Tell us your DIS story...

[tmli]

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

Holy crap honey.....I think this is more words than I have heard you speak in the last year!!

But, that was a beautiful post, thank you!

My dis story is similar, in the beginning, fell upon it by accident as I was researching my second trip. Now over thirty trips and a new husband later the disboards is an important part of daily life for us!

 

[paulasillars]

My name is Paula and I'm a Disney addict. I live in Christchurch, New Zealand and have been obsessed by Disney since I was a small child. I remember my best friend teasing me through high school about my insistence on wearing a Mickey Mouse watch instead of a trendy Swatch.

We have no Disney stores here in New Zealand and until the last few years Disney merchandise has been virtually non-existent. The nearest park is California or Hong Kong/Tokyo - both approximately a 12 hour long haul flight.

This means The Dis (since I stumbled across it in 2001) has been often the only way to keep in touch with Disney and to know that I'm not the only person on the planet with this fixation. Virtually no one here in New Zealand even knows about the parks other than Disneyland, the cruise is unknown - Disney does absolutely NO advertising here. So I keep coming back as it gives me a sense of community and to not feel totally isolated and alone in my obsession - its nice to know that someone understands.

As a young teen, we often spoke of "when we win the lottery, we will go to Disney World". We didn't win, mainly because we never bought a ticket but we did get jobs so in 1994 my Mum, brother, my boyfriend at the time and another friend went to WDW for 2 wonderful weeks.

Since then Mum and I have visited with my fiance in 2001, 2003, 2006 and have a trip planned in August/Sept this year - the east bound repo followed by 12 nights at SSR (we joined DVC in 2003). My ex-boyfriend who came with us in back in '94 will also be joining us for the WDW part of our stay. We can't wait to show him how much Disney has changed since he was last there, not to mention the luxury of staying onsite at a Disney resort as we stayed at an RV resort cabin last time. It will also be our first trip home to SSR.

So I'll just end by saying thank you to the Dis team and all the community members. Without you, I'd be stuck at the bottom of the planet on my own, dreaming of Mickey... its nice to know you all share my dreams.

Hugs,

 

[disneyholic family]

Hi Pete,

Are you kidding me?????
Do you think i remember how i got here the first time??????????????
so many thousands of posts ago???

I don't even remember when it was.....I initially used the board for planning purposes -especially before our 2 cruises (several years ago)....before the first cruise i met another diser who would be on the cruise (she now works for DU, though she didn't at that time)..

at some point, not sure when, i discovered the UK board...
though i don't live in the UK, i am overseas (on the wrong side of the atlantic ) so the info on that board can be very helpful in planning our pilgrimages to mecca (my mecca that is)....

but the dis is more than just information....it's a community of very nice people who also happen to share my love for disney....what could be better?

 

[mommyceratops]

My Dis Story

In October of 2006, after being sick for months I found out I had to have a hysterectomy and it could not wait until after our second family Disney trip we had planned in November. We decided we had to postpone our trip.

In November I spent 4 weeks in bed and was very depressed, I could not take care of my children and my surgery didn’t fix all of my issues only made things worse in some ways so 4 weeks later I ended up having to have my gallbladder out the old fashion way, with a big incision, I had to spend another 4 weeks in bed!

Somewhere in my desperate state of mind and 10 weeks in bed I got on the internet and googled Disney World and The Dis came up; I thought that sounded like fun. I spent hours lurking and could not believe there were people like me.....obsessed with Disney! I loved the wealth of information. Sometime I tossed my yahoo home page and made the Dis my homepage so every time I get online I see the Dis! It is a reminder to me that there is friends and magic out in the world!

I use the Dis for so much! It has everything I need, from the family board to the budget board and my new friends at the DisUnplugged board. So when life hands me a day of pineapples I turn to the Dis and make Dole Whips out of them!

So that’s my story and I am sticking to it!

Love you guys!
Mommyceratops

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I just want to mention that this thread gives me the warm fuzzies!

I think Pete and all the DISboards staff should be very proud of the effect their website has had on the lives of so many people. We truly have found a home here as well as a "happy place" to turn to anytime our lives may be troubled or overwhelmed. Thank you, and keep up the good work!

