When did u know u were obsessed with WDW?

[AllThatsJoey]

I've been going to Walt Disney World for as long as I can remember. My obsession, however didn't begin until I was in 7th grade. I believe I was 13 years old which would have made the year 1992 if I'm doing my math correctly....probably not. I remember that year I began carrying around a Magic Kingdom Guide Map which I would read and study. I would circle the restraunts I wanted to eat at, the rides I wanted to ride, and even imagined myself walking around in the park while staring at the map. That's when it all began...

Hello everyone. My name is Joey and I'm a Disneyholic.

-Joey

 

[jcat2312]

April 1993. I was in WDW with my high school band. From the moment I entered Magic Kingdom and rode my first ride (PoTC), I knew I was hooked.


138 days left to go!!!!

 

[Melerella]

When I joined a forum and couldn't stop logging in and reading eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeverything! And having Live365 on constant play...lolol..= ) <3

 

[Fran98765]

Such wonderful stories everyone, thank you for sharing them.


For me, I've always had a thing for the Mouse. Back in high school/college I started stockpiling trinkets and treasures. Piles of Disney snow globes, ornaments, other chachkies, Mickey kitchen gadgets (only Mickey, no one else is allowed in the kitchen!), every single video released... and I never considered myself a big Disney fan!

When I got married in 2000 and my future husband threw out the idea of WDW/cruise for our honeymoon, I said sure, why not! We did that and ever since going on the trip I have been waiting to go back. After trying to have a kid, being preg and then waiting for the kid to stop being an infant, we decided to head back August 2004. This really clinched the obsession! My son adored it at 19mos and my heart just smiles every time I think of his wide eyed amazement of the place. We had been planning to go again for my son's 3rd birthday (last time he'd be free!) in January 2006. One day a couple months ago, husband wakes me up saying, "want to go to WDW in May?" "Huh, yawn, what?? What about January??".. "we can do both" he says! WOW! So, here we are, two WDW addicts married to each other... and we are heading back to see my "other" man, the mouse, in 11 days!!!!

So now with the plans for multiple Disney trips, plans for the next millenium of vacations, we have finally admitted our obsession with the Mouse.

 

[Disneyfan1981]

I think I first realized I was hooked on WDW when my wife and I realized that we get planning videos every year but don't go every year, just to keep up on what's new. That's of course before I found my way here. Lol

 

[OmegaKnight]

Every day when I go to work at Epcot. I have such a fun time at work every day. Interacting with children is what I love doing the most. The smiles I get from them makes my whole day.

 

[Ralph Wiggum]

I remember the wonderful world of disney in the 70's (never knowing Walt was dead) and just wanting to GO THERE. my parents never took us, so I swore my daughter would go. we took 2 weeks trips including UO and SeaWorld, and wanted immediately to move to the area to be a part of it all. If I live to 63, I'll retire and work at any of the parks. when my daughter grows up and has a family, I'm taking my grandchildren to WDW to see the looks on their faces I never got to see when our daughter was a baby. and to see things through their eyes I never got to see as a kid.

 

[saucymb]

From the first time I visited, I was hooked. My mom says that when I was about 4 I told her I was going to work at WDW one day (and I did!). When I was a kid, my mom and her parents would take me and my siblings and cousins each summer...we would all pile in a van, pulling a camper, and stay for 3-4 days (Only MK and Epcot in those days)...camping at Three Worlds Campground in Davenport.

Anyone remember the old park guides, the ones that were like mini-books? Each "land" or "pavilion" had one page, listing attractions, rides, restaurants, shops...in the months leading up to our trip, I would pour over those little books, checking off things we had done before, circling things we definitely had to do this time, putting a star next to things that were my favorites...I still have those little books with my graffiti in them!

 

[KevinPage]

You know your are obssessed (let's see how many people I can insult ):

- you think men in skirts are the pinnicale of music entertainment

- you lament the potential loss of a certain inflatable object in a certain
Epcot pavillon

- you are sooooo sure that a Harry Potter attraction is being built you get
banned and still resurface under mutiple screen names and plug your own
website

- you average over 2,000 posts per year and have waaay too many green
boxes under your name

- you whine and complain about all the new changes at the parks, yet
haven't visited any of them in 3 years

 

[zjer]

Obsessed.... Whose obsessed? I jump on this page six times a day because.... and I listen to park hopper radio...... I start planning my next trip within days of returning because....






Five years ago.

 

[jsfra209]

For me it was the first time that I went to WDW with my husband. All prior trips were with my family. I loved all those trips, but the problem was that my parents really werent "that into" Disney. My dad would get tired and want to leave. My mom would get a headache and want to leave. My brother's feet would hurt and he'd want to leave. It stunk to have your day controlled by everyone else but you.


Then, when my hubby and I went.. I could wait on line for Splash Mountain 10 times in a row, if i wanted.. I could run to space mountain, then run to spash mountain, then hop to epcot if i wanted to... I could stay until the park closed to see the parade and the shows.. I could spend 5 or 50 min in the emporium shopping .. I could eat at 4pm instead of noon, or skip lunch alltogether to ride "just one more time" ..

It was very liberating and gave me the ability to expore the "world" on my own. The magic cant really hit you full force if it's got to go thru 3 other people first!

