Mickey?

Someone tricked Donald Duck into putting on pants.

If it feels like more than two fingers, it's probably a dick.

rawdog: If it feels like more than two fingers, it's probably a dick.

And if it feels like a fist, it's probably a water buffalo.

Get within 30 miles of Orlando and you can pretty much expect to get boned anytime you open your wallet.

That's farking goofy.

I didn't say she was insane...

Reminds me of my girlfriend, she'll do anything to get to Disney.

I take full advantage. I feel justified because, well, it's Disney.

I'd pluck Daisy

Michael Ei$ner?

How does Disney or Disney World scam its guests? By charging too much? Am I missing something or is the submitter just an idiot?

p00pd00d: How does Disney or Disney World scam its guests? By charging too much? Am I missing something or is the submitter just an idiot?

Only been to Disney Land (cough), but like any large theme park my guess is you're gouged on things such as food and drinks and there's no alternative unless you leave the park.

A Tout Le Monde

I agree with the price thing. I've been to 'World and 'Disney and yeah it's expensive but what tourist traps aren't?

A Tout Le Monde: Only been to Disney Land (cough), but like any large theme park my guess is you're gouged on things such as food and drinks and there's no alternative unless you leave the park.

I was at Hollywood Studios this past week. They wanted $5.49 for a Bud Light. As appalling as that was, the conference I was attending was charging $7.00 for a Bud Light.

madcharlie: I was at Hollywood Studios this past week. They wanted $5.49 for a Bud Light. As appalling as that was, the conference I was attending was charging $7.00 for a Bud Light.

I was there 2 weeks ago today! Yeah, it's pricey, but not totally outrageous.

My husband loved the extreme stunt show, BTW.

Bush Gardens charged $7.00 or $7.50 for a beer at Howl-O-Scream last year, and their damn brewery is RIGHT THERE!!!

Bastards.

HomerButt: My husband loved the extreme stunt show, BTW.

That was probably my favorite part, followed closely by the enormous turkey leg I had for dinner.

the voices in your head: rawdog: If it feels like more than two fingers, it's probably a dick.

And if it feels like a fist, it's probably a water buffalo.

it's a street light.

If there's an economist in the house, now would be the time to start talking.

p00pd00d: A Tout Le Monde

I agree with the price thing. I've been to 'World and 'Disney and yeah it's expensive but what tourist traps aren't?

I recently discovered that Mickey and Goofy and all that are just people in suits, and Bambi is pretend. Maybe that's what smitty is talking about.

FTA "A suspect was named Friday by police after dozens of Disney guests were ripped off in their own hotel rooms."

So why name him "Friday." I would have called him Jason MacLaren.

FTFA: "I thought, gee, we hit the mother lode," she said.

lode?

ExanimateAzrael: FTFA: "I thought, gee, we hit the mother lode," she said.

lode?

Yes

Mother lode

ExanimateAzrael: FTFA: "I thought, gee, we hit the mother lode," she said.

lode?

lode
-noun
1.a veinlike deposit, usually metalliferous.
2.any body of ore set off from adjacent rock formations.
3.a rich supply or source.
4.British. a waterway or channel

/the more you know

Let me scan that... congradulations, your credit is approved.

p00pd00d: How does Disney or Disney World scam its guests? By charging too much? Am I missing something or is the submitter just an idiot?

No, I think subby is pissed the Robert Iger yanked the Chief Strategic Officer position from Peter Murphy. Many Americans are still sore about that one.

Feldspar Q. Walrustitty: Get within 30 miles of Orlando International Drive and you can pretty much expect to get boned anytime you open your wallet.


FTFY

...offered her deeply discounted tickets for the "Hoop Te Do Revue."

Who could pass that up?

A Tout Le Monde: Only been to Disney Land (cough), but like any large theme park my guess is you're gouged on things such as food and drinks and there's no alternative unless you leave the park.

