Im a Straight Male and I LOVE DISNEY !!!

[SydneyFalco]

Some points that floated through my head the other day when I listened to the podcast:

As someone who's never been really into Disney except via the parks, my fandom is a little easier to carry. It's a pretty specific thing, liking the parks principally. Even though I studied animation and illustration for a time in college, I wasn't that into the Disney style so much as I valued it as inspiration and history.

Being childless by choice, I don't know if having kids make it easier for a guy to be Disney-nuts. I suspect it does, but maybe by .002% It certainly must make it easier to tell coworkers that you're going to WDW again for your vacation. At least for 17 or 18 years.

Something that helps us guys these days is that a lot of social sonventions have been exploded. Keep in mind, it's nothing Rosa Parks or anything remotely close, but there were a lot of things that were once considered too childish, geeky or embarrassing to like. If one views Star Wars as the starter's gun, my generation (I'm 39) grew up with a LOT of juvenilia and pop culture being fed to us. (I just mixed metaphors.)

Now it's not uncommon for me to see guys ten or fifteen years younger than me wearing a T-shirt emblazened with something for children, either ironically or not, standing in my local comics shop with a hot girlfriend on their arm whose not only tolerating their interests but participating . (I really hate those guys.)

I don't get off scott free, personally. I have some concerns about how our culture (North American) might have indeed become TOO indulgently juvenile (I suspect that's just my deep down, long-buried killjoy center giving me acid reflux) and it manifests in tiny stabs of personal guilt and embarrassment at times. But less about my Disney World fetish than my other geek interests.

 

[SteamboatStevie]

Here's a story I'll never forget as long as I live:

I manage a liquor store. I was running the register late one night when a guy noisely pulls up on his Harley. He comes in the store, and it's obvious from the patches on his leather jacket that he's a member of a particular local motorcycle club, notorius for being troublemakers. He was built like bruce willis, with a long gray beard down to his belt buckle.
He grabbed a six pack from the cooler and tossed it on the counter. "How are you tonight?" I asked, trying to be pleasant. He let out a mere grunt in response.
Then he noticed my shirt. It was a plain blue polo with the tiny Mickey Mouse insignia embroidered in the top left corner. His eyes grew wide. "Nice shirt, my brother!" he said (very) loudly. He asked me where I got it, and I told him Disney World. He immediately opened up and became the friendliest person I've ever met.
Come to find out, him and his wife (no kids) visit Walt Disney World three times a year. He knew every inch of each park, and we spent a good forty-five minutes discussing our favorite attractions, restaurants, which resort was the best, and even where the best bathrooms were. This tough guy was as much of a Disney nut as I am, and I would not be at all surprised to find out he's here on the Disboards now and then.
Ahhhh, the power of the Disney. You never know who may be infected.

 

[HawkeyeThad]

Add another person to the list. 32 and single, no kids. I'm more of a fan of the parks than I am of Disney, but I absolutely love WDW. I've lost count of how many times I've been there, but it's well into the 40's at this point. I like many others, find it difficult to be straight, single male that loves WDW. My friends like to give me crap about my WDW obsession, but I don't really care anymore. It's something I enjoy. Luckily, I do enough "manly" things with them so they let it slide.

Luckily, my mom moved down to the Villages about 2 1/2 years ago, so it gives me an excuse to take more trips to Florida. Since June of 2009, I've spent a month in Florida, and have another trip planned for October. Can't wait!

 

[Paul in CT]

I grew up in the '50s with Uncle Walt, the Mickey Mouse Club and the Wonderful World of Color on Sunday nights. I loved all of the shows (except the nature ones), had "crushes" on Annette and Darlene on MMC, and especially liked the ones when Walt spoke of his plans for DisneyWorld and EPCOT.

Family finances being what they were growing up, we never made it to Disneyland as a family, but when our children were old enough (10 and 7) in '89, we took our "one and only" trip to WDW staying at CB for a week. Well, you can guess the rest of the story, it was only our first trip of many. First, it was every other year, then once per year, then joining DVC and two or more times per year.

I was the one initially that was bitten by the Disney "bug" for the many of the reasons Kevin described so well in the podcast. The memories that we have had with the kids over the years make it an attraction for us even though my DW and I are now "empty nesters". The "kids" still like joining us from time to time. In fact, our son and his lovely new wife will be joining us for a visit in October (no grandkids yet....)

