What/who got you hooked to WDW?

[blue_eyes5212]

I have my fiancee to thank for creating this monster...

I had gone twice previously to MK and had less than stellar visits...by no fault of the mouse of course, just the company...

But when I started going with my fiancee, he showed me so many things that I had never seen before, like Illuminations and Wishes...he made it ok to see things as though I was looking through a childs eyes...and it made it absolutely special..

Which is why Disney is even more important to me than just what it contains, but because of what it means to my future husband and I...a chance to experience every new and magical experience with someone I love...

And of course, I have to thank the Disboards for perpetuating the obsession...I know there are so many other people out there who think about Disney as frequently as I do...I'm not alone!!

I feel the same way Belle_Amy, my then-fiance, now husband introduced me to the World! And I love the DIS for letting me know that there are other's out there just like me

 

[DisneyPhD]

Both my DH and I had been a few times as kids and teens. It wasn't until we had been married a few years that we were able to take our 1st trip to WDW together. It was 1996 and we stayed at Dixie Landings. We were hooked. That was the best trip! We fell in love with the place and kept going back once a year until we had kids. Then we bought DVC (2002) and ended up going more often then once a year, sometimes up to 3 times a year!

So this year will be kind of an aniversary trip for us, 10 years of going to WDW! (and 13 of marriage, or is it 14? )

We love the total vacation feeling, the magic, the attention to detail. How there is something for everyone. How eveyerone is free to be a kid there.

I could go on, but I sound sappy. Less then 2 weeks for our next trip! (and Vero Beach too!)

 

[lizanne]

DH and I went to Disneyland for our honeymoon in '70 before WDW opened. We loved it but never returned.

In '86 we went to WDW with our kids (5) and had a tremendous time. Before we knew it we were going every couple years. Then in '92 along came DVC and that sealed the deal. The "kids" don't join us every trip anymore, but my DH and I go every year.

 

[lillygator]

I certainly don't remember the month or year but my late Grandaddy introduced me to the parks....every year that they were available we have year passes (xmas gift) and I can remember riding the tram to MK and being with my Great Aunt and I had some ride tickets in my hand that got caught up in the wind...I lost them (hopefully a future DIS'er picked them up!) My GA was so freakin' beside herself....my dear GD who was a man of few owrds made sure to make this my most special trip ever.....I can't even begin to tell you how great it was!

 

[Poohbear123]

I had a Book about Donald Duck and his nephews visiting Disneyland. Than, I heard they were building a Disneyland HERE in FLORIDA! I wanted to go so bad, but didn't get to go till I was 18 for Grad Night (1976). I than turned my Mom on to it, and she loved it also, and went a few times, from 1977-1980. I than went in 1981, while preganant with DD, and was upset I couldn't ride any of the rides.. I than took them for thier first trip in 1989, stayed off site, and 1996-1999 stayed on site. I than decided to keep going, alone, and have been for 10 years solid. Next will be DGD trip this year or next.

 

[mamaprincess]

When I was pregnant with my third child I was so sick with morning sickness that I literally could do nothing else but lay on our couch and look a t.v. The twins were 4 at the time. My sister who lives in orlando sent me a WDW planning video because she said the twins needed to come to Orlando for a trip to WDW while the magic was real for them. They had never been nor had I or DH. I became instantly obsessed with the video and did nothing but watch it over and over and dream of the day when I could take the kids. It got me through 3 months of Morning Sickeness (which in my case lasted all day). After the baby was born, I convinced DH to purchase DVC site unseen and we took the baby and twins and we were all hooked forever more. Weve been going once a year since then,

 

[CharityLynn]

As a little girl I had always wanted to go to WDW, but we didn't have the moeny to do it when I was a child. By the time I was in high school I pretty much forgot about WDW, I was content with life. Then my DFi(husband now) and I started planning our wedding. I was looking at ultimatewedding.com and decided to check out the honeymoon board and noticed someone planning a Disneymoon..and then decided that is what we would do.

Well on a Moday in February I went to the travel agent with income tax money and booked us a 3 night stay at Pop Century and plane tickets. But by Saturday night or plans changed...we were having dinner with the inlaws for my Dh birthday (he was just a finacee then lol) And I was telling them about the honeymoon I just booked.

Well long story short they told us they were planning on paying for our honeymoon (they own DVC) they paid for all of the trip except for the plane tickets since they were non refundable. They had offered us up to a week but we couldn't take that long since husband was just getting hired in at work (temp service prior)

So it was a mixture of wedding and inlaws for me.

 

[Hobbes]

Not so much hooked, but as a Brit, in the 70s, we'd never heard of Disney parks-I know, at the beginning of WWOD you saw Disneyland but I just thought that was made up. Then I saw the Carpenters singing "Please Mr Postman" at DL, and I knew whatever happened I had to go there-imagine my joy when I found out there was 2 of them!

 

[Elysiannn]

My wonderful brother and his family! I went my very first time with them and have gone every since. Mostly solo cause I haven't "brain-washed" my friends yet but I'm hopeful that sometime in the near future will be a girl's-trip-to-the-Mouse.

