How Did You get Hooked on WDW?

[rodserling27]

I've been home sick the past two days, and got thinking about something one of my students at school/work asked me. She wanted to know how and why I was so excited and crazy about Walt Disney World (and all things Disney in general). Of course, we were in the middle of doing something, so I dismissed the question, but I've been thinking about it over the last few days.

I think it all comes from the fact that my mom's family lives in Ft. Lauderdale, and so every time we would go down to visit them, my parents would always make it a point to take us (the kids) to WDW. My uncle is a 100% bonafide Disney obsesso, and I take after him in many ways. This, in combination with the fact that we went there so many times when I was younger, I think has led to my present-day crazy-ness and borderline obsession over WDW.

WDW also got me into things I had never been into before...strangely, I had never heard of "The Twilight Zone" before riding the Tower of Terror in 1994, and now I own all 5 seasons on DVD; it's my favorite show! In the same way, RnRC kindled a bigger interest in Aerosmith for me.

Go ahead and share some stories of how you became the big fan that you are, because it all happened to us at some point! Was there a defining moment? Or was it more over time like mine? I can't wait to read some stories

 

[DiPSU224]

My husband and I dated for 6 years long distance before we were married. It was extremely difficult and often times very lonely. In 2003 we decided to plan a trip to WDW to give us something to look forward to. I had visited WDW around 5 times with family and friends before taking this trip with him. Somehow, it was different with him. I remember standing there our first night there, watching Fantasy in the Sky in the rain. Everything seemed so much more magical and special than it had before. As soon as we got home, we started planning our next trip.

Planning these trips gave us a great distraction from how far apart we were. I would constantly look at our pictures. Planning future trips brought me to this site. I started learning more about the park's history, behind the scenes facts, and others who loved the parks like I did. Soon, I was beyond obsessed. I found great sites like live365 where I could listen to park music that would bring me back to a certain memory or moment that we had shared there.

Almost 10 years and 7 trips later from our first together, we have gotten engaged and honeymooned at our favorite place and dream of the day when we get to walk down Main Street for the first time with our kids.

 

[Mickey_777]

For me it all started when my parents won a trip for 2 to Las Vegas in 1991. My folks aren't big gamblers plus money was tight for our annual summer vacation so they traded the Vegas trip (for 2) in exchange for a trip for 5 to Orlando so we could visit WDW for the first time. God bless 'em...

I was left with quite an impression of WDW after that trip and longed to return as soon as I could. Even at a young age I knew and could tell it wasn't just another amusement park, it was Disney. As a family we were able to go 3 more times before I grew up and got married. Now I go with my wife quite often so as to make up for all those years when I used to wish I could go but depended on my folks to take me there. Now I go when I want and I'm lovin' it

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

A lifeguard with a pole at River Country

 

[zurgandfriend]

A lifeguard with a pole at River Country

Bada Bing, and don’t forget to tip your server.

Seriously, I got hooked after our 2004 visit, which was a perfect vacation. I didn’t have to worry about anything after we got to the airport. The DME, onsite transportation and dining made it most enjoyable. Previous family vacations were so stressful I didn’t enjoy them.

 

[glee]

I got hooked on wdw becuse my parents booked the holiday and i ordered the WDW dvd (The one with erin,luke etc ADORABLE DVD) And i thought it looked so amazing so i was hooked then..Then i went and ever since then ive been hooked and have gone every year since!!!!!

 

[bgraham34]

I don't really know how I got hooked. I remember my first trip in 84 and I loved it and I always wanted to go back. Went back in 84 and 93 all with my family. I think the 93 trip really did it. I just loved the environment especially the Studios at the time.

 

[rsoxguy]

Free EPCOT annual passes in the mid-90's. Before then, Disney was just a one day per year diversion.

 

[BrerFrog]

I blame it on my College Program. Before that going to Disney was never a big dream to me.

 

[Chrononymous]

I think I really got hooked before I ever even went there!

