WDWPinCollector
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2007
My suspicion that WDW for the British was the sole or "end-all" destination in the US was proven by some of the posts. I cringe to read that some British have continually visited WDW and nowhere else (whether they have an investment in the DVC or not). Kudos to you British who have seen other parts of the US that have no connection to Walt Disney whatsoever. After all, the US isn't one big amusement park.
Sure, the Orlando area appreciates your tourist dollars, but:
1. Do you leave the Orlando area or just stay "on campus" as it were, and;
2. Wouldn't Americans in, say, San Francisco or the Grand Canyon area, appreciate your tourist dollars, too? Crater Lake, in all its glory, in Southern Oregon is waiting for you British to come by and visit! Warning: There isn't a roller coaster or a dining plan in sight for miles.
I consider myself, at least by American standards, very open to foreign cultures and ideas. I have been to Europe a dozen times and 2 of those times included the UK (though some of you seem to believe that the UK is a separate entity, outside of Europe, which contradicts American geography books). I'm fluent in French and can get by in German. I'm in the American minority in that I have a valid passport. PG tips is the only tea I'll drink.
Imagine the horror of discovering that all my visits (and those of many other Americans) to the UK entailed Alton Towers and nowhere else? (By the way, I've never been there.)
Similarly, I didn't go to England to experience a "log flume" type ride or check out the latest fireworks or roller coaster. I went there to explore the British Museum, attend evensong in St. Paul's Cathedral and in Canterbury, see where famous people are buried in Westminster Abbey, learn how Anne Boleyn lived in Hampton Court, among other culturally-enriching things to see and do. Experiencing afternoon tea in the home of a very pleasant elderly British woman in a suburb of London called Richmond wasn't a "Finding Nemo--The Musical" experience--and thank goodness for that.
My worry is not that I'm hearing the British accent in WDW. I love the British accent. It's basically why I watch all the reality judging shows here in the US like American Idol. There is always at least one panelist or judge who is British. I've even learned to pronounce the words "performance" and "ghastly" in a perfect Simon Cowell British accent, emphasizing a super-sibilant S, of course.
My concern is that I'm hearing it at what I believe is a disproportionately high rate versus other accents. I personally find that annoying, but that's just me. Your mileage may vary. And I do understand that various nationalities will not be equally represented in WDW. Again, it's the gross disproportion that I find concerning. I'd feel the same way if I heard the Australian accent at such a high disproportion, around every turn, at least 20 times a day. Again, your mileage may vary.
Unfortunately, for me WDW has become the UK--Part II, or some kind of overseas department as the French have, a British DOM/TOM as it were.
To make the analogy that an overabundance of British in WDW is tantamount to an overabundance of Americans in London is false. WDW is not a major world city like London is.
The idea that WDW will gladly accept tourist dollars from those living outside of North America and the UK, but will effectly bar them from winning any prizes in the Year of a Million Dreams sweepstakes (as indicated in its rules), is very disturbing, indeed. It's like paying into the NHS but being barred from receiving any health benefits from it because it has been determined that you're not elligible.
So, all you British who read this post...come on over again and again! Los Angeles, San Francisco, The Grand Canyon, New York City, Washington, DC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Mount Rushmore, Seattle, Boston, New England, New Orleans, Phoenix, New Mexico, the Florida Everglades, Dallas, and other places in the United States--they're all waiting for your tourist dollars! Cheers.
Sure, the Orlando area appreciates your tourist dollars, but:
1. Do you leave the Orlando area or just stay "on campus" as it were, and;
2. Wouldn't Americans in, say, San Francisco or the Grand Canyon area, appreciate your tourist dollars, too? Crater Lake, in all its glory, in Southern Oregon is waiting for you British to come by and visit! Warning: There isn't a roller coaster or a dining plan in sight for miles.
I consider myself, at least by American standards, very open to foreign cultures and ideas. I have been to Europe a dozen times and 2 of those times included the UK (though some of you seem to believe that the UK is a separate entity, outside of Europe, which contradicts American geography books). I'm fluent in French and can get by in German. I'm in the American minority in that I have a valid passport. PG tips is the only tea I'll drink.
Imagine the horror of discovering that all my visits (and those of many other Americans) to the UK entailed Alton Towers and nowhere else? (By the way, I've never been there.)
Similarly, I didn't go to England to experience a "log flume" type ride or check out the latest fireworks or roller coaster. I went there to explore the British Museum, attend evensong in St. Paul's Cathedral and in Canterbury, see where famous people are buried in Westminster Abbey, learn how Anne Boleyn lived in Hampton Court, among other culturally-enriching things to see and do. Experiencing afternoon tea in the home of a very pleasant elderly British woman in a suburb of London called Richmond wasn't a "Finding Nemo--The Musical" experience--and thank goodness for that.
My worry is not that I'm hearing the British accent in WDW. I love the British accent. It's basically why I watch all the reality judging shows here in the US like American Idol. There is always at least one panelist or judge who is British. I've even learned to pronounce the words "performance" and "ghastly" in a perfect Simon Cowell British accent, emphasizing a super-sibilant S, of course.
My concern is that I'm hearing it at what I believe is a disproportionately high rate versus other accents. I personally find that annoying, but that's just me. Your mileage may vary. And I do understand that various nationalities will not be equally represented in WDW. Again, it's the gross disproportion that I find concerning. I'd feel the same way if I heard the Australian accent at such a high disproportion, around every turn, at least 20 times a day. Again, your mileage may vary.
Unfortunately, for me WDW has become the UK--Part II, or some kind of overseas department as the French have, a British DOM/TOM as it were.
To make the analogy that an overabundance of British in WDW is tantamount to an overabundance of Americans in London is false. WDW is not a major world city like London is.
The idea that WDW will gladly accept tourist dollars from those living outside of North America and the UK, but will effectly bar them from winning any prizes in the Year of a Million Dreams sweepstakes (as indicated in its rules), is very disturbing, indeed. It's like paying into the NHS but being barred from receiving any health benefits from it because it has been determined that you're not elligible.
So, all you British who read this post...come on over again and again! Los Angeles, San Francisco, The Grand Canyon, New York City, Washington, DC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Mount Rushmore, Seattle, Boston, New England, New Orleans, Phoenix, New Mexico, the Florida Everglades, Dallas, and other places in the United States--they're all waiting for your tourist dollars! Cheers.
infact I think my first car was older than that!!
) so why are you surprised?
