For those who have to save for WDW

[luvsJack]

OP, I know exactly what you mean.

I have a young relative that I am afraid is going to grow up to not appreciate the "smaller" things in life and not appreciate anything she has. Her parents make an extremely good living and pretty much buy her anything she wants. They do discipline so she doesn't exactly act like a brat or anything; its just important to the child that whatever she has is a bit better than what someone else has--even if it is the same thing.

From your post, I get the impression this friend is not just making a good living but is truly what is considered rich. And that the family possibly had money before he went into business? My son played ball with a boy that came from a family with "family" money. He will never have to actually work if he doesn't want to. This kid never appreciated anything and nothing was ever good enough; he was a very unhappy kid and grew to be an unhappy young man.

 

[So_Money]

It sounds to me like the rich friend didn't want to brag. I wouldn't take offense to what he said or how he said it. People don't generally like to hear or see people go on and on about their "stuff."

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Just a little bit of a rant, but I hope it makes some of us feel better:

My best friend is quite rich. Millions actually. He left the family business and bought his own business in Florida. I don't get to see him as much as when he lived here in Illinois. We've known each other since High School.

I was talking to him on the phone the other day and he said, "Oh, did I tell you we're going to Disney?"

I told him he didn't and I asked excitedly, "Where are you staying and how long are you going for?"

"I dunno. My sister booked it. My mom and dad and my sister and her husband and three kids are going along with me and my girlfriend and her son. I don't know where we're staying. I don't even know when we're going. Sometime for Christmas. I know we'll be there Christmas day. It's gonna suck. It's going to be so crowded. I know I'm gonna hate it. I wish I didn't have to go."

This is the problem when people have too much money. He has a new Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG. This is a super fast car that cost well over $100,000. I asked him how his car was. He said it was okay. No biggie.

For those of us who have to save our pennies for a trip to WDW, for those of us who try to decide if we should save our money to stay at a Moderate instead of a Value, for those of us who are on MouseSavers.com's email list, for those of us who use coupons and for those of us who buy Disney tshirts and gifts at home on sale to bring to WDW for our kids, I say this:

Be happy you have to save and scrimp and make due to take your family to WDW. Enjoy the fact that when you're there, it actually means something to you. You relish the time with your family, making those magical moments when you see a character you don't have a photo with already. My friend will be dragging his girlfriend's son away because he won't want to stand in the line to get a picture with Koda from Brother Bear. We'll run up and stand there to get that pic!

Those of us who go to WDW once a year or less because it's our family vacation and it's special because we truly appreciate what we're doing should take solace because our lives are that much more wonderful because of it.

If you can afford to go to WDW once a month for a week at a time, how special could it be?

My friend really showed me what's important in life.

Enjoy your magical times at WDW and don't feel sorry for yourself because you are staying at a Value Resort for four days instead of a eleven days in the Roy Disney suite at the Grand Floridian.

You've got it better! You really do!

Merry Christmas everyone!

-Steve

Thank you so much for that post, we really do love and appreciate out Disney vacations and the family time . We also save save save for them. Its just so sad that he won't appreciate or enjoy his time there. It's Disney!!!! How could you NOT be happy at the happiest place on earth?!?! I am 26 when I start booking my vacation I start acting like a little kid!!!

 

[nuke]

I love Disney like there's no tomorrow however if I agreed to go with someone and it happened to fall over Christmas I would be complaining about it too and would be miserable while I was there.

It sounds like your jealous of what he has but you are right having money alone will not make you happy.

 

[LoraJ]

I love Disney like there's no tomorrow however if I agreed to go with someone and it happened to fall over Christmas I would be complaining about it too and would be miserable while I was there.

It sounds like your jealous of what he has but you are right having money alone will not make you happy.

I agree with this. Sounds like it was someone elses idea to go to Disney on Christmas. I would be miserable too if I went to WDW on Christmas. The crowds on that day would just not make it enjoyable for me. I doubt it has anything with you friend appreciating what he has.

 

[greenpea89]

I must also agree with those that have stated that your friend's issues don't seem to be related to his financial status in any way. He really couldn't have won no matter what he said and to be honest many, many people don't like to travel to Disney regardless of the time of year because they see it as crowded or not their cup of tea. It doesn't mean they don't enjoy the time they spend with their family.

