Who Sold Whom?

The wife and I were both fans, so that doesn't count. (Although I think I'm slightly more into it than she is)

Looking back nearly 30 years, my parents had been to the park, but hadn't STAYED at WDW. I turned them on to that and it is a tradition that continues to this day.

After a brief marriage 30 years ago that ended in divorce, my folks were concerned about me and asked if I'd like to go with them to Disney World and stay. They hadn't stayed there, but took my advice of the Polynesian and we went as a group for the first time.

My dad will be 82 this month, and if all he does in life is go to the occasional Kentucky football game and get to go to Disney World and stay on property, he's a pretty happy guy.

I guess thats a successful conversion!

I remember the "watch" story!

To answer the question, I've been a fan for most of my life, converted to a say-on-property kind of person almost 10 years ago! Maybe more, actually! I've been doing some converting myself since then...my parents are annual passholders now!

I've been trying to sell my mom and sister on it. While they enjoy it, I don't think it's the same for them as it is for me. Plus my sister is kind of down on the walking. I'll get them eventually!

I only married her to get one of the original Mickey Mouse phones that came out from AT&T back in the 70's when most people didn't own their own phones.

She had one and I wanted it!!!

(I've got nearly 23 years invested in that phone now....)

DH and I were converted together when we honeymooned at the World back in 1988. It was over 15 years before we went back and we've been back every year since. We were really spoiled in 2006-07 when we lived 8 miles east of WDW...and DH had a summer job there - he's a teacher with summers "off". He still says that was his favorite job of all time...just about broke out in tears when they sent his termination notice. He was trying to figure out how he could commute from NC!!

We're thinking Disneyland Paris for our 25th anniversary celebration...or maybe a Disney cruise if we don't take one before then!

There are some other teachers on the board and they find they're unable to go any time but the summer. Do you guys do all of your trips summertime as well?

I never thought about this, but being a teacher would really inhibit your Disney visiting ability. I was thinking the other day while reading one of these threads, that my first advice to anyone going to Disney World would be to NOT make your first trip in summer when it is so hot and crowded. Thats NOT a way to learn the ropes.

I know the kids around here get a fall break, in addition to the spring one. Are they doing that elsewhere?

I think if I were a teacher I'd have to have a debilitating "sickness" once per year that required attention in Orlando for about a week.

Hmmmmmmmmmm...cruise to Europe and DLP that does sound like a cool trip!

Yes, we do end up taking most of our vacations in the summer. Christmas break is up north with family. Spring break works sometimes, but didn't this year due to the government stimulus initiatives...I work in higher ed research administration...and I was CRAZY busy in April...I had to cancel the week I had schedued.

do you find spring break to be less crowded than summertime? this year the spring break crowds sounded terrifying.

I think this year has been crowded across the board. All the deals have brought in a lot of people I think.

I was sold on it and then I've been selling my family on it.

I grew up in SoCal and went to Disneyland many times as a kid. I have memories there in nearly every phase of childhood all the way up to Grad Night my senior year of high school. That said, I moved away from California at 18 and moved mentally away from the joys of Disney. I didn't believe there was much there for me as an adult. A good friend of mine at the PD took his wife and kids every year and would always tell me what a good time they all had. Eventually, I decided to take my girlfriend at the time. When I got home, I almost immediately started planning a trip so I could take my family and share said joy with them. Both of those trips were in August and were very hot, very humid, and quite crowded. I'm very much looking forward to the next trip where all three of those factors should be somewhat reduced.

My wife and I are both lifelong fans. In fact it was Disney that brought us together. If it weren't for the fact that we were both lifelong fans, we never would've met.

As far as my other family and friends, well I've converted a few, but none have really hooked onto Disney Mania.

__________________

Upcoming Trips

July 2010 - Old Key West

Oct 2010 - Boardwalk Villas

I've had bad results with hooking more people as well. They enjoyed it but they weren't fired up about it like I am.