people think I'm crazy

[nottellin']

We get this all the time!!!

We are from Canada and gave annual passes so you can only imagine. We go at least 3 times a year for a minimum of 5 days each time.The thing is...I think that even when my kids are older and have families of their own we will still go.

It is such a happy place for us. Your not weird...maybe they are for not understanding the magic?

 

[Scribble Kitty]

So many of my close friends and many of my close co-workers are Disney freaks, so I don't get that reaction so much. I'm lucky that I can surround myself with others who have the same excitement over a Disneyland visit (the vast majority of which are 20-somethings with no kids) and can discuss favorite rides and shows with.

 

[DryCreek]

Just today at work (when it was slow) I was surfing some Disneyland sites for pictures and maps. The guy sitting next to me says "why are you looking at that stuff? You'll just be disappointed". I laughed incredulously, and asked - really, do you really think so? He then proceeded to relate how when he took his family there last year (WDW, summer) it was such a miserable time. It was hot, lines were long, expensive, etc., etc. He had kids from 2 years to 6 years old (3 total). They spent 4 days in Orlando, stayed off-property (right outside of Universal where they went for one day). All I could do was laugh. I told him we only stay on property any more, and budget 6 to 7 days so that we can have a relaxed vacation. If you go with a negative mindset, you will have a bad experience - guaranteed.
We started taking our son when he was 18 months old. When we lived on the east coast we would go annually. It was only about a 16 hour drive from Virginia, and twelve from where we lived in North Carolina. Staying at Fort Wilderness was the greatest! We would stop at the Publix and load up the camper before netering the park. Once the camper was unhooked and set up, the truck never started for the rest of the week. We would tend to always go in Late February to Early March, so the weather as always perfect. This was in the early 90's. In 1993 we came out to California to visit relatives, and that was the last time we have been to DL. We are looking forward to our return this coming February.
My first visit to a Disney property (or to any theme park for that matter) was to WDW in 1980. It was during one of two "Liberty Passes" granted while I was in U.S.N. bootcamp. I was 17 at the time - and truly amazed at the splendor of the park. I was also a bit annoyed as it seemed to be big sport at that time to try and drop pennies from the skyride into our "Dixie Cups" we had to wear on liberty. I also went back in 1981 when I returned for more schools (NNPS). We celebrated every new parks opening with a visit after that.
Now that our son is grown and in college, we parents enjoy getting away on our own. IN fact, in 2009 we did WDW with the inlaws. They had a blast as we showed them all of the tricks that seasoned Disney trekkers learned.

I'm done rambling - but I get what the OP was saying. Some folks will never understand something they have never experienced.

 

[WendyWhy]

I can actually see both sides - I went to college in LA, so I of course went to DL a few times over the years - was always struck by the crowds, the heat, the lines, the expense. It has been at least 10 years but now with two kids who are growing up so fast, I felt I could not delay a trip any longer. I want my DS5 to experience it while it is still truly magical. DD1is just along for the ride.

After doing the research and arming myself with all the info from the boards, making loose plans -the rides, shows, meals! I am realizing how much this upcoming trip is as much for me and DH as it is for the kids. I think it first dawned on me after being totally crushed to learn that POTC (all time favorite ride) and Blue Bayou(would have been our first time) will be closed while we are there, how much I have missed DL and just cannot wait to share this place with my kids. In my mind, this is the perfect excuse to make another trip...

 

[duckwife]

I get the same thing at work and from family I always say that some people go to Vegas or Mexico every year, why can't we go to Disneyland?
We got AP's this year for the first and probably only time so we are going to go as often as we can possibly afford from Vancouver We were there in May, DH went with his sister and kids in June and we are going again in November.
Making good use of the AP's so far

 

[DisSarahK]

Oh I *totally* hear what you are saying. We have gone three times with our children (who are 5 and 7) and many think we have taken them "too many times." RIDICULOUS!

We waited to tell our children about our most recent trip (to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary) until after my MIL and her husband left from their visit out here because I didn't want to listen to their negative remarks and little digs about how we make time to visit Disneyland and yet we don't fly across the country to visit them. Gee, Disneyland is "the happiest place on earth"...whereas visiting you subjects me to rude comments and other indignities. Where would I rather visit and celebrate my tenth wedding anniversary?

 

[Aust]

People thoguht I was weird that when I had the opportunity to go somewhere child-and-husband-free in January I chose DL - and I come from Australia! That was my 2nd trip and I am already planning the next, not for about 3 years but again I will hear 'Why are you going there again?' My January trip was with my sister and neice, my sister originally thought this would be her one and only trip to DL, but she is also planning another one. So we understand!

 

[GhostlyHitchhiker]

Oh I *totally* hear what you are saying. We have gone three times with our children (who are 5 and 7) and many think we have taken them "too many times." RIDICULOUS!

We waited to tell our children about our most recent trip (to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary) until after my MIL and her husband left from their visit out here because I didn't want to listen to their negative remarks and little digs about how we make time to visit Disneyland and yet we don't fly across the country to visit them. Gee, Disneyland is "the happiest place on earth"...whereas visiting you subjects me to rude comments and other indignities. Where would I rather visit and celebrate my tenth wedding anniversary?

Wow, I'm very glad we don't have this kind of thing with family. Our family absolutely understands our love of Disney and most of them are die-hards or at least converts from way back. My husband grew up in Fountain Valley and the Disneyland fireworks every night signified "bedtime" for the kids. They went frequently and before we had kids, we took DH's brothers, sister-in-laws, parents and nieces or WDW for New Years.

It was awesome. Oldest DBIL proposed to his GF (married 13+ years now) in front of the Mickey-face topiary at the entrance. They now take their kids once a year or two (they travel internationally a LOT so Disney is every other year or so).