I'm also not seeing your analogy with the child and his electronic toys and a trip to Disney. Many times we have seen on these boards families that scrimp and save only to come back massively disappointed because the trip did not meet their expectations. Often they also did not enjoy the time spent with their family. These families may not have been happy with their experience regardless of their financial situation.

On the other hand, just because someone takes several holidays a year, one of which may include Disney, and they don't need to budget for their trips doesn't mean they don't enjoy the time they spend with their family. Yes, it's true, there are those that don't have a passion for WDW but they can still enjoy the moments they share as a family making memories. Maybe you could suggest to your friend that he should book several VIP premium tours for his family. That way he wouldn't have to worry about the crowd levels and his trip would be all around more comfortable for his family.

Regarding his car, and I'm not quite sure why it needed to be mentioned in the original post, while it's true that his car may not be a big deal to him it doesn't mean that he doesn't like his car as much as you like yours. Maybe to him it's simply a car the same way your's is simply a car to you.

 

[eliza61]

Thank you so much for that post, we really do love and appreciate out Disney vacations and the family time . We also save save save for them. Its just so sad that he won't appreciate or enjoy his time there. It's Disney!!!! How could you NOT be happy at the happiest place on earth?!?! I am 26 when I start booking my vacation I start acting like a little kid!!!

Very, very easy. I went one 4th of July. The magic kingdom was packed and the temperature was about 1000 C. I absolutely hated it. Yes, I planned, did rope drop etc etc. Unfortunately it was a trip we couldn't change.

So to answer you question, it is very easy to not have a good time at the world. I could win a trip to sleep in the castle for absolutely free and turn it down if it was on the 4th of July. As much as I want to see the world during the holidays, God himself could not get me there on Christmas.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think that you are just being snooty. Sorry- but you seem really judgemental. It is clear that your friend is not living his life the way that you think he should so you are picking on his having money as a way to cover up for that.
You couldn't pay me to go to WDW for Christmas. I want to be home and I would hate to be there when it is that crowded. Money has nothing to do with it. We are fortunate that we can vacation often enough but we still appreciate our trips, feel blessed that we are able to go anywhere, and have a ball like you wouldn't believe.

As for the car, well maybe to him it is JUST a car. I buy plenty of things that some people would consider luxury items. I am not rich but some things are just that- things. Heck there are some people who think that if you buy name brand toilet paper you are wasteful or throwing money away! I am not going to rave about my toilet paper even if you ask.

You mention how you have told him how to change his life over the years etc. but he just doesn't listen. Perhaps he doesn't want your opinion but maybe just wants to complain once in a while. Maybe you are the one who needs to change here and just accept him for who he is without judging everything he does. I would be very upset if my BFF was posting about me on the internet. We both have our flaws but that is what being a friend is all about. We accept each other warts and all.

 

[tracycd2]

OP I understand your message and want to say I am greatful for everything I do have. And if I could only go to Disney at a busy time of year I would make the most of it.

 

[powellrj]

I agree with this. Sounds like it was someone elses idea to go to Disney on Christmas. I would be miserable too if I went to WDW on Christmas. The crowds on that day would just not make it enjoyable for me. I doubt it has anything with you friend appreciating what he has.

I have to agree. I enjoy WDW as much as the next person, but if someone planned a trip for me over Christmas, I have to say I would feel the same way. I hate crowds and prefer my own family on Christmas morning, not thousands of strangers.

My DS doesn't enjoy WDW at all and it would be his idea of pure torture to have to spend a major holiday there. It has nothing to do with being spoiled, its just a personal preference.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Very good point, and very well said. Sometimes it's very easy too look at those people and envy all they have, but sometimes, as po' folk (hehe) we do have a lot that they don't!

 

[claudia]

I have to agree with him on the Christmas timing...been there and it was mobbed, which made it miserable....doesn't have anything to do with being rich or clipping coupons....

 

[frndshpcptn]

I have to agree with some of th eother posters here - it sounds like you are projecting what you'd really like to have onto him and criticizing him because he isn't acting how you would if you were the one with the upcoming trip.

He's not excited to go to WDW for Christmas. Ok, so....why is that weird / bad.

You say he has a lot of "bad" stuff going on right now in his personal life. Maybe he's just not in the mood for a crowded, hectic family vacation. Maybe he'd prefer to lay low at home and not have to pretend to be in a happy place when he isn't.