When I was around 12, I begged my parents, grandparents, and just about any relative in my family to take me to Orlando to see the preview center. Didn't work. That's how long I've been a WDW fan.
Around one year before Epcot Center opened, WDW started previews of the park by monorail. You could take the monorail from the TTC to Epcot and the train would slowly wind its way through Epcot Center so you could see the park before it opened. Again, couldn't get any family members to take me. I did make it to Epcot Center about three weeks after it opened.