Missouri Disneyfans lend me your EARS

[ciera321]

We live in KC (well, Gladstone) and we just came home a few weeks ago from our 14th Disney World trip. We're headed back next June and then we'll probably just go every other year. I went to DL in 1972, but not since. I guess I'm just addicted to DW!!!

 

[Nee Nee and Biddy]

We live in Springfield and always go to WDW, not DL. I think in a few years we will venture out west. Where are all the Springfield Disers? Seems like everyone is from KC or St. Louis!

 

[Disneyistoofaraway]

I am new to this particular board, but I am definitely from the Show Me State! I live in St. Louis. We go to Disney World. I have been 11 times since 1996, which was my first visit. Fell in love with the place and going back this September. Actually, two weeks from today!!!! wooohooooo I have not yet been to Disney Land, but that may come eventually.

 

[hollibo83]

Representing Southeast Missouri, here! I live about 20 minutes south of Sikeston. & we have always gone to WDW .. I would love to visit Disneyland though.

 

[ajh88]

St. Louis here and we've only been to the World. Technically I think DH went to Disney Land when he was less than a year old, but I don't count that in our "modern" trips! My DSS went to Disneyland in July when he went to visit his grandma on his mom's side - he said he liked it & had fun, but he still likes Florida better!

Plus, my BIL lives in Orlando (& works for Disney), so it makes a good excuse for the trip!

 

[diz_kid 777]

Another St. Louis girl here! I've been to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, but DL only once. Going back to WDW in Dec, and dying to go back to Disneyland. DBF is from Southern California, so it's a definite possibility in the near-ish future.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Hi, Tiffanykc and MickeymaniacMom! We just moved to Overland Park! We're going to WDW! The funny thing is, we moved from a city about 30 minutes from Disneyland, and we still went to WDW every other year. WDW is so much better than DL!

My question is, are we out of our minds to consider driving to WDW from here? Dh is thinking of driving just for the life experience. Ugh! I'd rather hop on a 2 hour flight, but maybe he is right. The kids would be able to see part of the Country...

 

[DisFlan]

Hello MO people! We're an hour SW of Springfield. I've been to DL once, when I was 11. Been to WDW many, many times.


DisFlan

 

[Amber74]

I actually live in Excelsior Springs but I grew up in KC MO. We've been to DW 3 times in the last 2 yrs. I've tried planning DL but keep going back to DW planning.

 

[Feralpeg]

My dream would be to live right by MK. Does it lose the thrill when you are that close?

To answer your question, it does loose a little bit of the magic. I can go to the theme parks any day now. I don't go all that often. I go to DTD a lot! I am more likely to go to Epcot for a stroll or dinner. I always go to MK to see the decorations and attend the various parties. It is still very special, but I don't get that thrill I use to get when I stepped off the plane in Orlando to begin a vacation. Now, WDW is associated with everyday life and, even work. There is just no way your outlook cannot change when you see it every day.

I am literally five minutes from the back of MK. I hear the fireworks every night. Do I watch them? Nope. I could. I can see them from my front porch, but I don't go out to see them. When I first moved to this area, I would run to the front porch each night when Wishes began. I lost interest after awhile. However, when I'm in MK and I watch them, I still think they are amazing.

Unfortunately, it is very hard to live so close to WDW and not hear the negative side of things. There are many negative things. Half of my neighbors work for Disney. Disney is just like every other big company. Somethings they do very well for their employees, other things...not so well. When you live close, you hear it all. It was easier to keep the pixie dust in place when I didn't hear the negatives.

Don't get me wrong. I love living in Florida. I loved Missouri and it will always be special to me, but Florida is now the only place I want to be, even with a little bit of tarnished magic.

By the way, I grew up in the Redbridge area, but moved to Gladstone when I moved out on my own. I was just a few blocks northeast of Oak Park High School.

 

[That Mom]

St Louis area (Florissant) here. We've been to DL twice but the last time I was pregnant with DD who will be 21 in Feb so I think some things may have changed I have been to DW at least 20 times, the last trip in May.
Karen

 

[KCmike]

I think it was about 18 hours to D'World. We've done it twice. Once before we were the kids and once with them. We stopped the first time in Chattanooga and the second time in north atlanta. It was nice to say you've driven through Nashville and Atlanta and have seen the Smokey Mountains but I prefer to fly. My wife wants to drive to Yosemite, San Fran, Monterey, and then on to Disneyland. The drive to California from KC is 24 hours!!!! Can anyone imagine driving for 24 hours ONE WAY???

