How immersed in WDW are you? And How did you get here?

[Jadyreen1282]

Family trip in 1977 started it. Then college visits in the 80's. Took girlfriends in the 90's. Now have the wife hooked. We were going every other year but thought "let's go every year till the magic washes away". Hasn't yet. Just seems to be that one trip a year we don't have to worry about family and friends ruining our vacation. It's just for us.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Went as a kid 4ish times growing up with my family, loved it, made magical memories. Then went on a few trips when I was high school/college aged with friends and that really solidified it being my "happy place". Finally, I did the DCP two years ago and after that I was pretty much lost. WDW will always have a GINORMOUS part of my heart now.

 

[rg35]

When I was around 6 years old, my aunt took me and my sister to WDW. EPCOT Center had fairly recently opened, so it was the summer of '83. We stayed at the Contemporary resort because my aunt didn't drive, so the Monorail was our transportation to and from the parks. The trip was a great memory that has stuck with me to this day as a 40-year old. I thought it was "so cool" that there was a hotel that had a monorail stop directly inside of it. Our room was actually in one of the garden wings, but I do not remember if it was the north or south. I still remember riding the "classics" like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, If You Had Wings, Mission to Mars, and others. Whenever I'm on Buzz Lightyear now, I still recall parts of If You Had Wings.

For a number of years, that was my only trip to WDW. Our family size grew from 4 to 6, and we just weren't in the type of situation where my parents could take those kinds of vacations. Years later, my grandparents bought a Disney Vacation Club timeshare, when what is now Old Key West was simply called Disney's Vacation Club. This was early on in the life of DVC, and one of the perks they still had in place were park tickets for the duration of your stay. Because of the timeshare, my parents were able to take us down in '95, and then we went again in '97 on a large (10+ people) family trip. We had some great memories on those trips. Even as a high-schooler and then college student, I didn't go to Disney with the typical cynicism of someone that age. I had a great time on those trips, especially because of all the things we got to do together as a family.

Fast forward to 2012, now with my own children and the Disney Cruise line doing summer cruises out of NYC. This lead to another large (16 people) family trip. On our stop at Port Canaveral, we went to the Magic Kingdom which was our first visit to WDW with our kids and more great memories for all of us. Also in 2012, because of the economic doldrums, prices on DVC resales were very attractive so we purchased at AKL. We have now been to WDW every year since 2013 and they have been great trips for us.

 

[china mom]

I went to WDW a couple of times as a kid - day trips while visiting my grandparents in Vero Beach. I remember being hot, lines being long and my parents pretending that we could afford an ice cream each. I remember rationing the ticket books amongst four kids. I remember meeting Mickey Mouse back in the day when characters roamed free. That was probably my highlight.

So, when I ended up dating a Disney guy, I was like "meh". First couple of trips to WDW with him were tough because he is a rope drop to park close and I couldn't handle it.

Then, two things happened. First we realized that we could split up, leaving me to read a book on a bench while he ran around and second, we had a child and I saw the park through his eyes. Second child was even better because she was almost three when she joined us and she was fascinated.

Something in me snapped and now I am Disney obsessed. I became a Disney Travel agent, joined D-23, bought a piece of Disney stock and have also bought a framed piece of my stock, buy APs every year and best of all, DH works for an airline so I fly to WDW on a whim, sometimes just for the day.

I would say I am extremely immersed

 

[carlymcqueen]

Went to WDW for the first time when I was 6, in 2006. My parents planned the trip for my sister (who was 3 at the time) and I and we loved it, so my parents decided we would go every few years or so, since Disney ain't cheap. My parents assumed I would eventually just grow out of it once I hit the "surly teenager" age, but I ended up loving it even more because I had enough stamina to last a full day in the parks. Eventually, every few years became every single year for us, and it has been since 2014. I'd say we are pretty immersed even though we don't live that close (PA), because once we are done one trip my mom and I get to planning the next one. It's so nice to have it to look forward to when I'm stressed out about school, college, and the usual things an almost-adult gets stressed about. My boyfriend's only been to Disney once when he was a child and claims that we won't go that much in the future, but I plan on changing his mind so yes. Quite immersed.

 

[4Spen]

Grew up in Northern CA and went to Disneyland every Summer. (My mom and grandma were also very much Disneyland people from way back) I didn't go to WDW until 2000 when my husband and I went for a 4 day trip with my brother's family. Needless to say, 17 years and 2 kids later, we've been almost every year (sometimes twice a year) and my kids don't want to vaca anywhere else. (Although we have) Our stays have evolved with time and finances, though, so each trip feels a bit different.

 

[3cmom]

I went three times as a child. My parents were band directors so our trips were always with the band ... My last trip as a kid was New Years 1989/1990

Fast forward, first trip with (already obsessed DH) with our then 3 year old and my 11 year old son. It worked out fall break for my mom was well. We were one big happy family in a Cars Art of Animation Suite. I cried when we left after that trip because I didn't know when we would be back. I was losing my job at the end of the month (stayed on for severance) and husband traveled for his job.

