Advice for overseas visitors

[PleasejointheFarque]

HI there,
We are in wdw 4-18 Sept, and have traveled every year for the last 10 years to the USA. The question I am asking, and not looking for any heated political stuff, but as a tourist coming into an unknown situation, how do you think we as non-Americans are going to be 1. greeted, and 2. will it be safe, considering all the instability and tensions that are happening ATM.

I know we wont be discussing politics, gun control, Russia, NATO, Brexit, the upcoming November elections or any other topics that are not weather related with people. We hope to just keep our heads down and pretend we dont speak English which is really sad, as we have had many happy hours talking to other people by the pool, in line, at restaurants etc about the state of the world in general.

With us not living there, we don't have a feel on how things are, just what we can see through social media and on our own news networks.

We are just looking for a nice 2 weeks of park hopping, golf and spending our money buying things we really dont need.

So how are things really? Do we need to worry?

Thanks.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You won't notice any difference from your other visits. Just do the same as you have before and enjoy chatting with other people.

Have fun!

 

[Barbydoll8]

I don't think you'll run into any issues. There could always be that one crazy person out there that could start something but typically, no one wants to get thrown out of Disney so they stay in check. You shouldn't have to change behavior and I'm sorry that the over all opinion of this country and its people has diminished with the recent climate. It really is a minority of people that are the issue. Just like any extreme group.
Enjoy your stay and if I see you while you and your family are there, I'd love to have conversation with you.

 

[PleasejointheFarque]

Thanks guys for the reassurance, we love our yearly WDW trips and love meeting new people. Its just a tad scary for us atm as normally this is our safe go to vacation spot. We will smile and nod, and be happy to chat to anyone about our kangaroos and beaches and awesome wineries.
Just don't ask the DH how his golfing is going while hes there, as I doubt he will be his usual low handicap self in the humidity
thanks again

 

[Geomom]

You should have no problems and be treated no different than any of your other trips! Everyone at Disney is on vacation, trying to relax and have fun, trying to put their worries behind them. Disney is a tourist location, plenty of people visiting from lots of countries daily, with no problems. Disney does their best to keep everyone safe in the parks--bag checks/metal detectors going into each park; security officers walking around, etc. They NEED to keep it safe or they'll lose business.

As far as social media/news...as a reminder they always show the bad stuff--it's what gets the ratings. We have a very large country, while there is some bad stuff, there is far less than it sounds like if you just look at social media and the news. (And there are plenty of us who disagree with our politicians and the policies they've been putting forth.)

Enjoy your trip and welcome back to the US! And as a DVC member, I just wanted to add: "Welcome Home!"

 

[seelyt2]

I feel that nothing has changed on the street. In DC or in cities when protests are going on...maybe not so much. You'll be just fine, especially in the wonderful bubble of Disney Enjoy your trip!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just don't ask the DH how his golfing is going while hes there, as I doubt he will be his usual low handicap self in the humidity
thanks again

Yep, sorry. No predictions on how his golf game is going to go!

 

[disneynutz]

I wouldn't be concerned, have a wonderful vacation!

Bill

 

[bumbershoot]

how do you think we as non-Americans are going to be 1. greeted, and 2. will it be safe

We hope to just keep our heads down and pretend we dont speak English

If you don’t speak to anyone, how do you think you’ll be greeted?

I don’t understand what you think will happen.

Its just a tad scary for us atm as normally this is our safe go to vacation spot.

The US is as safe for tourists as it always has been. As in, we’re way more violent than many civilized nations, so it always boggles my mind that my fellow Americans get scared traveling elsewhere. And boggles me that people feel safe coming here.


And I’m not sure why brexit would be off the table for talking...it’s not like most of us understand the whole thing anyway. We might learn something if you talk about it.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

And I’m not sure why brexit would be off the table for talking...it’s not like most of us understand the whole thing anyway. We might learn something if you talk about it.

2 years ago had a Brexit conversation with someone from England while standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon! haha

 

[disneymomto5]

Enjoy your vacation!!! I'm going to England this summer, it never occurred to me to be worried.

 

[alldiz]

OP do not worry for one second! Honestly I have the opposite fear.... I have been lucky to travel out of the country quite a bit. (Europe)
I almost want to claim I am Canadian
Fear not everyone wants to be “in the bubble” at Disney. Security is tight!
And most Americans are disgusted at the present time! And yes it has never been more divided talking....
Peace
Kerri

 

[BadPinkTink]

Im from Ireland and have been travelling to California for the last 9 years. Other than the usual personal security concerns as I am a solo female traveller I have never even thought about it.

The only time I did have a bit of concern was during the first few months of the current administration when there were so many rumours about visas being cancelled from various countries. I travel to USA with the ESTA Tourist Visa Scheme and once I realised that the rumours and new security laws did not affect this , I just carried on as normal.

This year when I was in California Adventures I had some food at Cozy Cone Motel and shared a table with a local So Cal family. We were just chatting about Disney and LA in general and they said they were surprised that I still came to USA with all the issues and controversies surrounding the current administration. My answer was that no one can keep me from Disney. Disneyland existed before this current administration and it will continue afterwards. The person in The White House is only there for a few years and then he will be gone. The person in The White House exists outside Disneyland and Disneyland is a bubble world where outside issues dont exist.

