Florida/Disney Jealousy. Anyone else suffer?

[AndRu]

All,

I'd just like to know if this is a common feeling, or if I'm getting paranoid. When we go back to Florida in February, it will be our 2nd visit with 18 months. Some might say this is excessive, I don't know? But what I do know is that I keep getting comments of "Oh, you're so lucky" or "How can you afford to do that?" or "Why do you want to go back there?". The latter is the most annoying as it really translates to "I wish I was going.

I get the feeling that some people are jealous about us going but more than that, I get the distinct impression that they're madly trying to work out how much its costing us. The conversation invariably comes around to money with my wife & I being asked how much for the flights, car, villa, tickets, spending money etc. You can see the little calculators in their eyes trying to tot up the cost and then x 2 to include the last visit. It's almost as if we have to justify why we're going to people.

I'm finding it annoying now. We don't smoke, rarely drink and like to save our money for occasions like holidays, treats etc. It's getting to the point where I feel like asking how many cigarrettes they smoke per week and how much they spend on pubs/clubs/bingo/scratch cards each week and totting up those figures My wife and I work hard at our jobs, we've worked hard for the house and the cars and we trying to bring up our children in the best environment we can. The quote of us being 'lucky to go' is a pain - luck is winning the lottery, working hard for 50 hours a week to be able to go isn't lucky in my book! If we choose to spend our money on going back to Disney, especially whilst the kids are still "kids", that should be our business and no one elses. Shouldn't it?

Maybe I am getting paranoid but I just wish people would stop trying to judge us beacuse we're taking another holiday to the worlds most magical destination.

Does anyone else get this when you tell them you're going back to Florida/Disney?

 

[gilld]

We don't go back to Disney as often as many on here BUT we do have 2 very expensive holidays each year. We always go long haul to the Caribbean, Asia, USA or Australasia. We seldom get much change from £10,000 and YES I do feel people are jealous when we get comments similar to those you describe.

We did lovely holidays when our children were children, though usually only once a year but now they've all left home, we spend our money how we choose not how others think we should spend it. My husband works incredibly hard, with a lot of "on call" until recently.

I've learned to ignore the comments, why should I justify our expenditure. Try and do the same.

 

[T16GEM]

We don't smoke, rarely drink and like to save our money for occasions like holidays, treats etc. It's getting to the point where I feel like asking how many cigarrettes they smoke per week and how much they spend on pubs/clubs/bingo/scratch cards each week and totting up those figures

Exactly!!!! We are the same, we don't smoke, don't drink and save for the things that we want instead! We went to Florida in March 2003, Nove 2004 and now we are off to Antigua in 6 weeks, people at work keep saying that I am obviously paid too much! They don't think that maybe I give up other things to save up! People are just jelous! (and I don't know how to spell that!! )

 

[jjpenguin]

People sometimes forget that not everyone is the same. That maybe people have a different lifestyle and part of that is spending money on holidays, NOT on clothes/cigarettes/cars/nights out etc. It's like all lifestyle choices, quite often people just look at themselves and think other people are the same they don't realise that not everyone is the same.

And you're right, quite often people don't realise how hard some people work they just see the fun stuff, not the effort that goes into it.

I say; it's their problem, don't make it yours! If they are that jealous you must be doing something right

 

[Edie]

I get the same thing from my family My sister's are desperate to know how much I earn and assume that because I've taken our mum to Disney twice in the last 3 years I must be rolling in it. I don't drink and don't smoke and I take on extra work in order to pay for these holidays but I don't feel I should have to justify my spending to anyone. Consequently nobody but you folks know that we're going back to WDW in August, flying premium economy with Virgin and staying for 3 weeks at AKL :jumping4: :jumping4: :jumping4: WOOOHOOOO!

It's a good job we've all got this place where we can share our excitment with people who understand.

Edie

 

[magicmouse2]

I'm finding it annoying now. We don't smoke, rarely drink and like to save our money for occasions like holidays, treats etc. It's getting to the point where I feel like asking how many cigarrettes they smoke per week and how much they spend on pubs/clubs/bingo/scratch cards each week and totting up those figures My wife and I work hard at our jobs, we've worked hard for the house and the cars and we trying to bring up our children in the best environment we can. The quote of us being 'lucky to go' is a pain - luck is winning the lottery, working hard for 50 hours a week to be able to go isn't lucky in my book! If we choose to spend our money on going back to Disney, especially whilst the kids are still "kids", that should be our business and no one elses. Shouldn't it?

