Do you have any members in your family or friends that say.....

[GeorgeG]

They just don't understand.

Like 4greatboys said, they have their favorite places they go year after year. Around this neck of the woods the favorites are the Jersey shore, Atlantic City, Foxwoods (in CT), camping, and cruises. Year after year after year without batting an eyelash.

We've been going to WDW just about every year since 1986 and will continue to go as long as we are able. We still get the "again?" each time, but they have stopped trying to change us.

I take it all in stride and have concluded they could never enjoy WDW as much as you and I because they're all evil. Well, that may be a bit harsh, but you know what I mean.

 

[Claudia1]

Actually, my DD! Even though she complains about going, she never wants to leave once we get there. We are going to DVC's Vero Beach this spring break because she really wants to "do the beach thing" this year. The best airfare was thru Orlando, so we added one night at WDW. Boy, did she roll those eyes!

My family understands and I don't have anybody that says it to my face. I even have a cousin that is more "Disneyfied" than me.

"Disney impaired".... funny, JohnTBap!

 

[wdwnutze]

I have family and friends that say it every time I plan a trip. They have all been there before but just haven't gotten hooked like I have. I have a s-i-l that went to WDW with her dh and kids and only went to MK for less than a day. She said she thought that was more than enough for them. I just can't imagine! I don't even try to argue with them when they ask me anymore. I just say "We love it there."

 

[cinmell]

Sometimes.

 

[montessori]

Our family and friends used to react like that but they know better now.
When we say, "We are going to DW.", they say something like, "Of course you are."

We've had the pleasure of having a few different family members join us for Disney vacations.
It's great to hear them say, "NOW I understand why you come here all the time."

Of course, there's the sister-in-law who lives in Indiana. She was planning a few days in DW for her family, after visiting MIL in Vero.
We had to stay home for the Air and Sea Show that weekend but I emailed her every possible bit of Disney advise I could come up with.
She didn't pay any attention to anything I told her. They spent a ton of money and they didn't like it very much.

 

[Sharby]

I have this theory (and remember this is just a theory) - that the chances of the 1st time experience of WDW resulting in guests feeling the "magic" and returning for repeat visits are increased when some planning and/or research is done before the trip to WDW.

Now, I do realize that some people go to WDW for the first time without any preparation whatsoever and they still become die-hard Disney fans. I think this is most likely to happen if they go at one of the less busier times of the year.

Most people go with a little preparation (whether it's watching the free video, checking a couple of books out of the library or looking on the computer for an hour or two). These ones are the ones that tend to have a better-than-even-chance of enjoying their vacation, because even if they don't have the experience, they have some basic knowledge of WDW. Even if they eventually decide that WDW is not their 'cup of tea' - I do think that they go home at least satisfied with the amount that they got done during their vacation time. And that satisfaction can be directly linked to the amount of research and planning that they did before they even got to WDW.

However, those that go without any preparation (such as montessori's SIL) and particularly if they go at one of the busier or hotter times of the year, are much more likely to NOT like it, and NOT "get" what WDW is all about.

The above is all very general, of course. But to sum it up, I'll borrow a phrase from one of the popular guidebooks:

"Get a plan....or get a lobotomy!"

 

[sha_lyn]

agree with Sharby's theory. Even those who have been serveral times without research have little knowledge of the little magical things at WDW. My mother (and my ittenerary) have become very popular at her work. She'll mention somethign we did, and no one there will know what she is talking about. She doesn't remember the specifics but enough that if she looks at the plan I made out, she can remeber the names of restaurants etc.

I know my cousin who can't understand why we go to WDW, only went one time for 3 or 4 days and tried to to WDW and US/IOA in that time. They also went in the middle of summer too, if remember right.

 

[GeorgeG]

Some very good points made.

It is quite possible to have a less than enjoyable time at WDW, especially if you don't know your way around and all there is to offer. I guess we take it for granted everyone knows their way around like we do. We were lucky enough to go with friends who were pretty knowledgeable our first time.

One of my favorite things to do is prepare friends for their first visit, even if I'm not going with them. Of course, it's always better when I get to go, too!

 

[Lovely2CU]

Sometimes we get criticism from family members, but friends just accept it.