We took my DBIL in 2007 with his daughters to DL for the first time. Also a GREAT trip even though it was in the middle of summer! We knew it would be hot and crowded so our expectations were right in line. Just that made it great because we didn't push too hard to "do everything" even though his girls from other other coast might not get back to DL for many, many years.

Come to think of it, there aren't *that* many people that say anything to me about "another trip to Disney?!" anymore. Perhaps it's because I avoid many of the soccer Moms at my kids school and that was mostly who I heard it from. Hehe.

 

[starshine514]

We went to WDW in January 2010 and had planned a Disneyland trip for January 2011. My mom had a stroke days before we were set to leave, so we rescheduled for May. In May I was at a birthday lunch at work and mentioned that we were going to Disneyland the following week. I got the "Again?". We hadn't even gone yet! Well, my last trip was in 1986, so technically I had been before...

Now I preface any mention of Disneyland with "Since we bought APs", so people might not harass me about going AGAIN!

 

[PinkBudgie]

People have just come to accept that DLR is one my little "quirks" and that's ok. I have been crazy about Disneyland all my life. Being a preschool teacher, I can get away with wearing my Disney items "for the kids". I even have some parents who have asked my advice about DLR and this year one of my student's parents was telling me DLR was her favorite place and she has eaten at Club 33 several times! So not everyone thinks I'm nuts.

DH and I went alone for our 20th anniversary and we will go alone again this summer because the boys are 18 now and have to get summer jobs.

 

[LittleToni]

One word usually sums it up for me - Jealousy - (oh wait) Pettiness - (shoot, hang on) Envious - (come to think of it) Spiteful. Ok so here is what I think. Don't worry about Jealous, Petty, Envious, Spiteful people who, since they can't go, try and go out of their way to make you feel exactly the bad feelings they are experiencing upon hearing you are going to The Happiest Place on Earth!

That's all (oh yeah) HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!

LT

 

[It'sKim]

My sister and I get this all the time too. Both of our husbands love going as well, so we go anyway. Usually the people saying this kind of stuff are the same people that go to Mexico every year. Personally, I'm not a go sit on the beach and drink in Mexico kinda gal. I would take going to Disneyland over Mexico ANY day.

People like different things. Why change doing something that you love?

 

[Brady's Mom]

We have friends who say "AGAIN?" and then DH has a close coworker who goes more often than we do!

My parents totally understand our Disney obsession - since it's probably my mom's fault that I am Disney obsessed.

DH's mom just never hears about our trips - mostly because she would be mad that we went and didn't invite her. Not because she really wants to go to DLR, but because she thinks we should take her everywhere we go. But, Disneyland is my happy place and taking my MIL would NOT make me happy (wouldn't make DH happy, either)!!

So, we get both kinds of comments. In fact, we are planning a trip to DLR in March 2012 with friends and I haven't told my parents yet. They'll be glad we're going, but sad that they're not!

 

[Mortimer Mouse]

Kailuagirl, maybe our families can house swap every year, you can get your disney fix and we can get our Hawaii fix .......

 

[larina]

We went in May,it was a rough trip for our family) because of an emotional death in the family right before we left and because my middle daughter got VERY sick) and we are going back for Christmas to do it right (it is our mulligan so to speak). People think we are out of our minds. I don't care. I may think they spend too much on their cars or their massages or their whatever. At the end of the day, we all have to do what works for us. My parents and I have decided that making this memory for my kids is worth it. Someone else might not see it that way. I really don't care what they think, 'cause I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND FOR CHRISTMAS WITH MY KIDS!!!

 

[Disney Dreams]

I have had an annual pass for the majority of the last 10 years.

DH has had one for most of the last 7 years.

In the last 12 years we have gone to WDW two times, are leaving on our third Disney cruise in a few weeks, and have been to Disneyland more times that I can possibly count.

My last 7 birthdays have been celebrated at some type of Disney location.

Oh, and we have no kids.

Many people in our lives don't get it. They have no clue what they are missing.

- Dreams

 

[kmedina]

I love Disney. We are taking DS4 for his 7th trip (5Dl and 2WDW) this December. This trip will also include a Dream on DCL. The 8th trip (Dl) is already planned for June to celebrate DS#2 1st birthday. If I had more money, I would go more often! DH and I took a lot of trips before we ever had kids. My family also took a lot when I was growing up, so I am a veteran (and will always love Disney).

Take your daughter as often as you'd like and ignore the haters. Have fun on your trip.

 

[jacs1234]

They can stick their little stinky heads back into their non-disney holes and we'll keep going to Disney year after year and loving it I get the same.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

My husband and I went 2 years in a row without children and people did question us about why we would go there again. Now 2 years later i find myself planning another trip for my daughters 3rd birthday and people think i am nuts. They say she is too young and she will not remember it. But i just think its not for everyone and we all choose where we spend our money and take our vacations. Its all about your family and what you like and how you make memories. We just love Disneyland!!!!

Happy early birthday to Lilly! My Lilly celbrated her 7th B-day in DLR *last year* we had a fantastic time!

Regarding the OP ~ yep I used to get it from some, now I just don't tell them - they have their things, Disney is my thing.

 

[MenchieMan87]

My GF and I have taken two vacations as adults, both of which were to Disney World (we were living in MA at the time), and I got a bunch of crap from my family about the second trip. My Dad tried to talk me out of it as if I was joining a cult.

Now we live in SoCal and I've had an AP for 2 years. I haven't been much this year because of work, but my first overnight Disneyland visit is this weekend!!

Though, unfortunately, my GF is one of the people who thinks I'm crazy, and she made me promise that our next big vacation will be to Hawaii (and NOT Aulani.) I'm sure we'll be back to Orlando sometime in '13 or '14 to check out the new Fantasyland! (and Harry Potter over at Universal!)