*gasp* the conversation I overhead at the playground about us "Disney fanatics"

[Disney1fan2002]

I was sittng at the playground watching my kids play, and there were 3 other women there with their kids. They all knew each other.

One of them had just gotten back from Disney, and was saying how horrible it was. The crowds, the crying kids, ect. The other women agreed they had similar experiences when they had gone. Then one of them pipes up " And you know, there are Disney fanatics that just can't get enough of the place, I just don't see the attraction"

I figured I would have a little fun with them, and I raised my hand at that comment and said I was one of the "Disney fanatics", that Disney had such a grip on me I bought into the DVC. They tried to backpeddled some of their comments, but I basically explained that you cannot go into Disney as if you were spending a day at a side of the road carnival or even a regular theme park, you need to actually know what you are doing. After having this little councelling session, they all agreed that IF they go again, they need to talk to someone who has been many times, or at least get some books like Birnbaum's guide.

This was a first for me, and funny thing is, I was offended at some of their comments! Fancy that! LOL You DON'T insult my second home!

 

[SimbaNoodle]

I don't let anyone bother me. I have many family members that don't get my attraction to Disney, too bad for them. I have met several Disney fanatic families and they all seem to be happier with better behaved children.

I love Disney and DVC.

 

[July]

You go girl

July

 

[RumpleMom]

I have found the people who say they did not have a good time booked a package through a travel agent and did absolutely no preplanning of their own.

My SIL scheduled a character breakfast for every morning of their week long vacation arriving at every park by 11:00AM and couldn't understand why they didn't get to do very much because of long lines. I had given this advice- get up early and move quickly in the morning, but they didn't listen. This was during Christmas week and they had 4 kids younger than 9. The kids didn't stay up very late at night, so basically they went to a park each day became frustrated and returned to their hotel to swim.

 

[MikeBW]

Were these 3 women's knuckles scraping the ground?

 

[MermaidsMom]

As funny as it sounds, the families that I know in my area that love Disney DO seem to have great kids! I have watched them grow up over the last 15 years and maybe it's just coincidence but we all have very close families.

 

[LucyLou&BobWho]

Way to go. I strongly believe in educating the "ignorant" public--LOL. Lots of folks I know give me a hard time about it, but I call it my magic time and I think before we took this trip my boys felt pretty much the same way, however, since the trip I know they believe it to be magical as well. I think the trip is what you make it out to be. If the kids are particularly ornery that day then back to the resort, relax, play in the pool, have something to eat and try back again at the park later and surprisingly I don't have children whining and throwing tantrums in the parks. Yes education is key

 

[DisneyMim]

Every time I hesar these type of people I just laugh and ignore them. For me, they are better off not going as they would be the type of annoying people we don't want there anyway!! LOL!! Either you "get" it or you don't. Some people never will.

 

[rocketriter]

Every relative who doesn't understand why we go back to WDW is another relative I don't have to invite along for a free ride at my expense. It's the ones that think DVC is like a summer cottage that worry me; they want to know if they can go and visit sometime--for free--when we're not there and not using the place. It's as if they think our rooms stand empty for the rest of the year!

 

[trpscooby]

One of the mothers at school approached me one day to get any advice/tips on WDW as she knew that we'd been there and DLC quite a few times. I was only too happy to share.. But then she says that the only reason she's thinking of going is because she feels that she 'has' to take her daughter there one day but she actually can't think of any worse place to be than WDW! I just asked her why does she feel that she 'has' to take her DD, if she hates the idea then don't go! But I do find it strange that she would hate a place when she's never even been to it!

 

[rocketriter]

It's very fashionable to hate things Disney in certain quarters, just as it's fashionable to pooh-pooh Steven Spielberg films.

I once asked a very intellectual lady (I'm rawther intellectual myself) why she disliked Disney cartoons. She replied, "Because they make the animals act like people." When I asked, "And the problem with this is...?" she just sputtered and looked at me like I had changed into a cockroach. Which is another story.

 

[leanne2255]

Just watch kids in the MK on any given day. Most of them are crying and whining. Given the cost of a WDW vacation, people save up for a long time to go, and then have very HIGH expectations. They then force their children into having a good time, since they paid SO MUCH for the trip. Why would you want to go back after that experience?

I'm almost happy that more people are not "fanatics". More room in the parks for me and the other "Dis'ers".

