I need to vent!

[DVC California]

Boy-oh-boy, do we get this all the time. And since we live in California, we also get the "Why fly all the way out to Florida when we have Disneyland right here!"

Well Disneyland is about a 6 hour drive from where we live (San Jose to Anaheim) so the travel time is about the same. If we flew, it would cost us about 75% of what we can get coast-to-coast airfare for, so it's not that big a deal. Yes, Disneyland is nice and it was first but WDW...that's a league of its own.

It hasn't been as bad since we bought into the Disney Vacation Club. Now we just say that we are going back because our timeshare is there!

Steve

 

[J.Cooper]

It's nice to hear that I'm not the only one hearing the same thing. We really get strange looks because we are childfree, so people really think we are weird to as they would call it, a kid destination. We've taken out niece and nephew before, but also enjoy going alone. You all are right about one thing, whenever someone needs some tips or advice about going to Disney, they sure don't hesitate to ask. Funny isn't it! Who wouldn't want to enjoy the happiest place on earth!!

 

[gary4jenn]

husband!

I just need to work on him a little bit more!

 

[moinab]

DH encounters a different issue at his work. People are always telling him that we are so "lucky" that we can "afford" to go to WDW every month. They complain that they can't afford it, and that it's such a long drive. Ok, first of all, we live in FL! We're only 170 miles away from WDW (and we live at the beach-most of his co-workers live in town, so they're about 20-30 miles closer.) We have FL resident seasonal passes. For $200, we can go to all 4 parks 9 out of 12 months of the year. We Priceline a hotel for $30, bring groceries with us, and spend almost nothing while we are there. Each weekend trip costs us less than $100, including gas and hotel.

We have one 7 year old car, no cell phones, no cable/satellite tv, never go out to eat, don't drink or smoke, don't go to movies, etc. We use the library a lot, and take advantage of where we live (beach and parks.) DH gets so frustrated when these people whine at him. At first he tried to give them suggestions, but then he realized that they are just lazy and like to complain.

Thanks for indulging my rant.

 

[J.Cooper]

I just got hasseled again about going to the World. Oh well I take it as envy! Let them stew in there own misery.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by moinab
DH encounters a different issue at his work. People are always telling him that we are so "lucky" that we can "afford" to go to WDW every month. They complain that they can't afford it, and that it's such a long drive. Ok, first of all, we live in FL! We're only 170 miles away from WDW (and we live at the beach-most of his co-workers live in town, so they're about 20-30 miles closer.) We have FL resident seasonal passes. For $200, we can go to all 4 parks 9 out of 12 months of the year. We Priceline a hotel for $30, bring groceries with us, and spend almost nothing while we are there. Each weekend trip costs us less than $100, including gas and hotel.

We have one 7 year old car, no cell phones, no cable/satellite tv, never go out to eat, don't drink or smoke, don't go to movies, etc. We use the library a lot, and take advantage of where we live (beach and parks.) DH gets so frustrated when these people whine at him. At first he tried to give them suggestions, but then he realized that they are just lazy and like to complain.

Thanks for indulging my rant.

This is so true. We just got "But you just went...how are you affording to go again in Dec???"

We are, I will say it, low middle class income. Maybe even lower than that. But it's just the two of us, we have little need for expensive clothing and other things. We have an old, cheap car, and even though this year we didn't get AP's next year we're gonna!

In Dec, it's costing us $359 per person for 4 full days onsite (lodging & UPHs and we did the Dreammaker package because we want to do the Leave a Legacy and keeping everything together on one package was just easier this time than doing it seperate, which would have made it even cheaper!.

We have frequent flyer miles and we eat cheap.

When I tell co workers that it's $359 onsite with passes for 4 days they are astounded. One lady actually said....that's it, per person? I said, Yup. And she said, I thought a weekend at Disney for two people was at least $1500. Each.

Wow.

 

[jcemom]

I know what you mean. When I told another mom at my boys' school that I was planning to take DD again next year she asked how I could afford to do that! I think that is so rude! I told her life is all about choices. We choose to drive older cars with no car payments and we choose to live in a smaller, older house than some, therefore we have money left for other things. (This was after she told me she had just paid off her car and now wanted to buy a new SUV that her DH told her they can't afford. She said she was getting it anyway!)

 

[mb1017]

One of my co-workers has been to WDW a bunch of times. This will be my first trip down (taking my DD4) and he's been an extremely valuable resource for what to do and where to go.

I told him he should start a side business for Disney trip planning. Each time you go back you learn some new trick or tip that you can pass on to others.

As I said, this is our first trip down... But it definately won't be our last!

 

[TerryU.]

With me it is just the opposite. I work in a prison so i work around a lot of people. Most of them know I go the WDW a lot and ask questions about it. Most of the one i work closely to are disney people. (and that is coincident) Everyday I am running into someone different who mentiones that they too go to WDW. It is great, when we have down time we call each other up and talk about disney. I also found out that there are about 5 or 6 people going to WDW around the time I am going!

If you get bored with WDW, there is something seriously wrong with you! The are always adding something new!

 

[bridgettesmom]

Oh yeah, I can certainly relate. Our friends, family and co-workers are always asking why do we go so often too!! Keep in mind these are the same people that...

1. Stay offsite
2. Go commando
3. Pay full price ( Tickets,meals,car rental,hotel )
4. Do not use Fast Pass
5. Believe that if you spend 9 days in orlando you better be spending 9 and a half days in a park to make it worthwhile.
6. Have no idea what is a priority seating

So, you can see why they don't want to go often. Yes, I have tried to show them the light, but, they just don't get it.