 

[wishspirit]

I remember my best friend teasing me through high school about my insistence on wearing a Mickey Mouse watch instead of a trendy Swatch,

Oh yes!
No one seems to appretiate my taste in Tinkerbell and Tiger watches!
There loss i guess

 

[paulasillars]

Oh yes!
No one seems to appretiate my taste in Tinkerbell and Tiger watches!
There loss i guess

Well after many years of Mickey and then Tigger, I have finally moved on, I now have a Rainbow Brite one

 

[kab407]

So when life hands me a day of pineapples I turn to the Dis and make Dole Whips out of them!

So that’s my story and I am sticking to it!

Love you guys!
Mommyceratops

Love it Kim!

 

[Cyrano]

I just want to mention that this thread gives me the warm fuzzies!

I'm working my way backwards and agree that some of the stories are touching and heartfelt

 

[cobbler]

I first heard about the DIS through another online forum totally unrelated to Disney. It was an exercise forum. We were in a chat once and I mentioned that I was going to Disney and someone in the chat told me I should visit this place because of all the great information.

I came over and couldn't believe all the information available. I was pretty Disney knowledgeable before but this enhanced it 10 fold. So I came, registered and the rest is history.

I keep coming back because I like the information and being up to date on the latest Disney information and doings.

 

[Timon]

My DIS Story

My first trip to Walt Disney World was in 1975 when I was 3. I have been a Disney freak, as my family calls me, ever since.

Living in Calgary Alberta, Canada, however, it's always been hard to find Disney "stuff". I could only fuel my desire for Disney with a few books and the free vacation planning tapes that I ordered every year from Walt Disney World.

I started getting really interested in computers in 1995 and in early 1997 when the internet was still in it's infancy, Yahoo opened my eyes to Disney pages on the internet. Back then the big thing was rec-arts-disney-parks, which wasn't very appealing but then I found Lampwick's Disney Pages. Holy cow, pages and pages of information and pictures, glorious pictures all about Walt Disney World, I was in my own little Heaven! For someone who wasn't able to get to WDW, this was the next best thing!

Shortly after finding Lampwick's site, I found something called the Disney Information Station, courtesy of Yahoo. It's not what it is now but I felt like I won the Disney Lottery. Friendly people who chatted about their trips to Disney World in DETAIL! Something you couldn't find anywhere else!

I have been hooked ever since. The word DIS has become a household name and it's been a huge part of my life every single day for over 11 years now. I don't think a day has passed that I haven't spent at least a couple of hours on the DIS. I have watched it grow from a one-page thread index into this amazing Disney information mecca and online community it is now.

In the past 11 years I have met so many incredible people through the DIS and have made some lifelong friends because of it. There is no other place in this world that I can go to and chat about my favourite obsession and not only NOT be made fun of but embraced and welcomed the way that only "Disney people" can do.

Thank you for changing my life and giving me a place to share my love for the mouse.

I look forward to seeing all the changes that the next 11 years brings to the DIS.

 

[ADP]

My DIS Story

My first trip to Walt Disney World was in 1975 when I was 3. I have been a Disney freak, as my family calls me, ever since.

Living in Calgary Alberta, Canada, however, it's always been hard to find Disney "stuff". I could only fuel my desire for Disney with a few books and the free vacation planning tapes that I ordered every year from Walt Disney World.

I started getting really interested in computers in 1995 and in early 1997 when the internet was still in it's infancy, Yahoo opened my eyes to Disney pages on the internet. Back then the big thing was rec-arts-disney-parks, which wasn't very appealing but then I found Lampwick's Disney Pages. Holy cow, pages and pages of information and pictures, glorious pictures all about Walt Disney World, I was in my own little Heaven! For someone who wasn't able to get to WDW, this was the next best thing!

Shortly after finding Lampwick's site, I found something called the Disney Information Station, courtesy of Yahoo. It's not what it is now but I felt like I won the Disney Lottery. Friendly people who chatted about their trips to Disney World in DETAIL! Something you couldn't find anywhere else!

I have been hooked ever since. The word DIS has become a household name and it's been a huge part of my life every single day for over 11 years now. I don't think a day has passed that I haven't spent at least a couple of hours on the DIS. I have watched it grow from a one-page thread index into this amazing Disney information mecca and online community it is now.

In the past 11 years I have met so many incredible people through the DIS and have made some lifelong friends because of it. There is no other place in this world that I can go to and chat about my favourite obsession and not only NOT be made fun of but embraced and welcomed the way that only "Disney people" can do.

Thank you for changing my life and giving me a place to share my love for the mouse.

