Any other Disney Dads out there...?

[denver87]

I'm a 47 year old father of one DD (16)

We've taken 8 solo trips to Disneyworld together since she was 7 years old and even though everyone in the family thinks we're crazy for going to WDW every year, we laugh at them and have an unbelieveable great time!

Sadly, she's at the age now where she has other interest and we haven't been to the world since 2004.

 

[Foe]

31 year old father of 2 here.

Well, I don't have children, but I am the father of a beautiful cat and dog. Does that count? My wife and I both love Disney, but I'm the one who gets all Gung-Ho on these boards, planning, internet searching, etc.

Total freak when it comes to Disney World. Not so much when it comes to movies, music, etc. though.

 

[Kick Save]

I'm a 35 year old dad hooked on Disney. My wife is into it also, it was the destination of our honeymoon. But now, both boys (3 and 7) are hooked, too. Like the OP, I listen to Live365 quite often, download many podcasts, read Disney planning books, etc. (No ringtone on the phone, though, too big of a hockey fan so the Hockey Night in Canada theme is my ring tone. )

I don't take a lot of heat for it, though. Took a little bit when I played in a hockey scrimmage with a bunch of friends in my Donald's Destroyers jersey, but that was about it. The rest of the time they're asking me how best to get around the World when they get there.

But, I'm not happy unless I'm planning our next trip to Orlando. Right now, I've got three in the works...surprise trip in August for the boys, our next "planned" trip in December, and I just found out I'm going to a conference at the Dolphin in a few weeks so the Mrs is flying down with me for that and we'll have a mini-vacation at the Mouse.

I'm definitely aflicted!

 

[miclcon]

No, you're not alone. I'm 37 yr. old husband with and DS8, DD5, DS2.5. We love disney and try to get there once a year. AP holders since 2002.

 

[philaround]

My name is Phil and I'm a 59 year old Disney nut.

I always was into Disney from the first time I saw Uncle Walt on T.V. When he annouced Disneyland I thought it was the greatest thing ever but was resigned that I would probably never see it. Back in the 50's not too many regular people went on trips of more than 200 to 300 miles, so I was sure I would never see it. Well I still have never seen Disneyland, but I have lost count of the number of times I have been to WDW. My wife and family like WDW very much but are no where near as fanatical as I am. I am the planner and scheduler for all our trips and 2 years ago I finaly convinced my DW that we needed AP's. I love it when on every new trip to WDW my wife tells me that "This is the Best trip we have ever had to WDW." I don't know how long I can keep topping myself.

 

[ryanmilla]

Great thread Joe and CHEERS to all of us Disney Dads and husbands.

I'm a 32 yr old Disney Dad of 2, DD4 and DS2. My DW loves Disney as well, but not as much as me. She normally does all of our social planning, except when it comes to WDW. She normally just sits back and lets me do everything, which I love. However, even though I could probably go back to WDW for every vacation, she likes to do other things as well, so we go back once every year or two. Luckily, we were both convinced to buy into DVC, so now I know we will at least be going every other year if not more.

But like everyone else, I love ALL things Disney; characters, movies, parks, etc...Since I work in NYC, sometimes I have to head up to the Disney store here to get my fix.

But I can contribute my Disney fanatic tendencies directly to my Dad. My parents started taking my brother and I when we were really young. Now, that they are retired they head down a few times a year. I was even able to convince him to buy into DVC. But like my DW, my mom is not as fanatic as my Dad and I. What are ya going to do.

Anyway, ROCK ON Disney Dads!

 

[Jim from Jersey]

36 year old Disney fan here! I have a 3 y.o. daughter who loves Disney and a wife who "likes" Disney. I have a wall in my game room covered in Disney vacation pictures, memorabilia, signs, and pins. I am the Disney vacation planner and although I get made fun of, everyone in the family knows that my planning makes the vacation every time. Finally, last year, after a few years of pleading, we bought into DVC. Definately the best move I've made in a long time - guarantees me a WDW vacation just about every year for the next 48 years!

 

[Calvinosaurus]

YEAH! Count me in! I am a new Disney Dad. My son is only 6 weeks old and I can't wait to take him to WDW. As you can see in my signature, I have been a WDW fan since my folks took me when I was in the second grade. The obsession never went away and to this day I have a large storage box filled with every guidebook, magazine, park map, postcard, whatever we accumulated dating back to the early 1970s. Is that sick or what?

The memories of those family trips to Florida are some of the happiest of my life and it is going to be great to make new memories with my boy someday. That's really what it's all about for me. And I think that's what Walt Disney had in mind when he built Disneyland and WDW.

My lovely DW had never been to WDW before our May 2001 trip and she didn't think she would enjoy it. But knowing all too well about my Disney obsession, she relented and said we could go. After a fantastic vacation at POR, she came to understand what my obsession was all about (well, mostly.) One wonderful day, a few months later, she said those three little words I had been longing to hear.... "I miss Mickey." So... after a few more trips you could say we were a certified (or certifiable) Disney couple. And now we're a full-fledged Disney Family. Life is good.