Went again the next year! Free dining at Caribbean Beach. That trip with a 4 year old in November was magical! Even more so than with my older son and my mom. Our first park was MK that trip. As we were walking down Main Street, my son starts crying and we couldn't figure out why....We ask him why and it was because He hadn't seen his CARS! Yet.... the next morning we go and explore AOA.... no trip in 2014 because we bought a house ...but made 5 trips (with our first AP!! ) in 2015. 2016 gave us one more trip on the AP and a trip to Discovery Cove and then a trip with my now 7 year old at Pop at Christmas....

We did our first Disney Cruise in March....not quite the same but still enjoyed it...... Looking now at coming back in October for MNSSHP and the water parks, since we have never done them! February 2018 is already booked as I am doing the Princess 5k and 10k and my son is doing the Kids One mile. This will be a big family trip as my mom and my sister are doing the 5k as well. Staying at POFQ! The goal is to get an AP again because son wants to be there on opening day of Toy Story Land! DH has a big milestone birthday in Jan 2019 and wants Grand Flo.

The planning and the magic make it worth it. Yes, it is tiring and yes, you need a vacation from your vacation. But, there is nothing like Disney Magic.


And we are looking at possibly moving closer, or retiring there one day..... DH wants to work in parking at the parks when he retires from his job now.

 

[PrestonatorSR]

In August 2001, we, too, took our "once-in-a-lifetime" trip to WDW. At the time, our kids were 12, 9, and 3. In many ways, it was the last sense of totally innocent magic--as we all know, the world changed forever just a month later. It's hard to explain what happened on that first trip--other than to say it was as magical as we hoped; we were all in awe. A few months later we said we need to go back "one more time" the next year. That turned into the next year and the year after that and so on and so on. Both of our DDs wound up doing the College Program and one of them works there today! She just mentioned the other day that she got more than a little misty eyed as she helped with rope drop at Hollywood Studios--recalling all the rope drops we did--scurrying off to our favorite attractions and to get our fast passes. My DW and I are DVC members. We will be there again in less than four weeks. And yes we'd both like to end our days working at the parks together. The memories of family time in WDW will forever hold our hearts.

 

[kmb584]

I really had no choice. My first trip was in November 1984, at the old age of 6 months. We went yearly for a while then twice a year for a bit. After that, it was back to once a year while our other vacation of the year was spent somewhere abroad. Once I hit my early twenties, I started flying down with my best friend for long weekends about four times each year, and more so after that when she moved to FL in 2006 for a teaching position. I took 2009 off as it was the year my daughter was born, and her first trip was in 2010. We've been going every 6 months since then!

I've always loved Disney, though! For me, it's such a nice break from the real world as it's such an immersive vacation. I love the excitement of booking and planning, the anticipation of our next trip to see the Mouse, and of course the overall sense of happiness when we're there. I do plan to break it up a bit once my daughter is a bit older [if she wants to, no sign of that right now] with travel to Europe, Asia, etc.

 

[Raeven]

I loved Disney everything as a kid, and my mom would mention maybe going from time to time; but both my parents hate traveling so it never happened. I always assumed it would be too expensive to go on my own and afterwards I was working part time and going to college.

I met my boyfriend in 2013, and we went on our first trip (a weekend in Boston) the following year. Everything went great and I started thinking about going on a longer trip somewhere. I started looking into Disney and Universal, and realized if we budgeted it right we could easily afford to go the following year and it was not as expensive as I'd thought. (At this time I had a better paying part time job that would become FT when I finished college in 2015 too).

My boyfriend went once as a kid but doesn't remember, and I thought it would take some persuasion but he was on board.

We went on our "once in a lifetime" trip to WDW and USO in September 2015.

Since then we've been back 3 times (Sep and Dec 2016 and May 2017), with another trip coming up in September. We bought APs for this year, and plan to go back for vacations about 1-2 times a year for the forseeable future. Ideally in about 5 years time I'd love to move to FL as we've always talked about moving somewhere warmer.

 

[Stuarotra]

This!!!! I never considered our trips a waste of money!! They are truly an investment!! My daughters have the best memories of their childhood from these trips. I will soon be taking my grandchildren! I can't wait!! My husband and I go by ourselves, but plan on a big family trip soon. I loved your story!!

