Tell us your DIS story...

[Miss Stitch]

I had always wanted to visit WDW and the USA, but it is very expensive to come over from the UK and it was just a dream. Some friends of our visited and they loved it and I was so jealous We decided to look into Disneyland Paris and found that for the five of us it was nearly expensive as going to Florida. We booked and came and to be honest, I looked around the place and thought is this it?! I expected pixie dust and magic, and I didn't feel it. Maybe it was the expectation I had built up since I was a child, although I now know different (we didn't do any planning aside from ordering the planning DVD and watching it religously). But looking back now, I know that we rushed about, not stopping to feel the magic.

My husband loved it and was persuading me to return and I was very doubful.
He pushed me and pushed me and finally two years later we booked again. It was then that I found the DIS whilst googling WDW, and the magic appeared again for me. I lurked for a few months and read about the magic other people had experienced and things that I would have never thought of doing. I thought, maybe that we will have a great time. I lurked and planned for about 6 months before we left and the boards and the people posting had got me really excited. And thanks to the Dis, my second trip was amazing We took our time to discover the little things and secrets that I had read about on the Dis. We knew where to eat and what to do and it was all thanks to the Boards.

Now I visit every day, although we will not have another trip planned for around 3 years, although we are planning Disneyland Paris next year. I get my daily Disney Fix to tide me over and love to try and help other people like they helped me. I think I would go insane without the boards.

I started listening to the Podcast around the same time and enjoy it so much. You guys are like my friends and listening to you giggle and joke, and dis Bob, makes me feel I am in the room with you. We listeners feel like we know you personally, you are not over produced like some podcasts, you are just like a bunch of friends sat in your lounge chatting about Disney. You even make the least exciting Disney things funny and interesting.

Thanks guys and everyone on the Board for all the help and fun you give me.

 

[LilGMom]

I found the DIS through a friend that I had turned onto Disney. She wasn't a huge WDW fan but quickly became one and found this site which she later told me about. Since my DH & I have been going 2-3 times a year since '99 I thought that I knew it all so I had never looked for sites like this. I'm lucky that my DH is just as much a WDW nut as I am and we both get giddy when talking about WDW and we both get our daily DIS doses.

The DIS has turned me onto so many hidden gems that I had no clue about, in the parks and around the parks that I now know even more than before . There aren't many people that I know that don't look at me like I'm an escaped mental patient when I start going on and on about Disney so finding a site filled with like-minded people has been wonderful! I love being able to ask a question about anything from SOG to DVC and from mugs to FPs and be able to quickly get an answer back.

I first listened to the Podcast on a whim and because it is sooooo quiet in my office. I listened to my first couple of Podcasts on my work computer (shhh, don't tell the IT guy!) and was instantly hooked. Now on Tuesday evenings I download the Podcast to my iTouch so that I can listen to it the next day and same for the email show. I give my DH an appreviated version of the Podcast each week and I make him listen to certain segments that I know he'd like to hear.

Being able to tune into the Podcast each week gives me my "fix" in between trips and gives me ideas on things to do on our next trip that we might not have done yet. I love the banter between the Pod Squad and the wit/humor make it enjoyable to listen to - kinda like I'm with family but family that I like.

 

[wishspirit]

Wow! Some of these stories are great!

My mom won our first trip to Disney. She used to be really into those slogan competitions, so in 2 years she won a car and a disney holiday! We stayed offsite (which was fine for a young family, me being four and my sister being six! We also found Bob Evans, which we go back to every time!) I remember just 'getting it' even at four, and can still remember things about that holiday which astounds my parents!

We have gone about every four years after that (us being Brits, makes it hard to make the trip!). My mom came across disboards from the back of guide book (which i had read cover to cover!) before our 2005 trip. She then started lurking (shes a serial lurker and is jealous of my post count!) and when I asked her what she was doing, she told me to join up! I had been off and on for a bit (esspecially during exam times) and mostly stuck to the teen board till fairly recently (when it all got too darn samey and i was getting too darn old!). My mom really got into it when buying DVC, so we get to go every year (or at least my mom does and will choose who out of the family to invite, its my turn next year!)

