How did you get hit by the DSE?

[pixleyyy]

I was always a fan of Disney, having visited the parks a few times as a kid. But it didn't really hit me until I took my own kids to the parks. To see the joy and wonder on their face, to share the laughter and the sheer happiness. It was unbelievable. Now I am just hooked - hooked because I want more of those moments with my children, hooked because the parks bring those memories to life.

 

[WannaBeAPrincess]

My early childhood years were spent living in Florida so WDW was our park. I always loved going there, never appreciated it like I do now. When I was about 8 years old we moved to the midwest and all Disney vacations were a thing of the past. I missed it terribly then. Lo and behold, we end up moving to California when I was about 11 and I got my first introduction to DL. I was home...again.

I will agree with a lot of the other posters and say that now that I have children, I get a new thrill and the excitement of going to the park is even bigger and better than before.

Disneyland is my home away from home and I get homesick when I'm away from it too long.

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

My grandparents, although nice people didn't always think through their actions. Thus, after my parents took them to WDW for my Grandfather's retirement, they decided that wasn't fair and took all of the rest of their grandchildren to DL.

That was something that always bothered me but it wasn't until recently that I REALLY decided that I wanted to go! I had been bothering my BF of 2 years for probably a solid 4 months telling him that I wanted to go to DL and that we should really go on a trip together, just to see if we could stand each other for days on end.

My BF works abroad and he was leaving for Madagascar and I was being a huge brat complaining that I wouldn't get to see him for quite some time (His employers are notorious for leaving him out longer then they initially claim they will)

DBF finally said "I bet you a trip to DL that I'll be back in 6 week!"

6 weeks, 1 day and 13 hours later I was planning my dream trip!


That's when I found the DIS boards, and everything went downhill from there!

 

[Brandy C]

I have enjoyed all things Disney nearly all of my 35 years. When I was a little girl I referred to all cartoons as "Mickey Mouse". Growing up I would go to DL quite frequently since family visiting from abroad would want to go their. My high school sweetheart would greet me everyday with the heart shaped Mickey/Minnie lollipop and I would wear Mickey T-shirts and Sweatshirts all the time.(still do this) My DD16 was born 4 days after DL GradNite and to this day I tell her she loves rides because her first ride before she was even born was POTC I would dress up my DD only with Minnie outfits. In my early twenties I got a Mickey tattoo but the snowball did not hit me until my high school sweetheart (DD dad) passed away. I know it sounds weird but it's true. It has to do with DD. I was hysterical so my aunt who is DD Godmother picked up my DD (11 at the time) that morning and took her to DL to try and help get her mind off the tragedy. Since then My DD associates DL with peace and tranquility. It's her therapy and is literally the Happiest Place on Earth for her. I take her whenever she wants to go or when she just misses Daddy. WE have always really loved all things Disney.

 

[ACDSNY]

Let's see in the beginning, many, many years ago...my addiction was all started by a Mouse, TinkerBell, my grandparents and parents as we had wonderful trips to DL in the 60s, 70s & 80s. I have so many wonderful memories from my childhood trips. I continued the DSE pattern with my own children during the 80s, 90s and now were working on our grandson, nieces, newphew. Gotta keep the DSE in the family! I only have one failure, my DS 21 is resisting the Disney magic, hopefully he'll get it back on our Nov trip.

DL will alway hold a special place in my heart!

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

I have enjoyed all things Disney nearly all of my 35 years. When I was a little girl I referred to all cartoons as "Mickey Mouse". Growing up I would go to DL quite frequently since family visiting from abroad would want to go their. My high school sweetheart would greet me everyday with the heart shaped Mickey/Minnie lollipop and I would wear Mickey T-shirts and Sweatshirts all the time.(still do this) My DD16 was born 4 days after DL GradNite and to this day I tell her she loves rides because her first ride before she was even born was POTC I would dress up my DD only with Minnie outfits. In my early twenties I got a Mickey tattoo but the snowball did not hit me until my high school sweetheart (DD dad) passed away. I know it sounds weird but it's true. It has to do with DD. I was hysterical so my aunt who is DD Godmother picked up my DD (11 at the time) that morning and took her to DL to try and help get her mind off the tragedy. Since then My DD associates DL with peace and tranquility. It's her therapy and is literally the Happiest Place on Earth for her. I take her whenever she wants to go or when she just misses Daddy. WE have always really loved all things Disney.

That story just warmed my soul. I'm sorry about your loss but so glad to hear that your daughter has found a place that means that much to her!

 

[erinbev]

This is so neat, I've been thinking about what to say to this for a while (and while I'm supposed to be writing a paper)!

