When did you get "it"

[Disney Dad Canada]

For some of us here, WDW is something you do because your partner is into it or you have kids that are into it.

But there are some of us, WDW is "it". I'm just wondering, were you born with "it", got "it" over time, or is there a specific "ah hah" moment when you knew you had "it"?

 

[Cherinva]

For me, I guess you would say I grew up with it.....I watch Disney's Wonderful World of Color fathfully every Sunday night with my family. My first Visit was at Disney Land...then we can back to the east coast, I started going to WDW and that was it for me. Disney is a special part of my life, and the older I get, the more often I want to go.

 

[figment3258]

For me my mom got me into since I was little. My first trip was one I was two years old and it has never stooped since.

As for my husband he went when he was little but never got the Disney bug ever since we went as a family when my youngest was 11 months he has been hooked since.

as for my girls they are hooked for life. My youngest even asked to go to Disney for her birthday diner. Mind you we live in MA

 

[Tinkerkell123]

I just grew up with "it". Sunday night Disney shows were a must and when Winnie the Pooh came on TV (pre-BetaMax,VCR, DVD, etc.) I was SO excited!! Then the first time I actually got to go to WDW, that clinched it... Hooked for life!

If the DH would go for it, I would just move us down there so I could work for Disney (or better yet, The DIS!) but he would never stand the heat!

My kids also love everything Disney and have most of the movies memorized. One thing I don't like about DVDs is that the kids just don't know the excitement of a Disney movie showing on TV... (Or Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music, stuff like that). It's just taken for granted that they can see them whenever they want to. Sometimes technology takes some magic away...

 

[stitchlover]

Watched the Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights in the 70's and then my parents took us to Disney in the mid 70's for the first time. That was it...I've been a Disney fan ever since. Have always loved going to WDW and seeing Disney movies, etc. Due to income level we were unable to take our daughter to WDW until she was 10 years old. But as she was growing up she we watched plenty of Disney movies. We have taken her to Disney every year since she was 10 and plan to continue to do so. Thank goodness my husband/her dad loves Disney as much as I do.

Interestingly enough my sister who was raised with me is not a Disney fan at all. Just doesn't get why we keep going back.

 

[mainegal]

Not sure that I have 'it". And I am okay with that.

 

[mikelan6]

My parents took me to WDW as a child. It's been a part of me ever since.

 

[Chropistopy]

My story is similar. I've been going to WDW since birth and that hasn't stopped. I grew up with "it". I hope I never grow out of "it".

 

[SteamboatStevie]

I remember the exact moment. Been to WDW a few times in my youth, and always loved it, but never really "got it" until one night, about a week before a trip. I was online and I found all this trivia about the Haunted Mansion. Now older and wiser, I now know most of it was just plain wrong, but it was all that trivia that opened my eyes to the level of detail Disney put into everything they do. That trip, I made it my mission to try to find out the stories behind every attraction, every shop, every restaurant. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. My family even caught my insatiable appetite; my father in particular became obsessed with finding "Hidden Mickeys." (even if he had to make them himself by rearranging things in the hotel room) As for me, I was hooked ever since.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

My first memories are of EPCOT just after it opened. Shortly after, my grandmother took me to see my first movie in the theatre, Snow White. I've had "it" for a long, long time.

 

[disneymom88]

For me, it was the second time we went with DS. It was our first day and we were walking through Epcot, on our way to the character meet and great. Out of nowhere our son spots Chip and Dale and starts to point at them. DH and I would NEVER forget the look on his face... he was amazed, and excited and in complete awe.
Althought we were there when he was 15 months old, he really didnt pay attention to any of the characters, so basically this was his first time meeting them. In that moment I knew I'll have to come back as many times as we can just to see his face fill completely with happiness.

 

[pasofan]

My first trip was when I was only 18 months old, didn't have "it" then. The next time I was able to go was 2007 as a family. I planned with the help of the Dis and knew it would be special, but "it" hit me full force when I walked around the corner of Main Street hand in hand with my DD, then 4, and saw the castle. All I can say is Wow.
I have to say, I'm like Pete in that I am a fan of the parks. Growing up, I watched Disney movies, but wasn't a complete fan. Now my time is spent trying to convince my tightwad DH to take another trip. I have another weapon in my arsenal after our last trip, though. We werejust there in June for our second trip, first for our second DD3. The other night we were showing her grandmother some video of our trip and she climbed in DH'a lap and looked up with her huge puppy dog eyes and said "Daddy, I reeeaallyy want to go back to Disney World.". I mean, who can resist a little girl with big blue eyes and dark curls?