Dis is my outlet, i dont get to talk about it much to most of my friends because they just dont 'get it'. They laugh at me about it, and me being naturally shy, i dont tend to bring it up much anymore! Although through dis i have found some good friends off Dis (from the college board), one at the same university as me, and we are even thinking of living together next year which is fab! (We are planning on it being a disney house, it will be so much fun!)

I didnt get into the podcasts intill fairly recently, i am agoraphobic (recovering) but still have a huge problem with trains. This is a problem because to get home (or see my boyfriend, darn these long distance relationships!) i have to take 2 hour train each way. I am trying to wean myself off these chemical filled tablets for years now, but someone sugggested listening to audio tapes. Well ofcourse they can be quite expensive, so i thought podcasts might do the trick! So i subscribed to the podcast and armed myself with my ipod and hit the train!

Last week i did my first round trip with no tablets, all thanks to Dis! Those 4 hours flew by (to the point i didnt want to get off the train!) So thanks you guys in the podcast crew! You are stars!

Although i do begrudge Dis one thing. You have destroyed my sleeping patterns. I stay up late to talk to all the people who dont come on till later (stupid 5 hour time difference!), now i cant get to sleep before 2 in the morn! I love it when the threads are fast paced, but it shows in the bags under my eyes!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Wow! Some of these stories are great!

My mom won our first trip to Disney. She used to be really into those slogan competitions, so in 2 years she won a car and a disney holiday! We stayed offsite (which was fine for a young family, me being four and my sister being six! We also found Bob Evans, which we go back to every time!) I remember just 'getting it' even at four, and can still remember things about that holiday which astounds my parents!

We have gone about every four years after that (us being Brits, makes it hard to make the trip!). My mom came across disboards from the back of guide book (which i had read cover to cover!) before our 2005 trip. She then started lurking (shes a serial lurker and is jealous of my post count!) and when I asked her what she was doing, she told me to join up! I had been off and on for a bit (esspecially during exam times) and mostly stuck to the teen board till fairly recently (when it all got too darn samey and i was getting too darn old!). My mom really got into it when buying DVC, so we get to go every year (or at least my mom does and will choose who out of the family to invite, its my turn next year!)

Dis is my outlet, i dont get to talk about it much to most of my friends because they just dont 'get it'. They laugh at me about it, and me being naturally shy, i dont tend to bring it up much anymore! Although through dis i have found some good friends off Dis (from the college board), one at the same university as me, and we are even thinking of living together next year which is fab! (We are planning on it being a disney house, it will be so much fun!)

I didnt get into the podcasts intill fairly recently, i am agoraphobic (recovering) but still have a huge problem with trains. This is a problem because to get home (or see my boyfriend, darn these long distance relationships!) i have to take 2 hour train each way. I am trying to wean myself off these chemical filled tablets for years now, but someone sugggested listening to audio tapes. Well ofcourse they can be quite expensive, so i thought podcasts might do the trick! So i subscribed to the podcast and armed myself with my ipod and hit the train!

Last week i did my first round trip with no tablets, all thanks to Dis! Those 4 hours flew by (to the point i didnt want to get off the train!) So thanks you guys in the podcast crew! You are stars!

Although i do begrudge Dis one thing. You have destroyed my sleeping patterns. I stay up late to talk to all the people who dont come on till later (stupid 5 hour time difference!), now i cant get to sleep before 2 in the morn! I love it when the threads are fast paced, but it shows in the bags under my eyes!

OMG, this is wonderful, Kate! Cure by DIS! Thanks for your story!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Believe it or not, when I first found the DIS, I didn't think it was for me. Blasphemy, I know!! But before I can get into that... some history. Picture it... Orlando... 1975. I am among the luckiest kids on the planet and live in Mickey's backyard. We move to New England a year or so later but the visits continue. I was Disney-obsessed almost from the start. I vividly remember being in middle school and reading the Birnbaum guide book cover to cover. I can prove it... the first lines of the author's note were "I suspect that my wife may be the most blase traveler I know..." Seriously, how do I remember that 20+ yrs later I even used to write and illustrate my own little stories about families going to WDW.

