Subsonic Radio

http://www.freakonomics.com/blog/2006/0 ... sneyworld/

I nearly went to grad school to get my PhD in Econ, so I normally enjoy the Freakonomics blog, but this entry stinks.

Anyways, the author says he will probably never go back to Disney World because it's basically just a glorified, expensive week of standing in line. He sure got people worked up though - WAY more comments than he usually gets.

Anyone think he has a point? (Though he certainly made it much more expensive by clearly staying at a Deluxe resort.) I think he would have appreciated it more if he realized Fastpasses are free - he seems to think you have to pay for them.

this guy is putting a really negative spin on some bad experiences. If Disney were to drop the price of admission, internal things, etc...the lines would be miles long. Walt Disney World would no longer be a once a year thing, but an everyday thing.

If prices went up, only the rich could go. People would start to hate Disney because it catered to the wealthy.

If there is one thing Disney pioneered, its waiting in line. The rides aren't as fun if you just run to the front and jump on. The whole experience is what you want. Disney actually designs rides so that you have to wait in line.

Now, admittedly 2 attractions in 6.5 hours is pretty rediculous. But if you take 2 kids in a twin stroller to breakfast...you can't do that fast...that's already like an hour. Then you have to navigate that stroller from wherever to the African safari...that's like 20 minutes, and then 20 minutes in line...plus 20 minute safari...there's an hour. THen another hour for the 3-D movie. that's already 3 hours. You throw in it was probably summer/peak season and you add about an hour wait. If its a popular attraction...add 1 hour 15. So that's 6 hours right there. And you need 20-30 minutes to walk back to the hotel.

Totally reasonable. ALl you have to do is thing about it. You have got to plan your days accordingly if you want to avoid huge lines. There are times when everyone wants to go...and you have to accept that you will wait. There are times that aren't as special, but you will get more. So, this guy needs to really step back and reevaluate what he's complaining about.

1.He is fortunate enough to be able to afford a trip to Disney World and take 2 kids.

2.The lines, while long, do offer entertainment rather than endless velvet ropes.

3.The prices prevent rediculous lines, and yet allow average income persons to attend.

4.Disney is not just about attractions. Don't go if you just want to ride every ride and see every show. Relax while you are there. Use your time in line to bond as a family. Notice how no one is angry. Breathe in the experience, and you feel the magic.

I like the part where he thinks one has to pay for fast pass....thats where I knew the author had a limited thought process.FlatlandMounty you hit the nail right on the head-well put.

peachypie wrote:I like the part where he thinks one has to pay for fast pass....

Yeah. Maybe that's why the Fast Pass system works so well? I mean, this guy is like on of the smartest guys in America, and he couldn't figure it out. I wonder how many people don't take the time to figure out how it works either because they assume it costs money (though it sounds like this guy has money to burn) or they are simply too lazy...

I think he just wanted to hate. He seems to be all over the map with his post. 5.5hrs getting around? What did he do walk backwards? I got to WDW every year and never have any wait or Transportation problems.

Maybe he has Universal stock!

AKLRULZ wrote:Some people get it, others dont' and never will. Let's be thankful that morons like this guy don't patronize WDW or DL more often - who needs longer lines?!

In all seriousness, I pity people like this.

No Kidding! Does this guy have anything better to do than complain?! I have a hunch that he didin't want to go to Disney in the 1st place, and so, brought his negative attitude with him. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE ATTITUDE! You have the choice to make the best of any situation. Obviously, it wasn't his choice.

ALSO, The fact that he DIDN"T do his homework on his vacation destination (like ANY smart traveler would do) means he was bound to have a bad time. If he had, he would have known about the fastpass and had a better time.

Heheh, I could see this guy going to Europe, not know the language or the culture, insult the natives w/ his bad behavior, and then say that it was a bad place to go because the people were rude/didn't speak english, etc. when he was the one who was a moron. Ah... there's one in every crowd. Heheh, but at least the rest of us can make the best of it by pointing and laughing! (JK)

It is trendy among elitist jerks to hate on Disney. As an elitist jerk myself, I might have fallen into this trap if I hadn't visited WDW all my life and learned about Disney, the man. If all you know about Disney is the Eisner Era, it's pretty easy to hate.

What Eisner referred to as "synergy" is intellectual laziness and crass commercialism at its worst. Most recent Disney films have been pretty bad, and the general impression Disney's "family entertainment" has been corrupted by years of garbage and just about anything you can see on the Disney Channel or Toon Disney at this point.

