Its a small world after all: Not the ride

[trjme]

It never ceases to amaze each time I vist Disney. I either run into somebody i know or stike up a conversation with somone who has alot of the same interested or career as i do. I live in Central Illinois so it makes even more amazing when i run into someone I know. To give you some background. On my previous trip to the last one in 2000 I saw a guy at MGM (back then MGM). I thought I knew him but couldnt place him. Anyway I went on my way. A few minutes later a woman was screaming my name. It was Elaine from my work. There are only 10 people from that particular office and I had know idea she was down ther nor her me. The next day im at Typhoon Lagoon and I see that familiar guy again. We look directly at each other and I finally ask him do I know you and he said I think so. I asked his name and barely heard him and figured I just mistaken him. He said no I know you and I gave him my name. Turned out is was Sargeant while I was in the Army in Germany. We got to talk for a long time while the little ones were playing in the littles one area.

On this trip in July we got seated at Beirgarden with a family of 3 and a Single gentlemen. We started up a conversation and the single gentlemen said he was a truck driver from California hauling to Orlando and decided to come to the park. I mentioned to him that I was a his compeitor because i work for the railroads. The man from the family piped in and said I work with the airlines. It was really wierd that all three of us worked in transportation. It actually gave us something to talk about during our dinner.

While waiting for sprecto to start i started a conversation with a man waiting for his family. Turns out he works for Metro in Atlanta. Another transportion guy. We also was able to talk alot about Atlanta because I have been expecting a promotion with a move to Atlanta very soon.

Anybody else have these experiences?

 

[Robo]

While just walking along near MK or TTC, I have seen bricks from the "Walk Around the World" with folks that I know names on them.

I'll stop and go back to check.

 

[centurythree]

That happens to my family too! Weird, isn't it?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

This June at the Tusker House Character Breakfast, my 45 year old cousin from Tennessee ran into a friend from grade school who had moved away from TN when he was a child. There they were, in Florida, at WDW , both in the buffet line waiting for bacon! Wow!

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

I was walking around the World Showcase 5 or more years ago, when I saw my Aunt and Uncle in Japan I think. It was weird. We were like "I didn't know you were coming", and "Of all the times to be in Disney we chose the same weekend. Haha." I found out later that they have the Epcot after 4 pm Annual Pass and come up for the evening sometimes without telling anyone, as they do it all the time. But it was weird.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

When we went to Disney in 2006 we spent the first part of the day at the Studios. From a distance I thought I saw a guy that my DH knows (they used to do Civil War re-enacting together). It sure did look like him but I thought what are the chances of it being him?

Forward to later in the day and we are walking through World Showcase. We are heading towards the Japan pavilion and I see the guy again - and it IS the guy DH knows! We stopped and talked to him and his girlfriend and we were all so surprised that we were there at the same time. I asked him if he was at the Studios earlier that day and he was! So, I did see him there.

Small world .....

 

[swald91]

It only happened to me once. While walking w/ my husband & parents into the castle I could hear this distinctive accent. I thought -no it can't be... I hadn't heard from her in years. So 7 months pregnant I chased her down & sure enough it was a friend I had gone to high school with!!! We were good friends & her dad was transferred to another state during 10th/11th grade. We kept in contact for awhile-but you how that goes. After running into her we reconnected & wrote again! Speaking of this thread I think I need to get a hold of her! Thanks

 

[vod2117]

Weird

 

[joshsmom]

Last year AND the year before we were at Epcot RIGHT under SE and BOTH times I saw a lady from our church that was there with her son and his family. Both years in basically the same spot. THAT was freaky. Won't happen this year I don't think--we usually go in May and this year we're going in August.

I also met someone from College in WS by China a few years ago. We went to a very small all girl's college in Indiana (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods--Terre Haute, IN) and we have very distinct class rings. Her husband saw mine when I was taking a picture of my son! Its amazing!!

The first one really was weird though. What are the chances that I would see this woman 2 years in a row at almost the exact same spot???

 

[PeeKooAaa]

When we were there last time, 2005, on our second day we were relaxing by the pool in POFQ chatting this and that when suddenly lady next to us asked where we come from. We told her where we came, Finland that is, and she was so excited !

Turned out that she had relatives that originally came from Finland (in early 1900 I guess) and she had recognized our language. And that's not all, she actually could count to 10 in Finnish, and believe me, that is not so easy as it sounds and that's the only time we have ever run to person (other than fellow Finns) that could do that.

