He Didn't Like Stay in Cindy's Castle

[Gator]

Can you believe it. I just read an article in my local paper by Travis Reed of the AP. The AP paid his way to stay one night in the castle (for media coverage puposes), and all he could do is complain about everything but the jacuzzi bath. I think everyone on this site would be willing to sell parts of their body to stay a night there. And this punk says he's "tired of smiling and waving" as grand marshall of the parade; the elevator to the room is too slow; he's upset about going to breakfast with Cinderella; and "the mouse ears I can do without." This would be a dream come true for me and my family. Just terribly upsetting, and I figured I could vent here. Thanks for putting up with it.

[AndrewJackson]

Here is the article:

Cinderella and Me: A night in the castle

By TRAVIS REED, Associated Press Writer Tue Feb 20, 1:48 PM ET

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - I am in hundreds of strangers' vacation pictures — the bewildered guy in the sputtering truck at the front of the Walt Disney World parade. I'm sitting next to Daisy Duck and wearing mouse ears embroidered with my name, waving like an idiot and smiling like I just won a toaster.

That's the first place they put you when you've won an overnight stay in the three-room suite inside the Cinderella Castle. It's the crown jewel in Walt Disney Co.'s "Year of a Million Dreams" sweepstakes, the squeal-inducing fantasy of millions of little girls — and my home for the next 17 hours.

Each day, Disney randomly chooses one family to spend the night in its new Cinderella Suite, but I got to stay there thanks to an exclusive invitation from Disney to The Associated Press. (Families stay there for free, and the suite cannot be rented, but The AP paid $587 for my stay, which was the estimated value for the overnight.) Staying in the suite also means I'm also grand marshal of the parade, the honorary guest in an event called the "Dreams Come True Dinner," created by Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, and the front-of-the-line guy at anything I want to ride.

I am a tattooed 27-year-old guy with Buddy Holly glasses and no children. But I'm just not that into princesses. So to enhance my appreciation, I've adopted a family with two little girls (ages 5 and 2) to stay with me.

I am tired of smiling and waving when the parade ends, and I wonder how the full-grown adults dressed up like Goofy and Minnie do it every single day. Besides that, what will become of all those pictures when they make it back to Iowa or Idaho or Kalamazoo?

The Magic Kingdom is designed so you can see the castle from just about anywhere, and the walk to our suite seems longer than it should. We are led up a far pathway, past a side door and into a small room with stone walls.

Our guide, dressed as a 17th century castle guy, swipes a card to call our elevator and takes us four stories up. The suite is brand new. The elevator is not, and moves eerily a few inches up and down when it's boarded or stopping.

Each of us is given a swipe key with our name and "Cinderella Suite" written on it, and before long there are bite marks all over 2-year-old Emily's. Her sister Hannah has the honor of opening our door the first time.

There are golden flecks in the floor and ornate squares on the ceiling, making the whole room feel gilded. The desk in the corner is a 17th century Dutch antique with velvet-lined shelves that Disney has retrofitted with a high-speed Internet hookup. There are two queen beds with headboards and a canopy and a fireplace that can't burn anything, but holds a fiberoptic display of flame and pixie dust.

The television in the sitting room is a mirror that converts at the touch of a button, while the "royal bedchamber" TV changes from a framed electronic portrait of Cinderella. There is a television with at least five channels in foreign languages, an array of DVDs (all Disney, of course) and free calls to anywhere on an antique-looking phone.

I get wild ideas about that last part until I remember I don't know anyone in Paris or Tokyo anyway.

Perhaps most impressive is the bathroom, which features a 4-foot square Jacuzzi jet tub with a waterfall faucet, a separate shower that could comfortably fit three and a square toilet. Over the tub are three sparkling mosaics made of hand-cut Italian glass.

All of these things I like — especially the mirror that turns into a TV. But I am disappointed in the minibar. It has juice boxes but no Jack Daniels.

Much of the royal family's day — like the parade and dinner reservations — is preset, so there isn't a lot of time for rides. Emily isn't tall enough for the roller coasters, which basically leaves the other category — the ones where you sit in a car, ride along a track and watch animatronic pirates or fish or jungle people sing and dance.

But because we're staying inside the park and Disney provides us a front-of-the-line escort, we've got to ride something. We end up on Peter Pan's Flight and then the ride whose name Disney refuses to capitalize, it's a small world. When it's over, the girls' father and I are yawning. It's only 5:30 p.m. but we've been on the go nonstop since the parade at 2 p.m.

