Are you a Disneyphile?

Are you the go-to person for Disney vacation questions?  Are you the resident expert on all things related to the Mouse?  Do you own several bags, articles of clothing, pens, pencils, etc. that have at least one mention of something Disney? If your answer to all of these questions is a resounding, “YES,” then you have a problem.  You are a Disney addict or more politely put, a Disneyphile. 

By definition, a Disneyphile is someone who has an extreme love of many aspects of the Disney Corporation.  Some Disneyphiles love the parks and resorts; some care more about movies or the Disney Channel.  Some have children and care about children’s programming and characters; some are adults who like to vent on Twitter about the way the parks used to be and how that is better than the way they are now.  Whatever type of Disneyphile you are, one common thread unites us all; you are addicted to Disney in some way.  You don’t have to be in love with the Disney Corporation as a whole, but you do have an affinity for something that Disney has created.  Because of the existence of a huge number of Disneyphiles in the world, the Internet has become a place for these fans to gather and discuss all things Disney.  I have learned so much from various websites and conversations online; I am far more knowledgeable now that I have started to interact with the online Disney community.

This online Disney community is so varied that any aspect of a Disney obsession can be explored. For me, I enjoy visiting sites that are devoted to the history of the Disney Parks and Resorts.   I love to visit a site called Yesterland.  This site discusses all of the rides and attractions that existed in the Disneyland of the past.  Werner Weiss, who runs the site, does an excellent job of describing and showing pictures of extinct rides when they were still in their prime.  If you are an East Coast fan, Walt Dated World (maintained by Mouseketeer Alison) is another site that discusses Walt Disney World’s history and rides that no longer exist in the parks.  Both of these sites will keep me occupied for hours because I enjoy learning about the past, especially the past of Disney Parks.  If you like podcasts, Wedway Radio is an excellent podcast that discusses many bits of history related to the Disney Parks.  Matt and Nate Parrish host this podcast, and both hosts definitely know their history as well as conduct interviews with living Disney Legends.  Overall, the Internet is teeming with Disney fans who want to share their knowledge with the rest of the world.

Becoming even a small part of the Disney online community has been so rewarding for me, and I have really increased my Disney knowledge. So, if you are interested in Disney history or Disney news or even Disney garbage cans (there’s a blog for that too), you should take the plunge into the Disney online community and start making connections with other Disneyphiles who are just as addicted to the Mouse as you are.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!