Welcome to October! In this week’s mailbag contributing writer Chris Barry answers questions about some of his recent articles. This first set of letters are a continuation of feedback on his article, “Top 5 Ways a Trip to Walt Disney World is a Bargain.” (September 4, 2009)
Jennifer P. writes:
I hit upon your piece from a Google search. We have been twice, to Disney, and we used the Disney travel. I have a couple of questions for you. What is a pin code – that afforded 40% off? Would you get the free dining plan, if you used AAA to buy your park hoppers?
I was pricing out a possible trip and reduced the tickets to base, counting every penny. If the tickets were discounted in some way, we would certainly go back to park hopper. My girls were younger last two times, and the park hopper did not get its full use. I do think we would make use of it now. Thanks for you input. This is something everyone should read.
Glad you stumbled upon us. Keep reading.
The pin code was sent to me in the mail and it was for my room only. The park tickets were not included. We are traveling during free dining time, but we obviously couldn’t use both the pin code and the free dining offer. We felt that the 40% off a room at The Yacht Club was the better deal. I’d rather stay there and eat less.
You can get the free dining through AAA, but you must book a whole package through them and they will not offer the standard AAA discount rate AND the free dining offer. (Disney can offer some good deals, but they’re not crazy.) Only one discount at a time. I’ve found that AAA prices on rooms at Disney and park tickets are often the best out there, and there are some other perks to dealing with them.
Brenda N. writes:
I agree with you about Disney being a great value. I’m from Florida but now live in Indiana. You will notice that as your kids get older it will become even more of a value. For us to go out to dinner or see an attraction of any kind with three teenagers becomes very costly.
My biggest hang up with Disney is the four per room. We are also a family of five. We used to stay at the Port Orleans Riverside when the kids were little. Now, we have to book a suite and they are just so much more affordable outside of Disney. We usually stay at Old Town in Kissimmee at the Comfort Suites Maingate East. I just can’t justify spending so much more money to sleep.
Great article. Now if we could get my husband to agree!
I’m going to try and stay on property for as long as I can. I wish Disney would offer some more affordable options for a family of five. I haven’t tried the All Star Suites yet, and I’m interested in one day staying at the Fort Wilderness cabins. I’m thrilled to be able to stay at The Yacht Club this fall. All things considered, we are getting a pretty good deal. Let’s try to work on your husband!
Patrick writes:
I enjoyed your “Top 5 Ways a Trip to Walt Disney World is a Bargain” article of 4 September. And you know what? I agree with you completely. I’ve had many discussions with families over the years about Walt Disney World. I don’t mean to be offensive, but they do everything wrong and wonder why all they remember is their trip being hot, crowded and expensive.
All too many families visit Walt Disney World during the warmest, most crowded and most expensive times of the year. They stay at remote motels trying to save money but that actually adds the cost of parking plus a rental car and requires commuting. They sleep in every morning and arrive at a park at the most crowded part of the day. They wander around with no plan and no clue about the attractions in the parks. They buy burgers and fries at counter service establishments during prime meal times; again and again. They take no breaks and even skip meals because, “It’s too expensive.” Is it any wonder why they remember only being hot and tired?
A coworker from Tampa once told me, “Magic Kingdom is mostly a walk around park. There really aren’t many rides there.” I think many visitors approach Walt Disney World as they would their local State Fair. They just wander around like it’s a midway. If an attraction isn’t out it the open and obvious, they miss it completely. This explains why when I ask them if they enjoyed attractions like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, they answer, “I didn’t see those.”
Some people out there just don’t get it now, do they? That’s all right though, it’ll keep the crowds down and that’s getting harder and harder to do nowadays.
Caswell A. writes:
I just read your article on the value of a Disney Vacation and wanted to say, “Great job.” It was all on point. I’m sold, not that I’ve ever needed much convincing to take a family vacation to Disney. I can testify to the fact that other east coast vacations are just as expensive, if not more. We recently went to a Great Wolf Lodge resort in Williamsburg and paid close to $300 a night.
It seems there are many people out there agreeing with us. My quote at the Great Wolf in Pennsylvania for the five of us was just about $400 a night!
Chris’ article “Disney Collectible Lithographs” (September 18, 2009) generated the following responses from a couple more of our readers.