I look forward to seeing all the changes that the next 11 years brings to the DIS.

Great story Cass. And thank you for all of your wonderful live trip reports you and Rob posted over on the Trip Reports board. It's been fun following along.

 

[Timon]

Great story Cass. And thank you for all of your wonderful live trip reports you and Rob posted over on the Trip Reports board. It's been fun following along.

Thanks ADP, that's sweet

It's the least I can do, I have read SO MANY amazing reports on the DIS, and they have helped me pass the time until my next trip!

 

[drakethib]

Not sure how I got here but I stay here because things happen on this board where you really see the good in people.

 

[WaltD4Me]

My 1st trip to WDW was in 1980, I was in junior high and my parents took us out of school for our trip....nobody thought anything of that then! We stayed at the Poly and my dad the "packrat" still has the receipt from that trip. They paid $60 a night! (actually an quite alot to them back then.)

I didn't make it back to Disney again until 1992, then another break when I went back in 1998 for the Teddy Bear and Doll Convention.

Then in 2004 with two young nieces and a nephew, I decided we needed a big family trip, there were 12 of us and I needed HELP, because I was the trip planner. I googled and found the DIS and I was home. I never even tried any other Disney discussion boards after finding the DIS, the information I found here was unbelievable and it MADE our trip. I can't even tell you what finding the DIS did for that trip and the others that have followed since and even for me personally, having this community to come to...when planning a trip or not. Although in the last 3 years I am always planning a trip. Mine or someone else's.

I am a total Disney fanatic now, obsessed some might say, but very happy and I attribute much of that to the DIS. If I hadn't found the DIS, I KNOW our 2004 trip wouldn't have been as totally magical as it was and I don't know if that hadn't happened if I would have kept up my Disney ways had that trip not been what it was.

So although, I probably wouldn't admit it to friends and family, since they already think I'm a little bit crazy, I will say here, that the DIS changed my life and most definitely for the better!

 

[M&M's]

I wish I had a DIS story as good as some of these. But I don't. Here's my story:

I came. I saw. I posted. I posted again. I posted again. I posted again. I posted again. I posted again, etc....

Oh yeah, and I have gained the feeling of being a part of a small intimate gathering with a cast of thousands. Thank you for that. It's a wonderful thing.

 

[CastawayJP]

Hey Pod Squad!

I'm working on an upcoming piece for the show, and I'm interested in hearing your DIS story. You all heard mine last year, how the site was started, etc - but now I'd like to hear yours. What brought you here, what special friends have you made, what keeps you coming back.

Thx
Pete

My DIS Story
I first found out about the DIS when I was directed here from another message board. I was trying to find out who else was going to be on our November Wonder Cruise and somebody sent me a link to the meet thread for it here. I've been hooked ever since.

I was never a big Disney fan. My parents took me when I was 10 but other than enjoying the movies, I wasn't that into it until I had kids. After my first daughter, Alyssa was born in 1999 we started thinking about a trip to Disney because that is what good parents do, but we had nothing planed as of 2007.

Then came the birth of my second daughter Regan... Shortly after birth she was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis, a condition where the soft spots in a baby's skull fuse together in the womb. When she was 2 1/2 months old she had to have skull surgery where they "made" soft spots and had to replace and advance forward the part of her skull above her eyes. All of this was to relieve inner-cranial pressure on her brain. As you can imagine the doctors appointments and worry leading up to the surgery took its toll on our family. After the surgery was completed, my in laws decided that they wanted to send us on a vacation to get away for a little bit. My wife thought that a Disney Cruise would be the way to go and in April we set sail (just 3 days after my daughter was old enough to board).

Needless to say we were hooked. We did a total of 3 cruises and a trip to WDW for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (due to a recommendation from the Pod Squad) after the 3rd. The Disney Wonder was our way to escape real life in what was truly a horrendous year.

I started listening to the Podcast shortly after joining the boards. And have been addicted since day 1!

Regan is doing a lot better now. You wouldn't know that she had a 6 hour surgery on her skull (God blessed her w/ a lot of hair!), and she is the happiest baby in town! We still battle with some issues, and we still have countless doctor's appointments ahead... But when we can't be on the Wonder, the Podsquad and the DIS help me get through the tough days. I really do feel like I am listening to friends every Tuesday, and I want to thank them for that escape.