Ely

 

[mickeyfan2]

I have to blame ( ) my paternal Grandparents. When I was less then one years old they would sit me in front of the TV to watch two shows - Red Skelton and The Mickey Mouse Clube. Both have shaped who I am. I love slapstick comedy and Disney.

 

[LVSWL]

The look on my kids faces and the magical feeling during our very 1st trip. Sometimes still I may not even watch the show when we are there, I just watch their faces. Try it. You will see how they light up. WDW truly is a magical place.

 

[PoohGal05]

I'd have to say that Sea World in San Antonio got me hooked on Disney. My mom and I booked a trip to Sea World in San Antonio for a weekend in 2002. We were packing to go home. We were talking about how it was a pretty good weekend; just okay. Then my mom said, "Angi, do you know where we should go next year?' I asked where and she said, 'Disney World.' I had been thinking the same thing, I just hadn't said it. So as soon as we got back, we called a TA that I had used to book flight only trips and we talked to her about Disney. Actually I called several local TAs and got different price quotes from all of them. One of them took a couple of days to call me back. By the the time she called me back, I already booked the trip through the first one that I had talked to. Carrie had been very nice and helpful anyway. We had the cost and looked at a calendar to determine how long we would need to pay the trip off and how much money I would need to pull out of each paycheck. It was doable, moreso than I ever imagined! I think at some point during the planning and research stage, I found DIS and asked questions and everyone was SO helpful! I discovered character dinings, tour guude books and Early Magic Hours and a mom who was in MORE pictures with characters than she has ever been with her own children!! July 2003 was the best vacation we have ever been on!

 

[SnackyStacky]

My grandma took my family in 1986. Loved it, but my family never made it back. I remember being 7 years old, trying to save my allowance to take my family back, I loved it so much!!!

I didn't start going again until January of 2002, and then I realized I was an adult and could actually AFFORD to go!

 

[lillygator]

and I have to add that I got DH hooked...one of our first weekends away while dating we went to Orlando and went to DTD and PI - 1997!! He had only been to MK twice before that and it was when he was little!

 

[Ghost]

It was my wife’s (then girlfriend) idea to go to Disneyland in Paris
I walked in the park? I fell in love… (she is still kicking herself)
I knew it would be the same when entering WDW… and I was right (for sure it will be the same when I visit the other parks too)

Now I am addicted to Disney Theme Parks. I wake up with Disney in my head, spend the day with Disney head, and go to sleep dreaming about it…

 

[Beccanoelle82]

My mom was the one who got me hooked. I went 8 times as a child and just fell in love with the parks, atmosphere, food, people, shows and everything disney. We just returned from WDW in feb. My mom, stepdad hubby and I went. Now my mom and I can share in the planning and love of Disney World.

 

[LISAMWDW]

I've always always wanted to go but was never unable to! An unexpected opportunity came during my first few months of my divorce. I had 2 air tickets that I needed to use as my daughter and I were no longer going on the "family" vacation. For a few months, I kept trying to figure out what to do with them. As I was going thru such a hard time, I actually wasn't too worried about the tickets. However, my boss had just came back from going to WDW and he was talking about it and how him and his family didn't like it. Strange, I know! While I was listening and thinking he was insane, it hit me! I'm going to WDW! I am going to treat myself because I deserve it!

It was such a bad bad time in my life and I remember feeling so happy there for the first time in months. It brings tears to my eyes as I write this of how I felt sitting on the ground in Epcot watching the Tapestry parade with my daughter. I don't think I've ever felt so carefree and happier in my life!

So, yep, I was hooked! I have been back every year since! Except one year when I was laid off and couldn't afford to go! As you can see, WDW is very dear to my heart!

I also wish they would bring back my parade!

 

[lorli]

My husband introduced me to the wonders and joys of Disney in 1998. He took me the first time, but the time we took our dd for the first time now that was priceless. I am totally hooked and am in a constant state of planning our next trips to Disney, yes trips not trip to Disney.

 

[FanOfStitch]

I blame my DS12. I guess he must have seen a commercial on TV about WDW when he was 5 and he kept asking me if we could go. I remember him saying "I really want to go to WDW because it looks so fun." As I was going through a divorce at the time, I really couldn't afford it. Then in Feb of 2001, I decided no matter how much the cost, I was going to take DS on our "once in a lifetime" trip to WDW. We stayed for 12 days in Nov of that year. By our 11th day, we were DVC members and have been going at least once a year since!!

 

[DizneyNutz]

My DH. We married in our late 30's---the DH was born in Jacksonville FL and as a young child visited WDW (MK). He remembered bits and pieces but not a lot. I had always DREAMED of going to WDW but being a single Mother, raising two children, alone, well, let's just say that "dreaming" was as far as I got---as I said, we married later in life, we decided about five years ago (all the children are adults now) that we would go to WDW---I was skeptical because of the cost, but he remained steadfast in that this might be our one and only trip to the world---so we did it up right...stayed at WL---beautiful, a fantasy to say the least. We had a "magical" time, everything went our way on this trip and I fell in love with my DH all over again, not to mention WDW, it was love at first sight---what a wonderful experience---needless to say, we are both hooked on WDW, planning our 5th trip and are members in the Disney Vacation Club! Life is good!!! Can't wait to go back, think about it at least a dozen times a day! So, I owe this happiness all to my DH, who is the best.