Do you find yourself apologizing or have you quit telling people?

[llij]

We are going to be making our 6th trip and some people are excited for us while others think we've gone off the deep end. Right now, going to Disney works for our family and we always have a wonderful vacation and bring back great memories. How can you go wrong with that? Thankfully, my parents are understanding and join us on many of these trips! I'll never apologize for making a trip to Disney, but I can see where I might not mention an upcoming trip to some people!

 

[robmpg]

I get the "AGAIN?!?" all the time from my friends, co-workers and my response to them is always the same....
"You're going to the NJ Shore AGAIN?!?
for the price of a one-week rental at the shore, I'm getting airfare, lodging and entertainment....."

A basic house in OCNJ goes about 2000 for a week in the summer.
My WDW trip for 4 (me, DW, DS7 and DS4) is costing 700 for airfare and 1400 for the 5+2 Dreammaker for a total of 2100. I know I'd spend more than 100 for "entertainment" (amusements, mini-golf, etc) at the shore for the entire week, so it's actually cheaper.

 

[Minnie Mi]

Sometimes I think their reactions are just the opportunity they seek to tell you all about THEIR vacations.

I have a girlfriend who says, "Disney? Again?" and then proceeds to tell me about her exotic vacations to Italy, London, wherever. It's a validation to her to hear herself talk about how she is spending her vacation time getting cultured and we are squandering ours in (gasp) Disney! Again! Oh My!

 

[ryley26]

we've gone three years running and were now dvc members every year is in the plans. The only plus my brother is a dvc member and a disney freak too. My dw family thinks were nuts oh well love to see disney every year.

 

[wannabee princess]

Originally posted by Autumngirl
The last time someone said "What?!?! You're going THERE...AGAIN?" I just smiled and said "Don't worry... we're not asking you to come along or pay for it."

GREAT RESPONSE!! I'm going to have to remember that one!

I don't feel bad - I figure it is our money and time - what do they care where we go and what we do on our vacation?!

 

[Joyciemc]

While I certainly don't feel bad for going where I choose on my vacation, I don't enjoy getting the incredulous "again!?". I'm still going every year, but I don't have to tell people. My friends can't get their acts together enough to take a vacation, so they can't understand how I'm able to go to Disney every year.

I wish I was surrounded by people that share my love for WDW, but I'm not. That's why I spend so much time here ont he Dis!

 

[Miniefan]

Well, me I have always loved Disney, everything about it, even though we never really even took a family trip there. My parents took me the first and only time when I was 3 and I only have very vague memories of that trip. I did however go twice by myself in High School, and in 2001 I went for the first time with my dh and my two children. I finally got to go back this past March, and this time we took me, dh, dd4,ds7, and my mom. We had the best time! It was so much fun watching my children's faces and reactions to everything, that alone made me feel better about canceling the cabin we had reserved in Gatlinburg, Tennesse, and going to WDW instead. Anyways, immediately upon our return, all of us are very anxious to go back, so I planned and reserved a trip again in Oct, and at first I got the You just got back thing from all our family, but I have finally managed to break everyone down and now we are all going in Oct. Me, Dh, DD4, Ds7, mom, mil, Sil &her Dh, Bil& his Dw and 2 kids, husbands GF&Gm, and even dh's Aunt and cousin and her dh and kids. So, maybe after this trip they will understand why we all want to be there so bad. Maybe I will have made converts of them all, but I still have friends that just don't get it. I had a friend that went in Feb, the month before we did this past year, and they only stayed at the CBr for 2 nights, and spent one day at MK and one day at Sea World. I don't see how they did that. Some people will never get it, but as for me and my family we are truly dedicated to the mouse!
Kim

 

[Epcotgal8]

