Friends & Family Don't Understand

[dianeschlicht]

We have owned DVC for 14+ years, and we were in our 50's when we bought. Our kids were grown already, and we still have neither of them married and no grandchildren.

At first our friends and family asked the same thing, but now anyone who knows us has changed their tune. Now they come to us for Disney information and know they will get the real low down!

We are in our mid-60's, and go at least twice a year to visit the mouse. We used to find lots of family and friends to travel with us, but mostly now we have exhausted that option and just enjoy on our own. The times we travel with friends and family now, it's just our immediate family or friends who also own DVC! We did manage to convert a few of them!

 

[maburke]

My parents don't get it at all and I tell them all the time they started it! There is sooo much emotional attachment to Disney for us. Our girls love to go and the time spent with them happy is priceless....

I agree on all three of these sentences. My parents started it, too, and they don't get it. When the rumors of a DVC at the Contemporary started, I knew we'd have to own there, because the memories of the monorail running through the building on our family trip in 1972 were so strong. It was 20 years before I went back for my honeymoon, but now I'm an addict.

I know most of this thread has been about people who enjoy Disney without kids, but I'll say this: with 2 kids with (sometimes opposite!) special needs, there is no place like Disney for service. I explain it like this: I know of no place else that employs an army of people whose sole job is to make sure my family has fun.

 

[JenSop]

Ps....JENSOP...love your post...it says it all!

Thanks so much!

 

[LovinmyDisneylife]

Disney is my life! I constantly surround myself with any and everything Disney. Fortunately my husband loves Disney as well. My family constantly asks me why I'm going again. Oddly enough my mother-in-law is the only one who truly gets it For me its the rush of walking into Magic Kingdom and seeing the castle. Even though I've seen it many times before I still get my breath taken away. Kilimanjaro Safari in the rain is also another amazing past time. Seeing the white rhino rolling in the mud pit, priceless. Its spending an entire day at Epcot scouring every undiscovered place in all the countries. The feeling I get when I see Tink fly down from Cinderella's castle during Wishes.
I love waking up early to see the animals in the morning on the savanna at AKV. The feeling that I get right before we drop on TOT gets me every time but I LOVE it I can't wait to have children and experience it all over again. To me and many others I think it's just a way of life. Disney is part of who we are and we proudly accept it

 

[Greyhound22]

Great stories everyone. These are all of the things I cannot put into words when I get the look and hear "why". Could this be a sticky, so I can use it when I need it. I actually just emailed it to a colleague to read. I was totally against going 4 years ago and went only to "make a memory" with my daughters. My wife has a way of convincing me to do what she wants. I was never lucky enough to go as a child. Well, I bought DVC the next year and look forward to making yearly memories with my family and someday grandchildren. It is my families place. I'm so thankful that I found it and am glad that there are so many others that "get it".

 

[AlwaysDreamofDisney]

Ok so I too am addicted to Disney! There I admit it but I don't see it as a problem.

DH and I are late 40's and spent out honeymoon at the Magic Kingdom - that was all there was to WDW in 1981. No Epcot, etc.! We now bring our kids 13, 11, 5 and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. If the kids decide it's not for them off to grandma's they go while I enjoy WDW.

I have found that most of the naysayers are the people who have either NOT gone at all (it's just a glorified amusement park) or those who have visited during the WORST possible times. I have a brother who "hates" WDW but he went once during spring break in college and another time he visited for 1 day while doing a timeshare freebie. You really can't enjoy WDW if you are only going for 1 day and trying to squeeze all of the fun out of it like a dirty dishrag.

Oh well all the more fun for me!!!

 

[Maddysdaddy]

The following is a copy of my post from the Cruise board a few weeks back.
=====================================================

My standard response to the naysayers is that "I like my vacations like I like my public toilets - sanitized for my protection".

Honestly, after our most recent Disney vacation (1 wk on the Magic and 4 days at WDW), which makes 4 Disney trips for us in 3 years (3 trips to DL), my Wife and I had a serious conversation about family travel and whether we were overdoing Disney, and came to the conclusion that Disney is our 'happy place' and we have no problem going back there time after time.

It's the one place on earth where, for 8 hours every day, I can forget about the office, and my blackberry, and my laptop, and my clients, and can just 'be' with my Wife and Daughter - heart, soul and mind.

Are my Wife and I overcompensating for our own crappy childhoods by immersing ourselves in the magic for a couple of weeks every year? Probably. But you know what - it doesn't matter.

If I'm a 38 year old lawyer who wants to set aside the cares of the world and let myself believe in faith, trust and pixie dust while I go on vacation with my family once a year, that's my business and I really don't care if other people want to belittle the experience.

