Remember your first Disney Trip?

[Alice28]

This IS a fun thread-- I like everyone's warm memories of Disney...

My first trip to the World was January of 95- my honeymoon trip.

I remember being AWED at the size of the property---I'm used to Anaheim here folks- you can see the Matterhorn from the freeway, and there are liquor stores, Domino's Pizzas and ticky-tacky hotels surrounding Disneyland. Not too magical. Everything was SO clean and well manicured- and FLAT! I'm used to mountains.

Anyway, I remember being quite warm, and we had to check our bags at the glorious Wilderness Lodge because our room wasn't ready yet. I loved the music in the lodge. We got our room keys/tickets and found the bus to Epcot.

We were very tired as we had taken a red-eye from the West Coast and sat in Chicago on a layover between 4:15 AM and 7 AM. I couldn't believe how huge Epcot was and we asked a CM at the wait time boards for directions...I remember getting a can of Diet Coke from a vendor and then running into American Minnie and Mickey at the American Pavilion- I have a picture of me and Minnie with her posing with my Diet Coke---like she was Vanna White showing the sponsor product.

We ate dinner at the Teppan place and I remember just loving all of the different countries...I vaguely remember going on Maelstrom---we were TIRED!

When we went to the MK, my husband was chosen to be the guard of the Sword of the Stone---that was fun. I remember laughing to myself getting the Muenster Burger at some Beauty and the Beast themed counter service in Fantasyland---you know, Monster/Muenster--funny.

And my husband's favorite---me comparing every single nook and crannie of the MK to DL----he said it got annoying after awhile. I was amazed at how HUGE MK's Adventureland is compared to DL's...and how lame the Small World Marque was..

Loving Tower of Terror!

Meeting DH's grandparents, who lived in Kissimmee---they treated us to lunch at Whispering Canyon and then took us to the airport. I'm glad we were able to do that, as it was the only time I was able to meet his gramma as she passed away a few years later.

 

[Aurora63]

My first trip was in '81. I was 4. I know it was 1981 cause there were all these 10 year anniversary baloons everywhere.

We stayed off-property. Some motel that I do not remember much about, except that I had to share a bed with my sister.

I remember we took the ferry across to the MK. We spent most of our time around Fantasy Land and Tomorrow Land, at least I remember them the most. Jiminy Cricket grabbed me in Fantasy Land, and made me dance with him! I remember being very embarrassed, but my parents, and many bystanders, thought it was cute, and just stood laughing.

I really remember riding a ride in Tomorrow Land, the name of which I don't remember. It waas sponsored by Eastern Airlines, I think it was called Dream Flight or something like that? Anyway, I loved that ride and laughed all the way through it.

I also vividly remember having to use the bathroom, but not being able to find one in time, and having a #2 accident. I was very embarassed.

 

[adamak]

1984. First time in US, and Disneyland, July 4th. Of course it's a bad idea, too many people, too hot, lines too long.

But I remember -
Forced to go on a coaster (thunder mountain?), then threw up afterwards.
Chickened out waiting in line for Space Mountain afterwards, and since then.
How friendly everyone is, and how sunny, pretty and clean and happy the place was.

Right there and then I decided to move to this country, because I thought, how bad could my life be, if I'm only a couple hours away from the happiest place on earth?

I was 10 then. And I was right.

ps. Back then as a 10 yr old , I did seriously thought one should plan his/ her Disney trip seriously to avoid waiting in line. I'd think I still have that belief.

 

[JetMom]

My first trip was November of 1975. I remember eating hot dogs for Thanksgiving while watching the Bicentennial Parade.

I also remember stopping dead in my tracks and crying in the Middle of Main Street when I saw the castle for the first time. I was 9 1/2 years old and had waited my entire life (or so it seemed) to see that sight!

 

[scorpad99]

August of 1976 was my first experience in the world. I was 16, our family (mom, dad, db 14, and db 5) We stayed at the 8 days Inn right outside of Disney and I remember putting the radio on a special channel in the car to hear information about the park. We took the ferry over each day to the park and I can still remember it clearly....................we have 8mm silent movies that my mom converted to vhs tapes that make me smile everytime i watch!
I went on IASW, potc,dumbo,hm,cop, cinderellas carousel and many more , I cant remember right now. But what fond memories I hold from that trip.......the only thing that comes close is this past Oct. when I took my own kids for the first time (DD 8, DS 6) and watched the magic in their eyes!
The parades from back then are so funny to watch, we thought it was the coolest back then , so modern LOL if we only knew, right!

 

[mtemm]

we went I believe the summer after MK opened...or the second summer. I can't remember. Anyway, I was only around 6. We drove from St. Louis to Florida to visit my newly-relocated grandparents. We took a day and went to Disney. I didn't really know what it was all about. I mean, I loved watching the Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights, but I don't think I really thought anything about going to MK.

