What Disney World means to you!

[LUVMICKEY]

Like so many have said, it is truly Magical. It is our escape from the world. We are so relaxed and don't have a care in the world when we are there.

 

[NemoPrincess]

I think Disney is so many of the things that peole have said. We went last April with DD and DS for the first time. I couldn't wait to enter MK and see the expressions on my children's faces. I soo wanted to see "the look" that would relate how I feel when I am there! The looks on their faces is what Disney means to me, it is something I will never forget!

 

[Ix Mickey Ix]

WDW is for family fun. My fmaily went for the first time in 2001. We;'ve went every year after that and this year we're going in december and its my first time to see WDW decoratedfor Chistmas

 

[northcapemaymom]

Going to Disney is like therapy for us. It allows us to enjoy each other as a family and just have some plain old fun. I'm always blown away by the meticulous landscaping and the thoughtful details that go into everything around the parks and resorts. All of Disney is "Fantasyland", regardless of where we are in WDW. We have been there so often with our children that they are familiar enough around the parks that we can let them occasionally "call the shots"; they love thinking they're in charge of something. I know that for my husband Disney is the one place he can be a regular person and not be in constant law enforcement mode. He relaxes, goes with the flow of the crowds easily, doesn't worry about driving, and can even sit in a restaurant without his back to the wall (I think the back to the wall is a cop thing so he can see everything around him). For him that's close to heaven and worth every penny

 

[Robin4]

Disney World means:

Leaving all sense of reality at "THE PURPLE GATES"
Grinning ear to ear the whole time you check in hoping that you get your room key before having a spaz attack
Turning on the Disney information channel when u first get in your room
Taking in every moment of the first bus ride
Getting your first glance at the castle wanting nothing to do but cry and stay in that moment forever
Feeling like a genius when you find a hidden Mickey
Noticing every little detail
Going on the train station at MK knowing that you're finally home
Seeing Mickey and wanting to thank him for so many memories
Riding Peter Pan's Flight and realizing that you really are in Neverland
Getting a Dole whip and wanting to savor every last drop
Crying during Wishes knowing that wishes do come true and happily ever afters are real
Never having to worry about wearing Mouse Ears or getting over excited about everything
Listening intently to the music they play in the parks
Stocking up on Mickey soap at the resort
Taking pictures of all the towel animals
Hearing Mickey wake you up knowing that you had everything happy and perfect in the world to look forward to
Picking out which outfit the princesses would like the most for lunch
Telling the cast members to have a magical day
Becoming a child again
Seeing how silly you looked in your ride photo
Knowing that know matter what happened on your vacation you were at "THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH" and nothing could ever take that away

... but most of all having the happiest time of your life and knowing nothing else mattered!

 

[pixistix]

When I was 11, we traveled to Florida in a motor home and attempted to go to Disney. I remember being at the parking lot and being turned away because apparently back then you had to have a reservation to park a motor home in the parking lot. I was scarred. Got to Disney the first time when I was in my 20's and LOVED IT! DH didn't love it like I did so I divorced him!
Found the love of my life who loves Disney as much as I do and we honeymooned there and then took dd's there 2 months later.
Because of the work we do, we see the worst of people. We love Disney because it's our escape from that for a while. We can go there and forget about what's going on around us and just enjoy the world!
DD's (13 and 15) love Disney as much as we do...so we're spreading the magic!

 

[Fly me with Balloons]

Disney is the "Americana Icon". To me it means success....

I messed up a bit in college, & had to "re-group" as they say & straighten my life out. When I was finally able to graduate college, get a good job, & save up my money in order to bring my family to WDW, I finally felt like a man, a success. I gave my children the fairy tale. Seeing their faces on our 1st night as we ate at Chef Mickey's, or running ahead to watch them look at the castle for the 1st time...There are no words.

I am a geek, but so what. I feel like a success, every time I bring my family to WDW.

 

[nickelsfamily]

For me, WDW is memories- past, present and future.
Past: My first time seeing the castle and seeing the mouse himself as a child and being in awe. Driving the short 2hour trip twice a year with my best friend and her mom to stay for a week. Having the best time, living in the magic for a week. Now, when I go, I cry when I see the purple entrance gates. My friend and her mom have since passed away. For me, going there is being with them again... happy tears!

Present: Bringing my boys for their first trips! When i got pregnant with my first born, one of my first thoughts was "WOW, I can't wait to bring him to disney!"Seeing the magic in their eyes! Forgeting everything else and living in the moment. We will be leaving in a few days, just a short trip, but it is what we do to reconnect with each other. No other place does it quite like Disney.

Future: DH and I are planning to renew our vows in disney. We didn't have the money for the disney wedding we wanted and this is our chance to make our dream come true with our boys by our side! Creating more memories with my family over the years and cherishing every last one of them!

Thanks Walt, without you and your dream I wouldn't have some of my most beautiful memories!