So indeed, it's a small world

-Pete

 

[madcat]

in 2006 when we were there we were riding on a bus to go to MK, I saw a little boy with the cutest little L.L Bean backpack with a little moose patch on it. I told him how much I liked his bag and his grandfather said, "thank you and tell her since we are from Maine we have to bring a bit of home with us all the way down to Florida." Well my mother hearing that they were from Maine proceeds the tell them that we have family living in Maine. The man asked what part and my mother told him, he said, "oh thats not too far from where we live what is his name?", she then told him our family members name and his wife's name and that he owned a gas station. The guy looked at my mother and said "our motercycles are staying at the station while we are down here, he is watching them for us!". When my father got to the MK we ran into them again and they talked for at least 30 mins. On that same trip we ran into a local sandwich shop owner and his wife in the Norway Pav.

 

[skier_pete]

First, I have to say I never run into people I know anywhere, but...

Last year ran into the woman that used to cut my hair about 10 years ago - she recognized me first, which was surprising since I am considerably balder now! This was in line at "Pooh", they had just come up for the day from visiting family in FL.

The trip in 1997 I ran into my old college roomates ex-girlfriend, this time in line for "Peter Pan". The irony was she was the last person I would *ever* have wanted to run into. (She didn't treat my friend very well IMO.)

SkierPete

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

Yep! I think everyone in Henry County goes the third week in September. We see bunches of people we know every year!

 

[DisGal520]

In May 2007 we were vacationing with some friends. I went into the movie lobby at France's Pavilion to snap a photo of the gargoyle. I hear my name being called loud and clear - it is not that common a name. I look around and there was a gal from my company back home. She was on maternity leave and had come to WDW with her hubby, kids and the new 2 month old!

Yes it is a small world!


DisGal

 

[KimK2006]

We have had some friends we have known since college. We live in the same city. (We used to see them often when we were first out of college and both of our kids were small. But, we now only keep up with them through other friends since our kids are older.) We NEVER run into each other at home. But a couple of years ago, we probably ran into them 3 or 4 times over our 5 day trip.

That same trip, we ran into some neighbors of a friend. And, my husband ran into a family he knew from work. It was strange we saw three different families we knew on one trip!

In May, my husband ran into an old golfing buddy.

 

[Benducci]

We were down one year & we persuaded dh to get glitter & sparkels in his hair when he got his haircut at the Main Street Barber Shop - he said ok - who do I know here? It will be ok - Half an hour later he hears - "nice hairdo" from behind him - it was his brother! We had no clue they were down there at the same time as us!
We also met a friend of dh's from high school on that same trip.

 

[DisFlan]

LOL! This ALWAYS happens to us - our DS and DIL both work at WDW. But yes, it is strange how often we run into people we know from the "real world".

DisFlan

 

[ntsammy5]

It's happened to us a lot - not only at Disney but elsewhere. Once at Epcot, I ran into (almost literally) someone I served with in VN - hadn't seen him in more than 25 years. Kids used to have it happen to them all the time too. Once at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu we ran into a couple who we knew from the kids school. Weird!

 

[Madi's Mom]

Five years ago -we ran into my DH High School Art teacher in Epcot.

Two years ago -ran into my High School gym teacher on the monorail.

Last summer - ran into my daughter's friend from summer camp.

This past June - ran into a kid from my daughter's karate class on COP. Then two days later we were at the Laugh Floor and ran into the lady who does our taxes.

I am always shocked by the people we meet. I was talking to a cast member in June at Test Track and he was from PA as well. He ask me where we were from and I told him - ended up he worked for 30 years in the town I live in (not a big town)!

 

[freepixie]

Five years ago -we ran into my DH High School Art teacher in Epcot.

Two years ago -ran into my High School gym teacher on the monorail.

Last summer - ran into my daughter's friend from summer camp.

This past June - ran into a kid from my daughter's karate class on COP. Then two days later we were at the Laugh Floor and ran into the lady who does our taxes.

I am always shocked by the people we meet. I was talking to a cast member in June at Test Track and he was from PA as well. He ask me where we were from and I told him - ended up he worked for 30 years in the town I live in (not a big town)!

June is a big month for us PA folk to travel south. We've never ran into anyone we know but many times we've overheard someone say they are from our hometown and then we get into a conversation!!

Happened this last trip on our last day in AK, my aunt was buying something in a shop and the CM asked her where we are from, and she told her. All of a sudden this lady says "did you say you were from..." and my aunt said yes, and sure enough they were from our hometown!!! They live on the eastside of town and we are on the westside!!

Small world indeed!