Vacationing with children – it just about killed me. Our sleeping schedule was wacky, the stuff we had to pack and organize, and my daughter got sick and the money. Oh, my goodness the money to go to Disney and Sea World and shucks rent a car and eat for two weeks – I know why we don’t vacation often. My son got to experience flying and he loved climbing the mountain in Arizona, seeing his grandma (the highlight of our trip), eating some great fondue from the Melting Pot, shaking Buzz Light Years hand and riding his first roller coaster. I just hope he remembers it all. My daughter, well she played and played and enjoyed swimming and being with mom and dad. She won’t remember anything but we gave her some experiences to help her development and best of all (besides seeing grandma) she loved Sea World.
I made some interesting observations and please note: these are my observations and just what I noticed.
People Spend Money Regardless of How Bad the Economy Is
The economy sucks. We keep hearing this over and over but what I witnessed was not reflecting this. In Arizona I saw BMW and Mercedes everywhere. I saw new construction and stores being built every other block. I didn’t see homes for sale like I do in Michigan. Now I was only in Scottsdale so this isn’t reflecting the entire state of Arizona but still it didn’t seem as though the economy was bad where I was.
I gasped when I saw the crowds at Disney and Sea World. We saved for this trip and perhaps thousands of others did too but could all the people surrounding me at these theme parks afford what they were doing and buying? I wondered as I watched the families buy expensive hamburgers and ice cream cones, princess tiaras and Mickey Mouse hats – are they just using credit and hoping to pay this off?
We stayed at Orange Lake Country Club (very nice) and it was full and the busiest they have been in a long time. How could that be, isn’t the economy in trouble and there is less frivolous money? Were we just surrounded by rich people everywhere we went – no I doubt that. I think people just spend when they shouldn’t.
The Theme Parks Need Some Going Green Help
Disney World was dirty. It just was. I tweeted this throughout the day and the lines were not magical. As we stood in line for ice cream a lady sprayed a stinky chemical cleaner on the floors and it gave me a headache. She did this but just pushed the trash around. I couldn’t figure out how this was cleaning and what about non-toxic cleaners? Do I really want to breathe that and my ice cream was just a few inches away. I saw this a few times throughout the day. After our trip I did see that Disney plans for cut backs and workers are being laid off, which is sad and again making me wonder about the economy and the spending I saw.
Food choices were pretty bad all around at Disney. Greasy unhealthy food and yes, we all like to eat this on vacation but I wanted to see some better choices and maybe restaurants that don’t need reservations. Sea World had more healthy selections and restaurant varieties, which we enjoyed.
Maybe it was the animals but Sea World was far cleaner. I love the hand washing stations but I’m sure they used triclosan soap but I never asked. I just liked the idea of clean hands throughout the park. The recycling was very easily spotted at Sea World and even my husband noted this. Disney was so busy I didn’t notice too much recycling going on but there was a lot of trash on the ground. I did find out that Sea World has a Go Green Team that is dedicated to making the park eco-friendly.
I would like to see the theme parks get on the green bandwagon and start using safer cleaners and soaps for our kids and the environment. It really bothers me that they are spraying that stuff around my kids and if my daughter had been there she could have easily had an asthma attack.
Healthier food choices and enforcing the new CPSIA law with all of the toys they sell. Plastic junk, which I’m of course guilty for buying but only sparingly, and we chose wisely. I think that Disney is doing a poor job overall and perhaps instead of sending mom bloggers to impress them they should consider talking to some green mommy bloggers and start doing something other than making green.
Take Action to Help Disney Go Green
I did some Google research (yes, not real concrete) and wanted to learn more about the theme parks and their efforts. I learned that I’m not the only disappointed mom but that I can change this disappointment into action. The Center of Environmental Health launched a Disney Go Green Campaign in 2008 and they make the action part easy. Just visit the Disney Go Green Campaign and find out what you can do. I’m going to voice my opinion (other than here) but will you?
FYI
Disney has a environmental policy and according to this article, they’re green on other fronts. I guess I just missed all the greenness but I’m open to learning more and hope that I continue to see more.
For information on Sea World’s green team and policies click here.
Remember, these were just my observations.
