Originally Posted By WDWdreamin I was just looking at the picture of Gideon and wondering what other people's experiences have been growing up with or without Disney. I saw all the Disney movies as they came out, and watched the older ones happily, but I was not at all immersed. I went to Disneyland six times before I was 18 (including grad nite just before), and I've been 18 times in the ten years since, and not living anywhere as close. There was an acquaintance of mine growing up whose family was much more into Disney and he had Disney stuff and he was made fun of for it. Of course now I view it as so fun/cool/neat. I think it would have been amazing to have gone to the parks more. Others care to share their own experiences, or things they've seen with their kids or others about growing up with Disney?
Originally Posted By EmmaJayne I definitely grew up with Disney, but without a Disney park My very first movie was Beauty and the Beast and after that I saw them all as they came out at the cinema and my grandfather bought my all the films on VHS.. I has colouring books, comforters, action figures, plush toys, t-shirts, posters etc.. My Mum used to take us to the local mall where they put on Disney Pantomimes during the school holildays ( it was here, aged 4 where I first met Mickey Mouse!) and there was the annual trip to Disney on Ice.. When I was maybe, 11 I got a bit embaressed about all the Disney things, because it wasn't 'cool' so the toys/posters etc were packed away and the videos only came out when my friends werent around, but when 8th grade started I had a Disney Princess pencil tin and notebooks and that was it.. my Sweet 16 was Princess themed, so were my 18th and 21st.. But Disneyland was the ultimate dream.. that far far away place on the other side of a world that my brother and I could only dream of.. Mum and Dad refused to take us until we were old enough to ride everything, last an entire day in the parks and remember everything.. we were 17 and 19 that first visit and I think it was all the more magical after all those years of dreaming about it.. it had always felt like the unreachable dream and.. I'm actually tearing up as I write this! (Hope that was the kind of response you were looking for)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo To me, Disney was all about Disneyland. I always thought the films were ok as a kid, but I was more into Warner Bros shorts than Mickey Mouse, and would rather watch Star Wars than a Disney feature (though 20k Leagues Under the Sea, Kidnapped, Davy Crockett, Zorro, Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island amd TRON were favorites growing up). But Disneyland was the whole reason for being. We would go every 4-6 weeks somehow (family, friends, I would find some way to get there and this was the days before APs). I loved how I felt when I was there, and dreamed of travelling to Africa, adventure in the Frontier or going into Space. DL let me feel like anything was possible if you put your mind to it. When Epcot opened, I obsessed over it for years before and after opening. And I used to design my own attractions, parks and communities of tomorrow. It shaped who I am and what I look for in edutainment. WE used to go more to the parks before kids as we were DINKs. Now it is harder, but my kids have been growing up at the Disneyland Paris (one was even potentially concieved at a Disney resort), we took them both before they were 3 months old. They go at leat annually, but more often biannually. And they had been to DL, WDW and DLP before the age of 3 in the case of my daughter. It is interesting as I have to remind them that some children dream of going to the resorts, and sometimes only go once in their lifetime.
Originally Posted By Labuda One of my first favorite toys was a Disney phone... when you picked up the receiver and pressed a button that looked like a character, they'd say hello. Mickey was my favorite one of those buttons. My first Disney movie was either Snow White or Bambi - not sure which, but I know I remember wearing green pants to Snow White, and apparently I had a little accident in the bathroom and tried to flush my undies down the toilet - I was 3 or 4. LOL Anyhow, I didn't get my first taste of a Disney park until 1985 and that was one day at the MK at WDW. WOW, what a wonderful day that was!
Originally Posted By seafairy1622 I'll never forget when I was 7 my dad told me and my brother we were not going to go to school but going to Disneyland instead! Taking my kids there is so much fun. I loved it when they were little and thuoght the charactors were real. I got pulled into a parade by Chip and my daughter was 7 at the time thought that was so funny.
