DVC Members Challenge

[dvc guy]

The magic trip for us was about 7 years ago. My MIL had just died and BIL decided to send FIL. DW and DD then 6 to OKW for 3 days in a 2 bedroom. Well you can imange my face when I see this fantastic place before me. I spent the first 2 days in the room sick, but was thrilled that I could watch videos and eat small bites and ginger ale from my full size kitchen.
That was it I was hooked, never took a tour called DVC and said sign me up. Best decision we ever made kids love disney, we own in Boardwalk & Vero.

 

[ton80]

Ohh The day.
I remember all too well because i was still drunk from my wedding night when the plane landed that early morning of 9/12/98 at MCO. It was the most quiet bus ride to the resort seemed as if everyone or almost everyone on the bus had gotten married the previous day.and were in no mood for talking. After fighting with the bride to be saying I wanted to go to
Tahiti or some other exotic place like that i finally gave in and said ok
but i will not be happy at WDW as i thought is was going to be like a big
6 flags with kids running around all over the place. BUT i was wrong after
the 1st stroll down Main streek in the MK i was hooked and have been ever since.
PS on our honeymoon we actullay saw Michael Jackson walking in PI only about 5 feet away. I though I was going to get Sick after looking at him ..


Dix Landings 9/98
All star 9/99
Off site 5/01
BWV 11/04
AKL 03/05
SSR 1st trip home 11/05 with DW,DS(3)

hope this story has brought tears to your eyes..

lol

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

My first trip to WDW was in 1976. I was 18 and we stayed at the Polynesian Village. There was the only the MK and DTD was the Disney Village, a quiet little shopping village. We started going every other year, then every year. I think it's addicting, because there's a special feeling when you walk in the MK and head for the castle. You just feel the magic.

I remember before they added a lot of the resorts, you had to book your room pretty far in advance to stay on propery. Of course the earliest I ever booked was for NYE 1999. I booked the GF in 1993 for that trip. But it was worth it. Very cool!

We bought into DVC in 2003 at the BW. We actually took the DVC tour during the 1999-2000 trip. My DH thought we should do it, but I had reservations. Okay, he was right.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Sure do -- 1978 our honeymoon. Contemporary tower room overlooking the MK. The era before garden wings and convention center. One park and the old ride ticket system. Still have some of those in a scrapbook. Rates were about $35 - $55 per night back then (very extravagant to us at the time).

Our honeymoon too but in 1979 at the Contemporary, but we couldn't afford the Towers so we stayed in the Garden Wing. It saved us I think about $20.00 per night back then. We weren't as extravagent as JimC was.

HBC

 

[CharlesTD]

My most memorable trip to WDW was in 96 when my Dw's parents took me with them we weren't married yet that didn't happen till 98 LOL. It was the first time I had been back since 78 I was 9 then and man did it blow me away. From that point on I was hooked and we have been going back and sharing it with our kids ever since. We joined DVC in Oct of 01 and have had many great trips since then and have had nothing to complain about at all with the rooms or CM's etc. I think people sometimes go in expecting way to much as Disney tends to deliver that expectation and when they fall short people like to complain about it no matter how big or small the issue they like to make it seem huge. I personally could care less I see it this way we are not at work we are at our favourite place in the world and no matter what the problem I know we can overlook it well minus a flood in our room but again that is not something Disney can predict so if it did happen we would deal with it and move on.

 

[erikthewise]

Hey all my fellow DVC Members! I have a question for ALL of you---do you remember your first trip to WDW---you know, the one that took your breath away and made you a fan for life?

I remember my first trip (1980), and I remember the one that took my breath away (1992), and I remember the one that made me a fan for life (2001). But they were three different trips!

The first trip was the honeymoon for my doomed first marriage. I don't remember as much as I'd like, but I remember riding the skyway and visiting Discovery Island. DW(#2) doesn't even know about this trip...

