Originally Posted By ncnike7 It was the summer of 1993, my parents said one day 'Hey, let's go to Disneyland'. So a few days later we went. We had been driving about ten hours when my mom said 'Let's see who can spot the Matterhorn first' I hadn't been to Disneyland since I was 4 years old and so I didn't quite know what I was looking for but I played anyway. I don't remember who spotted it first, but I remember when I saw it I was awe-struck, there was DISNEYLAND! I was so excited, but we would have to wait until the next day to go in. So we woke up bright and early and got to the park before opening, which isn't an easy feat with 5 kids. Our first ride was Pirates of The Caribbean. Again, I hadn't been since I was 4 so I was a little nervous. The farther we got from the dock, the darker it became. And then the screams. I gripped the handle as tight as I could as we plummeted to what I was sure was my untimely and tragic death. SPLASH! But wait, I was alive, and there was music. 'Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me!' From the first pirate animatronics I was hooked. Magic, pure and simple. We must have gone on that ride a dozen times that day, it was my absolute favorite. It was nothing short of amazing. And then, that night my mom forced us to watch a show that was fairly new to Disneyland called Fantasmic! I didn't want to watch, I wanted to go on more rides. But she was sure we would like it, so we watched. Again, amazing. Now I was sure that Disneyland was truly magical, how else could they have created such an amazing place? We only got one day at Disneyland that year, yes kids it was before the multi-day pass and ions before DCA, so the next morning we woke up early and drove the ten hours back home. But in all my years I have never forgotten the magic I felt on my first spin on Pirates or the first time I saw Mickey slay the fire breathing dragon. Once at home we would create attractions of our own trying to emulate the magic, which only perpetuated my theory that magic did indeed exist in Disneyland. A theory I still believe and defend. And that is how I was converted to the wonderful world of Disneyland. How were you all converted?
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x My dad went to a family reunion when I was 8. My Nana (his mom) lives in Fullerton, and has been in SoCal my whole life. Well, we were living in Nebraska. So he comes back from the reunion (we didn't go) and he had presents for us. A Musical Pooh for me (still have it and it still plays "winnie the pooh") a Mickey for my sister, and a Thumper for my brother. He brought them from Disneyland. WHAT?? You went to Disneyland without us?? The only time before that I had been was when I, too, was 4. I still have vague memories of waiting to ride Pirates with my aunt. Anywho, I digress. So we travelled across the country, and we finally went to Disneyland when I was about 9. My mom, sister, brother, and my grandparents. I think my dad was TDY in Turkey at this point. I remember walking around a fountain, singing "it's a small world" in my pink (now vintage) Mickey shirt. I wore that shirt all the time. Again, more touring the country, and then the world. My dad was finally stationed at LAAFB. We lived in San Pedro, about 30 minutes from Disneyland. We took a trip as a family when we first got there, and it was a disaster. My parents, me, and my bro and sis. Everyone wanted to do something different. So at school, I started making friends. "Do you go to Disneyland often?" I'd ask. I met my best friend on a class trip to the mountains. That Christmas holiday from school, we went together, and I fell in love (possibly not the first time, but what is love when you're 4 or 9??) So I've been at least once a year since 8th grade, which was 1994. I've always been a Disney fan...the movies were a staple on the TV when I was a kid. But That's how I fell in love with Disneyland.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins I had been to Disneyland with my parents when I was little. I really liked it, but I wasn't converted. Then I flew down on a date when I was about 15, just for one day. I began to love it even more because we went in the Tiki Room and on the Matterhorn, two attractions my mother told me weren't worth seeing on my previous trip. Then, a few years later, I went on a first date with someone to dinner at his friend's house. Before dinner, we all decided to go to Disneyland instead (from San Francisco). So we drove down all night, checked into a motel to take a nap, and planned to go to Disneyland after we had rested. Well, my date's friend, the one with the money, took off and left us there. We spent the day just trying to get back home and never got to Disneyland. I remember making calls from the Disneyland Hotel lobby and ACHING to go to Disneyland. I think it started to become really attractive to me because it was out of reach. I didn't make it back to Disneyland until I had my first child and he was six months old. We went to celebrate my stepson's and stepdaughter's birthdays 6th and 4th birthdays (two days apart). My inlaws came too. It was that trip where I was converted. I always remember walking down beautifully lit Main Street when we left as Marty Robbins' El Paso was playing and my FIL and I sang along. Knowing Disneyland much better now than I did then I wonder how and why they could have been playing El Paso on Main Street. I even contacted someone very knowledgeable about the Disneyland loops and he said they couldn't have played it. Well, they did. And it was just one of those Disneyland magic moments for me.