Hear Hear!

Sounds like our family too.
Plus we book everything ourselves, last minute flights and dont spend much more than other poeple do to go to Spain - where you cant even brush your teeth without getting diarrohoea.

 

[Ware Bears]

We've only been to Florida once (SO FAR!!!) but will be going back in 2007 and are going to visit DLP twice this year, in August and for Christmas. My family are fine about it, in fact my mum and dad always saved really hard for their holidays and did at least two long-haul holidays a year once my sister and I were off their hands.

BUT its DH's brother and wife-to-be who really annoy me. It's got to the stage that I don't even mention Disney in front of her now, she always grits her teeth and sneers "Oh you are so lucky, I wish I could go....etc, etc....." and has been quite nasty about it.

I've lost count of the times that I've explained to her that after our honeymoon we went without a holiday for 11 years and that DH and I go without a lot to save for our holidays. She runs her own car whereas DH and I have one between us, and eats out or has takeaways all the time whereas we tend to save that for treats like birthdays etc. (Please don't think I resent anyone else who does this! I don't, it's just that we have to be careful so that we can then afford to really splash out when we are away).

I suppose there will always be those people who are genuinely happy for you, like all us fellow Disers! and those people who suffer from the green-eyed monster.

Like Edie said, thank God for the Disboards!!!!

Elaine

 

[Cochise]

We are saving up from all our own cash and work have offered no overtime for months. Working for the Government means not very good pay and it is a testament to my better halfs financial wizadry that we are going for two weeks in the same year that we are also moving house. We have a nice family that are nothing but pleased for us, most people at work are cool and are genuinely interested in what we are doing from their own experiences. My good "almost" work colleague and friend Tronads (Although he will deny it) in particular has been helpful.

 

[allie5]

YES!! I do get most miffed when people do the old "Oh you arent going there AGAIN are you" routine. The worst is my MIL who is itching to be invited to come (as my mum has been with us on the last few trips), however both DH and myself agree it would be the equivalent of Chinese Water Torture taking her to Florida for even a day!!!

Last year when DH was out of work for a few weeks, she came straight round and gleefully prounounced "Well, thats put paid to your Florida holidays then hasnt it?". We had SO much pleasure telling her only a month later that we had booked for 3 weeks over Christmas!!

Its OUR money and we will spend it as we choose. We dont drink, smoke, have day trips or live very extravagantly (only replaced our aging car last year!!). Florida is somewhere both DH and myself love. We cant wait to get back! I do think we are fortunate to be able to go once a year, especially as I dont work since the children were born.

DH works incredibly hard, usually 6 days a week, commuting into London on a well known "misery line" and we think 2 or 3 weeks of the year for the family to be together isnt much to ask. This is usually the only holiday DH will have all year as well. Im not going to feel guilty because other people dont like what we do!!

 

[signtalker]

Its amazing how many of us that there are who go through this. Im off twice this year(once with my best mate), second with DH and family, DH is off to France next Month, and we might possibly have a august break last minute in the sun.
when people comment I must be well paid, I just mention that I pay for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, I do not have thousands of pounds worth of debts on credit cards like most, I dont drink, or smoke, and go out socially once a year(YES once a year!!!!).
At the end of the day its jelousy, its isnt difficult to work out that with abit of common sense, booking yourself, and putting money away, how quick this builds up.
I still think people are under the assumption that it costs at least £7K to visit disney for a 2 week holiday(well thats what my neighbour said the other day, when talking about her daughter and family wanting to go).

Just smile, thats what I do, I work hard enough, and have lots to deal with having a disabled child, so this is MY time and my life!!!.

jules

 

[florida sun]

Being a single parent, and going to wdw again this year, I get this all the time, especally from people I WORK with. How do you afford America? How can you possibly afford Disney?

I dont earn a great deal of money, but I do save very hard all year for my holidays, I work full time and also have a part time job, I dont have many vices and prefer to save than go out all the time.

I also book my holidays way in advance for example I booked next years(2006) Disney cruise over 4 months ago, which enables me to pay off a little each month, and I am sure like most people I do occasionally use the old plastic.

Sue

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

Personally I think it's people who have never even looked at the possiblity of Florida who do this! They just 'assume' it's really expensive and therefore we must be rolling in money!

