How Do We Make Others Understand Our Love For Disney?

[figment13]

We just told our kids ( they r grown and married) that we r planning our next trip to WDW in Feb. They think we r nuts going back every year to same place. Logged about 20 trips, Im 70 and my DH is 72 so we r not spring chickens anymore. They keep telling us to go other places see the world, see the country.
We r able to take 1 month trip every year on our budget and we always choose to go back to WDW. We r happy there and enjoy it and find it takes away all the pressures of day to day life.
Does anyone else experience this with family members or friends that think they r nuts going back to the same place year after year?

 

[hockey mom]

Yup.

We quit trying to make themm understand.

My Dsis and her family though are coming around. She just phoned to ask if they could go with us next time. They have been twice and liked it but mocked us for our yearly trips. Now she wants to join my team

 

[SnackyStacky]

My response to those people is simply:

"When I'm spending your money to take a vacation, then you get a say in where we go. Until then, we'll go where we please."

If anything else follows, I give them a simple:

"buh buh buh buh" (rapidly) while my finger covers their lips. Gets the point across nicely.

 

[Stitch&figment 4 eve]

Yea, i stop trying to convince people about my disney addiction. I can see the world with a day at epcot in the world showcase, so why go anywhere else?

 

[Harambe]

When folks start commenting, I give DH a sideways look, and then just smile at the "unenlightened one".

That usually stops them, since they assume we know something they don't. And we ain't sharing! As far as I'm concerned, the fewer crowds the better, right?

Enjoy your trip!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I don't try to explain or justyfy our trips.

I don't expect others to explain to me why they enjoy spending a week at the beach or lake every year. After a day or two I'd go nuts.

 

[Simba22]

Everyone I know thinks DBF and I are crazy too because we have started going every year but we just ignore them. We like it there and we aren't going to waste money going somewhere that we know "just won't be be the same."

 

[mickeymousemom]

Yes. DH and I hear the same thing EVERYTIME we announce we're going back to WDW. His parents think we're nuts and told us we need to take the kids to see other things(which we PLAN on doing at some point..along with a trip to Disney )..IMO, all that matters is that we all have a great time and bond more as a family. To the OP, I showed my DH your post...I find it extremely cool that, at your age, you are so into Disney! DH and I see ourselves in your place 30 years from now.
As for how to make others understand...well..I don't quite know how to do that myself. I've tried and tried to get friends and family members to "get it". Some have never been. Others have and see no big deal. One family went and said they'd never return. After hearing their complaints, it was obvious that if they'd just done a little research they wouldn't have had those problems. I try to make sure others who've never been understand that WDW is a massive, GINORMOUS place to go. There is so much to see and do that a person HAS to buy a book, get online, whatever it takes to UNDERSTAND it all. Even at that, it takes some time.
For the ones who don't want to "get it", I let it go. It's our business where we go on vacation and I don't need my in-laws telling me to go to Branson instead of WDW(WTH is THAT??!). It's gotten to the point where I honestly feel sad for those that don't understand. WDW is a happy, magical, wonderful place that makes everyone in my family feel as though we're light years away from all the stresses here . We smile, we cry, we laugh...we do the ZZUB "coffee walk" across gorgeous POR on a sunny morning, all the while watching other families bond like you just can't anywhere else. And like "happyhaunts" Mel, I find myself saddened even on my first day because I know how soon it will all be over.
I love coming to DIS because everyone here DOES understand and being around people who love Disney as much as I do has helped me realize that I don't need to tackle the almost impossible task of making others here at home "understand".

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Don't even try to make anyone understand. Do what makes you happy.

I like the idea of not telling anyone, anyway...let's keep it our secret.

 

[sfbank]

I quit trying and have gotten to the point where I don't care what other people think anymore. My SIL said at my DD birthday party "You are going again?" I said "Like you are going camping again? Yes, we are." My boss had told me last year that until I stop blowing money at Disney I was never going to be able to do my job right telling people how to invest their $$. I told him that had nothing to do with how I perform my job and my knowledge. We save and have 401Ks and ROTH IRAs but we also save for our trips. I told him that just because they get their trips paid for every year for making our goals that doesn't mean they would spend the $$ and go if their trips were not paid for. I get so sick of it. We are taking my parents this year and I am hoping that they will become addicted like us!!

 

[john2u]

People also ask us why? We just tell them that you do not understand what a feeling you get when you visit the World!!!

Have a disney day

 

[blue_eyes5212]

I get the same reaction from my co-workers! In fact, just last week one woman said "You know that you are going to have to go somewhere else for vacation right?" WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?????
Seriously though, I agree with the poster that said "When you start paying for my vacations, you can tell me where they will be!" And I love the OP for posting this in the first place!! It just shows that Disney is for all ages and I love that about it!! I love going somewhere where all the "real life" stresses seem to melt away!!

