When did you fall in love with Disney parks?

[DSNY4ever]

I would love to hear when everyone began their love/obsession with the Disney parks...

My parents took me as a kid and I was absolutely hooked! When did it happen for you?

[stopher1]

Same as you - as a kid myself. Then as a teen and in h/s, I got a job at DL and worked there for 3 years, and amazingly the love didn't diminish, it only increased. Then upon marriage, DW and I honeymooned at WDW, lived 10 min from DL for many years, and now we're DVC'ers and taking annual "pilgrimages" both east and west, and our kids have caught the exact same bug that we have! :)

[rthutchens]

I've loved WDW ever since I stepped foot in MK in 1976 at age 2. When I was little I would cry when we left and stare out the back window of the car. I feel like doing that now when it is time to leave. DH thinks I'm crazy, I guess that's why keeps bringing me back.

[singjenn]

I would love to hear when everyone began their love/obsession with the Disney parks...

My parents took me as a kid and I was absolutely hooked! When did it happen for you?

I first went when I was a child, but I don't think I got hooked until I was in high school.

Our band took a trip my Senior year and ever since then I have loved it.

I can't always go, because money doesn't grow on trees:sad2:, but I look at photos all the time and I love to come to this board.

I loved Disney so much we went on our honeymoon....afterall, Disney is the #1 Honeymoon spot!!!:bride: I am soooo excited ot be going in September with my friend. This is her first trip to Disney!!!!:woohoo:

[pooh2001]

Ok - I am old I guess. Back in 1966 my parents took me to Disneyland.
I fell in love with the mouse and Walt Disney. My Grandma took me to WDW in 1975. I have turned my DH into a WDW fan and so are my kids.
My DD still in her young teen years (not dating) wnats her honeymoon in WDW. She would do a wedding there if we could afford it.
DS was thinking of being a Chef at WDW.

[DSNY4ever]

Haha, I love the stories already! I know what you guys mean- I planned my WDW honeymoon when I was 8 years old and luckily I met the perfect guy, introduced him to Disney (he was neglected as a child ;)) and in 2005 I got my dream honeymoon!

I used to get so excited going as a kid that one time I woke up on the morning we were leaving and was running all through the house with excitement and I ended up slamming my elbow on the corner of the dining table..I ended up losing the feeling in my arm for about ten minutes and had to ice my elbow and delayed our trip several hours. My husband always laughs at that story, only because I think he is afraid we will have a kid like me :laughing:

[Goofy One]

I discovered the magic of the parks when I was a kid. I had gone 4 or five time that I can remember up through my teens and loved it.

I brought my wife there 5 years ago and she discovered the magic herself. We have gone once a year since and are planning our next trip this November for my DD's 4th birthday.:banana:

[addicted2dizney]

I first went in 1977. I was 7 years old and in 3rd grade. Still had the paper tickets with the letters on them! I was amazed right from the way they parked the cars and we rode the tram to the monorail! Luckily my parents were hooked too and we returned just about every year through my high school years for 7-10 days staying at the Poly:love:
Once I was on my own I returned whenever I could of course thank goodness by then the more affordable hotels had been built being I was a single gal! Unfortunately DH does not understand the "magic" but both DS and DD are addicted like I am! :banana: :banana: only 80 days until our next trip!

[lichevyguy]

i went for the first time in 1972 , i was just going on 7 yrs old and thought wow this is the best thing in the whole world ... well ive gone every year since then and , after i met my wife i surprised her with an engaement ring in the magic kingdom rose garden (it was her 1st time ever to wdw) well a year later we got married went on a cruise (not dis) and then a week in wdw ,weve also been on the disney magic cruises 2 times (love it) now we have a lil boy 5 and he cant get enough..we havent missed a yr and we just got back in march , while we were there we bought dvc YAY:banana: :woohoo: :cool1:

[letthewookiewin]

My parents took me for the first time in 1980, when I was 4. I know that I was young, but there is still a lot I remember from that trip. The biggest thing that sticks out is the first time we got to the MK parking lot. We had driven from Texas, and as soon as we got out of the car we wanted to hurry up and get in. My mom or dad ( can't remember which now) said "What do you mean go in? We're not going into the park, we are just going to look at it from the parking lot." Needless to say lost of tears followed from all 3 of us kids, so much so that we didn't even realize we were in the park at first.