I, too, have gotten the "You're going to Disney again!!!! " from co-workers, but I also have colleagues that "get it" and enjoy discussing our trips. In conclusion, I'm a Disney Dad and happy to be one!!

 

[kcb1dizbksfan]

Straight as an arrow, single and been a huge Disney fan for my entire life . . . longer than I have been a Yankee Fan . . . yes I am from NY . . . OK Long Island . . . close enough to still qualify for being a fan.

Yes, starting on Sunday night with the Wonderful World of Color (7 pm), followed by Bonanza and then bedtime . . . was just a kid then and had to get my nites sleep before school.

Anyway, enough of the kids stuff. I have visited DisneyWorld around 30 times since 1982, two weeks after EPCOT was opened. I have visited religiously every year and sometimes twice a year. I have great memories going to Disney with my family and many times by myself when I really started to get serious with my photography . . . no one wants to travel with me when I am mission focused : - ) Taking photos at the World is the equivalent to the Super Bowl for me because I rarely go on rides anymore because after 30+ times, I can basically recite verbatim all the canned narratives, before, during and after each ride. So now I focus on my real lifelong passion of photography . . . but I still work . . . need to pay the bills and get back to Disney when I need the fix.

No one has ever looked askance for my passion for Disney, albeit it has waned somewhat now from when I was in my youth, but I still love to go with my last trip at DAP in 2009.

For me personally, Disneyworld kept my life on the right track and to maintain a youthful spirit and was a major stress reducer for me during some very challenging years.

Disney Fans Unite!

Dr. NY KCB

 

[challer]

I'm also of the straight XY Disney kind. The only person that seems to have any kind of a problem with it is my wife. When I talk Disney too much, I think she's going to crush my skull.

 

[Kaa]

Even with the pink castle?

Yep, pink castle and all!!

 

[Bunch24]

I think someone hit the nail on the head when they said it comes to trying to explain to non-Disney fans why we love Disney. My wife never gets asked why she likes Disney. She never faces any questions when she wears a Disney shirt. The minute I wear a Disney cap or a Disney shirt or I get caught singing "Kiss the Girl" at the top of my lungs in my cubicle, I feel like I'm being judged. And more often than not, it's hard to actually explain why it is I love Disney and WDW. I eventually just say "You'd have to go and experience it yourself."

I'm certainly not ashamed of my love for WDW and Disney. And I don't think I need to come out of the Disney "closet." Believe me, I wear my love for Disney on my sleeve.

 

[hookedonears]

I get abuse from my wife and daughter (15) for frequenting this site. Basically, I'm a Disney fanatic that’s got to live in the closet.

 

[dscott1996]

Going to Disney on my honeymoon was one of my requirements before picking my bride . We both love it and when we went to Disneyland this summer with our in-laws they just laughed at both of us the whole time. Currently planning a cruise for next year without our kids - it WILL be Disney!

 

[DCTooTall]

Throw in another 31yr old single straight male here who loves Disney. Maybe i am still a bit in the Disney closet since I don't tend to talk about it a whole lot, but that may also be because I don't really have a ton of people around who I could talk about it with.


Although I have gotten a few odd looks from co-workers when they see me watching the Kitchen Kaberet on youtube at work, or any number of other obvious Disney related sites. (I think this one goes under the RADAR since it looks mostly like any other forum from a quick glance.).

But I do have a Disney tattoo, and am not afraid to show it off or explain it when asked about it. (tattoo is my profile pic)

 

[Waldorf]

Add another.
Straight, male, Disney lover.
I'm pushing 40 and long ago reached the point of not feeling that I have to explain much to people. I'm also a nurse (which in my younger years I sometimes felt the need to explain). The one thing that is tough to defend is remaining a Pittsburgh Pirates fan through the past 18 losing seasons.

 

[london1973]

I'm 6 foot 1 inches tall and 240 pounds 1 wife, 2 kids and still shed a tear at the bits you should in any Disney film.I love Disney from the concept that Walt dreamt of to the latest Pixar Toy Story 3 movie.Its all about escapism for me and Disney does it, my first trip to WDW was in 1984 when I was 11 and I have been to Florida 15 times since (16 in October 2011)and its Disney the reason we go, not Universal or Seaworld. I've given up justifying/defending to people why I/we go. So roll on next year!!

