Did you go to Disney as a child?

[DisneyJules]

Wow, what an interesting way of looking at things. I wonder, it would be interesting to hear from people who have gone as adults. I went for the first time when I was 3 years of age (I don't remember a thing) but then again when I was 4, 5, 8 and 12. I do actually have memories from the trips when I was 4 and 5, especially in Epcot. I vividly remember riding Spaceship Earth with my mom and was very nervous to do so because I hadn't a clue as to what it was we were about to experience. Fond memories The addiction starts young

 

[DisneyJules]

double post oops!

 

[tassie42]

I went once as a kid in 1978 but I was already almost 12 yrs old. then me and dh went on our honeymoon in 1991 and we just made it back with our 3 kids last April (planning to go next year again though! got to make up for lost time!)

 

[DisneyJules]

Originally posted by Ellester
One of the few vacations I remember with my parents before they divorced.

Same here! And sometimes I wonder if that's another reason why I love being there, it reminds me off happy times before the divorce.

 

[WDWLVR]

Nope - went for the first time at 19. I have many happy childhood memories, but they don't involved Disney.

Doesn't stop me from enjoying it greatly as an adult!

 

[Mimi Q]

No, but I always wanted to go to Disney World.

 

[ilovepcot]

I was 23 the first time ever visiting WDW. LOVED IT!!! My daughter first went at age 4 and has only made one trip back since because.....she doesn't like anything about it!

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

I WAS SOOO fortunate. My Uncle worked at Disney and still does. I went every summer from age 7 to age 18. I also went during Easter vacation. I had very generous grandparents who LOVE Disney.

I am blessed to have such fantastic grandparents. As a matter of fact my grandparents have not been since Jan 03. They have been dealing with health issues and my grandfather was just recently diagnosed with a terminal illness and does not have much time left. He is still holding on to the the idea of coming to WDW with my family in Oct/Nov of this year and staying at the WL. We will be sad he will not be able to make it. He shared so much with me, especially his love for DISNEY and for that I will be forever greatful.

My own children have been 3 times and they are 5 and 6.

Wishing everyone a "magical" day!!

 

[Jungle Skipper]

I was lucky, my family took us to WDW a lot when we were little...at least once a year from the time I was 4 years old.

So many of my childhood memories are of WDW, my most vivid memories of my grandparents (moms parents) and some of the happiest moments of my childhood were there, we weren't a really 'well off' family, so escaping to WDW every year was much needed...we are lucky to have such a generous extended family to take us with them.

I wanna go back...now....

Jungle Josh

 

[HollyJoy]

Yes, definately!! My parents both loved Florida, especially my Mom. We would go to florida on two week trips, and spend a week in Disney, then a week on Florida's west coast... usually in the Fort Myers area. I thought I was lucky. I went to Disney about every 2 or 3 years.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

My first trip to Disneyland was when I was 4 and LOVED it. Made my parents buy the tape of Small World music and played it over and over and over for months. We went back a couple times between then and high school, and then my dance group was lucky enough to be selected for a Disney show. So I performed there for 2 summers. I dragged dh along for just 1 day after we were married and it was horrible (I had a broken toe, and a little kid stepped on it at the park, so I was hobbling around all day), and I was fearful dh would never go back. But I made him.. I couldn't wait for my kids to be old enough to appreciate the magic. We celebrated each of their 1st birthdays at Disneyland, and they LOVED it too and since seeing it through their eyes now dh does too. My dd has now been 3 times (shes 4) and ds has been 2 (hes 2). I've been dreaming of WDW since I knew what it was, and now at 26 will finally get to visit! My kids will be 4 (turning 5) and 3 when they get to go to wdw and they get the added perk of the cruise too!

Gosh I can't even imagine a childhood without Disney. I have polenty of happy childhood memories but those are my favorites.

 

[orvilleair]

Mom and dad took us to MK 3 or 4 times when they vacationed in St Pete. It was a good time, but I never been to Epcot, MGM or AK until this year. Part of the WDW fun for me is exploring new things.

