The Real World versus Disney World...

[Magpie]

The other night a friend told me that her kids didn't enjoy their visit to Disney World. (I know, horrors! )

Why? Because they'd spent years travelling extensively in the Real World as young children and couldn't get over how fake everything was at Disney. Having seen Italy and Norway and England in person, they just didn't enjoy the pretend versions at all.

I love EPCOT, but I can sympathize with them - I was a little weirded out by the Beach Club the first night I stayed there. It's like staying in a stage set. Everything's too small, too clean, too new, and it doesn't have that proper New England salt-and-rotten-fish smell. Of course I love it now, but for what it is, not for what it's pretending to be.

My kids, on the other hand, had the opposite reaction from my friend's kids. We'd taken them to Disney when they were younger, and they didn't get a chance to travel abroad in the real world until they were older.

I'll never forget my then-13yo son calling me from Greece, exclaiming, "MOM! It's just like the Port of Entry at Universal Studios here! Only it's all SO much bigger!" He was thrilled. All through his trip he kept comparing what he saw to things he'd experienced in Florida theme parks. He now views Disney and Universal with fond nostalgia.

So what's your experience been, with regards to the Real World versus Disney World? Is it better to get Disney in there early before the kids discover the real thing?

 

[rdearth]

I don't think the exposure or non-exposure plays much of a difference. Some people like it, some people don't.

I see it sort of like a dollhouse though. Of course, it's not real, but the details can be fantastic.

 

[Magpie]

I don't think the exposure or non-exposure plays much of a difference. Some people like it, some people don't.

I see it sort of like a dollhouse though. Of course, it's not real, but the details can be fantastic.

That's a really good comparison!

 

[WedgieSock]

The other night a friend told me that her kids didn't enjoy their visit to Disney World. (I know, horrors! )

Why? Because they'd spent years travelling extensively in the Real World as young children and couldn't get over how fake everything was at Disney. Having seen Italy and Norway and England in person, they just didn't enjoy the pretend versions at all.

I love EPCOT, but I can sympathize with them - I was a little weirded out by the Beach Club the first night I stayed there. It's like staying in a stage set. Everything's too small, too clean, too new, and it doesn't have that proper New England salt-and-rotten-fish smell. Of course I love it now, but for what it is, not for what it's pretending to be.

My kids, on the other hand, had the opposite reaction from my friend's kids. We'd taken them to Disney when they were younger, and they didn't get a chance to travel abroad in the real world until they were older.

I'll never forget my then-13yo son calling me from Greece, exclaiming, "MOM! It's just like the Port of Entry at Universal Studios here! Only it's all SO much bigger!" He was thrilled. All through his trip he kept comparing what he saw to things he'd experienced in Florida theme parks. He now views Disney and Universal with fond nostalgia.

So what's your experience been, with regards to the Real World versus Disney World? Is it better to get Disney in there early before the kids discover the real thing?

Funny, I was just talking about this in another thread.

For 20yrs my husband and I have travelled extensively (10 yrs with our daughter), we have seen most of the world. Our world is an amazing place and I am very lucky to have seen it not only in all its awesomeness but its dark side too, which reminds me every day how lucky we are.

I urge anyone who can, to explore the world.

But now, we are happy to vacay in Disney every year. We don't see it as fake, we see it as an escape. The one place where we can truly forget about the outside world and our daily challenges and just relax. We can breathe and just enjoy each other and our time together. Its almost like time stops, everything else is on hold

 

[rapunzels]

I do understand where they are coming from. We have done some traveling to other countries, and for that very reason, Epcot is our least fav park. That being said, we adore Disney. We don't have any aversions because of cheesiness, and still visit Epcot at least once, every trip.

 

[WedgieSock]

I do understand where they are coming from. We have done some traveling to other countries, and for that very reason, Epcot is our least fav park. That being said, we adore Disney. We don't have any aversions because of cheesiness, and still visit Epcot at least once, every trip.

And yet for us, it is one of our favs - although 'fake', the countries of Epcot have all those little elements that remind us of when we were really in that country. It brings back fond memories

 

[rdearth]

And yet for us, it is one of our favs - although 'fake', the countries of Epcot have all those little elements that remind us of when we were really in that country. It brings back fond memories

Yeah, that's a good point. Now that I think about it, my favorite countries in Epcot are the ones that I've been to and it probably is because it brings back some flavor and memory of the real thing.

 

[MADnNOLA]

The dollhouse comparison is perfect! I build dollhouses as a hobby, and also live in the French Quarter in New Orleans. So when I visited Disneyland a few years ago, I loved New Orleans Square. It is the smaller, newer, and much cleaner version of my city! But the details are amazing.

 

[WedgieSock]

So what's your experience been, with regards to the Real World versus Disney World? Is it better to get Disney in there early before the kids discover the real thing?

