Why are some people snobby and poke fun at people who vacation at Disney?

[Voxel]

We still go to Hershey Park every year though, and we just bought LegoLand NY season passes, and we have a trip to Kingsmill Resort at Buschgardens Williamsburg planned for next spring. We still love theme parks. But Disney, it's just getting harder and harder to justify.

I completely agree with this. If it wasn't for the fact I live an hour away and it gives me something that I love to do every so often, I don't think I would being doing Disney World. My taste in travel has changed, and I have found that I would rather being using Large amounts of PTO for one long vacation of a foreign country vs going to Disney. It doesn't mean that I love Disney anyless, but something about spending just under a month traveling a new location is appealing.. Sometimes Disney is involved with that (Tokyo Disneyland), but sometimes it isn't.

Honestly, I think being a local and having an annual pass has changed by point of view on the Disney Vacation. It's become more of a relaxed experience, and the idea of having to plan to do all my favorites in a 5/6 day window seems more stressful.

 

[dgauthier]

I've been too, so of course our opinions are as meaningless as anyone else. However, I'm not speaking from conjecture. Europe's larger cities are largely dirty, have high crime, and tons of rude people. I much prefer a city like Tokyo over Paris, London, or Barcelona. Objectively, Tokyo is cleaner, safer, and Japan in general has TONS of history. Granted, I am no European expert and have anecdotal experience, but Europe contains many "real world" cities which can never compete with the fantasy world of Disney.

France does have some of the best food in the world and I enjoyed that.

I've been to New Orleans too and it's nothing special, no offense to anyone from there.

Of course not, offense taken

 

[graphite1326]

Why do they make fun of us? These are the same people or type of people that make fun of me for watching FOX news. But the problem is they have never watched FOX news but just take everyone's word for it that it is bad. The same can be said about Disney. They just take everyone's word for it that it's just for kids not grown ups and it's silly that I keep going.

The other scenario is the ones who go and don't listen to your advise. Then they come back and tell you what a terrible time they had. I ask "did you do this" No. "Did you make ADRs?" No. I stopped giving advise.

I also get that "it's too expensive". I just spent a week in New Orleans. Believe me WDW is not expensive.

 

[Janir]

My guess is they feel it's 'uncultured', as opposed to vacations where people travel to tropical islands and spend a week getting drunk on beach in a foreign country.

Bingo! I have relatives who like the Mexico resort trips and can't think of going to Disney, except only as a trip with their two small girls. But they feel that a WDW trip wouldn't be as culturally enlightening to the girls as trip to a Latin American country or even Hawaii. I just smh and laugh inside. The educational aspect they could do at WDW is literally astounding within all 4 parks, not just EPCOT & DAK. And done right the parents could have a night or 2 off with Disney babysitting services (or with a coordinated trip, their Uncle) and have adult time on vacation.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I've been too, so of course our opinions are as meaningless as anyone else. However, I'm not speaking from conjecture. Europe's larger cities are largely dirty, have high crime, and tons of rude people. I much prefer a city like Tokyo over Paris, London, or Barcelona. Objectively, Tokyo is cleaner, safer, and Japan in general has TONS of history. Granted, I am no European expert and have anecdotal experience, but Europe contains many "real world" cities which can never compete with the fantasy world of Disney.

France does have some of the best food in the world and I enjoyed that.

I've been to New Orleans too and it's nothing special, no offense to anyone from there.

For me at least, I visit Europe for the history and the culture. Yes, some cities are "dirty" have "high crime" and "tons of rude people". But that describes many cities in North America and around the world. Take a walk three blocks off of the Vegas Strip, or go visit San Fran now a days. I've been to Paris, meh. But I've also visited Normandy, Mont St Michel, Bastogne, Bruges and many a city for it's historical and cultural offerings. I'd much prefer a culinary experience strolling down Calle de Cuchilleros in Madrid, than "eating around the world at EPCOT". Though I do enjoy my treks around WS (It's cheaper too.)

Oh...and New Orleans was very special when I was in my mid-twenties, now-at 50, not as much anymore, but I still enjoy it. Good food though.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I've been too, so of course our opinions are as meaningless as anyone else. However, I'm not speaking from conjecture. Europe's larger cities are largely dirty, have high crime, and tons of rude people. I much prefer a city like Tokyo over Paris, London, or Barcelona. Objectively, Tokyo is cleaner, safer, and Japan in general has TONS of history. Granted, I am no European expert and have anecdotal experience, but Europe contains many "real world" cities which can never compete with the fantasy world of Disney.

France does have some of the best food in the world and I enjoyed that.

I've been to New Orleans too and it's nothing special, no offense to anyone from there.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything, it just bothers me a little when someone tries to justify what they do by making up false things to justify their opinions. Essence is a feel. You don't get a feel by looking at the outside of pristine buildings or whether there's any debris in the street. It's all a mixture of everything. Language, culture, architecture, food, street atmosphere, pace of life and so on. Epcot gives people a cross section of those things, but, not the entire picture (essence). If the Japan Pavilion, for example, were left on it's own everyone would think that Japan consists of nothing but Pokemon and Friends.

