Anyone have friends like this -

[buffettgirl]

I've got to say there are tons of people like your friend in the world. However, have you considered that perhaps the reason your friend is the way she is has something to do with her upbringing? Sometimes people don't recognize their shortcomings and get caught up in some familiar deep rooted dynamic from childhood. I'm not trying to defend your friend. I personally know how it feels to be on the receiving end of a 'one upper' type. However, I try to look at the person as a whole and if I consider her a really good friend, I'll even share my knowledge on the subject she's trying to 'one up' me on. I guess for me this has to do with being a teacher. I can't help but to gently correct people's mistaken perceptions on topics they know little about (but only if I know more about them of course ). You are obviously a Disney veteran. Why not try to share your knowledge with her? Tell her where she's going wrong and explain that you aren't trying to make your vacation sound better than hers, but since you've already visited the World you know a bit more about it. I would also suggest she visits the Disneyworld website and Disboards in preparation for her trip. That to me is what a good friend would do. Of course all this is assuming you wish to keep this friendship going. If not then let her swim with the sharks at SeaWorld!

seriously? don't you think I've gone down this road with her a LOOOONG time ago? The problem with these types of people is that they never really understand that someone else could know more they they know. they think they know everything already - and no website, no board, no amount of listening to someone who has gone many times, will ever ever change that.

So, no, I no longer try to tell her anything about Disney. I just smile and say things like "that will be fun!" and "oh, you'll really enjoy that".
And honestly, I hope she has a good vacation, I really do. I would never want her to have a bad vacation.

So no, teaching her is totally out of the question. That's simply an exercise in futility.

 

[redrosesix]

LOL. I feel your frustration OP. I have a "frenemy" who has decided to hijack our trip. We're just going to avoid them like the plague.

I looove that expression! I have 2 frenemies.

The first is another mom in our twirling group -- we were both there 2 weeks ago for competition. She insisted on not staying at WDW and arranged an off-site hotel for half of the group. Cheaper, sure (by about $20 per night than ASMusic) but it was in Kissimmee and it had no dining and the teeny tiny pool (unheated) looked like a pond. Well, one day after we had gone to practice with the group in their parking lot, they came over to our resort to visit on the way to somewhere else. While sitting by the piano pool as we watched my DD swimming, she actually had the nerve to say she was so disappointed in the resort, how small the rooms were, how "shabby" it was, and how you couldn't pull your car up to the door. Was she forgetting I had just seen their place? Was she just trying to make herself feel better for staying in such a dive?

The other is unfortunately my SIL. They're going to Orlando next week and are doing only 2 park days, although she has already decided to do only 1 am in MK, 1 in AK, are refusing to eat at the parks since the boys have food allergies (yes, I sent her plenty of info on dealing with those at WDW), and are paying as much as possible to stay off-site in a vacation home because they don't like being "surrounded by WDW all the time" I feel bad for my poor nephews. Wouldn't be half as bad if she didn't always talk as if what she chose to do was sooooo much better.

I've got to say there are tons of people like your friend in the world. However, have you considered that perhaps the reason your friend is the way she is has something to do with her upbringing? Sometimes people don't recognize their shortcomings and get caught up in some familiar deep rooted dynamic from childhood. I'm not trying to defend your friend. I personally know how it feels to be on the receiving end of a 'one upper' type. However, I try to look at the person as a whole and if I consider her a really good friend, I'll even share my knowledge on the subject she's trying to 'one up' me on. I guess for me this has to do with being a teacher. I can't help but to gently correct people's mistaken perceptions on topics they know little about (but only if I know more about them of course ). You are obviously a Disney veteran. Why not try to share your knowledge with her? Tell her where she's going wrong and explain that you aren't trying to make your vacation sound better than hers, but since you've already visited the World you know a bit more about it. I would also suggest she visits the Disneyworld website and Disboards in preparation for her trip. That to me is what a good friend would do. Of course all this is assuming you wish to keep this friendship going. If not then let her swim with the sharks at SeaWorld!

Please keep us updated. This is too funny.

 

[selina4disney]

"Everyone says sea world is so much more fun than Disney anyway" And don't forget - 'you HAVE to swim with the dolphins'... :

LOL! Who is this "everyone"? My kids all said going one time was enough for them, and they all go to Disney at least once a year with their families...no shade and it wasn't half as much fun as Disney.

 

[klmorg]

The sad thing is that while this person is so busy making sure their vacation is better than yours....they will totally miss the magic. No way can an everyday vacation compare to the Magic that comes along with a Disney Vacation. Thats what makes us DISers!! We have all felt the magic and can't wait to go back and emmerse ourselves in it again! This person, and so many others, have somehow managed to go to Disney and not be captivated by the entire experience. My sister is the same way...dislikes Disney and would actually complain when her daughters chior had to go to Epcot to perform for the Christmas specials!! So sad that there are people out there that seem to be so busy and caught up in things that the magic just passes them by.

I am so glad I have not become too hurried or too 'grown up' to miss out on the magic!!

 

[want2bamommy]

To the OP.......my snarky side wants to say...oh I have a 'friend' who is MUCH worse than yours. (thus one-upping you. ) But I won't.

That was a great response!!!

OP- I'm sorry that this aquaintance acts like that!! When I was growing up the neighbors were like that. I do mean their entire family too!! They got a thrill from putting us down and I always thought that they must be filling some type of void in themselves by trying to make us feel bad.

Just know that YOU are having the best Disney vacations!!

 

[jarrdisney]

Have you ever been to Northern VA? It is the mecca for keeping up with the Jones'. I would never be "friends" with a person like that, but there sure are a lot of people like that around here. I can't wait to move.

 

[buffettgirl]

Ok, so I thought some of you might want a "friend" update.

So she's booked her "disney" vacation - to Sea World. But she still calls it her "disney vacation". In her words, "Sea world has so much more to do". and don't forget, she's going to swim with those dolphins, she think swimming with the dolphins will be a good present for her 9 year old for her birthday. It seems that she does know that the dolphin place is different from sea world though, at least that's good, she won't be jumping in a tank with Shamu, but figures that when she arrives she'll make some sort of reservation for it. Now, I know nothing about the whole Dolphin thing but I suspect you need to make ressies more than a day in advance?? yes? no?

So, as I was talking to her about the trip another friend walks over and says "oh, who's going on vacation?" and she announces, really proudly, "We're both going to Disney this summer!"

it's going to be a long couple of months.

 

[emileee]

Just don't tell "her" about the Dis boards....then she will access to all the good stuff!!!

 

[disneymomofmyca]

I think we ALL have friends like this. I always try to be myself so I can't stand when my swagger gets jacked(LMAO) My friend that does it the most has a DD the same age as my DD and she does the same thing! My facebook profile has been set to " I dislike swagger jackers...beware...they are EVERYWHERE!"

 

[summermac]

Wowza! Hope she enjoys her Disney vacation!

 

[hopefultraveler]

Oh My, this sounds just like my sil.....she knows everything...and I mean everything. The type of woman who would explain insurance coverage to an insurance agent and tell a pilot how to fly a plane!!!

I just let her talk and talk and talk....never do I put in any words of advice anymore. After all, people that know that much about that much...they deserve what they get!!!