JLTraveling said:Okay people.... let's take this off on a little bit of a tangent. Take Universal vs. Disney out of the equation for a minute. Do any of you "scared of the 'thugs', don't approve of the 'clientele', overwhelmed by the 'gangs' of teens, can't believe they were 'tailgating in the parking garage'" people EVER vacation anywhere that's not a theme park? I'm proud to say I've been all over NYC (even...gasp...Harlem), lived in the French Quarter of New Orleans (and walked home alone at 5 am after spending the evening partying with "gutter punks"), roamed Washington DC (even east of the Capitol before gentrification) with a mixed group of guys and girls that I met there at all hours of the night, partied my butt off at Carlos and Charlies in Cozumel, etc, etc, etc. I'm a white bread, prep school educated, college degree holding skinny white girl from central Florida. And I'm FINE. I've met amazing people from all over the globe, I've had more experiences in 29 years than most people have in a lifetime, I'm street smart and capable and independent. I have been in exactly two encounters in my life that I would consider questionable or potentially scary. Neither happened anywhere near a theme park. One was in New Orleans during the Bayou Classic football game, when I was jumped late at night by a couple of guys. What happened? Nothing really. They were drunk, I wasn't, a couple of swift kicks from my steel toed boots and I was out of there without a problem. The other was in Atlanta on New Year's Eve. I was inside Underground, and the peach drop was outside in the courtyard. There was a bit of a stampede, owing to too few, too small doors to the outside. I stepped back and let everyone else run over each other trying to get out, then followed behind them and got outside in plenty of time to see the drop. Oh yeah, I also saw a purse snatching that night. Big friggin deal. All the traveling I've done, all the hanging out in "unsafe areas" with "unsavory people", and I've been part of two very minor incidents. Grow up people!! It's called life. Learn to look around, keep your wits about you, and don't do stupid tourist things like leaving your purse somewhere that you aren't or pulling out a wad of 100 dollar bills. And you'll be FINE anywhere. But "thugs" at the parks? Geez, I wonder what rock these people live under.
Hey, I am with you. I will date myself by saying I partied heartily at Studio 54 in NYC and went to many a concert in my day. I was drinking champagne in the Moulen Rouge at 14. I have travelled all over the world and have learned to be a safe tourist. I just cannot see how City Walk is even the least bit intimidating.
I am just glad my teens and the majority of teens in City Walk are not doing what some of my friends did back in the 70's before going in to see ZZ Top at Asbury Park. The tailgating back then involved way more than a couple of beers