 

[Jules76126]

I started early. My grandmother had a conference at Disney when I was 3 years old. We stayed at the Dolphin and had the best time. A few years later, we went back with the whole family and stayed at the beach club. Shortly after, my grandmother bought into DVC (when it really was the best kept secret - anyone else remember that slogan?). She knew that she wanted to enjoy vacations with the family for years to come, and we have. I went for the 25th anniversary (big pink cake - I was 9 and loved it), year 2000, 100 years of magic, as well as visited Disneyland Paris. I loved Disney so much I did two college programs. It did not ruin the magic for me at all. My last trip was this past November for my bachelorette party and it was very magical. We want to take a big family trip for the 50th and my husband and I are seriously considering investing in DVC as well as I want to continue the Disney magic with our own children some day.

 

[absolutmey]

I grew up in southern FL, but only went to WDW once, when I was 8. I remember riding the Tea Cups and eating ice-cream. I've always loved Disney movies. I can sing every. single. word of every. single. song in Little Mermaid and Lion King. (DS has had to tell me to stop during the movies).

In 2012, my best friend asked me to run the Tinkerbell Half with her at DLR. we got 2 day tickets and I absolutely fell in love with Disney/DLR and decided that I needed to visit WDW too.

Thankfully, somewhere after that I found the DIS and learned the when's where's and how's of Disney. DH thought I was crazy with all my research and planning. I talked him into a surprise 7th Birthday trip for our DS in 2014 and we had the most amazing time. After day one, he figured out what all my effort and planning was all about. I knew DH was hooked when DS and I got off of Space Mtn. and we found DH happily sitting on a bench, eating a Mickey Bar, with newly-purchased R2D2 ears on his head. I will say, though, we're now spoiled - we stayed at Wilderness Lodge on our first trip.

Last year we had the itch to go back again for DS's 9th and took my ILs with us. It was the most fun and magical trip. We all shared a Cabin at FW, rode around on a decorated golf cart and just had the best time experiencing the World together.

Looking forward I'm planning a Princess Half trip in Feb. with friends and family trip for 15 people in 2019! Can't wait to share such a wonderful place with those I love!

DH and I were sitting on the couch last weekend, talking about the upcoming trip and he looked at me and said, "how did we become a Disney family?". What he doesn't know is that I've already thought about solo trips, trips with just me and DS, and a couples trip.

I may or may not have priced DVC also....

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

This thread is a gem. I love reading all of these stories. So far I've experienced laughter, teary eyes (not really crying but feeling a bit of emotion), and head-nods-of-agreement while reading them. If Walt were still here today, I think he would love reading this thread.

 

[Mattimation]

I've always enjoyed Disney, Little Mermaid was my favorite movie as a kid, and my parents took us to WDW a handful of times, but I didn't really gain the deep appreciation for it until I was in college. I majored in Animation, and that's when I learned just how much Walt Disney had done and innovated, and after a (honestly, pretty awful) trip to Disney World, I was hooked. I wanted to go back to have the magical experience I thought I missed out on, and just kept going whether I had a good or bad time. I've loved things about every trip, and Disney took over a good chunk of my life for a long time. I went every year for five or six years, I have the Disney Visa card, my animation desk is surrounded by the classic Disney characters who've inspired me. I love it.

Now I'm at a point where I want a break - I still love WDW, but just need some breathing room. I'm taking the time to enjoy what other animation studios, media makers, and travel destinations have to offer, and I'm loving it. I know one day I'll return to WDW, but for now it's very refreshing to not be so in love with it.

 

[abnihon]

I went 3 times as a child and loved it.
The bug hit me and my little sister hardest.
So when I was in college I took my sister (who was in high school) for a Christmas break trip. We had so much fun!
We also did a day-trip to Disneyland when in LA (our dad literally dropped us at DL, went to a museum and picked us up at the end of the day because he had no interest in going with us )
I had an obsession with working at Tokyo Disneyland (I studied Japanese in college) but learned you had to work at DW first. I still should have applied. lol. Instead I taught English in Japan for a year and made a day-trip to Tokyo Disney when my family was visiting (again went with my sister while my parents and brother did some sightseeing!) It was a freezing day with snow flurries so we were miserable and didn't stay long.
Am kicking myself now for not going back to Tokyo Disneyland/Disney Sea while I lived there!!!

So then I took a Disney break for awhile.
Started dating my ex husband who was definitely not the Disney type so I didn't even bother trying.

When my son was born I was dying to take him ASAP and we finally took him when he was 3 in Jan 2016 and we were passing by Orlando on a family trip to FL. It was just 2 nights with 1 MK day. DS LOVED it though and I loved experiencing it all again!!
Of course then I became obsessed with planning our next trip. Reading message boards, creating a Disney pinterest board etc.
My husband thought I was nuts and that we should wait a few years to go again.
But I went ahead and booked a DVC room at the Poly for May 2017

Well a lot changed between when I booked that trip and when it happened.
I left my husband (not just over Disney. lol) and planned a last minute trip for myself and DS to go to MNSSHP!!
Then I booked us a trip for December 2017 (sort of a 5th birthday trip for DS and excuse to see all the Christmas-stuff!) so it just made sense to buy APs. lol.
We went on our big trip last month and it was so much fun!! We were there 10 nights and did all the parks (I hadn't been to a park except MK since 2003!) We actually had friends join us who were Disney newbies and that was fun.
Then we went back for a few days when Pandora opened and just did AK with lots of AKL resort time.
Planning to go back in July, Oct for MNSSSHP, December and next April.

