Calling all those who visited WDW when it was 1 park & 3 hotels...

[amberpi]

Sidenote: does anyone remember the Associated Press events they had a couple of times at WDW? My dad owned several smalltown papers (nothing fancy) and was our state's AP pres for a few years. The AP rented out EK and MK separately for an evening and as a kid, it was AMAZING and I was enchanted. (We ended up going at least once a year after that, or my dad would take us and cousins and then our uncle would take us and cousins Does anyone else remember those corporate events? Do they even happen now? I've been to some functions that have taken up the area in Epcot that juts into the lagoon between the UK and France but I haven't heard of corporate retreats taking over a whole park since I've been a professional. I'm sure it still exists, but I've never been that special...let a girl know! Can you even rent out a whole park now? I bet its become far too expensive even for major corps.

 

[JenniD44]

Besides the Poly and Contemporary, the DTD hotels were the places to stay back in the day.

The Royal Plaza was a top notch hotel, Michael Jackson would stay in a suite there when he visited WDW.

I remember the Travel Lodge which is now the Wyndam I believe. They had a "sleepy bear" as their mascot, he would often be around for photo ops. There was also an awesome ice cream parlor in the lobby.

I also recall the Disney Inn which is now SOG I believe. It had a subtle Snow White and the Seven Dwarves theme to it.

My parents went without me one time when I was in college or something. They must have stayed at the Royal Plaza because they saw Michael Jackson in the elevator of their hotel, with bodyguards of course. I was so mad that they went without me and saw him close up like that.

 

[JenniD44]

Sidenote: does anyone remember the Associated Press events they had a couple of times at WDW? My dad owned several smalltown papers (nothing fancy) and was our state's AP pres for a few years. The AP rented out EK and MK separately for an evening and as a kid, it was AMAZING and I was enchanted. (We ended up going at least once a year after that, or my dad would take us and cousins and then our uncle would take us and cousins Does anyone else remember those corporate events? Do they even happen now? I've been to some functions that have taken up the area in Epcot that juts into the lagoon between the UK and France but I haven't heard of corporate retreats taking over a whole park since I've been a professional. I'm sure it still exists, but I've never been that special...let a girl know! Can you even rent out a whole park now? I bet its become far too expensive even for major corps.

When we were there a few years ago DQ was closed because someone had rented it for a corporate event. I know it's not MK, but still not a bad event.

 

[amym2]

Ah yes, I remember two family trips when I was a kid. On one of them we stayed at the Contemporary (I was disappointed because we stayed in a wing) and the other in the old Treehouse Villas. I have very fond memories of River Country, and I sort of remember the Luau and HDDR.

The other thing I remember is the first time we did the dining plan. Must have been around 1984. We ate in the castle and I remember being amazed at how much food we got- appetizer, entree, dessert. We also ate at the top of the Contemporary (was it Cali Grill then or something else?). I remember dressing up and feeling all grown up at age 12.

So we've taken the kids (10 and 8) to Disney a few times, have done the HDDR and CRT, and this year we are staying at the THV and eating at Cali Grill. I hope my kids are as impressed as I always was!

 

[si-am]

Ah yes, I remember two family trips when I was a kid. On one of them we stayed at the Contemporary (I was disappointed because we stayed in a wing) and the other in the old Treehouse Villas. I have very fond memories of River Country, and I sort of remember the Luau and HDDR.

The other thing I remember is the first time we did the dining plan. Must have been around 1984. We ate in the castle and I remember being amazed at how much food we got- appetizer, entree, dessert. We also ate at the top of the Contemporary (was it Cali Grill then or something else?). I remember dressing up and feeling all grown up at age 12.

So we've taken the kids (10 and 8) to Disney a few times, have done the HDDR and CRT, and this year we are staying at the THV and eating at Cali Grill. I hope my kids are as impressed as I always was!

I'm pretty sure the dining plan didn't exist back then, but you're right, King Stefan's Banquet Hall used to be really good (and they did give you complimentary soup and dessert).

 

[larryz]

I'm pretty sure the dining plan didn't exist back then, but you're right, King Stefan's Banquet Hall used to be really good (and they did give you complimentary soup and dessert).

I seem to recall a coupon-based system back in the '80's -- or am I mixing it up with DLR?

Anyway, I recall an '81 or '82 trip to the CR south Garden Wing, enjoying all the classic MK rides over several days, the resort-only monorail loop, and eating in the several CR restaurants...

Good times...

 

[addicted2dizney]

used to stay every spring break from about 79'-86 for one week at the poly. What did we do all that time!?? I remember the Poly being $129 a night! that was a lot of money then.

We used to go to the "top of the world" at the comtemporary for the best brunch! I also remember a great brunch at the Poly in the area that I now believe is the extended seating for the counter service area.

we loved river country and driving the little speed boats in the lagoon.