I dropped out of the Disney world for ~15 years between college and now. I rekindled the obsession a few years ago with a trip and found the DIS while doing my online planning. I thought it had tons of great information but thought to myself:

"I'd never be so obsessed that I'd be online talking to strangers about Disney! And what kind of vacation is it if you have to plan every second like a military operation? And what about those people who actually make things for their trips like t-shirts, autograph books etc??? I mean, great for them but I'll never get that 'crazy'..."​

So here I am a few years later

• A color-coded spreadsheet for my Oct trip which is 8 months away
• A little irritated that you have to wait 'til 180 days out to make ADRs
• Seriously considering DVC
• Buying a graphics program so I can play around and make my own design so I can make my own t-shirt
• Reading trip reports like a junkie and getting "mad" when the updates don't come quickly enough
• Looking forward to Tuesdays when the latest DIS Unplugged podcast is released so I can find out what my "friends" have been up to

Thanks to the DIS and all who make it what it is.... love ya!!!

 

[LilGMom]

• A color-coded spreadsheet for my Oct trip which is 8 months away
• A little irritated that you have to wait 'til 180 days out to make ADRs
• Seriously considering DVC
• Buying a graphics program so I can play around and make my own design so I can make my own t-shirt
• Reading trip reports like a junkie and getting "mad" when the updates don't come quickly enough
• Looking forward to Tuesdays when the latest DIS Unplugged podcast is released so I can find out what my "friends" have been up to

Thanks to the DIS and all who make it what it is.... love ya!!!

I have to laugh at your list (not at you but definately with you). I do color-coded spreadsheets (a bit anal like that) that list the days we are going to be there, the EMHs, our ADRs, confirmation numbers & times and then I have one for packing (a seperate sheet for each family member). We joined DVC last year and I made t-shirts for the kids last October for when we checked into VWL (had a wonderful picture of WL on the front) and t-shirts for our pre-MNSSHP LTT dinner. Subscribe to various trip reports and downloading the latest podcast is the only thing I have my iTouch synced to do. Right there with ya buddy!!!

 

[burberryplaid]

Last year my husband and I finally booked a trip to Disney World. This was my first trip EVER to the World, and DH hadn't been there since he was 12 or 13. I am an excessive planner and I wanted to know everything about the planning process. Through my friend Google, I found the Dis boards. Eventually I found a number of Disney podcasts on itunes, one of which was the Dis Unplugged.

Through out my planning I listened to many podcasts, but a good handful of them were soon deleted. The Dis Unplugged is one of the few who has remained on my play list. Because of the knowledge and humor of the Podcast crew, I have become a loyal listener.

Shortly after the Podcast forum was created, I became a frequent poster and an even more frequent reader. While we sometimes have our disagreements, I don't think anyone could find a more loyal following than the Pod Squad. I look forward to reading what everyone has to say, and even though I may not know everyone on a personal level, I feel like I do. I hope that there are others who feel like they've gotten to know me over the months that I've been posting here.

Our Pod Squad family is a group I feel very loyal to, and I look forward to all the fun and merriment to come!

 

[mla973]

I actually don't recall how I found the DIS. I am a former college program student (twice!), and have always loved all things Disney. Once I found the boards, I've never left.

The first board I really visited was the scrapbooking board (I believe the title has since changed). It was really great to share tips and techniques about how to best capture our trip memories. I interacted with this board in a number of circle journals (scrabooks that are mailed each month within a small group). I've kept in touch with many of those people, both here and on another private board. I have even met some of them in person.

I also tell everyone I know about the DIS. Family, friends, colleagues, pretty much anyone who will listen. On the boards, I've gotten suggestions on how to plan my wedding (incorporating a few special Disney touches), how to purchase into DVC, how to book CRT, and how to choose a restaurant coutesy of my favorite thread, the food photos! I DIS typically every day, and I miss it when I can't.

