Have you ever randomly run into someone you know at the World?

That's never happened to me, but I hate to say it but it would be awful. WDW is my bubble of escapism, I don't want the real world intruding! I think it might ruin the whole place for me altogether!

It has! Last year, I was at Epcot, and ran into a friend - well, more like the brother of a friend, so an acquaintance - from home. I knew via Facebook that Jon had just recently remarried, but I didn't know that he and his new wife were honeymooning at Disney. I was passing MouseGear, and he was coming out. I couldn't believe it! I called to him, and we caught up for a few minutes, and I got to meet his new wife. It was crazy!

I was also with a friend who teaches in NY a couple of years ago; she was down with her family during a break, when she ran into a fellow teacher from NY. I don't suppose that was quite so weird, since it was a mutual break - but still!

Part of being a teacher is the constant fear of running into students. I don't think I've ever run into anyone I knew in Disney World, but I had one strange day in NY a few years ago. Living in NJ, I used to go to the city every couple of months (before the price hikes on the train fare and ticket prices of shows). There was one particular Saturday where I was in line with friends at the TKTS booth (which, if you remember the old booth in NY, had a line that folded over itself a la Big Thunder Mountain's line inside) and saw a student on the next "fold." I had to keep passing her every time the line doubled back on itself.

The day got stranger. My friends and I went to the (now gone) VIrgin CD store. I heard someone call my name -- there was my first cousin and freshman year roommate, visiting the city for the day with a couple of other friends. (That's not as strange as it sounds, my cousin and I went to the same school and he and my roommate became good friends our sophomore year - although the fact that my cousin and I ended up at the same school completely independent of each other was very strange).

Anyway, it didn't end there. My friends and I went to the theater for our show (Into the Woods revival, I think) sat down -- and literally in the seat next to me was a teacher I had just finished student teaching with a couple of months before!

It was one of the most bizarre days I've ever had -- I can't imagine that EVER being topped!

Jeff, I'm sorry it's taken me all day to get back here with the info! A cold front is coming through tonite, and will drop our temps into highs 60s/lows 40s. The weekend is supposed to be gorgeous, with highs in the 60s and low 70s. Bring those light layers and prepare to peel them off in the FL sunshine. I hope you have a WONDERFUL visit!

It has! I saw one of my sorority sisters walking into Magic Kingdom as we were walking out..it had been about three years since I'd seen her and I just stared at her for about two minutes and she stared at me and then we just left because neither one of us was sure it was the other..until I texted her and said "Are you in Disney World" and she texted me right back and said yes..so then we went back in to see her.

Hi,

In October, 2000, during the first of my seven solo trips to Walt Disney World, I ran into a friend from a local singles social group of which I was a member, in the Millennium Village in World Showcase. He and his wife, who had met within the group, were on vacation together.

Jim

I used to run into another fanily from my town without fail every single summer- unplanned. It was always at DTD. We'd always just say our hellos and go on our way!

Did you guys have a set schedule of when you'd go?

Strangely, I think this is pretty common! I have lots of friends who've had the "random chance encounter" with people they know in Disney World, especially during school breaks and holidays. Personally, I haven't run into any old friends (or enemies) there, so it's still my little escape from reality.

If I saw one of my students there I'd run and hide!