Originally Posted By KatieKate123 I had all of the Disney movies while growing up, but I do not remember every really being into disney that much. In fact my favorite movie was annie. Now that I am an adult and have two little kids, I want them to have what I didn't. So we have been 2 disney world 2x and they are only 5,6 and we have another trip booked. Though we will not be going 10 times by the time that they are 18 or anywhere near that, since I really want to show them other places, and we live to far away to make it a day trip, they will def have disney world as part of their lives.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 I had all the Disney movies that were available on VHS when I was little and my sister and I had all of the songs memorized and would sing them all the time. We also had tapes of Disney songs that our mom would play in the car on long road trips. The first time I went to Disneyland was with my grandparents when I was 7. I lost my grandma a year later and I lost my grandfather just two months ago. The memories of that trip are even more precious to me now than they were then. I went to Disneyland again when I was twelve. The first few hours I was too "cool" to have fun with my mom and aunt and sister, but Disneyland magic proved to be too powerful and I soon got into the spirit of things. We didn't have much money when I was a kid and I know now, even though I didn't know it at the time, how hard my mom worked and how much she saved and sacrificed to give my sister and me that trip. I have been to Disneyland with my husband and/or kids (we take some trips with them and some without) once or twice a year for the past 4 years and will be going again with the kids this year. It is all of our favorite place and we make even more wonderful memories with every trip.
Originally Posted By MoondoggieCA The creation of Disney movies that you could actually buy was a great thing. I remember so many of these movies growing up in the 60s and early 70s, but the only time you got to see them was when they were in the theater. Seeing movies like "The Aristocats" for the first time since being a kid was pretty cool. Was strange how much of it actually stuck with me, including recognizing so many of the songs. I grew up within a few miles of the park, and usually went a couple of times a year. Never tired of it. Became a CM for ten years. Never tired of it. Now I go back as a guest, and I still find it a pretty special place.
Originally Posted By ophellia my parents lived in Orange County, 5 miles from DL in Anaheim, and several other cities in Orange Co....and yet Disneyland was soemthing I saw more of on Wonderful World of Color, we only went to DL when folks visited from out of State, but I LOVED it. I recall the first Christmas Parade and falling in love with the Toy Soldiers...and for me at 4 it was all about the Enchanted Tiki Room, and still is really! I loved driving by DL as a child and seeing just the tip of The Matterhorn...and the nightly fireworks were visable form my bedroom window. I enjoy some Disney films and cartoons, but it's always been a Disneyland fixation for me. I didnt go from 1965-1997, as I had moved away and thought it had likey changed for the worse. Upon returning in 1997 I was enthralled, re-enchanted and became an AP before we left that day....I lived in North San Diego County and we went at least once a week for years...I never, ever tire of The Magic, not even after being a CM for a year in 2001....I adore DL! WDW was interesting, but can't hold a candle to DL imho...I am saving for a Disney Cruise!
Originally Posted By Labuda "the nightly fireworks were visable form my bedroom window" OMG, what a wonderful thing to have growing up!
Originally Posted By pecos bill For me, it was watching Wonderful World Of Color on sunday nights in the early sixties, when Walt was still alive. They would sometimes show programs about Disneyland, and of course, I was amazed. I mean, real mermaids in a submarine lagoon? A boat ride through a world of pirates? The Tiki Room? Then I had the descriptions of the place from a good buddy who had been there, and let me tell you, he had a gift for describing the place in fantastic detail. We finally hounded our dad into taking us to Disneyland when I was about twelve, and I can honestly say that the place exceeded my expectations in every way. For me,it really was a dream come true. I am also a huge fan of the movies,which were a big part of growing up. I still return to them, like old friends that I havent seen for awhile. I guess that for me, Disney is pure escapism in a world that can be cynical and ugly. It is my little alternate dimension of make believe and happy endings.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I have been obsessed since i was a baby. I had all the movies, princess clothing and had many of the classic Disney short cartoons. I was madly in love with Mickey and wanted to marry him, in fact i would beat up my minnie stuffed animal hahaha. I went to DL when i was 3 and 4 and i can still remember parts of my trip. I didnt get to go back until i was 11 and then 12 again. My mom was a struggling single mother and the trip must have cost 5x the amount of what i could pay for it today. Sadly i was dreaming of the day i would return to DL and even was depressed about it. In 2008 my brother was driving down and asked if my boyfriend and i were coming, and we went lol. Since 08 i have been back to DL for about 6 trips, i live in Canada too so im pretty far away. I get to suprise my mom in a few months and she hasnt gone in 13 years! I have always loved Disney and Disneyland. My dream is to visit every Disney Park in the world.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE As children...growing up..Disney indeed was just a dream..our family of 11 ..13 with Mom and Dad ..we.could only Dream that we could visit such a place...Every Sunday evening how ever at 6pm Disney came into our living room...sometimes extended versions came thru allowing us to watch such classics as Treasure Island, Polly Anna, Black Beauty, Peter Pan, among many many others.... Over the years I have collected many collections of Disney items....sharing many of them with Dear Friends..seeing the smiles they bring upon others faces reminds me of the Happiness Walt Disney wanted to share with each one of you... We first travelled to Disney "Finally " in 2003 at Christmas time, the drive was snowy and lots of fun....with a few scares to and fro...we have been back numerous times since...look forward to be bringing the Family this year or next....hopefully LP will be as exhilerating as it was a few years ago...hopefully ALL of you here today will be there during one of the many LP meets that come together thru out the year.... Emma Jayne..Tasha, Pecos Bill..it was wonderful to read your posting's...wonderful... to have met you..Emma Jayne.was also wonderful to have read all the other memories of Disney from you all... Tasha ...hopefully we will meet there as well...Good News Tasha...Disney Store is returning to Metro Town Very soon...if you hear anything more please let me know, I shall do the same : )
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin I was more wondering if people were picked on about it at a sensitive age, but this thread has turned into a wonderful nostalgic thread, and that's even better than my intentions.