Most people don't know that Walt was a revolutionary and of all the good things in our society that we take for granted that he's personally responsible for. And they don't know that his version of "family entertainment" wasn't mindless pap, but edgy and ground-breaking quality stuff.

Compare those old Davy Crockett shows to the typical children's movie these days. Hold up Snow White next to Home on the Range. Walt wasn't interested in making stuff that kept the kids quiet but adults couldn't stomach.

In fact, the one thing that drives me crazy more than anything else is the continued insertion into the parks of the exact sort of thing Walt didn't want. The reason he created Disneyland was to make an experience that both children and adults could enjoy together.

These Princess meet-and-greets, Pooh playgrounds, overdone thrill rides, etc. are great for certain segments of the audience, but leave others waiting on benches, wishing time would speed up. That's exactly what should never happen in a Disney park, and Walt said that's exactly why he created Disneyland.

DCA cracks me up, because another reason Walt built Disneyland was to create an experience unlike the cheesy midways and carny-style atmosphere of crappier parks. It's like a giant monument to everything Walt would have hated.

Oh well, look what you did, you got me started again...

Sorry about that...

I have been in very, very long lines time and time again. (It depends on the time of year). I have sworn I would never return to Walt Disney World or stand in lines that long ever again. But I do. Cause I love the "Magic". Over the years I have discovered what rides NOT to ride first, and how go around the crowds. Always get the fast pass when you first arive at any park, and get the second fast pass as soon as you can. Then go straight to the rear of the park, and make your way around. The crowds will make it to the rear of the park by time you make it to the front. Also, parade time is a great time to ride the rides. Disney is very costly for us. We found the Disney Vaction Club has helped us afford to go back again and again. We also get the annual pass and try to plan our next vaction within the use year of our pass.

What a fool. That blog guy did not do his Disney homework before going. Sad.

What a lot of haters forget is the fact the WDW is a WORLD wide park favorite. It will always be busy even if the prices rise or fall because people from around the world come to visit Disney World. It's not like Six Flags or something where the locals just hit it for a weekend. No one from Germany plans a vacation and says hey, let go all the way to the U.S. and visit Busch Gardens or Six flags. They might stop there later, but vacations are planned on Disney. I can't stand when people complain about the long lines!

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http://www.newlineagefilms.com

hey, just give it time. I hope to be working at WDW in the future. I graduate with a degree in Computer Graphics Technology at Purdue Univeristy in 4 days. I am doing the college program at WDW from the end of May until January. Then I want to do their Professional Intern Program until next May. Hopefully after that I can get a job. I've already talked to a couple people, who after reading my resume, felt I should be working for Imagineering.

I've got a lot of ideas, and I think I know how to keep the Walt Disney Dream alive. I've always been in the demographic that loves Kiddie stuff that Adults can tolerate. And adult stuff that kids can tolerate. I've got a plan to help people like the idiot at freakonomics have a better time. I've also been thinking about new attractions that wouldn't just be mindless fluff, but an inovention with a Disney twist. I think that's what Walt was all about--showing off technology in a fun and entertaining environment, being the first to do it, and being a leader among more than just amusement parks. In fact, I hate calling WDW an amusement park. Its a Family Experience Park.

Now, I know I'm a long way off from implementing my ideas. But I hope that doing this college program will speed up the process and give me an inside track to the people I need to know.

ok

Millionaire2K wrote:I think he just wanted to hate. He seems to be all over the map with his post. 5.5hrs getting around? What did he do walk backwards? I got to WDW every year and never have any wait or Transportation problems.

Maybe he has Universal stock!

I agree; the amount of ignorance about WDW is astounding. If you're going to spend that much money on a family vacation, it only makes sense to research and plan before you go so you get the most out of the trip. We do that no matter where we go on vacation, but especially at WDW.

We started taking both kids to WDW when they were 3 yrs old and 20 months, and we never had a day like this guy describes. We avoided attractions with long lines but still went on enough rides to satisfy the kids, did a lot of soaking up the ambience, kept meals fairly simple (El Pirata y el Perico), and spent a fair amount of time at our moderate resort, splashing in the pool.

Lots of people just don't want to like WDW; they start out with a bad attitude and so they inevitably have a bad time. That's why it's so great to have a site like this with all you "kindred spirits" to share our feelings about all things Disney.