They are a 2 hour drive from us so not extravagant trips. But I am so grateful to my mom for taking my kids with her when she traveled to Europe. Even though she never did anything like that with us, she would invite her grandkids one or two at a time to wherever she was going and her rules were "one bag, you carry it, no whining". They got to see places I haven't yet. Very extravagant and I wish she'd taken her own kids on trips like that!
this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2024
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Oh yeah, I'm not saying my parents were good parents. They would never consider a trip like this for me or my sister. I'm just saying I'm actually glad they didnt.
When I was growing up, I had some family in LA & San Diego. One year when we visited them we ended up going to both Disneyland and SeaWorld. This was the late '80s or very early '90s and not a huge deal, I think it was just something to do to keep us kids busy. I know Disneyland isn't "the" Disney that everyone talks about so maybe I'm missing something but Disneyland was sorta underwhelming. I wasn't huge into Disney stuff anyway but I remember being kind of bored.
When we visited in 1997 we went to Universal Studios Hollywood. They had an attraction where you could get photographed in front of a blue screen and edited into a scene from Star Trek - they had uniforms and props and everything. I loved TNG and was so stoked to wear a command uniform and hold a tricorder. My uncle Ira was appalled that I chose TNG over TOS...I can still hear him saying "but that's not real Star Trek!"
when it comes to genuinely unique technology based experiences like that, there's nothing that beats Disney world. Disney Land is really nothing like it. Disney Land is mostly a regular theme park, not that much different than a six flags. Disney world has the most money and research put into it of any physical attraction in the world. that shit has probably had more money dumped into it than the Roman collosseum in its time. the things thet have there now feel like actual magic. they have 3d hologram systems, the have lightsabers that extend and look exactly like the movies, they have the same level of robot as what Tesla used to announce the cybertaxi just running around the park all the time. I've never been, but they have the most unbelievable entertainment technology there. i can see how a child would walk away feeling like they experienced something special.
The extending lightsabers were for the star cruiser thing, and they don’t do that anymore. But maybe they’ve moved them into the park proper.
But yeah, Disney World is a pretty amazing experience.
for that to be a temporary exhibit is almost crazier. that thing i dreamed of having as a child isn't even worth keeping around when compared to everything else they've got going on.
Well, “Starcruiser” was a massive flop. Far too expensive, underwhelming experience, terrible execution. Jenny Nicholson has a surprisingly compelling four hour review of it that covers part of why it flopped. Worth a watch.
Also, the extendable lightsaber is pretty fragile. Only really able to be used for the extending and maybe a bit of swinging it around. Essentially it’s like two half-cylindrical measuring tapes with an end cap that extend together, with an LED strip inside. You can’t hit another blade with it. So when they had lightsaber fights the actors had to quickly swap from the extendable lightsaber to the fighting lightsaber out of view, like crouching to run and swapping behind a railing or something.
huh, i guess I hadn't heard anyone's actual experience from it. I've never been myself. it's only interesting enough for me to want to know that it exists. there is no world in which I would actually pay what it costs to go to Disney world. it's just not my thing. I'd rather find some elk to watch frolic or some shit. that sounds when more magical. still neat to see that it's kind of real now.
but yeah, my biases make it easy to believe that it's all cheaper and shittier than they lead on. that sounds like what a company like Disney would do. make something that looks flashy and makes a good headline, but disappoints when in person.
thank you for sharing your experiences.
Oh I’ve not been on the Starcruiser. It was like, $6k for two nights. Screw that.
I’ve been to Disney World though. The Star Wars area (in Hollywood Studios) is really cool. And Animal Kingdom is fantastic. The whole place is fun, but not everyone’s cup of tea certainly.
It’s way better than Disneyland, IMO. Which is underwhelming in comparison. Although the Star Wars areas are essentially identical, which is nice.
holy hell that's so much.
That depends on how old you are. As a kid, I grew up in Orlando, and I got to go to Disney and Universal all the time. Enough that I got tired of it.
But back then, in the 90s, people still acted like civilized human beings when they went to two amusement parks. I’m just very glad that I have no desire to go back, especially considering what awful nightmare it is.
1996, a day pass for a Florida resident at Disney was $25. At Universal it was $18. Today, add a zero to the end of that, and you’ve got some idea of the amount of money they expect you to spend there. Just on the ticket.
The people and prices are insane. The behavior is one thing, but the sheer number of people crammed into these tiny spaces is so uncomfortable and unpleasant. I'm alllllll set with that.
Look, the endorphins and other neurotransmitters that come from floating through the air on that big swing or down the giant slide are the same whether you're in Orlando or Oneida. Who needs all the other bullshit of Florida.
Maybe the one in California isn't as unappealing. There, at least you're in California and not Florida.
