Why do you always go to Disney?

[katmittens]

Well it happened two times last nite, while we were at a party. First someone asked my husband, why don't you go somewhere else besides Disney. Also someone asked me what did you do at Disney, (DH and I were there by ourselves with no kids). I said we relaxed by the pool after spending the morning at the parks or out for breakfast. I then got "well, but what else is there to do. I said relax by the pool and have some drinks, do out when we want, and stay in when we wanted. She just looked at me, I thought it she doesn't get that it is a RESORT, not only and AMUSEMENT PARK.

Thanks for letting me vent. By the way DH, ,myself, DS and DD who are both adults are going with us in 19 days and we can't wait.

 

[hakepb]

I've mentioned before that, to me, Disney is like my vacation house on a lake. (Most people "get" having a vacation house and somehow never question why it's not the same thing over and over.. I actually would like to have a vacation house, but it would require a lot more work than I put into DVC...)

 

[MinnieLee]

Well it happened two times last nite, while we were at a party. First someone asked my husband, why don't you go somewhere else besides Disney. Also someone asked me what did you do at Disney, (DH and I were there by ourselves with no kids). I said we relaxed by the pool after spending the morning at the parks or out for breakfast. I then got "well, but what else is there to do. I said relax by the pool and have some drinks, do out when we want, and stay in when we wanted. She just looked at me, I thought it she doesn't get that it is a RESORT, not only and AMUSEMENT PARK.

Thanks for letting me vent. By the way DH, ,myself, DS and DD who are both adults are going with us in 19 days and we can't wait.

I undertand where you are coming from. I get this all the time. We are empty nesters and keep getting "Why do you keep going to Disney, - don't you get bored?" I told a friend of mine that I have done a couple of cruises but the answer was "but you went on a Disney criuse". I told them how I got to all the places on the cruise was my choice because I know how great Disney is. My other answer to people who ask why we go so often is that there are plenty of adult things to do - even though we love the parks - and I always find something new to do or a new restaurant to eat in. It also is cost effective with the DVC, annual passes, the discounts from the AP and TIW plus I save up my Amex miles and SW rapid rewards and turn them into free airline tickets. You can relax by the pool with a drink or go to the parks or just explore the other resorts. My kids all gave us a bit of a hard time but DS just joined DVC and DD already can't wait to go again. My other DS has an 18 month old and now is looking forward to taking his little guy.

Don't get me wrong, we do go to other places but WDW is our favorite place to go. Went to HHI last year and stayed at a non-Disney resort. Friends used their points as a thank you for the two times we took them to WDW. I mentioned I wanted to go over to the Disney resort while they were all golfing. I went by myself and when they were done, they all wanted to check it out.

Vent all you want - Disney is a great place no matter what age you are!!!

 

[Cee]

When we go to the beach every summer or the mountains in the spring, nobody questions it. But Disney is different. We get it, they don't. It's alright. At least WE get it.

 

[dblr]

Untill they try it for themselves they will not understand. You just enjoy being there. I went for a quick weekend trip with myoldest sons school and while walking thru the studio park he turned to me (with all his friends near) and said it just feels great being there. He was a little disappointed that we were ataying a the All Star Music resort and I tols him that he was just spoiled always being able to stay @ a DVC home.

 

[silmarg]

IMO Disney service and attention to detail is second to none (especially when you consider the masses they are dealing with). They have dozens of unique resorts, more activities then you could imagine, countless restaurants and yes six AMUSEMENTS PARKS. I always have a carefree feeling when I am in the parks, which is not the same other destinations.

While I have kids, I certainly foresee continuing to go even if the grow out of it. But I have a suspicion they might carry the bug into adulthood (esp my older DD).

 

[dopeygirl76]

My reply at my office Christmas party last night to a co-workers "Disney, again?" was it is the only place I can escape reality, laugh non-stop and relax!!

BTW - I am a clinical social worker who spacializes in trauma (childhood abuse, etc) and have had a particularly tough week with 2 of my kids inpatient and my DDad hospitalized so I was professing my NEED to return to WDW NOW!!!!!!

 

[silmarg]

I can escape reality, laugh non-stop and relax!!

well said!

And thanks for your very important work.

 

[nickspace]

We went to Disney when I started my doctoral thesis and then again when I finished. It pumped me up to work and help me unwind when it was over.

 

[bicker]

This question reminds me of my former career. I was an international management consultant specializing in the media and communications industry. In that job I spent about 200 nights per year sleeping in hotel rooms, generally three different cities each week. It was a great job -- very gratifying, very lucrative. And I was always able to travel very well, great hotels, almost always upgraded to first class on the airlines, full-size rental cars, finest dining, etc.

Note that paragraph was written in the past tense. I wasn't really old enough to retire. I didn't get fed up with the work. I didn't find a better job. I decided to end that career for one reason only: I wanted to sleep in my own bed most every night.

Vacationing at Walt Disney World takes the majority of the down-sides of traveling out of the vacation equation: After a couple of dozen trips, I know the airport like I know my local grocery store. Ground transportation is so easy with Magical Express. The hotels and theme parks are both assuredly and consistently familiar and comfortable, and exciting and enjoyable. And so on.