Originally Posted By TINK-MOBILE I was never picked on WDW...Disney in our day was a well respected , well liked scene not many people could ever afford to go..from our neighbourhood...but we all loved our Disney Sunday evenings up here...in Beautiful British Columbia ...Canada... WDWdreamin good things come from good seeds, thank you for posting this thread..hope more people come along and share their thoughts with us all... : )
Originally Posted By mickeymeg .hopefully we will meet there as well...Good News Tasha...Disney Store is returning to Metro Town Very soon...if you hear anything more please let me know, I shall do the same : ) Really Really ?? Where and When ??
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hey WDWDReaming. As a kid growing up, most kids thought it was cool that I knew so much about the parks, especially once I moved to the UK. It was in adulthood that people would make fun of me. It used to be that I had loads of rebuttles insisting Disney was not just for kids, or adults with kids and I would list a whole host of reasons why. Now that is much harder. Disneyland has not been hit as hard as the other resorts, and I think this is why some of the more casual fans on here do not see the changes at DCA as being a big deal, or in fact wishing for them. But at WDW and DLP, the dumbing down and kiddyfying the experience has been ramped up over the last decade to where it is harder to defend: WDW - closure of Pleasure Island, neutering of Boardwalk, the thrillifying of Epcot, the tooning of everywhere etc. DLP - there used to be 4 live music venues and a nightclub in the Village, now there is one venue. Mickey and the gang added to Buffalo Bill's (a show that really recreated the original show of 100 years ago), closing down the quality stage shows and putting a rubber head extravaganza in the hub, turning quality restaurants and even a theatre into character buffets, dumbing down the menues to the lowest common denominator etc. Now, I feel more like those that do the mocking, my disdain for the modern disney product and the lamenting of the loss of vision has made me morose and long to find a replacement for the obsession that burned for over 35 years.
Originally Posted By Labuda Yeah, I never got teased as a kid, but as an adult, I went through a phase where folks just didn't get it. Now, though, they get where I'm coming from, and just find it odd, but don't openly tell me I'm crazy the way they used to. My level of Disney geekdom has reached a place they can respect.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 I never got teased for it as a kid. I don't really get teased about it now, but I do get the amused, lets-just-indulge-the-crazy-girl smiles from some people when I get going sometimes. I have converted a couple of people to Disney geekdom though. My neighbor was one of the people who thought I was a little nuts until I helped her plan a DL trip for her family. I made sure they knew all of the best things and she and her family had a blast. When they got back she brought me flowers and immediately started planning their next trip. She has now joined the darkside, and no longer thinks I am crazy
Originally Posted By pecos bill I never was teased about Disney as a kid, I mean, back then they showed True Life Adventures in the classroom. I also remember the Jiminy Cricket series called "I'm No Fool". Unfortunately, as an adult I have been subjected to ridicule by some narrow minded grownups who cant quite understand that not everyone thinks exactly like they do. I agree with Dave's take on the dumbing down of the parks, and I also just loathe the neverending crowds as a result of the AP program. I am still a fan, but havent been back to the park in years.
