Did you go to Disney as a kid?

[kel3420]

Wow, great thread.

I grew up in a family with very limited monetary resources, so the one BIG vacation we did, was drive from Chicago in a station wagon with 7 females (me, mom, sister, 2 aunts, 2 cousins) and 1 male (my dad). Wanna discuss potty stops? ROFL. I will never forget my dad threatening to buy corks - I really thought he was serious! I was about 7 at the time.

Stayed at my grandfathers for two nights in his trailer in a mobile home park, then my family only drove to Disney, camped somewhere and visited the MK for one day. This was such a huge, wonderful treat for us. The MK was the only park then. I remember being so stunned by the topiaries at the entrance.

I remember it was easter time and my sister and I looked for Easter eggs in our Sunday best at the campsite, although I don't think we went to church, just dressed up and then ate bfast at a picnic table. Gotta love those memores.

Didn't go back for 25 years. I remind my kids often how very lucky they are to be able to go to Disney as much as we do, since many families if they go at all, go only once in their lifetimes.

I have great pics of me at the MK and then my kids in the same exact spot.

Hubbie's first trip was when he was 18 and went with a freind's family.

24 more hours!!!

 

[erikthewise]

When I was a child there was only DL and it was a distant unattainable dream. It was all our parents could do to take us to Cedar Point or Niagara Falls. I first went to WDW in 1980 but I was certainly not a kid anymore!

For me, not having been able to go as a kid makes it all the more rewarding to go as an adult and be able to take my own kids!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by colleen costello
Did you all start visiting Mickey as kids ......

..........no.

We had 5 kids in our family with only 1 income. So my 1st trip wasn't until I was married and 21.

 

[DiznEeyore]

My one and only trip as a child was when I was 8 and my brother was 6. Parents drove us down from MI in a motorhome, with fun stops along the way. I don't remember a whole lot, just that it was Mickey's 50th birthday, and that our motel had orange groves just outside the door. Oh, and that I refused to go on Space Mountain 'cuz the warnings scared me, LOL!

My mom has about 6 pictures from the trip...none w/characters.

I'm making up for lost time with my ds -- he's 11 and has been 7 times in the last 6 years.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

I first went to WDW in 1972 or 1973. Only about 20-years before DVC!

On that first trip my dad gave me money and I bought a Mickey Mouse watch. I still have it today.

 

[disgirl]

Yes, I was fortunate to have gone first to DL in, I believe 1969. I was 5 and really do not remember that trip. Our first trip to DW was when I was 9, I believe. There were four kids in my family, me being the youngest, and I remember my parents really saving to be able to afford these DW trips. We went back once more with my parents before I was an adult. My oldest brother treated me to a trip when I was 19 and in college. That was really nice of him. We stayed offsite, however, for that one. Since then, I have been back atleast 7 more times. Now, with DVC, I hope my DH and DS and I can make many more trips.

Thanks for the thread, it really made me think back to how fortunate I was to have been to Disney that many times from NY. My mom, who died almost 2 years ago, really loved her Disney too and if she could have afforded it, I think she would have loved DVC and the ability to go atleast once a year.

 

[Pa@okw95]

First trip was in 79 when my kids were very young, I was 37 then, we have gone about 40 times now, 17 trips as a DVC member. We used to stay at the Disney Inn which was very nice at the time. Then we tried a lot of the moderates, some off site condos and in 95 we bought into DVC after staying there in 94.

 

[disneychick05]

The first time I went to WDW was for my 3rd birthday in 1983. My father was a high school teacher and we went with a group of his co-workers and their families. The summer trips (usually in August) continued through out my childhood...'86, '89, '92, '94. So throughout the years I turned 3, 6, 9, 12 and 14 in WDW. The memories from those trips are what makes me such a Disney fan today. Now our DS will turn 3 in Disney World in October as well. We're taking him to the Hoop Dee Doo which is where I also had my 3rd b-day dinner. We also invited my father down for a few days which he is thrilled about. I definitely owe him for all of those childhood trips and for being the one who started my love for all things Disney! He is amazed by DVC and how much things have changed in WDW. It's nice to be able to share it all with him.

 

[bus driver lady]

Yes, and that experience hooked me for life. I was 13 back in 1974 when my parents splurged for a great week long vacation to WDW with myself, two brothers (13 & 10) and a sister (3). After a 18-20 hour ride from Lambertville, NJ (where parents still reside) in the family station wagon, we arrived. We stayed at the Contemporary in a garden wing patio room, kiddie playground, boat rentals and beach area just outside our room. We could watch the evening light parade on the water...it was very magical as a child. To this day my younger brother and I talk of one of the scariest moment in our lives (besides brother's close call with lightning, and mine with a pack of wild dogs)...experiencing Space Mountain for the first time! Other standout memories...Pirates of the Carribean, It's a Small World, and riding the monorail.

