What got you hooked?

DfromATX

DfromATX

Well-Known Member
I grew up in the 70's/80's so I grew up watching all the Disney movies from then. We even took a trip to Disneyland wayyyy back in 1984, but truthfully I don't remember much about it. It wasn't until 2006 when I went to Disney World with my husband and our 4 kids for the first time. We pretty much were sold on it after that first trip! Trip #6 is less than a month away! Maybe it's the experience of going with your own children? My kids then were 4 and 8-10 - perfect ages for Disney.
 
EricsBiscuit

EricsBiscuit

Well-Known Member
My love for WDW and themed entertainment started very young. I don't exactly remember when as my family has had APs since the program started and they took me too. It's always felt like home to me. I enjoy the parks. It's hard to put a finger on why.
 
winstongator

winstongator

Well-Known Member
DfromATX said:
I grew up in the 70's/80's so I grew up watching all the Disney movies from then. We even took a trip to Disneyland wayyyy back in 1984, but truthfully I don't remember much about it. It wasn't until 2006 when I went to Disney World with my husband and our 4 kids for the first time. We pretty much were sold on it after that first trip! Trip #6 is less than a month away! Maybe it's the experience of going with your own children? My kids then were 4 and 8-10 - perfect ages for Disney.
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From my age 4 to 10, Disney's animated releases were the Fox & the Hound, The Black Cauldron (one I liked better than most probably did), and The Great Mouse Detective (which I never saw). My older daughter got Brave, Frankenweenie (came out soon after the death of our dog so we avoided, Wreck-It Ralph, Monsters U (not sure she's seen), Planes, Frozen, Planes 2, Big Hero 6, Inside Out, Good Dinosaur (they saw, I skipped), Zootopia, Finding Dory, Moana, Cars 3 (we haven't seen) & Coco. They fell in love with Frozen and we overdid that with the movie & music. Inside Out, Moana, & Coco are 3 of my favorites, and have messages outside their adorable characters.

I enjoyed a lot of the live action Disney comedies as well as the nature documentaries. Also, Donald in Mathmagic land is one of my all time favorites.
 
DfromATX

DfromATX

Well-Known Member
winstongator said:
From my age 4 to 10, Disney's animated releases were the Fox & the Hound, The Black Cauldron (one I liked better than most probably did), and The Great Mouse Detective (which I never saw). My older daughter got Brave, Frankenweenie (came out soon after the death of our dog so we avoided, Wreck-It Ralph, Monsters U (not sure she's seen), Planes, Frozen, Planes 2, Big Hero 6, Inside Out, Good Dinosaur (they saw, I skipped), Zootopia, Finding Dory, Moana, Cars 3 (we haven't seen) & Coco. They fell in love with Frozen and we overdid that with the movie & music. Inside Out, Moana, & Coco are 3 of my favorites, and have messages outside their adorable characters.

I enjoyed a lot of the live action Disney comedies as well as the nature documentaries. Also, Donald in Mathmagic land is one of my all time favorites.
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I remember Fox and the Hound making me cry... :cry:
 
JosieBee

JosieBee

Well-Known Member
I grew up with Disney being a big part of my childhood by getting to have the Disney Channel when it first came out on cable back in the 80s and our parents would always take us to the Disney movie matinees on weekends to see all the older films since those were the days before you could buy them and watch them on your VCR. My first time at Disney wasn't until I was 19 and only spent some time at Magic Kingdom and Epcot for a day. It was one of the happiest days of my life and I remember being really blown alway by the imagineering of the rides, such as the ghosts in Haunted Mansion and animatronics. A few years later in my early twenties, I got to go to Disneyland for a day. Again, even though it was the day after Christmas and packed wall to wall, we had an amazing day, and I got to see Fantasmic and again, the imagineering of that was incredible to me, and being how this was the early 90s, it was a pretty amazing show for that time (still is, but you know what I mean). I went on to begin building my life and family and did not get back to Disney World until about 6 years after that where we spent a week, got to see it through the eyes of my young daughter, and also got to see the new Animal Kingdom. Again, the engineering of such a beautiful park fascinated me. Then I went through a long dry stretch and for many various reasons, did not go back to Disney World until just a couple of years ago and that is when my appreciation turned into complete fandom. I was blown away by the fabulous food, fireworks, parades, character interactions, the theming, and just how much fun it all is. I got to go again last fall and see Pandora for the first time and was awestruck by it...again, the imagineering of it all impresses me and it is truly a modern work of art. I feel so fortunate to live in a time where Disney World even exists and we get to enjoy such a happy place.
 
