If You Could Relive Any Walt Disney World Memory, What Would It Be?

[Mickey'sApprentice]

My family went to MK when I was 2 and then again when I was 4. It was 1971 and 1973. I remember practically nothing about the trips.

I think it would be cool to be a fly on the wall so to speak to see the family walking around and enjoying the parks and such and to maybe take a glimpse of what the parks looked like back in the day. I think I would probably cry to see everyone so young and vibrant and especially my Mom that we lost so unexpectedly in 1991. I would also probably cringe at seeing what a complete brat I was.

 

[Howgreat]

The Disney memory that will stand out in my mind forever is when DH and I took our DS when we he was 21 months old. I had had 2 miscarriages in a row and we decided to take a trip to celebrate our family, just the 3 of us. We had a wonderful time, but the last night we were there we stayed for the MEP, MM&Y, and Wishes. I know you can't see DS's face in this picture, but he and DH were just in awe the whole entire time.

It was magical and at that moment, I was so extremely grateful to have the both of them and to be able to experience everything at Disney World together.

A month after we got home, I found out I was pregnant with DS#2.

 

[Ratigan]

This may sound weird, but after 33 visits from Tennessee over the last 23 years, there is one memory that is burned into my mind's eye, and it involves nary an attraction or character. My wife, 3 yo son, and nearly grown daughter were finishing up the new Dumbo ride or the Great Goofini or something in the new Fantasyland area one early twilight when a thunderstorm hit with startling surprise and force. We barely made it to the new bathroom area by the train station. Our daughter had just rounded up some Cokes for us and we all crowded together with all the other patrons in the common area behind the large doors there. The lightning flashed, sheets of chilled rain hit the impervious doors, and thunder rattled the glass. We, however, were warm, safe, and dry. The whole cluster of folks trapped together were in a good mood and happy chatter filled the air. It was the time when the pulse of the park slows anyway as the afternoon insanity gives way to the cool, measured evening. I looked around at my family's smiling faces. My daughter, so close to grown but having played like a kid all day, my young son beaming as he described his first rollercoasting with Goofy, my gorgeous wife who came into my life a few years ago and saved a single dad...they were smiling and talking and laughing. Suddenly, I felt as if we had been transported to a city set apart where time stood still, where we all would stay young and happy and strong. I felt an overwhelming love for them as we all watched the rain batter the windows and we squeezed together not just for warmth, but because that is what you do when all things are right in every possible world. The rain eventually stopped...it always does. That night passed and many others have since. Somewhere, though, there is a place where a family at peace and in love is forever huddled together, waiting, watching, secure.

 

[usd2bmd]

Our first trip...the look on my daughters face as we walked under the train station and we both saw the castle for the first time.
I have always been an emotional person but even I was taken aback by the flood of emotion I felt and the tears that appeared on my face.

Several years later when we were at the Magic Kingdom early enough to see the opening show my daughter turning to me to see if I was crying again because she was too.

 

[bella2117]

I would go back to the first time my dad took me to disney. It was the best time of my life. Now 20 years later I'm taking my children for their first time and it makes me tear up because I will be walking where I walked with my dad. It's just an amazing thing.

 

[leafE]

Just one?
There would be the first day I remember in the Magic Kingdom, when I was 12 years old. Just staring at everything around me in wonder, the biggest smile in the world on my face. I knew as I left that day I'd found something precious.
Then there's the first time I saw Wishes . . . when the castle first lit up at Christmas. . . when Celebrate the Magic first played . . . and just sitting on a curb drinking hot cocoa, watching the Osborne lights, and wondering if anything could be better then this.

My family thinks I'm nuts for being this sentimental over theme parks, but here I know I'm not alone.

 

[JohnstonMandy]

I have two. In 1983 I went with my parents and brothers - I was only three but I very clearly remember riding Dumbo with my mom and we were both crying we were laughing so hard. We lost her to cancer 4 years ago and I have a picture of her during that moment right next to my bed, I was not in the shot (too small) but her head is thrown back in laughter and it makes me happy every time I see it.

