Inspired by the Intro show

[Mrs D]

In 500 words or less (sorta kidding).. please share your story on how you came to love Disney and how you came to the DIS or podcast.

 

[OKW Lover]

Our story? Wow - that's a question with a long answer.

For me it goes way back to my childhood in the 50's and watching uncle Walt every Sunday night and seeing the plans and then opening of DL on TV. My playmates used to all comment about how their parents had said they would be going to DL 'next year'. In reality that wasn't a likelihood for us, growing up in a blue-collar, factory environment some 2500 miles from California (where-ever that was!). But the dream remained.

Fast forward to the late 60's/early 70's. Disney wasn't cool anymore and I drifted away as college and the draft got in the way. But then, in the late 70's a re-awakening. In 1978, I got to go on a business trip to Orlando for training. One day the seminar broke at noon for the day and that left the whole afternoon to do something. What did I do? You guessed it; rented a car (we were on the upper end of I-Drive) and drove down to WDW. Really enjoyed it, but the next visit would have to wait a while.

In the 80's though I found myself going to WDW more and more frequently, getting my first AP in the mid-80's. I remember my first stay on property. After a tough day at work I boarded a plane in BOS for the non-stop to MCO. From there it was a van-shuttle to the Contemporary and I had a really severe headache by that time. Dragged myself to my room in what I now know was the south garden wing, threw myself down on the bed and just lay there for a while. Then, all of a sudden I hear this electronic music outside my window. What's that? It was the Electric Water Pageant! That's when I knew I had arrived.

Fast forward a few more years to a really nice trip at the Poly. With the benefit of an AP discount, and knowing the loopholes in the WDW reservation system at the time I had booked an AP room for a cheap price and innocently asked them to note my preferences for "Tonga, 3rd floor". The building has since been renamed, but yes - it was the concierge building. Got there and sure enough my requests were honored and I had a great MK view room on the 3rd floor. Sunday morning early, I'm sitting on my balcony having a cup of coffee and reading the paper, just enjoying the beautiful weather, listening to the sound of the boat and train whistles coming over Seven Seas Lagoon. A light mist was rising off the lagoon making it look like the MK was actually floating in air. Then a couple of hot air balloons come floating by. Absolutely magic!

But it gets better.

Fast forward to December 1994. I'm at WDW to meet up with a bunch of Disney friends I had become acquainted with through Compuserve. (Think of it as a pre/early internet DIS thing.) We had a welcome reception on Thursday night at OKW and that's when I first met Valerie, the woman I subsequently married. Its also the genesis of my screen name. I'll leave you to speculate about the implications of that.

OK, enough of that, let me continue.

I didn't get a chance to meet Val's daughter until the day before Val & I got married. It could have been awkward, especially since Val had just gotten divorced and her daughter hadn't quite dealt with that yet. But Val & I invited her and her partner to join us at Old Key West the next December and they instantly fell in love with it too. In fact, they bought DVC themselves. Since then, they've had a son and we delight in spoiling our grandson.

Somewhere in there, I stumbled across the DIS and got active posting. I'm up over 8K posts so I've got a lot to say. Actually, I usually don't have a lot to say in person. I'm a different animal behind the keyboard.

For us the magic just keeps on coming.

 

[doconeill]

Hmmm...not counting words, but I'll keep it brief...

I watched repeats of the Mickey Mouse Club with my dad, along with Wonderful World of Disney. I used to love the episodes where they talked about the parks, or science, etc. more so than the stories, although I liked them as well. (BOY did I love Vault Disney on the old Disney Channel...I wish I had the setup I do now as I'd have lots of DVDs of those things...) And even though I'm a techie, I'm also a bit of a nostalgist, especially when it comes to the "future retro" things like attractions of the past and their history.

I ALWAYS wanted to go to Walt Disney World. But we never really could afford it - we had family in England so often our money went to those trips.

Fast forward to 1997...new DGF (soon to be DFi and then and still DW ), and Valentine's Day. She had never been either, and always wanted to. So I gave her a Valentine's card, with the note, "P.S. We're going to Disney World!"

All downhill since then Edit: I mean Disney-obsession-wise, before tigger813 comes home and reads this

 

[catycatcat4]

I started going to disney when i was a week old never stoped.

 

[jiminy.cricket]

Great idea! My dad always dreamt of visiting Disneyland when he was younger, growing up overseas with limited funds. When he finally migrated to the U.S. in his mid-twenties, he one day headed for Anaheim. I think that is part of where my obsession originated.

My first trip to the World was at 3, when I was terrified of every character and attraction. I never wanted to return. I thoroughly enjoyed my trips at 6 and 8, though. I'm not sure why. Everything was just...magical! The characters seemed so real, everyone was friendly, the parades were fun, the attractions were exciting. It was a world of euphoria.

