[aproc83]

Okay everyone! Here's a new questionnaire type thing! When did you first fall in love with WDW and why? We are obviously all addicted and for each of us it's the best place on earth! Okay.....I guess I'll start.......

Mine was my sophomore year in high school. I was big into my drill team and we got to travel to WDW as part of Disney's Magical Music days to perform on the Galaxy Palace Theater in Tommorowland of MK. Now this trip wasn't too fun because we had only 1/2 a day at MK, a full day at MGM, and 1/2 a day at AK. We didn't even get to go to EPCOT! There were so many other things I wanted to do but didn't get to so I knew I'd be back soon. And I was. Ever since then I appreciate the beauty of WDW and everything that I want to experience! And now, I'm officially addicted! :) :) :)

[Goofette]

Mine is sort of different. I was never able to go to Disney as a child, except when I was 3 we went to DL. I remember watching "The Wonderful World of Disney" every Sunday night and seeing the castle and watching Walt at the start of ever show. Sometimes they would show scenes from the parks or specials from the parks. It was a dream of mine to go there. So, when I finally turned 18 and had a job, my very first vacation I took was to WDW. I didn't have enough money to stay on site and this was before ALL STARS. I fell in love with it, but wasn't able to go back until my Honeymoon years later. And then a month ago we went back again. I love it more and more each time we go. Hopefully we'll be able to make this an annual trip.

[jgriff2388]

OMG Goofette, our backrounds are too similar, and thats scary. I didn't go as a child either. I remember watching Disney on Sunday night too as a child, and wanting to go to DL and WDW so bad. Finally, I went there on my senior class trip. But this is back in the day of MK only, Epcot opened a year later. But the trip was great. I remember going to Grad Night and us being in the park till something like 5 AM. Disney was all that I had imagined and more. Any way, like Goofette, I didn't get a chance to go again until my honeymoon, and that's when I fell in love with the Polynesian, which continues to be my favorite Disney resort. I guess I've been hooked since I was a child, even though I technically didn't first go until I was 18.:)

[wdwjeff]

Boy, I'm getting flashbacks just reading all the posts in this thread. When I was 11(spring 1972), my family and I went to WDW in the middle of a hurricane. I think it may have been Hurricane Agnes, or some name like that. Anyway, I remember our umbrellas flying out of our hands. Of course, we were pretty much the only idiots that stayed, so we ran from attraction to attraction, and it was like WDW existed just for us. I was hooked right away, and sometimes I still feel like it's there just for all us obsessive/compulsives to get our fixes. I must admit that it's different going with kids, though. Now, half the fun is just watching the looks on their faces. And, when it comes right down to it, that's probably why I'm keeping the secret from them this time. Hopefully, the look I get when we get to the airport will be one I never forget!:D :D :) :)

[brumcg]

I'm really the odd one so far...

My first trip to Disney was at age 31 when my oldest daughter was 4. My wife was a big Disney fan, but I was just kinda so-so. We had a great time on that trip, and I kinda got the bug but not 100%.

After a few other vacations elsewhere that didn't click, we went back to WDW and had a great time again. When we learned about DVC, it was a no-brainer... WDW was the vacation for us basically every year.

This year, I think I've surpassed my wife as the Disney fan in the house. I've done about 95% of the planning for the trip (we're normally 50-50), and I think that I'm looking foward to it the most.

Bruce

[jfmoe]

Well it all started way back when in a land far far away...oh wait that’s a different story.

My signature tells my Disney story mostly.
The select choir (the madrigals) at my high school took a trip to WDW with Magic Music Days every year at the end of the year. Before leaving for Disney my junior year we spent a month watching Disney history movies, reading about Walt Disney, watching behind the scenes movies and other assorted such stuff. I slowly got into it more and more. At Disney we had the chance to sing on the streets of Great Britain in our Elizabethan garb. We were the only Magic Music Days group ever to do so as far as I know.

I suppose that year is where it started. Then by the time I went back a year later I was hooked.