Then I went to WDW with my high school band to play in the Magic Music Days for Spring Break, and I met my now DH. I like to think that not only did the Disney company start with a mouse, but so did my family. If it hadn't have been for that trip to WDW, I would have never met my DH.

[Crisgw]

I remember my first trip...I was nearly 3 and I really remember a lot of it! I have tons of pictures as well. The park was EMPTY. The characters actually walked around with me. I'll have to ask my mom to dig up those pics.....

I have the best memories of my childhood from being at WDW with my family :)

[eliza61]

I would love to hear when everyone began their love/obsession with the Disney parks...

My parents took me as a kid and I was absolutely hooked! When did it happen for you?

While my parents took us to disneyland when I was young, disney world did not open until I was in my teens (my god, I'm old)

My first trip with my sons was ok but not as memorable as my 2nd. I think my first trip I was so obsessed with my "park plan" that all I remember is concentrating on getting to where I was supposed to be according to my plan. That's why I always recommnend to newbies to keep one day totally unscheduled.
Anyway my families 2nd trip was absolutely magically. We concentrated less on "doing" and more on soaking it in and enjoying. We loved it and were hooked. Purchased our dvc on the third trip.

[kimluvswdw]

We discovered the magic when we took our kids for the first time in 2002.

[DSNY4ever]

:mickeyjum Bump! I want to hear more :)

[gk90]

I didn't vote in the poll because I'm not sure which option applies to me--I loved my 1st trip to Disneyland, before WDW opened. I was 5 and still have memories of Jungle Cruise, the Snow White ride and the audio-animatronic Abraham Lincoln.

I didn't go again til I was in my late 20s and then the trip wasn't magical at all--a day trip to MGM the year it opened, I went with my cousin and friends with no plan at all and was left wondering what all the hype was about.

So for years when I heard about my SIL's family or my kids' friends all going to WDW I always thought "what's the big deal?" Also all the people I work with look down on WDW. It wasn't til last year that I thought it might be fun to bring the kids (ages 9 and 7). I really got into the planning (thanks to the DISboards!) and we had a great trip! :cloud9:

It was over 15 yrs since my unmagical MGM trip, and over 20 years since DH had been, but now we've been hit by the magic again and are planning a big trip with my sister, BIL and their kids for next year! My kids are so excited to be going with their cousins! :cheer2: We are seriously hooked now and even buying into DVC.

[jimmalru80]

I was 38 years old and took my kids for the first time. I've been hooked ever since.

[Becky521]

My first trip was our honeymoon. I was 22. My husband had gone a few times as a kid and was so excited to show me around.

[Miss Park Avenue]

We first went to WDW in 75 (I was nine) and we all loved it right away, but it wasn't until our third trip did we just become crazy about Disneyworld. It was our first trip where we stayed onsite (at the Campgrounds). Staying onsite makes it such a better experience! We've been hooked ever since.

[LUVMICKEY]

I picked after we took our own kids there, but actually I was in love with Disney parks before I really saw one. I saw a little of it on TV, but had never actually been there. It was a dream I had to go and when we could finally take our own children, I really fell in love then and since 1982 it has grown even more.

[Miss Stitch]

I knew the magic was there when I was a kids but it was such an expensive trip to make from the Uk then that we never made it. I always dreamed one day I'd go.