I have traveled the world and now I have seen many of these places first hand. Having gone to Epcot before I really had the opportunity to go to most of what is represented at Epcot, I really feel that I appreciate Epcot more with that knowledge then I did before I saw them first hand. That said, now that I am older, I no longer have that adventurous spirit and am much more content with just going to Epcot and not doing so much traveling, but, I wouldn't trade my experiences in those actual places for a thousand Epcot's. Others mileage may vary!

 

[Chef Mickey]

I'm not trying to convince you of anything, it just bothers me a little when someone tries to justify what they do by making up false things to justify their opinions. Essence is a feel. You don't get a feel by looking at the outside of pristine buildings or whether there's any debris in the street. It's all a mixture of everything. Language, culture, architecture, food, street atmosphere, pace of life and so on. Epcot gives people a cross section of those things, but, not the entire picture (essence). If the Japan Pavilion, for example, were left on it's own everyone would think that Japan consists of nothing but Pokemon and Friends.

I have traveled the world and now I have seen many of these places first hand. Having gone to Epcot before I really had the opportunity to go to most of what is represented at Epcot, I really feel that I appreciate Epcot more with that knowledge then I did before I saw them first hand. That said, now that I am older, I no longer have that adventurous spirit and am much more content with just going to Epcot and not doing so much traveling, but, I wouldn't trade my experiences in those actual places for a thousand Epcot's. Others mileage may vary!

I’m not making up my own experience. Crime in Paris and London are objectively high.

 

[ABigBrassBand]

Granted, I am no European expert

What a post. Greetings from Berlin!

 

[Chef Mickey]

What a post. Greetings from Berlin!

I love Germany. Great country, great people.

 

[larryz]

We also just bought Legoland passes! And we go to Hershey Park--mostly because I love staying at The Hotel Hershey. This year is going to be first WDW trip for my husband and my children, I went 3 times before when I was a young girl. I'm more excited about the trip than they are. So who knows if we will become yearly WDW visitors, or this will be 'it' for us.

Read up on DVC before you go. I have a sneaking suspicion...

 

[Goofyernmost]

I’m not making up my own experience. Crime in Paris and London are objectively high.

I never said you were making that up, however, unless you were either the perpetrator or victim of those crimes, it is just "I heard that" type of thing. My daughter went to college in New Orleans and she used to regal me with crime stories like "A guy was shot and killed in front of the dorm yesterday" or "My girlfriend went out to dinner with her boyfriend and were held up and robbed at gunpoint on their way to their car." However, my daughter was never a victim nor was I when I visited her. There isn't a city in this country, especially now, that isn't embroiled in crime and violence and that includes Kissimmee and even WDW. Just because you don't hear about it doesn't mean it isn't happening. So I didn't consider that particular negative to be of any real relevance.

Spoiler

To be fair... she attended Tulane in the early 90's before the big purge of the corrupt Police force from what I read in the news. I have no personal knowledge of what was done to the force during that time, but, it seems a lot safer now.

 

[mdcpr]

Read up on DVC before you go. I have a sneaking suspicion...

??

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I have to defend some people who dont get Disney as well. Let's be honest some of us do enough planning and scheduling at work and with a disney vacation it can be another job just planning. Seriously my trip to Shanghai requires less work and was just as enjoyable. Most people who just try winging it at Disney end up hating the trip.

 

[ABigBrassBand]

I love Germany. Great country, great people.

Glad to hear that! To be clear, though, I think your characterization of "Europe's larger cities" being "largely dirty, have high crime, and tons of rude people" is inaccurate at best, disrespectful at its worst. That's like saying U.S. cities are the same but only referring to select places in New York, Chicago, and LA!

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I've been too, so of course our opinions are as meaningless as anyone else. However, I'm not speaking from conjecture. Europe's larger cities are largely dirty, have high crime, and tons of rude people. I much prefer a city like Tokyo over Paris, London, or Barcelona. Objectively, Tokyo is cleaner, safer, and Japan in general has TONS of history. Granted, I am no European expert and have anecdotal experience, but Europe contains many "real world" cities which can never compete with the fantasy world of Disney.

France does have some of the best food in the world and I enjoyed that.

I've been to New Orleans too and it's nothing special, no offense to anyone from there.

New Orleans might be the most authentic American city we have. Best food in our nation IMO. Japan is ok, except for open discrimination against westerners and female visitor have told me some of it was not a great environment for women.

 

[Voxel]

New Orleans might be the most authentic American city we have. Best food in our nation IMO. Japan is ok, except for open discrimination against westerners and female visitor have told me some of it was not a great environment for women.

