Tell It, Hide It, or Play It Down ?

[Kathy5]

Another question-it light of the economy, if you are someone who goes to Disney fairly often, do you tell others about your trips, down play your trips (instead of saying, "We're going to Disney," perhaps say, "We're going to Florida."), or don't tell people? I find that I discuss my trips a bit at work, because everyone has about the same income and with one of my three sisters (they make more money than we do, so it's okay). But, I don't really discuss the trips with any other people. Now, I know, that many people scrimp and save to go to Disney, and I also know Disney is simply a priority in some people's lives, and others who don't go spend their money on other things. And, of course, not a lot of people (in spite of what we on these boards might think) really even care about Disney. But, there are times that someone might ask me, "So, where are you going on vacation this summer?" I find myself saying, "We're going to Florida. We have a daughter that lives there." We do, but we don't visit her at her house. She comes to stay with us a few days at Disney. What does everyone else do?

 

[turbodisney]

I don't brag about it. If people ask, I tell them. If they ask about cost, I tell them that we save up and that it can be expensive. But I also tell them to look for special deals. We went many times on a tight budget, but we managed to have fun anyway.

Since we go every year, most people just assume that we are headed to Disney on our vacation....

Can't hardly wait for this trip....

 

[Ziggie]

if you are someone who goes to Disney fairly often, do you tell others about your trips

I guess you could say that we go fairly often (every 6 to 12 weeks) but it's a little different for us. As Florida residients, we take advantage of the benefits living down here offers us.

In our neighborhood, if you say you're going to Disney, it's like saying you're going to the corner market. I've found that people fall into one of 2 groups. Either they're like us (and go quite often) or they could care less about Disney. And, to be honest, (and much to my personal dismay), more of them fall into the "could care less" category.

What is the matter with those people?

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

DH & I are empty-nesters, so we are doing the "Disney as our 2nd Childhood" routine, or so it might seem. We have Mickey antenna balls, WDW license plate holders, and really get into the other character merchandise. Most weekend days we are seen in our Mickey or Tigger tee-shirts. We are also pin-collectors.

So, we are probably viewed in our respective workplaces as the Disney-nuts (or Disney Freaks, in some cases). We both love to help co-workers with trip-planning info and have been mostly appreciated for doing this. There aren't too many vacations we take that don't involve WDW - since my DM lives in FL, that's easy to do.
This has been going on since '00 when we went to WDW for our 25th anniversary and then bought into DVC.

Some of our close friends shake their heads and tease us, but for the most part, people see how much joy we get out of this and are happy for us. We are working on taking all of our close family and friends with us in years to come... that gives us much to look forward to as well.

If people don't understand, it is their problem, not ours!

 

[*Fantasia*]

We try to go yearly. We were just there this past Easter. I told my family and friends and my internet friends that we are going to Orlando. They were happy that we were going because we were celebrating my birthday (my bday fell on Easter!) there. And now, we have another trip coming up in a couple of days but this time, the only people that knows are my mother and my brother. They thought we were nuts! I can't tell my whole family, they just won't understand. Then I told the internet friends and they said..."Again?!!"

Some of my internet friends live near Disney. They said that they really don't care so much of Disney, they got tired of it. And they don't care for tourist either!

 

[Snow Shoe]

If I'm asked where we're going for vacation, I'll say it loud and proud "Disney, is there any other place to vacation!" We go at least every other year and reciently we've been been able to go every year. Most people around us at work or family at home, really don't understand the attraction that Disney has to us, and trying to explain it is sometimes very frustrating, they just don't get it. I tell them we love Disney so much that we bought into DVC. Reciently though, we've had some people call us and ask for advice on how to "do Disney"and wanted us to help them plan their first trip there. Go figure????

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Kathy,

I think you are very tactful and gracious. Even reading these boards it is hard for me sometimes, even though I have chosen to come here and read the posts. For instance, I was pondering whether to scrimp and save for a once in a lifetime concierge level weekend and found a bunch of posts from people who stay at that level constantly. Where do they get all that money? I don't even want to hear about people who travel the world to all these places I only wish I could afford to go. It is easier when you are young because you have the illusion that you may be able to go there one day, but eventually you realize your income is what it is and the cost of living keeps skyrocketing. For our upcoming trip if my inlaws had not offered to give us frequent flier miles for the plane tickets, we could not have afforded it, for instance.

Having said that, I certainly enjoy hearing about travel a lot more than seeing people waste their money on, for instance, gambling or gas-guzzling SUVs.

Cheers

 

[hookedup]

If people ask what we are doing for vacation this summer I tell them we are going to Orlando. Most of our friends just roll their eyes and shake their heads. Not many of my friends appreciate the magic of Disney! LOL!

 

[fsu]

We also live in Florida. We went 4 times last year but take advantage of the sesaonal pass and the discount hotel rates to be able to do it. We usually eat at the parks and the hotel and just stay at the All stars resort I have had prices as low as $49 a night for the All stars. Most people just say why are you going there again and I reply because we already have our pass and a good deal on the rooms. My wife and I go just to relax and expreience disney sometimes we dont even ride that much and just hang out at the different hotels. It takes us about 6 hours to drive there we so it is far enough where we feel it is a vacation and cant just go any weekend. I just started a new job this year so we may not get to go as much but we surely will once I start earning my vacation time again. We love it!!!!