I'm not sure when I realized I was a Disney junkie. I was also taken with the art and films. I drew characters and devoured every publication on Disney animation or Disney parks. I would also save tons of old brochures and plan itineraries every Saturday growing up. I would also pray really hard for Disney vacations to arrive soon.

With the advent of the internet, I discovered much more about the company: trivia, the rich history, important decisions, customer dissatisfaction, the shareholder "revolt", and a host of other Disney junkies--until then, I had felt like I was the only one on the planet! I jumped into the College Program, stationed at Future World and the Jungle Cruise following my sophomore year. It was a wonderful break from school. Being in the program detracted from the magic in my opinion, but it has returned since.

My family is no longer as enthusiastic (or neurotic) about Disney vacations as they once were. I believe I was the only real Disney junkie. Now I need to find new people with whom to visit the World for an energetic, magical, fresh experience--a whole new world.

 

[MelissaFromRI]

My love of Disney began early on in my childhood. Back when I was a kid the Disney channel played alot of old Disney cartoons and I watched them every morning before school. I also watched Dumbo's Circus and Pooh Corner. The Disney channel was way better when I was a kid IMO.
I also loved watching all the Disney movies over and over again

My love affair with Disney World started on April 22 , 1994 , that was our first trip , we stayed at the Contemporary in the garden wing that has since been knocked down , so the BLT could be built.
I was hooked instantly , and have been going to Disney up to 3 times a year since then !!! Disney is my ultimate happy place
It is my dream to one day move to Florida , so I can get out of the cold weather and get closer to my happy place

I discovered the podcast in December of 2008. I had just come back from a rare bad trip. We all got sick with a stomach flu that was going around and then we had to come home a day early because of a snow storm. We came home to 3 straight days of snow BTW
Anyway , I was just hungry for anything Disney I could find. I downloaded a podcast and that was it , I was in love !!! The Podcast crew was smart and funny and I loved listening to the show.
I went back and listened to all of the old shows and haven't missed a show since

 

[tlcoke]

I have went from one trip every 15 years to to multiple trips planned in the same year all based around WDW and my DIS Friends. Here is my story:

I too, grew up with the Wonderful World of Disney, our Sunday Night staple of Television. I also watch the reruns of the Mickey Mouse Club after school in the 70's and wanted to be a Mouseketeer.

My First trip to Florida & Walt Disney World was a family vacation in the summer of 1977. I got my first Mouse Ears on this visit. My major regret from the trip was I chickened out on riding Space Mountain at the last minute. I wouldn't get back to WDW until 14 years later in 1991, this time as an adult, when I came down to visit a friend who was living in Tampa at the time. I experienced both EPCOT and MGM on this visit along with my return visit to the Magic Kingdom and my First Ride of Space Mountain, the MUST DO for this trip.

It would be another 15 years before I made another trip south to the Orlando area. I was coming down to attend a conference and wanted to add a few days onto my trip to spend at WDW. I only had 4 days planned for the parks and I came and went commando style through the parks, not really doing much advance planning. I did do a little internet planning for this trip and I think I may have come across the WDW INFO side of the DIS in my research, but didn't find the forums until two years later in late June 2008.

I found the boards in late June 2008, when planning a return trip for October 2008 to attend a conference, but this trip, I was going to spend more time at WDW. I booked my room at RACK RATE, but then discovered the DIS and learned about Discount Codes and ended up saving $$$$ on my trip thanks to the DISboards (enough money saved that paid for my flight down and my conference registration fee). I became a member to post some questions in my trip planning in July of 2008, this is when I saw the Listen Now button at the top of the page and listened to the Podcast for the first time. I couldn't get enough of the Podcast, I began listening to the archives. I made my trip in October, with no intention of returning to Florida anytime soon, though I kept listening to the Podcast, which kept my longing to go back in my mind. I began posting some on the Podcast Board since I didn't have any trips planned. In May of 2009, I was planning my annual "Vacation" to the city my Fall Conference was being held in and just as I began researching the trip to Texas, Disney sent me a 40% of PIN Code. Just out of a whim, I decided to price the added leg to my flight and it was only $50 more...I was going to Disney again..after my 4 day conference in Texas. The First Podcast Cruise took place at this time and after hearing about the experiences on the cruise, I could not miss the next one so I found a roommate on the board for PCC 2.0 and then booked the cruise.

