What got you hooked?

Jim Chandler

Jim Chandler

Well-Known Member
I have been hooked since the original MMC show. I lived for WDWofC. A much simpler time. First time was at MK was with first wife on honeymoon. Don’t remember much at all as well as the marriage. Next time was with my current wife and the kids were 3 4 and 9 I don’t know who loved it more me or them. Have been more times than I can count. Living 90 minutes away makes it easy. We can go just to walk thru Disney Springs or one Park. Love it every time. Now 68 and feel 12 every time I go. Even take the grandkids one on one sometimes
 
spock8113

spock8113

Well-Known Member
What got me hooked? You watch this montage of Disney Ride history
Knowing and seeing first hand, Disney’s major influence at the 1964 World’s Fair:

Ford Magic Skyway


General Motors-you may recognize some things from Horizons and other relatively present day Disney


GE Carousel of Progress


Pepsi-Cola’s it’s a small world


Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln – The Illinois Pavillion


Disney goes to the Worlds Fair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpUOtLL4D1o

Seeing the “New” Pirates of the Caribbean ride on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1967 not 1968 as indicated) We went to Disneyland for this in August 1968.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9EZodKdpLY

Are the newer rides as amazing as these older rides were? Remains to be seen.
 
Incomudro

Incomudro

Well-Known Member
spock8113 said:
What got me hooked? You watch this montage of Disney Ride history
Knowing and seeing first hand, Disney’s major influence at the 1964 World’s Fair:

Ford Magic Skyway


General Motors-you may recognize some things from Horizons and other relatively present day Disney


GE Carousel of Progress


Pepsi-Cola’s it’s a small world


Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln – The Illinois Pavillion


Disney goes to the Worlds Fair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpUOtLL4D1o

Seeing the “New” Pirates of the Caribbean ride on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1967 not 1968 as indicated) We went to Disneyland for this in August 1968.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9EZodKdpLY

Are the newer rides as amazing as these older rides were? Remains to be seen.
Click to expand...


What you show here indicates my father's arc in taking us to WDW - something I appreciated more about him when I realized it.
My father took the family to the NY Worlds Fair. I was only a year or so old, and in a stroller at the time - so no memory of that of course.
Then we went to the Montreal Expo. I would have been 4 at the time, and I do have memories of that trip.
Then, we went to WDW which opened in '71 putting me at around 8 years old.
This was followed a year or so later by a trip to Disneyland.
It wasn't until around 10 years ago, that I realized that my father was chasing Disney in effect.
Which makes complete sense, since he was an artist (not by trade - he was a NYPD Sargent) and a big fan of innovation, science, performance etc.
 
becca_

becca_

Well-Known Member
I grew up with a Disney obsessed Mom & Grandma, so it was already in my blood by the time I was old enough to say "Mickey". I think that what truly got me hooked is how being in the bubble can take you so far out of the real world and into this place of magic and memories. Growing up I went to WDW almost every single year, sometimes twice. I grew up watching Disney Channel and seeing new Disney movies that came out. I was a huge fan of the princesses, like many little girls were. Now as I'm older, I look back and realize how amazing the "behind the scenes" stuff of Disney is. Once I noticed the small details, like how there *usually* is no trash on the streets or how the buildings always look brand new... I was more than hooked. The amount of history behind the attractions and the entire property makes me so excited. I love to watch documentaries and look at construction pictures from when MK was being built and thinking about how Walt once stood there. The fact that he could envision all of what he made blows my mind.

I recently took a first timer, my boyfriend, and that sealed the deal for me. Seeing Disney through his eyes and being able to share in those special memories is something I will never take for granted. It truly was magical. Now I've got him hooked, which is great news for me ;)

DADK559XsAAHCY7.jpg
 
LeighM

LeighM

Well-Known Member
becca_ said:
I grew up with a Disney obsessed Mom & Grandma, so it was already in my blood by the time I was old enough to say "Mickey". I think that what truly got me hooked is how being in the bubble can take you so far out of the real world and into this place of magic and memories. Growing up I went to WDW almost every single year, sometimes twice. I grew up watching Disney Channel and seeing new Disney movies that came out. I was a huge fan of the princesses, like many little girls were. Now as I'm older, I look back and realize how amazing the "behind the scenes" stuff of Disney is. Once I noticed the small details, like how there *usually* is no trash on the streets or how the buildings always look brand new... I was more than hooked. The amount of history behind the attractions and the entire property makes me so excited. I love to watch documentaries and look at construction pictures from when MK was being built and thinking about how Walt once stood there. The fact that he could envision all of what he made blows my mind.