Anyway we live in KC North up by Zona Rosa.

 

[Sherry047]

I am from the St. Louis area! O'Fallon, MO to be more specific!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I think it was about 18 hours to D'World. We've done it twice. Once before we were the kids and once with them. We stopped the first time in Chattanooga and the second time in north atlanta. It was nice to say you've driven through Nashville and Atlanta and have seen the Smokey Mountains but I prefer to fly. My wife wants to drive to Yosemite, San Fran, Monterey, and then on to Disneyland. The drive to California from KC is 24 hours!!!! Can anyone imagine driving for 24 hours ONE WAY???

Anyway we live in KC North up by Zona Rosa.

KCmike, did you stay at hotels for your 2 stops or was it more of a rest-stop? I'm thinking of trying to drive straight through to Atlanta (besides breaks for bathroom and meals) and spend the night, then go on to WDW.

 

[Tink_Kel]

Greetings from Fort Lost-In-The-Woods! Living large in Saint Robert, Missouri! We really ARE in the middle of nowhere!!

 

[mousebit]

Hi neighbors! Didn't realize there were so many Missouri folk here on the Dis! We're in St. Charles County - St. Peters to be exact. Love it here, but love being at Disney even more!

 

[halliesmommy01]

Hi I am from MO too. I moved to Hillsboro MO (an hour south of St Louis) I have never been to DL but have been to WDW 4 times and will be doing a Disney cruise and a few days after in WDW in May 09. I am going on the Dis Unplugged Podcast cruise. Can not wait. MAybe we should get a MO DIs meet together one of these days. Nice to see all the Missouri diser's

 

[TessieA]

We have drove five times to WDW from KC (okay, once was to Universal). The first two times, we drove straight through to Atlanta, spent the night there and got up the next morning and headed to Orlando. It is a long time in the car to Atlanta. The next few times, we left in the evening and drove to Illinois, spent the night there and then drove to Atlanta the next day. You have the extra hotel cost doing it that way.

We are going in a couple of weeks, but we have to fly due to kids school schedule. Honestly, I would much rather drive. It is part of the "magic" of the Disney vacation to me.

We have also driven to DL. It was a much longer drive. I had the bright idea to drive through the mountains, so I could see them. After a couple of hours, I was tired of seeing the mountains, but they lasted much longer than that. If you drive to DL, take the the southern route.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

We are from Jefferson County. We drove once in 2000. Drove to Atlanta and spent the night, then on the way back stopped for the night in Chattanooga. It was very long! Now that our youngest turned 2 and we'll have to pay airfare for him, we are considering driving next year, but starting at night and driving straight thru! I just don't know if I can do it. Neither kid is great for longer than an hour in the car. May drop them off somewhere along the way.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I think I'm an honorary Missouri DISer...I grew up in St. Louis County and moved to Boston 12 years ago. Actually, I've been all over Missouri -- I grew up in St. Louis, my parents were from Chaffee and Bloomfield (bootheel), and I went to undergrad at Truman State (Kirksville). My BFF was from Salisbury, and we would go to KC on weekends to visit her boyfriend. We used to vacation through all the state parks when I was little, and also spent time in Hannibal, Lake of the Ozarks, Branson, and Meramec Caverns. I loved Tom Sawk Mountain and Elephant Rock State Park. Another BFF lives in Troy, and we still have good friends in Florissant, Hazelwood, Creve Couer (I always spell that wrong, sorry!) and Spanish Lake, not to mention relatives spread all over the state.

Anyway, we've never been to DL, no matter where we lived. I would like to see it sometime, but everything I've read has lead me to believe that WDW has much more to offer for my vacation dollar. We actually love the variety of options in Orlando -- we love staying onsite, on I-Drive, and onsite at Universal. We find so much to do with the various parks and other area attractions, it's much more attractive to do a 3.5 hr plane ride than a 5-hr one, and frankly we just aren't that interested in going to CA.

It's great to see the big Missouri presence on the Board! I miss the big river, we have nothing like that here. The ocean is awesome, but it's just not the same!

Maria