The second trip DW(#2) and I stayed at the Polynesian for 5 nights. But except for a short conference in 94 we didn't come back until 2001, when we stayed four nights at the Polynesian and took a 3-day cruise with our two boys. We joined DVC 6 months later and have come back every year since.

 

[chimera]

Hey all my fellow DVC Members! I have a question for ALL of you---do you remember your first trip to WDW---you know, the one that took your breath away and made you a fan for life? I

Nope...it was 1972 and I was 4. I remember sleeping in the car on the way up there. I think I remember Pinocchio, but that may just be because we have a photo with him. WDW was always our family vacation, so we went yearly for a LOOOONG time.

The magical trip I remember was DD12's first trip when she was 3. I hadn't been to WDW since before she was born. She was pretty heavy into the princess movies at that age...all the Disney movies, actually. I'll never forget the look on her face when we walked onto Main Street and she saw the castle for the first time! It's truly magical to see a place that you know so well through someone else's eyes for the first time!
We spent several years getting to know Fantasyland again, until she was big enough for the roller coasters. That was magical.

Now I feel bad that DD2 won't have that magical moment. Her first trip to WDW was at 9 weeks. The interesting thing with her is discovering new rides and places she can go as she gets older.

And hey...with DVC...we'll be able to do this with the grandchildren someday

 

[DisFlan]

Our first trip was April, 1977. We knew we were hooked during the initial ferry ride to the MK. The lobby of the Poly didn't hurt, either.

We've watched as WDW has grown over the years, and we could hardly wait to go back and try new parks and new hotels. The second biggest WOW we had was when we checked into the GF the first time. WHAT a lobby!

Then we discovered DVC and, well, you can probably fill in the rest. We're still coming back. And back...

DisFlan

 

[new_yawka]

Like Chimera, I do not have many memories of my first trip to WDW. It was December 1971 and I was 2 years old...I had the mumps...

Well. It was the beginning of a life long "relationship."

Throughout my childhood, we drove down to Florida twice per year. To see my grandparents, but ALSO to visit Mickey...

The moment that truly cemented my life long love of WDW happened when I was (I believe) 8 years old. It was the moment I stepped up to the height check at the WDW Speedway (now "Indy Speedway") and...AND.....

I'M BIG ENOUGH

I screamed out at the top of my lungs. Several people came over to make sure I was ok and congratulated me when they realized I had just attained one of my childhood dreams....to drive the speedway car BY MYSELF!

This rush of adrenaline...throwing in the goose bumps...the smiles and the slight tear in my eye...is now the feeling I have every time I pass through the WDW Resort Gates.

It has been 34 years since that first trip... I have been there almost every year since the opening. In a real sense, I equate my development into adulthood with the Development of WDW (It was around my 13th Birthday that EPCOT was opened...marking...WDW's move to adolescence)...

So...I cannot say that I remember my first trip...But I have a lifetime of joy and magical memories to call upon every time WDW is mentioned.

As for DVC...It was a natural purchase. Although we sat with our guide for hours understanding all the program had to offer, there was never a question that my DW and I would purchase. WDW has been a second home since my childhood...but now someone lets me know as I walk in the door...

"Welcome Home"

You'll find no DVC bashing here...I qualify as a true believer!

 

[Greysword]

I first went in 1975, as well. I don't remember most of it, as I was only 6, however I do have images to draw upon. I remember the Country Bears, and loving Its a Small World (what was I thinking???). Dumbo was a great ride, and the Tiki Birds were kind of boring hehe. I remember riding the ferry instead of the monorail, and just how great the place was.

Mostly, I remember what we didn't do! LOL. We didn't ride the Skyway, nor did we do the Speedway. Being from St Petersburg, FL we did not stay on site, but made it a day trip instead. I didn't ride the monorail due to the lines, and didn't stay in Tomoorow Land very long, as we went to the left as we entered instead of the right.