Incomudro

Incomudro

Well-Known Member
I watched the WW of Disney on tv as a kid, and was enthralled by the images of Disneyland shown during the opening.
The monorail, Lincoln, those views of the park, the castle, fireworks - it looked like nothing I had ever seen before - so far beyond the mere amusement parks I had visited.
My Father took the family (mom, my sister, and my grandmother - my father's mom) to WDW in what I realized many years later - was the year it opened.
Hooked.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, PotC, Haunted Mansion, Main Street, monorail going through the Contemporary!
Are you kidding me?
Even as a kid, the amount of detail, artistry, creativity... It was astounding.
 
World_Showcase_Lover007

World_Showcase_Lover007

Well-Known Member
A middle school class trip in 1997.

It was an escape from the real life world of homework, bullies, and a chaotic home life. But I didn’t know what else to expect other than a week away from school. What hooked me was the ability to exist in a 3-D world that was previously only accessible in your mind and through watching movies. At WDW, it came to life! This was simply a different world, and a world that was amazing.

I was at the age where I actually wanted to learn, so that coupled with entertainment sealed the deal. Throw in the mix being able to spend a week with the girl I had a crush on riding Disney rides over and over, and you get something close to Disney magic. Most of all though, it showed me that there was hope for a better future and future happiness, no matter how petty my 12 year old “problems” were. I could go on, but most of it I’ve already rehashed ad nausem with my therapist lol.

Of course, this story isn’t much in the grand scheme of things to anyone else but me. When I think of the question why I love Disney so much, I always think of the story of the podcaster Pete Warner. Everything else aside, Disney provided this man with the most powerful thing possible: the will to live. Google his story for the details, but suffice it to say that it is a rather moving and heartfelt story, at least to me. Life is hard, life is often disappointing, but we often aren’t able to see how much harder it may be for other people in different situations. If something as “simple” as some buildings, some grass, some ideas, and some kind people all put together in the midst of a Florida swamp can provide a glimmer of hope in the darkest of times, there may be hope for many others at different points in time.
 
Jedi Stitch

Jedi Stitch

Well-Known Member
My 1987 Family Trip to Disneyland. That was my start. 1995 asking my best friend who was 3 months younger where he wanted to go for his 21st b-day, and he said to get drunk at the happiest place on earth. My girlfriend (wife to be) 1998 trip. My own Families first trip to Walt Disney World in 2016, and our first trip together to Disneyland this August. I was hooked, way before these trips, watching Disney Movies as a kid, but re affirming the on each and every trip.
 
chad386386

chad386386

New Member
mousekedoc said:
My first trip I was 11. Mom took me to River Country. Lots of kids. An instant band of pirates running and jumping and swimming. It was a great day. My second trip was senior class trip. I thought, yeah, I grew out of that kid stuff, but I’ll ride Space Mountain a few million times. But my buddy and I and half our class turned back the clocks. We all enjoyed that trip not for Space Mountain, but for fun between the rides. We rode everything, a whole bunch of us singing It’s A Small World in the end.
Took my wife for her first trip at the age of 30. She was of the opinion that waiting in long lines for rides in super heat was silly. She envisioned Six Flags. That day, her eyes sparkled as she became a kid again. We bought DVC that time.
So for me, The Magic Kingdom is a time machine. Through my life, with each trip I take with a newbie,I get the joy of witnessing someone remembering what it’s like to be a kid again.
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This was so beautifully written and made me tear up. Can totally relate, thank you sir. :cry:
 
I'm all ears

I'm all ears

New Member
Maddad said:
I didn’t become hooked until my 4th trip. The first time I visited was when I was 16 with my aunt. We did parks in the Orlando area for a few days and then met some more family members at the beach. Second trip was with my girlfriend, now wife. It was a combination Orlando/Daytona 500 trip. The third time was when our daughter was 2. We visited family in Tampa and came over for a day. Up until this time I considered Disney something fun to do but was never the main reason for the trip. In 2013 we made the decision to take the three kids for a week long trip just to Disney. It was something I wanted the kids to experience but wasn’t particularly looking forward to. I shuddered at the price and was expecting plenty of long hot days listening to children complain while being stuck as the family pack mule. My wife’s friend was a travel agent that specializes in Disney and was able to give us plenty of great advise beforehand.