I did not get to return to WDW until my senior class trip in 1980. Another great experience, but no comparison as it was off-site and seemed rushed. Did not return again until talking DH and DS (3 at the time) to go back in 1991. This was DH's first time and his skepticism about all my hype was laid to rest on that trip. We returned again with my parents a couple years later for another wonderful family experience. Our latest trip was this past Dec. 26-Jan. 1st. DS is 15 now and did not remember much about his earlier vacations at such a young age. In fact it was this memorable trip, the fact that we did not vacation enough, and our son's overwhelming enjoyment even as a teenager that led us to look into DVC and purchase at SSR this February. Looking forward to our first trip home to OKW (2BR) in August...bringing my parents along to experience the magic once again!

Suzy

 

[Merilyn]

I was 21 when WDW opened. I would say that I was not a kid when I went in 1973. In fact, I was pregnant with my first child. I guess you could say she has been going since before she was born. She will be going with us this May and she is now 30. I guess that is quite a long time to be going to see "MICKEY".

 

[crazywig]

no, we did not go. my parents had 5 kids and only my dad worked. we were middle class but just barely. they kept saying we'll go when so and so is older, but they kept having kids and by the time the youngest was 'older' i was in college. they never did go (we did take my mom last year, she hadn't been to florida since her honeymoon in '64)

i remember being sooo jealous of the girls up the street who seemed to go every other year.

my first trip wasn't until '96 and i was 29! i went with 2 girlfriends. the lines were long it was hot and i was not terribly impressed. we were super commandos and we stayed offsite at a hojo's.

in 2001 i went with my now dh, stayed at the GF for a week and fell in love with the place. we bought dvc in oct. '03.

my ds's first trip was at 9 months! he'll be 2 when we go in june, i cannot wait to see his reactions!

 

[Lesley]

My grandparents took me to WDW in 1979....stayed at the Contemporary. I enjoyed it, but had no real desire to go back. I was a rather timid child and was scared by a lot of things (like the Polynesian resort...LOL).

My dh went with his mom as a child too.

When we got married my mil wanted to give us our honeymoon as a wedding gift. Dh failed to consult with me regarding our destination (I had been to Key West as a teenager and always wanted to honeymoon there....) and chose WDW because that's where his sister and her dh had gone and they seemed to have had fun. Not wanting to argue with such a generous gift (not knowing dh had chosen it), I figured we'd enjoy it even though amusement parks just weren't my thing. We had a great time...even staying off property without a rental car (we were too young!). We started planning another visit soon after we got home. I was so impressed by how clean it was and how well they managed so many people and how friendly all the CM's were that my opinion completely changed.

We started staying on property with that next trip and have been to WDW 10 times since then.

 

[Terry S]

No our family could not afford it either. We have been fans of all things Disney since childhood, but could not afford WDW. The first time I went was my trip right after high school, my boyfriend and I drove there. Was hooked ever since.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Terry S
The first time I went was my trip right after high school, my boyfriend and I drove there. Was hooked ever since.

With boyfriend or WDW?

 

[vinny16]

My first trip was in 1977 when I was 9y.o.(Elvis died when we were there). My parents and older brothers surpised me with the whole vacation. I went back again with friends in my 20's and became a kid again. This month we took my 4 y.o. for her first trip to WDW. She had no idea where we were going and the surprise on her face was priceless. What memories! We just bought at SSR this vacation and added on when we got back home because we know we'll be back. My spouse and I became kids again with her! It was the best!!

 

[RealMickey]

My first trip to WDW was in 1976, I was 14. We stayed off property and spent two days at the MK, the only park at WDW then. I loved the bi-centenial decorations and parade. One of my prize posessions is the coupon style WDW ticket book from that trip. We did not use all of the tickets. Can you believe I still have E Tickets left.
I loved WDW and managed to go back a few more times until joining DVC two years ago. Now I can finally go as often as I like.

 

[Terry S]

Too funny Nick! Got rid of the boyfriend! Was hooked on WDW!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Terry S
Got rid of the boyfriend! Was hooked on WDW!

.............................

 

[Terry S]

I love it Nick! Where do you get these things?

 

[Scott H]

I am still going as a kid