So... if I become a DVC member... will I give up my dorky trip rituals?

[momsgoofy]

Okay, our family of 3 has had 4 trips to WDW and 1 DCL experience, the last 2 WDW trips were as DVC members...have our...or rather my rituals changed?

I still buy the Passporter, but not sure if I'll continue to buy one each year...we'll see. I am an obsessive planner like many here at the DIS, which in essence is therapy for us all. I get more info (tips, advice, suggestions and rumors that become gospel sooner than the official WDW sites can get it out) here than anywhere. On this last trip, as I want pointing out the hidden mickey on the land boat ride, the CM giving the tour asks me..."Do you wanna give the tour?" Honestly, it was the first time I'd ever ridden it...I just knew enough from the DIS...

Photographs...I actually take way more than I did on the first trips...I started with an simple point and shoot 35mm w/o zoom....now I've got a great digital with all the bells and whistles that I've not yet figured out and memory cards capacity for about 700 shots at max resolution...so I just shoot away and keep the best. I just find myself taking different photos now...I look for the "uncommon" I guess...shots of DH and DS arm in arm walking through Frointerland, the quirky shots of DS13 acting like he was still 7 on his first trip and all the wonder in his eyes...I now use a mini-tripod to get those shots of the castle and fireworks...one day I know I'll go full fledged tripod.

Trip rituals...well, we don't have many to speak of...we try to eat at as many different locations each trip as possible, only returning to a couple of favorites. Rides? Well, DH is secretly obsessed with HM...DS and I just can't figure out why, but we indulge him each trip. In June I started to love it again...as we headed to our doom buggy, a couple of young Asian girls, who seemed to speak little English, were very jumpy and the CMs were getting into the roles...the poor girls were really scared looking...I told DH and DS to let them go ahead of us and I enjoyed the HM through their eyes...way fun!

That is something I've noticed the last 2 trips I've caught myself doing...I see the kid in people come out and try to see WDW thru their eyes. At Christmas it was so fun to watch a little boy of about 3 who was fascinated by the ducks near Casey's...he was imitating them and quacking...such a treat! Then the little girl of about 2, who had she not been strapped into her stroller at the MVMCP, would have cut a fine rug as she and her parents listend to the piano player outside of Casey's...she sure tried sitting there.

So, I don't think just becoming DVC members has really changed my "Trip Ritual Geek" mentality...I still plan, still read the DIS faithfully as I do, and I guess we still do the same things we've always done on our trips to WDW...relax, eat well, and have fun!

 

[carone0318]

There are some rituals that we have that will never change and some that will change on their own. I must always take a picture of my children (backside) walking through the lobby of the Boardwalk. It is sort of a growth chart of my kids year-to-year (amazine how quickly my ds (4) is catching up to dd (9)). Another thing that the kids have a ritual for is when we leave our room or return to our floor, they run down the hall to our room door or to the elevator doors and play this made up game with the carpet outside the elevator trying to find the "Minnie bow" or "Goofy's feet" and have to go stand on that square on the carpet. I love those moments and hope that they will never end.

 

[lsutigger2]

Nope, not much changed for me! DH humors me - bless him!

I love taking photos and now that I have a digital, it is probably worse than before. I do take what I call unusual things - signs, up close of details, etc.

My ritual, if you want to call it that is to write a diary. I got a small note book and each night write a few of our favorites from the day. You'd be surprised how many times I've read through it! (now that's dorky!!) I filled up the first one and found one with Mickey Mouse on the front at Wal-Mart. Can't wait to begin filling it with special moments - where we ate, DH golf scores, etc) in just three weeks.

 

[disworldnum1]

We love the pictures but there are fewer now then in the beginning.We have traded in the old video camera for a digital that takes video also,so theres less to carry.We always take certain pictures to see how big our son has gotten and to look at the changes.We also swear everytime we go that we wont buy any more photos at the rides but when the time comes we cant help ourselves.We seem to be creatures of habits and always have to do certain things like play miniature golf at winter/summer land.Its something we started when my son was 6 years old and just continue the tradition.It also seems that all these silly traditions we have is what makes it extra special when we go, becuase it reminds us of other great times we had there.Does any of this make sense?

 

[tmt martins]

I have given up on my videoing (and boy are they all mad) I would come home from vacation and spend days on editing Music stills the whole nine yards.

I did the dark rides with nightvision did the rides DD was afraid of to show her they are not that bad.

Then it happened I was editing my DL trip and saw something I don't remember seeing and told them this was it I WAS TIRED OF SEEING DISNEY THROUGH A 3in SCREEN.

I didn't even take it for our MNSSHP in OCT (dumb me missed a lot of good stuff) but they survived .I know I'm going again after MVMCP so I will survive as well.

Photopass worked great got some good shots (That I'm In ).and am buying DW a 8MP camera to carry.

 

[ceejay13]

Same rituals just more often. I also love the Passporter guides and have bought them every year so far.

 

[DawnaJean]

... yes, you will find lots of new ways to be a dork. But you'll have about 89,999 other dorks in the club with you!

Having said that, we are also very smart dorks - we bought DVC, after all!

You are toooooo funny!