I love how the little surfer boy in IASW wears a piece of the poly's uniform material as his little bathing suit wrap. Anyone else ever notice that besides me?

 

[cnjmom]

My first trip was in May 1976. I was 8 and in the third grade and my sister was almost six and in K. We stayed at the Golf Resort, and I remember taking a bus to the Poly so we could hop on the monorail to get to MK. I remember at the time wishing we could stay at the Poly so we didn't have to transfer.

I remember eating a dinner at the Poly.

I thought the monorail was the coolest thing...especially when we got to go right through CR.

I remember being so excited that we were able to stay up really late to see fireworks. My mom had us try to 'take a nap' in the afternoon so we wouldn't be too tired.

We had traveled with a set of cousins and my aunt and uncle. It's a good thing we did since my uncle was the only one who would ride Space Mountain with me. The odd thing is, I wasn't much of a daredevil kid, but someone must have impressed upon me how "cool" Space Mountain was because I was determined to ride it. To this day, my cousins still look at me in awe. A fun thing for me is that we just took at trip this past June, and my DD was 8 and had just finished the third grade, and it was her first (several) times on Space Mountain. I told her that history had repeated itself as she was exactly the same age I was the first time I rode it.

We did half of a week at MK and then we also went to Sea World and Busch Gardens.

 

[christianweecare]

Our first trip was in 1975 for our Disneymoon! We stayed at the Poly. We had never seen or been anywhere like it! I, too, remember casually strolling the MK for several days. Countless trips later, we bought DVC in 2005 and wish we had been able to do it sooner! DH & I talk often about the many things that we have seen built and added since "back in the day".

 

[mamamary]

My first trip was in July 1976. I remember my parents bought me and my sister dress up clothes to wear on the plane. We stayed off-site - just mts away - I think it was a Days Inn. Our neighbors had just come back from Disney and had tons of leftover tickets which they gave us. Pretty sure we went to the Magic Kingdom about 3 or 4 days. We also went to the Gatorland Zoo, Kennedy Space Center and I remember some Wax Museum. One evening we went to this area around a lake that had shops and stuff. Wish I knew exactly where we were. I think it was lake Buena Vista. I remember being fascinated with watching them make those candles that they dip and make all sorts of designs on.

 

[mhconley]

My first trip to WDW was a stay at an offsite Lake Buena Vista hotel in 1972 as a 13 year old. I vividly remember the constant construction in Lake Buena Vista and a bout of swimmer's ear. My second was in 1975 and we stayed at the Polynesian. My family combined WDW with trips to Sanibel. The next time I would be back was in 2002 with my pregnant wife and the first with my DS was in 2008 at the WL.

Martin

 

[Hopefully]

Our first trip was in the early 80's, soon after Epcot opened. We stayed in a Fort Wilderness cabin. We loved FW and especially River Country. I remember the River Country/Discovery Island combo tickets.
We ate at the "Top of the World" at the CR and loved getting dressed up and seeing the show.
It was a great trip and I was hooked even before we arrived.
We too have great memories and have been numerous times. We are now DVC owners and love WDW just as much as it is today.
But the memories of an "older, gentler" WDW are fun too.

 

[Seeker615]

My first trip was when I was 13 or 14. They were just building EPCOT at the time.

We stated off-site as we were doing Miami and Tampa.

It was a wonderful trip. We did 2 days at the Magic Kingdom. The first day we toured as a family and the second day my parents let me and my sister loose so we could do whatever we wanted in the park. It was so much fun. (Endless rides on Mr. Toad and Space Mountain!

We spent time in Orlando too visiting Rosey O' Grady's, a Hollywood ride through wax museum and I remember a mystery fun house we went through.

We also visited Busch Gardens and the beaches of Miami.

Ahhh...memories!

 

[fairestoneofall]

my grandparents lived in Ocala. we'd come down every summer to spend a week with them. then, we'd go spend one day at MK before spending a week in St. Pete. i know i was there in the 70s, but i don't remember those visits. i do remember being there when i was elementary age (early 80s).

when we visited, we always stayed at the Knights Inn. i understand that it still exists.

 

[Land Shark]

My first trip was in '72. Our family would go with my grandparents and aunt to a friend of theirs place in Cocoa Beach. Amazingly, 8 of us packed into a station wagon with all the luggage on top! WDW was a one day trip for us. On the other days we would go to the space center once and the remainder at the beach. We duplicated that trip in '74. I remember the ticket books. I mostly remember riding 20,000 leagues, country bears, skyway, HM, IASW, Tree House and the RR. On the second trip I remember riding space mountain for the first time.

Fast forward to I think 1995 when my oldest was 4. Went to a convention at the Swan couldnt believe the changes in 20 years! RnR and ToT were not open yet. ToT looked completed and I think opened later that year. Could be wrong on the exact dates, though. We debated going to EPCOT since we didnt think a 4 yr old would be interested. Decided to go check it out anyway and fell in love with it! To this day my favorite park. The day we left we took him to Discovery Island. So glad we did that, since we never saw it again before it closed.