While there is a distinct benefit to seeing new places and doing new things, I submit that most of what many people I know do on vacation have nothing to do with that: Maybe they go to a different beach each year, but they're still beaches and so are they really "new"?

 

[JimC]

I turn the question back and ask them where they vacation. Usually I get an annual trip to the beach, mountains, little cottage or some similar ritual family gathering wherever. Then I ask them if they get tired of seeing the same sand, trees, lake or cottage year after year. They tend to understand at that point.

We go primarily because we enjoy ourselves. And that is due to Disney's consistently good fun, upbeat and interesting products and quality service.

And like a previous poster I travel for a living and enjoy the simplicity of a 35-45 minute drive to begin a holiday whether that be WDW or DCL.

 

[eliza61]

I live in Southern NJ. right outside of Philly, ever year the folks from Philly and SJ flock to the Jersey shore. It's like salmon returning to the same stream to spawn. LOL. I've never understood it. IMO, it's expensive, dirty and if it rains your toast.

But folks love it. That's how I feel about the Mouse. Not really sure why I return except that I love it.

 

[tjkraz]

I turn the question back and ask them where they vacation. Usually I get an annual trip to the beach, mountains, little cottage or some similar ritual family gathering wherever. Then I ask them if they get tired of seeing the same sand, trees, lake or cottage year after year. They tend to understand at that point.

Bingo!

We don't get a lot of questions or comments regarding our vacation habits. Having an 8 year old and a 6 year old often makes our trips self-explanatory. But when asked I find the easiest response is to answer a question with a question: Well, where do YOU go and what do YOU do on vacation?

For most Walt Disney World and Disneyland may conjure images of castles and teacups, but as resorts they can compete with most other vacation destinations.

Luxury hotels: got it
Golf: got it
Boating / water sports: got it
Pools and water parks: got it
Sunbathing: got it
Hiking: got it (albeit without the mountains)
Shopping: got it
Dining: got it
Activities for the kids: got it
Broadway-style shows: got it
Thrill rides: got it
Live musical performances: got it

We can nit pick how Disney has cut corners at the parks over the years but it remains an unparalleled experience. There isn't a whole lot you can do at other vacation destinations which you CAN'T do at one of the Disney resort complexes.

 

[Flight]

Luxury hotels: got it
Golf: got it
Boating / water sports: got it
Pools and water parks: got it
Sunbathing: got it
Hiking: got it (albeit without the mountains)
Shopping: got it
Dining: got it
Activities for the kids: got it
Broadway-style shows: got it
Thrill rides: got it
Live musical performances: got it

That is a great checklist!

 

[CindeBella]

We tell them it's because we have so much fun! The magic, the CS ~ we have created the most beauitful family memories at Disney.

I think they understand when our faces light up when we're explaining what a lovely time we've had and they see how happy we are in the photos.

I would never question a family's vacation choice. If they're happy, I'm happy for them!

 

[kikiq]

We can nit pick how Disney has cut corners at the parks over the years but it remains an unparalleled experience. There isn't a whole lot you can do at other vacation destinations which you CAN'T do at one of the Disney resort complexes.

AGREE!!! I thought the very same thing this year when I was visiting my DD who is finishing up her WDW College Program. She asked me if I wanted to go to a park and I said, "let's just enjoy the resort". We explored different resorts, sat on the balcony and chatted, ate at different resort restaurants, and did pretty much what we would have done if we were in Hawaii at a resort.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I think it's so sad that some people (even lots who've been) see Walt Disney World as "just a bunch of theme parks". They don't realize all the other things there are to do-golf, miniature golf, water parks, the pools (many of which are water parks themselves), shopping, biking, balloon rides, parasailing, etc. Those who've been-I often feel bad for what they've missed out. The theme parks are only a portion of what WDW has to offer.

 

[RumpleMom]

We go often because it is our home away from home. We are comfortable there.

 

[rentayenta]

We get this often as well. We tell them that Disney has so much to offer. For us, it's a vacation destination with something for everyone. Each park holds a totally different experience for us. MK is the closest to Disneyland and where my heart belongs. Been going to Disneyland since I was a small child and used to go weekly, sometimes more, with my dad. Epcot, WS in particular, is like traveling the globe sans the expense. AK is NOTHING like a zoo, which I hear the haters say. The decor and ambiance cannot be beat. DHS is the most like a theme park to me.

I tell them our children will only be young once and that the horrible icky teenage years are fast approaching and we plan on taking advantage of Disney and all it offers for many years to come.

 

[Lost in Neverland]

We get that all the time too. In the end it always comes from people that just do not get it.There is a magic in the air that is sort of like the Christmas bell in the Polar Express. You have to believe to feel it. We have had people say we went for a week and saw it all. My only response is "That's nice". There is no way to convince anyone to feel the magic. We go to other places too but in the end we feel that something is missing if we do not go at least once a year to WDW. My kids speak of WDW as if it was the "Mothership" and they were little ailens that were exploring the world but regardless they are speaking of happy times. In many ways I hope people do not get it so those of us that do can have more room