I also started meeting DISer's last year and making friends off the boards. I met MommyCeretops in July, who lives just a few miles from me and we now meet on a semi regular basis. I went to the Indy Meet in September and met lots of Disers at this event, which then made me want to go to Disapolooza, but I can't take two trips within 6 weeks of each other, was my initial thinking. I ended up booking to go in December, too. In October, I did Ferris' Buddy Walk and met most of the Podcast Team and several other DISers. I even had a DIS meet in Texas while I was there for my conference. I also became an Annual Pass holder during this trip.

DISapolooza/Toddapolooza was the best weekend ever. I met many more of my fellow DISers during that weekend and have taken away some of the best friends from that event. I spent many hours that weekend with Jamie & Todd and the Entourage, which now I am a member of . In March, I traveled to Chicago to spend the weekend with some of the very best Friends, I have met, Thanks to the DIS.

I have since planned two trips back to WDW for 2010, I am going in May to Flower & Garden and to spend a few days with the Entourage and then a few days Solo in the Parks. My next big trip is in December with a pre-Podcast Cruise stay and a Post Cruise stay, this will be my FIRST DVC Stay as I have purchased my first DVC Points in the last few days. Though now that I own DVC, I am contemplating a trip before then back to the parks...

 

[disneym2m]

Disney has always been a part of my life in some form. My first Disney movie, in a theater, was a reshowing of "The Aristocats". A year later, "The Fox and The Hound" premiered and I just loved the characters. My mom bought me a "Fox and the Hound" comic type book and I would reread that book over and over. Years passed and during my senior year of high school I just became obsessed with Disney. I fell in love with "Beauty and the Beast" and I wanted to know everything about Disney. I began drawing Disney characters for friends as gifts and I would read any book I could find at the library (I worked there so it was easy). I know that my parents tried to take my brother and I to Disney World as children but the trips always seemed to be canceled due to having to visit the grandparents...I wonder about that sometimes.

In 1996 or 1997, I was reading an article in USA Today that talked about the celebration at Disney World and how they were turing the castle into a cake. And I remember thinking how cool that would be to see. (Yes I know...NEVER mess with the Castle), but still. Sometime during the summer of 1997 my mom told me that she was taking the family to Disney World during the second week of December. It was the first available week my brother and I were on break from college. I, then, just wanted to read every travel book about Disney know to man...internet was just beginning. I basically became the vacation planner. I even remember calling to make dining reservations and it was just cool to hear the music. Two weeks before we were set to leave I began packing all my Disney shirts and items (you all know what I am talking about) and I became very ill and had to go into the hospital. I was in tears...not because I was in the hospital but because my mom was going to cancel the trip. I was 24 and just in tears. A week had past and the doctors told me I was doing better but I should still stay in the hospital. I remember telling them that they should just strap me a wheelchair with the bags of fluid because I WAS GOING TO DISNEYWORLD AND THIS WAS NOT GOING TO STOP ME. Well a few days later I was released from the hospital and on my way to Florida...without the wheelchair and fluid bags.

We arrived and I was in just awe. How could a place have hotels, amusements parks, restaurants, etc. all in one place. It WAS amazing. We stayed at the Yacht Club, which is my resort of choice, and we spent 4 days of escaping reality. I SO LOVED the Christmas decor. I think I have enjoyed this trip the most because it was the first time and everything was "new", meaning I had never ridden or seen it before. And I don't care what others think, but the Castle in pink was interesting. I also remember that somehow the family and I walked from "Hollywood Studios" to Downtown Disney. HS was closing early and we weren't ready to head back to the hotel, so we just walked. Now that I think about it I am not sure how we did that.... And I also experienced the "I don't want to leave" feeling and the Disney depression set in. But not to worry, I had 22 rolls of film to keep me entertained. (Thank goodness for digital cameras in the future).

Anyway, I spent the next five years planning for the next trip. By this time the internet was forming and it was easier to get information. We returned in December 2002, and this time I had brought my husband. We were dating when I went on my first trip in 1997 and now we were married. I was going to convince my husband that he would like Disney. Well, it didn't work. He strongly disliked the whole thing. If it doesn't have amazing roller coasters then forget it. I was crushed. I truly believed I would never step on Disney soil ever again.

Over the next five years, I worked on him and we returned in 2007. Around this time I discovered wdwinfo. com. I remember loving this site because it had all the information I ever needed. I received an Ipod for Christmas and my husband was trying to hook me onto podcasts. He found The Dis podcast and after a few shows, I was hooked. I started listening when the gang went to Disneyland and Julie was doing some segments. It took me a few months to realize that my favorite website was "related" to my favorite podcast. We returned to Disney World in December 2007. This time my husband's brother and sister-in-law came with us and I hoped that they could enjoy it together. I even planned a few days at Universal as a compromise, but my husband strongly dislikes Disney and I fear I will never be there again.