For example.. This week we had friends ( couple mid-thirties no kids) going to Disney ,they asked me to recommend a convenient hotel onsite and I told them to stay at POP for $109 a night.It is rack rate I know, but, I looked and I could not find a convenient hotel for less than $90. He did some research and told me that Priceline had hotels "inside" Disney. I told them that Swan and Doplhin do show up, but, I had not seen them for this week. Well, that night they told me they had found a hotel inside Disney for $85 (without tax) on Priceline, the Wyndham Palace. I told them this is a preferred hotel next to Downtown Disney ,but, it wasn't inside Disney. I also told them about the resort fee, which I believe is $8-10 a night and that they needed to pay for parking at their hotel and at the parks. Which as you can see it is going to end up being more than the $109 for POP. I am a Wyndham by request member and I have read many reviews for this hotel and although I have read many good reviews I have also read many, many bad reviews. I sure hope they had a great time, but, this is the sort of situation that the people that criticize us for going so often get into.

What can you do??

 

[Colestat]

I used to get this all the time. But now we have gone to Disney so many times, people save their breathe and just roll their eyes. Some people just don't get it.

 

[PatriciaH]

Not really. Probably because we go on so many other trips too Travel is a priority for us! We have explained why we love Disney and they all get it. Not to mention we post pictures from all our trips on our web site and friends and family LOVE them. They can SEE how much fun it is.

 

[TDC Nala]

why would you even care what anybody else thinks about where YOU choose to go on vacation?

 

[Montana Minnies]

Hi
This will be the first time my sister and I have gone to WDW 2 years in a row. Yes, we too have heard, "What you're going there again?" "It's so expensive, why don't you go to Disneyland or somewhere closer to home?"
My thoughts are because WE CAN and because WE WANT TO
Besides the memories are priceless.

 

[wdwfreak]

The biggest response I get from people (especially my coworkers) is "isn't Disney for kids?!?" Many people don't understand that there is just as much to do at Disney for grownups as there is for kids, probably even moreso. The resort lounges, Sammy Duvall, PI, the Boardwalk, beers of the world at Epcot, watermice, carriage rides, Bob Jackson! -- just to name a few.

As far as the financial aspect, I put money from every paycheck into savings, 10% of my income goes into 401k; my mortgage, car payments, credit cards and utilities get paid on time. As far as I'm concerned, whatever is left is "play money".

I would much rather be able to recount the wonderful, endless memories I have of Disney with my kids, my wife, my siblings, my parents, my grandparents, and my friends on my deathbed than to die a millionaire. You only live once, and for us, Disney has broght us much joy, so why not indulge if you can?

 

[sm4987]

I get it all the time too. Do you know how much money you could save if you stopped going to Disney? Why don't you ever go any whre else. It must be you and not the kids that want to go back to Florida all the time. Grow up.


I just shrug it off. My money, my time, my decision. I used to defend my self, now I just let it go

 

[wilderness01]

Too young to go to Disney but not too young for Cedar Point? There is soooooooooooo much more to do for young kids at Disney than there is to do at Cedar Point. Cedar Point is great for kids that like thrill rides and are at least 48 inches tall to do some of those thrill rides. Better if you are 52 inches tall and even better if you are 54 inches than you can do all (I think) of the thrill rides. The rides in the "kiddie kingdom" are the same over and over and over again. They go round and round and have very little theming. I was very unimpressed for the little kids. Plus if you as a parent had to ride the rides your knees were up to your chin to be able to sit next to or behind your child. I am short on top of it! Our older kids had a blast with the coasters. I know this is the "it" place if you have thrill seekers but NOT for little kids. We also paid $321.50 per night at the Hotel Breakers. Not exactly a bargain. The convenience was nice to walk to and from the park but not "worth" it in my opinion. Also I thought the food was just as if not more expensive. The "only" bargain was that you could buy a big mug and get it refilled at the park the whole time you were there.

 

[Lorix2]

I seem to get the "why do you keep going there" with a quizzacle look on their face?

First off, I don't have to justify or explain...secondly, it's obvious that we love Florida in general for everything it offers.

I think people automatically equate that your choice of a Disney vacation means you are wealthy If they only knew or cared to find out how we can do it and they could too.

Up until 2 years ago, we never took a family vacation, now we look forward to it so much...I don't let anyone get me down.

 

[Blueberry]

Yes, I have heard it all...are you going AGAIN??, Why don't you go somewhere else?? Disney is just for kids!!!!

This is my favorite one though, another lady and I burst out laughing as this person is so uninformed. A small carnival came to Walmart in our town and set up in their parking lot, maybe six or eight rides. A lady at work told us, I took my grandkids to ride the rides, it is just as good as Disney...

People love to tell me that the local amusement park is just as good to go too...

I do not even talk about it much anymore, they know I go on vacation and this weekend I never even told them where i was going..

Lets look at it this way, not everyone likes WDW so that leaves more room for us there...

 

[cdpa4d]

My response to those people is simple.
Disney is Disney, but Orlando has so much to do that you can go back and go back and still not have done it all.

I love Disney, but I do venture out and visit other parks, attractions, shopping and restaurants. I don't think people understand how expansive Orlando has become over the last 15 years. When you say Orlando, people immediately think of Disney and nothing else. I live in the Midwest and that is the attitude and understanding here. I usually have to correct people when they make statements like this. People usually say "Oh! You're going to Disney?" My response is "Yes, but I am also going to Universal, Wet N' Wild, 2 dinner shows, Sea World, Discovery Cove, etc. People look at me funny and say what are those places

I guess these people have really missed out on Orlando's many things to do and see! Our gain.......There loss!

ADP