Gary A. writes:
Lithographs are original works of visual art “wholly executed by hand by the artist” and “excludes any mechanical and photomechanical processes.” Disney is a non-living corporation not a living artist. As a result Disney has never created anything, much less a lithograph. The so-called “lithographs” offered in Disney store are non-disclosed reproductions. Reproductions versus lithographs are not interchangeable, much less the same.
Disney, in part, operates out of California. Under California Civil Code 1738 to 1745, if you sell a reproduction for $100 or more, you are required to disclose it as a reproduction. Failure to do so may include but not limited to: refund-interest-treble damages and $1,000 fine per occurance.
Finally, Disney has been notified of these contentious issues of authenticity. So, does Disney misrepresent reproductions in other states and fully disclose them as reproductions in California or do they misrepresent reproductions as original works of visual art i.e. lithographs everywhere? That’s a rhetorical question.
In closing, these questions may be answered by statewide prosecutors and attorney generals. I hope your publication might consider sharing these contentious issues of authenticity with your readers, much less Disney.
I’m far from an expert, nor a lawyer. The pieces in question are below $100. So, I don’t know how that impacts things. Thanks for pointing out these issues. I’ll forward this to the editorial staff.
Karen writes:
Well, this has to be the biggest coincidence in the world. I was cleaning out my garage today and guess what I found? A box of all my Disney lithographs, framed and still wrapped in bubble wrap from when I moved (I’ve been in my house 3 years!) I was thinking about selling them but now that I read your article I realized I can’t get rid of them. I can always use more artwork on the walls and I can rotate different movies every month. Thanks for putting out this article now. If I would have sold them, I think I would’ve regretted it someday. Keep collecting!
Great coincidence! Glad I could inadvertently help. I’ll keep collecting as long as you guys keep responding!
Finally, the last two readers respond to Chris’ “Top 5 Dining Moments at Walt Disney World” (October 2, 2009).
Dan W. writes:
5. Zebra Domes at Boma in Animal Kingdom Lodge. We ate at Boma for the first time last Fall, where, after hearing much about this unique dessert, I had to have just one. Heh. 10 Domes or so later, my family physically barred be from returning to the line. And for your information – Zebra Domes can be smuggled out in a pocket if you’re quick to eat it upon your exit before it begins to melt.
4. Turkey Legs. Yes, they are a nutritional nightmare and a heckuva mess to eat. But are they ever tasty. Something in the roasting/smoking just makes my mouth water. Nom-nom-nom.
3. Mickey Ice Cream Bar. Am with you 100% on this. I know this product is available in its basic form in every supermarket and convenience store in the U.S. But there’s something about biting off those cool, creamy, chocolate-crunchy ears… Or maybe it’s the parade or streetshow that is often in the background.
2. Pretzel Bread from LeCellier in the Canada pavilion. It is a huge danger when we go to LeCellier for me to pig out so thoroughly on the pretzel bread that I haven’t left room for anything else. Especially the cheese soup.
1. Tonga Toast at The Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Resort. It’s not a trip for us unless it includes this belly-buster. I manage to finish every artery-clogging bite and enjoy each sweet mouthful — and then am quite content not to eat again for the rest of the day. Well, almost.
I got hungry just reading your response. Most of your choices I haven’t had, so they will be on my list for the next trip.
Beth W. writes:
My family had one of the worst meals we’ve ever been served at the San Angel Inn. Industrial tortilla chips? The fresh chips at Whispering Canyon Cafe put San Angel Inn to shame! My son ordered the kid’s chicken strip/pasta dinner. The plate came to the table with everything in it swimming in pasta water. Not sauce…murky pasta water. He is a finicky eater anyway, but his reaction surprised me; his eyes welled up with tears and he put his head down. He was embarrassed to be served such a horror. He was embarrassed when I asked our Cast Member for a new plate. She was very kind and brought him a fresh plate with two chicken strips and no pasta.
Add to that a school cafeteria-quality quesadilla for my other son and a bowl of salad in which everything, including the meat, had the same texture, temperature, and taste, and it added up to the most horrific table service meal we’ve ever had. I’m not the only person to have this type of experience there. Please think carefully before suggesting this place to anyone else…your experiences there are the exception to the rule!
I have eaten there so many times and have had a fantastic meal every single time. We just returned from a trip with 18 people and we all loved it. I’m sorry you had a bad experience, but I’ve eaten there at least a dozen times and have never had a bad experience. Anyone else out there want to comment on the San Angel?