I get this from some people too. People that are friends but not really close like neighbors down the street, moms I know from baseball team etc. don't give me the trouble. It's my close friends and some family (especially in laws) who are the most condescending about it. I don't think it's my business how anyone chooses to spend their money and I wouldn't ever comment to someone about that but unfortunately it doesn't work in reverse. I have friends who need to have a loaded out new car every year. That is fine for them but I don't NEED to have a brand new car. I have a friend who thinks nothing of dropping $300 on Halloween decorations, has a professional landscaper, and goes to the movies 3 times a week. If that's what she chooses it's fine but when I talk about going to WDW she says she doesn't get spending all that money to go to an amusement park. They actually went to WDW before I had ever gone like in 1990 something BUT listen to how they planned their trip...They went with her dh's dad who prefers Las Vegas kind of "adult" vacation. They rented a condo on the beach in Clearwater and commuted back and forth to WDW every day and it was the 4th of July! They didn't stop to get a map when they entered MK and just wandered around, didn't know about character meals (and friend's dd would have LOVED one at her age), they couldn't get into anywhere to eat. I think it was right before MGM opened since they said it wasn't there then so they went to Epcot. I've tried to tell her that if you plan ahead, and now there are 2 more parks and shows they've never seen, stay onsite that they could have a terrific time. Oh well. I told her about our upcoming trip but we are also visiting my brother so that is ALL I'm telling the inlaws. I actually get along with them really well, but mil is getting senile and she just ways whatever comes to her mind and she is a VERY negative person. It's better that I don't have to hear what I know she'd say.

 

[cooldisneymom]

I actually TRIED to make reservations at "the beach", but couldn't do it. DH said, I don't know why you don't just book it where you know you want to be!! So I DID!!! But I actually did TRY (not very hard, though !!! LOL)

 

[leahannpen]

Heck no I don't appologize!! I love it and if they don't, so be it! That's how I choose to spend MY money...they can spend theirs any way they see fit.

 

[stacilee]

Oh I can't tell you all how much I needed to read this thread today! We just got back from the world this past Monday and I am so depressed I can hardly move. I love that place! WE love that place! It IS our family's happy place! At least ten visits now I think. Each time we discover something new, Have more fun than the last time, appreciate the beauty and the genius of planning it is.....
We go every year and I hate the last week preceeding the trip because after all the anticipation and planning and looking forward to it the trip is almost upon us and I have no one to share it with because we too have had to become vague about where we are going to friends, family and neighbors ..." Oh, down to Florida for a few days", "Going out of town for the fourth....."" getting away from the rat-race for a few days..." They just don't get it. Even the ones that have been there. They never opened their eyes!

Only my pet sitter knows the truth, to tell you the truth and she is a professional and won't tell a soul!

At least you understand.

Hey I'll tell you guys:
Guess what!?!
We went to disney world for our vacation and we had a blast! Loved it so much that we bought AP's for the family!!! Broke even already.
Went to the parks every single day.
Park hopped like pro's and avoided most of the holiday week throngs.
Utilized fast passes to make the most of our time in every park. Had one stinker meal (at CG believe it or not) and all the rest great- a sit-down meal each day, someplace nice. Enjoyed one big "family extra" and surprised DH with a segway tour. It was a near perfect Disney trip.
What do you think of that?

In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we are going back for Thankgiving!

Mickey mouse is 400 miles closer than our nearest relative and frankly I would rather spend my holiday smiling at all my fellow disney fanatics in line than arguing across the table with some of my relatives!

 

[Nickunited]

Part of the problem is that some people feel that it is to immature for them or they are too "cool" for Disney. I get a lot of funny looks from the people I work with - they think they are SOOOOO Professional!

Ill be honest with all of you - my fellow DIS friends. Im 25 and DGF is 24 and have no kids. WE GO EVERY YEAR!

I do not feel this is immature, I just beleive that we are very secure about ourselves and can admit that we like to be KIDS once or sometimes twice a year. Just let those people site there reading the Wall Street Journal and worrying about their image, all I know is next month I am leaving my office in Midtown Manhattan - tearing off my SUIT and proudly wearing one of my many GRUMPY t shirts to the airport!!!! While my bosses and co workers will be pretending they are proper on the Golf Course - I will be taking a picture with a 6 Foot Mouse and I will be proud of it.

Its nomal, its fun and its even American! People need to get over themselves and let themselves EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC!

As you can see I feel strongly about this! HA!

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by Minnie Mi
I have a girlfriend who says, "Disney? Again?" and then proceeds to tell me about her exotic vacations to Italy, London, wherever. It's a validation to her to hear herself talk about how she is spending her vacation time getting cultured and we are squandering ours in (gasp) Disney! Again! Oh My!

Yes, I get this all the time. And a lot of my friends are academics who proceed to lecture me about "cultural imperialism" and "the evil empire." I just smile, and then make fun of them late with my husband.

