Have you told your friends?

[dwelty]

I have only told one family member. They aready think my wife and I are crazy for taking the kids to Disneyland twice a month (we have APs). I am tired of trying to justify the family fun we have on those trips.
Alot of the people who seem annoyed that we do this, never see their kids all weekend (sports practice, going with friends to the mall, Etc.) I think our family is much closer than many because of the time we spend together at Disney. DVC was just a natural fit for our philosophy. With a 16 year old, a 3 year old and a 3 month old, we know that we only have them for a precious few years.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

NARM - It might be like me and NASCAR or football

What if Disney sponsored a car? That would be cool. And they already have a hockey team and a baseball team... logical next step is to get a football team. Before you know it you'll be loving both

 

[Entropy]

I gave up on worrying about what folks think of my interest in Disney.
My brother asks how I can go to the same places each year and how I can stand waiting in long lines all of the time. haven't I gone on allof the rides before? I tell him that Disney vacations are clean, reliable, low-hassle, the people are friendly, the atmosphere is upbeat and the customer service is first rate. I also tell him that I don't wait in long lines. We go in with a touring plan, use fast passes and simply don't get in long lines. We go to Disneyland at least twice per year. I told my brother that it's not about the rides anymore. It's about the atmosphere, the history and the culture of the park. He also doesn't understand how I can like the DCL so much because I'm "stuck on the boat" He doesn't get it. There's still hope though. His girls are 2 and 5 so he's due for a Disneyland vacation soon. Maybe he'll get some pixie dust when his older girl sees Ariel for the first time.
Most of my co-workers know about my "Disney problem" so I end up dispensing advice. Mostly about he same things, when to go, where to stay, how to get discounted tickets. But I do occasionally run into another Disney fan. From that point we share this sort of Disney bond and we've always got something to talk about.
I do travel elsewhere, by favorite National Park is Yosemite but at four million people per year, it's Disney without the crowd control during the summer. We went to Paris a couple of years ago. Just by coincidence, there's a Disney park nearby. How convenient. I'd like to go back to Japan and Hong Kong soon. I wonder what there is to do in those places ?

 

[gjw007]

First, I can understand why some people don't like Disney. My first trip to Disney was in July 1995, about the 3rd week and the temperatures were in the upper 90s to lower 100s. The lines to the rides were long and I had a miserable time. I questioned why anyone would like Disney given the conditions. My friend who suggested Disney to begin with said to give it another try. So I did during the Xmas season the following year. Not Xmas week but the week before. I enjoyed it then.

Second, people like different things. Epcot is not my favorite theme park but there are things that I like, Mission Space or Soarin' as an example. I went to Epcot with a friend during Labor Day. My friend liked Epcot but you could tell that the kids were bored (5 and 11) at times, especially the 11-year old. Still, all-in-all, I think everybody had a good time. The 11-year old was satisfied by taking him on Mission Space and Test Track.

Third, it would be a boring world if everybody liked the same thing. Rather than just liking Disney, one of the things I like is that because Disney is there, the area has built up other attractions in addition to the attractions that existed before WDW. There is more to do in the area than just Disney.

Fourth, a friend kept giving me a hard time about going to Florida but stopped once I began questioning about why he kept going to Boston. It made him think and I was no longer pested by stupid comments as he saw that it could also apply to him. Most of us have our favorite things and like to do them as often as possible. Why should vacations be any different?

Fifth, enjoy yourself!

 

[WDWorld2003]

What if Disney sponsored a car? That would be cool. And they already have a hockey team and a baseball team... logical next step is to get a football team. Before you know it you'll be loving both

DisDaydreamer - I probably would be their biggest fan!

 

[bzzelady]

A couple of people at work think I am nuts...but most of them come to me when they are planning their WDW vacations rather than using a travel agent! I keep a folder with updated information on resorts, transportation, dining, and events (similar to my DVC file but with information geared to the occasional traveler). I just helped one person map out their hotel reservations, itinerary, dining reservations, and purchase their tickets.
A few people at work call me "Mrs. Disney."

I think even my mother thought I was absolutely out of my gourd for joining DVC until I invited her to go on my December trip and she is now eagerly anticipating her first stay in a 2 BDR villa at the Beach Club. I introduced her to the disboards/DIS Radio about a week ago and I think she suddenly realized that I am not alone...

Thank you to all of you for making me realize that I am not nuts....nor am I alone in my love for all things Disney

 

[Boston5602]

Just as I would not care to spend my vacation camping, others love it. I don't expect them to love my Disney vacations and I don't push it on them.

Hey I want to spend my whole winter camping , at Fort Wilderness From Nov - March and I want to camp the whole time.

I'll camp , yeah I'll camp but its got to be in a camper ......yeah camping in a camper .......and the camper has to be 40 feet long.......with triple slides...... 45 inch High Def TV ......... with a nice Shower .......and A/C too.

Ohh I'm gonna love camping at WDW <VBG>

 

[Rella Bella]

I've run in to lots of people who know all about Disneyworld without ever having been there. And I had a good friend who didn't want to go even though her DH was begging for several years and I had told her how much we loved it. She doesn't like amusement parks.

What I finally said to her... (and have often said to many like here goes something like this:
"You know Disney is really good at what they do, and they didn't get where they are doing things half way. You might want to keep an open mind about how you want to spend your time, especially about the parades and fireworks. You may not like them at home but were talking about Disney. There's nothing ordinary about it."

This friend finally went this summer. They had the time of their lives. The whole family had a blast! They had been told the same thing about Epcot but I encouraged them to give it a try and in the end it was their favorite partk... everyone of them (kids 14, 10, 8 & 7)! She said the words I remember saying myself "I just had no idea!"

 

[Sammie]

Hey I want to spend my whole winter camping , at Fort Wilderness From Nov - March and I want to camp the whole time.

I'll camp , yeah I'll camp but its got to be in a camper ......yeah camping in a camper .......and the camper has to be 40 feet long.......with triple slides...... 45 inch High Def TV ......... with a nice Shower .......and A/C too.

Ohh I'm gonna love camping at WDW <VBG>

Now that type of camping I might could tolerate.

 

[FayeW]

"You know Disney is really good at what they do, and they didn't get where they are doing things half way. You might want to keep an open mind about how you want to spend your time, especially about the parades and fireworks. You may not like them at home but were talking about Disney. There's nothing ordinary about it."

QUOTE]

OP, I think that you should copy + paste this exact statement into an email and send it to your friend.

Since it appears that they are only going to the two parks, you might want to suggest that they go to MNSSHP instead of just the day ticket to MK. You could let them know that it is less expensive than regular admission, less crowded,and as a bonus their child will get to trick or treat. WE will know that it is REALLY so they will get to experience the wonder that is MK after dark!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

My Bil & his family went and they said Disney was just OK!!!!!

OK!!! JUST OK?----- ??? Even their 11 yo DD felt like that.

It is heartbreaking to hear that since we love it so much!! But when I thought about it, it really didn't surprise me because they live such a totally different life then we do.


When my friends went last month, I gave them advice to get fastpasses and ADR's. Well, they didn't. I asked them, "How did you like such and such?" "Oh we didn't ride it the line was too long". How did you like....
didn't ride it, so on and so on. So I stopped asking that question and asked "what the heck did you go on?"--- Not much!!--

But they said they had a wonderful time!?!?!? I think just being together as a family was enough for them.