How old were you...

[kelmac284]

the first time you went to Disneyland and what do you remember if you were little?

Also, just out of curiousity, if you have kids now how old were THEY when you took them the first time?

I was around 8 I think. My parents had been touting it up to me and one of the most vivid memories I have is my mom always talking about how "scary" the haunted mansion was and how you used to have to walk through it and someone died of a heart attack doing that. (I know that you never did have to walk through it but my mom STILL swears you did LOL). I was SO scared they had to drag me in the dumb thing. But of course then I liked it. I also remember going on the mine train through natures wonderland which is now Big Thunder Mountain and of course Adventure thru inner space!

I MAY have gone back another time for like a day but the next trip I remember was when I was 12 and we took my cousin and also went to Universal. To tell you how long ago it was the six million dollar man was still on and the bionic woman so they had a bunch of props for that LOL. Oh and Battlestar Galactica.

And then I went as a teen. Other than that we didn't go very much at all. Then even as an adult I only went every 5 or so years. But the first trip I took dd on she was 10 months and I was pg with my youngest and then my little one's first trip was to Disneyworld when she was 1.

I think that is why we try and go every year now because they love it so much and because we can and we couldn't when I was a kid.

Anyway just thought this would be fun and bring back fond memories for us!

 

[wendypooh22]

Oh My!! Battelstar Galactica was my FAVORITE!!! My dad works for universal and was able to get me one of the guns that Apollo used (totally fake and rubber, but who cares)...

Okay now for the DL trivia...

My first trip was when I was 5. My dad got stung by a bee and had to rush to the ER since he's allergic, but I remember being there with my parents, grandparents and my two youngest aunts who are only a few years older than myself. I even remember what I wore! My absolute favorite plaid short/haltertop set..

Growing up, we would go quite often with my parents. Then in elementary school during the candy sales, if you sold 3 cases of candy bars the prize was a trip to DL with the school.. So from 3rd to 8th grade, we would try our hardest to sell those 3 cases...

Then there was the ultimate GradNite '86 where we all dressed up for a night in the parks..

As an adult, I went a few times before having my little guys. Hubby doesn't really like it, so trips to the park weren't very frequent.

I took my oldest for the first time when he was 3 and since then, we have gone back every year in December.. It's a tradition now and I love it

We have AP's now and we have gone quite a few times already this year.. I love sharing that with my boys. Seeing it thru their eyes makes it even more magical...

This is a great topic... It brings back such nice memories. I soo remember the HUGE drops in POTC the CM actually shooting the hippo's on the jungle cruise, adventure thru innerspace, the people mover and my favorite Country Bear Jamborie..

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i was 7 or 8 I dont rember alot..honestly, i thought i rembered indiana jomes with my real dad who died of cancer. But i know my steap dad took me on it too so i think im confused. (when my dad died i kinda hit my head and have forgottin alot. I know my real dad took me the first time and we had fun. But i cant pin point anything big... OHHHHH MY lion king. My dad bought me a adult lion king animal and i loved it. My brother bought me one a few years later it was simba no main. I rember the lion king parade. That i rember

My son went whe he was 6months old,1year in half, and wdw 3 /12. were goig to disney land this year.

 

[CindyKansas]

I was 3 the first time my mom and dad took me but I don't remember much about it. It is fun to get the old home movies out and watch my mom and I spin in the tea cups. I do remember going when I was 5 because I remember the boards "Hiding" the new Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. My brother was in a stroller at the time and I also remember having my first picture with Mickey Mouse.

Now DH and I took our DD to Disneyland in 1996/1997 for her first Disneyland trip. A 10 day trip and she had just turned 8. We stayed off site but were able to walk to the park.

 

[Hofmanns4]

What a fun thread...

I grew up about 15 minutes from Disneyland. The first trip I remember was when my dad got corporate tickets for all his employess for $7 each! I was about 7 or 8. We had about 25 people with us. I remeber for some reason standing in line for lunch with everyone. I think it was somewhere in NOS. We then did not go much as a family. I then remember going in high school. (ditched a few days to go to DL!)

One of my favorite memories is of the 60 hour parties for Star Tours and Captian EO. The park was open for 60 hours straight and if you cam in Friday night after 10pm (or somehthing) you got in for half price. We would stay all night and go home about 10am. Get some sleep and go back about 8pm Sat night and do it all over again. Lots of fun~!

