I am so tired of having to explain my love for the parks. Telling someone you love going to disney is like telling them you still wear diapers, some people just dont get it. I am a 25 year old man, and I will drop everything I am doing to go visit the world, and this brings constant ridicule from my peers as well as my own family.
I try to explain to them that its more of a nostalgic thing,being that I have been going since before I was even a year old, but some people find that even funnier.
How do you all deal with the disney haters?
You and I are in the EXACT same boat. I'm 24 year old male, and to me, nothing is better than WDW. Now that I have a real job and have been working for about a year and a half, I find myself trying to plan several trips throughout the year. I was there in June 2010, and just had to go back a few weeks ago in January. AND I'm planning BOTH a June trip with some friends, and a quick trip over the weekend of the 40th Anniversary. My immediate family is somewhat supportive, though they encourage me to save money and not "waste" it on things like that....but none of my co-workers, friends or extended family really understand. They think it's ludacris that I would go so much.
I think most of the time, the problem with adults is that they don't experience Disney the way we do. To them, going to WDW means spending a ton of money on the kids, long, hot, sweaty days and lines for kid rides, and over-priced food and hotels. Especially for an adult who doesn't quite know how to "do" WDW the way we do!!
"Oh, there AGAIN?"
"What do you do there?"
"Isn't that for kids?"
"How can you spend 8 days there?"
"Don't you run out of things to do?"
"What's so great about DisneyWorld?"
"Is that the one in California?"
"I was there in about 10 years ago, I don't need to go back."
Same exact things happens to me with people asking "Why do you keep going?" I'm a music teacher at an elementary school, so of course we're always singing a few Disney songs here and there...but just the other day I was in the hallway and some of my students were eagerly asking me about my trip. The computers teacher overheard the conversation and said "Oh my god, Dan, you did not go AGAIN? Why!??!" I was embarassed, but the kids came to my defense, shouting about how great it was.
The smell I get from Spaceship Earth's fire scene at the library is worth the price of admission. Seeing that hidden Mickey on ToT or riding with the ghost in my Doombuggy makes my day, makes my year. It never gets old. I was just there in January and would go back today.
You took the words out of my mouth. Let me add Main Street Electrical Parade, walking down the middle of Main Street USA, and riding the monorail to your list. All worth the entire trip to me. And it will NEVER get old...I too was there in January, and I want to go back RIGHT NOW!!!
I've been 30+ times and always weigh the cost of going on another trip is NOT going to Disney World. With this philosophy, I almost never choose to go anywhere else. Luckily, I had a good childhood in terms of vacations and was able to visit most states in between trips to Orlando. Still, I always come back to Disney despite having been a lot of places.
Beaches? Seen one, you've seen them all. Does Jamaica really feel much different than Mexico? Not to me. But there is only one WDW.
Are we meant to be best friends forever? Hahaha! You took the words right out of my mouth. I actually use a defense like this when people question my 13 trips to WDW. I say "Well, some people like to go to the beach every summer, some go to museums, some go to other countries. I go to Walt Disney World. I'm not bothering you by it, so why get worked up about it?" I don't much care for the beach at all, and I've been to Europe. I would like to travel to see the rest of the USA some time, but until I raise massive funds and travel partners for that, I'm more than happy to keep going to see Mickey and the gang.
I have been hiding the fact that I visit both Walt Disney World and Disneyland on a fairly regular basis from the folks in my New York City architecture firm for over 20 years. Each time I tell them I have been someplace else. Its getting harder to lie each year. It is a bit sad. However, the teasing would be unmerciful because so called "educated" "Ivy League" New Yorkers and esp. Architects are a pretty elitist bunch. I just keep it to myself. It was a trip to Walt Disney World in 1972 that inspired me as a kid to look at architecture. I pay homage to that fact and the words on the plaque on main street.
This is actually pretty hilarious that you lie about where you've been. I can imagine how tough it can be with an elitist bunch, and I'm sorry that you have to keep it to yourself. I"m the same way with all of my co-workers here at school. I don't tell any of them, and I'm starting to not tell the students either because they tell everyone else, "Mr. Kitching is going to DISNEY AGAIN! COOOOL!"