Did you go to Disney as a child?

[Dan Murphy]

First time was a solo DL visit, while I was visiting a buddy of mine in LA. Nothing special. Next was a family trip to DL when I 48, we were on a CA vacation, nothing special. I went to WDW on a business convention when I was 54 in '98, I got bit.

 

[pkasbohm]

my parents could not afford a big vacation when i was a child. We had 5 kids in our family and the furthest we got was to a little park called worlds of fun. We would always go to a major league baseball game and then the next day the park. We always had fun. I didn't get to disney until my honeymoon in 1995. We have since then went every other year and my kids love it!!! They are always ready to go back. I am trying to talk my 4 brothers and sisters and my mom and dad into going in a couple of years--i think it would be so much fun to make memories with them all!!

 

[Parrothead1964]

We went for the first time when I was about 11 (which would have been about '76). I remember that my dad worked shiftwork in a factory, and my parents saved for a long time for us to go. We loved it (of course ) so they scrapped and saved so we could go again, and we did when I was about 15. Then once more when I was about 17, my folks were getting a bit older and couldn't make the trip to Florida, so they asked my older brother to take us and forked out the cash. I have always been in awe of my parents to have the character to save for months to pay for a vacation that they themselves would not be going on.

Fast forward to 1997. I had been divorced since 1993. My ex-wife would NEVER travel out of state, so we never went to WDW. We had three kids, who in 1997 were 13, 7, and 6. The new love of my life (besides my kids, of course, who were living with their mother) turned out to be a real Disney nut like me. The two of us went to WDW in 1997, but it was the hardest and most difficult trip of my life. Being in the Magic Kingdom without my kids felt like being punched in the gut, but I couldn't show that to my girlfriend, since she was having such a great time. My ex would never allow the kids to go that far away from her, so they didn't get to experience WDW like I had.

FINALLY, in 2001, she let us take the kids to WDW. They had a great time -- and yes, like other kids, the highlight of their trip was the pool at the Beach Club!!!

We took them to Florida in 2002 for our beach wedding, and on a Disney Cruise in 2003. We're all going back for another cruise in 2005 -- that is, if my teenage boys care enough to go!

Disney World is a tradtion that I absolutely intend to pass on to my kids, and I hope and pray that they will do the same for their kids, because there is NOTHING like the memory of walking down Main Street or taking a swim in one of the resort hotels with your kids.

 

[browneyes]

I was 14 the first time I went to WDW. I didn't go back for 16 more years later.

 

[princessariel]

Remember those Little Golden Books? As a child I had the Disneyland Golden Book and went through it page by page, over and over. I would dream of the day I could go to Disney.

It wasn't until 1975 and my DH of 3 years, took me to WDW. He's such a sweetie! Made my dreams come true! I was then 21.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

When I lived at home with my parents we went to Michigan for a week every summer. Beaches and swimming, and I still think of Michigan on cool summer mornings. We also did Washington/Williamsburg in 3rd grade (only time I was ever pulled out of school since it was educational), Boston/Gettysburg in 76, and one summer when $ was tight we did "Ohio histocial sights" (yes you read that right).
In 85 I went to California with my parents for spring break (yes you read that right too). I did get to go to Disneyland and I thought it was really cool. I was the only grownup on Dumbo without a child rider accompanying me.
We did go to Cedar Point evey year because it's close. My sister and I love coasters.
Flash forward to 99--the kids, DH and I go up to Michigan for a week. Not the same place, but the same idea--they feed you 3x a day, DD#1 learned to waterski, they had a 2 hour kids program each day. Lots of beach time, although we had DS to watch because he was only 1. DH was BORED. Some families have gone to this resort every summer for 40 years, but he was crazy bored. On the last full day he even drove alone (I wasn't taking 3 kids, on our last day, on this trip) 3 hours each way to see a shipwreck museum. I put a deposit down for 2000, but he saidi no way in heck. I said, we could try WDW. He said fine. I booked it (the poly) and we liked it so much we joined DVC. Now we've been on 7 trips plus 2 cruises. And we didn't go until we were 36! But I hope our kids have great memories. Especially since we haven't gone to Cedar Point ourselves for 3 years, since compared to WDW I think CP is nothing special!
Robin M.

 

[tinkerbellsfan]

We took several trips to WDW when I was young since relatives lived in Rockledge. I can recall going on a tour seeing the models of the rides and buildings prior to it opening! Still have pictures of myself with characters at age 6 and kept a Snow White music box my mom bought me when I was six and my DD now has it in her room. I am now making those memories with my family.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by TrinaC
I think most people that like Disney World are the type of people that can remember their child hood and enjoy it. And i think that adults that have very stressful lives enjoy the innocents there and the layed back envirment of it.

