Friends & Family Don't Understand

[Kerchak]

My wife and I are 40 year old professionals based in the UK, and Disney is our guilty pleasure. We are lucky enough to visit to Orlando twice a year. Despite talking about vacationing in other places we always come back to Disney, which is why after 3 years procrastination we bought our DVC. Trouble is none of our friends or work colleagues understand why 2 grown adults with no kids would return to WDW year after year. I have the 'Mickey' taken out of me by the lads relentlessly (albeit I give as good as I get ) I can kind of understand because I never had a desire to go to WDW until my DW dragged me along 10 years ago. Before I knew better I used to think of WDW as a playground for young kids, but how wrong could I be

Given that our friends and family don't share our passion for WDW it is great to have the chance to visit this board to read posts from like minded people I'm curious to know what makes WDW so special for my fellow DVCers. For us it's not 'all about the Mouse' it's the whole package. We love:

- The Disney atmosphere - seeing so many people having fun.
- The endless amount of things to do and see.
- The Kilimanjaro Safari - especially the first jeep of the day.
- Soarin - magical - especially when we had the chance to be the 'First Family' and have the entire ride to ourselves
- The amazing resorts - SSR has a major place in our hearts, but we also love to walk around the lake at Boardwalk and to watch the animals at AKV. We can't wait to experience the Magic Kingdom fireworks from our BLT studio in September.
- Some incredible restaurants - personal favorites are Jiko, Le Chef de France and Le Cellier.
- The fantastic weather.
- The escapism. The WDW experience could't be further from our our every day life of pressurised 12 hour working days.

Anyway, enough of me droning on. Over to you. What is it about WDW that keeps you coming back?

"You're here for a good time, not for a long time!"

 

[Dizny Dad]

You, my friend, have stated it so well; and it's not just for kids!

DW & I love the Disney thing, and yes we also have no one in the extended family or among our friends that "get it". Our grown children understand, but our brothers and sisters, friends and acquaintances just shake their head when they hear we are "going AGAIN?"

Come here to the DisBoards to share, discuss, and enjoy "the magic" with those of us that "get it"!

Welcome Home!

 

[FindingFigment]

I like how I feel "taken care of" at Disney. I don't mean pampered. And I know many feel the quality of service has decreased over the years. But it's the only place I can afford to go where I don't feel like I'm totally on my own. If something were to go wrong, I can just ask a CM for help and either they will either help me or they'll find someone who can.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Kechak, you've pretty much covered it! I'm a Disney nut and have been since it opened in 1971. My son however, is not the Disney enthusiast that I appear to be, he was 2 1/2 when I purchased DVC and now at 14, he much prefers the resorts (OKW, BWV & SSR) and the Orlando outlet mall to the actual parks themselves. Friends and family don't understand why would even want to buy a timeshare in Disney since it's only 2 1/2 hours away! They simply don't get it!

Your statement really sums it up for me. The escapism. The WDW experience could't be further from our our every day life of pressurised 12 hour working days.

I'm in it from the moment I see Mickey and Minnie at Crossroads, then the excitement builds as I pull up to the resort (any resort for that matter) and then I hear those corny magical words, "Welcome Home"! At that moment, I honestly feel the same joy and enthusiasm I felt as a child when I went to Disney with my parents.

Wonderful thread, thanks!

 

[Cee]

Everyone has already expressed MY feelings about WDW perfectly. We're lucky that my sister and brother also love Disney and understand the obsession.

For me, it's a feeling. That's the only way I can describe it. I feel good there, I feel safe there(have no problem going solo).....I guess you could say that I feel MYSELF there.

 

[RobPickles]

What we do for our DWs huh? LOL!

But seriously.... Do not let anyone disuade you from your enjoyment of Disney.

All of us are here on the DIS boards for the same reasons...we love it and come here to talk with others who love it too.

We get the same crap from our familes and friends, but no matter what anyone says, nothing is going to change the way we feel when we get to our home away from home ever summer. Now with our DD, it is even more magical.

So...ignore the crap talk and when you want to talk about how much you love going to Disneyworld.... COME HERE and talk with US!

 

[rocketriter]

Look on the bright side. Your friends and family aren't trying to sponge free Disney weeks off you, they aren't agreeing to go on WDW trips with you and then bailing at the last second leaving you with an empty grand villa, and they aren't traveling with you complaining about the heat and the food and the lines.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

I stop explaining to people. I just go enjoy. The question is no longer where are you going for vacation? Its, when are you going to Disney?

Some family members understand my addiction, others can't understand it. Oh well, I guess they never will.

 

[hellerjw]

- The escapism. The WDW experience could't be further from our our every day life of pressurised 12 hour working days.

We are in our early 40s also and luckily our kids have grown to love it just as much as we do. We love the totally emersive experience it offers (The charaters, theming, music, shows, parades, etc) and that they do everything they can to hide the real world from view even as you sit only a few hundred yards from a major road, business or shopping district. It is as close to living a fantasy as we have found anywhere. I have yet to find another vacation destination that gets the whole family so manically excited so far in advance of a trip. Even the planning is highly enjoyable for us because we know it gets us one step closer to being at WDW. The whole rest of the year the stress of the real world gets to beat you senseless, but the short time we are at WDW we are shielded from it and get to be kids again.

