Remembering that first "once in a lifetime" trip.

[tony64]

The in-laws were around the other day and we were all having the "I remember when" conversation and I thought about our very first trip to Florida.....
Stepping off the plane it was like stepping into an oven, I really didn't think I'd stand that heat for two weeks. Well the first night we had a massive thunderstorm and it cooled the temperature right down and we had a fantastic time.
I remember going into a waffle house next to our hotel on the 192 and ordering steak N eggs sunnyside up and feeling very American.

At the time it was going to be the holiday of a lifetime but once sampled it had to be repeated again and again.

I was wondering what your oldest, fondest Florida/Disney memories are?

Theresas are even older than mind as she won a competition to go when she was very young, I'll more than likely get shot by her or my SIL but here is a picture that appeared in the local press, It was a very big thing back in the seventies, not many people from the UK could say they'd visited Mickey Mouse back then.

 

[Lizzybear]

Me and the bf were talking about this recently... When we were kids we'd never in a million years have thought we'd visit the US three years on the trot, that was something only rich people did! Our first trip together was in 2007 and our third is planned for this year with hopefully many more to come in the future
Mine and my sister's first Disney trip was DLP in 1992 the year it opened and I remember it was a surprise at the end of our usual family summer holiday to France. We thought we were going home until we saw the signs! I remember the campsite was full and we ended up staying in one of the carparks in our VW camper van (I think my dad thought it'd be OK ) and got moved on in the middle of the night because they needed to clean the floor! Because me and my sister were only 8 and 3 we were high on the Disney magic so a night in a carpark was neither here nor there but looking back i'm sure my mum was cursing my dad and his bright ideas
Our first WDW trip was 2002 after years of nagging... Although i'd been using the net for 7 years at this point it didn't occur to me that it could be handy in planning a holiday! My mum just booked a package at our local travel agents and I remember there was a mix-up at check-in and though we were one of the first in line we were one of the last to check-in, though because we'd pre-booked seats together we managed to wangle an upgrade as those were the last 3 seats together (my dad joined us a week later at some ridiculous expense!) I remember feeling horribly nauseous on the plane and then totally overwhelmed by the 'wall' of heat upon arrival. Our hotel was the Ramada on I-drive aka a total dive which is now a Days Inn and supposedly not much better... One day our room door was actually wedged open when we arrived back one day Luckily no harm done and the fault was down to maintenance but jeez, not what you want to come back to really! We were out all day at the parks so could overlook the rubbish room... First park was MK and I remember that first magical ferry ride over so vividly I can't remember most of the places we ate at, I know we did character meals (Donald's breakfast and the old Hollywood and Vine one) and went to IHOP, Ponderosa and Golden Corral (that first one has become a tradition for every US trip, the last 2 I wouldn't go near again ) We'd bought a guidebook beforehand so knew to get to the parks early and other general Orlando stuff but not about ADRs etc. Oh and the rain! On the shuttle from the airport the driver told us that Florida doesn't get showers it get soaks and how right he was! Lastly, I remember the Tapestry of Nations parade at Epcot, oh how I miss it

 

[mandymouse]

What a great photo Tony. I'll have to get DD to show me how to scan a photo from our first trip - I hope everyone posts a pic from their first trip to WDW .. or maybe a then and now photo

 

[mushumadness]

I remember a few things from different childhood trips

I remember the wdw tickets being oblong with your picture on it and having the days removed from the side lol

also remember loving ghostbusters at universal, I really miss it.

 

[irongirlof12]

what a fab piccie.

I have a 1st memory like yours Tony- the heat hit us like an oven being opened and we were in total awe of being in USA. unless you have been it's hard to explain just how great it is to non-disney travellers!

 

[Dimplenose]

A memory of our 1st trip was getting up on our first morning and thinking "What shall we do first?" and thinking how different it was from our UK holidays when we'd think "What IS there to do?"

Other memories are warm rain, lizards, sweet bread and bracing ourselves for the heat when we opened our door in the morning. (The kids couldn't use the hotel playground because the metal parts were too hot to touch.)

We'd been to Philadelphia before we had kids and a memory of that was our first experience of a/c in a car - it was so strange to be warmer out of the car rather than in it!

 

[Ware Bears]

Wow, how lucky were Theresa and her family! We were talking at home this week about how people are so well-travelled these days ~ when I was young, my mum and dad used to save all year to be able to afford a fortnight at Pontins which was where most of my friends went if their families could manage a holiday, that or Butlins. A couple of girls at school were lucky enough to go to Spain and we thought they must be so rich!

