Tried to help know it all!!!

[2Tiggies]

I can't believe those prices! I checked Gatwick to MCO at the beginning of the year to go OCT 2010 and it was about £2300 for 5 of us with Virgin. She lives near me and if I was going to pay those prices, I would rather fly with Thomas Cook from Birmingham - half an hour's drive away.

That sounds about right .... it was early in the year when the prices went absurd. Although your friend may not want to fly into Sanford. Are they driving? I have no problem with flying with a charter airline, but I wont fly into Sanford without a car.

I also had a friend who was totally against anything Disney - said she didn't do "cheesy" and would rather do cultural and educational holidays like art galleries and museums in Europe. At the time our kids were 4 years old. And people wonder why some kids turn out like they do Seriously though, that is what the family enjoy doing together so it's not my cup of tea with a young child, but I can appreciate her reasoning .... even although I have a totally different take on the whole thing.

 

[wayneg]

I also had a friend who was totally against anything Disney - said she didn't do "cheesy" and would rather do cultural and educational holidays like art galleries and museums in Europe. At the time our kids were 4 years old. And people wonder why some kids turn out like they do Seriously though, that is what the family enjoy doing together so it's not my cup of tea with a young child, but I can appreciate her reasoning .... even although I have a totally different take on the whole thing.

I think its finding the balance, I don't think its right only doing cultural and educational holiday but I also think if you can do them as well as Disney holidays the children have a massive advantage at school. We took Matt to Amsterdam a lot when he was younger, really enjoyed Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum, Heineken museum, Rembrandthuis Museum, Anne Frank Museum, National Maritime Museum, NEMO (Science & Technology Museum for Kids)
Also in Amsterdam learned from what drugs does to you when he saw someone argueing with a tree, can't teach that in a classroom.
He loved going to New York aged 8, museums, landmarks etc. I will never forget his face seeing the Statue of Liberty for the 1st time after reading about it in his history magazine he got every month.
We are lucky being able to do both, glad we didn't have to choose one or the other.

 

[2Tiggies]

I think its finding the balance, I don't think its right only doing cultural and educational holiday but I also think if you can do them as well as Disney holidays the children have a massive advantage at school. We took Matt to Amsterdam a lot when he was younger, really enjoyed Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum, Heineken museum, Rembrandthuis Museum, Anne Frank Museum, National Maritime Museum, NEMO (Science & Technology Museum for Kids)
Also in Amsterdam learned from what drugs does to you when he saw someone argueing with a tree, can't teach that in a classroom.
He loved going to New York aged 8, museums, landmarks etc. I will never forget his face seeing the Statue of Liberty for the 1st time after reading about it in his history magazine he got every month.
We are lucky being able to do both, glad we didn't have to choose one or the other.

I completely agree with you: it is about balance! I should have put that into my post more clearly, but yes, I do agree. What I was knocking in the approach was that it is the extreme. Now I do love Disney and that takes care of holidays but you have to have your feet on the ground.

Now to be fair, if this family I mentioned went to Disney I think they would enjoy some aspects of it (probably different ones to the ones that I do with DD at the moment) but I doubt they would be totally hooked. It is hard to believe, but there is no one thing, however wonderful we might think it is, that appeals to absolutely everyone.

I was never one to just blend into the crowd and go with the flow (although age has mellowed me out somewhat ) and I learned from very young that life is a whole lot more managable if you can look at something and try and see the appeal/distaste it holds for someone else and accept it. My life would be very complicated if I felt compelled to "convert" everyone to my way of thinking. Offer to introduce .... yes. Try and change someone's mind: there is a subtle difference, but it is not the same thing.

ETA: That is so true about not having to make a choice of one over the other. Some folk do - they can only choose one and we all make our decisions based on what we know - especially when putting all your savings into it. It fascinates me when people don't want any information but I cannot and will not hold myself accountable for someone else's enjoyment of their holiday. I have a hard enough time answering myself for myself!

 

[joolz1910]

Depends when you mean by Summer, school holidays in August are in a totally different league for prices compared to Oct.
For next August (5th~26th) Monarch have just released their prices for flight only Man~Sanford 2 adults & 3 children Total price: £4512.50
Thomsons flight only (5th~25th) £5,276.90
These prices were incl reserved seating and luggage.
If the dates are around these then £3,400 is not expensive for August with Virgin, I doubt they will be that price next year way things are going.