My most vivid memory was about the submarine ride. There was a huge line for it and my mom and older sister really wanted to go on it. I was TERRIFIED. I mean, all I knew is you went under water and I was sure everyone was going to drown. I flat out refused to go on it, getting more and more upset. Dad took me over to the carousel and I rode it 6 or 7 times in a row just waiting for my mom and sisters to return. Thankfully they did, but I honestly was petrified they wouldn't.

Don't get me wrong, we had a fun day, but honestly that is my most vivid memory from that trip. Our next Disney experience was a few years later when we moved to southern california and went to Disneyland.

 

[Ellester]

I was 4 1/2 on my first visit in 1973. The bits and pieces I remember are cranes over Space Mountain, I don't think it was open yet. Seeing the tops of the attractions in Fantasyland from the Skybuckets. Eating lunch in Cinderella's castle. Being disappointed that Pooh couldn't sign my book because he was my favorite but had paws, not hands. Buying more tickets from the little stand in Fantasyland near the carosel (I think it's now a Kodak kiosk). Being incredibly bored in the 360 degree movie they had in Tomorrowland, it had a part with the Vienna Boys Choir singing all the way around you. Being scared to death in Injun Joe's cave on TS Island, my dad slipped in the dark and hit his knee on the rocks in the cave. Wanting to be the 1000th ghost in the Mansion. I had forgotten about the juices shaped like the fruits, but the mention of them brought back instant memories too! We have home movies from that trip and the trees on Main Street are about 3 feet tall (and there are about 5 other people on mainstreet!). What a great thread!

~Ellen

 

[faithinkarma]

I had grown up watching Mickey Mouse Club. Corky and White Shadow, Anything Can Happen Day, singing along, wishing for ears. Going to Disneyland seemed like an impossible dream.

And then came Disney World !

We rented a Ford Pinto with unlimited mileage in Montreal, Canada, and drove down to Orlando. Not only did we not stay onsite, we were so green, we had a room north of Orlando. Econo Lodge, $13.49 a night LOL

Someone had once told me a story of Disney World being so crowded they were turning people away on the highway. I was so scared we would not get in, silly me.

But we did. Parking was $1 a day. MK is all there was. We took the monorail that first day. My excitement at my first view of the castle from the monorail car is up there with the very best memories of my life.

I remember thinking this was the most organized place I had ever visited. It seemed like every last detail was taken care of in a way I had never seen before. We stood in line to get our tickets. There were various combinations of "A B C D and E " packages. There was a CM who worked the line like a waiter. He/she explained the various options to each party in line. Once you decided which package you wanted he wrote it on a slip of paper for you to present at the window. Imagine how much time this saved !!!

I am having fun writing this, remembering when every ride was brand new to me. The Haunted Mansion, when you did not know what was coming next, 20 thousand leagues under the sea, the thrill when the boat in Peter Pan took flight unexpectedly. And my favorite to this day, Pirates of the Carribean.

I remember rationing tickets, trying to use them wisely, but ending up having to buy more anyway.

We were there for the bicentennial, so the parade was very special and very patriotic. I remember being completely thrilled by it. And when Cinderella leaned over and shook DD's hand, it was the icing on the cake.

I was so sad when we had to leave. I started planning my next trip as we drove away ( something I do to this day ).

 

[djkeenan]

I got goose bumps reading some of your post and smiled through all of them! THANK YOU to all who have shared.

I never thought this thread would grow into such a wonderful piece of reading. I'm tickled that others are enjoying it too!

You've caused me to think about Disney all day as we decorated 2 Christmas trees and it doesn't get much better than that!

As a parent of two (young ladies, ages 21 and 25) I also fondly remember their first trips to WDW. We waited until they were 5 and they had to get past the "pick me" (up) stage.
With Katie, my memories center around Figgy. I bet we went back to Imagination 5 times and her new stuffed Figment was in her arms every waking and sleeping minute! She fell asleep at the start of Illuminations and my brother and I took turns holding her for the next two hours.

When Alanna was five it was her turn and to this day we love to remember how she cried during her first time through the Haunted Mansion. At the end we were comforting her when we realized she thought the ghosts were real. After explaining that it was make believe she stopped crying and through her sniffles asked if we could go again (and then again)! What a magical place!

She was just home for Thanksgiving and we took her to the the Haunted Mansion movie. Aren't these memories wonderful!

 

[holycow]

Yes I do!!!!!!!!!!

I too remember watcing WWD...and thinking I'll never get to go there!(we lived in St. Louis, MO.) well my dad was transered out to Calif. and the day we went to Disneyland I thought I died and went to heaven....I still remember the POTC so distinctly because it was at the beginning of WWD!