My DD first trip was when she was almost 3. Then we had trips when she was about 5 and 7. Our DS was only 6 months old for his first trip and had his first bite of solid food at Disneyland. Our next trip DD will be almost 9 and DS will be 2.5. Even though DD does not remember the first trip and I am sure that DS will not remember this next trip, the look on thier faces when they see Mickey and Minnie for the first time is priceless.

Well, now that I am all teary eyed, guess this is a good place to stop!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

ohh oh ya star tours my dad took me to that i have been adicted since
andautotopia..i rember him driving and me being like weee

 

[eargal]

I went when I was 5 for one day at Disneyland and again for one day when I was 9. We are from the Seattle area but have some family in Bakersfield so both trips were family reunions. There were 4 of us and we always had foster children living with us. It must have cost my dad a fortune to get 6 or 7 kids into the parks and then pay for a treat.

I remember distinctly picking out a souvenir during my first trip. It was a stacking set of tiny scented markers. I also remember thinking the old scene on Pirates was hilarious where the pooh sized lady was chasing the pirate. On my second trip I remember waiting in an enormous line for IASW because my mom insisted we do that ride. I also remember my first frozen banana on that trip.

Since then, I went once in my Senior year with a church group, once while in Cerritos for a business trip, once with my DH at the end of our honeymoon, and once while on a road trip. All these trips were before kids. My husband is such a trooper to put up with my obsession!

Since kids, I have managed to talk my husband into a trip to WDW when the kids were almost 2 and 4.5, once with just the oldest one to Disneyland when he was almost 5, a nice long 3 day visit to Disneyland when the kids were 5 and 3 and now, we are heading back to stay at the Grand Californian in October! Woo Hoo!

Boy, now that I've typed that out it does sound obsessive.

 

[greewe]

I was also about 5 years old the first time I went to Disneyland. I really don't remember anything about that first visit, but returned many times after that with my family. We lived about 2 hours up the coast in Ventura.

I also remember grad nite in 1973. It was so fun to get dressed up and stay at the park all night long. Disneyland is great after dark.

I moved to Kansas to attend college, so missed a lot of years there for awhile.

I have returned many times now with my own family. My boys are grown and in college now. But we still all go to Disney once a year! We have even converted my oldest boy's wife!

There is something about Disneyland that makes you want to keep coming back.

 

[eeyoresnr]

I don't remember my first trip to DL, I was only 3 (1964)but since I was born in Anaheim and lived about 5 minutes from Disneyland I went many times. My dad worked there when it first opened but I wasn't even born yet. My favorite ride was the sky tram and the submarine voyage.
My daughters first trip was in 1986 when she was 18 months old. She went about twice a year after that until we moved to Florida in 1999. Her favorite character is Eeyore (She has about 500 of him in her room)

 

[simzac]

I was 8 years old and the year was 1967. I went with my Uncle, Aunt, and cousin. Their youngest was too young to travel at the time, so they took me instead. My only recollections of Disneyland are of It's A Small World and 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. I'm sure I rode alot more than that, but I just don't remember anything else. As a small tidbit, we are from Indiana, and the reason for the trip was to watch Indiana play in the Rose Bowl, the only time the Hoosiers have played there. Don't remember anything about the football game either.

 

[Pomlover2586]

Ok well the first trip to DLR that I remember I was probably about 4, maybe a very young 5. I remember standing on main street holding on to my great grandmothers wheelchair. That trip it was myself, my mom, grandma, and great grandma. I have a picture of myself, mom and grandma standing and then super imposed around us are the 7 dwarfs washing up for supper.....very cute! I remember we stayed at the DLR hotel and one night we were watching the firworks from our balcony and I walked up behind my grandma who was smoking, she turned around and the tip of her cigarette burned my forehead LOL......no scar......poor thing felt sooo bad !

The next trip I remember I was about 12. I went with my mom, step dad, sister, and grandma. Biggest memory from this trip was seeing a really bad car accident driving in LA......it involved a horse trailer and horse being flipped over and thats all i'm gonna say......Anyway.......I remember going to the gift shop and buying a couple plastic lions from the lion king, I got Simba and Nala and a bunch of baby lions......I wanted a "family" LOL.

The next trip I was a Sophomore in HS [15] and I went with my then BF on a 2 day trip with our church group. It was nice we spent 1 day in the park and hung out with our friends....really enjoyable time.

My next trip I was 16 and I went with my mom, stepdad, sister, and current DBF. DB and I spent a lot of the trip on our own which was awesome! I distincly remember seeing pins and thinking "oh what a waste of money".....haha little did I know.... ....