So come to USA, enjoy Disney, and carry on as if the person in The White House does not exist

 

[4evryoung]

No don't worry. The vast majority of your fellow guests will be sociable, engaging and welcoming Americans. BUT, be prepared for the odd one who will scare the pants off you with their attitudes. On my last trip (May this year), someone did try to tell me and the rest of the world that Hitler didn't die in Berlin (he'd seen it on tv). On a previous visit during the election, Machine Gun Dick (our family nickname for the man at the Polynesian) gatecrashed a pleasant conversation we were having with his wife about school holiday dates in America and Europe, with a diatribe about how everyone in England was a socialist -- or even worse a liberal -- and about how nobody was allowed to own a gun in the UK unless they paid thousands of dollars to the state. The fact that I worked for the police and could give him chapter and verse about how gun licensing worked made no impact at all. He then went on to describe the guns he had (including semi-automatics, supposedly held for the purposes of hunting) and said he never travelled without his weapons. (Hence the nickname!) There are weird people everywhere -- even in 4 star hotels -- but the important skill is to spot them early on in a conversation and move on. Just as you would at home.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

No don't worry. The vast majority of your fellow guests will be sociable, engaging and welcoming Americans. BUT, be prepared for the odd one who will scare the pants off you with their attitudes. On my last trip (May this year), someone did try to tell me and the rest of the world that Hitler didn't die in Berlin (he'd seen it on tv). On a previous visit during the election, Machine Gun Dick (our family nickname for the man at the Polynesian) gatecrashed a pleasant conversation we were having with his wife about school holiday dates in America and Europe, with a diatribe about how everyone in England was a socialist -- or even worse a liberal -- and about how nobody was allowed to own a gun in the UK unless they paid thousands of dollars to the state. The fact that I worked for the police and could give him chapter and verse about how gun licensing worked made no impact at all. He then went on to describe the guns he had (including semi-automatics, supposedly held for the purposes of hunting) and said he never travelled without his weapons. (Hence the nickname!) There are weird people everywhere -- even in 4 star hotels -- but the important skill is to spot them early on in a conversation and move on. Just as you would at home.

Really, that applies world wide. Overheard interesting stuff standing in line at the Effel tower several years ago.

 

[kdonnel]

So how are things really? Do we need to worry?

Thanks.

Not at all like the story the media is presenting. The media, on both sides, has an agenda and presents stories that tell the story they want told to tell the side of the story they want told. Remember there are three sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth. Don’t fall for it.

I have been in the UK, France, and Spain during terrorist attacks. I would not hesitate to visit again.

The most racist and xenophobic country I have ever visited is Belgium. I wouldn’t hesitate to visit again.

What is really wrong is the growing intolerance for difference that is effecting the entire world. Not something at all unique to the United States.

 

[PleasejointheFarque]

We try not to be too concerned, but as things now are ramping up with Iran (now we have Persian Freedom) and all the negative feelings from the current administration towards normally trusted USA allies, we are just a little bit worried how tourists/ non-Americans are going to be treated now. Never before have we been this concerned regarding a trip, and we have traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, USA and the pacific. And we always seem to be flying in the USA on 9/11 every year and that is less concerning than events currently unfolding ATM.

We have had no issues in the last ten years, on both USA coasts, on cruises, at wdw etc, but the climate has changed so much in the last 18 months. Everyday we are greeted with more ramping up on the world stage, its somewhat terrifying to see, especially when we cant do anything about it.

Just me thinking out loud, don't mind me......sigh.

 

[Geomom]

We try not to be too concerned, but as things now are ramping up with Iran (now we have Persian Freedom) and all the negative feelings from the current administration towards normally trusted USA allies, we are just a little bit worried how tourists/ non-Americans are going to be treated now. Never before have we been this concerned regarding a trip, and we have traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, USA and the pacific. And we always seem to be flying in the USA on 9/11 every year and that is less concerning than events currently unfolding ATM.

We have had no issues in the last ten years, on both USA coasts, on cruises, at wdw etc, but the climate has changed so much in the last 18 months. Everyday we are greeted with more ramping up on the world stage, its somewhat terrifying to see, especially when we cant do anything about it.

Just me thinking out loud, don't mind me......sigh.

I really feel that 'tourists' will be treated no different from before--they are spending money in the country. Immigrants, on the other hand, are the main target of the current administration. It is horrible the way they're being treated.

We're going on a European trip soon (Disney Northern European cruise from Copenhagen). I'm concerned as we're Americans and I'm expecting to get an earful about Trump--the things he says makes me ill--I'm on vacation and don't want to think about him at all. But, having said that, we're looking forward to the trip--we've never been overseas.

Please try to enjoy your vacation at Disney. 99% of the people there will not care what country you are from. Most of them share the love of Disney, like you do.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It's almost certain that nobody is going to care what country you are from. You don't need to walk around worried all the time that somebody is going to jump down your throat for visiting from another country. Is it guaranteed you won't run into a jerk, no. Is that ever guaranteed, no. and I live in DC. If you wanted to come and visit here, no issues there at all.

Social media is NOT a good monitor of public attitudes. If I only went by social media, I'd never wear a Star Wars shirt in public again.

 

[4evryoung]

Overheard interesting stuff standing in line at the Effel tower several years ago.

Overhearing a disturbing conversation is not quite the same as being on the receiving end of a full-frontal aggressive verbal political attack by a stranger when all you are doing is pleasantly chatting with their wife. I mentioned the "Machine gun dick" incident because it was so at odds with all of the positive interactions my family have had with Americans -- and other guests -- at Disney over the past 20 years.