 

[ClarabelleCow]

leanne - I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that takes of the rose colored glasses every once and a while!!! Kids are always screaming, crying, overtired, parents arguiing, etc, trying to push the world into one day, where the kids should ahve only done maybe 2-3 hours. People overloaded with cameras, videos, strollers, coats, raincoats, diaper bags, etc, etc. Though I love DVC and Disney. The lines do get old, as do the waits for restaurants, standing for a parade, how many times have you seen kids freak out because of the wait and parents then follow suit! How many times have you seen people get uppitty in line because one person is in line, then 10 show up right when its time to board a line. I have been going to WDW since the late 70's. I have seen it all. But I love the feeling of walking into the MK first thing in the morning. I love hanging at the resorts. And I love DVC because I don't have to go COMMANDO to see it all. We are going in August for 5 days, will do one day in the parks, and a few days in the water parks. That's it!

 

[Pa@okw95]

The last time I went to WDW was in July, it was horrible. I will never go again the summer time. I had a child with me so I had to put up with lines beyond belief, being given the bums rush at the character meal at the "Land" They brought all the food out at once. Some of the characters we had to wait for to see just before we left, the heat, the rain. A lot of people don't call that a vacation. I love OKW in the winter and the parks are not bad at that time either. I can understand why a lot of people don't like WDW especially in the summer. WDW does get old,but the nice weather in the winter does not, I love it in the winter.

 

[leanne2255]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
I can understand why a lot of people don't like WDW especially in the summer. WDW does get old,but the nice weather in the winter does not, I love it in the winter.

I totally forget about WDW in the summer. Absolutely the worst time of year to go with the crowds and the heat. If a summer trip was my first time at WDW, I would not go again either.

Lucky for us, my DH could never get summer vacations, so we had to go in November or December. That is now our preferred time of year to visit.

And as stated by ClarabelleCow- belonging to DVC means no more "commando" trips.

 

[Pig Pen]

I have stopped telling people I am going to WDW. I just say I am going to Florida and make up a place.

How will they ever know any different?

I would never go in the summer, nor would I take kids under 6 (even though I took my own kids when they were under 6, but I didn't know any better).

I love going in the off season. Shorter hours don't bother us at all. In fact, I wouldn't mind a non-park DVC stay, but cannot convince DH to do this yet.

 

[Daydreamin]

I love helping others enjoy their stay at WDW more. I remember being a Disney Virgin, oh so well and don't wish that on anyone. Luckily for my family, I'm a researcher and so that first trip to WDW on site that we got NO HELP from our travel agent on, I had the goods and got us PSs for a number of great meals/character meals. Our travel agent was worthless!!!

With our purchase into DVC, we've moved from commando park mode to relaxed vacation mode. I'm waiting though for those last minute trips with my husband & I to my favorite place. Lucky for me, there's golf & sun or I'd have a hard time selling him on going at all.

At work, I'm become known as one of 3 WDWFanatics and we sure have fun comparing notes. The other 2 aren't DVC ....yet. I'm working on them.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm glad to see that although I consider myself a Disney fanatic, too, that there are others who have mixed feelings about going in the summer (actually, not mixed-"Absolutely not!") Yes, sometimes we go when the weather's hot and the parks are crowded. Those are the times we hang around the pool alot and don't expect to see much at the theme parks. Whenever I hear of someone taking their big trip to WDW in the summer, trying to do the theme parks, I think they might be setting themselves up to dislike it. Not surprised at all at the reaction under those curcumstances.

 

[smjj]

Several trips ago, a friend of mine(now my boss) went to WDW with his wife and 3 kids. When he got back I proceed to ask him how he liked it. He hated it. I ask him why and bacially, he though it was going to be like a Kings Island or Six Flags. I ask him about several attractions and he had never heard of them. They just went with no advance planning and that was it. They ended up going during the hot summer months with no plans and little effort on their part to even read a map or guide book and stood in long lines and missed the best attractions. I had given him some pointers before he went but I thought he would at least understand WDW is no 1,2 or 3 day trip anymore. It can be but I would not recommend it. Anyway, they have not been since and we are still going about every 2 years or so and are now members of DVC...smjj

 

[Rob&Jan]

All I can say is..................

"Hi, my names Rob and I'm a Disney fanatic!!!"

Oh and ..............PROUD OF IT!!!