Defending vacation choices.

[hlbtimes2]

Word has started to spread here at work that I'm going back to Disneyland. Of course that comes with the common questions of "why are you going back already?". Uh, its been a YEAR. "What is so good there that you have to go back?". Ummm, unless you been there, you wouldnt really understand! Then the questions turn to "dont you know there are other places you can go on vacation" Yes, we know. We like Disney. We know exactly what we are getting for our money!

One guy in particular is always commenting on how nice it must be to have money to go there all the time. His kids (teens) have never been. Today I finally asked him how much money he spend in a year on bowling. Him, his wife and all 3 kids bowl. They bowl almost every weekend, plus on weekly leagues. They bowl a LOT. They spend a LOT. I know that its at least $10 per week, per kid to bowl in the league. That doesnt include the compitition and special things they particpate in. I pointed out to him that this trip is only $1800 for 6 days. That is air, hotel and park hoppers. That quickly shut him up! He spends more then that in a year on bowling!

I broke it down. Its less then $40 per month, per person in our family. Less then $10 per week. Looks like a bargin when you break it down like that! Who can' t afford that? Gotta love that way of thinking, don't ya?

 

[RMH]

Plus Disneyland is better for your posture than bowling every week AND you don't have to change your shoes. One of the best reasons for going back to Disneyland is to experience it through your kids again and again. As they get older they will want to do other things (like bowling) that won't be nearly as much fun and won't make their eyes light up. So you have to do Disneyland as often as possible, right?

 

[dizzyami]

I know exactly what you mean!!! I told the people at work that I was going to take a week off in June to go to Disneyland - and I just got this blank look - and then the quick justification of oh, you are going then instead of October. They were quite surprised when I explained that NO - I was going in June and October!!!

 

[minmate]

I go to Disneyland/WDW because we want to -- that's why!!! It doesn't bother me in the least to hear the, "Again?" kind of questions... it just makes me think.. "Yay for me... yay for my family. We're so lucky!!!!"

 

[PlazaPavGal92]

The only reason we go to Disneyland so often is because we live 30 minutes from the park and we are AP holders. I had someone comment to me that I spend so much on 5 APs, gas, food, merch when I go to DL each week, while they go to Hawaii every year (they have a great deal too) and the cost of my trips to DL each week actually is about the same as their annual trip to Hawaii. IMO, you didn't have to rub it in his face and insenuate that he spends too much on bowling. Because as I see it my weekly trips to DL is equal to his family bowling. Some people just don't see DL or anything Disney as a family destination and that's ok.

 

[hlbtimes2]

IMO, you didn't have to rub it in his face and insenuate that he spends too much on bowling. Because as I see it my weekly trips to DL is equal to his family bowling.

I didnt rub it in his face or insinuate anything. I simply was pointing out that we all choose to spend our "recreation" money in different ways. I choose to spend mine on trips to Disney. He chooses to spend his weekly on bowling. He is always saying he can't afford to take his kids there. Its not that he cant afford it, its that he chooses not to. Just as I choose not to afford to take my kids bowling every week!

 

[PlazaPavGal92]

Well, I understand where he's coming from. Trips are expensive and you really can't compare something they do weekly to something you do for 6 days.

 

[got2travel]

I didnt rub it in his face or insinuate anything. I simply was pointing out that we all choose to spend our "recreation" money in different ways. I choose to spend mine on trips to Disney. He chooses to spend his weekly on bowling. He is always saying he can't afford to take his kids there. Its not that he cant afford it, its that he chooses not to. Just as I choose not to afford to take my kids bowling every week!

I'm the same way. But when people ask why again, or how can I go again, I explain it just the way you did in this post. I tell them that I don't go out to eat, I don't go to the movies, I don't rent movies. I choose to use my extra money on trips and most often my trips end up being DL or WDW. This summer I'm actually giving up my DL APs so that I can do a big blow out Disney trip (DL Paris then a 2 week Disney cruise ).

 

[Dukland]

We went two summers in a row, and I've already been talking about plans to go again (not until 2008, though) My mom actually said, "You're going to get tired of Disneyland, if you go too much."

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

My husband hears that a lot at work too. "Don't you go anywhere else for vacation?" Um no we actually don't. LOL Then of course all the "Again?" comments.

The green eyed monster at work I think.

 

[dizzyami]

I didnt rub it in his face or insinuate anything. I simply was pointing out that we all choose to spend our "recreation" money in different ways. I choose to spend mine on trips to Disney. He chooses to spend his weekly on bowling. He is always saying he can't afford to take his kids there. Its not that he cant afford it, its that he chooses not to. Just as I choose not to afford to take my kids bowling every week!

Exactly - it is all about trade offs and what is important to you and your family!!! We rarely go out and try to minimize our weekly spending so that we can go to Disney as a family a couple of times a year.

