Once you are in the world, isn't it "surreal?"

[ADisneyQueen]

I love the feeling of the very beginning of the trip. Last time we were driving towards the MK sign and I said "We're here and we have the whole week in front of us. This is the best part of the trip when it is just beginning and you have so much to look forward to."

 

[Caylin]

I kind of like that surreal moment. That's how I know I'm really there! There's also a sense of familiarity since I've been so many times, but there's still an odd quality. I love it though!

 

[Micca]

Being in WDW completely gives you a completely different set of priorities. Your biggest worries start to become things like whether there is time to get a Dole Whip before your FP for BTMR expires, or should you get the sweatshirt in blue or red, or can you squeeze in one more ride before leaving for your ADR a Boma? I'd like to deal with issues like that more often.

 

[DisDarling]

Our experience this past May and December was when we first entered the lobby of the All-Stars, the smell, the music, the colors- WE were home!
D.D.

 

[LegoMom3]

Oh no! My thread is being ignored....I guess I'll go sulk in the corner now...

No! Not ignored - I just found it!

I know exacty what you mean....It really, really does it for me when I enter the MK and become engulfed in the sights, the sounds, the whole atmosphere. But it starts the moment we drive under the Walt Disney World "welcome" arch over the main drive, then you start seeing exits for MGM, Epcot, different resorts.....YOU ARE THERE! Hellooooo Mickey!!

 

[dtaylor98]

I love the feeling of the very beginning of the trip. Last time we were driving towards the MK sign and I said "We're here and we have the whole week in front of us. This is the best part of the trip when it is just beginning and you have so much to look forward to."

I totally agree. There is nothing like the feeling at the beginning of the trip, knowing that whole wonderful time (whether it is just a couple days, a week or longer) is ahead of you.

As for the surreal, it has to be seeing that castle. It does it to me every time.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

All of these posts are making me cry!

For me the whole trip was surreal, starting with waking up Christmas morning. I planned and planned and planned and read this board and made all the ADRs and kept every tiny bit of it a magical Christmas secret from my 6 and 8 year olds. Until Christmas morning, when we woke them up and whisked them away to the airport for our family's very first WDW trip. Once we arrived at our resort I couldn't stop thinking, "We're really here!" Then sitting at Chef Mickey's for Christmas dinner, watching my kids squeal with glee as they saw the characters come by and actually stop to talk with them. And the next morning walking down main street and seeing the castle, meeting Cinderella in person, and watching the parade and seeing TIGGER!!!!!

I think that was the first time I had totally left the real world behind and became completely involved in enjoying time my family. The feeling -- the magic? -- is so addictive; and while it may have taken us 20 years to get there, we will be back year after year after year.

 

[Otimon]

It hits me every time I put on my costume.

As I make my rounds in Future World, I will at least once every shift take a moment to reflect on where I have the privilege to work.

 

[Shelby5514]

I usually get choked up when the plane touches down at MCO, then again when we hit that wonderful Florida humidity leaving the airport. But nothing compares to the overwhelming joy when you enter the Magic Kingdom.

 

[k5thbeatle]

I love the feeling of the very beginning of the trip. Last time we were driving towards the MK sign and I said "We're here and we have the whole week in front of us. This is the best part of the trip when it is just beginning and you have so much to look forward to."

This is so true. For us, and probably many others, it's like you forget your job, you forget your worries, you forget your problems. You wake up and the only thing on your mind is how am I going to have fun today? But as you go through your day it's...well...magic! Just to be walking through the parks and taking everything in, even for the 40th time, is wonderful and you feel like a kid again.

 

[Houston_Disney_Fan]

I guess this is a little unusual, but my surreal moment usually comes while checking into our resort. We always stay on-site, and checking in is the first thing we do. When I see my own name on the resort ID/park pass, that's when I know I'm really there, and about to have one of the best weeks of my life.

 

[Popsicle]

In my neck of the woods, there was an amusement park whose motto was "Laugh your troubles away." Being a kid, I didn't have any troubles.

As an adult, that's how I feel about WDW. No matter what has transpired throughout the year, there is that 6 to 12 day period in August when I laugh my troubles away in Florida. You all know the thing about the "World" is that you have a sense of peace and happiness and the ability to just close out the rest of the world.

We've reached the World when we pass through that arch on the highway to the parks. I get absolutely giddy. "We're here, we're here, we're here." That's me, not the kids.