I have NO IDEA where my new obsession came from. I went to WDW a couple times as a kid, and to DL once when I was 15 with my aunt's family, to help with the kids. I always had fun, but there was never that OMGCONNECTION, you know?
I have always liked Disney - I've always had the movies, the toys, etc. But it wasn't until last year that I became really interested. My friend and I had been casually talking about going on vacation together and we just kind of landed on DL. We are Seattleites so its something that's fairly close and (if you're just paying for yourself) fairly inexpensive. We planned the heck out of that trip, and I think that's part of the whole DSE phenomenon. Once you have more knowledge of everything, and realize how "doable" everything is, its much easier to see yourself going more (and more) often! So, we went (September), had a FANTASTIC time, and are already planning the next trip!
My enthusiasm has rubbed off on my little sister (who is graduating this year and has Aspergers) - now SHE talks about wanting to go, too! WELL, of course I can't let that go, can I? So I'm thinking about going with HER in December. I CAN'T STOP!!! AND I DON'T WANT TO!!!

So, I guess the short answer is...I don't know how it happened, but I don't want to give it up...hehehe.

 

[erinbev]

whoops, sorry y'all! double post!

 

[nunzia]

I grew up half an hour from Disneyland (see the avatar) and went often as a kid. I even vaguely remember individual ride tickets. As a teen, I went with friends, with the marching band, and with my dad.

DH and I actually spent a day at DLR for a belated honeymoon!

They came The Dark Years. We moved to the Midwest for graduate school and were too far and poor to attend anythign Disney for about eight years. After moving back to the west, we started taking each child as they reached about age 4 (nice to have grandma nearby to watch a young one). So we were content going about every three years.

Two things happened recently to start the Snowball Effect I'm desperately trying to hold back. DH wants to take his staff and their families to DLR for a trip this fall, and I've been pre-planning it since last summer by lurking here (yes, I'm a tad OCD). Then at the last minute last fall, Hurricane Ike redirected our trip to the FL Keys and I "planned" a last minute adults-only trip to WDW in less than a week using this lifesaver of a site!

Even though we're not taking the kids to WDW for a couple years, I can't seem to quit visiting those boards either! I've been calculating how I can justify an AP to DL. Help me, I'm addicted!

PHXscuba

How nice of you! Our best friends, who my DH works for, have taken the whole staff to DLR twice. The dynamics in the office have changed, so they probably won't again, but it was so wonderful of them to do it and such fun! Many of the people had never been, so it was such an eye opener. When we took our family last May, my DIL had never been and never 'got it'..after about a day she looked at me and said 'I got it'..my son was near tears as he described how it was watching his own kids watch Fantasmic..I guess my evil plan has worked

 

[kkmcan]

My parents took me and my family and my sister and her family back in 2003. I had been before a few times as a child, once as a teen and once with my bf (now my dh) but seeing my kids watching the parade and meeting the characters just melted my heart. And I realized it truly is the happiest place on earth! Bringing my dh over to this side (loving Disney) has been more of a process for him. He loves it more each trip we take and he gets it now!

We've had so many trips since then with the last year being the most trips ever- since we got our AP's. So sad to see them expire in May but we won't renew because we have a Disney Cruise planned and a trip to WDW in Dec. this year. Maybe next year we'll get AP's again.

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

I had always loved Disney movies and wanted to go to Disneyland. I didn't get to go until I was 21 and my now husband took me for my first time. I always told my mom I was such a deprived child because she never took me. I mean at one point we even lived in California. I mean how could she not? My husband ended up proposing to me after Fantasmic in front of the ferry. So Disneyland now holds even more magic for our family. We even did the land and sea honeymoon.

 

[prncssmel]

I think I was pretty much always Disney obsessed. Loved Disney movies, toys, etc. LOVED Cinderella. (Side note: I am so jealous of all the little girl Princess stuff now; why didn't they have all that when I was little? I would have been decked out head to toe everyday!)

My Disney park obsession began when I was 2 years old. MY grandfather worked for the company that ran the computer systems for WDW, so we got to go to the opening of Epcot. After that, there was no stopping me. After we moved back to Utah from FL, we went to DL every few years growing up and went back to WDW a couple times, too.

The ultimate obsession started 4 years ago when I went to DL with DH's (then DBF) family. I hadn't been during college or grad school 'cause of money. So, I went all out on the planning. I convinced DH to upgrade to APs. He did it just for me at first, but after 4 years of APs and the most amazing WDW honeymoon, he is as hooked as me. I have totally converted him.

 

[prncssmel]

Double post