The second is when we took our oldest daughter (age 4) this past fall and were first to meet Tiana - she took my daughter by the hand and walked with her to the gazebo as they chatted about jambalaya and music. I bawled my eyes out.

 

[Spunky946]

Quite a few from our last trip on jan of 2013. Dd 4 and I were in mk at 10 pm one night riding the tea cups and the people mover. It was so much fun. Watching the kids battle darth Vader was awesome and seeing the kids made up from bbb and pirates league.

 

[PeterPanic]

This may be the most elegant, beautiful post I have ever read. Gonna squeeze my kids a little harder and hold their hands a little longer the next time I am in Disney World...

How nice of you to say that. And do, really do squeeze them and hold their hands a little longer...they are but a flash of light in a lifetime of memories. Get as many accumulated as you can.

 

[Nayru42]

This post is wonderful, I love every aspect of your appreciation of what matters most, time with family! Disney makes that time more magical!

Mine was not nearly as earth moving as all of those, but, it did then and still does mean a lot to me.

Our first trip there with my wife and my two girls, age 7 and 9. It was such a departure from what we spent our days and evenings doing back in Vermont in February, that is was just an awesome experience for all of us. We rode the rides and marveled at the imagination and creation that Disney had done. None of us had even thought it was possible.

Now 30 years, one divorce and 4 grandchildren later, I sit on a bench in MK and look at young families, all with big smiles and it all comes back to me. I have to admit that there must be a lot of dust flying around MK because whenever I would think about that time, my eyes would all water up. I have lived through many, many things in my 65 years, but, nothing catches my emotions like that experience. It's probably why I return year after year, most of the time by myself, trying to recapture those feelings. Sitting on that bench does indeed transport me back to those times and memories.

 

[SA mom]

Mine was not nearly as earth moving as all of those, but, it did then and still does mean a lot to me.

Our first trip there with my wife and my two girls, age 7 and 9. It was such a departure from what we spent our days and evenings doing back in Vermont in February, that is was just an awesome experience for all of us. We rode the rides and marveled at the imagination and creation that Disney had done. None of us had even thought it was possible.

Now 30 years, one divorce and 4 grandchildren later, I sit on a bench in MK and look at young families, all with big smiles and it all comes back to me. I have to admit that there must be a lot of dust flying around MK because whenever I would think about that time, my eyes would all water up. I have lived through many, many things in my 65 years, but, nothing catches my emotions like that experience. It's probably why I return year after year, most of the time by myself, trying to recapture those feelings. Sitting on that bench does indeed transport me back to those times and memories.

Beautiful. The day I'd like to relive was a day with my dad in Epcot, just like you described. We had so much fun that day.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I went solo in December 2006, seven months after my Mom (who loved WDW) passed from cancer. My sister and her family were already there and on my first day it was their last day-we met up for the day at Epcot. Had a marvelous time, fast forward to Illluminations. it was just so magical and I suddenly missed my Mother so much it physically hurt. Let There Be Peace On Earth started playing, and I just cried and cried. All of a sudden, my sister was next to me, and put her arm around me without a word, just being my sister and wrapping me up with her love as we watched the fireworks and missed our Mom together.

I know it's sort of a sad memory, but I remember how loved I felt and today it makes me smile.

 

[stephm0188]

We always visit Magic Kingdom first, even if it is only to start our morning there before heading to another park. There's just something about seeing the rope drop and walking down Main Street that feels amazing. All kinds of things change about Disney, whether its attractions or fastpasses or tickets or whatever... but that initial feeling I get when I see the castle that first day is amazing. We're there, finally, and it's going to be a great week.

 

[rootbeerkid]

Although it's approaching 40 years, some memories persist and are precious:

Riding "If you had Wings" (Buzz Lightyear) multiple times because it did not require a ticket

Eating at Tomorrowland Terrace (Cosmic Rays) and watching a band rise up out of the floor (Sonny Eclipse stage)

Experiencing the Haunted Mansion and liking it so much that we bought another ticket to enjoy it again

Spending time with folks that have since transitioned from this life.

