I feel sorry for non-Disneyers!

[GracieB]

I cannot help but feel sorry for people who haven't experienced Disneyland or World, especially children who have asked their parents to go.

 

[tiffjoy]

My manager was talking about this with me. I know he thinks it's a bit odd how often we go to DLR/WDW (3 times last year) for our vacations. But we also went to Hawaii, the Sierras for a snow trip, and did tons and tons of day trips around the Bay Area. We don't only go to Disney, but our kids are little and they enjoy it, so do we, and so it works for us.

He's wondering if he should take his kids (ages 2 and newborn) sometime in the next few years. I've been taking mine since one year and 9 months, respectively. But I told him I wasn't going to be the person who talked him into going. Take it or leave it, but it doesn't impact me if you don't like going to DLR/WDW. In fact, that's one less family for me to deal with at the parks.

I didn't go as a child, either, btw.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I know what you mean, but I don't know if I'd use the term "feel sorry" in every case. There are kids out there who I'm sure beg their parents for a chance to go to Disneyland, but really don't have the funds. I'm sure those parents feel bad, especially when their kids friends talk about going there all the time. The ones I feel sorry for are those who's parents have the funds to afford a trip, but won't go because either the parents themselves hate Disneyland, or don't feel their children are good enough to go. Your post reminded me of one I started last year. Before our trip to DL last August, DH and I thought about inviting one of the neighborhood girl's (who's friend's with my DD) who's family is really poor, and probably would never get a chance to go as a kid. Mainly we were just thinking out loud. I asked Disers for advice, and at the end decided not to ask. We were sure her parents would say no, and we aren't close to them. Too much of a liability and the fact that DL is a 9 hour drive away.

 

[ronandannette]

I cannot help but feel sorry for people who haven't experienced Disneyland or World, especially children who have asked their parents to go.

We like Disney and have certainly enjoyed our time there, but I also believe it is possible to grow up and lead a happy, productive life without ever having gone. One family in particular comes to mind - we were close to them as my DS was growing up. They (the Mom most specifically) had an absolute aversion to anything based on pop culture or marketing. Their kids didn't get taken to Disney. They did however have every opportunity for sports, the arts and enjoying nature and when we finally lost touch with them they had visited 6 continents and seen 4 of the 7 Wonders of the World. Quite frankly, I'm sure they felt sorry for us!

 

[scrapshappen]

I occasionally feel sorry for those that can't go. But more often I feel guilty for how often my kids get to go when we have those in our immediate family and friends who can't afford to take their families.

And I feel a little guilty that we go to DL more than we take the kids to visit grandparents who also live in California, but up north. (In my defense, my parents average 3-4 trips to Utah a year so I don't feel the need to go there, and I can't tell you the last time DH suggested we go to his parents').

 

[Gisele]

I know what you mean, but I don't know if I'd use the term "feel sorry" in every case. There are kids out there who I'm sure beg their parents for a chance to go to Disneyland, but really don't have the funds. I'm sure those parents feel bad, especially when their kids friends talk about going there all the time. The ones I feel sorry for are those who's parents have the funds to afford a trip, but won't go because either the parents themselves hate Disneyland, or don't feel their children are good enough to go. Your post reminded me of one I started last year. Before our trip to DL last August, DH and I thought about inviting one of the neighborhood girl's (who's friend's with my DD) who's family is really poor, and probably would never get a chance to go as a kid. Mainly we were just thinking out loud. I asked Disers for advice, and at the end decided not to ask. We were sure her parents would say no, and we aren't close to them. Too much of a liability and the fact that DL is a 9 hour drive away.

On the other hand, there is a quote that goes to this affect, if all possible objections must first be overcome, then nothing would ever get done.
It was a nice idea that you had, and seeing that the girl is a friend of your daughters, I don't see anything wrong with asking her parents. If anything, they simply would have responded with a no thank you. Maybe a different time will work out better for inviting her along.

