How do you explain it to people?

[hannahryan]

How do you explain to friends & acquaintances that ask you why you keep going back to WDW? I had a conversation with several girlfriends the other night who asked and I couldn't put into a few words. Do you have any suggestions on a simple way to explain to people that think you’re crazy?

 

[j&j620]

Honestly, I think the people who don't understand can't understand, so I don't even try to explain it. That's why I like the DIS so much...everyone gets it!

 

[Lizboo]

I got the same thing twice today.."Walt Disney World?? AGAIN".

Here's what I said:

We have been more than a dozen times in the last 10 years and I am still doing new tours, eating at new restaurants and staying in new hotels. In addition, there are other parks with new attractions (can't wait to see WWHP).

If I am feeling snarky, I say "Oh..did you pay for it? No..then you get no say where I go".

I have also said "We lead very busy lives and I have my hubby all to myself when I am there and we get to run around like a couple of 12 year olds."

Oh and also "Dole Whips!" (if they hae been, they get it..if they don't, I tell them they should go check them out..but be warned..they are addictive and lead to multiple WDW trips).

 

[jpolak]

I don't think you can. You either get it or you don't.

 

[mgroshans]

I don't think you can. You either get it or you don't.

 

[joshsmom]

I have tried SO HARD to explain Disney to people. When they ask, they can see how enthusiastic I am about it. People in my office see my picture frames with the dates on them for all the years I've been there. They can see my Pooh Bear (who is now 14 and would be MORTIFIED if he knew that I called him Pooh outside our home!!!) and how he's grown and changed since our first visit together when he was 5. But I can't explain the feel of Disney. I can't express to them what it feels like to walk down Main Street, with the Castle looming in front of me, smelling the cinnamon from the stores and hearing the laughter in the air. THEY DON'T GET IT AND I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT!! It frustrates me!!

I went several times before my son was born and each time I would call my mother from the pay phones (yes, that was when cell phones were only for the rich) in Tomorrowland and begged her to come with me. I would come home and show her the pictures and try to tell her about the MAGIC!! SHE DIDN'T GET IT!!! Finally, in 2001, the first time I took my son, I took my mother and I will never forget when she stepped onto Main Street, with the Castle looming in front of her, tears streaming down her 56 year old face and saying "I FINALLY get it!!!!" She's gone on every trip with us since!!!

People that get it, get it. People that don't can go there and maybe they'll get it, but some still don't. I don't know how the magic doesn't penetrate every soul, but I am SO GLAD that its in mine!!

 

[bytheblood]

I don't. I quit worrying about what other people think. I go to Disney because I enjoy it. If they have an issue with it, oh well. I am not using their money to go.

What I don't get is the people who go on vacation and stay drunk the entire time. That does not seem like a vacation to me.

 

[vcgirl925]

The key is to only surround yourself by other disney freaks! Then you never have to explain it!

 

[Zoo Keeper]

My reply today was ,"It's a Disney thing. You wouldn't understand."
and the conversation ended.

 

[Bill and Jen]

I tell them it is the only thing we truly enjoy as a family.

My wife and sons 11, and 8, and myself spend nearly every second of every day together when we go to the world.

We do everything together and all enjoy it. There is nothing else we have found in this world that will consistently keep everyone in my family happy.

I explain how even waiting in lines becomes quality family time....

Instead of getting weird looks I often feel that they are envious.

I don't go into the intangible feeling that walking down main street induces

 

[Brooknwdw]

Oh my goodness I so understand where you are coming from! There are several people in my circle, who shall remain nameless, , that just DON'T "get it", and they have even BEEN to DW with us!!

I think there are about three groups concerning DW:

Group #1: Falls in love with Disney World as a whole concept.. and becomes emersed in it..almost like a secret only we know! (thats us! )

Group #2: Gives Disney a chance once..has a good time..yet doesn't see the need to return for years, if ever, and would certainly not have gone if family/grandkids, etc didn't ask or include them. They ask "Why would we go again, we just did that last year?"

Group #3: Wouldn't even consider going, its a theme park!

 

[Traveliz]

I pick whatever is "their thing" and answer like this:

It's my boat.

It's my cabin.

It's my Country Club.

It's my jewelry.

It's my fishing.

It's my hunting.

Three words - that's it - just put it on their level and be done with it.

Liz

 

[joshsmom]

My reply today was ,"It's a Disney thing. You wouldn't understand."
and the conversation ended.

I am SO using this the next time someone says "Disney again????!!!"

 

[inkedupmomma]

I agree with the you can't explain it, you either get it or you don't. Although in fairness, if someone hasn't been there before they clearly have no clue... then you reply, it's a disney thing, you wouldn't understand

 

[Irish9697]

I always remind them that I'm a single mom and it's a perfect vacation for the 3 of us because we can have all have fun together and yet I can still enjoy my things (having a glass of wine in World Showcase), and they can swim and frolic and I can be a kid with them. I feel safe. It makes us happy. And, frankly doing the same attractions on each new trip is a new experience every time. It's "our" thing.

Haters are just jealous!!

 

[Pixie Princess]

1. It is never the same vacation twice. Sure there are things we do everytime, but there is always a new restaurant to try, or a new show or attraction. Not to mention the fact it takes mulitple trips just to get to all the stuff to do in the parks.

2. To me, Disney is no where near the work that other vacations are once you arrive. I am on vacation after all; I don't want to have to think too hard. I find that other vacations we've taken it is a lot of effort up front and once you get where you are going.

3. It is the only place I've every been that I'm actually sad when it is time to leave. Most places when it's time to leave, I'm good.. I'm ready to be heading back home. Disney is another story. I have progressively managed to stretch out our departure time. Last trip we were in the car and heading home at 5:00 in the afternoon. Don't think I'll do that again, but it sure was fun.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Today my boss showed me pictures of her long weekend in Florida. They rented a cabin near the ocean with no beach access and sat on the porch and read. I told her I didn't enter Florida without riding EE. I'd die of boredom. As my buddy that I took last December said, he'd never been anywhere he got to do so many different things and eat so well for so little money.

 

[phyllis1966]

I know a couple who went for the first and only time (with no research) during Thanksgiving week with very young kids. They base their dislike of WDW on that ridiculously crowded week. They ate only CS and waited on lonnnggg lines and ultimately felt ripped off.

Of course they can't understand why we keep going back!

 

[lizandjason]

Simple...it's a total escape from reality.

Who wouldn't 'get' that?

 

[alicia080979]

I know a couple who went for the first and only time (with no research) during Thanksgiving week with very young kids. They base their dislike of WDW on that ridiculously crowded week. They ate only CS and waited on lonnnggg lines and ultimately felt ripped off.

Of course they can't understand why we keep going back!

My best friend and her family are doing the exact same thing this year except they are going to MK only on the day after Thanksgiving. I told her I will help her come up with a touring plan but to go in understanding it is going to be packed. When I asked her how many parks they were doing she said, "we are staying in a condo in Orlando and doing 2 parks...Disney World and Sea World". She lives in TN and we are going to stay with them for a day on our way back to Ohio after our trip (we leave Friday) so I am going to take her some park maps and give her a little Disney lesson, hehe. I really hope they don't leave thinking that is all that Disney is and that even with the crowds, they catch the Disney bug!