Embarrassment about frequent trips to Disneyland?

[Indiana Scott]

Its just as expensive for us to visit DL and I feel we'd be getting less since there are only 2 parks and they are not secluded in their own little bubble like WDW.

Keep in mind that although there are only two parks at DLR, there are about the same number of attractions. Also, they really are quite secluded with sunshine Plaza, DTD and even the streets around the resort being themed by Disney. You don't have to go outside the bubble even if you stay off-site because all the local hotels are good quality and ooze Disney.

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

We're Canadian, and went for season's passes this year. I like Disneyland, but it's more for my son. He's autistic, and the DAS is so great for him, it's one of the few places we can actually go to an do a pretty normal family vacation. He just lights up when we go there. It helps that my dad lives in Mexico, so he'll usually get us tickets to go see him 2x a year. It's actually cheaper to have a layover in LAX rather than flying direct, so I use those flights to get us down.

 

[LizzyS]

My wife and I are first time annual pass holders. Before that, we were annual visitors since 2011 (came to Disneyland for our honeymoon). This year my wife and I have both noticed that we get strange responses from others when we say we are going to Disneyland "Again?!" And I find myself feeling a little embarrassed at my later in life new found enthusiasm.

Is this an uncommon phenomenon? Have any of you had a similar experience? How have you coped/made sense of this experience? TIA.

Your situation is very similar to mine. We first started going to DLR in 2011 and now we are hooked! Okay, I'm in worse shape than my husband, but he gets excited about our trips, too! We go about yearly, on average and are adults in our 30s.

My attitude about it is basically- I dare you to question my vacations to a place that makes me happy. I don't care what people think about it. It's my life and I'm too old to care now what other people think of my life and decisions. If DLR is our happy place, then so be it.

 

[superme80]

My grandma would go to Disneyland every year for her birthday from the time I was a child. She instilled a love of Disney in me. I don't get down as often as she did, every 3 years seems to be the average. But everyone knows I love Disneyland. I have no shame in my desire to one day have APs or go to Disney World. It is fun, it makes me happy, and it doesn't harm anyone.

 

[pennym]

We live in NZ and are about to take our 3rd trip to Disney in 2 years....our 11th in the last 15 or so years. Yep we get hassled all the time....but I could care less!! Disneyland is awesome! Why wouldn't I want to go there?

 

[tanyaegangibson]

My (un)favorite reaction is people asking me "Haven't they (DD11 and DS7) grown out of that yet? To which I usually say, "Well, *I* certainly haven't." And then smile. And say nothing else. And wait for them to fill the awkward silence.

 

[LizzyS]

My favorite (sarcasm) response when Disneyland is brought up is "I like Knott's Berry Farm!". Okay, great for you, but then the person generally goes on about how crowded Disney is and how expensive it is to go. I feel like it's one of those "throw off on the ones who do it best" kind of things. I don't care if people aren't Disney fans, but don't make me feel like I have to defend myself because *I* like to go.

I got that statement just this morning from my ADT alarm technician.

 

[KCAshley]

As my mom always says "some people like cave exploring, some people like *insert hobby here*". My mom and dad are very into camping (real camping in the middle of nowhere) and cave exploring and get all sorts of weird looks and comments when they say they're going camping AGAIN or spending their anniversary camping.

So she told me that she might not "get" Disney (she's never been) she knows my husband and I don't "get" sleeping on the ground with bugs. Different strokes for different folks!

For my husband and I, we like Disney because we have stressful jobs- Disney gives us the opportunity to have a fun, easy vacation without having to think too much! It's a nice mental break.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

We went when my kids were 4 and 2...then again when they were 8 and 6 (and a newbie at 2) and my husband's coworkers give him crap about it ALL THE TIME. "Been a year since you went, isn't it about time again?" *rolleyes* It was 4 years in between. Relax. This time it will be 5 years in between!

I have a friend who grew up in Orange who also gives me crap. "Been a while since you've been..." Whatevs. We prefer to go there than anywhere else so they can just be crankypants about it.