Originally Posted By lesmisfan well after going to disneyland once a year, i started kind of studying the history of not only company but the man walt disney himself, read all about hidden mickys and the park secrets, and then i always loved the movies. and then my sister got a job there and we started going more than once a year which was like heaven for me, i started seeing the park through different eyes, there is always something new to see even to this very day. she quit so i got a pass and went even more and now work there myself.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<We only got one day at Disneyland that year, yes kids it was before the multi-day pass and ions before DCA, so the next morning we woke up early and drove the ten hours back home.>> Back in the 70's an out of town visit would be a minimum 2 days for us (preferably 3). We would do other SoCal things (Knotts, San Diego, etc.), and would spread out the DL days so they wouldn't be consecutive.
Originally Posted By ncnike7 Well fkurucz, that may have been the norm for your family but for mine, well, no mon no fun! The trip I wrote about was a spur of the moment trip, we hadn't been on vacation for a very long time. We were very glad that we took that trip because a few weeks after we got back my one year old baby brother was diagnosed with cancer. That is another reason Disneyland is so special, it was the last time we really had fun as a family before the nightmare started. After he was in remission we took another trip to DL to celebrate
Originally Posted By DoomBugger For me it was in 1997. I had always loved Disneyland and Disney in general, but I never really had an opportunity growing up to go too many times, not for lack of trying. With three sisters and two working folks we mostly went camping, which was a blast. In 97' my then boyfriend, now husband, and I went down for a weekend trip and were hooked. We started making yearly trips. One our honeymoon we shot a tour of the park video that we showed to my parents in an effort to get them to go down to Anaheim with us. It worked! My Mom told my Dad she would go without him, Ha. So, of course my Dad complained up until it was time to go and even on the way in the car, gggrrr. However, it was the most amazing thing. Once we got there he had such a good time. So, we usually go down about every other month or so. Mostly we go together. It is so much fun with the four of us. We are all left tunnelers of course And we all really love the train, especially EP Ripley! My love of Disneyland is spreading and I have now convinced two of my friends to go down with my husband and I on Sept. 14th. One is ready to buy her Annual Pass and wants to go to Candlelight this year...so it looks like we have another convert.
Originally Posted By kari12177 My parents have been taking me to DL every year since I was 2 and its been 28 years now, I blame them for getting me hooked.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Well fkurucz, that may have been the norm for your family but for mine, well, no mon no fun! >> Don't get me wrong, I know we were lucky!
Originally Posted By boydisney <<My parents have been taking me to DL every year since I was 2 and its been 28 years now, I blame them for getting me hooked.>> Ok, that is my same story!!!
Originally Posted By ThinkTink1987 I feel kinda bad, well not bad, but spoiled!!! LOL I really can't remember my first time in Disneyland, because by the time I was 4 I had already been there 5 times or more. But I do know why I love it so much!!!!!! While growing up, My family and I (2 brothers, my mom, and my step dad) went to Disney at least 3 times a year, but no more than 6 if you know what I mean. It was always easy to go because we never had to stay in a hotel we had family we stayed with. And that family went with us every time!!!!! We love Disneyland. My fondest memories are with my Uncle, Aunt and Cousin, and of course my family. We always joke about how no one does Disney like us!!! Like this one time, omg, I am laughing just thinking about it. my brother was riding the Matterhorn together, because the CMs wouldn't give them thier own seats, and my cousin is 6'3'' and my brother is 6'2''. CAN YOU IMAGINE!!!! plus they didn't want to sit close to eachother either, so one was pushing all the way back, and the other was crammed to the front, it was hilarious!!! What makes it so funny for me is I am 5'3'' and I got my own seat!!!! HAHAHA! Anywho, we haven't been to Disneyland altogether in a long time. My hubby and I go of course, but we haven't been as a whole clan in 6-7 years, thats including everybody!!! Even my uncle and aunt, oh and cousin. But this weekend!!! WE ARE ALL GOING TOGETHER AGAIN. We are meeting them friday at the Disneyland hotel and I wanna cry from happiness. All 12 of us together again! Can't wait!!!! I will make sure to nform you of my memories from this trip!!!