 

[dg39]

I'm the only one of my friends thats CRAZY for disney. We go every summer. This year we went in April & will be back again in July. For my April trip I just said we were going to Orlando & to visit my mother in Tampa. For July, I just say, if the question comes up, that we're goin to disney. I blame my dd who is 8yrs. old. For the amount of money we spend in disney, we can go to an island for 1/2 the price. People just don't understand how much us disney lovers(obsessors) love disney. I don't understand it myself. I just get drawn to it year after year after year. I think its like somekind of drug, when you just gotta have your disney fix, & as much as I love these boards, they just don't do it for me like the real thing.

 

[cart-mom]

I try not to brag about it but I've told people that I'm going again. I've also told some close friends that know I love WDW that they have a fantastic deal going right now. I may regret that when we are there (July 12-18) but they can't believe the deals.

 

[susy]

Being in FL, going to Disney is a very common practice, but everyone knows it' VERY expensive. Most people I know only know about the FL play 4 or one day passes. You have to remember that we all grew up going to Disney for the day or maybe overnight (offsite, because there was only the Poly and CR, which hadto be booked VERY far in advance) . Most dragged our weary bodies around the MK all day, maybe getting to go on a few rides. We were trying to get all we could out of a one- day pass I remember beign there all day nd going on 5 attractions! When I say I'm going to Disney, it doesn't feel like I'm bragging because of the reaction I get!

Remember that A LOT of things there are about (or less than) 10 years old: most of the resorts, MGM and AK,and Fastpass. So, a FL resident who is in their thirties with little kids probably spent their twenties doign other things, school etc and most remember Disney as being expensive, crowded and HOT! Also, the food has improved greatly!

 

[diathoney]

We live in FL and go to WDW pretty regularly. Our family enjoys it. I enjoy going with my kids. I'm doing my part to keep the economy strong and keep the $$ changing hands. If everyone stopped going to WDW think of all the people out of work! Whenever WDW has a lay-off it makes the paper here.

Kids need to play - so do adults. WDW is what we like to do for play! Yeah Mickey!!

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by Kathy5
Another question-in light of the economy, if you are someone who goes to Disney fairly often, do you tell others about your trips, down play your trips (instead of saying, "We're going to Disney," perhaps say, "We're going to Florida."), or don't tell people?

For this trip, I've just said we're going on vacation. The climate in the whole county is so sad because unemployment is soaring. There are more than a few households where both parents are losing their jobs. Even my generic "vacation" comment has had mixed reactions from "good for you, you'll forget about this for a while" to "I'm losing my job and you have extra money for a vacation?" (said to a group, not to the person directly, of course)

With the pressure-cooker situation we've been living with not knowing whether one or both of us will be losing jobs, we need this vacation.

**edited to correct the spelling errors. **

 

[helenabear]

Truthfully I only tell a few of my family and some of my friends. Most of my friends know that we are both working and making decent salaries and with no kids, a trip is easy for me to do. I don't tell most of my inlaws though. Mostly because they don't understand and they think it is a waste of money and terrible that I go on trips like that, especially without my husband. Also I don't vacation anywhere else really... don't have much desire to either. I am happiest there.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Like Mrs. Snowgod -- we are Disney nuts and everyone knows it. And we have only four legged kids.
I know for most in my dept, WDW may be a once in a lifetime trip. But I can see where you have a family of five and six that Disney can be very $.
I am sure they are envious in some ways. We just have different expenses. Us not having kids helps.
The trips wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for my pin buying habits.
We are not opposed to staying at AS. We have AP's. I watch air fares. Other than pins and food, we aren't over splurging. And even with meals we don't overindulge, although we don't scrimp either.

 

[colleen costello]

With me, it depends who I am speaking to. Some of my friends mock me because I go (or plot to go) so regularly. But these same friends know that my wonderful, generous parents bought DVC so our family COULD go regularly. They also know me as a budget-conscious person who packs poptarts and pb sandwiches so we CAN go so often! When someone squawks, I quickly say "Well my parents have a timeshare in Florida..." and that seems to settle everyone down. Why do the same people who go to the beach every year think it's weird to go to WDW regularly?

 

[Betsyt82]

Everyone who knows me, knows I am a WDW wacko and am in love with the mouse. So when we say we are going to Disney we just make mention like it is any other vacation (on the inside I know that this is the best place to go and am jumping up and down) When asked how we get the cash to go..........I tell them we save and make choices that help us get there every other year.

 

[Cindy B]

We do a little of all three.


We do play it down or not tell my family at all. My sister has never been, and says "Its too expensive!" She won't even take her three kids for FREE to Sesame Place, because its "too expensive". Hello... its FREE with your military salute! Truth be told, she's selfish, and doesn't really do anything for her kids besides feeding them and clothing them. She could stop with the SUV's and the 4 acre home... but thats another story all together...


We also tell others about the great deal we have, which may prompt them to go. If I get a $49 All Star rate, you better believe I'm telling others! We've been telling others about the FTP. We were at a friends house for dinner, and they were saying "Maybe in five years, we can go with our kids..."... I was telling them that for the price they rent the lakefront cottage in New England, could be a trip to WDW for the four of them! (Obvioiusly you would still have to pay for food, but you would pay either place!)

We tell others about money saving tips as well.. I've been known to pack poptarts, share vouchers, and yes, we always drive down.. from the North east!

And for some we play it down as well. (THis is mostly for my parents). They have never said, why go again? I remember telling them once it was cheaper than a beach house in New Jersey.. and they sort of beleive me but wasn't sure.