Opinions

Is It Just Me???
By Lisa - April 11, 2001

"Mommy? ... Where does Minnie Mouse sleep?' my precocious five-year-old asked me out of the clear blue one afternoon. Well, OK that's not necessarily correct. Questions such as that one, or "Can we go to Disney 'Woold" today?' or "Is Disney 'Woold' open when I'm in school?" are really never "out of the blue" in my house. Didney Woold (so called by my 2 year old) is, hands down our favorite thing in the whole wide World! So, naturally, those kinds of questions are always on the tips of our tongues.

In our house, all things Disney are akin to breathing. We dream, think and talk about the Mouse all day; it invades all aspects of our daily lives. We are, like so many of you reading this, truly lovers of Walt Disney World.

Socially, we incorporate Disney into our conversations with others. Close friends and not so close acquaintances are aware of our "obsession". Heaven help the soul who casually asks about our most recent trip! If you happen to be this person, here's my advice. Block off a weekend and I'll gladly you send you a copy my 11-page trip report to study. To be followed up with coinciding, labeled pictures (with captions) to further enhance the full "Disney Experience"

My daughters and I are NOT ALONE. We see a Mickey flag hanging on someone's house, and we sigh "Yup, they've got it too" We go to the mall. We head strait for the Disney store to congregate with others who share the same affliction. Those wonderful WDW commercials are broadcast solely for our nostalgic waning. This is not some strange and dreaded disease, this is MAGIC, and we want all that we can get, for as long as we can have it.

At times I'm amazed at the lengths I, as well as many other Disney Lovers, will go to in order to 'get a little of the magic". We spend hours working at on-line rewards programs (and believe me, it IS work!). We sell ourselves for any sweepstakes with a prize that even slightly resembles a vacation package. We vie for low paying, high-stress retail jobs at The Disney Store, in an effort to get that elusive "CM" title. We cut coupons, save frequent flyer miles, collect spare change, and donate blood, all in an attempt to get closer to our Nirvana, our Laughing Place, our one true Home......ahhhhh, say it with me ..... " Didney Woold"

TheMouseForLess.com is a lot like a leper colony. You can be yourself, let all the uglies show and no one will judge. When you're with us, you won't live in fear of hearing "Look at him, he has Goofy ears on and a Pooh waist pack, and he can barely get one leg into that Dumbo ride" It's OK, we understand. We all understand. Here, no one will look at you funny when you say you and your husband waited in line for over an hour to have your picture taken with Max, Goofy's son. No one will question why you know the old AND the new names to all the buildings at the Poly (or what the Poly IS for that matter!) We can relate to your need for fish and chips at Rose and Crown, Beaver Tails at Canada, Dole Whips, Kungaloosh and Mickey Bars. We won't think your spell check is broken when you write "DxL, HIStA, BatB, MVMCP, MNSSHP, WL, PO, PI, PS, ASM, ASS, AC, and DD" It's really all right. We know.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, come on in, pull up a water mouse or an ECV. Let us tell you a few things you may find very interesting. There are some very knowledgeable, well-rounded individuals who choose to hang out at the DD. Use them gently. Handle them with care. Their advice is given for the sole intent of enhancing your WDW experience. You may just find out some things you didn't know. My guess is you'll like it here. If your obsession with "The World" is anything like MY obsession with "The Woold", then, Pal, you're in the right place!