When did you become born again?

[wedway71]

I jest but the first time I realized I actually loved Disney was almost like a religious experience.

Some people get the magic of Disney while others go just to vacation.

At what point in you life did you realize you are actually a Disney freak?

I have been going to Disney since I was a baby. My first B-day was Mickey Mouse. My Dad cut out and made a 5 foot Mickey statue for my Nursery. But even then, I wasnt hooked. One day when I was 16, I had a homework assignement asking what I wanted to do when I grow up. We were supposed to think what we liked in life and use that for career choices.

I sat on my couch for an hour and thought girls,girls,girls,girls... I cant use that for a careers unless I am Larry Flynt. At that point in time, I was watching the Disney channel and a short story about Walt DIsney came on. HOLY CRAP!!!! It hit me right then and there. Like a lightening bolt from the heavens hit me... I love Disney.
To this day, I am a Disney Freak..

 

[TubaGeek]

I think it was my Sr. year of high school, and I had to write a speech on a person. My teacher said it couldn't be Trey Parker or Matt Stone (the creators of South Park), so I chose Walt Disney, since I was already a bit of a fan of WDW. While researching that paper, though, I somehow managed to get sidetracked to the point that I was scrounging the internet finding secrets of WDW, and it was then that I found out about Hidden Mickeys too. Since then I've been hooked.
Actually, I think I registered for this website in my schoool's computer lab while writing the paper...

 

[Mouse Man]

The First time I went with my wife in 2000 is when I found how special this place was and how it truly me made feel. I feel like a little kid every time we have gone. We are planning another trip in 2010 for 10 days. Just love the Mouse.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I've always loved WDW and all things Disney, but it wasn't until this last trip that I became a total and complete Disney nut!
It was the first trip where I was involved with every step of the planning, which made me 1000 times more into WDW! Plus I got to share a trip with my man so that makes is all the more special

 

[peterpanic74]

Good thread subject!

I grew up 90 minutes from Disneyland, so I've always,always been a Disney disciple in some form or another. My fandom lay semi-dormant during college (wish I had done CP!) and early adulthood. Only went to DLR a few times during this period, WDW once. But then Disneyland's 50th really got me fired up again, and I 've been pretty hardcore since mid 2005.

Headed back to WDW in November, this time with my father and my very own, brand new little Mousketeer!!! 3 generations of Disney fans!
:king:

 

[WishIwasThere]

Loved WDW since my first trip in 1980...Became addicted in 1987-8 when I lived in Orlando for 18 months during my Navy time. Can't live in Orlando and not be exposed to the mouse alot. Plus at that time, they were the only game in town. Universal was still under construction.

 

[wedway71]

Loved WDW since my first trip in 1980...Became addicted in 1987-8 when I lived in Orlando for 18 months during my Navy time. Can't live in Orlando and not be exposed to the mouse alot. Plus at that time, they were the only game in town. Universal was still under construction.

Funny you say that. I ALMOST joined the Navy instead of the Air Force just because when you graduated Boot Camp in Orlando, you got to go to WDW that day for free.

I remember when I graduated from Basic in the Air Force, thinking I could have gone to WDW but instead I am here at the Alamo???

 

[Pooh'sBuddy]

Due to the small finances of a large family, my parents never took us to WDW. After I graduated from UT in 1989, I decided to do something fun for a year - I moved to Orlando and worked in the Magic Kingdom. Friends and I went to the parks occasionally; family visited and we went, but then I stopped.

I moved back home and life went on. I met my now husband (who only went as part of a business trip) and we went on neat vacations, but never to WDW. Well, in 2005, I was pregnant with our second son. One of my best friends started planning their trip with their daughter, a toddler at the time, and something clicked – like a light bulb (or more like the “I coulda had a V8” commercial). I knew at that moment we had to go and I’ve been hooked ever since.

 

[DisneysRedHead]

My parents are RAGING Disneyophiles and so I really have known no other way. They used to take me and my brother ever summer when we are little so I have been going as far back as my memory will take me.

The obession I think has gotten worse with age. In fact, I have become so consumed with WDW love due to my upcoming honeymoon, I think I have frightened my fiance (who has never been!)

 

[coltow]

My family began going when I was 10 we went every year until I was about 17 with some extended family. I do have some very fond memories of certain rides and people we went with. It wasn't until I took my (now) DH for the first time and we stayed on property (also for the first time and he was also hooked right away) that it hit me. How blessed we were to have taken all those trips and why it so important for my parents to take us. As a parent now I see it, I see the light in my boys' eyes when they experience the magic and how happy that makes me. I'm sure my parents experienced the same feelings.

 

[Auroragirl]

Well..... my "religious experience" happened to happen ... ... on my Honeymoon at WDW, June 2000!!! Good times... good times!!! :lol:

We stayed at Coronado Springs Resort and stayed for a week. I had gone to Magic Kingdom (only) when I was about 9 and never went back. My DH (WDWMazprty), on the other hand, was born into a family of Disney Fanatics. He had been to Disney at least 10-15 times by the time we got married. Strangly enough, I was the one to suggest going to WDW for our honeymoon..... I'm so glad I did!!!!!!

