For the "experienced Disney travelers"

[Tikitoi]

Do you remember your very very first trip to the world? I mean before disboards or any other boards where you got wealths of info. I remember ours and I think we walked around in circles for 3 hours. Not having any idea where we were going or had been! Between the heat and being overwhelmed by Disney itself we were just lost. Does anyone have any similar stories like this?

 

[Buckalew11]

Our first trip to WDW there were not guidebooks or Internet. There was only the MK.

But, when we decided to take DD down there for the first time 8 years ago, there were 4 parks. I did absolutely no research. We really made out very well. We did miss somethings that are not to be missed now that I am an informed WDW patron! For instance, I did not know to see the FOTLK at AK and I also did not ride Buzz because I saw the word "spin" in the title and thought "spin= sick".

Between that 1st trip and second trip a year later, I found the DIS and life has never been the same.

 

[suzimar57]

first trip was in 1980 - with an old ex-boyfriend - who hated everything disney - went to MK for all of 45 minutes - he was "bored" - went back a second day that week for another 45 minutes - i remember thinking "i wish i wasn't here" ....

ahead to second trip in 1995 with my 9 year old son - wonderful trip, full of memories - far as i'm concerned that first trip never happened....

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

September 1997. All I remember of it, was the magic, breaking the footstrap on my stroller, and the Skyway. (I was four years old.)
My parents, however, tell me we ate at Pecos Bill a lot.

 

[PoohJen]

I'm glad to say that I did use a guidebook on my first trip back in '90. I'm so glad I did - planning the trip is half the fun!

It was great too when planning our first born's trip several years later, extended family in tow...we all knew the things we didn't want to miss, and even learned about some things I wouldn't have known otherwise (like brunch in Cinderella's Castle!).

Yes, if you've never been there and don't do any research, you're bound to miss out on some fun just for lack of knowing it was there!

 

[PatsMom]

My first trip was in 86 or 87 - there was only Epcot and MK. Did no research and probably wasted a lot of time. I had been to Disneyland many times when I lived in southern California and I remember trying to find the same attractions. Loved the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain but was disappointed that there was no Matterhorn. Then I didn't go for several years. When DD was born in 91 we started going back. The first few trips I didn't research and we probably missed lots of stuff. It was 3 parks then. If they had baby swap, I didn't know about it. DH would just wait with DD while I went on Space Mountain, etc. Now we are pretty efficient - between research on the Dis and having gone a lot, we pretty much know our way around. We have a few "must sees" every trip but other than that we just figure anything we don't do, we'll get next time. I'm off to the World tomorrow for a quick 5 day trip mainly because DD is dying to do the Pirate and Princess Party - and she is now doing her own research on the Dis and knows what to expect for that.

 

[maddiemom]

I first went in 1994. DH and I had only been married for a few months. It was a whole family trip. It was the only time we went without our kids (we didn't have any at the time) until just last weekend when we took a quick weekend trip while my parents watched our two kids. DH and I really didn't get the Disney itch until 2000 (probably couldn't have afforded multiple trips early in our marriage any how). Now we are DVC owners (since 2001) and annual pass holders.

 

[MAKmom]

I spent so much money It was my first trip with my children we had no ADR

 

[nsyncraider17]

Well, the first time I went to WDW I was 2, so I really don't remember anything. I know I looked at the pictures so many times that I thought I remembered things, though.

The second time I went I was 6, and I remember a lot of specific but random things... my favorite ride was Journey into Imagination (the original version), the trolls in Maelstrom scared me, I was terrified that our boats were going to sink on Pirates and It's a Small World , and I almost went on Splash Mountain but chickened out at the last minute.

My parents had been to WDW at least once before they had me, too, so I think both times they knew what they were doing and we did a lot. When I was 6, we actually stayed with their friend from college who was a CM, and he spent a day or 2 with us in the parks. I guess we didn't really catch the Disney bug though until we went in 2000, probably in part because that's when my parents discovered the DIS.

 

[helenabear]

Our first trip was in 1982... it was totally different then, but I loved it! One main park, one water park and more or less only one area to visit (around the Bay Lake). No walking in circles or troubles with ADRs, but that wasn't something you worried about back then

The only guide book I think we had was the Birnbaum or Frodors. I can't recall which. We saw other parts of FL as well on that trip too!

 

[DawnCt1]

Our first trip was in 1976. We bought a package, stayed at the Royal Plaza and went to the Magic Kingdom. While we were there, we went to the luau and fell in love with the Poly. In 1982, we stayed at the Poly with a 3 year old, an 8 month old, my mom, DH and I. We got hooked. We knew our way around with the kids, we knew how to save $$ and I had the Birnbaum Guide Book. After that we went at least once a year with subsequent children and my mom, as long as she was alive. She was an absolute joy to take anywhere and she loved to go to WDW with our family. By then I was buying World Packages, the Grand Plan one year etc for 5 days out of the trip. We would switch hotels for the beginning of the all inclusives so they would start with breakfast and end at midnight on the eve of the last day. There was only a charge card situation for the plans, so I would purchase all of the minor parks with my card each day, so when we returned the following year, we could use those paper tickets for those parks, purchased with the previous year's plan. We continued doing the plans until they instituted paperless tickets., I still have lots of paperless tickets that we use when we go back. The last time we used a TL ticket for Blizzard Beach. The castmember didn't stamp the tickets. She didn't want to ruin them. Admission was $17.95. She let us in through the gate and gave us a stack of free plastic tickets that still have an admission each on them.