Jeremy

 

[disneym2m]

This is my memory of discovering the Dis Unplugged:

I knew some celebrations were going on at the Magic Kingdom and I really wanted to see some pictures. It was the Happiest Celebration and I knew that Cinderella's castle was going to be decorated just beautifully. So I used google and found this wonderful website that had these great pictures of everything from the castle to Spectromagic. I was so excited. Well the Christmas of 2006 my husband gave me an ipod and being a newbie I just couldn't see why I needed this. So it sat in the box for a few weeks. Well my husband took it out and told me he downloaded some Disney podcasts for me to listen to. It was the Dis Unplugged. My husband asked me they were and I told him I am not so sure because Pete was ranting about how bad the Christmas decorations were and I wasn't sure I wanted to listen to a podcast that did that. But I listened to a few more and a few more and I was hooked. Yes you can love Disney but you can be miffed with them as well. Anyway, Pete mentioned the website one show and I copied it down. As I looked at the website it looked very familiar to me. When I checked my bookmarked favorites I noticed that I had marked the Dis Unplugged web page without realizing. I thought it was funny that I looked at a web page then heard the show then realized that I was looking at their web page. It was like a small world moment that I would discover their web page and listen to their podcast and then realize they were one in the same. Thank you for all the helpful information and for making me laugh and for providing the wonderful video and pictures to look at.

 

[Barb]

As someone once told me, I've been here forever. I started lurking here when the board was just one board. I may have posted once on that one. I became more comfortable and more active as the boards increased. Soon I was a posting fool.

I had the extreme pleasure of being a DisCon attendee. I can truthfully say I had a blast! I don't think I stopped laughing until I got on the plane to go home. Then I was crying. That convention changed my life. I met some wonderful people that weekend. They are still my very good friends today. We've continued our own "con" over the years. We've shared weddings, births, all sorts of special occasions. I guess you can say DisCon never stopped.

So in addition to always being able to find the information I need for an upcoming trip, I've met my best friends. I know if I can't find the info I need, I can go to the particular board and ask. Someone always has an answer for me.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Little background so bear with me:
DH and I never go on vacation together, ever. He is way busy with work traveling 45 weeks a year. Me, I take the kids to Jersey to see my grandma 2 times a year, Spring Break and one week on July. It has never worked out that we get the same week available for a family trip.

Now on the Disney:
We got a nice refund from our taxes in 2004 (very rare thing LOL), DS11's 8th birthday was coming up and I had seen the show on the travel channel about the Disney Cruise Line. As we looked into the cruise I saw the land and sea package where you could stay at WDW for 3 or 4 days and cruise the others. In trying to decide where to stay at WDW, DH and I came across the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We were SOLD! We decided to skip the cruise part and just go with the parks.
I of course made the Disney Newbie mistake of booking right through the Disney site, got the works for tickets, made 5000 table service reservations. etc, this trip was going to cost a fortune but it was booked. 10 days, split stay at AKL and WL in the middle of July!
We had a great time but felt overwhelmed, day 3 we were crossing things off the list because we didn't realize how huge WDW was. We were also hooked and DH and I were planning our next trip before we got off the plane in Hartford.
I knew there had to be other fanatics like us out there so I Googled Disney World, holy cow there are a lot of sites out there but I settled on the DIS. I lurked for a few months and then I found the Scrapbook forum, waaaayyyy down on the bottom of the main page. I was home! I started scrapping when we got back from our first WDW trip, they are destined to be joined forever.

What has the DIS done for me:
I have found friends all over the world. My Best Friend in on this board, even though we have never met face to face. We have helped each other through the bad times, and cheered through the good. We have encouraged newbies into showing us their pages, and helped each other plan new trips to all the Disney parks. We've even tried to con a few DIS'ers into packing us in a suitcase to get to parks.

The DIS has helped me plan a birthday trip for my DH, my other boys and my DD's first birthday. We have been 7 times since our first trip, the DIS helped make that possible. You guys showed me how to keep costs low and helped me plan an itinerary to get the max out of each day. You pointed me in the direction of my favorite souvenir, the Silhouettes of my kids.

Mostly what the DIS has done, is give me family vacations back. DH is not much of a people person but he'll cram himself into a Dumbo car for the sheer joy of seeing the kids faces light up. He'll stand in line for an hour and a half for his wife to see Jack Sparrow. He takes the time to escape with us even when the job is screaming his name. But we can't hear them, because we are too busy screaming on Everest.