First Disney memory and is it still there?

[Networth]

Technically I was an infant (I have photos of my mother holding me in front of Crystal Palace). That aside the first memory I have is seeing the monorail move along the road way coming from Epcot to the TTC and "following" it in our car to our hotel (the CR). It's been my most beloved thing about Disney to this day. The Monorail, what I would give for that to get some TLC and expansion.

 

[dramadrew]

Snow White's Scary Adventure and being terrified of the witch popping up at the end. Unfortunately, it is no longer there.

 

[damiel]

45 years ago, the days of the ticket book, I remember watching my Mom and Dad ride the Matterhorn as I stood with my aunt and watched at the rail. I was too small, and they would never waste an E ticket for a child to ride the Materhorn. I remember it seemed so big and scary to my 2 year old self.

 

[stephwtx]

It had to be late 80s but I can remember riding the ferry over to MK and seeing Goofy out waterskiing in the lagoon. That was awesome!! Also lived riding in the front car of the monorail and getting a license. It felt a bit like you were flying...

 

[rootbeerkid]

I am apt to reminisce and these types of threads encourage an indulgence.

It was August, 1974. My best High School buddy invited me to vacation with his family and stay with his grandparents who lived in Melbourne. We were both on the golf team and crazy passionate about the sport. The trip promised the opportunity to hideously indulge in our passion.

My friends grandfather had set aside a day for the family to experience the Magic Kingdom and he paid for almost everything. Even so I was less than grateful and remember thinking that this was just a wasted opportunity to play golf. I had expectations that this was going to be like Kings Island or LeSourdsville Lake which were the two amusement parks nearest to Dayton, Ohio. Two magical events occurred that stand out and changed my attitude and perspective.

With the limited number of E-tickets sold in the ticket books, we were selective in using them. We approached the Haunted Mansion and I remember having some hesitation – not because of fear but because I had the idea that this was going to be nothing more than one of the frighten-you-with-fake-blood and jump-out-from-hiding-and-scream-at-you fests that popped-up during Halloween or at the summer county fairs in Ohio. The magic first started to work on me in the stretching room. It’s effectiveness increased as the Doombuggies paraded past ghosts having a party in a ball room, statues that sang Grim Grinning Ghosts, and Madame Leota. I think the deal was sealed when we picked up a Ghost Hitchhiker. And at the end, when Little Leota invited us to “Hurry Back” we did just that and rode again without hesitation and with much anticipation.

The second event occurred at Tomorrowland Terrace (now Cosmic Rays Starlight Café). Sunny Eclipse had yet to discover Earth and the hexagon stage where he now resides had some plants on it and maybe some other items that made it look uninteresting to us. While we were sitting and eating, and suddenly without notice, the stage began to slowly rise and there was another stage below it that rose up and took its place and it had a rock band on it that was already playing. I can’t remember what they played but I remember enjoying the music. I was just so impressed with this unexpected and “magical” transformation of what looked like an unused stage area.

These and other events transformed a skeptical and even somewhat bitter teenager down the path of becoming a lifelong Disney fan. I have since married and raised a family. We have returned for visits as circumstances have allowed. Last year I attended for the first time with one of our grandchildren.

I hope that Disney can always provide this type of magic. I hope so. I really hope so.

 

[got2lovedisney]

I remember looking up at Cinderella castle and then noticing I didn't see my family. I was looking around for them when my cousin Dania, who was visiting us from PR, came and took me by the hand. I think I was 3 or 4? So maybe 1971-1972.

 

[skedinger]

Great thread!

My first visit to MK was in 1972. I was four. My dad's vacation week at work was always over the 4th of July, so that's when we were in the park. I remember a handful of experiences really clearly.

• Riding the ferryboat from the TTC to the MK. It was huge! We got on the back and just kept walking and walking and walking to the front. I haven't ridden the ferryboat in years, so I don't know if it is really that big or not.
  
• Riding one of the horse-drawn carriages down Main Street. The horse was enormous. I think this was my first up-close-and-personal experience with a horse. They still look huge.
  
• Riding Cinderella's Golden Carousel. Again, huge. The local merry-go-round had nothing on this ride. The ground was so far away.
  
• Finally, the fireworks. My dad L-O-V-E-D fireworks, so we drove all over God's green earth to see them. We had never seen ones like the Disney fireworks. Or a show that lasted so long. I cry every time I watch them.

I think all of my first memories are still there, at least in some form.

 

[blackpearl77]

My first trip to disney was in 1981 and I was four. I remember meeting Cinderella and I was scared of her. I didn't like all her makeup! I remember not wanting to go on the Snow White ride since I was scared of the sign! Gee I was scared of a lot! Hahahaha I also remember going on the 20,000 leagues under the sea and it was leaking! Water as dripping from the wall! Funny I remember all the bad parts and not the good! Good thing we went back!

