Conference koolit::disney

    EPCOT, I  would  think  that  Walt  wouldn't  be happy with the overall
    feeling of EPCOT  since  it  doens't  represent  what  he had originaly
    presented for EPCOT on his TV program, prior to his death.  Although as
    Rob says in .0 I  think  he would be happy with the technologies in use
    throughtout EPCOT and especially American Adventure.
    
    DISNEY-MGM Studios Theme Park, I beleive  that Walt would be happy with
    this, since it is said that Walt  wished  he could open his Buena Vista
    Studios to the public.
    
    As far has Typhoon Lagoon/Pleasure Island, I don't  know, I would asume
    that he would of like to see other attractions  built at WDW (after all
    that's why he bought 27000+ acres for).
    
    As far as the Grand Floridian, I would assume that  he would of like to
    have at least 1 grand type hotel on the property for  his  RICH friends
    ;^).  The other hotels who knows, I'm sure he'd eventually would want a
    convention type  of facility (Swan/Dolphin) on the property to bring in
    the convention crowd.
    
    As far as the overall cost $'s, I think he wouldn't be  to  proud  with
    the way the admissions prices have  skyrocketed  in  the  past 5 years.
    After all he wanted WDW to be the  family  vacation getaway, and if the
    trend continues in the next few years it'll be  for  RICH families ;^(.
    One of the things that impressed me was the dolar value of going to WDW
    pre '85, I mean for the same cost of either going  to  Busch Gardens in
    Tampa or Sea World in Orlando, you could go to WDW MK  or Epcot and get
    an even better overal experience.
    
    Claude_just_my_non_moderator_opinion

    re .-1
    
    What did you mean by comparing Sea World, Busch Gardens and MK and
    prices??  We went to Sea World for a half-day, and the cost per
    person per day was very close to MK or EPCOT for one day... although
    I enjoyed SEa World, one day there does not compare with one day
    at either MK or EC-- in my opinion!!
    
    Regards,
    
    CArla
    

    back in  '87  I  could  of  sworn  there  was a diference of $6 or more
    between them, maybe they decided to play DISNEY's game?
    
    Claude

    Pleasure Island
    
    I don't think it completely fits the Disney theme.  When I first
    heard about it I was pleased by the addition.  When I saw it, I
    liked it and had fun... but...
    
    Only the cleanliness, attention to detail, etc. are there.  The
    theming doesn't seem present (save the varying theme from club to
    club).  I thought "Pleasure Island" would take more from the same
    name.  Hide the clubs in the carnival type atmosphere prevalent
    (sp?) in Pinnochio's Pleasure Island.  I half expected a pile
    of (fake) school books, tied together heaped at the entrance.  Little
    details in theming.
    
    So, in conclusion, I feel Walt might have opted that a nighttime
    complex fits to round out the Vacation Kingdom, but feel he would
    have more strongly themed/stylized it in Disney tradition.
    
    George
    

    re: .2
    
    I remember (vaguely, I'll add) a price of $16/day for Sea World
    whereas Disney is $29/day [one admission, one park].
    
    George
    

    I agree with Claude
    The price for a three day passport is very steep, I mean just my
    husband and I went, but what happens to familys with lots of
    kids...they cant go right?  The onsite hotels are also pretty steep.
    I think if Disney was alive, I think he would want to see it affordable
    for everyone, not just the upper class people that dont know what
    to do with their money.
    
    Overall the place is pretty awesome, lots of careful detail,
    architecture, cleanliness and colorfulness make it a very exciting
    place to visit.

    
    I dunno, I think it's hard to compare WDW with Sea World, Busch
    Gardens, etc.
    
    First off, the other places are strictly "one day" affairs.  I would
    never go to just MK for a day, or just Epcot for a day.  I'd never
    go unless I could at least spend a week at all of WDW.  Yes, now
    you're talking big bucks, but, still, it's not a comparison any more.
    A 1 week adventure vs. a 1 day visit.
    
    Second, the dollars I spend only mean anything in terms of how I felt 
    after the experience.  I have never left WDW thinking it wasn't
    "worth" it - in fact, I never think of the money at all, only the
    great time I had (tells me that that the "place" made more of an 
    impression than the money spent).
    
    I have often thought when leaving Sea World, etc., not only that
    I spent too many $$$, but that I wasted another day I could have had
    at Disney.  Sea World would have to be $3 before it even approximated
    Disney value for me [ <- labal "opinion" in large red letters :^) ]

    How many of you leave WDW only to start saving for your next trip
    there?
    
    How many of you go to Busch/Sea World/whatever and say, "That was
    real nice, but no need to go again..."