Thanks to all of you who make the DIS possible (Pete and the Podcast team, as well as those of you who have answered my questions over the years). I've always felt that "Disney people" share a kinship because we all treasure the same thing which is very special to us. I'm so happy we have a place to "meet" and discuss my favorite topic!

p.s. I too have color-coded trip spreadsheets. My name is Megan, and I am a DIS-a-holic.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I found the DIS when I was researching DVC resales. I think I googled that term and there was a link to the boards...and I never looked back! I've learned so much and found so many wonderful people. I just feel at home on the DIS.

My kids are the happiest that I found this great online community as we've been to WDW and DL too many times to count over the last few years because of all the wonderful information I've gleaned from the various forums.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Pete for starting the website and to the thousands of contributors that have made my vacation dreams come true!!!

 

[chirurgeon]

I started on the DIS when I started planning my first trip to WDW. It was a family trip with 9 of us in 2000. I did a little planning from the DIS at that point, but to be honest, I didn't really get into the community at that point. I came back in 2002 to plan a special trip for my Mom and me. YC Concierge. Very nice. I also went way after the trip. It kind of hurt to come here and see all sorts of people planning trips when I wasn't. Then came 2005 and a short weekend trip while I was in Tampa for business. Then 2006 the year that got me hooked on the DIS and I haven't been away since. And my philosophy of life has changed. Some of you might remember, I'm a cancer survivor and that made WDW a priority in my life. I have to always be planning a trip. Even if the trip is over a year away like when I planned my next trip. Which is less than 10 months away now. And of course there is the Podcast cruise.

As far as special friends go, there are people I like and make sure I read their posts. Practically everyone who is signed up for the cruise. I would like to consider them all friends. I hope they think of me that way. And the PodCast Crew. I think I could be friends with all of them. But I'm not a stalker. Just a pal. I'm too old to be a stalker.

Kim

 

[TheWho]

My first visit to WDW was in 1998. I was 35, married, and had a 2 year old girl. I had been to Disneyland before but never to WDW. It was a short trip but I was blown away. I felt like Richard Dreyfess in Close Encounters, drawn to a special place (I think it was Devil's mountain in the movie).
As far as finding the DIS, the internet in the late 90's to me was a place where I could find info on my favorite band, The Who (hence my log on name). After my WDW close encounter, I figured the internet could also satisfy my new Disney passion. As my join date says, I lurked the DIS and finally got a log in name in 2000 because I was interested in DVC. Needless to say, the DIS posters were/are extemely helpful and I brought 300 points at BWV for $64/point in 2000.

I don't have a lot of posts recorded, but I can honestly say I have been reading the DIS boards since the 98/99.

After many hours on the DIS and many trips to WDW, it's been a blast being connected to the DIS "Endless Wire".

 

[grizbuzz]

I bought the Unofficial Guide to WDW in preparation for our first family trip to Disneyworld in early 2006. It recommended DISboards as a source of all info to prepare for Disneyworld trip, so I checked out the site. I looked and lurked, but must admit feeling a bit overloaded by all the information on resorts, dining, lodging, etc... I was a bit overwhelmed as a Disneyworld novice, but still I felt a pull to the site - there was so much passion and devotion to Disney and the DISboard community that appealed to me.

It wasn't until I booked a last minute Med cruise for our family that I really got hooked on the DIS. We booked our room just a little over a month before the cruise and it really helped having a source of information and a group of people to link to who would be cruising with us. I learned SO MUCH on the boards - from how to get train tickets to Spain, how to pack, what green mickey paint ears at Home Depot are, how to make a door sign, etc... It just made preparing for the trip so much more fun and it was great to have a community of people that I "knew" once I got to Barcelona.

When I got back from the cruise, I missed visiting the DISboards and planning a vacation. And it was at this point that I ventured to the DVC boards. Honestly, I would never have bought into DVC if it wasn't for the boards, as I trusted the opinions and advice offered here in a way that I just didn't trust hearing straight from Disney's mouth. Funny thing was that I never met my guide in person and I told him right away that I found out about DVC on the disboards and he never tried to sell me anything. Seems he just figured I knew all I needed to know from the boards and answered questions if I had them, but let DISboards do his work for him.