I was 14 and it is still my favorite place! after all these years
HOlycow

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm one of the latecomers to WDW. My first trip was in Oct. '99, at the ripe old age of 50!! It was also my dd's first trip. She actually celebrated her 6th b-day there! My mom was there with us. I remember my mom telling me she wanted to see 'her Kate's' first look at the Castle. I don't know what was more fun watching...Katie or my mother!!! My mom had tears in her eyes. We had many special memories from that trip. We've been back again and again. And are in fact going back this coming Friday. We bought into DVC on our last trip and were planning on taking Mom back again for a long stay this coming summer. However, she is no longer with us, but all those wonderful Disney memories are. Thanks for starting a terrific thread!

 

[dianeschlicht]

My first "Disney" trip was to Disneyland in 1961. I was 14 at the time. I remember waiting for over an hour to ride the Matterhorn, and then it broke down, and we left without riding! I also remember my favorite thing was the story book village.

Fast forward to 1983 when we first visited WDW in conjunction with a dog show trip to Florida. We were excited that we got to see the new Epcot as well as the MK! Our youngest was 8 and he really enjoyed Epcot. He is now 28, and it is still his favorite park! (as well as ours)

I remember how foolish we were that first trip! We stayed off site and had our show dogs with us, so we had to kennel them at the entrance to whichever park we were visiting that day. Thinking back, I think we were pretty stupid! We did manage to see a lot, since we were touring in early January. We went back for our second trip 2 years later, again in conjunction with the dog shows. After that, we decided Disney only trips were in order. We continued to go every 2-3 years, and in 1997 finally joined DVC, so now we go several times a year.

My first impression of WDW was how detailed and clean it was. I will say it has gone downhill a little over the years, but it is still som much more magical than anything else out there!

 

[browneyes]

On my first trip, the only park you could go to was MK. They were just about through with EPCOT. There wasn't an MGM or an AK.

 

[Robinrs]

I can relate to goofy4tink... My first triip was in 1999 and I was 44...

I grew up thinking Disney was for dorks. No one COOL went to that dorky place. Soooo I refused!

Even when I went to Orlando I wouldn't go to Disney, only Universal. After all Universal was COOL ....

Well, my girlfriend came down wither her kids one time and she offered to take Michael to the Magic Kingdom. I said go ahead, I'll stay at the hotel. And I did! Ordered Pizza and watched HBO!

Michael and the kids came home on FIRE! They had a great time! Yeah... sure. But you're NOT dragging ME there!

Our next trip was in about three months. Michael made me PROMISE I'd let him take me to Disney. I got suckered in...

Well, needless to say I was AMAZED!! I truly saw what all those NUTS on this board was talking about! We went to the Magic Kingdom, then to MGM and we were hooked!! Michael, a coaster fiend, couldn't get enough of the RocknRoller Coaster and ToT.

Well, if my COOL friends back in the day knew I was moderator on a Disney board, I think they'd faint. How things change!

 

[moinab]

My first (and only ) trip to WDW was in July, 1978, for my 10th birthday. My father and I drove from MA and stayed with family friends in Bartow. The first thing I remember is the character shaped topiaries. I was very impressed by those. I loved the treehouse and the tiki birds, the Haunted Mansion, lunch in the castle, the Country Bears Jamboree and the Electric Light Parade.

I was very disappointed that I didn't get to ride on the teacups or Dumbo (our friends/guides deemed them a waste of time and tickets ) and 20,000 Leagues (my father is claustrophobic).

We are planning on buying FL resident seasonal passes next month and going for DD's 1rst birthday, January 31. I'm very excited. I can't wait to go on those teacups!

 

[ThinkTink1984]

My mother was always afraid to take me too early because she thought I wouldn't remember, but she was so wrong. She still can't get over how good my memory was.

I was three years old, and the only small child in the family since my mother had me when she was 17. Disney has always been important to our family, my grandparents taking their 7 kids, in a station wagon, from Boston with barely any money. On this family trip it was my grandparents, my uncle phil who was 19 and my mother who as 20.

We stayed in fort wilderness I think it was. On campgrounds or something. It was like a house, and my grandparents bed pulled out of the wall and the rest of us slept in bunk beds in the other room. I had frosted flakes for breakfast every morning and my grandfather took me to the petting zoo where we fed the goats out of ice cream cones!

We went to the hoop-de-doo review and I got to play the washboard and got the light shined on me for screaming the loudest! When they brought me my salad there were no cucumbers and i demanded tow of them, the waiter laughed and brought me a whole bowl full of them!