Great thread! We Disney Dads gotta stick together.

 

[PolyPal]

Yup, Im a Disney Dad, too! I do all of the planning for our WDW trips, make the ADR's, get the family up and to the parks at opening, plan the itinerary, etc. My wife thinks I'm a little nuts, but this past trip even the kids started to appreciate the planning that goes into our WDW vacations.

When my first son was born, I was in the delivery room with tears streaming down my face. My wife thought something was wrong with our baby! I explained to her that the baby was fine and my dream had come true - we finally had a child to take to Disney World!

I remember standing on Main Street for the fireworks during the 25th Anniversary celebration, my 4 year old on my shoulders. The lights dimmed, the music swelled, and the narrator made the speech about us all being family and remembering the magic...I still get choked up!

Definitely a Disney Dad all the way!

 

[jenrose66]

but I'm a soon to be mom Anyway...you can be friends with my husband!! He can use a pro Disney male influence. He tolerates my Disney addiction, but he isn't as passionate about it as me. He loves to say we aren't going to be one of those families that goes to Disney every year, that we need to try new things, in the meantime, I'm trying to save some money so that we can take the baby on a trip when he's around 9 monthsold.

 

[scoolover]

My wife is an Ex and I still have to hear it. I am not crazy Disney but I do get really into the planning and the vacation its self. I am trying to groom the DS4 and hopefully, I can have a disney partner in crime. Take care

 

[AndyMcV]

....I guess I was just wondering if there were any other men that are as infatuated with Disney as I am, where their "other" just doesn't get it...

Wheeeew.... I'm not alone.

Hey Joe

Good question to ask! I'm a 37 year old Dad to a 6 year old boy and 2 year old daughter. I've been hooked on Disney since our first trip as a family in 2000. Our trip in 2003 made sure I became a huge Disney fan. My wife likes Disney too but I don't think it brings out the inner child in her as much as it does me. I love everything Disney does. I'm always amazed at the level of detail and commitment they go to entertain us.

Cheers,
Andy

 

[AndyMcV]

...I'll be dragging the family back to WDW in May of 2008 and can't wait. I'm saving money and getting ideas together...

Hey Bill, great to see a fellow Canadian on here! We too are planning our next trip (actually dreaming of our next trip) in a few years.

Andy

 

[AndyMcV]

....for ringtones I have Grim Grinning Ghosts, Peter Pan's Flight Queue, How Do you Do (Splash Mountain), and Yo Ho Yo Ho... People look at me like I'm nuts when my phone rings to "Yo Ho Yo Ho a pirate's life for me...".

Now THAT's funny, Joe.

 

[GrimGhost]

I'm glad you feel that way, dwaters... but I don't know - I wore a disney hooded sweatshirt to a "get together" with my friends and their families - and got made fun of... and then another time I got grilled for having a Disney background on my desktop by friends... My wife makes fun of me all the time with friends about how I listen to Disney music on the computer... I don't know, maybe it's just my age. It doesn't really bother me - I was just curious if anyone else was in the same boat...

--Joe

You just described me to the "T". I don't let any of it bother me at all. Many people understand the Disney Magic...I just wish I was married to someone who got it the way I do!!

 

[MJMcBride]

I'm a 36 yo father of two little ones. I love Disney (obviously, or else why would I be posting here, right?). So does my wife, its where we went on the old honeymoon. My kids, especially the oldest, is really starting to get into it too. Can't wait for our next trip this Fall.

 

[PrincessNED]

I too am addicted to the DIS

35 yr old Dad to a princess(5) trying to make it perfect for the first trip.

DW only comment is " who took my husband? You don't plan anything out any other time!!"

My only fear - she might expect me to follow through with checklists, plans, etc on stuff around the house when we get back.

 

[Hibernians]

Disney Dad Here - Last year was our 1st family trip to WDW with our 4 young kids and we still have not stopped talking about it. After the trip, I convinced my wife that we should join DVC and she went along w/my crazy idea, so we became DVC members in January; so now we are Disney for Life.
She let's me do all the planning, ressies, etc. Its nuts how much I read up on this stuff on wesbites likes this and the travel guide books that I buy too.
But I'm convinced that all our family trips to WDW will be some of the best times of our lives and we'll have these great memories... Disney is the way to go -

 

[DONALD38]

Disney Dad here and always grew up around Disney, DW loves Disney as well.
We have a 14 month old and can't wait to go to WDW. We decided though that we will not go for at least 6-7 years. This way he will be 6-7 years old and our 2nd child we are planning will be 4-5 years old. At that age they will be able to remember things more and hopefully there will so many new changes for DW and I to enjoy.

 

[boscoj]

Count another one! 41 year old dad with a 5 yo son. Like a lot of previous posters, luckily have a wife who also happens to be one also...actually that was one of my "requirements" when we first started dating 15 years ago . Didn't really confess to her that that was one of the deal breakers to years later.