~Amanda~

 

[EEYOREMAMA]

Why try to make anyone understand. My DH and I are Dis-aholics and totally proud of that. We could go anywhere else. Seriously, been there, done them and found them over rated.

I will not change for anyone and neither should you. There are plenty of us out there and on here that admire your dedication and determination. Do not try to justify your Disney desires, just enjoy them!!!!

I wouldn't go anywhere different, even if someone else was paying the bill!

 

[blue_eyes5212]

I quit trying and have gotten to the point where I don't care what other people think anymore. My SIL said at my DD birthday party "You are going again?" I said "Like you are going camping again? Yes, we are." My boss had told me last year that until I stop blowing money at Disney I was never going to be able to do my job right telling people how to invest their $$. I told him that had nothing to do with how I perform my job and my knowledge. We save and have 401Ks and ROTH IRAs but we also save for our trips. I told him that just because they get their trips paid for every year for making our goals that doesn't mean they would spend the $$ and go if their trips were not paid for. I get so sick of it. We are taking my parents this year and I am hoping that they will become addicted like us!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I can't believe your boss made that comment about "blowing" money at Disney!! IMHO, that is overstepping his boundaries big time!! That is none of his business!! Besides that, you only live once!! Bravo to you for knowing how to enjoy your money as well as be responsible with it!!

 

[nannon16]

I can't tell you how many times we'vve heard "you know, there are other places to go on vacation". Yes, we're well aware of that, but we happen to like it at WDW and don't feel the need to go other places! We just tell people this is how we choose to spend our time and money - we tend to get very stressed at work and our Disney trips are our breaks to get our sanity back. Usually people shake their heads out us, but it gets the point across. We also usually go for 10 days at a time, and the other thing we hear is "10 days? Won't you be bored by the end of the trip?" Bored??? By the day it's time to go home we still feel like there are things we wanted to do just one more time! The people who don't frequent like we do have no idea how much more there is to do besides just go to the parks!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I have had experiences with people who don't understand why I love WDW so much...I've heard "Why don't you try Universal?" For me, Universal just doesn't have the magic that WDW does. IMHO, it's just a huge amusement park. On a personal note, the very first time I went to WDW, I went with my aunt(who was like another mother to me) and her boys(who are like my brothers)-I was smittten from that point on. Epcot hadn't even been built yet(1980 when we went) This sounds very corny but my aunt passed away 3 years ago from a brain bleed at the age of 57 and when I go back to WDW, I remember how much I loved it then and I feel closer to her. I took my sister 3 years ago and it was great, because she had never been and it was wonderful to show her all the stuff that I loved when I first went(POTC, HM etc) You do what makes you happy and ignore those who feel the need to offer a commentary on your choices. As for me, I'm too busy planning my trip in September...Woo Hoo!!!!

 

[MagicMe]

I used to get this alot from co-workers and still do sometimes. But now they mostly just stop by and ask when my next trip to WDW is!!!

I'm VERY lucky in that my Mom and sisters are crazy about WDW (in fact both sisters belong to DVC). Unfortunately, my late brothers family (SIL and two nephews) just don't get it. Too bad, but more room for us. My other brother doesn't quite get it but his DD does so he breaks down every couple of years to take her!

Even better, last year I finally got a chance to take my two older DS's back to WDW as adults (with their significant others) and low and behold, they came away as DISnuts and we're planning our next trip for MNSSHP!! Guess it's in the genes!!!!

 

[Harambe]

I used to get this alot from co-workers and still do sometimes. But now they mostly just stop by and ask when my next trip to WDW is!!!

:

This happens to me too - and you know what really gets me? Its when the same coworkers that poke fun at me for doing WDW all the time, come to me when THEY plan on going, and ask me for all kinds of advice and tips!

Which, of course, you know just pour out of my mouth to the point that they run away screaming . . .

 

[marconat]

It's my 3rd time to Disney and I'm very lucky to be able to go back... since I live sooooo far away... My husband's family keep on saying going there again? and my SIL tells me that her kids are too young and it's a waste to go there when they would not remember... her youngest is almost 4 and then 8 and 12... and the first time I went my daughter was barely 3 and my son 6... and she still remembers details that I forgot... ha! ha! They don't understand and I just don't care... I have you guys that understand the magic of Disney and I can share things with you!!!!!

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
Just last week at work, someone said to me "why don't you go somewhere else?" I told them I'm going to Las Vegas next May (DH's business trip) and we went to Sedona and Grand Canyon, (DH's business trip), but there is nowhere in the world to compare to WDW. We went to Cancun a few years ago, and while I was there, I was thinking about Disney. Next summer I'm taking my 3 nieces to WDW, since they have never been. Their mom and my brother have no interest in going. My sister-in-law thinks that it's just an amusement park. She has no idea. They just don't get it. I do like to travel to other places, but I can never get enough of Disney.