 

[disfanforlife]

I, too, love this thread!! I remember how badly I wanted to go to WDW the first time. My parents had no interest whatsoever, but my grandparents took my brother and me in the late 70's and I was swept over by the "magic". I also watched the wonderful world of disney every week on tv with my grandparents, so it is just a very special thing. Words can not express how much I love WDW!!! My husband and I did not go on a vacation for 9 years and finally went to WDW in 2006 with our three kids. We all had such a great time, we went back two more years in a row and then bought DVC. I LOVE knowing that we will go every year and have the trip to look forward to. I will still LOVE going even if and or when our kids do not want to go with us. We feel like kids there and are never bored.

 

[xipetotec]

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!"

I have often found that those people are people who have either not been, or not been since they were kids.

Granted, not EVERYONE, I have a friend in Texas who has been recently with her family and just does not enjoy it. And that's fine... But she'll say of me for liking it so much: "Takes all kinds I guess" .... ... whatever.

My parents are DVC owners who are members BECAUSE they wanted to take us and our kids to Disney ( who's spoiled? This guy! ). And even THEY sometimes don't get our obsession. We all just got back from a trip to California ( me, DW, 3 kids, brother and parents ) and it took a lot of convincing to get them to come to DisneyLAND with us. ( why would you even want to go there? It's smaller than Disney World ).

At the end of the day though, the people who know me well accept that I just love it and move on...

Oh! and WHY you ask?

Where else can I go where I feel like I'm in a bubble of happy people. Where I can play with my kids, my wife, my brother, my parents without an "age barrier". Where being silly is encouraged. Where the staff makes your stay just so much brighter with superior service. Where restaurants have as much theming as the theme parks ( and they're mostly good too! ). It's everything I want in a destination.

 

[jforever52]

Growing up I went to Disneyland just about every year with my family. I have the most wonderful memories of driving to LA from Northern California and spending time with my family in the park.

As an adult I went to Disney World for the first time in 2006 with my husband, son (3 yrs old at the time) and my parents. We went for 3 DAYS and were totally unprepared for the experience!!! How niave we were to the wonder that is Disney World. Needless to say we fell in love with the place and went back the next year with my entire family (12 total) to celebrate my father going into remission with cancer. I went back again the next year with my in-laws just so they didn't feel left out.

This started an obsession...my husband and I love the feeling you get when you go to Disney...you are free to enjoy spending time with your family without worrying about the distractions of work etc.

In July 2010, after two trips to Disneyland, we decided that it made sense to by into DVC. Since then we have gone to Disneyland 2 times and have 2 more trips booked. DVC has taken the pressure off of us to get everything done...we know we are coming back and so we can slow down and enjoy the things we are doing as we are doing them.

Beleive me co-workers and friends do not get our frequent trips to Disney and we just don't care...Disney works for our family and we are going to keep going back again and again.

 

[JoRo]

This is a fun post thank you!

I too am tired of explaining to everyone around us WHY we keep taking disney trips ......well because I have gone almost every year of my 41 years young, I married a man who has fun at disney too
and our DD 4 and DS 2.5 are completely brainwashed by the mouse too! We have 4 trips planned this year (3 VGC and 1 BLT Oct) this year and 3 next year before DD starts Kindergarden...so we go as much as we can afford air! DVC helps so we can make a bunch of meals in our room so it helps$$!

People ask WHY ....because we dont rush, we use the pool, we enjoy every parade, at epcot we make time to do the kidcot things, because it something thats fun fun fun.....plus have you seen a child when they first see Mickey WOW its a great moment of excitement for everyone!

We bought DVC 2009 when we heard about VGC - and LOVE IT I never thought I would get to stay at the grand californian and now its our home. Our poor kids they really need to rough it a little bit

 

[ToddyLu]

DH and I are in our 40's with no children either. He promised me my first trip on our 8th anniversary in 2002. We have been back every year, one year twice for at least 9 nights each trip. We purchased DVC in 2009 and will go for two trips this year.

DH simply does not like to travel. He is a home body. I think part of the reason he loves Disney is because he enoys watching me enjoy it. I love it because I get Europe, New York, Washington DC, time travel to Dinos or planets, great food in incredible settings, etc--and he goes with me--with a large grin on his face.

One of my favorite memories happened last year (I think). We were on the monorail going from CR to Poly. A young family got on with us and two other ladies. Dad had a "First Timer" pin on, so I asked, " So what do you think of Disney World?" He was precious. He said, " I had now idea, NO IDEA it would be this huge and this fantastic--I am completely blown away--in fact I even got teary eyed at Illuminations last night". The rest of us nodded in agreement--and I thought, "I will be coming here to see that reaction for the rest of my life."

 

[csharpwv]

You know, that's one of the biggest reasons we go.

The PEOPLE!

We have so much fun just watching people - young and old alike!

We love seeing so many people having good times - once in a lifetime times - and yes - we even get a good laugh out of the 'bad times' the infamous meltdowns of kids. We always joke that "This Meltdown brought to you by the Walt Disney World Resort!"

