How Is This Possible??

[panfan]

Just s funny little story--

MY husband just got home from the YMCA and ran into the mother of one of my son's classmates in a "small talk" conversation it came up that we just purchased DVC. It just so happened that her husband un-expectedly got a week off NEXT WEEK and they were trying to go to Disney. ( does not get much vacation time DS5) So my husband told her to give me a call when she got home to get some info.

I just got off the phone with her ---OH MY GOODNESS--Not only has she never been to disney--she had no idea there was anything else but the magic kingdom and one or two hotels!!!
How is it possible as a parent of a 5 year old boy not to have ANY IDEA of what WDW has to offer??? ( trust me finances are not an issue with this family!!)

She had questions like--Is the animal kingdom where Busch Gardens used to be?? and Do you think one day at Disney World and one day at Sea world would be good??

Of coarse i proceeded to explain that all she needs to do is stay at a Disney Hotel and not go anywhere else etc. etc. etc.--I could have talked for hours but i gave her the official web sight and this one----SHE NEEDS TO SPEND ALL NIGHT DOING RESEARCH!!!!

any one else have experiences like this???

 

[chris1gill]

WOW I don't think you're gonna get too many responses on this one!! I have never EVER met anyone that had this little knowledge of Disney & the parks... If I did, I'm sure they'd think I was WAY over the top!!

Did you recommend she get an annual pass for this trip so they can return in 11 months for just the cost of hotel & air??

 

[panfan]

I was so excited for her and her little boy and talking so fast that I'm sure she wont remember anything!! Good thing I will see her tommorow morning to give her a good education!

 

[chrissyk]

I'm embarrassed to admit that, until I took DH to Disney to celebrate his college graduation in '97, I had no idea how many parks or hotels there were either The one other time I'd been to Disney was with my parents in the early '80's. I think that there were only 3 hotels then (Contemporary where we stayed, Poly, and the campground?), and there were 2 parks (MK and Epcot). We used a travel agent for that 1st trip, and she put us in the WL (again, I had no clue that this hotel was even there, LOL!). During our trip, my DH kept pointing out other hotels...I remember seeing the GF from the monorail and not knowing that that was even part of WDW My DH had been to Disney in the '90's, so apparently he had some idea that there were more hotels and parks. I just had no clue! I didn't know that MGM had been built, and we went to River Country the 1st day that we were at Disney because I thought that that was the only water park Anyways, now I'm a veteran of 4 trips with my DH, we're DVC members, and I have really come up to speed, LOL!!! That was a funny trip down memory lane It wasn't even all that long ago that I was as oblivious about Disney as your friend is. There is hope for her yet

 

[TIdoublegaER]

We have owned DVC for 3 years now and talk about it all the time with DH's family. They are all going with us in July to stay in a GV. Anyway, I don't know how many times I have explained that there are 4 Parks at WDW and no, Sea World is not part of Disney (or US/IOA for that matter) and no, you can't take Disney transportation to these places. You mean we have to rent a car or find other transportation if we want to go to US/IOA/SW? Yes, you do because DISNEY DOES NOT OWN THEM!!
OMG - I think if I have to explain all of this ONE MORE TIME - well it would be very unDisney like! We bought everyone the unofficial guide for xmas and have had family meetings to discuss and at this point if they can all make it to Florida it will be a miracle!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Our 1st trip in 99 I was aware that AK had just been recently opened and knew that MK and Epcot were there. MGM was the eye popper for me. We bought Birnbaums guide and boy did I get excited when I found out about TOT. I couldnt wait to get on that thing, yet even with the book in hand, I still didnt realize all the hotels and waterparks and DD and restaurants, etc etc. were there.
What amazes me is not the people who have never been to WDW being aware of how much is there, but what amazes me most is those who HAVE been there and still talk about Universal and WDW like they are one in the same. When you say something like how much fun TOT or RnRcoaster is they say yeah we rode those too, thats at Universal, right?
Ive never been too Universal. Seaworld is only park outside of WDW we have been to, but I dont see how the two can be so confusing. Maybe its just me.

 

[lisajl]

Are you kidding me? I am still learning stuff from all of you!!