 

[monorailsilver]

My first trip to WDW was in 1975. I was 3 & it was June (October is my birthday so I guess I was 3 1/2).

We stayed part of our trip at the Golf Resort & the other part at the Poly. we had a lagoon view room in Hawaii.

I only remember watching the water parade from our room at night with my cousin who was the same age as me.

I remember sitting in the back of the station wagon that we rented, no seat belts, just in the back & giving peace signs to the passerbyers in the car.

That is all I remember. But that is OK I am sure I had a great time on the monorail & at the MK & seeing the only 3 Disney hotels.

 

[mickeysgal]

Our first trip was in '86 or '87. DH and I had been married just 2-3 years. All there was at the time was MK and Epcot. We stayed on International Drive at the Ramada Inn. I think we went on a Apple Vacation package. I thought we were living large!

Chef Mickeys was at the Disney Marketplace (it wasn't Downtown Disney way back then!) where perhaps Captn. Jacks is now? We were the only non-kid couple at the character breakfast on the Empress Lilly - now Fulton's Crab House. I took tons and tons of pictures and paid dearly to have them developed afterwards.

Looking back, we was so young and skinny then! I bought a Mickey t-shirt. a Donald t-shirt, and a Dumbo stuffed animal which I still have in my DD's room. I was in awe of anyone that stayed near the Marketplace and the Treehouse Villas (in my mind you had to be rich to stay there!). We went to Wet N' Wild and Sea World. Got the nastiest sunburn and actually got the chills and was very sick over it.

Anyone remember getting a "handwich" at the stand to the right just over the bridge into Liberty Square? I think Disney was the originator of the wrap sandwich.

We went to the water park by Fort Wilderness and to Discovery Island. Both are now closed. You made reservations for dining at Epcot by using video phones. That was so fun!

What a trip! I was struck by Disney's magic and from then on we went every other year then later stepped it up to once a year.

 

[mom of princess]

Anyone remember getting a "handwich" at the stand to the right just over the bridge into Liberty Square? I think Disney was the originator of the wrap sandwich.
I actually took a picture of my DH while he ate his "handwich" on our honeymoon - my 1st trip, his 2nd (but his first time was back when they were building Epcot so it doesn't count).
When we were prepping our 3yr old DD for her 1st time she looked at our honeymoon photos and asked, "What's Daddy doing? And why is he so skinny?" Little did she know that Daddy dieted hard so he wouldn't look chubby in his tux.
Sigh, we miss those tuna handwiches. And the giant pickle I used to snack on from Sleepy Hollow. Before anyone asks, no I wasn't pregnant...just love to eat dill pickles, something about the salt.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Our first trip was in 2003, we were on our honeymoon, there was no DDP, we had no idea what we were doing. DH pretty much dragged me through the parks at a sprint from the moment they opened until they closed. We ate at two TS--Jiko, which came with our "romance package," and Chefs de France, which we ducked into during a downpour.

DH kept every park map and times guide from every day we were there, and I'm pretty sure we still have them somewhere.

 

[disney1990]

Our first trip to WDW was in 1990 -- my DH and 2 DDs (5 and 12). I bought the Unofficial Guide to Disney World. I picked a touring plan and followed it exactly. We were at the park every day an hour before it opened and we closed a park every day. My husband tells people that the kids weren't even allowed to go to the bathroom unless there was a bathroom break on the schedule. We were at Disney for 5 days and went to the park all 5 days ALL DAY LONG. I can remember falling asleep in the American Adventure because I was soooo tired.

Now the kids are no longer living at home and our trip to Disney are so much more relaxing.

 

[Tikitoi]

first trip was in 1980 - with an old ex-boyfriend - who hated everything disney - went to MK for all of 45 minutes - he was "bored" - went back a second day that week for another 45 minutes - i remember thinking "i wish i wasn't here" ....

OMG...this is too funny. But at the same time I can understand. Thank goodness for these boards.

 

[wdw4us2]

My first trip was in 1972 when I was 12. There was no such thing as pre-planning, I asked my friends for advice. I remember having to buy a map of the MK because they didn't give out maps back then. None of the mountains were there yet and the longest line was for the Haunted Mansion.

We arrived as soon as the park opened and didn't leave until the park closed at midnight. The ride home was a under 2 hours then.

 

[crzyred]

My first trip to WDW was in 1992, I was 8 yrs. old. From what I can remember, it actually wasn't a bad trip. We had planned what days we were going where, there was no AK at that point. I think we spent 2 days in each park. We had a blast. We also did Typhoon Lagoon and spent the day in the wave pool.

 

[jesszac610]

Our first trip was in Oct. of 92. Stayed at the Dolphin, it was brand new, and there was a tram to go to Epcot...A huge billboard was posted over where the Boardwalk is stating that it would be coming soon! MGM was relatively new, not too much to do there then. I remember just walking around and checking everything out, did the muppets 3D loved it! No ADRS, just ate on the fly, very little planning but it definately hooked us!