How many people know the date they found the DIS?

[iluvdisney]

Congrats on your 5 yr anniv CC - I was and still am always on the lookout for as much Disney info as I can find and with all the vacations we have taken to WDW I knew there had to be other things to do that we had overlooked - well being a lurker for a long time here. I finally did register in the fall of 1999 I believe. I found much info and that made my family think I was so "smart" and "knew all about Disney" - well I learned much of it here and make it a point to check these forums everyday - I sure do miss it when I take my road trips but wil be getting a laptop very soon so I don't have to miss a day anymore!

 

[Towncrier]

My timing was a bit off. I found the DIS right AFTER our family trip to WDW in 1998 (or was it 1999 as my profile says). Oh the things that we could have done on that vacation had I only know all the secrets posted on the DIS. I'm not sure exactly how I found the DIS. I had been lurking on RADP since 1995, but once I found the DIS, I pretty much abandoned RADP.

Two DIScons and countless DISmeets later, I must say that I feel truly blessed at having found this community of friends.

 

[smileybrat]

Oct 1, 2002. I registered the first time I visited the site. It was referred to me by a good friend when we were planning our last Disney trip. Loved the boards ever since. Started on the Theme Park and Attractions then progressed to the Community Board. I love Disboards! It's so much fun and the people are so friendly.

 

[PandyPaws]

Feb 25, 2000 (I then registered on March 1st)

 

[JAP]

I stared lurking in December of 1999! I had never used the internet much and I did a simple search for Disney. This is the first site I ever had experienced Bulletin/Message Boards. It was so exciting and fun!

I believe I started posting in April of 2000. The DIS is such a changing and evolving place. This is really my first internet "home" but I have found many others. Thanks for the great site Pete!

Edited to add: I know this user name says Feb 2002 but that was after a short break for being sick and having a baby!

 

[4greatboys]

Gosh I feel like such a newbie, lol. I just found the Dis Aug 2002.
Researching sites for our Sept trip. This is by far my favorite. At the same time I did find mousesavers and Deb's but I love the interaction (most of the time) here on the Dis Boards.

 

[helenabear]

Well I am not entirely sure of the exact date when I found this place. I know it was just about 6 months after you found it, Cathy. You had made a comment at the time that you had been there that long to me back then. That would probably make sense since I would have just moved back into my fall housing for college in early September of 1998 and I remember exactly where I was sitting when I found this place. I lurked for a while and made my first post later on.

My sister and I were here quite often looking up information about the "new" moderate resort (Coronado Springs) since we were planning our family vacation for June of 1999 there. I still seem to be lurking more than I post I admit and my sister rarely posts here at all now. I do see her pop in now and then.

I can't believe I've been here 4.5 years now then. It's been a great time though. Congrats on your DISiversary, Cathy

 

[DonnaS]

It was March 1998 I believe. I don't know the exact date, only that I was on medical leave from work for... guess what... migraines.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Sometime in March 2000 - don't remember the exact date I registered though

 

[Tess]

But, I believe I found the DIS in late fall, early winter 1997 because I was looking for more information about Disney prior to our June 1998 trip. We had already been to WDW each year since 1993, but I felt there had to be a world of information out there I hadn't yet found. So, I guess it is 5 years rounding the bend on 6. (And I've still not been visited by the tag fairies!)

When I first found the site, Pete was the only one "monitoring" the boards and quite routinely took people to task for various matters. I'd have sworn CC was already on board as a poster, but maybe not because I'm fairly certain of the 1997 time frame (we always book rooms by October and that's about when I would have been looking for information).

As I recall, I stumbled upon this site (and a few others, too) doing a web search using "Disney". The site was still the "tree" style and was nothing like it is now. I remember the hullabaloo over having separate boards. I remember some personality clashes, the doors slamming as people left, and some really great people who just disappeared into cyberspace!

Another highlight of my life on DIS was being the winner of a free 3 day stay at Caribe Royale--I think that was the first time a "giveway" happened on the boards too. In fact, it was the one and only time I've won anything in my life!

So many changes, so much information, loads of good people! It's been a great ride and never boring. . . Looking forward to many more years on the DIS. Hey, do I win something if I'm the longest vet???? BTW, my signature says it all--I may not have the tens of thousand posts that some possess (although I've been through more board crashes than most, too), but I try to keep my nose clean and post relevant information.

 

[SeaSpray]

I remember you from 2 years ago, when I was busy on the Resorts board planning our first family trip to WDW!

Back then, I remember emailing you about the people going crazy over the codes and "saving a couple of hundred dollars...what's the big deal about that???" That was before the Disney bug bit me and I'd want to return as often as possible, so now I can understand WHY people got excited about saving some money.

Also at that time, I couldn't believe why people would stay on this site once they came back from their trip, especially the Community Board. I just didn't see the point. Well....2 years and 2 trips later, I'm still here...

Thanks Cathy, for the great job you do here, and thanks to Pete for creating and maintaining this site! Thanks to all the other mods too

P.S. I do know the exact date I found and joined the DIS. It was January 12, 2001

 

[Debi]

Wow, CC, you have an excellent memory! I had completely forgotten about that book. I wonder if my mom still has it!

As with Towncrier, I didn't find the DIS until after my first trip to WDW, but now I couldn't imagine life without it. Thank you Pete, CC, and company for a great 5 years!

 

[Kaa]

I started hanging around February 1, 1998. Deb Wills used to have a "Disney Website of the Month" and this site was it for February 1998. I had looked around the site in October of 1997, but didn't hang out and didn't participate on the boards.

How time flies when you're having fun!

 

[julie_yet]

[color=0066ff]I do it was March of 2000. And I joined the day I found the forums. I was looking for info about IOA 'cause I had a trip planned and the DIS was one of the places the search engine listed.[/color]

 

[Poohbear123]

I believe I joined 2 Disney Boards that day, but have ONLY been active on this one. I remember when the board changed "over" so to speak, and I had to have Patrick IL help me with my avatar and he was SOOO nice!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

FEBRUARY OF 2001! It was the year DH and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in Disneyworld!

 

[Kallison]

I was around February 98. Back when it was one board and Jackie, Nova Scotia was always going off topic.

 

[CathyCanada]

LOL Kallison, Wackie Nova Scotia, name from the past! She actually came on shortly after I did when we still had 3 boards and band width was a problem. People thought that she was asked to leave because she was off topic, but it was much deeper than that (in spite of the derogatory newsletter she sent people ). Adam and I still laugh about that one, she was something else!

Donna, I cannot believe you have had migraines that long!!

Kaa was one of the first people I got to know in the chat room way back when I had no idea "how" to chat.

Lots of people have come and gone, but what amazes me is how many great people have stayed! I was talking to a webmaster of another great Disney site earlier this year and asked where certain people who I associated with that site had gone to. I was told that people just move on. I remember thinking at the time that we have so many faithful who have not moved on, despite the fact that they may not be planning a Disney vacation at this time.

I think it really speaks to the nature of our community and I applaud you all for being the kind, caring folks that you are!
CC

 

[ncligs]

December of 2001.

 

[Serena]

It's been five years for me this month some time. Cathy, you and Carebear made me feel very welcome.