I have a hunch that my perspective on this book won't be widely shared among my fellow Floridians. However, I truly couldn't concur with the majority of what Hiaasen expressed in this work. I believe it's because I'm not a native Floridian and still identify as a West Virginian. A West Virginian who, after graduating from college, spent six months desperately seeking employment in her home state only to be forced to relocate to Florida due to the lack of opportunities in WV. Perhaps I'm a bit cynical.
This book angered me to such an extent that I took notes. Just a moment, let me retrieve them.
Alright, first: There is a great deal of unattractive and unappealing sprawl surrounding Disney. The author attributes this to Disney World itself, arguing that if Disney weren't there, the sprawl wouldn't exist. Now, while this holds true on the most fundamental level, the responsibility for all of this sprawl actually lies with the City of Orlando. As a Landscape Architect, I spend my days poring over dull city codes. If Orlando didn't desire sprawl, they could have prevented it. Notice that there is no sprawl within Disney property... they employed intelligent development practices. The same principle applies to the lion that escaped from an external "zoo." The author blames Disney? It didn't originate from Animal Kingdom.
Okay, next are the Dalmatians. Seriously. That's all there is to it. If you don't want a dog, don't purchase a puppy. Somehow, this is Disney's fault. I suppose they shouldn't produce any movies about anything because consumers can't be held accountable for their actions.
The final thing I'm going to gripe about is Gorda Cay. The author claims that it's now all artificial and that in the past, it was a beautiful "real" island. So real, in fact, that it was a major hub for drug smuggling. Is that preferable to a stop by a Disney Cruise? I don't understand. Bring on the drugs!!!???
On the other hand, I do comprehend why Floridians are frustrated with tourists. I understand how they can cause damage and create terrible traffic and all that. I just felt that some of the points made in this book were a bit absurd.