 

[dmccarty]

I cannot say I have been looked down on for liking WDW because I am a straight guy but people certainly do not "get" why we like WDW so much. I think most people go to WDW once or twice and they never get to KNOW the place. They do not know how to avoid the crowds. How to avoid the lines. They do now know that you can get GREAT food at WDW. They think it is all about over priced hamburgers.

Since they only go a limited number of times they don't build the memories of the place. I have been going to WDW when MK was WDW. It is all there was. We went at least once or twice a year until I was 15 or 16. I have lots of good memories from WDW and going back relives the memories. Taking the kids is now building their memories with their parents and grandparents.

For people who do not KNOW how to avoid the crowds their memories of WDW are of the heat, the expense, the long waits, of tired, grumpy family members.

So people just do not understand why one would keep going back. So they look at us WDW People like we are nuts......

Later,
Dan

 

[skier_pete]

Hmmm...as the original Disney fanatic in my family (of DW and DD7)...I was listening to the podcast, and I'd say it's slightly harder to be a straight man than a woman or a gay man, but not that much. I work in a union environment, and the guys will rag on you for anything that isn't manly. Example: When I forgot my lunch bag at work, DW said "Oh, now your going to have to take the pink one...", though I didn't think it a big deal, I got half a dozen comments about carrying a pink lunch bag. That said, no-ones ever said anything about our annual trips to Disney, though they may just assume I go for my Daughter. (Though I hid the true destination of our "bonus trip" this past April.) It was another straight male co-worker that hooked me onto the DIS 4 years ago, which led to me getting as into it as I am. Lots of people at work do know I'm pretty into the planning side of it all.

I do admit, it's nothing to do with what people think, but I don't wear my Disney-love on my sleeve so to speak. While I have a few Disney-related parephenalia, it's mostly subtle stuff. ("Hidden Mickey" socks or ties and a plain mickey antenna topper.) I do have quite a few T-shirts in my collection, maybe 8-10.

So, I think it might be a little tougher...but "tougher" in the sense you might get some razzing from friends or co-workers, which really isn't that big a deal. It's not like someone's gonna beat you up over it. (Expect that PP.)

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

I get just as much guff from friends and co-workers for indulging the Disney. Gay, straight, or Lady Gaga, they all question my obsession.

 

[cyberbox2]

Im on this band wagon. As a 33 year old man with a wife and two teenage children, I'm loud and proud of my Disney passion! Doesn't matter to me what others think, in fact after hearing why it means so much to me, several people have come back around to ask my advice on when to go and where to stay.

I'm at the office right now listening to DIS Radio

 

[disneysteve]

By the way, my car's license plate for at least 20 years now has been DSNEY. I don't think I've ever gotten a negative or teasing comment about that. Most people think it's cool and it has started many conversations with strangers about my love of Disney.

 

[ppony]

If people say it's weird that I like Disney, I crush their skull. Problem solved.

I LIKE your style!

 

[dmccarty]

Going to post in this thread again since it popped back up.

We just got back from a trip home. Really do not like being away from home 51 weeks a year. It really was a great trip with a few bumps here and there.

People at work know about my Disney Issues. The cube is full of family photos from Disney. After this trip I have two cartoons I drew at the Animation Studio on the wall at work. Disney pins of course. And my AKL coffee mug.

To make it worse I have to wear reading glasses. The granny reading glasses are on a eyeglass lanyard from WDW. At the end of the lanyards are two little Mickey like pins.

I don't give a s....t what people think.

Going down the slide at AKV I finally figured out how to go as fast as I could. When I hit the pool I would sink to the bottom, they really need it to be deeper, , and I make a BIG splash! The moms and dads at the bottom of the slide waiting for their kids would be grinning when I would hit the pool. Or maybe they were laughing?

In any case I would pop out of the water holding up four fingers and saying I was five years old.

Having Fun BayBeee! If you ain't screaming going down the slide you ain't having fun!

I really do not understand these people who can pay a fortune to go a ball game to watch other people PLAY a game and call that fun. Watching my kids grinning ear to ear on a ride THAT is FUN.

And they make fun of me?

Later,
Dan