I loved every minute of the trip. The kids were great the entire week we were there. The crowds never seemed horrible. Every cast member was nice and helpful. Because we opted for the meal plan the only time we had to think about money was tipping the staff and purchasing souvenirs. Everyone had an amazing time. Upon returning home I told the wife that I wanted to do the trip as often as possible until the children seemed to want something else. I don’t know wether it was the theming of the hotel and parks, the disconnect from everyday life and stresses or all of the special moments with the kids. All I know is that I cannot wait until this summer for our next trip.

I was just wondering what hooked you on WDW?
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I originally went as a baby so don't remember that! But went back aged 12 and just loved it, and have always gone back whenever we can but we live in the UK so it wasn't always possible and there have been a number of years between trips.

For me i will never forget walking under the tunnel at magic kingdom and seeing the castle, the love for WDW has now grown into wanting to know about its history and I am constantly amazed with the idea that it all came from one mans ideas and dreams! There is no place like it and to someone who has never been, I don't think you can really explain it. I have had people say to me 'I wouldn't want to go there as it's just rides' but it's so much more than that!!

As we live in the UK we generally come for two weeks so it's always hard to leave and come home.

I then met my husband and he was just as big as a fan and had been to WDW since a small child. We have since been back together and last year took our daughter who was 20 months at the time and it was in fact exactly 30 years from when I first went as a baby!!!

On various trips I have stayed on I Drive and visited other theme parks but the last couple of times we have been we have stayed in Disney and spent the two weeks there, we have also done the dining plan and love choosing and experiencing all the different restaurants and options.

There is always something new going on and new experiences to be had.

Our daughter is already a massive Disney fan and loves Mickey and Minnie and we have our next trip booked for October 2019 so cant wait to start all the planning and get there!!!
 
D

Daddyoh

Active Member
Once upon a time in the 50's was a TV show in Black and White called the MICKEY MOUSE CLUB show every afternoon I'd watch it and I was HOOKED ! Finally, in the 60's the New York World's Fair occurred and met Walt Disney there and Small World was introduced as well as animatronics in several rides with Mr. Disney's help, I was HOOKED. The 70's roll around and we make our first trip cross country with one goal, Disneyland and we were HOOKED (married now at this time).Fast forward to the 90's (still married, to the same LOVE, and now with kids) we begin our camping experiences at Fort Wilderness WDW, and start "the 2 year program". FINALLY, become DVC members at the Beach Club Resort and the rest is history. So lets say WE are HOOKED !
 
Joebradley62

Joebradley62

Active Member
My cousin got to go shortly after MK opened. I wanted to go with home but we could not afford it. (I laugh now at that since rooms at Contemporart went for $29). Fast forward to 1980, Grad Night, my first visit. Had a ball. Joined the Navy end up boot camp in Orlando get to go again after graduation. Back to Orlando for nuclear power school. Visit MK many times and then Epcot which just opened. Since then have been hundreds of times, DVC, DCL, ABD. Have done Disneyland several times now as well.
 
KBLovedDisney

KBLovedDisney

Well-Known Member
larryz said:
Are you sure you're not from the DC universe?
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Hmmmmm....mehbeh. I mean I've always wanted the ability to fly.
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MJ6987

MJ6987

Active Member
I know exactly what got me hooked - and it was before I set foot in WDW - it was the Unofficial Guide to WDW

I was planning our first trip 9 years ago (in my mid 30's) and I loved all the details and the way WDW works, which the book goes into detail on, and all the planning and strategising needed! I was hooked before I'd even got there!
 

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