When we went in Dec. someone from my old job was going at the same time we were.
We started to talk about where we were staying, etc.
I told her I got a lot of useful info from the Dis boards.
Gave her the address....next thing you know, she is thanking me over and over.

She said this board is a wealth of info....duh! That is why I gave you the address!!!

She said she had a wonderful time and to thank you all for your help. BTW, we had a great time too! Thanks everyone!!

 

[Cruelladeville]

The first time we drove down to Disney back in 1976, I think, we were going to sleep in the back end of our station wagon because we didn't know they had any hotels there! I thought it was like our local fair, where you drive right up to the fair, and park in the field next to the rides! When we got to the parking lot and saw everyone walking to the tram, I turned to my husband, and said"we came all the way from Michigan for THIS? I thought they had more than one ride!" It wasn't until we went under the train station and out onto Main Street that we realized our mistake! From those humble beginnings to DVC is quite a leap

Recently, my nephew's girlfriend, who comes from a local financially well-off family, told me that she had never been south of Lansing, Michigan!!!!! All our school children take a trip to the state capital in 4th and 5th grades. That's 2 1/2 hours away--and she has never been anywhere else! I am embarassed that this is common around here, where a family vacation means hunting together in the local forest. I was shocked that availabiity of money didn't make any difference.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by panfan
Just s funny little story--

MY husband just got home from the YMCA and ran into the mother of one of my son's classmates in a "small talk" conversation it came up that we just purchased DVC. It just so happened that her husband un-expectedly got a week off NEXT WEEK and they were trying to go to Disney. ( does not get much vacation time DS5) So my husband told her to give me a call when she got home to get some info.

I just got off the phone with her ---OH MY GOODNESS--Not only has she never been to disney--she had no idea there was anything else but the magic kingdom and one or two hotels!!!
How is it possible as a parent of a 5 year old boy not to have ANY IDEA of what WDW has to offer??? ( trust me finances are not an issue with this family!!)

She had questions like--Is the animal kingdom where Busch Gardens used to be?? and Do you think one day at Disney World and one day at Sea world would be good??

Of coarse i proceeded to explain that all she needs to do is stay at a Disney Hotel and not go anywhere else etc. etc. etc.--I could have talked for hours but i gave her the official web sight and this one----SHE NEEDS TO SPEND ALL NIGHT DOING RESEARCH!!!!

any one else have experiences like this???

It is very possible and actually quite normal. As my friends say often, to many people knowing everything about Disney is not everyone's life ambition.

Actually those that go with some knowledge of what to expect are in the minority.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Cruelladeville
I am embarassed that this is common around here, where a family vacation means hunting together in the local forest.

I can relate to that also here in Ohio.

 

[panfan]

What would it be like to actually embark on a WDW vacation with absolutely no idea what to expect??

I guess ifyou don't know any better you will have a great time no matter what you get to do!! I am just some one who trys to get all of the facts!!

 

[Tagrel]

On our trip last August I was seated on the plane next to a Dad and his young DD on the way to WDW for the first time. After we realized we were headed to the same destination we started talking about our plans.

While I think he knew there were 4 main parks, that was about it. His Travel agent had made all the plans and booked one character meal. Its an amusement park? How hard could it be?

After asking a few strategic questions, I knew they were in trouble. Over the next hour I had to balance what to tell him about WDW without totally overwhelming him! I'm sure he forgot a great deal quickly, but the main things, like USE FASTPASS (His first response: What't that? How much does it cost? Yikes!) and some park touring tips along with how to find some characters.

I just couldn't get past the idea that THESE are the people that return from a WDW trip and hated it! I really wanted him and his daughter to have a great time. I hope they did!

Anyway, I think WE are the minority. But I sure do appreciate all my 'study' when I zip through the parks in the Summer or at Christmas with at most a 10 minute wait!

 

[DVC-Don]

USE FASTPASS (His first response: What't that? How much does it cost? Yikes!)

On one of our flights BACK I overheard one person complaining about FastPass. He was complaining about how unfair it was that those who had money could buy one and jump the line.