Speaking of the kids, they are DNs. One is 21 and the other 16 now. A couple of years ago the older one was about to start college (some of you know the expense of that), so we didn't think we'd all be able to go. We managed for a shorter period than normal. Though the boys were old enough to do whatever they wanted, they kept hanging around us, just sitting on the benches and taking in the the sights, the people. When we asked them why they weren't out enjoying themselves, they said they were enjoying themselves just being there. (And we worried that they were probably getting to the age where they thought WDW was "baby.")

Surreal, it's all surreal. Job or no job, worries or no worries, I have to get that "fix" or the year just isn't going to be right. I love that place.

 

[LizAgna]

The billboards on the way down, Walt Disney World sign, the Disney busses, the resort are all things that tell me I am there. The surreal moment was watching Wishes holding my DD2 in my arms and my DD9 standing beside me...I just started crying. DH just smiled...he knew how much it meant to me to finally be there. We saved for 14 months for our 1st ever PAID FOR NO Debt Vacation!!! The only "good" thing about coming back to the real world is that we can work and save to go back to Disney!!

 

[NOLAminnie]

Wow, my thoughts exactly. I just discovered the DIS board a few weeks ago and reading and posting each day has been a special part of planning my trip. It's so nice to know there are so many people who feel the same way about Disney that I do. It's not just another vacation, but a very special experience full of life long memories. The DIS is also a great outlet to release all of my Disney excitement without freaking out my boyfriend (not a Disney nut like me, but hoping to convert him). After 4 years away from the World (used to go every year) I will be returning in less than 2 days on Saturday. Each night this week after a long slow day at work and fixing dinner I've been jumping up and down like tigger (good thing I have crocs). My surreal moment will be stepping off the bus at the front gate of MK, swiping my ticket and the first glimpse of Main Street as I step through the gate. Upon Seeing Cinderella Castle I know I will hold back a tear. I'll probably need some kleenex to get through Wishes because sharing it with the person I love the most for the first time will be a very emotional experience. Other than that, I'll be smiling all the time... in My Laughing Place!

 

[chicky monkey]

I guess the minute where I first feel that "Man--this is so surreal" moment is when I sit down on the boat in the Pirates of the Caribbean, since that is usually the first ride we visit each and every time. As soon as I hear "Dead men tell no tales!".....I kinda smile to myself and say "I'm finally here and I'm not merely reading about it on the boards. Nope, today I'm seeing it, hearing it, smelling it, and feeling it in person!

That's a good feeling.

 

[Webbie]

Oh I know what you are talking about. I call it the Magical feeling! It hits me when I first set foot on Main Street.

The surreal feeling hits me when I walk out the doors of MCO and the humity hits me in the face...no wait that is reality. LOL.

 

[Elysiannn]

For me it's a few things:

-When I finally zip up my suitcase after it being out for a month before and packed and repacked several times.
-When I see the Gates of WDW and start driving on WDW property
-When I wake up the first morning to a Mickey wakeup call (I'm hoping to get a Stitch one in May!)
-When I see Tink flying over me before the WISHES fireworks

Ely

 

[disneyluvr913]

Walking into MGM Studios on our one and only trip last January...seeing Mickey's hat and then the next moment, seeing Mickey himself. THAT is surreal.

 

[annej]

All these posts make me tear up as I sit here having a major attack of missing Disney! This past December we got so excited to see that entrance sign. Couldn't stop smiling and checking into the resort is when I finally feel like I have arrived. I just sit on the bed and repeat "we're finally here!" over and over. Can't wait for next January!!!

 

[KimR]

I think my 'surreal' moment is that first evening after we have checked in, I've finished unpacking the suitcases, and we go to DTD for dinner. Our first-night tradition is to go to DTD and have dinner at Portobello Yacht Club; so as soon as I see the McDonalds, the Disney Store, the Legos and Rainforest Cafe in the distance I know we are finally here! I just love that first dinner of the trip when we can sit back and relax after a long day of travel and talk about and anticipate the incredible week we have ahead of us. We'll talk about the things everyone is looking forward to most as well memories of prior trips. Afterwards, we go shopping at the Disney Store and get autograph books and pens and souveniers. Then, we get a hot fudge Sundae from Ghiradelli to eat overlooking the lake. 7 more weeks to go!!!