 

[3for Me]

hlbtimes2 - I LOVE YOUR MATH!!!!! YOU JUST MADE MY DAY!!!!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Exactly - it is all about trade offs and what is important to you and your family!!! We rarely go out and try to minimize our weekly spending so that we can go to Disney as a family a couple of times a year.

Yup exactly. Not everyone can do it all. Weekly things and then big vacation trips, great if you can afford it all, but a lot can't. Families have to pick and choose what they want to spend their money on. Besides that's what he got for making comments about the way someone ELSE spends their own money. I doubt hlbtimes2 would have mentioned what he spends on bowling every week if he wasn't making all those comments about their vacation plans.

I have a friend who is similar. She spends tons of money every month getting her hair done and nails done. Over $100 a month. Then gets season passes for Great America and Marine World (they live in N. California). Which is fine but then she gets an attitude with me when I mention were going to DL again. Even if she cut out the hair and nail spending for a year they could go (it's just 3 of them). All about choices!

 

[FlyingBelle]

I know this is the Disneyland thread, but I just couldn't resist the title.

I work for an airline and I get all kinds of groans when I tell people I'm headed for WDW... again!

Why should we keep going to the same place all the time when we have access to go anywhere in the world?

We LOVE it... just like we go to the same restaurants all the time. Doesn't mean that occaisionally we'll try something new - but if we're going to spend our hard earned money on a vacation - why not go somewhere where you KNOW you'll enjoy every minute of it!

 

[hlbtimes2]

Well, I understand where he's coming from. Trips are expensive and you really can't compare something they do weekly to something you do for 6 days.

Why not?

 

[VWCat]

my inlaws have NEVER been on vacation,I tell them they should go to DL..they just make up excuses that they are too poor..( I feel bad for my motherinlaw and sis in law)it really depends on where your priorities are: they smoke,and smoke the pot,and eat out all the time,if they cut down on those, even just the ciggarettes they would be able to sock the money away eventually. Don't let life pass you by with excuses....I was poor for over ten years and finally we have cash again,well my man does anyways

I'd go again to DL for our next trip but haven't convinced the man yet,the time will come Disneyland will mesmorize you again and again

 

[moppety]

Why not?

Exactly! Money spent on recreation is money spent on recreation. If you choose to do it in one or two big lumps, or nickel and dime it out weekly, it's still gone in the end. It's all about personal choices.

My mom just asked me when my husband and I were going to take a "grown-up" vacation. I told her how lucky I am to be married to a person who shares the same love I have for Disney!

 

[sharoncity]

Why not?

hahaha.... my thoughts exactly. I take my kids to the movies occassionally or ice skating. But when they look back at their childhood, I think they are more likely to remember a couple of awesome trips than weekly bowling trips. JMHO.

We go camping for our recreation for the most part so that every few years we can afford a "big" trip (one that includes airfare! ) I asked my kids (DD 14 and DS 9) - "do you want to go to a Caribbean island or to Disney?" They wanted Disney again, so that is where we will go. DH and I will get back to an island someday, but apparently not until the kids are grown and gone!

 

[Hambletfamily]

We know what you mean. When we are planning our trips we get excited and tell people hoping they will want to join. To no avail - When people ask why or how we can afford to go to DL - We tell them we love it and we plan... We also usually purchase a package through a travel agent, like DL or AAA so we can make payments on it. $200 down and the balance 30 days before you go is a great way to have a vacation with out the up front money. There are 3 adults and 1 teen - and the last vacation was 4 adults and 1 teen. BTW - we usually do other parks when we are in CA - We also go everyother year - For about 9 days. All I can say is PLAN, PLAN, PLAN... and Be A Disser!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Linda, I get the same thing too! And I used your same method with a friend of mine who bowls. And no I wasn't rubbing it in her face (as you weren't) when I compared what she spends bowling with what we spend on our Disney trips. It helped her to see that no, we aren't millionaires or spendaholics we just spend our entertainment money differently than they do. If bowling makes them happy go for it. Going to DL and WDW makes me happy. These same friends also bought a beautiful pool table that cost about what our Disney cruise did. Yes, they will have that pool table forever but I will have my memories of my kids cruising with family members (dh's family came with on that trip). Its all about what makes you happy! My theory is that in the end we all spend about the same money each year, we just spend it differently. I get that and always have, I would love it if all my friends would do the same and stop calling me and my husband Minnie and Mickey!

Oh and one other thing, our friends make fun of us, in a good natured way, but guess whose brain they pick when they go to Disney? Sometimes I feel like a freebie Disney travel specialist as I guide them through the restaurants, hotels, rides and fastpass 101. And when they get there they love me for it and realize my addiction is their gain!

Oh and I also have to add that as a little girl I would always watch the Wonderful World of Disney. I loved it when Tink used her wand to set off those fireworks over the castle. My dad would always say, someday we'll go there. He died when I was just seven and we never did get to go with him. But thankfully, I have outlived my dad and taken my kids on many Disney trips. I feel like I am just sort of doing what he would have done had he not been taken so young. I think he's looking down happy I got to go!