I think Disney should be paying a commission to the DIS, cause I tell you I have given the Disney company a lot of money this last year due to the enthusiasm and devotion of people on these boards. And while I am still in process of getting over my denial of being a bit "addicted" to Disney (always looking for excuses to explain why I "had to" make that last trip to Disneyland or Disneyworld to my extended family and hiding the truth of my vacation destinations to my work colleagues), I think I'm coming to terms with it being "OK" to love Disney so much.

I grew up thinking that Disney magic was a bit like the Wizard of Oz -- if you learned too much you'd destroy the illusion. Through these boards I've learned that the more I learn, the more the magic grows. Imagination and creativity and dreams go on and on, (as does my love for finding a "great deal" or a hidden secret ).

Thanks DIS for providing little escapes from my work week and great advice and information for the many Disney trips that I've taken and have yet to take!

 

[nenner1]

I grew up in WDW's back alley . I've been spoiled by being so close and going so often that I thought that I knew everything there was to know about Disney..and then I discovered the DIS! What I realized was that I didn't know nothin'!

I found the DIS researching Disney Cruise Line for the fist time in the fall of '06. I immediately became lurker-extrordannaire, hanging out on the DCL forums, reading reports, writing reports...joining cruise meets. I figured out pretty quickly that there are Disney people...and then there are DIS'ers!

Not long after that I noticed a banner ad for the DIS Unplugged, and another addiction was forged. It was, honestly and truly my very first podcast. The very fist show I listened to, which was probably in October or November of '06, I was at work and as I was listening I was laughing so loudly everyone I work with thought I was nuts (Okayyyy this only confirmed their suspicions).
Because of DIS unplugged and the DIS I have learned *so* much that has enhanced our trips and cruises unbelievably. We went from doing the same old thing all the time to experiences we never even knew existed.

My family and I will be forever grateful...and entertained!

 

[DebºoºS]

I came over to the DIS in the 90's when I noticed a mention in one of Pete's posts on RADP. He had a new discussion forum forming on his website. It was a small group at first but quickly grew as more WDW lovers moved into this new welcoming neighborhood. Crashes and more crashes happened but we kept posting sharing tips and stories about our fave WDW. After awhile (1998?) we decided to have our first meet at the Boardwalk. I've met so many DISers over the years that have become real life friends as well as being cyber friends. We've watched our kids and gardens grow, shared our sorrows and wonderful WDW adventures. You'll find me frequently DISing on the Flower & Garden and Photography boards.

 

[lttlmc3]

Well, what can I say? I've been to WDW several times when I was younger, but really fell in love when I went back on my honeymoon in 2005. DH had never been before, so it was like seeing it for the first time through his eyes. After coming home, I couldn't get enough information on Disney. No matter what I did, it wasn't enough to feed the obsession. Then, the next year, my sister treated me and my then 9 year old nephew to a fantastic trip in November. After that, I was crazy about anything Disney World. That year, I got an IPOD for Christmas.
The DIS came into my life through the podcast. At the time, I was working the night shift at the police station. Well, there just isn't much to watch on TV at 4am other than infomercials, so I filled my time listening to Podcasts. I listened to several Disney related podcasts, but this was my favorite. It was the first one I had listened to that took a real look at Disney, and didn't just compliment them. My first love was Kevin's restaurant reviews. After the first one, I was hooked. Then I started quoting them. Now the guys on my shift know something new will be the discussion every Wednesday.
I found the boards through the Podcast. I love the boards. I love people on the boards. I've made friends here. I keep listening to the Podcasts because it brings us all together. We can all chat about what was discussed, and I love that. I love feeling a part of a community.