True, but compared to any major league sports stadium, the prices are quite reasonable and the food (at Disney, mind you) is quite good. Yes, if you pay cash, that burger, fries, and soda are $15+. But it's a damn good burger, unlike most other theme parks, where they screw you on food prices and don't bother to make it decent.

But if you stay in their resorts, you ought to get the meal plan, and then you're fine on food for the entirety of your stay (even if it doesn't cover tip anymore).

As for TFA, the people who got scammed were morons. If you have half a brain, you put a credit card on file with them and then you don't need to carry anything but your room key (and maybe an ID if you want booze). They wouldn't ask for your credit card number, they already have it. Anybody asking for that info is likely a liar.

akula:
But if you stay in their resorts, you ought to get the meal plan, and then you're fine on food for the entirety of your stay (even if it doesn't cover tip anymore).


Staying in the resorts is a good idea. They have this thing where they keep the parks open till like 1am for those guests alone (extra 2 hrs of park time). You just have to grab this wristband thingie from the hot chick named Jen.

Splenda: akula:
But if you stay in their resorts, you ought to get the meal plan, and then you're fine on food for the entirety of your stay (even if it doesn't cover tip anymore).


Staying in the resorts is a good idea. They have this thing where they keep the parks open till like 1am for those guests alone (extra 2 hrs of park time). You just have to grab this wristband thingie from the hot chick named Jen.

Did that last time we were there. I can understand it if you're there during peak season (summer), but we were there the last week of September. Those "extra magic hours" were the absolute LONGEST lines we were in the entire week. Bar none. Where the rest of the time any ride was a "walk right on" affair or close to it, we actually waited for darned near an hour for Splash Mountain. No, that is when everybody from the resorts goes to that particular park. If you're there at an off peak time, you'll do yourself a favor by going to a different park and then enjoying a leisurely dinner back at the resort.

akula:
Staying in the resorts is a good idea. They have this thing where they keep the parks open till like 1am for those guests alone (extra 2 hrs of park time). You just have to grab this wristband thingie from the hot chick named Jen.

Did that last time we were there. I can understand it if you're there during peak season (summer), but we were there the last week of September. Those "extra magic hours" were the absolute LONGEST lines we were in the entire week. Bar none. Where the rest of the time any ride was a "walk right on" affair or close to it, we actually waited for darned near an hour for Splash Mountain. No, that is when everybody from the resorts goes to that particular park. If you're there at an off peak time, you'll do yourself a favor by going to a different park and then enjoying a leisurely dinner back at the resort.

Ah. As a native, I never go myself unless somebody has free tickets. Did hear that it worked well in December (except to the people working there...) and the first week of January is supposed to be totally dead. Or was this year.

Splenda
Feldspar Q. Walrustitty: Get within 30 miles of Orlando International DriveOrange Blossom Trail and you can pretty much expect to get boned anytime you open your wallet.

FTFY

at least it was in 1983 when I was stationed in Orlando and a horny 19 year old...

p00pd00d: How does Disney or Disney World scam its guests? By charging too much? Am I missing something or is the submitter just an idiot?

I do believe the implication is that the entire operation is a "scam" to separate enormous amounts of money from parents for the largely fictional 'reward' of giving their children a 'magical experience.' Which generally consists of being hot, cranky, and terrified of those farking character suits.

Splenda: the first week of January is supposed to be totally dead. Or was this year.

Fall is usually dead enough. This year the wife and I will be there the last week of October and into November, and that should be likewise slow. Hopefully it will still be warm enough to enjoy the outdoor rides (back here in STL, that time of year is jacket weather, but FL should be warmer). We're already looking forward to it; as much as the haters enjoy going off on Disney, and yes, it costs the heavens and the earth, but damn if they don't do everything incredibly well.

akula: This year the wife and I will be there the last week of October and into November, and that should be likewise slow. Hopefully it will still be warm enough to enjoy the outdoor rides

Be ready for either tank tops and shorts... or... jeans and jackets. That time of year in Orlando, it can go either way.

