What is your "I have arrived" moment?

[supernova]

I'm sure this has probably been covered before, but I was wondering what everyone's "I'm here!" moment is for them? That exact moment when you realize, "Wow, I'm at Disney!"

For me, the airport monorail from the plane to my bag (plus the heat) helps me to get psyched. But it's walking into the Wilderness Lodge lobby to check in, and hearing the background music with the horn call (wish I knew exactly what song it was) that lets me know, "Yes, I have arrived".

So, what's yours?

[lilo88]

When we drive under the WDW sign off of I-4 is kinda my i have arrived moment but I'd have to say I get so excited when we walk through the train station and around the bend to see the castle is my moment!

[1 small world]

Por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas

does it every time!

[TTAfanatic]

The last trip it really hit me was when we were on a boat going from Riverside to DTD after we checked in.

[tlud67]

I think mine would be when someone tells me to "Have a magical day!"

[Dizisit]

The very second the main gear hits the runway at MCO, mostly...!
But I can also highly relate, in that respect, to the Castle reveal and the boat trip to DTD from POR, too!

[mickeyspal!]

For me it's when I see the magical express bus to take me to our resort. I think for my husband it's when we walk into MK for the first time and he hears the train whistle. The train is always our first ride of our vacation. He suddenly turns into a five year old! Love it!

[supernova]

Love reading your examples, everyone. Thanks for filling in the thread and sharing your stories. Keep 'em coming!

[Born 2B Grumpy]

When we check into the resort and the cast member says that our room is ready.

[supernova]

Just hope you're not DVC... that whole "your room will be ready at 4pm" thing kills me!

[emabee]

For me, it's when we pull up to the guard at the gate to Pop and he checks our reservation information and lets us through. Man, oh man. It's real then!

[WDWtraveler46]

For me, it's when I get on the plane to come out and start listening to Lou's podcasts or the Audio Guides.

[supernova]

Who's Lou?

[Disney's Folly]

Oh there are so many layers of this one. As an adult, it probably is moreso about shedding all the stress of arrival and finally getting to embrace the reality of vacation. As short a flight as it is from Newark to Orlando, sometimes the experience of driving to Newark, inevitable delay, then flight, then shuttling towards WDW, and then checking in can take its toll. It's been five years since my last visit though so when I return this October, i think i'll appreciate it like the kid in me used to...

....and that was that first site of something iconic. In the '80s, there were only a few iconic structures to be seen from the highways. Now there are more. So for me, it's that first view of Spaceship Earth, Tower of Terror, or one of the hotels looming over the trees. Or even seeing the castle in the far distance while pulling up to one of the monorail loop hotels. So much of Disney to me is that iconic, architectural lure...so I truly don't feel like "I have arrived" until I've laid eyes on a wienie

Shameless plug: I tried to cover this on my blog because i feel like it's such a huge moment:

Disney's Folly: Mickey Mouse Watchtower: Gateways and Kingdoms

[Disney05]

I can't decide if it's the monorail trip at MCO or walking into the lobby to check in at a Disney resort.