 

[DisneyDame27]

I grew up with "The Magical World of Disney". We watched Walt Disney every Sunday night. I can remember it like it was yesterday and one of my happiest memories of my childhood. I am the oldest of five kids. My Mom & Dad could never afford to take us to Disney so it was always my dream to look down Main St. USA. On Sunday night I would watch Tinkerbell fly up and place her magic wand on Cinderella's castle turning the black & white castle image to a colorful display that I would dream about.
My first trip was 1985 for my honeymoon. I still remember walking into Magic Kingdom and getting a lump in my throat as the tears welled up in my eyes because every happy childhood memory I ever had come flooding back to me. It still happens everytime I walk past the flag pole and look down Main Street USA and see Cinderella's castle.
In 1995 we began planning our first trip to Disney. Two young ones had been added to my family. My son Tony 12 at the time(now 20) and Nicholas then 8(now 16). I began searching at the official site but was delighted when I stumbled upon your site. It was your site recommendations that gave us the information we needed back then. More recently your web site contributed to providing me with information which led us to our purchasing our DVC membership! Which was the best investment we ever made!
We have planned trips every other year since then. Your web site, pod casts and discussion forms have helped me plan trips for the four of us to entire "Fresolo Family" trips which included 21 people! I am proud to say that I can do everything from picking a good place to eat to getting around any park at any time no matter how busy the parks might be!
I have used more tips from the discussion forms than I can put here and I cannot say thank you enough for all the information that you provide to all of us so consistently and honestly.
I visit the site twice a day. Once at lunch and then right before bed. It's my "Disney Fix" especially during the winter here in Massachusetts. I have referred everyone I know who even thinks about planning a Disney trip to your site and have gotten nothing but positive feed back from everyone.
Please bear with me while I say that visiting this Web Site in the past 7 months, reading the articles, discussion forms and listening to the Pod Cast has allowed me to heal my sad heart from losing both of my parents within 18 months of each other. I was very lucky to have them for as long as I had but losing them was a sad thing and difficult to get through. You and your team has allowed me to laugh again, learn about one of my favorite things (Disney) and reflect on many fond memories of my life.
Thank you Peter, Bob, Corey, Julie, Kevin and John. I have been visiting your site since 1995 and have enjoyed watching you change and grow. I will continue my daily visits and am looking forward to the wonderful surprises that are yet to come.........you rock guys.....keep up the good work!!

 

[minie_meese]

I could never forget my first trip to DisneyWorld. It was February, 1983. I was 7 months pregnant and we drove from Rochester, NY in a Toyota Corona with my husband and our two sons through a blizzard. We decided to go because my dad and my sister, who had been in Central Florida the year before, talked about a permanent “World’s Fair” exhibit near the Magic Kingdom. They had just missed the opening for the “World’s Fair” which I later learned was EPCOT. I’d never wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom but I’d always wanted to see a World’s Fair. After our 1200 mile trek we arrived at the Polynesian, one of 2 hotels on Disney property at the time. During our week at DisneyWorld I fell in love with both EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom, and with everything Disney. We visited a few more times though the early 1990’s and I loved every new thing we got to see.

In 1995 I had the opportunity to plan for and chaperone a group of 50 high school students competing in a 4-day robotics competition that took up an entire parking lot in EPCOT. There were about 10,000 people (mostly teenagers) at the competition and we had a riot (I love teenagers – I know I am a little crazy). I got to see DisneyWorld from a totally different perspective. With all of the planning I did to make this work for us, I was asked to work with Disney to help them get some major kinks worked out of hosting large groups of high school students in programs like ours. In 1995 the All Star Sports and Music had just opened and Disney was just learning how to host school groups on Disney property. I had fun taking groups of high school kids back to this competition for next 5 years. Each year things got better.

I love to go to DisneyWorld and have taken my family back almost every year for the past 10 years. Our 2 little 4 yr old granddaughters are veterans. The switch from teenagers to pre-schoolers caused me to start looking on the web for current info on Disney for little ones. I remember coming across the DIS though an internet search about 3 years ago and thought to myself, "are these people crazy – who has time to go though all of that stuff - they must be fanatics". I went away. As I planned our 2007 trip I had some questions and came across the DIS through a search engine again. I decided to ask my questions on the DIS boards and found a community of great caring people who were always willing to share their information day or night. There was always someone there. What a load came off my shoulders. The DIS sucked me in. I found myself going through post after post and contributing at least 3 or 4 times a week – I had become one of those people I had called crazy fanatics. Shortly after finding the boards I found the podcasts and take them with me on my trips between Rochester where I live and Boston where I work. They make me laugh and let me hear voices that share my enthusiasm for Disney. Through the podcasts I became really interested in doing a Disney Cruise and am now planning a first Disney family cruise.

