UK to U.S. visitors, May I ask a couple questions?

[DisneyBB]

I remember on my very first visit to Florida, we had to change planes in Miami. I was desperate to tast a hershey bar, well it was such a shock to me how horrible it was. Sorry if this offends, but I had to throw it away. Now I love sweets and chocolate, but I was surprised by the tast of all your candy and chocolate. I think the choice and quality of the food in general is great. Even you fast food resturants are better than ours.

I was also surprised by the buildings themselves. They are so colourful and unusual. We would not be allowed to build like this over here.

I found the Americans to very polite and friendly. The children so much more confident than ours.

The money is dependent on the exchange rate, but we have always got value for money and bring lots of stuff back.

We try to go every year to Florida, but I have been to NY and Buffalo. NY I loved, a bit scared at the time, and would love to go back. Buffalo was my brothers wedding, not such a great town.

We hope to visit other parts of the US, but keep getting drawn back to Flordia.

 

[mariechez]

In that case everyone is Onslow or Hyacinth Bucket

l think that just about sums us up

Marie

PS those toilets with the gaps all round,horrendous, l felt so vunrable

 

[Firefly777]

PS those toilets with the gaps all round,horrendous, l felt so vunrable

LOL, I've lived in America all my life and totally I agree with you. I don't like that open feeling. I'm curious, what are the stalls like over there?

 

[onlyholly]

... are as yours, just without the gaps either side, and a foot at the most gap at the bottom of the door.

Holly

 

[daipp]

Hi Sue

I'm really enjoying this thread!

Just a quick reminder that not everyone in the UK is English; there are the Scots, the Irish, and like me, the Welsh, all of whom were here a long time before the English!!
That apart, we are all fairly similar (except of course the accents) but I may be opening a very large can of worms now!!!

We'll be landing in Florida in just over a weeks time and I remember one thing I was amazed at was the turkey legs you could buy and eat. Generally in the UK we stick with a chicken leg (drumstick).

Best wishes,

David.

 

[2BoysMum&Dad]

Hi elmosmom

I have visited the US three times since 1997. Twice to Houston and once a few miles out from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. But never to WDW before (my first trip is this summer). I will try to answer each of your questions.

Was there anything about the US that surprised you?

Despite seeing numerous sit-coms, films, documentaries, news stories and other programmes about USA, each visit has always amazed me regarding the feeling of wide open space. Even in towns, everything is big and seemed well spread out.

How about prices in the US?

It depends what you are buying. Generally, everything seems cheap compaired with Britain, especially electronic goods.

BUT, I have been told that Disney is extremely expensive and to be warned that you can end up severely out of pocket by the time you finish your WDW holiday!!

How about the American people?

The Americans have always been very nice and polite towards us. They always seem to love the British and have loved our accents and want us to keep talking so they can keep listening to our accents!!

Did you tour the area outside the Magic Kingdom?

Haven't been to Florida before.

Did you like american food?

In a lot of respects, I don't think there is as much difference between American food and British food as there is between British food and other European countries. Just don't like some of your breakfast combinations!!!

Regular visitors to Disboards will have seen my views on American food (differences between UK and US food) on a different thread I started). This thread is now very long and members from the US seem to enjoy the discussion, which is great.

2BoysMum&Dad

 

[2BoysMum&Dad]

posted same message twice, sorry!!

 

[mep319]

Wow! How funny! Glad to see for the most part we are viewed as nice & polite. I know we have all heard the ugly American story too often...I sometimes feel we(I) might be too forward & ask way too many questions. I'm always fascinated by those from other lands and love to hear how we differ...so I tend to be one of those "where you from? how do you like it here?" I'm glad you found Philly friendly we have a reputation as being a bit harsh! I agree the chocolate here is terrible...I love the ones my sister sends me from Germany! I live fairly close to Hershey...hate their chocolate. Breakfast foods here are rather gross...I can't eat that much in the morning....good cup of coffee & a muffin does it for me. Of course I wouldn't trade our food for anything...funny part is I don't like the food in Flordia...can never wait to get back to Philly to eat....WE HAVE WONDERFUL FOOD HERE! Visit us to eat..it is worth the trip! Hopefully I'll be back to England soon....Oh and I like our restrooms too!

 

[2BoysMum&Dad]

Talking of restrooms - someone else has mentioned them here I think - they are terribly public with all that space around the door and a load of space below the door and cubicle partitions! Feel like I am on display when I'm in there!! LOL. British public toilets have no gaps whatsoever around the doors, but sometimes you get a small gap under the door and partitions.