We have dinner reservations at Cinderella's Royal Table, a place where the Fairy Godmother and other Disney characters weave between diners performing songs. It is expensive, but we aren't paying because it's included in our stay.

Before dinner we finally meet Cinderella. In blond wig, powdered cheeks and lilting voice, she is convincing, and poses for pictures with us. She embraces my arm; I do not tell her I will later be naked in her bathtub.

The restaurant serves everything from hot dogs to prime rib, but they also do not have booze. I found out the hard way after asking for a Sam Adams when I thought our waiter said they have "great beer." Root beer, it turns out, but there is no alcohol at the Magic Kingdom.

I guess that explains our minibar.

Godmother identifies our table as the lucky suite winners during dinner, and the rest of the restaurant offers rousing applause. Later, a woman stops by to ask us where we were when we found out when we won. I feel like a jerk telling her we didn't win anything, it's just that I'm a reporter.

Our Disney escort is waiting sharply when we're done with dinner, which is starting to become a pattern. It almost feels like we're being watched. The pretty girl dressed like a stewardess who guides us around reports into a hand radio whenever "The Royal Family" is on the move. Who is she talking to? I have no idea but it's kind of creepy.

Disney has left princess wands, crowns and Minnie Mouse dolls for the girls back at the suite. They have also turned back the covers on our beds, put out a tray of cookies and traded our barely used bathroom soap for an unopened bar. All of those are hotel luxuries I have never before experienced.

We watch the fireworks show that closes the park through the suite's stained-glass windows, and everyone tries out the Jacuzzi. Separately.

I haven't taken a bath since my mother was holding the wash rag, but I can't resist this thing. I turn on the jets for 20 minutes, thinking there's no way I'll be there longer than 10. They have all kinds of fancy soaps lining the side, and I use some shampoo that smells like weird plants and expensive salons. I finally pry myself out after 16 minutes, feeling like I'm hogging the bathroom.

At about 9:30 p.m. I press 0 for the concierge and ask for an after-hours look outside the castle. You can't really leave the suite without asking, but it somehow doesn't feel like you're trapped. Someone is posted round-the-clock just to handle our requests.

I do literally have the park to myself, but there's not much to do in it because the rides are closed. Everything remains lit up as if it were packed, and piped-in Disney music fills the air. Most striking is the number of trash cans I see — dozens within a few feet of one another — that I never recognized before. They blend in seamlessly when the whole place is cluttered with people.

Back at the suite, Hannah has fallen asleep clutching her Minnie doll but little Emily somehow outlasts her usual 8 p.m. bedtime. She's wearing her tiara upside-down, spinning and banging her wand on the ground in between pleas for more cookies.

She finally crashes at 10:30 in her parents' bed, and the grown-ups follow shortly thereafter. The bed and comforter are soft and thick, and I don't stay up long.

I'm awakened by a 7:35 a.m. call I didn't ask for, to prepare for 9 a.m. breakfast reservations Disney made for us. I spend the next hour trying futilely to go back to sleep as dad plays with the girls in the sitting room.

They don't want to leave the suite, and frankly neither do I.

It's foggy outside when we emerge from the castle, and the park is already full of families just starting their day. I feel strangely like I don't belong — like I've stayed out all night and am watching people go to work the next morning.

I already dread the lines I'll be waiting in. The mouse ears I can do without

[PirateLover]

Why would the AP pay for someone to stay there who has no interest in Disney? Odd. At least there was a family with him. I would be really ticked if the night was completely wasted on an unappreciative reporter.

[Christine]

I guess I should never be surprised by the media.

Talking about booze and being naked in Cinderella's tub...this guy sounds like a real winner What did he think this would be like...Mardi Gras or Vegas?

[dinahvixen]

It's what I would expect from a 27 year old single guy - although my dad, who works for a paper here in Ohio, said that a lot of people are turning down the stay at the castle prize, and if I didn't have a little girl, I might also. We don't get to go for more than a few days when we vacation there and if the park closes at 7pm, at our resort we can swim and do things - it sounds like you're kind of stuck watching tv rather than enjoying the "world". It definitely sounds great, but if I didn't have a Cinderella-centric daughter, I might pass myself.