 

[HenDuck]

Around here, where I work and in my family, you either like Disney or you like Vegas, or both. The gamblers go to Vegas more often than we go to Disney. So they don't say anything because they "get it" in their own way.

Most of my friends, especially those with kids, love the Mouse. Whenever one of us is going back, the rest just live vicariously through that person until their own trip comes up.

Then of course, when you return from Disney you are expected to give the details of your trip, your evaluation of the hotel, shows, etc.

As for the "other" people who just don't get it, I really don't care what they think. I certainly don't think about them when I'm seeing Mickey!

Sometimes my FIL likes to make snide remarks about how we spend our money, but since we're the only ones in the family that DON'T ask him for money, he should just mind his own business. He knows I work hard. He just likes to be a smart ___! I don't take him seriously, though. Doesn't bother me one little bit. And I don't bring him back any souvies either!

Thank god my parents are addicted to Disney, just like me! (Hmmm, I wonder where I get it from??)

 

[Pixie1]

We took our first trip to WDW when our daughter was 6. My husband and I had never been. We thought this would be a once in a lifetime trip. We went to the Cinderella Breakfast, Hoop De Doo, Mickey's Laua( which I don't think exist any longer). We planned a blow out trip. And loved it so much we have gone back every year since. My daughter is now 13 and we just returned from our 8th trip on Wed. My parents, inlaws and some close friends don't understand why we go every year. We travel to other places too, but we always manage to squeeze in one Disney trip. I just tell them we enjoy being at WDW. My husband loves to golf, so he always gets in several rounds. We all enjoy the parks, water parks and entertainment. I don't appoligize. I just tell them it is what makes us happy.

 

[MouseClubMom]

Stacilee, where are you in the lowcountry? We are in Charleston! Maybe we should carpool to Disney. LOL

I think my friends have given up with the "you're going AGAIN???" statements by now. My parents took us ALL THE TIME growing up and I do the same thing now with my kids. We just got back in June and while there we started planning our December trip! My kids are as hooked as I am. DH is slowly coming around...

MCMom

 

[DISFANS3]

Had this same talk last night, with inlaws, Disney again they said. Yes two weeks this summer for us. Also told them they are lucky we have not moved to Fla yet..They Did not say a word after that.. After back to back Family reunions, I need two weeks at WDW to cool down... No inlaws-No Friends-No phone trip-Ha-ha. 19 days left for us......

 

[TBLaube]

My friends and coworkers have threatened to hold an Intervention! We go usually every year(that isn't too much). I am a bit retentive about planning and the itinerary. But these non-disney people don't understand that the importance of having somewhat of a plan, and the PS system. WDW is not a fly by the seat of your pants place....well for us it isn't....lol
Don't get my wrong, I don't have every minute planned....I do have a basic layout of where we will be each day and PS reservations. I don't break it down by rides or anything.

I am also pretty thorough about the budget which is based on our activities. I don't want to come home with a huge credit card bill! So I am crunching numbers and getting my disney dollars and RFC Safari Club and gift cards situated, envelopes filled with money for Mousekeeping, etc......

Pleases tell me I am ok....please....no really.....lol

 

[bunnyfoo]

My family and friends know how much I love Disney so they don't really say anything anymore except for "Have a great trip!".

My co-workers however are another story ... my boss just cannot understand why I go to Disney so often. He went last November and said that was more than enough to last him for several years. I told him I feel the same way about camping (He's a camping afficionado) My other co-workers have the "AGAIN??!? You just went in December!" reaction. I tell them, if you want to give me a couple of thousand dollars, I will be more than happy to vacation wherever you want to send me. That usually keeps them quiet for a while

The best/worst reaction was from my boyfriend's mother. On our second trip to WDW, she said "So when are you guys going to go somewhere real?" I was tempted to point out that when they go to their cottage every weekend they sit for 3 hours in traffic each way, sleep without air conditioning, end up with a ton of bug bites ... if that's "real", I'll take WDW any day.

 

[skoba-nelson]

I work as a bank teller and I used to think all the customers who continually go to Las Vegas were weird for going to the same place every year. Not anymore. In September it will be 4 trips in 4 years for us to WDW. If we lived closer we'd probably come more often and maybe would've looked into DVC instead of a camper.