How old were you...

[mystic_path]

It took me 23 years to get there

 

[chrisn]

My parents and grandparents started taking me to DL before I could even remember. From the youngest of ages it was ALL about Pirate's for me. I freaking LOVED that ride, loved the theming, the ambience, the fireflys, the treasure at the end, and I always thought it was the most special thing in the world if you got to eat at the Blue Bayou to be immersed in the atmosphere. I guess you could say I'm a good girl attracted to bad boys and I've been a sucker for pirates since I was a very young girl. Some things never and will ever change!

We took our daughter for the first time when she was about 8. She takes after mom. Another good girl/bad boy thing going on. Our son has been a WDW junkie since he was 2 and has Mickey instilled in his heart. Again, just like mom...

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I was young the first time I went, probably around 2 (I know my mom was pregnant with my brother). I don't remember anything about that trip. We went every year from then until I was about 10. Then it turned into every other year until I was 15.

I went twice between getting married and having kids. We took our kids for the first time when my oldest was 2.5 and my youngest was 10 months. Took them again 4 months later. Going again in 2 months - oldest will be 3.5 and my youngest almost 2. And then we're planning WDW for next spring. So it looks like we're starting the yearly trips again with our kids.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

It took me 23 years to get there

Awww, sweetie, don't feel too bad; it took me nearly 44 years!

I'm a longtime Disney fan (the first movie I ever saw was a Drive-in showing of The Aristocats), and I always dreamed of going to DL. When DH and I married, we made a pact that we would go when our child was 5yo.

We finally made it for the first time last fall; DS6 and DS2 had so much fun, and so did we! It was so magical for the kids, and so fun for me, especially to see it through their eyes. We stayed for 8 incredible days, and plan to go again this fall.

It's funny to think someday my kids may brag to their kids about riding Pirates right after they added the Jack Sparrow animatronics, or riding the brand new Nemo subs.

 

[mystic_path]

Awww, sweetie, don't feel too bad; it took me nearly 44 years!

I'm a longtime Disney fan (the first movie I ever saw was a Drive-in showing of The Aristocats), and I always dreamed of going to DL. When DH and I married, we made a pact that we would go when our child was 5yo.

We finally made it for the first time last fall; DS6 and DS2 had so much fun, and so did we! It was so magical for the kids, and so fun for me, especially to see it through their eyes. We stayed for 8 incredible days, and plan to go again this fall.

It's funny to think someday my kids may brag to their kids about riding Pirates right after they added the Jack Sparrow animatronics, or riding the brand new Nemo subs.

LOL I hear ya, my mom was 46 before she got to go so I kinda see what your saying. I just feel like I lost out on a kid cause my parents kept telling me we were gonna go but then something always came up and there was the lack of $$$.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

LOL I hear ya, my mom was 46 before she got to go so I kinda see what your saying. I just feel like I lost out on a kid cause my parents kept telling me we were gonna go but then something always came up and there was the lack of $$$.

that is the excat reson im doing dvc. i wont have an excuse not to take my son on family trips, My dad told me for so long we were going to flordia but never did. we did dl tho so that was good as a kid. but i didnt get to do wdw till last year and didnt get to see enarly all.

I want to make sure even when i have my other 2 kids I will still be abel to go to wdw

 

[Twinprincesses]

DL I was about 12 and kept thinking how small it was compared to WDW. Now I think I might like it more than WDW. The castle is much smaller but now I can appreciate what it all means.

 

[vanillasoftserve]

I don't remember ANYTHING about my first trip because I believe I was 2 I've watched the videos my parents took, and saw the pictures so much, I don't know if it's really memories or just from the photos. I remember watching the Disneyland Sing - A - Long videos, and my mom having to fast forward thru the Haunted Mansion scenes, and looking through the Disneyland Souviner Picture book. I also remember going on Casey's Jr. when i was 3 or 4, and screaming my head off because I thought it went too fast It's sort of like I grew up at Disneyland, because my parents took me so much. Yay for them

 

[bambigirl88]

I was 12.
I remember:

*peoplemover
*the submarines - whadoyaknow they're back!
*the skyride that went through the Matterhorn
*feeling "too cool" to have my pic with a character, but I did anyways

Went again when I was 14, and then again 13 years later took my hubby for his first time! Rode BTMR first 'cuz there was no line........and we rode every single ride there is in 2 days and we were exhausted.

Now, we are taking our kids for their first time in a few weeks!

 

[crasher11]

I was 18 the first time I visited S. California, There were around 22 of us that had our senior sneak trip from a small town in Northeastern Colorado. Visited Disneyland, Sea World, Universal Studios and took the LA tour. I also remember at USH BattleStar Galatica that was part of the tour and also the A Team show. I don't remember too much about DL, it was one of those real fast days. I do remember riding Space Mountain but that pretty much is the extent of it.... Oh the good ole days.....

 

[kelmac284]

These are all great. LOVE the memories!! My mom was an adult I believe the first time she ever went and I am glad that they took me as young as they did and I know people think my kids are spoiled cuz we go at least once a year but you can't beat these memories. I will see if I can dig up some of my old pics for a laugh!