Seriously. My husband and I are Florida natives, and we sweated balls the last week of October in Tampa last year. BUT we froze those same balls in Orlando the same week the year before. Florida weather is very changeable from year to year.

akula:
But if you stay in their resorts, you ought to get the meal plan, and then you're fine on food for the entirety of your stay (even if it doesn't cover tip anymore).

Bzzt. They actually changed the meal plans for 2008, which made a lot of people planning on going (myself included) very unhappy. They removed appetizers from the meals, and tips are no longer included in the price. Yet they kept the price the same.

So now you have to tip based on 18% for the price of the meal, even at a buffet! (Why the fark would I tip someone 18% for bringing me a drink?)

It basically means that the main benefit of a meal plan (buying expensive dinners without worrying about price) is gone, because you still have have to pay for it, and the more expensive your meal the more you pay.

Also, supposedly your portions are smaller with a dining plan.

It's basically a huge ripoff, but they didn't tell anyone about the change. They made no effort to warn people about it even if they reserved with the old, better dining plan that was actually worth the price.

akula: but FL should be warmer
HomerButt: BUT we froze those same balls in Orlando the same week the year before. Florida weather is very changeable from year to year.

The running joke being "Don't like the weather? Wait five minutes."
or "Don't like the weather? Go a mile in any direction."

yggdriedi: Bzzt. They actually changed the meal plans for 2008, which made a lot of people planning on going (myself included) very unhappy. They removed appetizers from the meals, and tips are no longer included in the price. Yet they kept the price the same.

That's for the regular plan. The regular plan is one counter service meal and one table service meal per person per day.

The deluxe dining plan includes appetizers, and you can eat 3 table meals a day, if you wish... but no tip, that is true.

So now you have to tip based on 18% for the price of the meal, even at a buffet! (Why the fark would I tip someone 18% for bringing me a drink?)

They add that on to everybody at a buffet... we have annual passes, and they added it on even without the meal plan.

It basically means that the main benefit of a meal plan (buying expensive dinners without worrying about price) is gone, because you still have have to pay for it, and the more expensive your meal the more you pay.

Not really... You can order whatever you want, and they don't charge more based on what you order. Period.

Also, supposedly your portions are smaller with a dining plan.

That's just BS, quite frankly. I have a couple of friends who work in Disney restaurants, and there's NO WAY they're going to put in the extra effort to separately portion meal plan holders whether they're swamped or not.

The meal plan isn't for everybody, that is quite true. However, it is a viable option for some people who don't want to stress over every cent while they're on vacation. True, it doesn't save you very much, if at all. However, it doesn't really cost you extra either if you inform yourself and use it judiciously.

yggdriedi: Bzzt. They actually changed the meal plans for 2008, which made a lot of people planning on going (myself included) very unhappy. They removed appetizers from the meals, and tips are no longer included in the price. Yet they kept the price the same.

So now you have to tip based on 18% for the price of the meal, even at a buffet! (Why the fark would I tip someone 18% for bringing me a drink?)

It basically means that the main benefit of a meal plan (buying expensive dinners without worrying about price) is gone, because you still have have to pay for it, and the more expensive your meal the more you pay.

Also, supposedly your portions are smaller with a dining plan.

It's basically a huge ripoff, but they didn't tell anyone about the change. They made no effort to warn people about it even if they reserved with the old, better dining plan that was actually worth the price.

When I made my vacation plans they told me of the changes.

I can understand why they did it. Previously, you would pay $40/day and end up with up to or over $150 (menu price) of food, depending on what you did for your sit-down meal. That's a screaming deal, and you'd be insane not to take it. However, from their end, they must have "lost" money. That gratuity is real cash out the window, and at a higher end meal, it could be up to $15-20 per person. So right off the bat, they have lost half of what they charged in actual money. So there's why they probably pulled the gratuity.

As for the appetizers, that's more cost cutting. It doesn't bother me too much, since appetizer, meal, and dessert was WAY too farking much anyway.