Thanks to all of you - the Podcast crew and my friends on the DIS Boards for sharing your piece of the magic.

 

[willis37862]

Let's see my how I found the DIS and why I'm still here story.....I was searching the web for information on Disney while planning our second trip to WDW , the second trip for DH and I as married people that is. We had both been several times as kids with our own families. My parents weren't big planners and we just kinda went with the flow back then....I on the other hand am very OCD about planning everything out and knowing ahead of time whats going on and when and where.

So in 2005 I was planning our second trip ( we spent part of our honeymoon at WDW ) and I came across the DIS and I haven't left since. Even last year when we had no WDW trip in the plans I was here pretty much every day checking to see what was going on at Disney. The DIS is where I found out about the DDP, free dining , those controversial refillable resort mugs , a good spot to watch the parade and fireworks, how to make ADR's , reviews of resorts and restaurants and everything else you can think of. The DIS has helped me with my planning more than I could have imagined it would when I found it 3 years ago. The only negative is that as a person with OCD I have found a whole slew of new things to worry about!

After hanging out on the theme parks board for awhile I got up all my courage and started posting on the CB board. Before too long I joined in on one of the "clique" ( I use that word for a lack of a better way to describe them ) threads and started making friends. Unfortunately not all those friendships stuck but one special one did. Last year DH and I were able to meet her and her DH and have dinner and that was great. It really felt like we had been friends forever. We chat almost everyday now and hopefully she and her family will be coming this way this fall and we will be able to meet up again.

I started listening to the DIS Unplugged last summer and I have been hooked since the first episode I listened to. When the weather is nice I listen to you guys and gal while I walk at the park. The time just flies by. When the weather isn't nice enough to be outdoors , I listen while I drive to work and it eases the pain

So that's my long DIS story...hopefully you are still reading and haven't given up. Thanks to the DIS , the roundtable and all the posters that have helped me plan my trips , given me great tips and shared my enthusiasm for all things Disney. I have made friends, made a few enemies and had a lot of fun!

 

[slapwhitey]

If I'm being completely honest I actually found the DIS by accident. It was after one of my trips to the world. I was sitting at work in my usual post-Disney funk trying to find anything and everything there is about Disney World in cyperspace. Due to my finances and geographical location (Canadian prairies) it was not feasible for me to make multiple trips a year to get my fix. I was probably averaging a trip every 1 1/2 years. I filled the voids with numerous Disney information sites and audio from such wonderful sites as live365. Then, out of nowhere, I stumbled across a little site called wdwinfo.com. OK, maybe it wasn't so little. It had incredible information and provided me with another location to pass my time and drift away to neverland as I dreamt about my next adventure to Florida (I'm also a huge Universal fan so this site was right up my alley). I was not known for my internet savvy so when I saw the link to "forums" I didn't even know what to expect. Of course the possibility of even MORE Disney information intrigued me so I gave it a shot. My friends and family always thought I had some sort of sickness or OCD obsession with Disney World. I didn't deny it, there's not a day that goes by where it doesn't creep into my subconscience. I was never naïve enough to think I was the only one but I never expected what I found when I opened that link. Literally 10's if not 100's of thousands of people just like me. It's almost like you finally know where you belong. Needless to say every free moment I had at work I was either researching information or providing my own opinion on everything from attractions, restaurants to hotels. I found myself researching information on topics I didn't even know I was interested in. I also absolutely loved the fact that there was a board specifically for your neighbors of the north. It was great to share common interests with folks with the same perspective as yourself.
Without question though the most significant discovery for me was the Adult and Solo Travelers forum. I was in the process of planning a solo trip as I had pretty much exhausted my travel partner resources at home. Most people liked it but I LOVED it and they weren't ready to go back year after year......I know, don't get me started. I found myself very comfortable here as it seemed like a very close group and they all seemed like genuinely nice people. It wasn't long before a thread started for single, unattached Disney fanatics. This was great as there were dozens of DISnuts that were in the same place in their lives as I was. After pages and pages of harmless chit chat I received a PM from one of the other posters who happened to be in the same situation as myself and even lived in the same country (not as easy a task as you might think). We began some friendly back and forth and eventually graduated to phone calls, emails, etc. We found out that as much as we were different we were the same. We decided at some point we would have to meet to share a more personal conversation. Long story short....14 months later I have moved across provinces to be with her and her son (also a DISnut who is on the autism spectrum which is why I also want to thank you for the DISabilities forum). We have shared a few trips "home" now including December 06 when I proposed to my princess at the wishing well and our August 07 Disney Fairytale wedding and honeymoon cruise (on the Wonder of course). We now go to Disney about 4 times a year, usually just the odd weekend. We've also cruised the Magic for a wonderful 7 day with our my step son as well.
So I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for literally changing my life forever. Not only did you give me a place to enjoy my passion you also introduced me to lifelong friends and the love of my life, my soul mate. We both still frequent the boards just about every day. I don't post as much as I used to but she still posts quite regularly. We also enjoyed the Wedding board, the DCL board (honeymoon) as well as keep in touch with our friends on the Canadian and Adult and Solo travelers board. The DIS has also helped convince us to spend a week this June in California to visit the mother land. I even had to purchase an iPod to listen to Disney podcasts. I don't think I've ever had one song on there, it's reserved for Disney only....haha. Thanks again guys, I can't even put into words how much this has meant to us and our lives. Keep up the good work.
Specifically for Pete.....Walt Disney once said "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them". My dream has come true because you had the courage to pursue yours. Thank you.

