actuallydear wrote:What the hell is the big attraction with Disneyland? Not just with them, but with a lot of adults. Hell, some even get married there! I'm not American so is it some sort of cultural thing I'm missing?
Same. I totally get why for people with kids it's wonderful and magical, but I am totally weirded out by grown up people who are still really into the whole magic aspect of it. Like ... people who have Disney themed weddings or single folk who have "Someday my prince will come" prints hanging in their living rooms and stuff, people who buy expensive Beauty and the Beast tea sets for their wives for Easter ... I just don't get it. It's weird in the way that Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch was weird. I still enjoy nostalgically watching old Disney movies, but I don't, like, yearn for the magic or anything.
I've been to Disney World three times -- 5th grade (perfect age); 9th grade (dance company trip -- also a great age and super fun to go on as a field trip with no parents, only a handful of adult chaperones); and once when I was about 28 (right when the first Harry Potter park opened up -- but since it was such a far trip for me & my friends, we spent a day at the Magic Kingdom and another at Epcot). While it was definitely a cool experience (for all the reasons HelloSweetie pointed out), it was definitely just kind of weird for me, too. I was like "No ... I don't really want to high five random characters" and I was just so grossed out by the stores upon stores upon stores upon stores. It's like 60% theme park, 40% massive Disney Store.
Now -- I totally get why DB and the Johnsons invest in the season passes (and I think they got CJ and Bailey season passes for Christmas, which is super sweet and really generous). If you've got kids who are at the age where it's still a really magical experience (and honestly I think that except for Liv they're all a little young for it to be a truly worthwhile investment) -- and you can take advantage of lots of dates -- and you have lots of money to spare ... it makes a lot of sense. The Johnsons will often just pop in for a morning and go on one or two rides each time and I'm like "ahh ... smart!" But I do wonder -- when I got to go at age 10 (my brother was 6), it was really awesome. One of the best parts, though, was spending MONTHS anticipating the trip -- and then it was FINALLY time to go. It was really special! While it's cost-effective if these kids go at least once a month ... doesn't that spoil some of the anticipation and magic of it all?