 

[Chropistopy]

My first trip was when I was only 18 months old, didn't have "it" then. The next time I was able to go was 2007 as a family. I planned with the help of the Dis and knew it would be special, but "it" hit me full force when I walked around the corner of Main Street hand in hand with my DD, then 4, and saw the castle. All I can say is Wow.
I have to say, I'm like Pete in that I am a fan of the parks. Growing up, I watched Disney movies, but wasn't a complete fan. Now my time is spent trying to convince my tightwad DH to take another trip. I have another weapon in my arsenal after our last trip, though. We werejust there in June for our second trip, first for our second DD3. The other night we were showing her grandmother some video of our trip and she climbed in DH'a lap and looked up with her huge puppy dog eyes and said "Daddy, I reeeaallyy want to go back to Disney World.". I mean, who can resist a little girl with big blue eyes and dark curls?

I know what you mean. In recent years, my dad has not enjoyed going to the parks as much as he used to. He's older and doesn't do well with the crowds, heat, and walking. Regardless of all that, my nephew (his grandson) can say that he wants to go back to Disney World and my dad starts planning the trip in his head. It is hard to resist the young ones with their sweet faces asking to go see Mickey.

 

[Fantasmic23]

Great topic!

The first movie I ever saw in a movie theater was Disney's Snow White in the early 1970s. Even though I had a major freak out when the witch appeared and my mother had to leave the theater (With me hauled over her shoulder, crying and screaming), that traumatic experience didn't keep me away from Disney.

Then in 1976 or 1977, my uncle and his then girlfriend (Now wife) went to WDW and brought me home a stuffed Pluto. It was love at first sight and I still have that Pluto. Pluto was and always will be "my baby".

I first went to WDW during the summer of 1978 (I was 6). My memories are very hazy, though I can recall some things: Another freak out while riding Snow White's Scary Adventures (The original ride), If You Had Wings, my mother losing her sunglasses on Space Mountain, a beautiful Minnie Mouse rag doll that Mom bought me. I don't remember Cinderella's Castle at all.

Growing up in the 1980s, I saw my share of Disney movies (animated and non-animated) and we were one of the first families in our town to receive the Disney Channel. I sat back and watched while my grandmother took my younger sister to WDW (To be fair, Grandma did take me on a cruise to Bermuda while I was in high school) and was left at home during my Senior year when my mother and stepfather took my siblings to WDW (My stepfather and I hated each other).

Around 2005/2006, DH and I had these friends who we referred to as "The Disneys" in private. They were always going to Disney, just getting back or in the process of planning a trip. They went twice a year sometimes. They were WDW addicts and DH and I just didn't "get it" back then. One 4th of July while at their house for a BBQ, there was a lull in our coversation and I innocently asked about Disney, just reaching for any kind of conversation starter. That opened the floodgates and they bombarded us with enthusiastic tales, photos, souvenirs. DH and I were slightly warming to Disney.

On Thanksgiving night 2007, we finally decided to plan a tentative trip (And GASP ... Without the DIS ... I had no idea it existed!). It was a trip whose planning started and stopped several times and when we finally said, "Enough is enough!", it was all very last minute: We stayed in a friend's condo in Kissimmee and we knew nothing except vague memories of the Magic Kingdom. It was a wonderful trip. Even though I had been in 1978, it was like I was seeing everything for the first time, including Cinderella's Castle. Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom were just "bonuses" ... And truly amazing bonuses at that.

Since February 2008, we've been in love with WDW.

 

[runningstitch]

Great question. I guess I've experienced "it" in all senses of the word. My parents honeymooned at WDW. Growing up in Florida my family visited every year since I was two years old. My very first movie seen in the theater was "The Jungle Book." I used to listen to the stories of "Lady and the Tramp" and "Alice in Wonderland" on my Fisher Price record player during naptime. I visited WDW with my elementary school on educational field trips and later on a self-organized celebratory trip with my friends when graduating from middle school. I graduated high school in FL, so our grad night celebration was there as well. Every serious boyfriend I've ever had (including my husband) visited WDW with me. In college I obtained an internship at WDW as a production assistant for on-location TV shows and then moved over to the PR department where I got to be a press liaison for the parks. And now I get to watch the Disney movies and experience the parks through my daughter's eyes. So I guess "it" is really a big part of who I am. To quote a phrase from one of my favorite episodes of The West Wing, the feeling of "it" never goes away.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

Good Question. I grew up with The Wonderful World of Disney. All my life I have loved animation and wholesome Disney movies. I very much remembered the speech that Walt Disney gave describing what the new Walt Disney World was going to be like. ( now I have THAT on DVD ) I wanted to go VERY MUCH.

When I grew up - the only vacation my family ever did was camping in a rough cottage on a lake, within New York State. We never went very far.