 

[Torontogal]

Disney means so much to me. When I was growing up, I would beg my parents to take me to Disney World. I always wanted to go to Cinderella's Castle and would dream of going to this magical place. I had a very unhappy childhood, so Disney dreaming was an escape to me. There were many promises made to me that we would go "oneday" but somehow my mom's work was always more important than my wishes.
When I married the man of my dreams - I finally got to enjoy Disney in 1993. I loved it and the castle did not disappoint me. Today, my hubby and I are DVC owners and I have 2 adorable boys of my own. I always tell my hubby that dreams really do come true. I never got to go to Disney as a child - but as a 30 something mother - I get to enjoy it every year and my boys can enjoy Disney and have special memories! Disney is so remarkable and adds so much joy to our family. Needless to say, I get to re-live a childhood I never had.

 

[madelinesmum]

Disney to me is so many things the world is not. The world can be a very dark place at times and to have pretty much a total escape, is priceless. Just watching the news makes me want to escape and where else can you do it like you can at Disney World. I'm convinced there is no drug available that can give you the high you get when you're there.
In May of 05 my husband, who was 38 at the went for his first time, along side my then 31/2 year old daughter. To see the two of them at Disney meant the world to me. The memories we have created over the years and the ones we'll create in the future, are priceless! To put a price tag on that, impossible.
I get the chills thinking about October!

 

[KimberlyC]

I went to WDW for the first time in 1983. I was 8 yrs old. Mom and Dad loaded up the station wagon, my grandparents, my lis sis and me. Grandma packed so much stuff (including formal evening wear ) and dad was complaining of a hernia lifting her bags before we ever got out of the driveway. I wasn't sure we were going to make it. The trip didn't exactly start on a good note. We drove for 2 days but we finally got there. We stayed in the Tree House Villas and had such a wonderful time. I remember my first character meal aboard the Lilly in the Empress Room. I had my pic taken with my favorite, Donald Duck. It was the first and last 'real' vacation I ever took with my grandparents as my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer about a year later and both my grandparents ended up passing away shortly thereafter.

I visited a few more times as a tween and teen but it wasn't as magical for some reason. Maybe I just didn't appreciate it enough at that age. My DH and I took our first trip together when I was pregnant with DS. I said then that I wanted to take the baby there. DS made his first trip to the World for his 2nd b-day in June and it was magical all over again. We are heading back in 36 hours and I can't wait. DS is so excited.

I have such wonderful memories of past trips to WDW, happy memories of my grandparents before they became ill, happy memories of the look on DS's face when he peered through the window of CP and saw Tigger, happy memories of Tigger watching him blow out the candles on his birthday cake. As I pack, I know we will take home wonderful memories of the trip we presently have scheduled. I'm also looking forward to creating future memories with my DH and DS, perhaps someday with another child and then grandchildren.

I just hope there never again comes a time when it doesn't seem magical. But I don't think that will happen.

 

[Johnfish]

Here is what Disney World means to me...

A place of joy
A place of innocense
A place of love
A place of fun

A place to Shed Tears (of Happiness)
A place to Relax (even if you go comando)
A place to Learn (how to be a child again)
A place to Let go (and feel free)

A place for Laughter
A place for Cheers
A place for Families
A place for Children (0 TO 90 years)
A place for Lovers
A place for Friends

A Special Place
One of Hope
One of Peace
And Mostly one of Magic

These are just some of the things the Disney world means to me. Its hard to write some of this as it brings tears to my eyes. After many years of living through difficult times my son (then 15) and I got to experieince the world together for the first time. That was three years ago. We have been back every summer since. It has brought us even closer together and will always hold a very special place in our hearts....

This past summer as a result of these wonderful boards I met a new love. Our relationship grew out of our love for Disney and has grown exponentially since then. We now have a trip planned for January to celebrate her birthday. Once again Disney has provided me with some much welcome and unanticipated Magic.

John

 

[resol37]

To me, Disney means

A chance to get away from my daily life
Something to look forward to
Smiling for no apparent reason (something I rarely do in my day to day life)
A reason to plan (I'm a planner)
Waking up knowing that the only thing you have to worry about that day is having fun
Eating whatever I want (diets don't exist at WDW)
Tearing up during Wishes, Fantasmic!, Mickey's PhilharMagic, and GMR
Seeing Tinkerbell
Appreciating all the tiny details that Disney has put in everywhere
Irritating my family by pointing out all of those details and then takin 20 minutes to explain the importance behind them

Feeling the magic - I don't know what it is, there's something different about the air down there. I'm a pretty cynical person, but when I'm at WDW, I can feel the pixie dust.

 

[Quinn222]

To ne Disney World is an escape. It only a couple of hours away so I go fairly often and it's such a break from the real world. I can relax there and get away from the pressures of family and work and just have fun. It's also an escape in a very literal way. It's our refuge from the storm when hurricanes are coming and we must evacuate. For many of us here in South Florida we look to WDW and Orlando as litteraly our safe haven.

 

[Lizzybear]

It's weird because the very reason I love Disney/WDW is the reason my dad doesn't. I like to dive head first into the magic and really 'live it' I may be an adult but at Disney i'm a kid again and I don't have to think about the stresses of everyday life. It's definitely my happy place My dad on the other hand thinks its fake, crowded and just generally doesn't like it. While I can respect his opinion I can't relate to it cos I can't imagine never loving Disney (I even have several character tattoos!) I've loved the films and characters for as long as I can remember and my first trip to DLP at age 8 is one of my fondest memories.. I can't wait til I have children of my own to take to the Disney parks

 

[sarahsmom73]

Memories and seeing the world as a child....