I wanted to take my kids for years but wanted to wait till they were all the right age to remember, my sons were 6, 10 and 12, as it was gonna be a once in a lifetime trip. Now we are hooked and have been back twice in the last two years. Wont be back for a few years now but we are heading to DLP next year (alot cheaper and nearer):banana:

[hmdavid]

When I was little, my mother made sure that we fell in love with Disney movies, but we never had the opportunity to attend the parks. Five years ago we visited Disneyland Paris and had a good time, but it was not an earth shaking trip . In March of this year we were finally able to go to WDW and that is when it happened! We are all so hooked that we are planning a trip with my husband's family in September and a dance trip next year with the girls' dance studio! I am addicted!!!:rotfl:

[sarah_n_brian2006]

Let me put it this way, I can't remember not loving WDW

[RJD]

I went for the first time when in 76 when I was 12. My dad, younger sister and I drove down from Boston, MA. I LOVED everything about that trip--the drive, staying in different hotels every night on the way down, then arriving at the World. We were SOOO excited. I remember being very impressed that WDW had its own exit! Now I bring my own kids as often as we can (which is not often enough). We are all totally hooked-except maybe DH, but he's been gradually coming around! ;)

[disgram]

I was already a fan of Walt Disney the first time I saw the Magic Kingdom in 1970. When I saw it though, it was only a pile of dirt and there were those yellow caterpillers moving the dirt onto the spot where the Castle now stands! My son was just six months old at the time. Due to being newly married and husband starting a new job, we didn't get back till my son was 5 and he had a baby sister! That was 1976. Seeing the look on my son's face as he watched the afternoon parade made the magic even more real!!!!

[donac]

I couldn't vote since you didn't have a catagory for me. I was hooked by watching WOnderful World of Disney and seeing the Pirates of the Caribbean on tv. Also the Haunted Mansion . We live on the east coast so a trip to DL was out of the question. I did see DL on my honeymoon and have been to DW many times.

I think it also helps that both dh and I were born in the year DL was opened.

[mickeymousemom]

My dad(who lived in Tampa at the time) took me for the first time when we took our first vacation to FL. He was extremely excited to take me and I loved it! We went pretty much every year from 1977 thru the early 80's. I missed a few years and then ex-DH and I went in 86 and 87. After that, I didn't get back until 2001 bringing my present DH and 2 young girls with us. They fell in love! We've been back every year since, sometimes 2-3 times a year! I am lucky to have a DH who loves it as much as I do. We had a 3rd DD in 2003 and she's getting ready to take her 9th trip in June! She's as much of an expert as any of us are by now....:goodvibes

[aDVCguy]

:banana:
...when I turned 13 my Dad took all of us to Disneyland...it was
when I was halfway down Main Street...I got hooked!

Little tidbit: My Dad, a talented artist with a full scholarship
to Cooper Union, told me that he could've had a job here!
That went right in one ear and out the other...it was many
years later at his wake that my aunt and his cousin Ralph
had told me that Disney Studios had offered him a position
as an artist. Pop couldn't move to California at the time...
he needed to support my
Grandmother and Aunt...on the other hand...had he...
I wouldn't be posting right now!

Thanks for the memories Pop!!!:goodvibes

[christa112]

I use to go to DL every summer when I was a child and my great uncle worked as an artist on some Disney movies like a Fox and the Hound, Sword and the Stone, The Rescuer's, 101 Dalmations and more. I would get drawing from him and get to tour his office in California and even attend a Staff Picnic one year. So needless to say, I was pretty much born and raised a Disney fan.

We my dh and I took our kids down to WDW back in 2005 it started the love all over again. We are headed back down for our 3rd trip in Sept.

[Hmbldr]

My first visit to MK was Disneyland. My parents gave to me for my 10th birthday, a week travel tour on a California trip hosted bya local TV clebrity - Rex Trailer. We did all the S. Cali attractions of the time - Knotts, Universal, Hollywood Bowl, San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, Movie WaxLand, and 2 days at Disneyland! That was 1971.

First visit to WDW was in 1975, 3 days at the end of a 2 week trip to Florida. I was 14. I spent every possible minute in the MK. Wow, it was great! We stayed at the Contemporary Resort. I made a doubloon at the Pirates store on a machine where you stamp the backside. I stamped my name and the date...2 23 75. It has a hole in to use as a key chain ring. I've used it ever since, 33 years and still going. It's my daily reminder.

My next visit was in Jan 1983. I took my girlfriend for a week during our senior college break. It was her first time to Disney. She is now my wife and our boys are 11, 13, 18. Yes, they've been to WDW a few times. And DL too!

Did I mention we snuck in a day at Tokyo Disneyland? That's another story.