The worst is Magic Kingdom during the night show. It gets stupidly packed. It's the only time I've needed to move through a crowd but physically ran into them as if they were a wall. I had to get back to my family after using the bathroom but I basically had to beg people to make an opening. I think they thought I was trying to get a good spot without waiting.
Had a laugh picturing this. You have to use a call to action to get people to help you get through. Get them to look at you and then look the way you're going, and start tapping shoulders to help you through. "Coming through" "make a hole" "help me through please." As you catch people's attention, nod and gesture to direct their attention forward. It's like surfing. You'll catch waves. Helps to be male with a sobering voice I think.
The closer to the front I got the less people were will to budge. I remember one guy saying "I don't think there's any room up there for you," and I had to point to my family and be like "no dude, they're right there waiting for me" lol.
Growing up in southern California. Disneyland was common, and so common that I ended up working there. It's changed a lot in the last twenty years.
I still go to Disneyland regularly, but it's always because I know someone that can still get me and my family in. I'm fortunate that I haven't paid to go to Disneyland in over 16 years, and I've been hundreds of times. Now, I typically get disappointed when I'm there. I've seen the parks go downhill and the prices go way, way up.
I've been to Sea World growing up, since it was a two hour drive. And Lego Land. And Six Flags.
It's not the parks that are spoiled, it's the flights and hotels that make these things wild trips for spoiled kids.
When I check ticket prices for my family of five, the cheapest option at Disney World is 1700 Euro. That's on the Disney website and does not include travel or lodging or food.
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When i read extravagant trips, i expected to go to some Carribean Islands, or hiking in Nepal or something like that. Going to some Plastic corporate identity hellhole does not seem extravagant to me, although it is probably much more expensive in terms of Costs/Experience.
Funny how it's all about perspective. For me, going to a Caribbean island was a short flight away. Extravagant meant going to Europe for 2 weeks. Also Disney World
Going to a tropical island isn't extravagant, it's just expensive. Extravagant is spending a lot of money on something that isn't worth it, like Disney World.
2 weeks on Bali for 2 cost grand total $3,400, including everything. And we were splurging. That's far less than 2 weeks at Disneyland. That is absolutely ridiculous to me.
And I assume you stayed at a nice hotel. There's absolutely cheaper tropical destinations and alternatives to nice hotels if you just want the tropical beach life. We spent far less than 3k during 1 month in Thailand.
Absolutely. Just wonderful little inns with gorgeous views. Locally owned places of course.
Seriously, my wife and I road tripped Scotland for the price of a Disney vacation.
What do you know now that makes you grateful?
Just saw Blackfish?
SeaWorld I understand but why Disney?
Is there a documentary about mouse abuse? Unlike SeaWorld, Disney World seems a large enough environment for a human sized mouse to thrive.
Ah, but you're forgetting, there's a population of 200 TNR cats at Disneyland! Oh wait, I'm not sure if DisneyWorld has cats too. In California, cats have been there longer than Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
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Just that these are corporate entities that care nothing for the world they are a part of and are just trying to leech off society.
You know corporations are what people make them, right?
These places have their goods and bads.
Disney in the past weren't nearly so exploitive and expensive. They truly did give an extremely fun and entertaining experience to the guests. They did much better at treating their employees. They have pushed technological boundaries on the entertainment front. They built parks that have genuinely made millions happy. They aren't perfect as a corporation and I have a shitload of gripes with their management and leadership, but they put out a pretty damn good product.
Nowadays, they do underpay and over charge. They are cashing in on nostalgia and not doing enough to foster that in the next generation. They're no longer targeting family fun but are instead putting more towards the mid-20s to late 30s market. I haven't felt it was worth the money in a long time.
Sea world. While they have done terrible things especially in the Orcas, they also put on a very, very entertaining theme park. They do fund a lot of research and coastal animal refuges.
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It's been a long time, but I was in a dance troupe as a kid and we performed at Disney World in the late 90's. I'm not sure if they still do it, but when you traveled to perform there, they put your troupe name and the members' names in the park program for the day.
My mom and I took the tram back to the park at dusk every night we were there to get a milkshake and watch the fireworks. TBH, those were some pretty neat experiences.
DW was a neat place before it got enshittified.
Honestly the kids who get spoiled grow up to be not so nice adults. They want everything to be spoonfed.
We have season passes that give us access to all Cedar Fair parks with unlimited meals and drinks, unlimited visits all year long, and it still costs less than one trip to Disney. We often visit 7 different parks in a year, and our home park dozens of times.
Free meals a whole season? Why not just move next to it and never have to worry about cooking ever again?
We're 7 minutes away, and we do go often just for a meal.
Is it the murders? Its the murders.
Been a few times. You're not missing much.
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