Chris Heinrichs a.k.a. slapwhitey on the DIS Kitchener, Ontario Canada

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Well, I remember growing up and my dad going on some forum that he would abbreviate to the "DIS". He joined in 2001. I had never heard of this website, but I was 8. The only things I'd heard of were Barbie, the actual Disney company websites, and hotmail (which later turned into Gmail). I had always been a huge fan of Disney. I'd gone every 4 months since the age of 3, and we live all the way out in Washington DC. Not exactly the closest place to Florida. When we first went, we'd start off by staying off property at the Marriott (sp?) just outside of DTD.
Then we started to become veterans at Coronado Springs Resort. Then when I turned 11 we joined DVC. No more Coronado which still holds a special place in my heart. Anyway, when I was about 11 and it was January my dad sent me an e-mail with the link to the DIS. He did not tell me to join, but he did tell me to lurk for about a month. So I read through the different boards and was fascinated by how smart some people were. I could hardly believe how much I did not know about Disney! I even once ventured to the Teen Board and that was probably the final push.
I literally got on my knees and begged my dad to let me join. Literally, begged. Finally, he agreed. We got on the computer and we chose my username, password, and made my signature (which has changed at least 1,000 times since joining). The first place I posted, the Teen Board. I was hooked. I was amazed at how much they knew about Disney for only being teenagers. I, the person who was an expert on Disney, learned new things. It was so awesome! It made my trip to Disney for Spring Break even better.
I learned a ton of new facts and made a lot of new friends. I became a veteran on the Teen Board and I got my first set of tags there. I made many new friends who are still my friends, a year later. I even joined the limey thread on the Community Board and now have a set of friends who know more about living life than some of us teens do, which sometimes we need to hear. I love all my friends on the DIS and am completely happy I joined. Now I'm 12 years old, have gone to Disney 27 times (28 after Spring Break), have 10,763 posts, and now know how to have some of the best trips to Disney ever.
While my dad and I still stick to our normal schedule of: "Get up at deathly early hours, ride popular rides at each park before crowds come, jet to less popular rides and enjoy day, go home and nap or swim to take a break from heat, go back to park, watch fireworks, jet out quickly, and then collapse on bed and start all over." but we have added some new places to go in-between those general slots of time for our day at the parks. The DIS is truly a wonderful place and I could not be more happy I joined.