DH and I had both always dreamed of visiting WDW one day (I think it was all those years of watching Disney Time on Bank Holidays) and finally realised our dreams in 2004. I'll never forget being on the ferry to MK for the very first time seeing Cinderella Castle in the distance and a ferry going past us with Chip, Dale and Goofy all waving.

 

[MandyJane]

Thanks for posting my pic Tony!!! I'll probably forgive you in a few years!!!! This was mine and Theresa's first ever taste of Disney.I don't think we realised at the time what a big thing it was .I can remember being really excited about going on a plane for the first time and knowing we were going somewhere really far away and it would be hot!! I was only seven so only remember certain things like being scared to death on Space Mountain and being totally amazed at It's A Small World,so much so our parents bought us the LP.

 

[tony64]

Thanks for posting my pic Tony!!! .

Well it just goes to prove you were cute once upon a time.

 

[gemmybear83]

My first trip was age 9 (1993). My dad had always dreamed of taking us to WDW as he had always wanted to go when he was younger (and still did!).

I remember the planning the year before ... mum buying what seemed like every colouring and activity book she could find to keep me and my little brother (then aged 6) occupied during the 9 hour flight

Colin (brother) pressing the cabin crew assistance button on the plane constantly and being told off

In terms of WDW memories, I remember having a character meal in the Odyssey building in Epcot (anyone else remember when you could have those?) and loved it!! Going on my all time favourite ride Horizons sad1, Spaceship Earth and Figment (the old version with dreamfinder) (can you tell I'm an Epcot freak!)

After two weeks stayed in Clearwater for a week which we also loved. There was a tornado while we were there and we had to stay in our hotel room watching a Cosby show marathon on tv for 12 hours

I loved that holiday - its my all time favourite holiday (there is something very special about your first disney holiday?), I have a group photo of us fom that holiday on my wall in my study. That holiday and the others that followed - which now include DF have led us to get married in WDW and bring everyone back together again

 

[Haworthfamily]

I love that piccie!

Hmmm first trip as a child in 1989 I missed the end of juniors week away to go!

I remember my mum constantly telling us to wear hats and me and my sisters driving my dad mad singing' We're rolling, we're rolling Mickey's birthday express' which was the tune playing on the rail road at the time as you approached Mickey's birthday land, now Toon town fair!

Also, I have fond memories of going to the Ponderosa and Arby's for breakfast! Pancakes was probably the attraction and also why now I'm spenidng a lifetime dieting! ha ha

Sarah X

 

[wicket2005]

Our first trip was in 1996 - memories from this are:

packing my lads (7 &5) haversacks for the plane that full with stuff to entertain them that if they fell onto their backs they would have never got up again.

my DS then 5 shouting yay we are there when the plane landed.

my DS then 7 making sure he was in the middle on the Jaws ride and parents, bro, Nanna, Grandad and Auntie surrounding him to be ate first.

the same DS clambouring out of the middle seat on ToT the only one with a seat belt then and diving under the 'safer' metal rod keep you in your seat thing whilst Auntie had to move into the dreaded seat belt seat.

DS7 walking through a forest at Gatorland clutching his head after a guide had said snakes can fall from the trees, he spent a good 20 minutes walking round like that.

1998

There when tornado hit Orlando, pretty scary weather.

Kids that tired then 9 and 7 that they just made it through the villa doorway, one usually went to sleep on kitchen floor and the other dive bombed over back of settee onto it.

DS9 falling asleep on the trolley back to the car with rain lashing down (tornado was coming) and going from side to side. Always amazed me how he slept with just us hanging on to him in those conditions.

DS7 shouting 'I love you Mummy' as the we stood on the planked area opposite Tom Sawyer's Island as the fireworks were going off at the castle.

Hubbie being caught by someone called Mabel Vegetable at Busch Gardens by the hand then singing 'Please release me let me go' at the top of her voice. We were all collapsed laughing, hubbie slightly embarrassed.

DS7 having an incident with the toilet and toilet paper.

 

[tashasmum]

Our first trip to the World was in 1996 and dd was 4. We had planned for 12 months and 2 days before daughter got chickenpox so had to leave 9 days later and then dh got them whilst we were away.