When I was first married, there was no possible way we could afford a Disney vacation.

Now, fast forward to me being "older", and in my second marriage. There's no way that my DH would take a vacation because we had an elderly, but wonderful dog.

About a year after Missy, ( our dog ) died at the tender age of 17, I tried to
talk about that Disney vacation that I've always wanted - and DH said "OK".

Our first vacation was Disney World in early December, 1993.

I loved everything about WDW, however, I had 2 very specific "Ah-hah" moments. The day we left The Magic Kingdom at the end of the day, I started to cry. I didn't want to leave. Through my tears, I was telling my Husband, "There REALLY is Magic here - it's not just an advertising promotion line - There REALLY is magic here"

My second "Ah-Hah" moment was at Chef Mickey's character breakfast.
I didn't particularly want to go to a CHARACTER breakfast, but I tried it, anyway. Tigger started to approach me. At that very moment, I yelled to Tigger .... " Tigger - You're my VERY favorite " !!!!!!!! I was so shocked that I said that, that I started to cry a bit.

I think the MAGIC bit me hard, and I have now gone to WDW every year since that time. Most of my stays have been solo, since DH prefers to stay home with our two cats. But still, DH and I did WDW about 4 times, together, so at least he does understand my NEED to go there.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Great topic - I actually asked my mom this weekend if I was a freak for Disney right away or if she noticed it at one particularl time. She really wasn't able to answer me and said that I wasn't a very expressive kid and didn't talk that much. But she said that we were always park commandos and even at 4, I was able to keep up with my older sisters (no tantrums, no complaining, just crashing out at the dinner table in my food). I am still the same. Anyway ...

The first time I was in WDW was in the womb. But my first out-of-womb-WDW experience was when I was 4. Then again at 8 and again at 12 (that time I begged my parents to take me since we seemed to be on this four-year plan). I really don't remember when "it" hit me so I have to believe that "it" has always been there and a part of me.

Like so many others, a Disney movie was my first theater movie (The Fox and the Hound) and my first roller coaster was Space Mountain (at 8).

 

[AWHOFAN]

Took many times to “get it”. Parents never did their homework, went to EPCOT 6 months after opening my brother and I wanted to leave the park after two hours of toddler attractions we were 13. My parents had no clue to go inside the countries buildings. Went with an ex-girlfriend in July it was so crowded we rode 3 rides all day. I Hated the most hell place on earth. Then before our honeymoon I READ ALL THE BOOKS and had a PLANED vacation the way I wanted it to be. Which means I found all the hidden treasures. Now I only want to try out my knowledge and see what special magic I can add each time.

P.S. Took the parents to MGM a few years back I figured I would show them how much DW had changed and how much I love it.” THEY HATED IT" told them to look for hidden Mickey’s, Dad said why are they going to pay me or what do I win. That was at the front gate the rest of the day the parent walked behind us. Fantasmic when they saw the crowed they asked are all these people leaving at the same time. I said “yes”. We left 5 minutes into the show which we never have seen to this day, but the parents were walking in front of us out of the park.

 

[WorldWacky]

While I went to Disney as a child (ages 6, 11 and 17) and always enjoyed the movies, I didn't really get "it" until two years ago when I planned a trip for my own children and husband for the first time. Planning that trip and trying to figure out how Santa was going to leave the trip as a present became all consuming for me. Now I post on the Disboards, I listen to the Dis Unplugged religiously, I'm always reading about Disney or planning for a future trip. This is my thing right now and I don't see an end to it. At my DD's open house last night, I saw one of her papers that said: "Favorite Hobby: Reading about Disney." Looks like at age 8, she already has "it".

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Took many times to “get it”. Parents never did their homework, went to EPCOT 6 months after opening my brother and I wanted to leave the park after two hours of toddler attractions we were 13. My parents had no clue to go inside the countries buildings. Went with an ex-girlfriend in July it was so crowded we rode 3 rides all day. I Hated the most hell place on earth. Then before our honeymoon I READ ALL THE BOOKS and had a PLANED vacation the way I wanted it to be. Which means I found all the hidden treasures. Now I only want to try out my knowledge and see what special magic I can add each time.

P.S. Took the parents to MGM a few years back I figured I would show them how much DW had changed and how much I love it.” THEY HATED IT" told them to look for hidden Mickey’s, Dad said why are they going to pay me or what do I win. That was at the front gate the rest of the day the parent walked behind us. Fantasmic when they saw the crowed they asked are all these people leaving at the same time. I said “yes”. We left 5 minutes into the show which we never have seen to this day, but the parents were walking in front of us out of the park.

This is totally unrelated, but I love your avatar.