 

[wvnative]

Let's see.. I was 26 the first time I visited DL. (12 for WDW) My daughter was 7. I remember a lot from our trip. Unfortunately the most vivid memory was my XSIL throwing a fit about the hotel, and her and her DH fighting the whole trip.

It was still a lot of fun. It's more fun now though with just me and the kid. lol

 

[kelmac284]

I wish I had some better pics but these are the oldest and only ones I have. It was because I took the pics with my little kodak brownie LOL. My mom has all the rest.

Anyway this is how I remember the matterhorn with the sky buckets and before Yeti!! Taken while riding the beloved peoplemover no less!

And for those who went to US back in the 70's or 80's here are some for you.

These were the rubber bars to escape from the jail. (courtesy of six million dollar man)

And this was on the studio tour. THis is the space ship from battlestar gallactica. The tram went in it and they had a battle with the sylons or whatever they were called LOL.

And last but not least my cousin and I WITH a sylon no less. We were "cool" Oh and I am the one with the bad perm!

And FYI these were taken in July of 1980. Glad I wrote the date on the back!

 

[Welivefordisney]

I was 33 when I went for the first time and we took my parents so it was there first time too (60 and 58 years old). And my parents have now gone 6+ times in the last 4 years!!!
MyDH had gone when he was 13. Our kids were 2, 5 and 9 and already are planning on living in Disneyland when they grow up

 

[kelmac284]

Well that's ok. I was 35 the first time I went to Disney World and have only been back once. We can't get our family of 5 all the way to Florida very often but we DO have a trip planned for 08 and mom and I were JUST talking about a return trip in 10 that might include a cruise! I am 40 and have NEVER been on one of those

And I think your kids have a GREAT idea. I would live there if I could too!

 

[auntyjenn]

And for those who went to US back in the 70's or 80's here are some for you.

And last but not least my cousin and I WITH a sylon no less. We were "cool" Oh and I am the one with the bad perm!

No way! I have this same picture with a friend that has the same perm and glasses and me with the same shorts. LOL!
I can't wait until my dad gets his slides converted to digital!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

My first trip was in 1980-1981 when I was either 3 or 4 years old. I have so many childhood memories, they kind of blur together since we went every year. But I remember the boats, people mover, America Sings, Adventures thru Inner Space. I remember grabbing Donalds tail feathers, and Goofy rubbing my Dad's tummy (cause it was kinda big! LOL). I remember being there with my Grandparents, and my Grandma buying me the BIGGEST Goofy doll they had and me carrying it on to the Monorail back to the DLH. Tons and tons of wonderful childhood memories!

 

[Teaching in NV]

What a fun thread!

I was 9 when I first went in 1970. I remember
Driving through acres and acres of orange groves to get to the park.
"E" tickets (there were NEVER enough of them in the packet)
The Submrine Ride
That ride where you got shrunk to really tiny.
The Autopia
Its a Small World (LOL my little brother made my mom sing that song to him the entire day ... she has never set foot on the ride since)
The Sky Tram
Buying Ice Cold Pickles out of a barrel on Tom Sawyer Island
That shop on main street that sold real items from Disney film sets
My little brother (yes .. the "small world" fanatic) throwing up in the planter just inside the gates on main street
and the world of progress ride .. Mom's favorite because it was cool and you sat down for awhile in the dark. LOL

 

[can]

I was 4 yrs. old my first trip to Disneyland, and that was 46 years ago. What I remember most was the Mickey Mouse Club they had there at the time (which unfortunately is not there any longer). Since my dad worked for the airlines, we were fortunate to go back there on a yearly basis and probably made almost 9 visits after that.

I am happy to say I am taking our 15 year old daughter there this July for her first trip there. She has been to Disneyworld many times since she was 4 years old and has been anxious to see DL. While I have stressed to her that it will be different than WDW, in many ways it will be better.

Thanks for asking that question, has brought back some very wonderful childhood memories!

 

[queenrollog]

My DH was 3 months old when he first went to Disneyland. He was born the same year Disneyland opened, so he has always had a special affection for the park. I also grew up locally, but I don't remember going until I was 7 or 8. My parents would whisper and have low-voiced discussions for days before, and then my dad would casually announce that we were going to Disneyland. We would run to the shoebox where we had stashed all our leftover A/B/C tickets from previous trips, and then we would go down the block and ask all our friends and cousins for their leftovers. On our way to Disneyland, we would keep our eyes peeled for the Matterhorn because the first kid to see it would get a prize. I loved the boats, the Peoplemover, America the Beautiful. My dad would always make us go see Mr. Lincoln. My brother "got lost" on Tom Sawyer's Island (I think he was hiding) and we stayed out there for what seemed like forever. I loved the different names in the parking lot and would always remember where we parked.
Our DS was 3 weeks old when we first took him to Disneyland (What were we thinking???) and I swear it was the happiest day of my DH's life (next to DS' birth and the day he met me, I'm sure). DS slept through most of the visit. Mickey Mouse was so kind to him, as was Pluto.