 

[BlackRock]

I agree; people always ask us why are we going back to Disney. I love the resorts. they are always clean and the gyms are in the best shape. Always great places to eat. Pools are great. We have been there for two weeks at a time and have not once stepped foot in a park. We love it.

BlackRock

 

[a742246]

The best way I can describe WDW is that I feel like I am in a 7 day perfect world.

 

[nunzia]

Join the club!! That's why WE are here...just think what they are missing

 

[CocosMeme]

Why do some people go to the same ski resort or beach condo every year? I really don't care anymore what anyone says or thinks about why we go to Disney World several times a year. All I care about is that DH and I love it and enjoy our trips every time. We like the atmosphere at Christmas time (usually go in Nov.) and also enjoy Food and Wine and Flower festivals. We are in our early 60's and just enjoy the whole atmosphere. The only time of year we don't like is summer due to the heat. "Do what you like and like what you do"! We are taking our kids and grandkids in late May for a family trip and are going back in October for Food and Wine by ourselves.

 

[SamSam]

Dh and I are empty nesters in our late 50's, and we love going to WDW. It's an escape from reality for us. Our name is on the Tapestry at Kidani as 'Weavers Therapy', which pretty much says it all.

We quit telling people we were going to Disney long ago, now we just say Florida. In the past we used to try to explain to people why we go there time after time, tried explaining that it's no different than people who have a lake or beach cottage and go every summer, etc. We've given up on explaining, we just go and enjoy our happy place.

 

[Cyndibear]

We are also in our early 40's without children and just love Disney and DVC. I think our friends and family are now used to our Disney addiction. Some get it, some don't but that is okay with us. Some people go to the beach each year, we just go to Disney once or twice (sometimes three) times a year. You found the BEST place to share and help your Disney addiction.

Cyndi

 

[Alex's Mummy]

Totally agree with all these comments. You shouldn't have to explain why you love it- you just do.

People who make comments either haven't been to WDW or are just jealous. We've been going to Disney since 2003(lots of times before we had our daughter). Disney is not just for people with children. I love it that when we come back it really feels like our other home. Buying into DVC was a good investment for us and i have no regrets. So many memories of good times, and lots more to come.

 

[Kerchak]

Thanks all for your posts. Good to see we're not alone in our obsession It sounds like the escape from reality is a major driver of everyones passion for WDW - well that and the funnel cake. Not forgetting the chocolate covered marshmallows from Goofy's Candy Store. Hope you all enjoy your trips this year.

 

[murmkc]

I feel your pain! I am a single 33 year old who bought into DVC a couple years ago after repeated trips with various girlfriends.

None of my guy friends get it at all! They think I am out of my mind to return to Disney year after year.

However, I am fairly well traveled and no matter where I go, the real world is there. No matter how well I am pampered or taken care of, it is still part of the real world. When I am at Disney the real world completely disolves and I become a kid again. As long as Disney can continue to repeat that - I will keep coming back!

Its like Jay Z said, "You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder"

 

[kendzee94]

You've all said it all. My DM and DF get it, no one else does. I get the " well aren't you and the kids sick of it yet?" I want to ask " are you sick of the beach?" We aren't beach people. My DD and DS don't like salt water and need something to do.

We are also founding members at AKV and have our names on the tapestry....love it!

When we go to other amusement parks, and venues we compare to Disney. Even going to places like Vegas. You mean I have to schlep my luggage out of the airport and to bell services once I get to my hotel! I mean really. Why doesn't every place have Magical Express. You all know what I'm talking about. When we go to other amusement parks, my kids ask about getting fastpasses, fully knowing there are none.

We try to do something new (to us) each Disney trip and bring family members every or every other year. We did the Bass Fishing excursion with my DBIL one year, just did the Wild Afrika Trek, and learned some animation! There is always something new to try when you go back. Oh, and I forgot....'Ohanas!

Sorry, I'll shut up now....

 

[bmalonef45]

Totally agree with everything being said here. We've owned for almost 7 years now and I get the same things from friends. Honestly my DW and DS are not the Disney Nuts like DD and I but they do still love it. We're on a little WDW break this year. Its like there's a hole because I don't have a trip on countdown but I'm getting through it.

I can't wait to get back because every time we go its a different experience for us. Nothing made me feel like its worth it than last summer on our last day we were having our last few minutes at Epcot enjoying a Mickey Bar and both kids started to tear up a little. They know they'll be back often but they really didn't want to leave. This after their 6th trip in 7 years was the first time they've had this reaction. DS was 10 at the time and DD 7. To be able to hug them and say... we can come here anytime we want made my day.

We have friends that understand our fun and some that don't. But they all like it when I help them plan for their trips, thats for sure.

One day I hope to be able to share it for the first time all over again with my grandkids, until then we'll keep making memories for the 4 of us.