Not me....I took myself there when Iwas 19 and have been going ever since. Most of our vacations were the Adirondaks and Lake George and the Poconos....sometimes Virginia but thats about as far as we went.

 

[camper]

My parents took us to Disneyland when I was five and to WDW when I was 11, shortly after it had opened. And that was driving all the way from Maine. I started bringing my own children in '98. That was going to be our "once in a lifetime" trip. But we loved it so much that we go almost every year now.

 

[Nutsy]

only went for the very first time 2 yrs ago, with DH & DS's, then aged 13 & 14

 

[beattyfamily]

No First time was at age 32 with DH and 2 year old DD in 1998.

It's magical and I'm trying to make wonderful memories for my whole family, especially my kids...but my DH and myself too. My DH and I both did not have great childhoods and were dirt poor.

We are making new great magical memories to make up for our childhoods.

 

[CALIFLADY]

The first time I went was in 1976 for one day, when only the Magic Kingdom existed. I was a kid (won't tell you how old I was ). I remember crying on the boat ride across the lagoon on the way back to the parking lot because I didn't want to leave. I will say that I was a little old to be crying like a child, but I did.

The next time I went was when I was an adult in 1997, when there was MK, Epcot, and MGM.

 

[oldkicker]

We never went. I grew up watching Walt on TV and wanted so badly to go to California and Disneyland. My youngest brother got to go to Disneyworld with a friend of his and their family. We were so jealous!

I finally got to go to Disneyland as a married 41-year-old on a business trip. It was a dream come true and I choked up just seeing the sign! That trip rekindled my Disney dream and I took my family to Disneyworld the next year. Seeing my kids experience the magic soothed every unfullfilled childhood Disney wish. It was great.

 

[jimmytammy]

I didnt go to WDW until I was 35. I always wanted to go there as a kid. I remember when it opened. My first experience with a real Disney fanatic was at DD. We had arrived at The Grosvnor across the street so we still couldnt see any of the parks. We went to eat at DD for supper and spend a little time before bedding down. DW and MIL went into one of the shops and DS and I sat down on a brick ledge. An older man sat down and began talking with us. He asked had we been to WDW before(Im sure he recognized a greenhorn right away). I told him it was our first trip, how bout him. He said it was his fourth, THIS YEAR. I know I looked at him like he was crazy. Wish I could see that guy again and apologize cause now I understand.

Point is I wish I could have gone sooner to have gotten those memories but I am now 39 and making up for lost time

 

[Missy1961]

I'm the second oldest of 6. My dad worked for non-profit companies, so he didn't make tons of money. My mom was a stay at home mom. So I never went to Disney as a kid. But I always wanted to go. Always a lover of all things Disney. So when my brother had a business trip to Orlando, and his wife and kids were going, I asked if I could go along.........and they said yes. First trip at age 32, and I've gone to DL and DW two more times. I've decided I'm going to plan annual trips--even if it means solo trips!

 

[edcrbnsoul]

MY first trip I was on 4th grade 1974 with my Mom and Sister

MY sister and I (pictured here)

and here we are 2004 my oldest DS is also in the picture

There has been about 14 trips in between these photos

 

[MagicalMom]

edcrbnsoul, I love those pictures.

 

[Kay7979]

I went the first time, solo, at about age 37. I went partly to escape a very long New York winter and thought I would run out of things to do since I was staying for a week. I had been to amusement parks before, but WDW was SO unlike any other park I had been to I was blown away. The animatronics, the details of the buildings and "lands" the creativity of the rides, the fact that most of the attractions have a story or scenario that accompany them. I really felt that childlike wonder and it was a very de-stressing and relaxing vacation. I think Disney can create childlike wonder in anyone of any age who is open to experience it. I have heard there are some people who don't like WDW as well as some of the parks that feature mostly thrill rides, but that is hard for me to understand. To me, WDW so far outclasses regular amusement parks there is really no comparison.

 

[clutter]

Nope. my first trip was on a college spring break, for a day. My second trip was when my dd was 3. My dd is now 7, and we're on our eighth, (ninth?) trip together. Making up for lost time. Now, my dd will be returning to WDW as an adult to re-live her happy childhood memoried. No doubt in my mind!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Yes, the first time I went to WDW I was 5 or 6. And we've been going almost every other year since then.