(Thanks for taking me every year anyway - and - for being such awesome parents) luv u mom, dad and mikey

 

[jacksnightmare]

The first time I went to visit my girlfriend 2 years ago. It was nothing but magicial. Ever since then I am always on these boards, always planning another trip, figuring out how I can start working down there, and always keeping up with what is going on down in WDW

 

[Halfling418]

Even before I ever went, I obsessed. It was my desperate wish to visit before my head would explode.

I knew for sure on my first trip--I was in eigth grade. The first park I went to was EPCOT, and I remember my mouth hanging open and my eyes bulging. My highest expectations were exceeded. I remember my first ride--the origional Journey into the Imagination. Even though it wasn't big or wild and crazy, I remember being so amazed at the creativeness of it all. Finally, some rides with PERSONALITY. That's what Walt had. That's what Mickey had. It was something breakthrough, yet so obviously needed.

Now when I go, I look at the guests faces at the attractions as well. I love watching people. I always get teary-eyed; I am so proud of Disney for bringing joy to so many. I'm always delighted to see happy and entertained faces, excited kids and and adults who let themselves be excited kids again. No other place has it to this extent. It IS truly magical.

Boy was that corny! I can't help it--it gets me choked up...and this is the only place where I could say something like this and not be perceived as loony. :wave:

 

[PirateStagehand]

I knew when I was planning our next trip on the airplane coming home from our second trip. I couldn't wait to go back. My wife is always on my back about seeing other places (and we do) but I keep wanting to go back.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

I became obssessed/addicited sometime in 2003. Why...I don't know. I went to WDW for my first time in 1996 to see the 25th anniversary. Yes, I am damaged for life with seeing a birthday cake first and not a castle. :animwink:

I didn't know crap about Disney from 1996 and on. I knew only the basics grewing up. I didn't think anything changed at Disney. :hammer:

So in 2003 after going to Florida on and off every year or so, I knew I had to pay homage to WDW. Through the internet and other forms of media I have learned and appreciated so much about who Walt Disney was and what has been created.

Since 2004 I am hoping to go once every year. So far so good. 1996....2004, 2005, and 2006 sometime in January.

I grew up with Disneyland beleive it or not. I have never been to California's Magic Kingdom..or California Adventure but hope to some day. I remember watching this old sing-along-video...so when I went to WDW and their magic kingdom...I remember saying outloud how I didn't find yellow subamrines, a different haunted mansion, matterhorn, and old tomorrowland.

 

[SpenceMan01]

I've always loved WDW. I think my obsession really began last summer when we began to plan our Jan. trip. I was (and still am) glued to this site. I started reading trip reports and I got the Unofficial Guide. We've since gone and come home, but I am still nuts. I listen to attraction audio non-stop. I'm planning my WDW/Disney Cruise honeymoon, and we're not even engaged yet. I think the nail in the coffin will be if/when I win the CM costume(s) I'm trying to get on eBay.

 

[jiddng]

I have been a Mickey fan since the original MMC (yes, I'm showing my age...).

When I graduated college, my family took a vacation to WDW (only MK at that time). I had just been hired at my new "career" job, and my new boss wouldn't let me take off to join the family for their trip. I was soooooo bummed!

Then life happened, marriage, kids, mortgage, etc. Finally got to go in 1987 when our youngest was out of diapers, and haven't stopped since. With the exception of 2 years, we've managed to go to WDW at least once a year since....

Now my husband wanted a retirement home - his conditions: 1) it has to be in FL, 2) it has to be near golf courses. My 1 and only condition: it has to be within a 1/2 hour's drive to WDW! Our compromise.... a home in Celebration.

It's been so awesome to finally get to Garden & Flower, Food & Wine, Night of Joy, all the Christmas celebrations..... I'm in Heaven!

 

[Pongo]

Like others, I have been going to WDW ever since I can remember.

The first trip I ever remember going on (though I know I had gone before that) was when I was four. I went with my aunt and uncle for a few days and we went to all the parks. I remember my first Peter Pan ride, my first view of The Living Seas... etc.

Now that I can drive on my own, I try to go to the property whenever I can, even if it is just DownTown Disney or to go gotel hopping.

It's amazing how so many people can become "obsessed" with the place.

 

[thimblekisses]

I have always been enamored of Disney, always. My blankie from babyhood (which of course I still have) is Winnie the Pooh. I was a Disney baby of the '80s (yes the '80s). But I knew I was obsessed when

a) the first video tape I got that was my very own was Lady and the Tramp when I was four. We bought it at the fleamarket. VHS tapes were kindof a pretty big deal then still. I watched it everyday sometimes more than once for months. Magically, at Christmas, four or five new videos found their way into my collection! Imagine! (One was Jungle Book).
b) beginning with Aladdin ( when I was 8) all the way to Tarzan, I bought the soundtracks before the movies came out and memorized all the songs before I saw the movie!

And the addiction gets worse everyday.

Grad Nite tomorrow!

 

[Sloppy Skunk]

I remember in in the mid 90's, my family got a new jeep. The dealership gave us a little sampler cd to test out the stereo in it. So my dad, my sister, and I were all sitting in the car. My dad pops in the cd and the Indiana Jones theme starts playing. Immediately both me and my sister ask if we can go to WDW soon. Since then, ive been hooked. My addicition only gets worse as time goes on, but o well! I can blame it on my dad I guess...