I think I can safely say that we will never be going in the Summer holidays.

 

[Neoshoegal]

Sometimes, I think I scare people off with all the Disney knowledge!

I planned our first like a mad, read as much as I could, had my touring plans, ... I KNOW we made the most out of it. But we were absolutely shattered by the end of it, well, worth it
Thing is, at that time I didn't know how much we'd fall in love with the place and how soon we'd go back.

So second time, I planned it better than a military operation. I love love LOVE the whole planning stage.

I'm now planning our 5th trip and even though I know all the big things, I always find out some new little bits that make every trip different.

I've helped out loads of friends (some have even given me their credit card details because they trust me to find the best deals). Some appreciate more than others. I always offer advice when people are planning a trip, sometimes they don't take, well, their loss. I always mention the disboards, a couple of guidebooks, tourguide mike, ... But I do think for some people it's all a bit overwhelming and just want to go and see whatever happens. I must admit, I do find it frustrating when I hear how much they missed out on due to a lack of planning, but if they were happy with their holiday, than all is well.

Besides, if everyone knew what we all know, we'd have to work even harder planning everything!

 

[cherjp]

I have just had a coversation with a friend who told me they were going to Disney.I was getting quite excited for them,until he started to tell me that the only reason he is taking his family is because he has recently come into some money,and thought he would "Get it over and done with"

I had suggested staying at a Disney resort hotel,but he decided to stay at a villa in Kissimee because he didnt "Want to be fight for DECKCHAIRS by the pool" He also told me he was only going to do the Nine Disney parks!.

I then started to explain about the advantages of using the Fastpasses,but quickly realised i was banging my head against a brick wall

Going in August i thought he might need a little guidence.Oh well,looks like he will getvery hot and a little!frustrated.

So my question is :-

Does anyone get this frustrated or is it just me?

ON the flip side of this, the other day I was in M&S having a wee treat for my birthday and I noticed a woman next to me in the cafe was reading florida brochures, eventually I said to her Have you been before ?
No she replied, well that was enough for me, I whipped out my pen and paper told her about the Dis , gave her other sites like Universal, Seaworld etc told her all about Disney then when I finished yapping she said, I am so glad that you sat down there thanks so much for your help.

I was so excited to share info on florida with her but then thought ....
Maybe she thinks I am a nutter !!

 

[2Tiggies]

Maybe she thinks I am a nutter !!

I wouldn't worry about that - if she looks into the links to info you offered her, you will be quite the hero!

 

[meldud]

Well, can I just say from all the newbies on here, that we really appreciate all the info and help you give us.

I always think that the best advice you can get is from people who have been there and done it all themselves.

And those of you who have been numerous times are actually making it all so much more exciting for our first time, as we read all your stories and hear all your advice we are all soooo excited now and still have to wait nearly 2 months.

Anyway, what I am trying to say is......we appreciate you!!

 

[Ms Poppins]

Hi, thought i'd chip in if that's ok - I'm usually on the dlp site.

We went on our 5th visit to dlp last year and I had only just discovered the Dis before that trip. Having been 4 times before I thought I knew quite a bit until I started reading all the threads. I found the trip reports the best source of info - and it made our last visit the best one ever.

We're booked again - and will do WDW one day (just waiting on my lotto numbers coming up!). But there's no way I'd even consider it without hours on here planning - you just can't buy this kind of info!

I try and hold myself back if anyone asks me about dlp - my work colleagues all know i've been a fair few times - I find I get completely enthralled in it and find myself wanting to be their 'planner' - then a week later they tell me they've changed their mind and won't bother after all - uurrggghhhh

I tell everyone about the Dis if they are serious about planning

 

[igk]

ON the flip side of this, the other day I was in M&S having a wee treat for my birthday and I noticed a woman next to me in the cafe was reading florida brochures, eventually I said to her Have you been before ?
No she replied, well that was enough for me, I whipped out my pen and paper told her about the Dis , gave her other sites like Universal, Seaworld etc told her all about Disney then when I finished yapping she said, I am so glad that you sat down there thanks so much for your help.

I was so excited to share info on florida with her but then thought ....
Maybe she thinks I am a nutter !!

