How has Disney changed your life?

[Buttercup]

Hi,
We sorta bumped into the Disney marathon in 2000. I saw all those people running and walking and thought they were nuts. I never knew events like that existed. Within a couple months I was inspired and signed up to walk the half marathon. By the time the event arrived I was running.

I have since done many half marathons and 5 full marathons around the country, including the Goofy challenge.

I love running and am so happy Disney brought it into my life. I am a different person than I was 6 years ago. All for the better.

Buttercup

 

[cornflkgrl]

I quit smoking when we went to Disney. I had been smoking for 12 years and had tried to quit several times and never made it past day 4. However, I heard a lot about Disney not having a lot of places to smoke so I decided that I would quit the week I was there so that I would not waste time running around looking for smoking areas AND because I would be so distracted it would be easier for me. I am happy to say it has now been 21 days since I smoked a cigarette. I also got Bronchitis the last 2 days we were there and I have severe asthma so I usually end up hospitalized everytime I get pneumonia or bronchitis but this time I did not even end up using my breathing treatments. So, Disney World helped me quit smoking.

 

[Hobbes]

Some of our best family memories and photos were at WDW. Even as a kid that was the vacation I can still remember.

PS. It certainly changed our life as we brought home a souvenir from one trip who will be turning 11 years old this summer! He is a true WDW BLESSING!

I hope you called him Mickey?

 

[damom2daboyz]

The first time we took our DSs, my DH was drinking heavily and ruined the experience for everyone, saying it was stupid and a waste of "his" good money. Now, 11 years and one divorce later, he is sober and loves to go to WDW because he never grew up with being allowed to be a child, always had to watch out for his brother and mother. After our trip in January, he told me that he had the best time ever and thanked me for giving him back the ability to have fun again.

 

[scoolover]

First of all it is about the only place I seem to take my winter vacation. I too had the weight loss after our May trip last year. There are probably a lot if I look hard.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

WOW, Dan (Snacky Stacky), please do not take this the wrong way, but who would have known when your tea cup picture was taken that you are that HOT! I guess your wife did. Congrats on the weight loss and the adorable wife.



My DW photographs also gave me the kick I needed to drop those unwanted pounds. I have lost 25 lbs from bike riding and eating better. I hope I look as good as you when it is all over and I have lost about 20 more.

 

[Lan]

How has Disney changed my life?
Welll...I have formed many friendships with others who love Disney by working with them at The Disney Store. Also taking trips with those friends on a whim because we just need a taste of Disney. An example of this was two weeks ago. We (4 grown ladies) drove to WDW on Saturday and came back home on Sunday. We even thought about going back the following weekend just to ride Ex. Everest again.

My family (dad, mom, me-33 and sister-27) went to Disney last Dec. in their motorhome. We had so much fun and I valued that time together. When you are a teenager you just don't get that being on vacation with your family is special not lame. We were joking with each other, trying to steal my father's jellybeans that he had gotten from Goofy's Candy Company, and just being silly at times.

I do agree that it does change the amount in the checkbook and savings, but the laughs and smiles last a lifetime.

 

[NC State]

Bump, bump

 

[brivers222]

Joined Disney Vacation Club on our last trip and now for the next 50+ years our vacations will involve the mouse

 

[KAMommy]

Before our first trip, I realized that I would never be able to keep up with my kids. I joined a gym with that express purpose. On my first day, I couldn't even do three minutes on the tread mill. I just finished a two mile walk in our neighborhood. I am healthier than I have ever been.

On the mental front, Disney gives me a goal. I always know how long it is until my next vacation. Just being able to let go and play with my kids means the world to me.

 

[minnie61650]

When I was growing up we only took family vacations every 5 or 10 years but I will never forget the trip we took to California in 1959 when I was 9 years old.
We went to Disneyland and I fell in love with in it. My Mom bought one of those huge paper souvenir maps and hung it up in my room.
Each night when I went to bed I would dream about someday going back to Disney. My first trip to WDW was mid October 1971. It was BRAND NEW and my hubby took our DD age 2 and I there for the day. It was a DREAM come true.
So I know how much a once in a childtime trip meant to me and I can relate what a first trip means to other families!

 

[NC State]

Bump again!

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

extra bump!

 

[Boston5602]

Planning the trips for me, my family or my friends keeps me SANE the rest of the year. If I didn't have a trip to look forward to and to plan out I really think the stress from work would kill me. I just hope the kids know how lucky they are to go so often.

 

[mamaprincess]

I no longer worry about getting older because I am so excited about future trips and what Disney is going to come up with next in the parks. I'm excited for the coming years because it means new and exciting trips to Disney!

 

[justplaingoofy]

I am now obsessive, compulsive!!!!!!

 

[magicmouse2]

I could never vacation anywhere else now. I also want desperatly to live in the USA.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Not having kids, we were never Disney/cutsie people -- until our first real trip five years. Luckily we both fell in love with Disney. And I really believe we are better people for it -- more tolerant, patient, good natured. (Well I am anyway. )
We moved to this area really due to WDW. DH was offered a job opportunity within his company for this area, and they relocated us.
We have no regrets.
Now that I work for the mouse I LOVE my job and am grateful to be in my Role. Which I truly have not been able to say for many years.




And I became a pin trader on our first trip. Due to pin trading via mail, we have met wonderful people and made frends with others from around the country that we never would have met and known otherwise.

 

[MagneticxBoy]

Disney has always been in my life. I have been going there since I was 1 year old!

It was the one thing I looked foward to every year was our trip to WDW.. It was the one time where our family was together.. Having fun together.. It serisouly is/was the happiest moments I have ever had in my life.. Disney is like my second "home".. My dad used to get so wrapped up in planning for our trips.. He was pretty obessive about the planning I rember.. (I guess thats where I got my obessive planning from! lol)

I eventually plan to move to Orlando after I gradute college.. thats how much I love the mouse!

 

[lustergirl]

A kindred spirit!!! I lost weight too because of Disney World pictures!!! Do you have pictures?? I would love to see the before and after.

Here's mine.

Before

And the after, with my lovely wife, on our honeymoon.

You look totally awesome!!!I know how hard it is to lose weight and live in Buffalo. There is just too much good food around here! When I visited Disney last year after looking at my pictures (very few of them because I hate getting my picture taken) I also realized that I need to lose serious weight. I have started my walking program today and I feel pretty good. I have got 5 months until our next vacation and I would like to be ready for it,the walking especiallyand if I can lose about 30 pounds that would be great!!! I have been reading about Hoodia- any thoughts to this new weight loss aid?? I have always been scared to try something along those lines because you read so much about weight loss aids causing heart problems, or giving you the jitters. I thank Disney for changing my life in this way!!!!!!!!!