In 2009, my husband had to go to San Francisco for training, so I went along and went to Anaheim to go to Disneyland. It was a great Disney trip. I was with a good friend who also loved Disney and I didn't have to listen to my husband complain about anything.... Even my husband agrees it was the best Disney trip ever (he didn't have to go....).

Anyway, my husband and I have been talking about taking a cruise and I have somehow talked him onto PCC 2.0. Be fore warned DO NOT try to convince him about Disney....it WON'T work. But I do feel the Disney gods are working there magic slowly...how else have I somehow made it back to WDW and DL and now on a Disney cruise.

Disney has always been a part of my life. When cable was first coming out in our neighborhood, the Disney Channel was one of the first channels my parents "purchased". I remember reading the Disney Channel movie guide. 24pages all about Disney shows and movies. And today when I watch Hayley Mills or Annette Funicello, it just brings back wonderful memories of childhood.

There is just something about Disney that helps you feel better and for just a little while you escape reality and enjoy a "simplier" time. And don't worry, everytime I see my in-laws I blame them for not instilling the Disney bug onto my husband. Oh yeah, my husband says I can't ever go to Disney World again until we go to Europe. If I remember correctly, there is a Disneyland Paris.....

 

[jeanigor]

My love of Disney was started by my grandmother. On her day off, she and I would go up to the movie theatre on the corner and watching the re-released. My first trip to WDW was New Years 84/85. I can only remember falling asleep in the hotel room with all my clothes and shoes on. We moved before grammar school and the name of my mew school was Walt Disney Elementary. We didn't have the Disney Channel, as it was a pay station, so I watched movies as they came out. My dad's favorite movie was Fantasia. We would rent it from the video place every other weekend. He would tell me time and time again about seeing the movie for a nickle and sneaking back into to see it later in the day. And how his mother would walk into the theatre to drag him home to do chores and eat. Mom took me to Disneyland when I was 9 or 10. All I can remember of that trip was a bit of the Tiki Room and floating through the Blue Bayou and wondering why people were eating watching us ride the ride.

In junior high, my BFF was going to WDW with his mom and her BFF and since he knew I liked Disney, they invited me. We spent a little over a week around Thanksgiving and had a fabulous time in a Fort Wilderness Cabin and at Dixie Landings.

I knew I was irrevocably hooked during my senior year of high school though. A friend's sister was a CM and their mom was planning to visit her over spring break. My friend HATED Disney, heat, and all things Floridian. His mom suggested I tag along with her, since it had come to her attention I liked Disney. I spent my senior year spring break with my friend's mom at Disney World. To heck with Cancun or Daytona--give me the mouse.

After some uneventful semester in college, I saw a flyer for the WDW College Program. The presentation was that night. After attending I had a feeling. When you can't help but know, this was right. Two semesters as a CP, I had to return home due to family issues. I kept searching for ways to get back.

In 2008, I started researching a 'blue sky' trip with my partner who was against the idea whole-heartedly, but I have been slowly converting him. I couldn't decide which monorail resort to stay at and a large percentage of search engine results brought me to wdwinfo and here on the boards. After a month or so of investigating, I joined and was a very infrequent poster. I was bored at work one day and accidentally clicked the "Listen Now" button and heard the podcast for the first time. I laughed and laughed and was relieved there were other people out there who I could relate to.

I signed up for the first podcast cruise without knowing anyone. I got to know people by posting. I'm glad I did. I met some great people that I would not have ordinarily had the chance to meet if not for the DIS. I am thankful that the DIS has provided me with a way to grow and experience new places and things. I am even more thankful for introducing me to some of the friendliest, kindest, good people out there.

I am looking forward to learning more and meeting more people as I endeavor on new adventures and experiences. Including, but not limited to my first half and whole marathons and visiting Disneyland again.

 

[WaltD4Me]

My first trip to Disney World was in April 1980. I was in junior high, my parents took us out of school to go! At that time, it was just the Magic Kingdom. We stayed at the Polynesian and my dad still has the room receipt. It was $55 a night! I vividly remember riding Space Mountain with my dad and the castle and the parade, but for some reason, don't remember Pirates of the Carribbean or Haunted Mansion, ect...

We have no pictures from that trip. I lost the camera. My dad still brings this up every once in awhile. I don't think he's forgiven me yet.

Long gap, didn't get back to Disney until 1992 and then another 6 year gap. My mom and I went in October 1998 for the Teddy Bear and Doll Convention. It was unbelievably HOT and HUMID. We would open our hotel room door at 8am in the morning and you could already see the heat waves. VERY low crowds though, we walked on practically everything. We also did the Animation Tour at MGM, it was a walking tour that ended in the Animation building, they were working on Tarzan at the time, we got to tour the building and and paint a real cell. It was awesome. I'm still sad the animators aren't there anymore.