I went on dumbo with my mom and spent most of my days looking for minnie mouse because, being december I had my white minnie mouse sweatshirt on. Ooo the characters were awesome back them in Starland, I loooved that place, they were everywhere. And I remember being on journey into imagination but being so small it all seemed so real like a dream of sorts. The parade was awesome, I specifically remember Tigger surfing lol! Oh I get that feeling everytime I go back, and I'm 19 now....I love disney!

 

[catsrule]

Yes, I was 14 and MK was the only park. It had only been open a few years. Goofy chased me and my mom down Main Street. I had on white shorts and a halter top, and my back got sunburned, but I didn't care. We had to use tickets for each ride. I rode space mountain and loved it.

 

[Dixielady908]

Well this is going back quite a few years. This was in the mid 1960's. I was 8 years old, we lived in Illinois and we drove to California, we stayed with my aunt and uncle and just couldnt wait to get to Disneyland. My aunt had sent us the map of the park before we left Illinois and my and my sister would study the map daily. We knew our way around that park before we even got there. My parents bought my sisters and me these hats, that looked like swiss alps type hats with these large white feathers sticking out of them. When we stood in line, the feathers would hit the people in line behind you. Also there was this ride I think it was either in Frontierland or Tom Sawyer Island, where they had real mules and you round the mules on this trail. I thought that was pretty neat.....Since that time I had visited Disneyland 8 times and working on trip number six to Disneyworld. I've been hooked since I was 8 years old.

Denise

 

[msdznyduck]

My first time was to Disneyland in Ca in 1971. ( I was married the previous year, and my now exDH had been stationed in Vietnam, and was coming home to be stationed at Santa Ana Marine Base. I met him there, and one of the things I always wanted to do was go to Disneyland.) I loved Mickey Mouse Club and Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights....you could almost forget about school the next day while watching it. So for us to be staying just down the road was too good to be true. Plus he got military discounts on tix. I think a book of tickets (not enough E tickets as I remember) was about $10 or $12. In the 3 months we lived there, I think we went 3 or 4 times.

Went to the World for the first time when Epcot was just being built. A girlfriend and I decided to go and look for possible jobs, places to live, etc, with the hope of moving there......we didn't do much except go to WDW, and some water park, and lie around the pool most of the days we were there.

Drove from NJ with #1DS when he was 9 along with my mom in 1981....that was fun, but a loooooong drive. Epcot was open by then, so that part of the park was new for me too.

Took my #2DS and DH when they were 8 and 6.... in 1996. By then MGM was open and that was a new experience for me, and DH and the kids were amazed at everything.

Took them back in Sept 2002 (since they really didn't remember much from their first trip)....they were re-amazed (is that a word??)about everything. Loved AK as well as MGM again, MK, and Epcot.

I love it there, since we don't get to go as often as I'd like (DH doesn't "get it". ) THere is always something new there, and could always find something to do and see stuff I missed, or didn't seem to notice before.

Oh well, I think its time to plan another trip........hope I can talk DH into wanting to go again. If not.....I just might take DD and go for a "girls vacation"

 

[Margie J]

My first trip to Disneyland was when I was about 6 months old. So, obviously I don't remember that one. What I do remember are the frequent trips to DL after that. My Dad, being a huge Disney fan, took our family plus cousins and family friends to the park whenever we had the chance. I remember being so thrilled when the HM finally opened at DL. I also remember being so tired after each visit that I'd fall asleep in the car on the way home.

When my parents decided to move from CA I didn't think I'd ever see DL again. When you are young a move like that is "forever".

I found out Disney was building a new park, WDW, in Florida. It was not far from MA but still a world away as far as I was concerned. I also thought to myself, as a kid would, that no new park could be better than my beloved DL. I wasn't interested in seeing WDW ever.

Fast forward to 1984. I was looking for a vacation and found a good deal to Orlando FL. It was a full package including hotel on I Drive, days at the MK, Epcot and various other attractions. I broke my earlier promise to myself and booked the trip.

When I arrived in Orlando and took the bus to I Drive there wasn't much there. Orlando was still a big open territory with scattered hotels and restaurants. Buildings were popping up but it still looked like it would be years before the area blossomed. At the hotel I picked up my schedule for the week and prepared for my visit.

My day at the MK finally arrived. I was sort of excited about it but nothing huge. Our tour bus dropped us off and there it was, the MK. It looked familiar but different in it's own way from the outside. I went through the gates and stepped onto Main Street and that's where I lost it. I stood at the end of the Street, looking towards the Castle, and cried. It was like seeing DL all over again, the place I thought I'd never see again.

I enjoyed that trip to Orlando and was exhausted after a week of touring. I felt like a kid once more, the one who fell asleep in the car on the way home from DL.