 

[Disneydragonfly]

I have 2:

I remember the trip to Disney in 1998 when I was 13. We went with my mom, dad, grandma and grandpa. I remember having so much fun riding rides with my dad! I have such vivid memories of riding splash mountain with him! I wish I could relieve it all over again because less than a year later, both my dad and my grandpa had died.

The second is from 2000. My dad had died on Thanksgiving day in 1999. My mom and I travelled to Disney to get away from all the sadness. I will never forget how magical that trip was. How I was able to breath and laugh again. It was the first time that my mom and I were able to have fun together. I remember being able to remember my dad without feeling sad about it. We did so much reminiscing that trip. And I remember crying on the day we had to leave, knowing what we were going back to...

That is what is so amazing about Disney. You can leave the real world and worries behind for a while....

 

[fallen_angel727]

My trip with my Best Friend last June. It rained every day, but we finally caught a break. Or so we thought...We were at MK and suddenly the sky was BLACK. We were huddled with a bunch of people in store entry ways down main street when it started to POUR. No lightning or thunder or anything (yet) but I've NEVER seen it rain that hard for that long. We watched hundreds of people fleeing the parks and 2 gentlemen next two us were debating on what to do. Well my friend spoke up and said we would probably head back to the hotel which sucked because this was her 2nd day at MK she had barely done anything all week because of the rain. I looked at her and said "like H**L we're going back common..."

We had been sitting on the ground, I grabbed our sandles, shoved them in our bag, grabbed her hand and pulled her out in the torrential down pour where we took off running barefoot (gross I know, but there was at least 2 inches of water built up on the road) toward Liberty Square. By the time we got there we were SOAKED (I mean dripping like we had just come out of a pool). I had promised my BFF a ride on the Haunted Mansion, and because of the weather we hadn't had a chance. We went to the awnings of Haunted Mansion slid our shoes back on and walked on the completely empty ride. We chatted with the CM at the loading area for a minute before boarding. She saw my friend 1st visit pin and asked if that was why we braved the downpour (and apparently severe thunderstorm warning, with tornadoes touching down about 60 mines away) to ride? I said I had promised her at least one ride and we were leaving the next day so it was now or never. She said told us to have fun, loaded us in and sent us on our way.

When we got to the unloading zone, we were still wet and now shivering (it's cold in there lol). The CM told us not to get up, handed us towels and sent us on our way again. There was a small line when we got back to the loading area, but off we went again. It was still raining when we left, but not as hard (we could keep our shoes on this time!) But it was something I will NEVER forget!

 

[JenCin78]

In 2012 we were on Main St and the Main Street Band was playing nearby. My DD who was 4 at the time LOVES to dance but can be very shy with crowds so I was dancing with her off to the side unnoticed or so I thought. I was swinging her around in my arms when one of the trumpet players came over and started playing right near us. Before I knew it we were surrounded by the entire band and DD and I were having such a great time dancing I didn't even notice the Photopass Photgrapher snapping our pics. It was a wonderful moment that I'll always remember and I was thrilled when we got our photos and were able to relive the magic.

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

The first time that I took dd. Before we even got to the park. I surprised her, so she had no idea that we were going, she spent the entire two hour plane ride telling me she loved me every few minutes. "I love you. (pause) You're the best mommy. (pause) I love you. (pause) I love you more than Daddy because you are taking me to Disney World." The guy sitting next to us was cracking up.

 

[sandynd]

I have two - my daughter's shining face and her gasp as she first saw the castle. I was so choked up I pretty much missed it, but the little glimpse I got stays with me.

Also, her absolute glee when she tricked Daddy onto the Big Thunder Mountain and he came staggering off, green in the face and completely disoriented

It's our best family memory ever!!

 

[bdklein]

I will be as gentle as possble, given the subject matter.
Let's just say "having fun" in the last car of the Express Monorail at night. Luckily we made it around 2 times without anyone getting on.