I recently took a first timer, my boyfriend, and that sealed the deal for me. Seeing Disney through his eyes and being able to share in those special memories is something I will never take for granted. It truly was magical. Now I've got him hooked, which is great news for me ;)

View attachment 285762
Click to expand...

Sounds like me with my mom and grandma LOL. When I saw the t-shirt that said Disney Born, Disney Raised I just HAD to buy it!!!
 
P

PTL76

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?
Click to expand...
Always been a Disney fan. Grew up watching wonderful world of color on Sunday nights. Got hooked on WDW after my first visit in 1974. Now as a pass holder I go to EPCOT often for all the festivals and the concerts. Sometimes go over just to hear the Liberty singers and British Revolution. Go to the other parks frequently too . Have been close to 500 times now and always find something exciting
 
WDW Zandt

WDW Zandt

Member
As a kid I was hit or miss with Disney. I enjoyed the movies I saw and watched the Wonderful World of Disney on ABC, but the parks were another story. I got the nickname Bench Boy because I was too afraid to ride the rides and would sit outside on the Benches while my family rode. When i was in my twenties, the person I was dating was a huge Disney Fanatic and we moved to Kissimmee to be closer to Disney (and both ended up working there) I became obsessed with the little aspects and details of the parks and the whole concept of Escapism...that it was more than a theme park, ect.

I do remember liking Muppet Vision 3D as a kid, which is one attraction I absolutely despise as an adult. The dual Sweetums really puts me off.
 
MaximumEd

MaximumEd

Well-Known Member
Seeing Epcot in 1987 as a 13 year old kid did it for me. There was a pretty long gap in my trips for a while after that. Rediscovering WDW with my wife and daughter and riding Splash Mountain hooked me for a second time.
 
graphite1326

graphite1326

Well-Known Member
1996 My DW said we ARE taking the kids to WDW. I had gone in the late 70's as a young 20 year old and was not impressed. I even told her that she would be disappointed. In 1970's there was only MK. What a big difference when we went in 1996. However, I was not hooked. It was so big, we were overwhelmed. We decided to try again in 1998. This time I did a little more planning. With the planning and the CMs being so helpful and professional WE were hooked. We got to see so much more and really enjoyed it. We have been going back every-other-year since.
 
LaughingGravy

LaughingGravy

Well-Known Member
As a kid in 1977, all the transportation had me hooked. First stays were in the Contemporary long before it was called a deluxe.
Monorails, all the boats, skyride, trolleys, omnibus on MainSt, Fire Truck, yellow "other old car" on Main St, Horse Drawn Trolleys. WEDWAY People Mover, and even the buses.
Add to that my first rides were "If You Had Wings", my introduction to the omnimover system, and then immediately followed by Carousel of Progress.
As a 9 year old.....WOW!!!!!!

Add to that the excitement of Epcot being built from scratch and then the additional Monorail line added to get there....simply wondrous.

And they have nice trains.
 
cameronmouse

cameronmouse

Active Member
My first trip as a child got me hooked.We used to vacation in florida every other year growing up because we were a family of 6 so we all hopped in my dads truck and we pulled our travel trailer down to fort wilderness. Ever since my first trip its the only place i wanted to go and now as an adult my kids are on the same path as I was minus the travel trailer part.
 
Walt Disney1955

Walt Disney1955

Well-Known Member
Definitely my first trip in 1991. So much that I had never seen before. I remember swearing up and down that the Hall of Presidents were real people with real movements. My mom said no, but I was pretty sure they were real. Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc. stuff I had never seen before either. This was not a normal theme park. Parking lots that were huge and were named after characters (we were in the Pluto lot the first time). This predates cell phones so we had to remember just by memory.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Big Phil said:
Definitely my first trip in 1991. So much that I had never seen before. I remember swearing up and down that the Hall of Presidents were real people with real movements. My mom said no, but I was pretty sure they were real. Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc. stuff I had never seen before either. This was not a normal theme park. Parking lots that were huge and were named after characters (we were in the Pluto lot the first time). This predates cell phones so we had to remember just by memory.
Click to expand...
It was not unusual for people to think they were real people in the HoP. I had an employee, in his mid 20's that went to WDW on his Honeymoon. We were talking about the trip when he got back and he wondered how one could get an easy job like part of the cast of HoP. All they had to do was look around and shift from one side to another. As hard as it was to believe, it took forever to convince him that they were robots (animatronics).

The trick with those was to be far enough back in the audience that it gave the impression of real people more then right up front.
 
wombat

wombat

Active 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?
Click to expand...
May 2000 was the first time I visited Walt Disney World and went to Epcot. The Tapestry of Nations and closing fireworks got me hooked. I was mesmerised by the world travelling across the lake then opening up.
 

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