This is such an interesting thread!
I joined the original VMK because my best friend at the time was obsessed with Disney (as was I... Still am). She called me on my house phone and told me I just HAD to join, so I did... And the addiction started from that day on. It was my first computer game on the internet, since I usually was not a fan of video games/ online games.
I joined MyVMK for the nostalgia... I was SO happy as a kid playing VMK, and because it brought me so much happiness, I just had to join again as soon as I found it. It's funny because my siblings and I talked about VMK for years after it shut down... I'm so happy it's back.