It makes up for it when somebody actually does listen to you!
Last Easter DD's friend was going with her mum and a couple of other female relatives for two weeks to AKL with DDP (I hate to think how much they paid ), and I found out about this trip a few weeks before they went.
I asked, since they were on the DDP, if they had thought about ADRs and they hadn't, so I gave them my 2009 copy of the UG, printed out the DDP PDF, and suggested a few restaurants.

Anyway I saw them on their return and they were so grateful for having made their ADRs - DD's friend said it was fantastic going to all the restaurants and shows (they did HDD and Aloha, both of which I haven't done).

 

[VailaTigger]

I do get frustrated when people ask me if I enjoyed my holiday in "Disneyland" when I've been to WDW... but then not everyone has the knowledge, so I just smile and say "absolutely!". The sentiment is there, and that's what counts.

The folks here on the DIS are just awesome. I only discovered this forum before my 4th trip this April, and despite having been 3 times before, I learned SO MUCH this time. However, I think there can sometimes be a bit of an information overload, so I do understand people not wanting to get too deep into the planning. I just take the info I want or need. I know enough now to know what applies at the time of year you plan to visit. But for my 1st trip with kids, and also the 1st trip at a busy time of year, you were all INVALUABLE in your help, it made our trip so much better than it could have been. THANK YOU!!!

On the "nutter" side - my Dad thinks I'm completely barmy. WDW is his idea of hell and he just can't understand the attraction, but he thinks "live and let live" and is happy that I go and enjoy so much, and bring him back a funny t-shirt each time. Our family holidays when I was little consisted of our touring caravan somewhere on the west coast of Scotland for 2 weeks... 4 seasons in one day and midgies the size of dogs with teeth to match.

I think you just gotta live n let live. If people want help, then great, if not, well, it's their life, their money, and if they come home happy, all well and good.

 

[2Tiggies]

I do get frustrated when people ask me if I enjoyed my holiday in "Disneyland" when I've been to WDW... but then not everyone has the knowledge, so I just smile and say "absolutely!". The sentiment is there, and that's what counts.

Yes, I also bite my tongue, but then I have a spokesperson - since age 5 or 6, she will, as kids do, very quickly correct anyone who refers to WDW as Disneyland.

I think you just gotta live n let live. If people want help, then great, if not, well, it's their life, their money, and if they come home happy, all well and good

So true!

 

[DisneyB2B]

Oh I can completely relate to everything thats been said on here..

My DH and I are planning another trip next year but this time we are taking my sister her DH and their 3 kids and now my brother and his wife have decided to join us.

We've been a few times when we where younger but my brother and sister doesnt remember a lot about it and never bothered to do anything "disney or otherwise" related at our wedding in 2007 which I couldnt believe.

Anyway my BIL and SIL just cannot relate to the size of it all and the amount of things that they have available to do. My brother however doesnt want to do the Disney thing too much or stay on site as he doesnt want to be suffocated and said its not really him! My SIL thought it was a street with a bunch of characters on it! obviously they have no idea... I think its bothering my brother also as he is a little bit of a control freak bless him and I dont think he likes the fact that he needs to turn to me for advice. lol

My mum got up my nose at the weekend and said OMG when you have kids they are going to have disney rammed down their necks! I dont ram it down anyones necks I am just passionate about something I like what is wrong with that?

Rant over anway

 

[scojos]

my kids have disney rammed down their throat, but they see the vlaues of disney too, politeness, honesty trust friendship etc.
we regularly have disney nights, play games as a family watch a film, so where is the harm in that??
they are normal kids, they shout run etc, far from perfect, but they understand my addiction and "get" it.
i d rather be on here than drinking in a pub or spending money i dont have, if people ask, i share info, my work colleagues have got over my wierdness (they think its wierd being friends on fb with 50 people ive never met
i think its a healthy obsession, and it means we get to do things as a family, i know that eventually the kids probably wont want to come to wdw anymore, but when that time comes dh will have to step up to the mark
he loves it when he is there really, and each time he gets it more.
i genuinely dont bother trying to justify my obsession to my family anymore, they just ignore it

 

[2Tiggies]

I can think of a whole string of worse obsessions ....

If you it's something you enjoy together as a family I don't see how it can not get the Modern lifestyles find the bonding element of families sorely lacking for many these days. If you've got it, run with it.

If it's not Disney, it will be something else - and there will always be someone ready to criticise, whatever it is that you love doing, so you may as well enjoy doing what you really like.