 

[dcd725]

I was almost 4 in 1977 when we went. I remember going up to Captain Hook and saying, "tick-tock". He chased me right into the arms of Chip and Dale, who protected me. Can't wait to make memories with MY 4. Yo this fall!

 

[Zooshoveller]

December 1982, I was 5. I have two very clear memories.

1. Herbie the Love Bug was in the parade. He was my favorite! I miss Herbie.

2. We stayed offsite and the older kids let me watch Poltergeist. It still gives me nightmares.

 

[Kristina4109]

March 1976. I was almost 6. I remember it being so humid that I felt like we were walking through wet blankets. I remember drinking orange juice out of a plastic orange.

I also vividly remember my parents waking up my sister and I in the Contemporary to watch the Electrical Water Pageant as it floated by. And having the poop scared out of me on Snow White's Scary Adventures.

 

[Sparkly]

MK and Fantasyland always reminds me of chocolate Nesquik- I drank it for every meal the first time we went to Florida when I was nine in 2003 because I didn't like fizzy drinks much.

I also remember the caramel corn at Sleepy Hollow and sitting watching the parade. And leaving during the fireworks and being amazed at the colours and how awesome they were.

 

[ditsypixie]

My first memory and I am not sure how old I was (ok, a long time ago!)riding next to my "papa" on POTC and they shout "Give me the redhead, we want the redhead!" Being a redhead, I was terrified. I got as close as I could to papa and he just kept saying "its ok, its ok, you are safe." One of the best memories ever.

Also, I remember the little oranges with the straws and the juice inside. I loved those. I thought it was so special that we got those in the park.

 

[mslhb]

I was very young and it was a LONG time ago but I definitely remember riding Dumbo in the rain.

 

[caitcance]

I first went in 1988 at age 4. I remember:

1. getting knocked down by a wave at Typhoon Lagoon and scraping my leg. That scared me away for a while but eventually I made my way back in and by the end of the day I was loving it.

2. eating at a character breakfast and Pluto licking my Mom's head

3. getting lost in a long line and grabbing a man's leg thinking he was my Dad and the man looked down and said "are you mine?" I was terrified and ran to my parents.

4. Riding BTMRR and thinking it was the biggest, fastest ride ever

5. being at MK in the dark and all the kids holding things that lit up

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

One of my first and favorite Disney memories is from when I was seven. It's riding Splash Mountain as soon as it opened- no one was there, so my dad kept taking my sister and I back through the line. After the third time, they asked us if we just wanted to stay on the ride for another go through, so we did.

 

[kastoney]

My first trip was awful. We went Christmas of 1990 and I was 13. It was fun at first, then it went down hill. I started my period for the very first time ever. My mom was a "gasp, we don't talk about that stuff" person. So, here I am, 13 with my mother walking around trying to find "those female things". Most embarrassing story ever. But, there you have it. My first Disney memory. Oh and my dad..... "THAT'S whats wrong with her, millions of kids would love to be here and you're grumpy."

You made me laugh out loud. What a horrifying experience but a great story now ; )

 

[Octoberbeauty]

My first visit was in 1996. I had just gotten married and my husband's company transferred us to Florida. He hated it and wanted to move 6 weeks later. I told him I was NOT leaving without visiting Disneyworld! So, we went to the Magic Kingdom for the day.

The castle was pink and decorated like a birthday cake for the anniversary. It was awesome.

We did the Alien Encounter not knowing what it was. I was terrified!!! It would have been better knowing what we were walking into, but having no knowledge and being strapped down in the dark like that. No thank you!

We ate lunch at Aunt Polly's. Forget the fried chicken, I was obsessed with the sweet cornbread muffin's! Sooo good.

None of those things are still there, but those are my top 3 memories of my first visit.

 

[Oodalally13]

My first visit was in 1996. I had just gotten married and my husband's company transferred us to Florida. He hated it and wanted to move 6 weeks later. I told him I was NOT leaving without visiting Disneyworld! So, we went to the Magic Kingdom for the day.

The castle was pink and decorated like a birthday cake for the anniversary. It was awesome.

We did the Alien Encounter not knowing what it was. I was terrified!!! It would have been better knowing what we were walking into, but having no knowledge and being strapped down in the dark like that. No thank you!

We ate lunch at Aunt Polly's. Forget the fried chicken, I was obsessed with the sweet cornbread muffin's! Sooo good.

None of those things are still there, but those are my top 3 memories of my first visit.

OMG I forgot Alien Encounter till you mentioned it! I was sooo terrified and thought I was REALLY locked in. My friend and I held hands so tight our knuckles were white and cried and screamed....we were seniors in high school! We were so freaked out by it that the next day at Universal we refused to put on the glasses at Terminator 3D because we SWORE those robots were going to come after us and there was a BIG aisle behind us!!!

 

[robinb]

I went to Disneyland in 1965 and my most vivid memory is of the Frito Kid vending machine. It's long gone!