We laugh.... because we don't have kids yet! HAHA

 

[SheriB]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread! We have owned DVC since 2003. I'm 45 and DH is 49. Our kids are 24 & 20. A few years ago the "kids" decided they were tired of DW. Sooo....we used our points to do a 7night cruise (it was actually our 2nd Disney cruise), which we all enjoyed. We haven't been to DW since 2008(too long ago,I know, right?). Anyway, before Christmas this year, don't you know both of my "kids" asked when we were going to Disney again. Without a blink of an eye I booked a trip for May. We're taking my parents with us(this will be their 2nd time with us at DVC). My parents love Disney. They get it. My sister & brother, not so much. My best friend gets it & goes often, too. Other friends, just kind of roll their eyes. We had a friend ask us last year to go with a group of couples to Mexico in May. My DH & I decided we didn't want to be in Mexico with a bunch of drunk people. On the other hand, my "kids" are already planning a trip next year when my DS turns 21. Since we own at BCV, which is walking distance from EPCOT, they are planning on drinking their way around the world(I'm not condoning this plan, but if they carry it out, I will feel safe about where they are, and not having to drive, etc).
There truly is a "feeling" you get when you're at Disney, unlike no other place. It just makes us happy!

Sheri

 

[Bullseye]

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.

Yeah Kerchak, obsessive is a good word to use for people that "get it"!!
I don't hide it anymore, I let my Disney freak flag fly and I'm a 47 yr old DH. I don't care who doesn't get it! All I know is every year we get to escape for ten days of good food and beautiful resorts surrounded by a world of fun and imagination!! Love those summer nights in WDW surrounded by a bunch good folks all having fun!!

 

[Arthur27]

I live about 40 minutes away and I look forward to it. It’s simply our happy place. We can let go and smile.

I have found that some of the naysayers are people who are too uptight and don’t know how to have fun. To me, life is about memories not money.

 

[CocosMeme]

I think for us the best part of being empty nesters (and now a retired teacher) is that we can go at low crowd times when most kids are in school. I feel really bad for a dear friend who is on her way home today from her 1st trip with her kids and grandkids and she says it was terribly crowded and they did not have the good time that they had anticipated. They stayed in Pop Century and had the QSDP. Part of our joy at owning DVC is the villa with kitchen so we can have breakfast and maybe lunch or dinner on our balcony. Then we make ADR's at a signature restaurant once a day and really have a relaxing meal.

 

[PEANUT1]

I actually had someone chastise me on the autotrain in November because my 7 year old has been to disney 8 times..He was bringing his 6 year old for the first time because he said " It is stupid to bring them before they will even remember it!!" Boy he just doesn't get it....I WILL remember it...and she will have photos to remember too. My husband and I went to disney many many times before we had kids and there was no way I was waiting til my girls were 6 to take them

Whenever someones says to us "you are going to disney again" I just smile and say "yes we are and we love it!!" It's our happy place.

 

[dvc4life]

This is truly a great thread. I sit here and read everyone's posts and I get tears in my eyes. Not tears of sadness, but tears of utter joy. To know that there are so many others out there who feel the way me and my DH do. We bought in to DVC in 2005 and wish we could have been able to buy in a lot sooner than we did. Because we just absolutely love it there. We have been going at least twice a year since we bought in. Sometimes we even get there four times in a year. It just makes us HAPPY!

As a previous poster said that someone gave them guff about taking their kids down before they could remember it is just a waste. Well, pooh on them. We took our youngest when she was 4 (14 now), and yes, she really doesn't remember it, but we do. Except she does remember the Snow White ride and that it scared her to death. And that is what matters most. We remember.

And I can't wait until Thursday when we get there again. The anticipation is just overwhelming right now. And I know you all know what I mean.

Have a great day! And thanks Kerchak for a great thread.

 

[arthur06]

I actually had someone chastise me on the autotrain in November because my 7 year old has been to disney 8 times..He was bringing his 6 year old for the first time because he said " It is stupid to bring them before they will even remember it!!" Boy he just doesn't get it....I WILL remember it...and she will have photos to remember too. My husband and I went to disney many many times before we had kids and there was no way I was waiting til my girls were 6 to take them

Whenever someones says to us "you are going to disney again" I just smile and say "yes we are and we love it!!" It's our happy place.

We have some friends that think that exact way. They have 3 daughters (7, 4, 1) and will not travel until there youngest is about 7. Which means that there oldest daughter will never experience anything until she is about 13-14 years old. That almost seems fair to her.

Part of the reason that we love going there is we know exactly what we are getting. Sure its nice to go other places, but there are so many variables. With Disney, I get a great vacation, I'm very comfortable with the surrounding, and know that I am safe. Usually great weather and more entertainment then I can fit into my vacation!We could go to Central Florida for a month and not get bored. There are so many activities for all ages and types!