And to answer that question, for my daughter it wouldn't have mattered either way because she loves Disney for Disney. Never once did she say "Ugh, this is nothing like France/Italy/UK (which is where we're from)/Germany/Morocco ..."

 

[WedgieSock]

The dollhouse comparison is perfect! I build dollhouses as a hobby, and also live in the French Quarter in New Orleans. So when I visited Disneyland a few years ago, I loved New Orleans Square. It is the smaller, newer, and much cleaner version of my city! But the details are amazing.

you do?!? I buy them as a hobby

 

[tajz90]

Because they'd spent years travelling extensively in the Real World as young children and couldn't get over how fake everything was at Disney. Having seen Italy and Norway and England in person, they just didn't enjoy the pretend versions

Yea, well... We've seen the actual places too and even though we don't spend a lot of time in the World Showcase anymore, my kids are still just as wild about Disney as they ever were. Real world travel is awesome, but so is the magic of Disney

 

[glaserjm]

I've also traveled to many of the countries that are included in the World Showcase and never saw them as a replacement for actually traveling to different parts of the world, but enjoyed them for what they are. I absolutely adore the WS because even though it's not an escape to the actual destination, it's an escape just the same!

 

[eliza61]

I don't think the exposure or non-exposure plays much of a difference. Some people like it, some people don't.

I see it sort of like a dollhouse though. Of course, it's not real, but the details can be fantastic.

well said.

I love the mouse but is it the most spectacular sights I've ever seen? Not by a long shot.

I just don't compare disney to any thing. Disney is disney. I don't compare it to great adventure or the beach either, which people tend to do.

 

[LilyWDW]

And yet for us, it is one of our favs - although 'fake', the countries of Epcot have all those little elements that remind us of when we were really in that country. It brings back fond memories

Epcot is also my favorite park and I have traveled to a few of the countries represented there. Is it the same? No, not even close... but it doesn't make the World Showcase any less amazing to me.

 

[buffettgirl]

I don't quite get the "one or the other" mentality. WDW is multiple theme parks and resorts. The entire place is meant to copy other places in an imaginative way, but it's not meant to BE those other places.

Or in other words "real" vs "imaginary" I'm not sure why this is challenging.

 

[Jennasis]

I've been to the real China...I'll take the World Showcase version ANY day of the week. And if WS ever builds a Greece pavillion I'll take that over a stroll through Athens any day of the week as well.

 

[JDUCKY]

Funny, I was just talking about this in another thread.

For 20yrs my husband and I have travelled extensively (10 yrs with our daughter), we have seen most of the world. Our world is an amazing place and I am very lucky to have seen it not only in all its awesomeness but its dark side too, which reminds me every day how lucky we are.

I urge anyone who can, to explore the world.

But now, we are happy to vacay in Disney every year. We don't see it as fake, we see it as an escape. The one place where we can truly forget about the outside world and our daily challenges and just relax. We can breathe and just enjoy each other and our time together. Its almost like time stops, everything else is on hold

To me, it's a chance to get a little taste of other countries, esp. food, drinks, desserts, snacks, etc. without having to travel abroad!

 

[WedgieSock]

To me, it's a chance to get a little taste of other countries, esp. food, drinks, desserts, snacks, etc. without having to travel abroad!

I absolutely agree with that too.

There are plenty of people who don't want to go abroad for financial reasons, fear of flying etc. Heck, it cost us $2100 for 3 tix to Europe and then on top you have food, accommodation etc which is way more expensive over there - our sep stay last year at ASMovies with FD was $1700.

 

[mimmi]

I absolutely agree with that too.

There are plenty of people who don't want to go abroad for financial reasons, fear of flying etc. Heck, it cost us $2100 for 3 tix to Europe and then on top you have food, accommodation etc which is way more expensive over there - our sep stay last year at ASMovies with FD was $1700.

Funny, we usually think, it's the other way round: once you add tax and tip, eating out seems to be more expensive than over here, with all inclusive prices and smaller tips (except for the UK).

I like a mix of both: I enjoy the sanitized versions (especially of Morocco and China ) at Epcot, but I couldn't imagine not travelling extensively, I love to show our daughter the entire world.

 

[ellie05]

It is silly to try to compare the real thing to theme park version of it. When I was a kid my parents took us to Disney as well as other Real World places and you know what? We love Disney much more than the real world places. Now as an adult I can appreciate the real world places, but I can also appreciate Disney. The clearest memories I have as a kid? Disney not the real world places. Disney is not the only place we vacation but we try to go back at least once a year. For sure Disney it is one of the places I will always want to go over and over again. I can't say the same for real world places.

I also think that kids are influence what the adults think so if the parents were pointing out every little difference it might get in the way of enjoying the moment.