Shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

[minniemimi52]

I, too, am an addicted Disney fan. So addicted that we added points in CA so we'd have a place to call home on both coasts! Fortunately, me DP is more obsessed than I. We've been going to WDW or CA at least once a year for the last 10 years.

I hope you have a great trip anyway!

 

[florep1]

At HS yesterday, a cast member asked how long we were staying at Disney. When I said 2 weeks, he said, "so you're doing Universal and Seaworld too huh?" When I said no, we're doing BCV a week, and AKV a week and the parks just for meals and the prime rides, he looked at me like I had 2 heads.

A different cast member also at HS, as we were trading pins, had no idea who figment was. He said he's never been to any other WDW park other then HS where he works. You'd think they'd at least get a character crash course

 

[ToddyLu]

We'll be right there with you! And after spending the day in the parks, we'll pay again to stay for MNSSHP! Try explaining that one to a non-DISer

We have to do MNSSHP twice this trip....just like all the other trips

 

[Mosleymouse]

Ha ha - i feel truly amongst friends. And there I was, with my family and friends, starting to doubt my sanity regarding the love of all things 'mouse'. I knew I was right!!

 

[bbrnca]

Hi.. my name is Bob and I'm a Mouseaholic..... nice to know i'm not the only one other then DW.....

 

[Flyerfan]

At the risk of being flamed I will also state there is more to Florida than Disney/ Orlando! The panhandle and northern Florida has many gems. Miami and the Keys are a not-to-be-missed destination. But one of my favorite places in all of Florida is Sanibel/ Captiva. It's the place I go to get away from the frantic pace of life and reconnect with nature.

No flames here. I agree there is so much more to Florida. I would love to experience the Keys and the panhandle (have cousins there) and the St. Pete area. There are many places DH and I have yet to explore.

However, when I travel to Florida for WDW, I do not like to venture off property. We have once in the past. DH wanted to get some oranges to take home and I couldn't wait to get back. I just feel like it's a whole other world off property and I'm not on vacation anymore. Weird, I know. And if, say I visit the Keys or St. Pete, I have to do that first and top off my vacation at WDW. Doubly weird.

 

[Modeltrf]

However, when I travel to Florida for WDW, I do not like to venture off property. We have once in the past. DH wanted to get some oranges to take home and I couldn't wait to get back. I just feel like it's a whole other world off property and I'm not on vacation anymore. Weird, I know. And if, say I visit the Keys or St. Pete, I have to do that first and top off my vacation at WDW. Doubly weird.

I fully understand and agree. I stayed at Universal for a week when we went 2 years ago. It was fun, but it wasn't the same as staying at Disney then going to a Disney park. I own a timeshare in Orlando, but again, it's just not the same.

When I stay off property I will almost always spend a few days at the Disney parks, DTD or go to the water parks. But when I stay on property I rarely go somplace off property.

 

[fla4fun]

While I do take exception to the description of Orlando as a "pit", when I stay at Disney, I stay AT Disney. I feel incredibly lucky to have WDW so close, and I love the fact that I can go on vacation there and feel like I'm hundreds of miles from home, when in reality, I'm only 20 minutes away. It's a shorter drive to Disney than it is to work!

Orlando, and central Florida in general, is like most other places. There are interesting things to do and see, and then there are some areas I won't drive through in the daytime. It's not all bad, and it's not all good. Although I'm not a fan of Universal, it and Sea World are quality parks that offer as good value for their guests as Disney, and having the beaches so close doesn't hurt either. I would hope that we wouldn't scare off anyone who DID want to leave property for the day.

But me, I'm perfectly content to sit out on my BLT balcony in August and watch the world go by.

 

[Flyerfan]

While I do take exception to the description of Orlando as a "pit", when I stay at Disney, I stay AT Disney. I feel incredibly lucky to have WDW so close, and I love the fact that I can go on vacation there and feel like I'm hundreds of miles from home, when in reality, I'm only 20 minutes away. It's a shorter drive to Disney than it is to work!

That must be cool. I always thought that living close to WDW would spoil it. I mean how many people live close to attractions or tourist areas they don't really visit and other people travel miles to see. But I think WDW is different in that you can stay on the property and you get that "separated from the rest of the world" feeling.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I feel incredibly lucky to have WDW so close, and I love the fact that I can go on vacation there and feel like I'm hundreds of miles from home, when in reality, I'm only 20 minutes away. It's a shorter drive to Disney than it is to work!

Lucky! I would love to be just 20 minutes away from WDW!

 

[kid-at-heart]

I recently invited three friends to join me at SSR for what we're calling the first road trip of the "old broads brigade." None of them has been there before. I'm all excited to show them my beloved WDW. I know there's more than enough to do on property to keep us amused for four days. No sooner do we sit down for our first planning meeting than everyone starts asking what else there is to do in Orlando. What else? WHAT ELSE?! I confess that although I'd been to WDW at least six times I had never been off property other than to one time meet local friends for dinner.

So now they're all looking at me like I'm like I'm some pathetic Disney groupie, which I am, of course. I explain that it's more fun, easier and less time-consuming to hang out there, even if we don't go to the parks everyday. I explain spas, pools... I also tell them about the free bus from the airport, free trans on property, the ambience...I further explain I haven't the vaguest idea how to motor around Orlando, nor do I intend to learn during our OBB trip. They think I'm beyond weird; I think they're crazy for not wanting to hang out at WDW the whole time. I do not go to Orlando to take in a museum. I go there to commune with Mickey and Co.

Regardless, I know we'll have fun--if they do things my way.

Amateurs!

Kick them out! Take me instead? I am an old broad and I love Disney. Just kidding, have fun with your group. They will quickly realize that the "fun" is in hanging out together and they do not "need" to do things in Orlando to have a great time.