Next trip was last June DBF and I went for our 4 year anniversary. We had such a magical time and I really think it was this trip that truly made me a Disney addict. We started pin trading on this trip and as they say the rest is history [we have over 500 in our collection now LOL]

Our last trip was last August and DBF and I went with my mom, step dad, sis, and grandma. It was a nice trip.....a but more stressful then our June trip [mom can be a tad controlling] so DBF and I tried to go off on our own as much as possible......my sister was quite intent on aquiring Princess pics/autographs so that got a bit boring LOL.

Our next trip is in 2 days!!!! DBF and I are going for 5 days to celebrate our 5 yr anniversary!!! I can't wait!!!!!!

 

[nurse.darcy]

Well, I remember going with my grandma and great aunts at about 4 or 5 and getting separated for maybe 2 to 3 minutes and scaring the heck out of me. Also, I remember that we went on Storybook Canal Boats through the BIG WHALE's mouth and I thought that was absolutely awesome. . .I also remember Jiminy Cricket Tickets (an entire book of E tickets. . .lol and being able to walk down main street without having to buy ride tickets. . .just enjoying shopping and dining at Carnation Gardens for the best cheeseburgers (grandpa loved these) and chocolate malts ever. . .Also the Welch's Grape Juice stand in Fantasyland.

Okay thats enough nostalgia, I have huge tears in my eyes. I even remember my 11th birthday at DL where I wore the last outfit my real mom ever bought me. Lots of friends and relatives that trip and hours spent on Tom Sawyers Island that day because I loved climbing on rocks. . .

 

[nurse.darcy]

Well, I remember going with my grandma and great aunts at about 4 or 5 and getting separated for maybe 2 to 3 minutes and scaring the heck out of me. Also, I remember that we went on Storybook Canal Boats through the BIG WHALE's mouth and I thought that was absolutely awesome. . .I also remember Jiminy Cricket Tickets (an entire book of E tickets. . .lol and being able to walk down main street without having to buy ride tickets. . .just enjoying shopping and dining at Carnation Gardens for the best cheeseburgers (grandpa loved these) and chocolate malts ever. . .Also the Welch's Grape Juice stand in Fantasyland.

Okay thats enough nostalgia, I have huge tears in my eyes. I even remember my 11th birthday at DL where I wore the last outfit my real mom ever bought me. Lots of friends and relatives that trip and hours spent on Tom Sawyers Island that day because I loved climbing on rocks. . .

Woo hoo, quoting my own post. . .lol. I also remember the original submarine ride, skyway ride, peoplemover, Monsanto (remember the Eye?), The theatre that existed where the Honey I shrunk the audience auditorium now sits (they had lots of musical shows there), The carosel of progress, Tomorrowland and Fantasyland Autopia, the petting zoo which now hosts a bar-b-que, and many other things that do not exist today.

Did I just date myself. . .oh man, this was fun, reminscing. . .lol

 

[bouncy54]

Oh, what fun!

My first visit to DL was in 1967. My parents had sold the farm (literally) and my Dad bought a small travel-trailer and a newer-2nd hand car with some of the money. Then Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Little Sister and I began a month long vacation. We had no destination in mind, other than a stop in Oklahoma to visit my Mom's side of the family.

We didn't even have an idea of where we were going to live after this miniature grand tour. Nothing unusual about this for our family. That's how my Dad was...a real live gypsy if I ever saw one.

Anyway...we made our way down the California coast, and the whole time my Dad and I are knocking heads cause I keep my nose in a book and he wants me to enjoy the view...to see and enjoy the countryside like he did. Who's he kidding? I'm a 15-yr-old girl who had just been ripped from her best friend and first real boyfriend. A 15yo girl who's next home is God knows where... and I'm supposed to enjoy looking at some old brown hills lined with grapevines? (I can laugh about it now, but at the time, I was devastated in the way only a 15 year old girl can be devastated )

So...we finally get to Disneyland and my Dad and I are still not enjoying each other's company much, so I'm determined not to have any fun...not even if I am in the "happiest place on Earth."

I believe that this was the year that Pirate's opened, but it must not have been opened yet, because I don't remember it at all. I do remember the House Of The Future, the Matterhorn, the Pack Mules in Frontierland, the overhead gondolas that took you across the park, and the Tea Cups.

It wasn't a very magical introduction to DL, to say the least.