 

[Chrononymous]

I think I was born a Disney freak...not born again!

As a toddler, we had these cool Disneyland magazines, and hardcover books...and I remember seeing so many things about Disneyland, and the rides and attractions.

I used to dream about them, long before I ever saw a park in real life.

I too did a report on Walt (in the 5th grade) with many visuals, because my family had always collected Disney stuff.

I finally got to go to WDW in 1982, and to Disneyland in 1986.
Hooked into going back ever since!

 

[toetheline29]

I was raised around Disney - Disney movies, Disney Channel, annual trips to WDW, Disney-themed birthday parties, etc. The first movie I remember seeing is Aladdin. I knew I liked Disney, but I thought I was still at a normal level. When I was 12-17, my love of Disney was fairly dormant. We still visited every other year and I enjoyed it, but it was much less than before (I was a teen, you know, and way too "cool"). And then, this past February, we went to WDW. I don't know exactly what sparked it, but I think I finally was grown up enough to realize that there isn't anything else out there like Disney. I finally realized exactly how unique and wonderful it is. And that led me here

 

[luvlifeinfl]

Oh this is a deep question.

I believe that I have always had an interest in Disney. I can remember as a small child watching Walt Disney on Sunday nights. I looked forward to it, it was one of those you had to take a bath early, so you would be able to watch the show and when it was over you already had your PJ's on so it was time to go to bed.

I don't think I really realized there was such a place as Disney until I got into my preteen yrs and that is right around when WDW opened. I remember my g/parents going on Sr. citizen trips and bringing me back mouse ears.

Well as I got into adult hood and started having my own childern, I can remember during holloween my youngest dd(2 at the time) dressing her in a Minnie Mouse costume that I purchased @ the Disney store, I even went & looked for one for myself. obtw, my dd will be 20 in Oct.

Now even with my youngest daughter it was always Disney Princesses, she is 10.

We went to WDW the 1st time in 2005 and that is when the obsession set in, ever since then my thoughts are consumed with Disney, so I think my is an addiction!:ROFLOL:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Born Again Disney!!:lol::lol::lol: I love it...Good term.


I would have to say 2006 for me. I have ALWAYS been a life long fan and always knew and remembered the history, but after a trip on 2006 that was my return to EPCOT and the rest of The World since 2000, I saw it in a whole new light. At least, in a more mature way. I was finally able to appreciate the scope, the vision and the intricacy of such a awesome place.

It also angered me to see some of the history and the ideals forgotten...Mostly in EPCOT. I think that mix of feelings, awe and saddness started the Revival of Evan's Disney Obsession.:lookaroun:lol:

 

[Disney05]

I didn't get to go to WDW until I was 24, 1991. I went the next year too. Then not until May 2005. That's when, for some reason, it became an obsession. We've been going every year since. Something clicked that year. Don't really know what and why. But we are now just totally enamored with Disney.

 

[draybook]

I'm not sure when my first trip was or anything, but I just know that I grew up in SoCal and during the 80's I went probably 3 times a year. I wasn't "hooked" but I did love the place. I didn't go to anything Disney again until last year when I took my wife and kids to WDW and I became hooked. Now I'm counting the days until our return to WDW in December.

 

[disneylemons]

Growing up far away from both sides of grandparents - we didn't take 'vacations' we went to visit grandma every year... but when I was a freshman in HS my best friends family took me with them to WDW..(70's so not like it is now) liked it but was too cool to be impressed.. when our DD turned 5 I vowed we were going to take a fun vacation to WDW.. so we loaded up her and her 18 month old brother... just the feel of taking a REAL vacation and to such a fun place I was hooked! and we try to go about every or everyother year since!

 

[SnowWhiteMomma]

I always loved all things Disney. I would get a new VHS Disney movie every Christmas and Birthday from my Godmother (whom loves Disney more then me, if that is possible).

I was one of 5 kids, so we never made it to Disney as a family! I always wanted to go! My husband took me when I was 20, back in 2000. I have been there every year since! He said he loved seeing Disney through my eyes, even though I was 20.

I am always planning a trip. There is always a countdown. I sew and embroider, so I am always making my daughter clothes for our next Disney trip. Blessed, I am pregnant with another girl (due on the 27th of this month), so it will be double duty now.

I am becoming the one in the family (after my Nanny) that people say... She is going to WDW again, with an eye roll. I try to do two vacations a year, but if there is only one in the budget.... WDW here I come!

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

For the longest time I've really liked WDW..and then after 17 years of watching the resort on tv shows,documentaries and reading about the parks in many books I collected.. My friend invited me to go during christmas of 2003..This was pretty much my second time ever going to the resort since 1986....AK and D/MGM were new to me..Ever since I went during that christmas holiday...It changed my view of Theme Parks forever...I was so amazed how the park changed from watching the Holiday specials, Walt Disney World Inside Out, And Discovery/TLC/Travel/History Channel Documentaries....It made me understand things when you don't need to slap a Miracle Whip ad on a ride to promote things...Park upkeep was fantastic and It just is more breathtaking at night..But after the trip was over...I felt like I didn't feel like I saw everything..And still to this day and this being my 6th solo trip out there...I'm still taking it all in...