[Speedy1998]

Why would the AP pay for someone to stay there who has no interest in Disney? Odd. At least there was a family with him. I would be really ticked if the night was completely wasted on an unappreciative reporter.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Strmchsr]

I would definitely rather read about the castle being magical from someone who appreciates it than from an "outside" who doesn't get the Disney magic. What's the point in an article like that? It makes the writer sound like a complete jerk. Whether he is or not I can't judge, but he's in a no win situation with that article.

[Disneyfun]

What an ingrate!

[Jasper]

Unfortunately this kind of cynical attitude about anything wholesome or decent in the world is the most common attitude in today's liberal media! Had you sent him into a prison for the night he would of glowed about how wonderful the inmates were! These kind of people just aren't happy unless they are raining on other people's parades!

[Lily]

Regardless of his take on the evening, it still sounded wonderful! I would love it. I do feel bad that the family had to have this guy tagging along with them.

[DISNEYFIX]

Authors name?

JACK ARSE?

[DisneyDudet]

First off.. you're a reporter.. research before you go.

No alcohol in MK.. period.. get over it. Is that all you think about? Man, I don't know how he could enjoy himself anywhere because he's to busy seeking out booze. What a winner.

Also... refusing to capitalize its a small world.. hmm.. did it ever occur to him that it was Disney's doing not to capitalize? Yeah man, its genius.. would he have thought about doing it that way, its a SMALL world... its creative....

No.. he wouldn't.. he'd be too busy looking for beer.

If I were the AP... I'd make him pay the money back... be grateful he works for someplace that will do that.

I bet he liked it... he only said he didn't cuz he knew he'd get publicity about it.

I'd love to stay there, but it does seem to take up time, plus I know a little girl out there would love to stay there. I'd just like to go up there.. maybe if I'm chosen, they'd just let me see it...?

Eh.. anyway.. he's a loser.

[SBETigg]

What a yutz! It sounds fantastic to me.

[ElenitaB]

I guess I'm in the minority here but I didn't find his article that offensive. I have lots of friends who are not Disneyphiles like me, and the writer's take was not all that negative (IMHO, at least) and his comments were typical for someone who's not "into" Disney. In all, I found him a lot less jaded than the authors of the Unofficial Guide.

[BrowncatP]

The AP should of had a contest that one of us could win. We ALL want to stay there. We could tell everyone a much better story about our experience.

[DisneyGRL7]

I don't understand why the AP didn't choose a reporter with a family that would actually appreciate the suite, as it is families who are actually CHOSEN to stay there.

Despite his negativity, he did give what I thought was a good description of the suite, and I know that I would still want to stay there, regardless of the bad things he said.

[mudpuppysmom]

I let DH read this article and he thought about replying under my name, I told him he could, just say he was my DH. He then said I would probably get kicked off for what he said.......

Things he did comment on that I can write:

WHY did they pick this particular guy??? The AP HAS to have someone with a family that could have posed a family's point of view.

If all the guy wanted to do was drink booze, why didn't he go to DTD? I said maybe he was not allowed to leave the park?

He then went downhill with his comments about the guy........

We have a DS, but I think he would not mind staying there -- he is into princesses -- he thinks they are his girlfriends!!! DH would go just as a bodyguard for DS to fight off all the girls is what he said he'd do if we were ever picked.

[wdw_bound]

Unfortunately this kind of cynical attitude about anything wholesome or decent in the world is the most common attitude in today's liberal media! Had you sent him into a prison for the night he would of glowed about how wonderful the inmates were! These kind of people just aren't happy unless they are raining on other people's parades!

No need to bring politics into this. I'm a liberal, and I didn't like the piece, either. Really I think he was trying to have a unique approach, and he fell flat. It was a gamble and it didn't pay off for him (although maybe it did - we're all talking about it, aren't we?). Let's remember that this is a site where we can all agree on our love for the mouse and leave our other differences at the door.

[dtootsie42]

I guess I am never surprised by the media anymore. All I can say, what a yutz and he missed out on enjoying a moment that many, many people would love to experience.

[Nekochan]

I personally would love a peek at the suite or even the restaurant, but you're not even allowed a peek unless you have reservations. Unfortunately, I travel with a boy (he'll be 12 soon) who would rather sit through 5 hours of social studies than 5 minutes with a princess. sigh.