 

[superlarz]

I was one of those kids... I grew up always wanting to go to WDW, but my parents never went anywhere that required a plane until I was much older. I got to watch my neighbors, friends, cousins, and even half-brother go. I loved disney, used to love watching the WDW episodes of the TGIF shows on ABC, and was always upset I never got to go as a child. When I was 18 I took myself after high school. Went again the next year, then went two more times about 4 years after. Always regretted not doing the college program. Fast forward another 6 or 7 years, I go to Disneyland about every 3 weeks to make up for the lack of trips as a child

 

[Gisele]

I was one of those kids... I grew up always wanting to go to WDW, but my parents never went anywhere that required a plane until I was much older. I got to watch my neighbors, friends, cousins, and even half-brother go. I loved disney, used to love watching the WDW episodes of the TGIF shows on ABC, and was always upset I never got to go as a child. When I was 18 I took myself after high school. Went again the next year, then went two more times about 4 years after. Always regretted not doing the college program. Fast forward another 6 or 7 years, I go to Disneyland about every 3 weeks to make up for the lack of trips as a child

Why not look into the Disney college program now? There is no age limit.

 

[superlarz]

Why not look into the Disney college program now? There is no age limit.

I would, if I every considered a major career change.. I am pretty settled job wise at the moment

 

[zanzibar138]

Not everyone has the opportunity to go to a Disney theme park as a kid. I begged my parents to take me, but having to get there from Australia, it was just out of their means and I totally understand that now. I had a wonderful childhood with so many other great experiences and family memories, I don't feel at all sad that I missed out on Disney as a kid. As someone else pointed out, other people may feel sad for children who never get to go camping or to the beach. Disney is a wonderful experience for those who have the means and inclination to go, but there's a whole world of other wonderful experiences out there for kids and families.

 

[KeepOnDreaming]

I always feel sorry for those who have gone and didn't feel the MAGIC the way my family does. We have gone on other family vacations that we have awesome memories from, but every time we speak of a Disney one it is like it just barely happened and the Magic is still right with us.
I have a friend whose trip to Disney was overshadowed by a large extended family meeting but some felt they had to do ALL together even though there were varying ages. They also went duringthe big anniversary celebration, so massive crowds, add some high heat, long lines and the ride to Rogger Rabbit breaking for 30 min with no wxiting. As you can guess some major adult and children meltdowns. I listen to them and pick out things that we would have chalked up to another conversation that we will talk about for years to come. They see it as the worst, and won't go back ;(
I try to convince them to go with us and let us show the right, laid back way. Like We want to go this way, if you do, great if not, great, we can grab some lunch in a bit!,

I also have friend who just. had an idea in her head of how the kids would react, when they were suprised with a trip (mind you she watched Disney commercials about this, and was expecting that reaction) when her kids werent elated it really bummed her out. She wanted everything to run so ship shape on a tight schedule, which made the first time not as thrilling as it could have been.
Between those two families I listen to their stories getting excited that they really did have a fun time if they look at it different.

One of them will come along with me and we will teach them to kick back to watch the magic,not try to force it to be magical! o_0

 

[Dot2Vegas]

I never went as a kid and I was OK. So I don't necessarily feel bad for people who dont go (it isn't everyone's cup of tea). I always feel bad for families who don't have their own "happy place" that they love to go to (doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, just a place you all love).
I also feel bad for adults who won't give Disney a try, or won't just be in the moment while in DL. You've all seen those folks, face in a cell phone, groaning about the lines or the heat or whatever, totally missing the magic around them! Those are the people I feel bad for!

 

[MichaelaF]

I never went as a kid and I was OK. So I don't necessarily feel bad for people who dont go (it isn't everyone's cup of tea). I always feel bad for families who don't have their own "happy place" that they love to go to (doesn't have to be fancy or expensive, just a place you all love).
I also feel bad for adults who won't give Disney a try, or won't just be in the moment while in DL. You've all seen those folks, face in a cell phone, groaning about the lines or the heat or whatever, totally missing the magic around them! Those are the people I feel bad for!

This one, I feel.

I do also feel for so many kids who struggle to eat each day, and will never, ever be able to visit Disney because of cost. While there are certainly some parents that aren't "rich" (we aren't rich!) that make it work and save up for a while, many will never ever be able to. I've often thought of how fun it would be to take a kid like that. (But then there would be guilt that that money could help them in other ways!)

I also think that some people "get it" and some people just don't. As a fellow Dis friend once said, to mix his metaphors: "Muggles don't understand the magic." And it's definitely true. Some folks go to Disney and it's not their thing. Oftentimes I think it's because they go in expecting to hate it and they look for all the bad/annoying things. Other times, I think it's just personality. But other people have other things, too. Some people are Trekkies, some people love trains, some people love knitting. It's just that our "thing" is Disney Parks.