In early 2003 we started talking about a big family trip. Me, my parents, brother, sister, BIL, SIL and the kids. I was in charge of the planning and that is when I found the DIS. I was BLOWN away by the information here and my planning went into high gear. My family thought I had lost my mind when I told them we had to make dining reservations 3 months before our trip, they ALL just thought we could just "show up" at WDW and it would fine. Our trip was the first week of December 2004, I had been planning it for over a year, family thought I had gone around the bend, but at the end of that trip? They said it was the best trip ever and mostly because of all my planning and info I had found out. (THANK YOU DIS!)

Since that 2003 trip, that made me the true fanatic, I have been back 8
times, once solo and am planning my 9th trip for November 2010.

 

[BriarRosie]

In the beginning, Walt said, "Let there be Mickey." And it was good. (Ok, he really started with the Alice comedies and Oswald, but give me some creative license. )

For me, my fascination with Disney did start with the Sunday night TV show, the 70s version. Tinkerbell would "light" the castle and I'd have a great TV show to enjoy. Mom and Dad would take me to the re-released classics, and the new-released lukewarm movies from the Ron Miller era. (I liked the classic ones best!)

Our first family trip was like the Griswolds vacation. We did this elaborate road trip so we could drive through the Smoky Mountains and see various tourist traps on our way to Florida. This was August of 1977, and it was awesome seeing WDW as a 7 year old. I remember loving It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion best. Space Mountain scared the crap out of me, as the cars were similar to the way the Matterhorn bobsled cars were laid out. But the best part was the new Main Street Electrical Parade. I remember seeing Pete riding on the Elliot dragon float. Pete waved to me.

I wouldn't return to WDW until 10 years later, when I was planning my high school Spring Break trip. Keep in mind this was 1987. The height of the South Padre Island or Fort Lauderdale party era. My best friend and I didn't want to do the party places. We wanted to go to WDW. The only guide book out there at the time was Birnbaum's "official" guide, and we devoured it from cover to cover during break periods at school. (This started my appreciation of Disney guidebooks!) WDW was celebrating its 15th anniversary. This was my first Epcot visit, and I fell in love with all the now extinct attractions like Horizons and World of Motion.

It occurred to me that I was planning my next trip at WDW's 20th anniversary, when I went in 1992. This was the first time seeing a couple big things. Disney-MGM Studios and Pleasure Island. I was old enough to appreciate PI, and this was when I discovered the Adventurers Club. It was so different back then, but I have loved the place ever since. (R.I.P.)

Fast forward to 1996. I had found my first Disney fan online community on Prodigy, and a group of us planned on going to WDW in November of that year. Hmm, it was the start of the 25th anniversary celebration with the infamous Pepto Bismol colored castle "cake". I didn't mind it because I knew it was temporary! This was my first trip celebrating a birthday there, and I also did the Chef's Table at Victoria and Albert's for that!

Suddenly, my 5-year visits started moving to every year. In October of 1997, I took my first solo trip, stumbling upon the food and wine festival in the process. Because my trips were becoming more frequent, I bought an annual pass and started doing fewer "commando" touring days. I did my first behind the scenes tour in 1999 with Backstage Magic, and I've done a few different tours since.

I knew that I would need to consider buying DVC sometime around the new millennium! I was already renewing my annual pass, and I discovered that the Beach Club was going to add on a new DVC property. So I jumped on the bandwagon in February 2002 and haven't regretted a moment of it!

As for the DIS...

I glossed over the Prodigy service and its Disney community. Prodigy started going the way of the dinosaur, so we all sort of tried to find other places to talk about Disney. I haven't been active in years, but I used to post frequently on the RADP usenet newsgroup. I joined a Yahoogroup and posted there, but I let that slide. I lurked on the DIS before I finally joined officially, but I really didn't post much until VMK started in 2005. Now I post here and the Restaurant boards mostly.

I have a confession to make about the podcast. I was one of the listeners from the beginning who HATED the radio announcers doing the show. I found it un-listenable, if that's a word. So I didn't listen until a long time after those early days. Someone on the DIS mentioned the podcast, and I decided to give it another chance. I was MUCH happier with the current format. I think the word I need to use to describe would be genuine. I believe I hated the original episode because they sounded too "fake" to me.

I wanted to end on a positive note. The best part of Disney fan message boards and communities is that we're all connected. I know people from Prodigy, RADP and here on the DIS, intermingling online and at specific fan meets at WDW. I love that we all are part of something big that unites us.

 

[Mrs D]

In 500 words or less (sorta kidding).. please share your story on how you came to love Disney and how you came to the DIS or podcast.