 

[SeaSpray]

I went to WDW at age 15 with my mother....I have the most wonderful memories, so yes, WDW is a very special place for me. DH didn't go as a child but we had the best family trip ever (so far! Hopefully our Disney cruise in a week and a half will top that!), so even though he went for the first time as an adult, he still thought it was a pretty special place

 

[skuttle]

I went to WDW twice as a child before my parents divorced when I was in 4th grade. I went again with my mom right after 5th grade. I loved it! But I don't think that is how I became obsessed. DH and I honeymooned in WDW in 2000 and I think that trip did it for me...it was just so magical. Not to mention talking about it every single day on here!

My DH went to WDW with his family a lot growing up so he loves it, too. It was actually DH who pushed for WDW as our honeymoon. I was all for it, but DH didn't want to even consider other places. What a man!

 

[snoopy]

I was 17 the first time I went to WDW, on a senior class trip. Not good memories for me, since my best friend got sent home for smoking. LOL. I finally went back at age 35.

 

[Jeanny]

the first time I went was in 1975, I was 18...there were only FOUR hotels across the street from, I think it was called Disney Village (now DTD)?? we could walk there!!! way before the West side & Pleasure Island were even thought of I guess!!!

 

[Donnainnj]

We were pretty poor when I was a kid, but we still got to WDW. We drove down 3 times, once when I was 5 or 6 with mom and then when I was 8 and 9. I know one of the trips we ended up arriving home with change in dad's pocket. We traveled with no credit cards, no money in the bank, etc, and came home with less then a $. I think we were doing ok, until dad got multiple speeding tickets, kind of blew the budget. Don't know if he had to pay right away or the price of the radar detector was the problem.
We had a tendency to use up all our ride tickets, even the A's and did multiple rides on the Freebees, "Now is the time, now is the best time". The second and third trip involved mom having a big white garbage bag filled with sandwiches and such so we didn't have to pay for restaurant food on the way. We did a lot of the really cheap buffets down in the area, and thought they were great. I think one of them was "Swedish House" of something like that. Never stayed on property, until Mom and Dad took us back for an extended family trip, in 1992. Haven't stayed off property since.
Donna

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

My parents took us on vacations. They were fun, but they would never take us to Disney World or Disneyland. We were actually IN Daytona Beach FL on vacation when Disney World OPENED on October 1, 1971. I BEGGED to go. NOOOOO, too many crowds for them. They aren't amusement park people anyway. I always wanted to go, so I waited till I had kids. All those years of fun missed! BOO HOO I am trying to make up for lost years now. We couldn't afford to take our kids until they were 11, 12, 14 & 14. That was 9-1/2 years ago and I have been 6 times since then and now we are starting with our grandbabies. I am lucky, DH loves Disney World as much as I do. We love those commercials about the couple who have grown children and go to Disney World without the kids....we do that too!

 

[leighe]

I was very lucky. I went to WDW almost every year from 3 to 18. Then I went to college and was to cool for Disney. Didn't go back until DH and I took a trip for our first anniversary in July of 2003 and now I'm a complete addict! The memories of those earlier trips mean so much to me now - especially since DH and I are starting to think about starting a family. I want my kids to have those great memories too! I remember all these little things - like meeting a CM with the same name as me that were just so special. I still remember what Mary Poppins smelled like (flowery perfume) the first time I got my picture made with her!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Nope, never went as a child with family. Wanted to REALLY bad -- but parents weren't into it.

My first time was at age 15 with my high school band. We marched in the MK parade....and then had 3 hours to ourselves in the park. (MK was the only park back then.) Well, since I had just had my body cast removed the prior month from back surgery, I couldn't ride anything. I sat on a wall for those 3 hrs waiting for my friends who got in line for Space Mtn. Later found out they didn't wait in line after all, and took off to do the park. So, not such a great memory of time there.

But I've sure made up for it in the past few years!

BTW, dragged my parents to MK for one afternoon & night last Dec for MVMCP & a night at the Contemporary while we were in FL visiting DH's relatives.

Guess what......we are going back this Dec for 10 days....and I've got them convinced to try 2 days at Epcot & MGM to see more Xmas things. LOL Slowly but surely transforming them. Only took them till 73 yrs old to understand it. LOL