I can still remember dd face as we crossed on the boat when she saw the castle. That was the first place we headed for and sat down to wait for the parade. Big mistake as we burnt our bums on the hot floor. Can remember thinking that we had eventually got our holiday of a lifetime and would be a few years before we came back. How wrong was i and we have been back every year except this year when we fancied a change.

The other thing that sticks in my mind is having a character breakfast at the Polynesian and when the kids get up to follow Mickey around with the instruments dd proudly exclaimed " they're Mickeys children aren't they mum" at the top of her voice. Still have it on video to embarrass her to this day.

Great thread, love reading everyones experiences.

 

[tony64]

What a great photo Tony. I'll have to get DD to show me how to scan a photo from our first trip - I hope everyone posts a pic from their first trip to WDW .. or maybe a then and now photo

Come on Mnady, we're waiting to see that pic.

 

[saratogagirl]

Our "trip of a lifetime" I was 21 and Ian was 22, we were so young and so naive, I have some piccies somewhere, I will have to take a picture of a picture and post them. We stayed at the International Inn on International Drive. I remember that our first night there, I wanted to see the Castle, so we drove to the Magic Kingdom, paid a few dollars to park, drove around the car park, where I saw nothing and then drove back to the hotel, we didn't have a clue!!
Other things that stick in my head - the heat as we stepped off the plane, eating a proper American breakfast at Dennys, pitchers of beers and wings which made us feel truly American, Ian had a water ski lesson at Wet and Wild. I can remember looking at the Disney hotels in awe and thinking I would never see the day I would get to stay at one.
As others have said, when I was at school, you were considered very rich to be able to go to Disney World, I had one friend who went each year when we were at Junior School and she was the envy of the class !!

 

[tony64]

Our "trip of a lifetime" I was 21 and Ian was 22, we were so young and so naive, I have some piccies somewhere, I will have to take a picture of a picture and post them. We stayed at the International Inn on International Drive. I remember that our first night there, I wanted to see the Castle, so we drove to the Magic Kingdom, paid a few dollars to park, drove around the car park, where I saw nothing and then drove back to the hotel, we didn't have a clue!!
Other things that stick in my head - the heat as we stepped off the plane, eating a proper American breakfast at Dennys, pitchers of beers and wings which made us feel truly American, Ian had a water ski lesson at Wet and Wild. I can remember looking at the Disney hotels in awe and thinking I would never see the day I would get to stay at one.
As others have said, when I was at school, you were considered very rich to be able to go to Disney World, I had one friend who went each year when we were at Junior School and she was the envy of the class !!

Hi Jules
I bet they made you show your ID before you got the beer.

 

[A Small World]

Love this thread

Our first trip to WDW was in 92. At that time the last birthday in the family was early September so we always used to start to plan Christmas soon after. At the time our boys were 3, 6 and 8 (I think) and we just couldnt think what to get them for Christmas - they didnt need anything and werent asking for anything.
So we started thinking of a special holiday instead. We thought about a trip to Denmark to Legoland (it was pre the one in UK) but it was closed through the Winter, we then looked at prices for DLP or Eurodisney as it was then.
My Mum then suggested we look at WDW as she had been a few years earlier.

By now it was October half term - we went on a trip to Manchester to check out some travel agents and ended up booking there and then.

As it was so close to actually going we had to pay the full price all at once - we were going in approx 6 weeks to spend Christmas and New year in Florida.

The following day it struck us what we had done - I wasnt working so had we been silly. 2 days later someone knocked on my door and asked if I wanted a job (Good timing or what)

The whole holiday was so amazing - as others have said the first thing to hit me was the heat.
We loved the Magic Kingdom and remember eating at Pondorosa and Dennys. Damons Onion ring loaf is another memory.

In fact we loved it so much what was meant to be a holiday of a lifetime was repeated the following Christmas

 

[tony64]

I just looked up Damons and the onion loaf looked great, Shame the nearest one is in Fort Lauderdale.

 

[saratogagirl]

Hi Jules
I bet they made you show your ID before you got the beer.

They did indeed Tone, I think I was two weeks past 21 when we went

 

[Goofysmate]

Well here goes with mine,
when we first went to WDW & we only went for a week in october 02 to celebrate our 20th wedding Anniversary .
I had always liked goofy & was frilled to bit to get my picture taken with him & son .
I also brought a Pluto hat which i wore all day round Magic Kingdom and only later found out from Dh i looked silly but i don't really care cause i had a wonderful time & he did too
that was when we got hooked