I had to leave for work last night after posting the starter, and it's only taken me 24 hours to get this thing written down. I am loving reading everyone's stories and learning about my DIS friends!

So here's my story.

My parents brought my older brother to WDW in 1971. In 1977 I was 3 years old and we got to take our only family trip (well before my parents divorced, we actually took a few family trips after they divorced). A few years later my Dad took my bro & I back with his girlfriend (those are weird pics to look at now) and I also went a few times on trips to visit my aunt in Tampa. One thing I remember distinctly about those trips is having to ride between my brothers legs on Space Mountain - the cars were set up for 2 sets of 2 and the smaller person sat between the larger persons legs; I thought that was odd.

In 1985 my Mom got a job with Midway Airlines and we could fly for free!!! With my Aunt in Tampa we took LOTS of 1-2 day trips to WDW! I would hazard a guess that in those years I went to the World at least 20 times. I will have to post some pics with the braided sweatband!

My last pre-children trip was when I was 21; my whole family went to take my nephews for their first trip. The thing I recall about that trip was a Kaulha milkshake at Sci Fi!

I did a lot of traveling in Europe, Central America and Mexico in the years between.

When my son was born we began to come back to the world of Disney by living and breathing the Little Einsteins. It was after I had my daughter that the bug bit. She was about a month old when the switch clicked on and I thought "we must go to Disney World". I can't recall what spurred that, but their was a distinct moment and then it was all I could think about. At first it was kind of a pipe dream (I guess I thought the kids were too little ) but as I began to research the ins & outs the dream grew.

This is when I discovered the DIS! I was on lots of planning websites - I had visited WDWinfo but it wasn't my favorite info site. Somehow I later stumbled upon the forums and found my home!

So in Sept. 08 we took DS3, DD14 mo, DH & I, My Mom, his parents, my Aunt & Uncle from Tampa & my Bro & SIL from TN to the World! Thanks to the DIS I knew to hand them all a copy of my itinerary and say "This is where we'll be, we're not waiting for you". It worked perfectly!

One our arrival day we hit AK for a few hours (it was my first time there - it had not been built on my last trip) then took the kids back for bedtime. But that night DH, my bro & SIL & I returned to MK for evening EMH. I can still remember the feeling of walking through MK at night, seeing Cinderella's castle lit up and knowing I was in my Happy Place! I have a photopass pic and my smile is too big to fit in the pic!

However a trip with extended family and 2 toddlers does not equate with seeing/doing everything there is at WDW. I missed so many of MY favorite things. When the birthday promo came out I KNEW I was going back to the World - this time without my children! I wanted to see the fireworks and night parades I had missed with the kids. So I booked a return trip for Feb. 09.

Thus was born the every other trip concept. The kids and DH get to go every other trip. And Mommy gets to revel in her glory every other trip! So far so good!

When free dining was extended into fall of 09 I caught the bug of wanting to go see the Christmas stuff at the world. I talked to DH about it, he didn't want to go back. He wanted to go somewhere else, he wanted to take a trip without the kids, we wanted anything except Disney! Like the good wife I am I priced out several other trips that weren't Disney. Guess what - using the free dining promo Disney was WAY less! And with the kids still being little (DS4 and DD2) it would be the least stressful option. So we booked the last day the promo was available to go Dec. 09.

As I was planning my trip I came across the Pay It Forward Box swap at Pop (in the interest of full disclosure I have a relationship with this swap - did I sound like Pete?) and signed up. What a cool idea! In chatting with the swapper before me FakeRedHed she asked if we would be going to Dis A Palooza? "What's that?" I hadn't a clue! So Fake filled me in on the podcast, DAP and the TSM party. At first I figured that this trip was about family and there's no way I can find time to sneak off to the party on my own. But when she told me it was unlimited rides on TSM I began to figure out a way to make it happen!

And so I began listening to the podcast and poking around on the podcast board. DH & I both went to DAP and despite not knowing anyone we had a great time.

Now I've done my first local DISmeet (Chicagoland Doorway to Dreams meet) and that I do my training runs to the podcast I feel like it's official - I am a DIS Unplugged junkie! I'm glad to be one of the gang!

 

[eeyorelvr09]

I am a,somewhat,new listener and am thouroughly impressed at the intro show. I cried, in a good way, as Kevin talked about his Disney history. Thank you to everyone who shared their story. T, I am just like you. I cry at the wind blowing. There's always one of us.