When our 2nd son was four in summer 2000 we went back and stayed AsMo. Definitely hooked at that point as we went once or sometimes twice a year many years afterward and have stayed in most of the on-site hotels. The best memory was our first deluxe resort visit the year AKL opened. I was in awe of that lobby!

Great memories all

 

[bookgirl2632]

My first trip to WDW was in 1976 when I was 7 years old. Only the Poly, the Contemporary, and Fort Wilderness were there. We stayed offsite, however. I remember spending three days at MK. We did the luau and dinner at Cinderella's Castle. The rest of the week was spent at Seaworld, Busch Gardens, and Cypress Gardens.

We weren't able to return until many years later. By then Epcot had opened and MGM was barely a year old. And now we have AK. So much to do, so little time.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Oddly, this thread is making me nostalgic for something I never experienced myself!

My mom visited Florida and Disney World in 1974. She came back from that trip with a little souvenier--best one ever. I was born 9 months after her trip. Maybe that's why I have such an affinity for WDW, and the MK in particular.

Seriously, though, reading through this thread, I wish she had more memories of being at Disney World, and I wish she had any pictures of her in the park. The only picture I've ever seen of her on that trip was taken by the ocean.

 

[Chirple]

My parents took my sister and me to DL in the mid-60s when we were very young. In October 1976, when I was 14 and my sister was 13, my family packed up our ’68 Plymouth Fury so my dad could drive us from NJ to FL. We made a few overnight stops in north/central FL during our 2 week trip.

Once we got to WDW, we stayed in the tower at the CR. My parents gave us the freedom to hop the monorail and wander around MK on our own. I remember 20,000 Leagues and the Skyway really well. My sister dragged me on to Space Mountain. The first time I kept my eyes closed and screamed the entire ride. She somehow convinced me to ride again. That time I grabbed the shirt of the guy in front of me and screamed again; I made progress by keeping my eyes open! The third time around was my own personal challenge to see if I could keep from screaming. Sure enough, the third and final ride I not only kept my eyes open, but I kept my mouth open with no sound coming out!

I also remember them sending us off to dinner on our own so they could enjoy a night out themselves. I felt so mature.

My parents returned to WDW after Epcot was built, and I know my sister had also gone there at some point. I did not return until 1998 with my now husband. We’ve been going at least once a year since then and even had our wedding in 2006 at the Polynesian. My dad passed away in 1991 so 2006 was the last trip to WDW I would take with my mom and my sister before my mom passed in 2008. Each time I go there now I get a little misty at certain points, but then I remember my mom getting excited about the parade and the show during MVMCP and how she was such a trooper on the rides; it brings back good memories.

 

[Shell91303]

What a great post!!!

I have NEVER been to WDW We are going on 9/14 for my first time and my DS's (5) first time. Im going to have to ask DH what year he went as a kid and what he remembers!!

This post just gave me a warm fuzzy feeling!!! Thanks for sharing everyone!

Can't wait to start my DS's memories of WDW!

 

[ZeroMyHero]

My parents, two brothers, and I drove down to WDW in Spring of 1981 from the Chicago area in our '75 Thunderbird and met my uncle, aunt, and cousins there, who drove down from NH. We camped at Fort Wilderness and even though my family was supposed to sleep in a tent, when my uncle showed up in a swank RV complete with shower and flush toilet my mom and I abandoned the tent for the luxury of the camper. My uncle had gotten a great package deal on tickets through his job, so we each had a 5-day pass good for unlimited rides. It was just a thick rectangle of paper and IIRC it was yellow and had a drawing of Mickey in a hot air balloon on it. It was attached to my purse by a thin string - I can't believe it didn't get lost or torn! I remember standing in line for IASW for almost 2 hours and loving the ride once we finally got on, and I remember riding SM with my mom and screaming bloody murder through the whole thing! This trip also started my torrid affair with HM. My mom and I got the short, chubby ghost in our doom buggy. We didn't see any characters except for during the parades, and I felt very lucky to have the chance to meet Mr. Smee during our visit. We went to the Luau at the Poly and I remember a Don Ho-type guy asking all the kids to come sit near him so he could sing "Tiny Bubbles" to us. My dad made me go and I remember being embarrassed that I had to sit with all the little kids (I was only 10, btw). We also went to HDDR, but I don't remember it at all. We also spent the day at River Country and it was a blast, despite the worst sunburn I ever got. My brother, who was 16, was allowed to go to Discovery Island by himself and he remembers them putting a bunch of parrots and cockatoos all over his arms and shoulders and then taking his picture. After the trip was over, my dad said "never again", so I had to wait until I was a grownup before I got to go back.