In 3rd grade, I did a report on Walt for a school project, and we had this old series of books...one of which showed all the magic of Disneyland.

As a kid, I loved dark rides! At carnivals, amusement parks, Six Flags etc... and I would look at all these pics of Disneyland where the really COOL dark rides existed and dream of one day seeing them!

When I was 13, I finally got to go to WDW, and my dream came true! And I have been going back (and to DL) as often as possible ...ever since!

 

[DizneyPryncess]

When I was about 12, and first figuring out what the Internet was, I found a page about Hidden Mickey's. That was really my first obsession with Disney. I begged my parents to take me to Disney (where I'd been before as a really little kid.) We ended up taking a trip and I printed out all these pages with hidden mickey's listed on them. I couldn't get enough of it!

As I got older, I started appreciating all the little details that Disney puts into their parks. Every time I read about a new "secret" I wanted to go to the parks to see it. When I met my husband at 18, I found out that his family had a time share in Orlando twice a year. So we went together until we got married at 26, and now we take our own trips together! So it all started with a hidden mouse.

 

[TinkerChelli]

Hi
For me it goes way back to my childhood. I remember watching the Wonderful World of Disney on TV. There were shows/movies I believe it was on Saturday or Sunday night. I was always so excited when I saw that little pixie spreading something around that castle. I didn't even know who or what that was at the time. Then after years went by I went on my First Family Disney Trip in 1981 I believe it was or maybe it was 1982, I can not really remember. All I remember was getting on the Tram going to the gates of Magic Kingdom. I had butterflies in my stomach and it was hard to breath my heart was pounding I remember that well. I remember walking into Magic Kingdom Main Street and I was just so shocked to see that castle I saw on TV every weekend....My god thinking about it now almost makes me teary eyed.
I went on many trips after that.
When I met my husband now and we were dating I took him to meet my parents who live in Kissimmee and asked if he ever been to Disney and he said "No" so I took him I think it was for 2 days.
When I saw his face as he entered Magic Kingdom...I just knew....
He was so excited just like how I always feel. This was the man for me....hehehe.
Long story short we have been on many many trips since we are together now almost 6 years and married almost 2 now. I have to say Disney is a whole lot better when someone you love so much shares in the joy and experience of Disney and always feels as though it's the first time.
I am off to Disney in a few days and I have to say it always feels like the first time for me all the time.
Disney is the bestest thing on Earth!!!!
Thank you Mr. Walt and Mr. Roy Disney!!!!! And Family :sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

 

[rodserling27]

Hi
For me it goes way back to my childhood. I remember watching the Wonderful World of Disney on TV. There were shows/movies I believe it was on Saturday or Sunday night. I was always so excited when I saw that little pixie spreading something around that castle. I didn't even know who or what that was at the time. Then after years went by I went on my First Family Disney Trip in 1981 I believe it was or maybe it was 1982, I can not really remember. All I remember was getting on the Tram going to the gates of Magic Kingdom. I had butterflies in my stomach and it was hard to breath my heart was pounding I remember that well. I remember walking into Magic Kingdom Main Street and I was just so shocked to see that castle I saw on TV every weekend....My god thinking about it now almost makes me teary eyed.
I went on many trips after that.
When I met my husband now and we were dating I took him to meet my parents who live in Kissimmee and asked if he ever been to Disney and he said "No" so I took him I think it was for 2 days.
When I saw his face as he entered Magic Kingdom...I just knew....
He was so excited just like how I always feel. This was the man for me....hehehe.
Long story short we have been on many many trips since we are together now almost 6 years and married almost 2 now. I have to say Disney is a whole lot better when someone you love so much shares in the joy and experience of Disney and always feels as though it's the first time.
I am off to Disney in a few days and I have to say it always feels like the first time for me all the time.
Disney is the bestest thing on Earth!!!!
Thank you Mr. Walt and Mr. Roy Disney!!!!! And Family :sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

That was about the HAPPIEST post I ever read!! Thanks for sharing!!! :sohappy:

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I love reading everyone's stories!