So....my story as inspired by the intro show

My first trip to Disney anything was when I was an infant, but remember when I was about 3 y/o. I was born in Newport Beach, Ca and had Disneyland very accessible to me being that we lived in Costa Mesa. My family moved to Eatontown,NJ right after my parents divorced. I have always been a Disney fan at heart, maybe even a fan-atic. My first trip to WDW was in September 2007 when I was 24. This was my first time in Florida, WDW and trip with Jason. After that I went to Disneyland in 7/2008, WDW in 11/09 and 2 upcoming trips this year- Podcast trip with *NikkiBell* in 8/2010 and WDW F&WF in 10/2010. I am always awestruck everytime I walk into MK. I cry everytime I go into the Winnie the Pooh store in DTD. I can only hope that my future children will learn to love Disney the way DBF and I do. That's the Disney aspect of my life.

Now, my life....(get the popcorn ready )

I am 27 y/o with a Bachelors in Social Work(BSW) and am planning to graduate with my Masters in Social Work(MSW) in 12/2010 and obtain my certification as a alcohol&drug counselor(CADC); yeah I'm one of those that likes an alphabet after my name. With my certifications I would like to work as a school social worker and ultimately become a play therapist.

I am currently a full time counselor/intern at an outpatient substance abuse agency where I facilitate groups, conduct intakes and individual sessions. I was thrown into this position after being a case manager for a transitional housing program for women and children for almost 2 years. I was moved due to the fact that the transitional housing program lost funding and they needed another person to help with the work at the other office. It took me a long time to get used to it, but I love the client contact and the satisfaction of knowing I am changing lives everyday.

It was interesting to hear that Walter had the educational background that I am working towards. I almost tried to get a job in the jails,but my DBF and family felt the same way that Pete did about Walter. Pete, I commend you on your recovery and never forget the hard work that you have done to get you where you are now. You have a bigger support system than anyone in the "rooms" can only dream of having.

So,anyway. Sorry for the long winded post. I hope that everyone can do this to tell your story so that we can all learn a little about each other.

This was written on another thread created last week. Nonetheless, this is my story. I love all of your stories.

 

[A.Mickey]

What a cool idea!

My first trip to Disney was when I was 2 and 1/2 (1982) and yes I actually remember some parts of it. My grandfather (who I was very close to) and my grandmother had a motorhome that we drove down to Florida from Michigan. I remember riding and sitting at the table in the back watching my grandmother play cards.
We stayed at Fort Wilderness campground. My memories are, getting hypnotized by some computer gadget at the contemporary lobby and almost losing my family, and passing gas on the monorail and blaming my grandma. Funny what you remember when you are two and of course it's a small world! I went on it about 400 times! (Our son really likes it too, just like his momma! He went on it 19 times our last trip and would cry if we didn't go right back on!)
My grandfather passed away when I was 5, and a part of me feels him when I go to Disney!

Grew up watching Sunday night Disney movies on ABC!

Fast Forward (1992)
Pre-teen obsessed with the All-New Mickey Mouse Club, The Party and any other Disney thing (I had an Aladdin comforter, in fact I was in love with Aladdin and Prince Eric)! I wanted to try out for the Mickey Mouse Club. Never did get to do that. Tried to get tickets at MGM to watch a taping, but they weren't taping in November . So I settled for the next best thing, I bought a Mickey Mouse Club Letterman's Jacket! It has red leather sleeves just like the ones they wore during the opening of the show! It fits Jason perfectly . We ate at Mama Melrose, 50's primetime, breakfast with Minnie at the Polynesian. We went again the next year too because my grandmother was living in a town north of Tampa. We stayed at the Polynesian one trip and Fort Wilderness Cabins the next.

In middle school when you had to pick the famous person and dress up as them and tell the story of their lives I picked Walt Disney. All my artwork in Middle school was centered around Disney, I wanted to become an animator (when I was in Disney I even got to watch the animators drawing The Lion King).

Didn't get to go again for a long time, kept wanting to go and pricing it out and it was always sooo expensive.

Met Jason and he always went to Disneyland and always wanted to go to the World. We first thought for our honeymoon to take across country trip, but for some reason we decided to just go to Universal Studios and IoA. After two days on our one week honeymoon someone at Dueling Dragons asked us if we were at Disney World yesterday? We said we wish! And that got me thinking...why aren't we at Disney World? This is our honeymoon! You only have one! I did the number crunching and decided if we can come 3 times within the next year an AP is the way to go. So we bought our AP in October 2006! Saw Wishes for the first time on our honeymoon and I wished to be a mom (little did I know I was already pregnant with Aaron)! So Wishes really has a special place in my heart! Named Aaron after Mickey his middle name is Mickey. Went back numerous times since October 2006, Jan 2007 (food trip since I was pregnant), Sept 2007 one year wedding anniversary, Sept 2008 free dining with Nana and Aaron, May 2009 Podcast Cruise 1.0 and our two week trip! September 2009 bought DVC, we will be going back October 2010 for 8 days, and December 2010 for 2 weeks, and September/October 2011 for ~10 days for our 5th year wedding anniversary and MK's 40th.