I had no desire to return to DL, but when I married DH in 1972, I also inherited a sister-in-law who lived in nearby Covina, so in 1974 I made my 2nd visit to DL. This was a more magical trip because I was able to see DL through my 4yo daughter's eyes. What a difference! Ya'll doin' the math? - (I was part of a very short marriage before the current one...a rebellious thing against you know who...yep, my Dad. Dumbest thing I ever did, but hey...I got my daughter out of the deal and she's a real treasure.)

In 1986, and 2 sons later, we made our 3rd visit to Mickey. My Mom, sister, aunt and niece went with us. Other than a few hours of panic when we lost my Mom and Aunt on the drive down and our kids getting bloody noses in the back of the camper from all the zig-zagging, we had a really nice time.

In June of 1988, we FLEW to DL for the very first time. By this time, our daughter was grown and out of the house, so it was just our 2 boys and us. I have some great video of this trip...what fun we had! Playing miniature golf next to the Saga Inn, (we still miss that) getting soaked on Big Foot Rapids at Knott's, the long magical nights at DL... This was the trip that turned me into a real DL junky.

In June of 1990....surprise! We had another baby son. I was 38, working full-time at a very stressful job and I just had to get away before my maternity leave was up and had to go back to work...so we left baby Corey with Auntie and flew down to DL again. Although there were times during those few days that I longed to hold my baby in my arms, I knew that he was being well cared for and the vacation did wonders for my mental health. It was just what the DR. had ordered.

We returned to DL in August of 1993. Big mistake! It was Hot! Hot! Hot! It was also very crowded everywhere we went. When we were at Universal, some jerk actually smacked 3yo Corey across the head! By the time we figured out why he was crying, the jerk was lost in the sea of bodies that surrounded us.

In 1995, DD, 5yo Corey, 4yo grand-daughter, Kristyl and I went to DL by ourselves. This time we went in December and had a very magical time, even though both kids got sick the morning we left for California. But all in all...it was a great vacation.

DH and I took Corey and Kristyl to DL in March of 1997 or 98. We stayed near Knott's and had a pretty good time other than having to put up with thousands of teens because of a Cheerleader thing going on at the park.

In November of 2000, we inherited a small amount of money and took the entire family, plus a MIL with us to DL. There were 13 of us altogether. We a verrrry magical time.

In August of 2001, we were taking Corey and Kristyl on a road trip down the Oregon coast to the Redwoods, then on a lark, we just decided to drive the rest of the way down to DL. We stayed at HoJos that time and though it was hot and crowded, we enjoyed ourselves because DCA had just opened and we now had another park to visit.

In November of 2005, we went to WDW for the first time. Made the mistake of staying off property but because the crowds were minimal, we had a really good time.

In November of 2007, we are headed back to DL. I can't believe it's been 6 long years since we've been there. This trip, our daughter's family is going with us. I can't wait to see our 5yo grandson's face when he passes under the train onto Main Street.

The little guy is so very serious about going on this vacation. Everywhere he goes, he keeps his eye out for pennies and change to put in his piggy bank. When it gets filled to the top, he solemnly hands them over to his Mommy and tells her to keep it for DL.

I have a special cup here at home where I collect change for him and he was awfully disappointed last weekend when the cup was empty because I had forgotten to take them out of my purse. "Grandma...where my pennies for DL?"

No matter how big the crowds, nor the ill manners of a few...I will not allow the magic of DL to slip through this little guys fingers. He deserves to experience the joy and the awe of being in the "Happiest Place On Earth." This is what Walt would want for my grandson.

 

[brenda1966]

I went for the first time at age 4 and then 5. I honestly don't remember much of it at all, only what I see in pictures. I got a souvineer tinkerbell wand that glowed in the dark (it was just plastic, not battery operated). I do remember having that. I also remember there was a strike and people dressed up as odd charaters holding signs outside the gate.

I very much remember a trip i took around age 10. The electric light parade made a huge impression on me. I clearly remember the Pete's Dragon float. I also remember my friend dropped a $20 bill (a lot of money back then) and someone saw it and picked it up and returned it to us.

I took my DD for the first time when she was 3. I know she won't "remember" it but she will always have the scrapbook of pictures we took. We've been every year since and she does remember things that happened during our prior visit. Whether she'll still remember them when she's 30 is another story.

 

[fairycat]

From the photos I have seen the first trip I made to Disneyland was as an infant or toddler. My families favorite story was when I was quite small they took me onto the Subs, as the bubbles came up over the windows I began to scream, and scream and scream. Finally a CM picked me up and carried me to the hatch, they opened it up and showed me that it was fine, we weren't underwater and were safe. I guess I finally calmed down and was content as long as I could see out. I bet all those on the boat were very happy, I was happy cause can you imagine an entire sub ride with a screaming child?

