You finally know your at Disney when you.....

[grumpyguy]

i always start to "feel" wdw magic when we arrive at orlando airport and you start seeing all the disney stuff for sale and it just looks like mickey is starting to pop up everywhere.
anticipation really builds when our luggage gets loaded and we're actually sitting on a disney magical express bus and we're smelling actual
"disney" diesel fumes.
but,to more directly answer your question i don't really consider myself at disney world until we pass under the big colorful WALT DISNEY WORLD signs that go across the thruway.
that's when i turn into a kid again

[KatrinaJ91]

all of the little things are a build-up of actually "being there"...
it starts with seeing the Florida sign (we drive) and stopping at the Welcome to Florida center and having Florida orange juice! Then when we get on I-4 and start to see the Disney exits. Getting to the resort is a thrill...riding the bus for the first time is wonderful...seeing the Welcome to Disney World sign is exciting...

BUT I am not officially "at" Disney until I walk down Main Street, take in all the sights (balloon seller, castle, train, etc), smells (popcorn, bakery, Caseys) and sounds (that wonderful Barbershop Quartet singing Main Street USA!) This is definitely the moment I feel we are there and I get all teary-eyed...actually I am getting teary-eyed now just thinking about it! I love this post....it has made my snowy, dreary day seem all the brighter!

[mudpuppysmom]

We're always there when we enter the "front gate"......'Welcome to Disney World'....then DS and I say "WE'RE HERE!!!!"

[Giggy]

Another vote for the purple signs, they featured in a dream last year. I was in my home town of Telford and we were in the car, looking up at the road signs at a crossroad in the middle of them was a purple sign pointing towards WDW. We were heading for a day trip at Disney because my brother was taking part in a show of some sort and purple signs just like the ones in WDW were leading us to it.

I can't remember what sort of route we took except being at a certain crossroad in Telford, going via a nearby town called Ludlow and then through a swampy area where we stopped for a break. Clearly geography isn't my strong point as although Ludlow is in the right general direction for Florida (south-west) there was one flaw in the plan: WDW isn't a couple of hours away in a car, it's a 10 hour plane and a few thousand miles of ocean!

[Always Goofy]

The WDW smell for me as well, from DME, resort, buses, parks, everywhere on property.

Also, palm trees! We don't have too many of these in Kentucky. I love seeing them for the first time when touching down at the airport.

6 days to go....

Yep, me too! As soon as the plan makes the final approach and I see palm trees, I know that I have arrived. However, what me and my oldest son used to do is during the takeoff from home, we would raise are arms in the air as if we were on a roller coster! That is when vacation starts for me to WDW

[Darbylew]

First when we see the purple signs, next when
we go through the gates to our resort, most of
all it is walking down Main Street at the MK.
FIRST TRIP 1972
LAST TRIP NOV. 2009
NEXT TRIP MAY 2010
AND MANY TRIPS IN BETWEEN

[Stu29573]

Another vote for the purple signs, they featured in a dream last year. I was in my home town of Telford and we were in the car, looking up at the road signs at a crossroad in the middle of them was a purple sign pointing towards WDW. We were heading for a day trip at Disney because my brother was taking part in a show of some sort and purple signs just like the ones in WDW were leading us to it.

I can't remember what sort of route we took except being at a certain crossroad in Telford, going via a nearby town called Ludlow and then through a swampy area where we stopped for a break. Clearly geography isn't my strong point as although Ludlow is in the right general direction for Florida (south-west) there was one flaw in the plan: WDW isn't a couple of hours away in a car, it's a 10 hour plane and a few thousand miles of ocean!

Yeah, that darned Atlantic. Maybe they could build a bridge...

[DizMom416]

when I am checking into my resort and see my kids watching a disney movie in the lobby with all of the other kids waiting to experience the magic

[cmshelton1979]

Reading all of these has put a smile on my face. I think I know I am there when you go under the Disney World Arch.

I also know I am at DW when I get in my resort room. What really lets me know though, being at Rope Drop at MK and walking in and seeing the castle for the first time!!!!

[Hendsome]

Go to my resort bus stop and start seeing the park busses rolling in.

[Morpheous]

When I get on the Disney's Magical Express, and the "Welcome to the Disneyworld Resort" video packages start to play.

[DisneyOtaku]

when you start seeing the purple background road signs

This is the same for me. I just get that magical tingle all over!

[cinderellagrl]

When I get my first glimpse of the Castle from Main Street. The full effect of the smells, sights, and sounds of Main Street = I"M IN DISNEY!

[MushuGrl]

we always go to MK first, so I know we are there when we are riding the Disney bus and it makes the left hand turn at the light in front of the Contemporary, and the Mickey Mouse Club music starts to play.

Second that!!

[forever a child]

I'm pretty darn happy when I just start boarding the plane for the trip!

[GINNY69]

Getting of the plane at Orlando Int'l Airport checking at DME and getting in line to board the bus... 33 days counting...

[finaldynasty]

When my kids begin screaming with excitement when they see the Disney signs, then begin singing their favorite Disney tunes!

[MarknTara]

when everybody is smiling at each other!

[Pop Centurion]

I start feeling it once in MCO but it really kicks in once the video starts on the ME bus.

[Plex]

Jump up and down on the bed in the hotel screaming "WE'RE AT DISNEY WORLD!!!!" WOOOOO!

Yes, there are pictures