 

[ColinA]

I have a friend who visited WDW for the first time, he stayed in a hotel on International drive, on the first evening they caught a taxi and asked to go to Disneyworld, thinking it was a single amusment park, the taxi dropped him and friends off at Downtown Disney, and was rather confused, they then proceeded to ask one of the CMs, where is the entrance to Disneyworld. They only had one day for the visit, where would you begin

 

[sueg]

For our honeymoon in '86, DH & I did the combined Big Red Boat cruise/WDW trip. You had to stay off-property at that time. We knew little about WDW, I had been there once as a teen & he had never gone. We bought a Birnbaums, studied it closely & had a ball, but sometimes we laugh about how much we didn't know. We fell in love w/ WDW vacations & have raised our 2 DSs w/ at least an annual DVC trip. I'm glad I started learning pre-kids & really got into the info swing when we bought DVC & DSs were old enough to "maximize" a wk, in WDW. Whenever an office mate is planning a WDW vacation, they spend "at least" 1/2 hr. consulting with me. They always return happy & thank me for my advice.

 

[chrissyk]

Originally posted by Cruelladeville
Recently, my nephew's girlfriend, who comes from a local financially well-off family, told me that she had never been south of Lansing, Michigan!!!!! All our school children take a trip to the state capital in 4th and 5th grades. That's 2 1/2 hours away--and she has never been anywhere else! I am embarassed that this is common around here, where a family vacation means hunting together in the local forest. I was shocked that availabiity of money didn't make any difference.

I'd been outside of New England exactly TWICE in my entire life before my DH and I took that Disney trip in 1996 Once was on a school trip to Quebec City in 8th grade, and once was in 5th grade when I went to Disney with my family. I'm more than making it up for it now by seeing as much of the world as I can I am DEFINITELY traveling with my future kids

 

[DsnyGeek]

I have to admit, when we went on our first trip in 2000 with an Aunt/Uncle that are DVC members we were clueless! We were thinking this would be a once in a lifetime trip and really had no clue what we were about to experience. We also couldn't understand why the Aunt/Uncle had made so many trips to Disney every year! We thought they were absolutely crazy! We found out after that magical trip, we were the crazy ones! We came home from that trip and worked on finding a way to buy into DVC!

We have since made more trips, even taken other family members with us and are planning on going in October without the kids! We are hooked and are constantly trying to figure out when we can go again!

 

[panfan]

Now that we are newbie DVC'ers the possibility of going to WDW twice a year is very probable. Just wondering how many of you that have small children 9mine--DS6 and DS2- have gone without the kids?? It seems like a good idea to me--even if only for a couple of days--really only have to pay air and food. There seems to be so much to experience WITHOUT the children. Also wondering of those of you who have done this--IS THER ANY GUILT?? I think it is a wonderful idea but would feel very guilty especially for my 6 year old!!

 

[GrammieMame]

We are senior citizens. Some same-age acquaintences were talking to us about their implending (first) trip with a grandchild. To say these people are wealthy is putting it mildly. They donate to local charities in the millions. And yet, they were staying off-site. I couldn't believe it. But I did give them plenty of tips that were very much appreciated. I'm a dedicated trip planner, wherever I go. IMHO go somewhere unprepared and you can come home not having seen the very things that would interest you the most.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Cruelladeville
The first time we drove down to Disney back in 1976, I think, we were going to sleep in the back end of our station wagon because we didn't know they had any hotels there! I thought it was like our local fair, where you drive right up to the fair, and park in the field next to the rides! When we got to the parking lot and saw everyone walking to the tram, I turned to my husband, and said"we came all the way from Michigan for THIS? I thought they had more than one ride!" It wasn't until we went under the train station and out onto Main Street that we realized our mistake! From those humble beginnings to DVC is quite a leap

Recently, my nephew's girlfriend, who comes from a local financially well-off family, told me that she had never been south of Lansing, Michigan!!!!! All our school children take a trip to the state capital in 4th and 5th grades. That's 2 1/2 hours away--and she has never been anywhere else! I am embarassed that this is common around here, where a family vacation means hunting together in the local forest. I was shocked that availabiity of money didn't make any difference.

I have to ask, why are you embarrassed over what someone else enjoys? It might not be what you or your family enjoy but I could never put someone down for their personal prefences for fun.

Just my opinion.