That awkward moment when...

[Figaro928]

.... an acquaintance finds out you're going to Disney World and then feels the need to give you advice from the one time they visited years ago.

This happened to me today. First he told me I had to go to the "animal place" "there's a coaster there with a abominable monster" Then he told me I had to try this "sweet new place called O'Hands... it's in the monorail resort"

I politely nodded my head, agreed, and told him I'd look into those cool new places he recommended. Meanwhile in my head, I'm laughing to myself I know more about Walt Disney World than you could ever imagine... I could be your tour guide at Animal Kingdom and recite to you O'Hana's menu....

Does this happen to anyone else?

And a big thank you to wdwmagic for helping make me the Disney Freak I am today

 

[Gabe1]

On the upside he was happily sharing good things he experienced.

Very nice of you to be gracious. Guess he wasn't completely out of it though, that abdominal coaster ride is one of the newest things to experience at Animal Kingdom.

 

[Yert3]

I love it when I tell people I'm going to Disney and they tell me to check out The Hulk roller coaster. It's happened more than once.

 

[jloucks]

I'd have just told him. It'd be funny. ...probably.

 

[Tom]

Yup, that's happened. I'm always torn on whether I should very politely and laughingly say, "Awesome, yeah, for sure....we've been there lots of times. Love the Everest ride and we never miss Ohana" or do like you did and bite my tongue.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I think we have all had that happen at one time or the other. If it is someone that is going to the place and they haven't been many times, I try and correct them as nicely as I can. However, if it is someone that is sure that they are correct, there is no sense to saying anything because they are not going to accept it anyway. Save the aggravation and walk away. As much as I hate to admit it, it is mostly "older" folks that are that way. I once sat through a half hour rant, by one of my parents friends, about how upset they were that they took the "Sky Tower" out of Epcot. When I said that he must be confused because "Sky Tower" was in Sea World, he got even more upset wanting to know why Epcot would have moved it. I, briefly tried to explain that it has always been in Sea World, he then got angry at me for trying to make him look foolish when he knew better. It was in Epcot the last time he saw it. I walked away slowly and didn't look back.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Happens all the time..

People come out of the woodwork to get my expert advice all the time. I'm happy to give it to real friends, but it gets annoying when random coworkers find out I'm the Disney guy and only start talking to me to get information.

I literally just ignore their emails and if they bring it up in person, I say, "Well, it's too hard to explain. Just ask around when you're there."

Most people are arrogant enough to ask for advice and then not use it because they think they "found a better way" and are self proclaimed experts after one trip. Then they tell others Disney really "isn't worth it" because they did Fantasyland in the afternoon, missed shows, missed fireworks, left early during fireworks, didn't take advantage of extra magic hours, stayed of property because it's chaper, didn't plan any dining so they ate hot dogs on op of a trashcan, skipped classics because they are for babies, got upset because there aren't enough roller coasters, complained about the heat, and couldn't afford to be there in the first place so everything is too expensive.

Had a guy tell me he skipped the "Haunted House" because, "If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all." It "saved him so much time."

 

[mouse_luv]

Yep happens all the time. And FWIW you were more gracious about it than I lol!

 

[JIMINYCR]

I'd rather they give me "their inaccurate helpful advice" than the response of Why are you going there again? But I do smile inwardly when they mention Uni rides as if they were at WDW. You can tell immediately who the real experts are from the fake ones.

 

[officialtom]

I cringe when people find out I'm going to WDW (again) and they proceed to try to tell me I absolute NEED to stay at this or that condo that's really truly honestly just a quick drive from Magic Kingdom.

No thank you. On property is the only way to do it no matter how great an off property price is.

 

[Chernaboggles]

I cringe when people find out I'm going to WDW (again) and they proceed to try to tell me I absolute NEED to stay at this or that condo that's really truly honestly just a quick drive from Magic Kingdom.

No thank you. On property is the only way to do it no matter how great an off property price is.

I have that same conversation in reverse: I'm the only person I know that actively dislikes the Disney bubble (but loves WDW) and would MUCH rather have a car and a nearby townhouse. The on-property thing just doesn't work for us.

 

[copcarguyp71]

first thing that came to mind...

 

[draybook]

Can't say I've had that problem. I'm "the Disney guy" at my job, so people that are planning to go usually ask me for advice.

 

[Max of the Parks]

I've been in countless situtations like that. I hate it when they refer to Disney World as Disneyland, or when they think the Magic Kingdom is the only park there.

 

[zurgandfriend]

It happened the other day; there is a “new guy” in the office who wants to fit in and so he expresses opinions and dispenses information on a host of subjects. He saw my Disney tie and started telling me all about WDW, where to stay, where to eat, what parks to visit, etc. I just smiled and listened and before I could thank him, my co-workers in the cubes in front and behind me popped up like moles and said to him you realize you’re talking to “Mr. Disney.”

 

[Dog Ate Mouse]

So far this has not happened to me. Most people who know me generally come ask questions on hotels and places to eat and so on about WDW. I feel like a mini travel guide (LOL). I think I would have just stood there and nodded my head to be polite and let him ramble on. That's a funny story.

 

[Figaro928]

Again, I was glad hear someone share their Disney enthusiasm! It was his first time going with his young kids and when talking about his vacation he was grinning ear to ear. I loved hearing about everything they did and how much fun they had. It was just so funny to hear recommendations from him - yeah I did a ton of research, been going there all my life and made all my reservations at the 180 mark... but thank you....

This is always much more welcomed than the person coming back from Disney complaining because of lack of planning.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

The moment I hate most and which is very awkward because I sometimes give snide remarks when they say it, is when people find out we are going to WDW and they ask the perhaps most annoying and stupid question to ask about WDW and Disney and then ask in all their ignorance "But isn't that something JUST FOR KIDS?"

 

[EpcoTim]

The title of this thread led me to believe it was going to about things like openly laughing at someone's accidental public flatulance or forgetting where your pants were or sobbing uncontrollably when you watch the Guinness keg spit its last remains before your cup is even half full while illuminations is going on in the background. I'd demand a refund if this thread weren't free.

 

[Bugz]

When somebody finds we are going to Disney and I get angry when they say ..yeah I don't like amusement parks! It's sooo much more than that!