I also remeber later visiting Epcot right after the release of Captain Eo (sp?). Figment was great, and the coutries great! I was in high school by this time, and I loved to learn. I also remember my hurting when we left due to being full of new knowledge! Again, it was a day trip.

Right after MGM opened, I made my third visit to WDW. MGM was pretty boring, with lost of stores and such, as it was a very active film and television production company. Not much room and not a great amount to see. My greatest WDW memory of all, however happened here. The family was walking along, and we took a corner to reveal the AT-AT in front of Star Tours! No, no, you don't understand....Star Wars is the greatest of all things! (er...second to my family, of course ). My parents will tell you it was like I saw Santa for the first time...that big gray thing....anyway, the attraction was being tested before it's grand opening. I rode it five times (til my family was sick of it). Star Wars AND Mickey?! How cool is that!?!

My new bride and I went back this past January for our honeymoon (she is a DL fan!). despite getting violently bedridden ill for the second day of the three day land portion of the Disney honeymoon (we also took the DCL), the trip was awesome!

I DEMANDED that we stay on property (the Swan was our hotel), and was so happy that she brought up the idea of touring the DVC (those propaganda films on the cruise did it for her). Now when we go, no day trips and no off-site bargains...Disney 1st Class all the way!!!

Oh, and I finally got to ride the Monorail and Speedway on this last trip with a crazy man at the helm! (My best friends crashed the honeymoon, stationed in Italy, and I swear their son tried to jump the track and kill us both ). To get to DVC at SSR early early in the morning, we cut through Epcot from the Swan to catch the bus...cut through a Disney park...at $50+ normal admission...yep, welcome to the Park Hopper Pass! How cool is it to be able to say that!! hehehe

In summary (I can hear the sighs of relief now), no matter what the situation, just remember the Disney magic and it will all be worth it...especially for those of us who can latch onto the WDW we remember as kids.

 

[WOW]

Remember it well......the year was 1986....the kids were 6 & 7, we stayed at the Poly and we instantly fell in love with WDW...went back every other year (always at the Poly) at first and then it became a yearly vacation (we could afford it better at this point). The kids were getting bigger (1 daughter and 1 son) and we would soon be needing 2 rooms........Then we went to DD in 1993 and Hubby went to the DVC kiosk and it has been a great ride for us.....we bought and go back at least 2 times per year and sometimes more.......No complaints here, just very happy that we are so fortunate to be able to afford DVC.....Kids are now 26 & 27 and they also love Disney. Not as much as Mom and Dad, but they always have fun......

 

[chimera]

The moment that truly cemented my life long love of WDW happened when I was (I believe) 8 years old. It was the moment I stepped up to the height check at the WDW Speedway (now "Indy Speedway") and...AND.....

I'M BIG ENOUGH

I had just attained one of my childhood dreams....to drive the speedway car BY MYSELF!

I actually remember that too. It was soooo cool to be able to DRIVE a car all by myself...even though I didn't have a license.

Of course, once I started driving...I didn't go on the Speedway until DD12 was about 8.

 

[MinnieMe67]

My first trip was offsite with my parents and younger brother in 1985, when I was 18. My first time in an airplane! I remember being overwhelmed by the magic of Disney, and thinking that someday I would love to stay onsite. College and life ensued, with a few offsite trips with family and friends in between, when finally 13 years later, I convinced my skeptical fiance that we should spend our honeymoon at DisneyWorld and stay onsite! We had the most wonderful, magical honeymoon at the Yacht Club! Needless to say, he was hooked. We bought DVC at the BCV in 2002 and I am now blessed enough to be able to go every year and share the magic with my kids! Cmon, how lucky are we all???

 

[QuiltTeddy]

Wow, to the OP - you said everything that I'm sure many others (including myself) would have liked to be able to word so eloquently. I think so many people forget that everyone is human and perfection is merely something people strive for, but is usually out of reach.

Thank you.