I love having DS as my Disney buddy and I hope once my little sister has a baby she'll start joining me again!!!

 

[jimmiej]

In 1990, I was an assistant high school band director. We took our band to Disney for Magic Music Days. Five years later, I was a head high school band director and decided to take my own band to Disney. While we were there, I told my wife we should come back to Disney with just our family (instead of 80 teenagers ). 15 months later, we did our first family trip to WDW! Twenty+ trips later, we still love WDW (and DL and DCL) and now enjoy taking our grandkids. I think I really became addicted to Disney after reading the 1998 version of "The Unofficial Guide to Disney World". Thanks Bob & Len!

 

[Oswald's Fury]

My first visit to the World took place in 1992 when I was only five years old. To this day I can remember using Disney bus transportation to the Magic Kingdom and being in awe of the Goofy cartoon I was watching. My dad and I had an unforgettable time exploring the parks, which consisted of running from attraction to attraction. Seeing the castle for the first time was awe-inspiring and still has the same effect to this day. From that point on we made certain to visit WDW once every other year for a two week trip until 2014. I was blessed to have found the love of my life who is also a Disney fanatic and had our Disneymoon in September of last year. We are now returning this September & for New Years Eve, which is why we are purchasing APs! We are OBSESSED with planning our trips and LOVE figuring out the best days for each park followed by the ADRs and lastly the FPs. We can't wait to share our passion with our children the way my father had with me when I was a child!!

 

[PatriciaH]

I always loved Disney movies/TV shows-we grew up with them. I lived 5 minutes from where the 1964/65 World's Fair took place in Queens. My parents had been on Small World and all the other Disney attractions at the fair. The "ruins" of the fair were fascinating to see.

My first trip to WDW was when I was 7 in 1978. We went with my aunts/uncle and cousins and stayed at a Marriott off site. I remember Space Mountain and getting a book on how they built the rides and hotels. In the back was Herb Rymon's concept art for Epcot and I was hooked on Imagineering. I still have that book.

I went in college on spring break and with some friends in the 80's and 90's. I took my little sister for her grade school graduation in 1993. She was 13 and I was 23. We went to one of the first MVMCPs. In 1994 my friend and I stayed at WL the first year it opened. In 96 my husband and I went for our honeymoon. The castle was a pink cake and we got the Food N Fun plan-still the best dining plan WDW ever had They even included Breathless cruises and parasailing in the "fun" part! We did that plan on several trips. In the 90's air was cheap from Boston-$99 round trip, so DH and I got annual passes and visited several times a year. I was a travel agent so I sold a lot of Disney.

We were visiting WDW so much and loved Florida, so we decided to move there! We had heard about Disney's town of Celebration and had a realtor show us some houses in 2002. I was SOLD, but DH went back and forth for 2 more years. We moved in 2004, but of course homes we looked at in 2002 had gone up $100K +. He still kicks himself over waiting- We did get a great little townhome/condo and lived in Celebration for 6 years. My dream of working for Disney came true. We worked in concierge at the Contemporary, Marketing, DCL and PR. Had a blast and made a lot of good friends. We took several Disney cruises, several Adventure's by Disney Vacations and finally visited Disneyland and DL Paris. Got to do many behind the scenes tours, talks and classes for free! My parents moved to Celebration in 2005 and are still there.

We loved Celebration and working at WDW, but DH got a good job offer in 2010 back in MA and we took it mainly for the health insurance. We were working a lot of contract and temp positions at Disney trying to get ahead so we needed something more stable. We miss FL every day and regret moving back. We did save a lot of money though and are now full time RVing! We fell in love with our national parks and want to work in them too.

So we are picking up our RV in September and heading to Fort Wilderness for 3 months (Oct-Dec-bucket list.) Then January-March at other parks in Florida. Then we drive up to Yellowstone NP for next summer season. We hope to work at WDW seasonally this winter. DH kept his seasonal status with PR so we were still able to visit a lot while we were missing it in MA for 7 years.

 

[Parker Clan]

Fun thread! My grandparents lived in Clearwater so we took several family trips as kids... (20,000 leagues)
I became immersed in Disney as an adult though, on my first trip with my now husband... We were so hooked we pulled into a Publix after check out and booked another trip for the following year. I want to move to FL.. But being near Disney isn't the reason, it would just be a major perk! I live in CT. So I want to move for 1) money 2) weather 3) Disney! I would be beyond thrilled to visit my favorite place on earth much more frequently!