Where in Japan were you?.. The only major Open Discrimination in Japan proper in terms of foreign costumers is against ALL non Japanese and that is no foreigners allowed a few bars and restaurants. Because owners don't wanna deal with another language, which is perfectly fine. Now there is an issue with attitude towards westerns in Okinawa, but even some on the mainland don't consider Okinawa people proper Japanese. That was an interesting bar conversation I had in Osaka, he then went on to trash talk the Tokyo residents. I have spent a good amount of time in Japan and never once felt unsafe or experienced discrimination against me.
As for woman, it depends are you talking work environment or travel. I have a few female friends who live in Japan that I went to college with. They have never had any major issues, nothing like some of the issues they have in Bars back in our college days. Now if we are talking about the woman in the work place, that is a complete different story of discrimination that does need to be examined by their culture and is something that they are slowly trying to fit.

 

[The Mighty Tim]

In my experience, I've found that there is a fun-poking towards me when I mention that I'm going on a WDW trip - especially from my work colleagues. Then again, due to the nature of my work, a lot of people who I work with are into extreme adventure holidays or camping in the deep dark woods. In fact, I remember clearly one break time some time ago, I was sitting with a different bunch of people that I would usually sit with. They were all comparing weekend plans, and they were all saying how they were going to play various sports, run half-marathons, go hiking etc. When it came to me, and I said I was going to see a friend, drink beer, watch movies and play video games, they all sort of looked down their nose at me. But that's another story for another time.

Anyway, I do take other trips apart from WDW. I've visited twenty countries across all seven continents (albeit some of those trips have been work trips, but I do manage to squeeze in some down time!). However, most of these trips are what I would "trips", whereas a WDW getaway feels more like an actual holiday, if that makes sense. It's a hard distinction to describe, I admit.

At the end of the day, I've learned to not care what other people think. I work just as hard as everyone else at work for my money, so I choose to spend it how I want, going to places I want, and if people want to be snobby about it and poke fun, then that's their problem.

I've always had a soft spot for WDW and I will probably continue going for as long as I can, even though I have no kids of my own Besides, WDW is designed to be a place where families can holiday together and next year, I'll be holidaying there once again with my folks - despite being 38 by the time the trip rolls around. And I don't care what anyone says. I'm still going to have a good time!

 

[Voxel]

I'm not trying to convince you of anything, it just bothers me a little when someone tries to justify what they do by making up false things to justify their opinions. Essence is a feel. You don't get a feel by looking at the outside of pristine buildings or whether there's any debris in the street. It's all a mixture of everything. Language, culture, architecture, food, street atmosphere, pace of life and so on. Epcot gives people a cross section of those things, but, not the entire picture (essence). If the Japan Pavilion, for example, were left on it's own everyone would think that Japan consists of nothing but Pokemon and Friends.

I have traveled the world and now I have seen many of these places first hand. Having gone to Epcot before I really had the opportunity to go to most of what is represented at Epcot, I really feel that I appreciate Epcot more with that knowledge then I did before I saw them first hand. That said, now that I am older, I no longer have that adventurous spirit and am much more content with just going to Epcot and not doing so much traveling, but, I wouldn't trade my experiences in those actual places for a thousand Epcot's. Others mileage may vary!

There is a nice element of Epcot because it brings back those memories of travel. Every time I go to the Italy pavilion I'm reminded of my two weeks traveling through Italy in college. Sure it's not the same, but the memories and emotions are just as real.

 

[Heppenheimer]

I love Germany. Great country, great people.

I agree. Lived there for several years, and it is an amazing place.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Where in Japan were you?.. The only major Open Discrimination in Japan proper in terms of foreign costumers is against ALL non Japanese and that is no foreigners allowed a few bars and restaurants. Because owners don't wanna deal with another language, which is perfectly fine. Now there is an issue with attitude towards westerns in Okinawa, but even some on the mainland don't consider Okinawa people proper Japanese. That was an interesting bar conversation I had in Osaka, he then went on to trash talk the Tokyo residents. I have spent a good amount of time in Japan and never once felt unsafe or experienced discrimination against me.
As for woman, it depends are you talking work environment or travel. I have a few female friends who live in Japan that I went to college with. They have never had any major issues, nothing like some of the issues they have in Bars back in our college days. Now if we are talking about the woman in the work place, that is a complete different story of discrimination that does need to be examined by their culture and is something that they are slowly trying to fit.

You are correct that there it is not as bad in major cities as in the country where for instance plastic utensils and paper cups were given to my friends family while the rest of the diners had real glass and silverware. The no foreigners in hotels ...you really think it is just because of language issues? If you believe that does that excuse it, because I never encountered it in Europe or America.
As for women, why do you think they have women only subway cars?
EDIT: And not saying it cant be a great place to visit, China is nice to visit...just try to ignore all the humanitarian violations etc...and the government watching everything you do. Still, I would go back!