For example, one woman I work with - who earns about the same as me - went on holiday to Turkey last year with her family for two weeks. When I told her how much we had paid for Florida she was amazed as they'd spent almost as much on thheir holiday - and all come back with food poisoning!!!!!!!

We don't go every year but I wouldn't dream of commenting on other people's choice of holiday destination! The funniest comment I ever had was from another work colleague who said "How can you keep going back to Florida so many times - don't you get bored!"................................This from the amn who owns a caravan in Brean SAnds where he goes at least a dozen times a year - and goes now ehere else for holidays!!!!!!!!

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Oh this all sounds so familiar!!!
Firstly my parents - particularly my mum. She just can't understand why we would want to or could even afford to go to Florida on holiday, again and again. But like everyone here, we both work very hard. DH works on average 60 - 70 hour weeks and I work full time. We don't smoke and drink very little. And while I like to live in a nice house, if given the choice of new double glazing or holiday to WDW - I'd chose WDW. The new double glazing can wait!!!! It's what we like to do with our hard earned cash!

Before we moved house last year we had neighbours who kept turning up their noses when we mentioned we were off to Florida. She said she would never go as it was too expensive for them, then she said the kids were too young, then she said her DH didn't like flying - a different excuse every time. She let slip at a party, when we had had a few too many (what was that I was saying about drinking LOL), that she was fascinated how we could afford to go to Florida 2 years running (2002 & 2003), how much did it cost etc, then ultimately how much do we earn.

Also - have you noticed how talking about WDW just glazes over 'the great unwashed'. So glad there is the DIS to keep all us WDW saddos happy!!!

 

[Miffy2003]

I consider myself very fortunate to be in a position that allows holidays to Florida and I don't care what anyone else thinks!

We all choose different ways to spend our money - as it should be.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

It's a funny old world!! I was only talking along similar lines with a friend just yesterday.

That's because one of my friend's had turned around and said (poutingly) how lucky we were to be able to have ALL our holidays, given we'd just had a week skiing for Xmas and off to Florida in August (again, said maddeningly snipey ); fortunately for her I didn't have the opportunity to reply because she then turned around and said "well, I suppose if we both worked we'd probably be able to go on nice holidays like you do". Hit the nail on the head there, darling

 

[KayleeUK]

Good job we are here for each other

 

[leise]

I have LOL at some of the comments on this thread, it's all so true. We've just been to WDW for the second time in exactly 2 years, and I can't decide what's worse; the people who think we're mad (my mum thinks I'm brainwashed) or the people who think we're loaded and say so.
I just say that holidays to Disney are our thing. We don't smoke, we hardly ever go out for night. We don't have a massive house or a flash car or designer clothes (or even decent furniture LOL). We don't like going on beach holidays (which usually cost just as much). I don't spend £300 on haircuts (like some I know) or get my nails done in a salon. We save every penny to take our kids to Disney and we all enjoy every second of it. DH works really hard and we saved for years to be in a position to do this. We get the best deals we can so it really doesn't cost as much as people think.
So I try to stand up for our right to spend our money as we please.

Saying that, I daren't tell anyone we're going to DLP next month

 

[AndRu]

Thanks all - I'm not paranoid then, what a relief! I'm going to take the good advice given and let the comments slide. It's our money, they're our children and we'll spend it how we decide.

Thanks again, all of you

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Similar story here... we dont smoke, drink, or very rarely go out. I cant remember the last time I bought myself anything expensive. No WDW for us this year though, as I am franticly working on getting the mortgage down as much as possible - we still have 10 months left on 1.89% so I am making as many overpayments on it as I can possibly manage before it returns to base rate, which pretty much means every spare penny.

 

[Shropshire Saint]

My wife & I have been married for 10 years in July & we have been to Florida 8 times & are going again in April. Why should anybody have to justify what they do with there own time & money to anybody else? We have friends who laugh at us when we say we are going back to Disney because it lacks culture. I have never heard anything so pretentious in my life, but we are the sad ones for going apparently. My 2 boys love Orlando & Florida in general & to see there excitement build up over the weeks & months is worth the air fare alone.
We both work hard. I travel alot & have to be in a hotel at least once a week away from my family which I dont enjoy & my wife does such a fabulous job with the boys that I think we deserve 4 holidays a year! Even if we only get to go to Disney once a year.
I say stuff those that gripe & enjoy those ever lasting memories........well until you go senile & forget your name, let alone where you have been on holiday!!!!!!!!