Originally Posted By RAM1984 That is such a beautiful testimony ncnike7. It brought tears to my eyes, which proves that I am, indeed, a true Disneyland geek. I think I was hooked when I was very tiny and only seeing the plans on Wonderful World of Color (which I only saw in black and white.) I just knew it was a place I had to see, not once but many times. When I was 10 (1964) my sister and I finally persuaded my parents to take us in. The eight-hour (no I5 back then) drive was nothing to me. As I walked in and saw Main Street and heard the music I was hooked on the Magic. There was not even a POTC then. But the Jungle Cruise was amazing, and done serious like a real safari. That trip to the moon just had to be magic. It only took about 10 minutes. We had a tight budget with a limited amount of Etickets. We rode the Matterhorn and I was disappointed with what I thought was a roller coaster in a mountain. (Of course today a trip to Disneyland is not complete without a go on the Matterhorn.) I did think the Monorail was a waste of one of those coveted E's. But that is my story. I was hooked from the start. I knew I felt something that the rest of my family did not. They liked it but I was in love. (Today DH and I are the only ones with AP's though we still live in NoCal.) <a href="http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=154266246/PictureID=3332349540/a=79203744_79203744/t_=79203744" target="_blank">http://www1.snapfish.com/slide show/AlbumID=154266246/PictureID=3332349540/a=79203744_79203744/t_=79203744</a>
Originally Posted By tynkrbell1977 I have my parents to thank. They brought me to DL for the first time when I was 9 months old!! I dont remember but we do have pics!! Then we went every summer for about 17 years. My mom would always tell me that I would make the perfect Snow White. My dad LOVES Disneyland too. In fact it was always his idea to go! LOL Then I started taking random trips with my friends when I was about 18. The 1st time I actually sat down and waited to watch Fantasmic! was when it hit me. I think I was 18. My friend and I had sat down a couple hours before the show and had great seats. I was in tears by the time it ended and I knew Disney was going to be my life. I wanted to work there (I still do) I applied at our local Disney Store in 2000 and got the job and I am still there today. =) Not quite Disneyland but as it does the trick when I cant get out there. I love everything Disney stands for. Walt Disney was a genius and I would give anything to be able to go back in time just to shake his hand and say thank you. Now I try and get there at least once a month!
Originally Posted By 1DisneyNutt I also have my parents to thank. We started going to Disneyland in the late 1960's. We lived in Pico Rivera and did not have alot of money but my dad would come home on the navy ship & all the guys would give him all of their Disneyland coupon books because they new he had a family & they were not going to use them. So we would pack lunch & head to Disneyland for the day. Then we moved to Washington & did not go to Disneyland but maybe once every 10yrs. After getting married our family tries to go every couple of years. My husband would rather be fishing but the kids & I love Disneyland!!!!!!!!!
Originally Posted By ploeb909 I actually used to dread going to Disney Land when I was a kid. My mother would dress my sister(3 yrs. apart) in the same outfit and parade us around in these uncomfortable itchy dresses. So when my 9th grade class took a trip for the end of the school year, I did not want to go-but I did. Although I always felt that the Magic was totally real, I did not really Fall in Love till I was 31. I took my kids to the DLR for 5 days, it was then that I watched my kids(dresses in shorts and tennis shoes!)believe in something pure and innocent! My daughter was 6 at the time and is now 13, she is now in love.To this day Mickey Mouse still sends special gifts to my children to prepare them for their trip and also leaves a daily note and gift!
Originally Posted By Grumpy Pete Great Topic! I feel like I've always been converted. I'm not sure when it happened but,when we would go down to So. Cal from So. Nevada to visit relatives it was neat to be the first to spy the highest thing in disneyland--the TWA Moon Rocket (yep, pre Matterhorn). I guess it was mostly that we truly (in my mind) had entered a different world. Even now, I still feel the same way. Going to strengthen the conversion on Nov 6th. Even though my youngest is 20, I'm still very young at heart in disneyland.
Originally Posted By ncnike7 Thanks RAM1984, us Disneyland geeks (or freaks or both) need to stick together, which is why this site rocks! And I want to hear more stories of Disneyland back in the day!
Originally Posted By tiki tiki tiki tiki I also have my parents to thank for my addiction to Disneyland. On my first visit, I was still in mommy´s big tummy and after I was born we would go once a year with the family. As I got older the visits were more frequent with groups of friends and when we all got our licenses we would visit about 6 or 7 times a year, I could never get enough! How is it possible that we all don´t get tired of visiting? I remember when I was little and we would throw a penny into Snow White´s wishing well (I still do on every visit), I spent years closing my eyes real tight and wishing I could someday live at Disneyland (I really wished hard). It is truly a magical place and at such a young age, it captured my heart. Now living so far away, I feel it´s a true addiction. There are too many moments when I REALLY yearn for a quick getaway the happiest place on earth. These visits are missing from my life and I feel it. And I also wish I could follow in my parents footsteps and be able to convert my DS also. But I think I´m already doing a good job so far without DL closeby because he´s only 2 and a half and already pleads "I want to go to Disneyland!!"
