you wind up with a lecture, followed by a fight between two confilcting answers and those posters taking the thread into a knowledge death match. Also many times answers here are based on posters personal preferences. Since every visitor to WDW has their own style and touring plans I don't need others do's and don'ts but you always get them. And finally I don't answer questions much because I seem to never answer them correctly. I actually got told I was wrong, did not know what I was talking about and could not do something by another poster after telling someone what my wife and I had actually done it on a trip we had taken that year and then my Son and Daughter in law did the same thing on a trip with us 6 months later. Really didn't matter because the guru on the boards concerning the subject told me I was wrong so I must have been wrong in the eyes of everyone else even though I did it. Must have been a Magical Moment for us!

Boy, you nailed it exactly!

 

[Jrb1979]

Where I really see the elitist attitude is the mask debate. I'm also on another theme park site that's not Disney and almost everyone is fine with wearing masks. They just want to get back to riding rides and the parks. Here it feels like masks are the end of the world and it takes to much away from the Disney bubble.

 

[Hikergirl]

Where I really see the elitist attitude is the mask debate. I'm also on another theme park site that's not Disney and almost everyone is fine with wearing masks. They just want to get back to riding rides and the parks. Here it feels like masks are the end of the world and it takes to much away from the Disney bubble.

For me it doesn't take away from the Disney "bubble" but it would take away from my overall vacation. I don't enjoy wearing a mask, as I'm sure many people don't. I'll wear them where they are mandatory and for short periods of time but I would never plan a vacation where I'd have to end up being in a mask for the majority of it. If that means I won't be vacationing at Disney this year, or even next then so be it.
I don't look at that as an elitist, it's just a preference on how I want to vacation.

 

[BrianL]

Where I really see the elitist attitude is the mask debate. I'm also on another theme park site that's not Disney and almost everyone is fine with wearing masks. They just want to get back to riding rides and the parks. Here it feels like masks are the end of the world and it takes to much away from the Disney bubble.

I think part of that is that Disney is based on "the show" with the setting being just as important as any ride. I don't have a problem with the CM's wearing masks as needed, but I'd have a hard time picturing a princess character doing so. That's why they are not doing meet & greets in Shanghai and th eprincesses can appear on balconies or other areas away from guests for photos. I think this is the proper way to handle it, though M&Gs aren't really important to me. To those for whom they are a big part of the experience, they are losing that aspec so I can see where it would be a downer. I would expect that they understand, but I'd also expect that they may reassess the value for their trip.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I have a unique perspective in that I have been going to Magic Mountain since before Six Flags bought it. The early days were fun - less crowded than Disney, though admittedly the rides were not as good - but - I would have picked it over DL every time. Fast forward, decades later, yes, I like the new rides and the massive number of roller coasters, but the crowd you will see at SFMM CAN BE (not always, but the norm), shall I say, not very courteous? Maintenance can also be an issue with ride capacity dictated by breakdowns rather than scheduled maintenance. DL is the opposite of that with crowds 90% of the time are very courteous and maintenance is first rate. It makes me sad that SFMM has changed so much over the years and I do miss the way things used to be. Knotts in may respects falls in the same category.

So yeah, I think everyone else's comparisons to dining are spot-on, but I'd also compare it to shopping at Walmart - if there was nobody there, I could look past the glaring florescent lights and so-so displays and get what I wanted - probably even enjoy the experience. That's not the case though, and I'm usually pretty irritated by the experience before I even get to the Walmart greeter.

 

[Jrb1979]

I have a unique perspective in that I have been going to Magic Mountain since before Six Flags bought it. The early days were fun - less crowded than Disney, though admittedly the rides were not as good - but - I would have picked it over DL every time. Fast forward, decades later, yes, I like the new rides and the massive number of roller coasters, but the crowd you will see at SFMM CAN BE (not always, but the norm), shall I say, not very courteous? Maintenance can also be an issue with ride capacity dictated by breakdowns rather than scheduled maintenance. DL is the opposite of that with crowds 90% of the time are very courteous and maintenance is first rate. It makes me sad that SFMM has changed so much over the years and I do miss the way things used to be. Knotts in may respects falls in the same category.

So yeah, I think everyone else's comparisons to dining are spot-on, but I'd also compare it to shopping at Walmart - if there was nobody there, I could look past the glaring florescent lights and so-so displays and get what I wanted - probably even enjoy the experience. That's not the case though, and I'm usually pretty irritated by the experience before I even get to the Walmart greeter.

I have had a Cedar Point pass for years and I have also been to many different parks the last few years. I don't see the attitude like you do in regards to Disney. I know at Disney theming, parades, fireworks and characters are a big deal. It does make Disney what it is.

Where I see the elitist attitude is that on most other sites most are accepting of physical distancing and masks as long as the rides are running. Other sites I have been too just want their parks back no matter what it looks like and are accepting of restrictions. For some reason a lot of Disney fans are against almost any restrictions other then physical distancing in queues. We are in a new world right now and it's going to awhile to get back to the normal we know. IMO it makes it easier to accept it and get used to it.

 

[Hikergirl]

OP you seem to see an elitist attitude in pretty much anything people say online.
First it was the I paid all this money so I can do what I want elitism.
Then it was the looking down at other parks elitism.
Now it's the not wanting to wear masks at Disney elitism.
I am wondering what it will be next, and then that begs the question what do you consider non-elitism attitude when it comes to Disney?

Personally I don't see anything inherently bad with people wanting to get the most out of a very expensive vacation. I also have to agree with some of the attitudes about other parks. I won't get in to details but I will never go to another 6 flags park again, not when there are way better parks (for several reasons) to go to.
I already explained the mask thing.
It just seems like you feel anyone who doesn't share your opinions about things has an elitist attitude.