How do you deal with the Disney know-it-all....that doesn't know it?

[Rock'n Robin]

I've seen posts about dealing with the "why are you going AGAIN" syndrome, but not this. I have a student who says he has gone to WDW every year of his life. Fine, I buy that. He says they are DVC and they stay at OKW. But once he said they have "10,000" points. WAIT! I said. I used to be DVC and the most I had was 160 at one resort. Well, I'm not sure about the number, he says. (well then, don't mention it!) A few weeks ago he started talking about how worthless Expedition Everest is. Now today I saw him in the hall and asked him what he thought about the POC rehab, and he didn't know about it....then went on and one about "where would Jack Sparrow fit into POC?"
Now with this particular kid I know he is kind of a patholigical liar and he wants a lot of attention (today he said his family is a millionaire--I know his dad teaches auto shop at another local school, and I don't think mom is a CEO or anything) but how do you deal with people who act like they know all about Disney, but when they start talking you realize they don't know much of anything? Do you correct them? Do you smile and nod and mock them to yourself? Do you pity them? And I don't mean people you overhear saying things, like the guy I heard on a bus telling his friend the monorail went ot MGM. I mean people who are talking to you about WDW and you figure out that although they think they know it all, they are clueless.
Robin M.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

For anyone who doesn't know much of anything--much more fun to just smile and nod.

It's an argument that cannot be won, I'm afraid when what you describe happens.

 

[piglet too]

In this case, I would smile and nod but also feel sorry for him. Otherwise, I would just do teh smile and nod, while rolling my eyes to myself.

 

[mainewmn]

There is another woman in the office building I work at that tries to pass herself as a Disney expert. I learned long time ago that she is anything but Disney expert. The other day I overheard her telling someone in the elevator that Disney now is nothing like it was 5 years ago and that each park at most now has 4-5 rides and mostly shows. I smirked and turned my back so she could see my jacket that I got at Disney world, it’s embodied with icons from each 4 theme park; she looked at my jacket and shut up immediately. I wonder why!

 

[mtemm]

I'm a smile and nodder, myself. Its not something you can ever hope to win or change. occasionally throw in an "oh, really???" and "oh my!" lol. yeah, so I've also been known to mock in private.

we have someone on dh's side of the family who does stuff like this. At first it used to irritate dh to no end, but now I think we have a little fun with it.

 

[JESW]

...smile and wave boys...just smile and wave....

Jill

 

[amburger]

Though I would be very annoyed, I tend to like being right haha, I would probably just smile and nod and then go either complain here or to one of my friends, probably someone who didn't know disney well. haha. I would hate that though. Gah.

 

[missypie]

Look at my second tag.

I would only contradict the "know it all" if he was leading someone else astray. I have a neighbor who went to WDW when her son was a baby (maybe 10 years ago.) She SWEARS that because they had an infant with them, they got to go the front of the line on every ride and that they were allowed to stay on any ride as long as they wanted to. (I think they must have gone at a very slow time.) I just smile and nod, BUT if I heard her telling that to someone with a baby who wanted to go to WDW, I'd have to correct her.

 

[jbdreamer]

My uncle had just come back from his first WDW trip. When he heard we were going, he had to come and tell us everthing we should see and do. We have only been there a dozen times!

But we just smiled and nodded.

 

[jonestavern]

There is another woman in the office building I work at that tries to pass herself as a Disney expert. I learned long time ago that she is anything but Disney expert. The other day I overheard her telling someone in the elevator that Disney now is nothing like it was 5 years ago and that each park at most now has 4-5 rides and mostly shows. I smirked and turned my back so she could see my jacket that I got at Disney world, it’s embodied with icons from each 4 theme park; she looked at my jacket and shut up immediately. I wonder why!

Jean

 

[binny]

...smile and wave boys...just smile and wave....

Jill

Yep thats the only way to handle it. Especially if its a kid. I feel sorry for the kids who are like this.

 

[FreshTressa]

In this case, I would smile and nod but also feel sorry for him. Otherwise, I would just do teh smile and nod, while rolling my eyes to myself.

Yup...when in doubt...always smile n nod

 

[DisneyPhD]

We have a friend who has been to WDW a few times. But most everything else she likes to know it all. (because she has been once or twice before having kids, mostly for work and conventions.) Well last March her mom offered to pay for a trip for her family so they went (even though she said she would never bring young kids.) She actually used me a lot to plan a bit of her trip and tell her what to do. We were going at the same time and even meet up and spent 1 day together. Our kids had a good time together. (she is a nice person).

Well then she goes and writes an article for the local hostpial parenting magaize about taking your kids to WDW (she did once, with my help) now that she is an expert. I have been on 8 trips to WDW with kids under 5 years old. DH was very put out that she didn't ask my actual help in the article (but used some of the advice I did give her before the trip as her own.)

I don't mind, I thought it was kind of funny.

Some people just feel the need to know about everything, even when they don't.

In this case it is a student and you know there is more going on. Maybe he wants a want to conect with you since he knows you enjoy WDW. I feel sorry for the kid, and for you too having to deal with it.

 

[Lyn5]

Yes, I also smile and nod...it isn't worth a fight with my sister
Of course, I do try to be helpful with ideas on saving money for airfare and hotels...but, somehow she doesn't seem to get it. As a matter of fact, I think she is confused on how we are planning second trip in less than a year....but then again, if I had to pay what she anticipates paying for her trip, I wouldn't have been able to go there once, much less twice.

 

[inaminute]

Smile. Nod. And (in the case of the OP's situation) file away the information that this person can't be trusted. If they can't be honest about something simple like a Disney trip, what can they be honest about?

 

[Cindyluwho]

The situation reminds me of that joke about the two southern gals "well, my my" this might be a good time to use that expression.