Why should I have to justify myself?

[North of Mouse]

We love Disney and have been going since they opened, but we also love the mountains and various other places. Everyone needs time out to enjoy what makes us relax and get away from the 'daily grind'. If it's the same place every time - no one else's business.

Now, I can understand other's concerns if we are so obsessed that we go in debt for these things to the exclusion of taking care of our natural obligations of home and family - but otherwise people should do what they enjoy with their own money and time.

Some people 'boat', 'fish', 'hunt', etc. every weekend they can, but feel the need to criticize others for doing what they enjoy. To each their own.

 

[JennyDrake]

why is there any need to justify to anyone else what one does with their own vacation and their own money?

You don't have to change anything just because someone else thinks you should.

When they tell you that you should go somewhere else, just say "no, i like it there." that's it. You don't need to say anything else.

amen!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

This may not be the case with the rest of the posters but, it seems to me that the people I know very well who say I'm insane to be going back AGAIN either can't afford it at all or went once and cannot afford to go back. Let's face it we fanatics can really run up quite a bill between staying on site, meal plan, park hoppers with water parks, bags full of souvineers etc..... Yes we could find a less expensive vacation but as a previous poster stated we enjoy the experience and we know what we are going to get, not to mention all the other things there are to do in and around Orlando

It's not just about cost, some people just don't care for it. I have 2 coworkers who've been recently. Both are in similar financial situations. One can't wait to go back. The other says he'll NEVER go back - he hated every minute of it.

 

[LisaTC]

I think there are a couple of things going on when people say things like that. One, they are being nosy about your financial business. Second, I think it's a form of snobbery. Finally, some people think Disney is for kids and think it's weird that adults like it. Regardless, it's all about boundaries. It's amazing what some people think they have the right to comment on.

Yeah...I think that, too. I don't comment on others' vacation choices. One thing great about living in this country is our freedom to choose our pursuits of happiness, whatever they may be. Some people criticize indulging in the consumerism machine that is Disney. Everyone has the right to their own opinions.

We used to go to SC to the beach a lot and never quite got the eyebrows like when mentioning about Disney, but would still sometimes get - the same place again? comments. Who knows why people say the things they do. I guess it's my reaction to their inquiry that's more important and not their inquiry alone.

I do think many people believe Disney is only for little kids. Many comment "wow, it's so expensive." Many do query us about us wanting to go other places or visit family. Well, DH only has 5 days vacation/year - or did. Sometimes he never got paid vacation at all and had to take time off unpaid -- another thing very American - the under valuing of vacation time. I digress...

When I find myself in a position of having to 'defend' anything, I try to first look at the nature of the inquiry. Secondly, I rarely feel the need to defend, sometimes I just want to, but that usually causes me grief, so I rethink -- saves a lot of headaches.

Some people are nosy. Some are genuinely curious. Some are jealous. Some are just confounded. There's a myriad of reasons. Whatever the reasons, it does happen more with Disney, I do notice. Doesn't bother me. I have a DD10, she loves it. We will take her to Williamsburg, Gettysburg, Chicago, Grand Canyon, but she likes Disney. So do we. Disney to us is an experience, not just a vacation spot.

 

[momof2n2]

And at least they don't find themselves with my problem - wanting to return to 15 or 20 places I've been before

Yes. LOL.

 

[leebee]

We have friends who are like that- you're going again, with a snide smile. Yup, we're going again. These are the same people who go spend every Christmas with family in Colorado and rent the same oceanfront cottage on Islesboro, ME for three weeks every summer, where they read, kayak, watch movies, and do jigsaw puzzles (no internet, no TV). It isn't that they can't afford Disney… they just aren't interested in going there. That's fine, but why the need to be judgmental about it? While their summer vacation would be mind-numbingly boring to me (we've been several times for a couple of days and it's fine… but 3 WEEKS?), it's their time and their money to spend as they wish. I just wish they'd accord me the same respect.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I start caring about what people think about my vacation when they start paying for it.

 

[minnie mum]

I start caring about what people think about my vacation when they start paying for it.

The winner of today's chicken dinner.

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

So I grew up in Winter Park, FL (just outside of Orlando) and always had an annual pass somewhere (Disney, Universal, Sea World). We pretty much only did Disney when we were younger but as we got older we started switching it up each year. I moved from Florida a year and a half ago and I honestly think that I want to go more now that it's not in my backyard. So DH and I for our honeymoon got 10 day PH, WPF&M, + No Expiration tickets and used 2 days with 8 remaining. We leave in 2 days and are going to stay for a week but only going to the parks once...I never realized how good Florida Residents have it with deals you can get etc. until I moved...Anyways, I tend to feel embarassed when I tell friends/colleagues up here that we're going to Disney again. A lot of people just don't get it. Everyone has different reasons why they love Disney and different reasons why they hate Disney (actually my brothers could care less if they ever went back and we all had the same experiences with Disney growing up). Plus, everyone does Disney a different way! DH and I are going to spend most of our time bar hopping and enjoying the scenery. Both of our parents live there so it's an easy excuse to head back to Florida! As long as my husband keeps saying yes that's where we'll be going!

 

[Muziqal]

One thing great about living in this country is our freedom to choose our pursuits of happiness, whatever they may be.

Ahhhhhh...the American Dream. Plurality = the freedom of choice. Yes, your beloved pursuit of happiness can the the pursuit of things (with embroidered mouse ears, or characters, or whatever you want). But isn't that what is also wrong with your country and why that kind of thinking also collapses the world economy? Disney sells its stock, the hedge fund managers buy it, then they lump it in with some mortgages for houses that your countrymen can't afford, leverage it 5x, then swap it, then default on everything. What I'd prefer is if you all chose a lifestyle a little more sustainable, equate happiness more with taking care of each other instead of yourselves, and spend less time defending the American Dream as the right to choose consumerism over everything else that matters. Spend more time worrying about the kid in one of your ghettos that will never get to go as opposed to why people criticize your love of a fake but happy place.

 

[fbb]

Ahhhhhh...the American Dream. Plurality = the freedom of choice. Yes, your beloved pursuit of happiness can the the pursuit of things (with embroidered mouse ears, or characters, or whatever you want). But isn't that what is also wrong with your country and why that kind of thinking also collapses the world economy? Disney sells its stock, the hedge fund managers buy it, then they lump it in with some mortgages for houses that your countrymen can't afford, leverage it 5x, then swap it, then default on everything. What I'd prefer is if you all chose a lifestyle a little more sustainable, equate happiness more with taking care of each other instead of yourselves, and spend less time defending the American Dream as the right to choose consumerism over everything else that matters. Spend more time worrying about the kid in one of your ghettos that will never get to go as opposed to why people criticize your love of a fake but happy place.

You take back Bieber and I'll work on the world economy thing. Deal?

 

[Muziqal]

You take back Bieber and I'll work on the world economy thing. Deal?

That's a tough one…how much time do I get to think it over?

 

[Kimann]

I'm an AP holder from KS...

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Yup.

Walt Disney World is definitely a vacation destination for the "middle class"(just like previous posters have observed).

It's not a "cool" or "elite" destination at all.

As far as me and my family are concerned...we don't care...we LOVE IT!