That $40/day is still a good deal. There's the snack, which is about $4 or so (we like to use that for breakfast- we each get a snack type munchy and we share a drink, which costs money). Then the counter service, which can again be up to $20 each (entree, drink, dessert). So you're at over $20 of food and you haven't even had your sit-down meal, which can clock in at $40-60 by itself, depending on where you eat. Unless all your sit down meals are at the lower end places (like the burger place on Main Street in Magic Kingdom), you'll save money.

If you're staying in the resorts, the dining plan is still the way to go. It isn't the screaming deal it was, but it is still quite good and it even opens you up to chancing things you might not.

And yes, the meal plan portions are the same. I saw no difference between what we got and what others received. Quite honestly, you're still stuffing yourself silly.

rawdog: If it feels like more than two fingers, it's probably a dick.

dave attell! i love you.

HomerButt:
Not really... You can order whatever you want, and they don't charge more based on what you order. Period.

I didn't say they charge more, I said you pay more. Since tip is no longer included, your tip will be larger the more expensive the food you order is - meaning it does matter now to the customer how expensive the food he orders is, where previously it didn't.


That's just BS, quite frankly. I have a couple of friends who work in Disney restaurants, and there's NO WAY they're going to put in the extra effort to separately portion meal plan holders whether they're swamped or not.

Well I haven't been there yet this year (and first time with a DDP), so I was just going off baseless speculation - hence the "supposedly". I don't quite believe it either. It's not really subtle enough for Disney.

Akula:
As for the appetizers, that's more cost cutting. It doesn't bother me too much, since appetizer, meal, and dessert was WAY too farking much anyway.

I just wish you could pick appetizers instead of dessert. I don't eat dessert, and neither does anyone else I'm going with. =/


If you're staying in the resorts, the dining plan is still the way to go. It isn't the screaming deal it was, but it is still quite good and it even opens you up to chancing things you might not.

Well, I can't make a determination until after the trip. Still, the loss of value is somewhat irritating.

On a related note, if you guys have been recently - do you know if you need to reserve every table-service meal, or just the really popular ones (Canada, Cinderella's Table)?

HomerButt: Bush Gardens charged $7.00 or $7.50 for a beer at Howl-O-Scream last year, and their damn brewery is RIGHT THERE!!!

Busch Gardens is pretty reasonable compared to other parks in the area when it comes to food and drink prices. The price you're talking about was for the big hourglass-shaped thing full of beer. Regular bottles are something like $4.50.

/ the Tampa brewery shut down in 1995
// most beer sold there comes from the Jax brewery
/// the free beer is brewed on-site at a microbrewery

yggdriedi: I just wish you could pick appetizers instead of dessert. I don't eat dessert, and neither does anyone else I'm going with. =/

I totally agree with you there. I, too, wish an appetizer was allowed for substitution. :-(

On a related note, if you guys have been recently - do you know if you need to reserve every table-service meal, or just the really popular ones (Canada, Cinderella's Table)?

I've had some real problems reserving even over a month out... we have annual passes (Xmas gift from the mother-in-law), and with over 6 weeks notice, I still couldn't get the more popular (Le Cellier in Canada), or even a decent time for the Spirit of Aloha luau. We settled for the Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge (we're staying at Ft. Wilderness).

This has become a real problem for non-meal-plan folks... the meal-plan-buying resort guests are, quite frankly, hogging all of the reservations. Nothing against them, of course, but it really sucks if you don't want to make dinner ressies 6 months in advance. WTF?! Who knows what they'll be in the mood for in 6 months!!

That said, Raglan Road in Downtown Disney has become a favorite of mine (mostly because of the Guiness & the bread & better pudding for dessert), and people don't reserve that one a million years ahead, so you're likely to get a reasonable time.

ragnarok: The price you're talking about was for the big hourglass-shaped thing full of beer. Regular bottles are something like $4.50.

Well, no wonder I can't remember what I paid... I was toasted!!

Where is the Florida tag?

/hope it didn't go missing, too many Florida threads