SEAN/BEER=LABATTS

    
     Well, when it comes down to admission cost I still think Disney
    is a good value when compared to other "amusement parks" which tend
    to be only slightly cheaper than Disney, without giving the guest
    anywhere near the experiance of Disney. I do wish they would include
    one other activity (River country, or Typhoon lagoon) in with the
    five day world passports..........BUT
    
    Feeling the Disney Dollar squeeze for me boils down to the overall
    vacation cost. I have not stayed at the Carribean Beach, but it
    is about time a "lower" cost hotel was built on site. CB is the
    only hotel on site that you can get a room for less than $100 a
    night (not including FW campsites). It looks like the CB will be
    the only "lower" cost hotel on site for quite sometime, the EPCOT
    center resorts all look like they will be very high priced. In a
    very short time CB maybe the only on site less than $200 a night.
    If the current trend of the last 2-3 years continues Disney world
    will become a place only for the rich, the average family may only
    be able to make a once in a lifetime trip to Disney world, and that
    would be sad, as it is now a family of four is spending over $400.00
    just for four day park admission, that doesn't include, river country,
    Typhoon Lagoon, Discovery Island, Pleasure Island, or feeding your
    clan, all in all it is getting tough with no end in sight
    
    -Rob
    
    

    According to  a  small  blurb  I  saw  in  the  latest issue of Fortune
    magazine on amusement parks (in the begining where they have the little
    news  items), the average price for Six Flag's parks is around  $19/day
    and  change,  and for the Busch Gardens is around $22/day, still a  big
    diference from  Disney's  $29/day.    It  went  on  to mention that the
    non-Disney parks felt they  have reach the peak for admissions charges,
    I only wish Disney Exec's would feel the same ;^(.
    
    Claude

    Just to put the entrance fee in a different perspective:  I just
    spent five days at WDW with my wife and son.  Every day but one
    we entered one of the theme parks at 9am and all but one days we
    didn't leave before 22:30 (that's 10:30pm for you guys in the US
    and UK).  Breaking down our five day passes to the hours spent inside
    the parks, it cost something like $5/hour to get total entertainment
    for the three of us.
    I can't compare that to any of the other theme parks in the US, since I
    haven't been to any (other than SeaWorld), but it sure beats something
    like the Munich Oktoberfest, where a 2 minute ride on the roller
    coaster already costs $3 per person.
    
            
    Vinzenz (who'd also like to get into WDW for the Six Flag's price
    of $19/day)
    

RE: .8 

>>    If the current trend of the last 2-3 years continues Disney world
>>    will become a place only for the rich, 

I agree that the price of the passports is steep for a family, but I don't think
the rising price of Disney hotels will keep people from going to WDW.  The vast
majority of people going to the parks each day do not stay on property - they
stay on Rt 192 or on International Drive.  And I know from experience that there
are some very good (and inexpensive) hotels on Rt 192.

We usually go to WDW whenever 3 things come together:  we have enough money, I
have enough vacation, and air fares are reasonable.  If we had to choose between
saving for 2 years to stay at the Polynesian or going twice while staying on Rt
192, we will choose going twice.  The atmosphere at the Disney hotels is
wonderful, but we would rather have 2 vacations.  And the money saved on a week
or longer vacation can almost finance the next vacation. Of course, getting an
annual passport makes that second trip look more attractive. 

For example.  In both '83 and '84 we stayed in a trailer at Fort Wilderness and
were very pleased.  We paid about $100/night plus tax.  In '85, we stayed at
FantasyWorld Club Villas on Rt 192 for $50, while the price at FW was something
like $106.  We were able to stay for 2 weeks instead of one.

On our last trip, we stayed at the Quality Inn on 192, and we were able to get
to the EPCOT or MGM parking lots in less than 10 minutes.  That's quicker than
the people in the Polynesian could get there.  And for getting back to our room
at night, forget it.  (Admittedly, the people at the Polynesian have the
advantage at the MK.)
    
--Jay    

    Just a historical note (probably nothing new to anyone out there)..
    
    They *did* give other admissions when on Ticketed times.  Your ticket
    book usually included River Country and Discovery Island (at least the
    book I used to buy).
    
    The CB's rates for a Deluxe View next year is exactly $99/night, up
    four dollars since last year, which means if the current trend of "the
    prices simply *must* go up every Decemember!" it *won't* be under $100
    next year.  Incidently, the GF Honeymoon Suites went up $30/night.
    
    I agree, its an expensive place.  I agree its worth it and I don't squack
    about the money.  But.. Mike and the boys have got to put a ceiling on
    things here, where its acceptable (barely) to families if they save for
    a couple of years.  Just my opinion..
    
    George
    

    Has anyone noticed the latest tv ads for TV Guide? They showcase their
    Editor-In-Chief, Althea Disney. I would think that she's some relation
    to Walt because Disney is not a common name and she is in the
    entertainment business so..........................she's probably a
    granddaughter or something.
    
    Does anyone know for sure?
    
    Mike

    	Actually Mike, I've heard of a few people named Disney.  I think
    it's more common that we would think.  It's actually an Americanized
    version of a French name which I can't pronounce never mind spell!  
    In fact, I looked in ELF and even DEC has a Disney!
    
    
    Tom
    

    Tom,
    
    I guess what made me think she would be related to Walt was the fact
    that she is in the entertainment business.
    
    Imagine having that name and calling the CRO to make a reservation? Ya
    think you'd get top shelf service?
    
    Imagine having that name and getting a gold card?
    
    Mike

    	Great idea.  I'm going to change my name to Disney so I can get
    that STAR treatment at WDW!!!  Why didn't I think of that?  I think
    your logic is right on Mike, if she's a Disney and in entertainment
    there is a good chance she's related.  Maybe one of Roy's children or
    something.
    
    
    Tom

    If you listen to the commercial carefully, you'll notice that
    she has a slight British accent.
    
    todd///

      She's actually the love child of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and in
    honor of their creator, good ol' Walt, they gave her his surname 
    (;-;-;-;-)
    
      The accent is to just throw us off.....!!!!