Okay not sure if I am over 500 words yet.....but how we discovered the DIS is kinda funny I think.

Jason wanted to get a MP3 player with an AM radio cause he was addicted to news radio, but he ended up just getting a Zune because he couldn't find an AM tuner on a MP3 player. So he was looking around online at these things called Podcasts in Jan of 08 and he found a bunch of sports ones. He decided to give Disney a look and we stumbled on a bunch of treasures! We listened to quite a few different ones, but I realized that the DIS Unplugged stood out from the rest! These guys have my sense of humor! We joined the boards in spring of 08, found the creative designs forum and started making designs, then when I had to get out of debt last year I found the budget boards. This place has everything!!

We went to our first DIS meet at D2D in May of 08 went again in the winter of 08. Met a bunch of people on 1.0! Went to another DIS meet in August of 09, then Indy meet in Sept of 09 and the last D2D meet in April of 10! We have made so many great friends all because of the DIS and our love for Disney!

 

[tammyroo]

I went with family with I was a child of around 10 in the mid-70's but it was HORRIBLE, mostly because of my father and his obnoxious attitude. He is definitely NOT the theme park-relaxing-vacation kinda guy. You should see our pics--no one is smiling EVER.

Okay, fast forward to 2001 and our then 9 year old daughter and 6 year old son asked, "Are we poor?" And, we said, "Of course not, what would make you ask that?" They replied "We are the only kids we know that haven't been to Disney." What?! Frankly, I was so anti-Disney at that point I wasn't even considering it. Then the DH said (in front of them) "You know, if we are ever going to go to Disney, we should go now while they are young but old enough to remember it." Outnumbered, I agreed to go that year. First trip was Nov 2001 and it was sooo deserted after 9/11 but I had no comparison so I didn't realize it at the time. First time I walked under the train station onto Main St I was hooked. It was beautiful. We've been 9-10 times since.

Found the podcast in 2008, I think through Allears maybe. I was looking for things to listen to because I had to start a new job waaay out of town and didn't want to listen to radio the whole time. I loved their senses of humor (I tend to be a bit sarcastic on occasion) and have listened every week since.

 

[Brian in Austin]

I came to Disney thru having lived in Florida until I was 17. For 13 years I was an only child, so you all can imagine where I wanted family members to take me on summer vacations. (Uncles and Aunts, Grandparents) So I've loved WDW since I can remember.

I came to the Dis podcast thru a search on the internet of Disney related websites and podcasts. Though I've been a very infrequent listener (working on that) I've thoroughly enjoyed the shows I have listened to.

I was moved by the outpouring of love and respect for "Bawb" after his passing and realized how even I had become used to hearing his voice on the show. Oddly, it was after his death that I kind of fell away from the show. Not to go to deeply into my "feelings" I've always had a very difficult time in dealing with death of those around me and I considered Bob to be someone around me in that I back then was a pretty loyal listener.

The 4/15 show has re-inspired me to get involved and to participate more often here and by listening more often.

 

[Mrs D]

The 4/15 show has re-inspired me to get involved and to participate more often here and by listening more often.

we are glad to have you and look forward to getting to know you!

 

[Brian in Austin]

we are glad to have you and look forward to getting to know you!

Thanks Mrs. D. I'm actually relistening to the 4/15 show again and wanted to write something to the show, but maybe it's better suited in a public format so people can get to know me a bit better and understand where my passion comes from and how much I have enjoyed the shows and this one in particular.

 

[tigger813]

Hmmm...not counting words, but I'll keep it brief...

I watched repeats of the Mickey Mouse Club with my dad, along with Wonderful World of Disney. I used to love the episodes where they talked about the parks, or science, etc. more so than the stories, although I liked them as well. (BOY did I love Vault Disney on the old Disney Channel...I wish I had the setup I do now as I'd have lots of DVDs of those things...) And even though I'm a techie, I'm also a bit of a nostalgist, especially when it comes to the "future retro" things like attractions of the past and their history.

I ALWAYS wanted to go to Walt Disney World. But we never really could afford it - we had family in England so often our money went to those trips.

Fast forward to 1997...new DGF (soon to be DFi and then and still DW ), and Valentine's Day. She had never been either, and always wanted to. So I gave her a Valentine's card, with the note, "P.S. We're going to Disney World!"

All downhill since then Edit: I mean Disney-obsession-wise, before tigger813 comes home and reads this

Good thing you clarified yourself, dear!!!!!

 

[Mrs D]

Good thing you clarified yourself, dear!!!!!

You two are so cute!