[Goofette]

Originally posted by jgriff2388
OMG Goofette, our backrounds are too similar, and thats scary. I didn't go as a child either. I remember watching Disney on Sunday night too as a child, and wanting to go to DL and WDW so bad. Finally, I went there on my senior class trip. But this is back in the day of MK only, Epcot opened a year later. But the trip was great. I remember going to Grad Night and us being in the park till something like 5 AM. Disney was all that I had imagined and more. Any way, like Goofette, I didn't get a chance to go again until my honeymoon, and that's when I fell in love with the Polynesian, which continues to be my favorite Disney resort. I guess I've been hooked since I was a child, even though I technically didn't first go until I was 18.:)

OMG, that is really similar to my experience, and strange :) Your honeymoon wasn't in '92 by chance was it?...lol that would be really scary :D

[shawnp0001]

I didn't visit DW until I graduated college at the advanced age of 22. My girlfriend and I went to Florida with my college roommate and his wife, and during one of the days they had something else planned we decided to go to DW. I remember going to Epcot thinking it was pretty neat and then did not want to go to the Magic Kingdom then next day since I thought it was for children. After that visit, I was hooked and have not gone more than 2 years in a row without visiting. Disneyland, while fun is not the same, I have been there three times (once as a child), and will go there if I schedule a trip to LA, but I don't schedule anything specifially to see Disneyland like I do DisneyWorld.

[stingrock23]

I went several times as a kid. i'm not sure when it stuck, but it was around the 2nd grade i think . it was just the most amazing place, and i've loved it ever since.

[Cinderella]

WOW, I was 18 too my first visit to WDW. My girlfriend and I flew together (My first plane ride too) and um well it was way back when.....OK it was 1983 I feel OLD! Anyway, I loved it so much and had such a great time. Love going back and this vacation coming up is going to be extra special because it's the first time with my kids and like the WDW vacation video says: "You'll get to see it through their eyes" Anyway, that's my story (boring I guess) :) BTW, hubby has never been there either. When we got married I wanted to go to WDW so bad for our honeymoon and he wanted Hawaii so he promised me he would take me back to WDW when we had kids, so here we go:D

[craziebabie1]

Well, I grew up in South Florida. I remember as a kid my parents waking me up early in the morning for the 3 hour drive. We would go every year from the time I was 3. I think because of those trips as a child, the magic has really always been there for me. I can't remember a time when it wasn't.:)

[jgriff2388]

OMG, that is really similar to my experience, and strange Your honeymoon wasn't in '92 by chance was it?...lol that would be really scary

No, not 1992, but go back to 1987, when big hair and big shoulder pads were the rage. I loved that decade.:devil

[gdsrn]

:) In 1974 my father was dx. with cancer. My mother and father flew (1st flight for both) to Mexico for the "new" cancer tx. My dad said several times after returning that he wanted to take me on a plane to Disney. We never made it as a family, he died shortly thereafter. I kept that thought all my life, when my own daughter was 4 we took our first trip to Disney World. We have been going ever since. She graduates from high school Tuesday and we leave on June 8th for our 16th trip to Disney. I love it as much now as I did the first time, or as much as I did in my dreams of it as a child. A big Disney Fan:) :) :) :)

[Goofette]

Originally posted by gdsrn
:) In 1974 my father was dx. with cancer. My mother and father flew (1st flight for both) to Mexico for the "new" cancer tx. My dad said several times after returning that he wanted to take me on a plane to Disney. We never made it as a family, he died shortly thereafter. I kept that thought all my life, when my own daughter was 4 we took our first trip to Disney World. We have been going ever since. She graduates from high school Tuesday and we leave on June 8th for our 16th trip to Disney. I love it as much now as I did the first time, or as much as I did in my dreams of it as a child. A big Disney Fan:) :) :) :)

I'm sorry to hear about your father. That was one thing I worried about was not being able to take my daughter. It was such a big dream for the both of us to go together (she's 8) and finally this year I was able to make it come true. The school gave us a HUGE fight because we had to take her out of classes for 5 days, but I just think life is too short to worry about school and work constantly. I wouldn't trade the trip we just had for anything in the world.

[Cinderella]

gdsrn, Sorry to hear about your Father too.
Looks like you've been making a dream come true for your daughter and you for many years now. I too love WDW as much as I loved the dreams of it as a child too!

Goofette, I agree with you too, life is too short. It's Great you were able to make the dream come true for you and your daughter this year! You'll remember it forever
:):angel