My Disney story begins long ago. I went on my first trip when I was 3 years old. I don't remember much from the trip itself other than feeling a connection to the place itself, but in the time after the trip I do remember being all ears and eyes when seeing or hearing anything related to WDW or Disney in general. My parents purchased these great WDW books while there and I remember becoming very intrigued by them as time went on. I'd study them!
I went again when I was 8 and again in my early teens and with every trip, I've fallen more and more in love with Disney.
Now as an adult, I truly appreciate Disney for everything wonderful that it is and for the positivity it brings to my life. I love the planning, little details and secrets, and I love experiencing WDW at this point in my life...20 years since my first trip and it's still my favorite place on earth!

 

[LoriMistress]

I remember as a child, watching The Wonderful World of Disney (and Disney movies/television shows/etc.), and looking at old footage of Walt Disney discussing his "plans for WDW and Epcot." Also, my cousins would go to WDW constantly which would make me insanely jealous, because during that time, my family and I could never afford to go to WDW. Sure, we would go to DLR quite a bit, but I always pined for WDW. I finally went to WDW for the first time in '03 for our honeymoon and it completely blew me away! From then on, I was hooked on WDW.

 

[LiveyMouse22]

Well my parents went a couple of times as a couple and fell in love with WDW before my brother and I were born. Then when my mother was pregnant with my brother and then me she had an elephant that if you wound it up it played "When You Wish Upon a Star" and she and my dad would hold that to her stomach so we were Disney fanatics since the womb I guess haha.:shrug::lol: We visited the world since newborns and at least once a year from then. Now that my brother and I are older we are still Disney crazies and all go at least once a year. Although I never had a single trip that got me hooked everytime I go or even listen to a song from WDW it's like the first time I'm there. AH can't wait to go back! :sohappy:

 

[GoofyRacer11]

The story about how I finally got hooked to Disney World:

I went for the first time in 1993 when I was 3. Ever since then I have been obsessed with this place. Just everything about it is amazing Sometimes I wonder if I will ever get tired of this place.

Who am I kidding? Of course I won't.

 

[TinkerChelli]

That was about the HAPPIEST post I ever read!! Thanks for sharing!!! :sohappy:

Thank You :wave:

 

[GOT2SAMMIES]

As I kid I was always facinated with Disney Movies. We would always watch the Wonderfull World Of Disney.. when it was Sunday/Saturday Nights. Remember Fragle Rock? Anyway we had (still have) a compact disc player (remember those platic cartridges for movies?) and my parents bought all the live action disney movies..Old Yeller, Darby O' Gill and the little people..Swiss family... you get the pic... And we would always watch them.. then the Little Mermaid Came out when I was a pre-teen and BAM! Hooked for life... I have a thing for the mouse and love collecting stuff with him so after my grandparents took us there when I was 12, 16 I was determined when I had a family of my own we would go. So when my son was 4 we went and have been back 4 times since. It's a great family vacay, get to visit my grandmother and enjoy sunny weather! Now my son is 10 and he is justed as hooked as me (Daddy not so much but he goes cause we love to). Love Disney and Always will.....

 

[TxNewsies]

I think many things contributed to me getting hooked on WDW. I grew up on many books/cassette tapes of Disney stories - I fondly remember my Fox and the Hound and The Rescuers books. I listened to them all the time! Then came the VHS tapes of Disney movies my parentes started buying me. I would get one every year for Christmas. I went three times with my family growing up to WDW and loved every minutes of it! Then my senior year in high school for my research paper, I did it on Walt Disney. I even wrote a poem based on the Canterbury Tales using the characters of Disney traveling to WDW for my English class that year.

For our honeymoon we went to WDW and my husband became hooked! We now plan to visit every year! Our fourth trip together is this summer!