My first memories were of Main Street, Mickey Head Pancakes with chocolate chips for the mouth and The Golden Horseshoe Review.

I don't have any kids but I think my Mom's first trip sounds so cool, she was 3and they had just moved out from Ohio, but my Great-Grandfather came out earlier then the rest of the family and his company did the scaffolding for the Castle and Matterhorn while they were building Disneyland. Because of this my Great Grandfather got special tickets to see Disneyland, no one remembers if it was opening day, earlier or later the first week (I would love to find those ticket stubs), but my family was some of the first to see Disneyland! Which might have lead to my love for the park.

 

[kelmac284]

These are great. Of all the threads on here the ones where you can reminisce or talk about what you love about the park are my FAV!!!

I thought of a few other things I missed. How about America Sings? LOVED that. I never saw Carousel of Progress at DL but finally saw it at DW last time we went. When we went in 02 it was not running but WAS in 05! My kids love it and keep singing great big beautiful tomorrow LOL.

I remember a trip my mom and I took in 88 when I was going down to LA to scope out colleges and they were building Splash. I remember anxiously awaiting Indy and esp when Star Tours opened. I waited a LONG time in some of those lines.

I remember the motor boats in Tomorrowland and of course the old subs although I only went on them once.

I went on Mission to Mars and Captain EO of course and we LOVE the peoplemover and are part of the movement to bring it back!

I also was there in 2001 when they were building DCA. I remember walking to the DL Hotel and thinking WOW this is going to be great.

I have SO many fond memories of seeing the characters and the excitement through my kids eyes and they are now 15, 7 and 6 and esp the youngest talks about the rides and the park in general almost DAILY. We have the park soundtrack and the disney greatest hits (all 3 volumes). We buy stuff from the Disney Store and Disney Online and look forward to the outlet. We just LOVE the whole thing.

And I think as most of you have shared you can look back and remember periods of your life and date them to when you took that trip. Some things may have been sad in your life or happy but no matter what I guarantee going there made it all better!

Keep the memories coming. I LOVE to hear about them!!

 

[Tink33]

I am second generation Disneyland lover, so we went many times when I was young. My Dad was there the first day the park was open to the public, July 18, 1955.

Some of my memories include getting lost on Tom Sawyer's Island and being found by a Ranger when I was 2, field trips in Elementary school, begging Mom for $11 so that we could buy a Junior ticket and stay all day when we were teens, following cute boys and yelling at them from the Skyway , spending birthdays there, taking pictures with my brother when Dad got a new camera, being there with my Grandpa and Grandma (Grandpa hated lines and crowds so we would leave after 2 or 3 rides), Grad night with DH and celebrating our 10th Anniversary with a ring presented to me in front of the Mickey Head flowers at the entrance.

The first time we took the kids, DS was 2 and DD was 10 weeks old. We have had annual passports for 10+ years and they have their own special memories of Disneyland too.

 

[kuusimo]

My first time I was 4. We went with my Aunt who was 18 at the time. Winnie the Pooh was hitting on her. We have it all on video! We camped in our travel trailer. I remember the boats they used to have that went around the lagoon area, and the smaller autopia cars in Fantasyland, as well as the skyride.

We went the next year with my cousins. From that trip I remember just going on all the rides again. We stayed in a hotel that time though.

We took our boys for the first time when they were 13 months and 2. We know they will not remember it because DH got strep throat after the first day. I took our older son and then it was so bad we went home. But we have gone every year since. My boys could tell you about every ride in their sleep and they are 4 and almost 6 now.

 

[auntyjenn]

I MAY have gone back another time for like a day but the next trip I remember was when I was 12 and we took my cousin and also went to Universal. To tell you how long ago it was the six million dollar man was still on and the bionic woman so they had a bunch of props for that LOL. Oh and Battlestar Galactica.

I went when I was ten and we also went to universal. They had a van you could lift up and a giant gerbil cage from The Incredible Shrinking Woman. They also had the Battlestar Galactica stuff (loved that show ) I was really dissapointed when I took my kids to universal four years ago. It's not for kids anymore.

Of course I remember DL. The cars (autotopia) were our favorite. We must have ridden them four times at least. I also remember shrinking smaller than the size of a snowflake and we loved the skyway because we didn't have to walk aaaalllll that way (kids, he he). And who doesn't have a picture of someone in their group lying in front of the grave marker that says, "unknown remains"? (my dad can sleep anywhere).