Washington Post Slams WDW and Orlando

[jsilvers]

The Washington Post's travel section has historically been an embarassment to the paper, and the latest article on Orlando (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/02/AR2009010201240.html) is no exception. Let's play spot the error/implausibility in its account of sending a "savvy staffer" (by the name of Scott Vogel) on a last-minute trip on a budget!

• The "savvy staffer" claims to have seen a "little girl lost and crying, wandering helplessly around Cinderella's castle." For starters, that's "Cinderella Castle" - apparently the "savvy staffer" didn't check the Disney website or a park map to verify the name. And he gets bonus points for, by his own account, watching the girl instead of finding a CM to help.
  
  
• The "savvy staffer" claims that "turkey legs ... at $6.15 are the cheapest fortifictaion Tomorrowland offers." Apparently this "savvy staffer" couldn't find Cosmic Ray's, which has some lower-priced options for adults, and a children's meal for $4.49.
  
  
• The "savvy staffer" claims that "[t]oday was the day to spend an hour looking for the end of the line for the Haunted Mansion, only to discover, another hour later, that we were actually in line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad." I call bull. No matter how long the lines were during Christmas week, the "savvy staffer" didn't notice for an hour that he was heading in the wrong direction?
  
  
• The "savvy staffer" claims that he only discovered on his third day in Orlando that his hotel "charges a $15-a-day resort fee ($50.85 total with tax)." Once again, I call bull. The "savvy staffer" didn't bother to read his hotel confirmation before leaving - or upon check-in?

For some reason, the Post's travel section has an agenda to slam Orlando. And when the facts don't fit that agenda...

In any case, Scott Vogel is clearly no Bob Woodward.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Rumors and News board.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Wow, pretty horrible.

That sounded like an exercise in torture, not an adventure.

I feel really sorry for the child, whose dad is obviously sadist.

 

[inkkognito]

Sometimes I question whether the bashers have actually visited WDW within the past decade or whether they just pull this stuff out of their butt. I vote for the latter.

 

[eliza61]

This was hysterical. My basic question was for a supposed travel writer he definitely was a piss poor planner. You put a 8 year old boy in a car with a few P & J sandwiches and you think they are going to last you from Washington DC to the Florida state line? They wouldn't have lasted my son to Virginia. He writes for the travel section and some how had no clue that the week between Christmas and NY is the absolutely busiest day at the world? I guess he still writes with pen and paper because any one with a lap top could have gotten a layout of the MK to find out where the rides were. He also would have known that he is allowed to bring snacks and soda into the park and eaten cheaply without buying any thing.

I definitely don't mind critizing the mouse, hey some times they deserve it but this was just lousy planning.

 

[Fabinva]

Originally posted by eliza61

This was hysterical. My basic question was for a supposed travel writer he definitely was a piss poor planner. You put a 8 year old boy in a car with a few P & J sandwiches and you think they are going to last you from Washington DC to the Florida state line? They wouldn't have lasted my son to Virginia. He writes for the travel section and some how had no clue that the week between Christmas and NY is the absolutely busiest day at the world? I guess he still writes with pen and paper because any one with a lap top could have gotten a layout of the MK to find out where the rides were. He also would have known that he is allowed to bring snacks and soda into the park and eaten cheaply without buying any thing.
I definitely don't mind critizing the mouse, hey some times they deserve it but this was just lousy planning.

 

[selina4disney]

If he couldn't tell the difference between HM and BTMR he isn't too bright. Even a novice should have been able to tell a mountain's not a mansion. Sounds like he just made it all up and has never even been there.

 

[Todd&Copper]

If he is serious, perhaps he has a brain tumor and forgot that the first basic rule of travel is to learn a bit about where you are going.

If he was attempting humor, then he needs to practice b/c he SUCKS at it.

 

[MJMcBride]

The one thing I do agree with is that food is pricey at WDW.

That and who would ever go to the Mouse during Christmas week?

 

[AdventurerKat]

Oh, I don't know...who would do that?

We actually went this past year too and had a great time, so great in fact we're doing it again this year.

Sounds to me like the guy needs to do a little research and grab a map the next time he goes on vacation.

 

[OrlandoMike]

The one thing I do agree with is that food is pricey at WDW.

That and who would ever go to the Mouse during Christmas week?

IF he is such an expert on travel, he should know that food is gonna be pricey! I dont care if it's Six Flags, a Football game, or Disney, you're gonna pay!

And he went during Christmas week, and complained about the lines? What a tool!

 

[TDC Nala]

You can't get food much cheaper than that in Washington DC ... believe me ...unless you cook it yourself.

 

[disney1990]

I read that article on Sunday and commented to my DH that the man should have headed over to Cosmic Rays to eat. This is what happens when you go to Disney World with absolutely no planning. Maybe we should send him the website for the Dis Board.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Oh, and those mega-hotels in D.C. don't charge resort fees? Sure they do!

I don't agree with resort fees; I feel they're a scam and I refuse to stay in any hotel that charges them. But to think this is unique to Orlando......hardly!

BobK/Orlando

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Looking at MK, I think that you have a few things like most of Frontierland and the Riverboat and Splash between HM and BMTRR. How he could get in the wrong line is besides me.

But then of course The Washington Post was well known to be leading the fight against having Disney's America built in Haymarket, VA.

 

[sneadae]

Just an FYI - many of these reporters lurk on the boards.

 

[Golf4food]

Just an FYI - many of these reporters lurk on the boards.

Good. Maybe they'll learn something.

 

[Uncleromulus]

This article will probably have no impact other than giving us something to laugh at--

 

[jimmytammy]

My impression of this article is the writer left DC with not much cash in his pocket, and with no clue as to how much a WDW vacation costs. So he wants to blame his ignorance on WDW and those around him. Myself, I wouldnt dare leave on any vacation without doing my homework, and especially without knowing I would have enough $$ to pay for gas to get back home.

If all you want to see is the negative, that is all you will see. Its human nature.

But he is happy. He got us to read the article.

 

[KYMickey]

They're all just demonstrates one of the reasons that newspapers are a dying breed! They are the dinosaurs of today's new world of information technology and will no longer exist in the very near future.