2BoysMum&Dad

 

[mmouse37]

Hi...just to clarify...some restrooms have gaps and some do not....all depends on where the restroom is and how it was designed and what state of repair it is in. I don' t want all the UK to think we only have restrooms with gaps....not the case!!! Believe me...nothing I enjoy more is privacy when it counts!!!

I am very curious....I love just about all chocolate and do love my Hershey bars...but what is so different about the taste compared to chocolate in the UK....too sweet or not sweet enough or is it the texture? I also enjoy Cadbury bars but don't find them much different than Hershey...anyone care to explain the difference?? Thanks so much....

I am also very glad to hear that most find Americans polite....I can't stand the ugly American idea...though I know it happens just as I am sure there are some "ugly" people from every nation. I for one always try to set a good example for good behavior and common decency!!! I am proud of our country and want it to show off it's good side!!!

My ancestors came from England...see link below... I always wanted to go explore my roots!!! The statue in the pic is of my great, great, great, etc., etc. grandfather Roger Conant and stands in the center of town in Salem, Mass.

http://www.primaryresearch.org/PRTHB/halloffame/conant.htm


MJ

 

[Olaf]

Many Europeans were given them by GIs during WWII, when chocolate was hard to come by, and therefore, they tasted really good to the locals. I've heard they have more parafin in them, but I'm not sure. I just know they don't taste like my idea of chocolate.

 

[Dimplenose]

The strange thing is that most Europeans (i.e not British) don't like British chocolate. I seem to remeber a few years back that the EEC wanted to reclassify it as chocolate flavoured as it contains too much vegetable fat. I think most people like what they're used to and were brought up with - although there are some exceptions.

BTW our local newsagent sells Hershy Bars and Reeces peanut butter cups, I don't know if this is the same al over the UK or because there is an American school not too far away.


Libby

 

[luvthatduke]

Wow, I could not stop reading this thread

It is very interesting, and like the others
I was VERY relieved to read we're (mostly) nice!

I am curious about the breakfast thing,
what is the difference - specifically what foods
are you used to eating, and in what combination
(since that seemed to be the theme)?

BTW, you are SO right about the portions,
now you know why so many of us Americans are "Super-Sized!"

Hope you all come back soon,
and my two cents here:

Thank you Tony Blair and those who support(ed)
you - you were the first one to "step up to the plate" on 9/11,
and you kept your word.
You are a man of honor, and your country deserves
a huge "Thank You" from every American.
God bless...

 

[2BoysMum&Dad]

luvthatduke,

Somewhere I started a thread (not on this board) about the difference in eating habits in the UK and US. One BIG thing that has come out of that thread was the "big" thing of syrup with pancakes and sausages and other savoury items on the same plate (often eaten at breakfast in the US I understand).

There was a big split of people between those who couldn't get to grips with this idea and those who loved that mixture of sweet and savoury on the same plate.

Zoe

 

[luvthatduke]

Thanks for the breakfast info

I can see how the sausage and syrup combo would be surprising.
But...... What do you eat on your pancakes, if not syrup?
(butter? jelly? - just curious!).

BTW, I live a few miles outside of Phildelphia, and I noticed on
your one thread that you visited "once a few miles out from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania."
May I ask where?
I live in Lansdale, Montgomery County, about 15 miles
northwest of Philly.

Thanks for visiting the USA, and have a wonderful vacation
this summer!

 

[Dimplenose]

Pancakes are not usually served at breakfast time over here. The most popular topping is lemon juice and sugar but they are eaten with many other toppings both savoury and sweet, but not both at the same time.

Quite a few of the items on the breakfast buffets are not usual over here at that time of day, e.g jelly(jello),cake and doughnuts.

Libby

PS Our pancakes are most often larger and thinner, more like crepes.

 

[luvthatduke]

Thanks Libby

 

[ibouncetoo]

Really enjoying this thread!

A note on chocolate: The Cadbury chocolates you buy in America are made by HERSHEY...that's why they don't taste any different!
The Cadbury chocolates imported from England are a whole different story. I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of some this week!...Thanks Danauk!!!!

....hmmm I'm getting hungry for breakfast....perhaps pancakes drenched in maple syrup and some nice spicy breakfast sausage!

 

[DocRafiki]

See what y'all did? All this talk about chocolate, and I had to go digging for my stash! Luckily, the "stash" consists of a few Cadbury squares from my trip to Bath 6 months ago. I guess I could tell the difference in chocolate if I were blindfolded (maybe?), but the difference isn't that great from what I can tell.

Now what do you guys mean by "savoury"?

 

[Firefly777]

Originally posted by DocRafiki
Now what do you guys mean by "savoury"?

Any unsweet food.