Remembering that first "once in a lifetime" trip.

[tony64]

So sorry to hear about your dad.
Glad you got to see Florida adventually.

 

[CustardTart]

I think we must have all been bitten by the Disney Bug.

Definitely, Tony! This is how I looked on my last WDW trip...

 

[CustardTart]

Great stories everyone.

Well I'll start mine with a little background....when I was 7 years old (27 years ago) my Dad had a stroke aged 36, he was left registered disabled and told he would never be able to work again, he was lucky to have survived - this obviously had a huge impact on my whole family and to cut a long story short it mean't that we were not able to go on holidays (not even in the UK which is all we had done before he was ill) as dad needed to sleep several times a day & still does almost 30 years on. Anyway my Aunt and Uncle used to come and visit (a few times each year as they lived quite far away) and they would tell me about a 'Magical place' and would often say that when I was a bit older they would take me to Disney World in Florida! At that age I didn't even know where Florida was or that a place called 'Disney World' even existed...but I knew Disney I had always loved all things Disney from as far back as I can remember. I used to dream about this 'Magical place' all the time but unfortunately for whatever reason they never took me.

Fast forward a bit, I never stopped dreaming about that 'place' and when I left school and started work I always knew that one day I would go there. After about 8 years together my then Fiance (now DH) & I decided to go on holiday abroad, I had never been abroad or even on a plane but knew that I wanted to take the plunge and go 9.5 hours to the 'Magical place' so with that we got a couple of guide books & booked the hotel (Sheraton on I drive, near Seaworld) and waited about 10 months until departure day - September 2000! I was unbearable with excitement (nothing changes )but also very nervous about the flight. Well I loved it from the minute the plane took off to the minute it landed back in England 2 weeks later and with that another Disney Freak was born!

The things that really stick out from that first trip was firstly the wall of heat that hits you when you step off the plane & the smell of the air. Then we went through to immigration & me being the organised person I am had torn the bottom section off of the visa waiver forms to be helpful - BIG mistake, the officer with his large gun had a right go at me & kicked me out of the line to fill in more forms. Funny now but that was my first experience of an American - I wanted to cry & get back on the plane & go home. I was also amazed at the cleanliness, how friendly everyone was (except that guy), then also things like the portion sizes in MacDonalds , the size of the roads, the thick grass, the lush palm tree's....Everything really.

I will have to scan some pics.

I wanna see some pics...

 

[tony64]

Definitely, Tony! This is how I looked on my last WDW trip...

 

[Pinky166]

Definitely, Tony! This is how I looked on my last WDW trip...

OMG that is so funny!!!

This will make your day. I just laughed out loud when I saw your pic & Lee said what are you laughing at so I showed him & he said who is that? When I told it him was you he replied I thought she was older......he does not believe how old you are going to be on Monday. You look fab hun.

 

[Pinky166]

So sorry to hear about your dad.
Glad you got to see Florida adventually.

Thanks Tony. It was so worth the wait.

I wanna see some pics...

I will have to take some photo's of the photos as I can never get the scanner to work. I will post some a bit later.

 

[snookhams]

Our first trip was in 1991 - after 6 years of trying to concieve with no luck we decided that the holiday of a lifetime was needed to recouperate and rest before continueing. We booked to go for 3 weeks with 11 days in Orlando and 10 in St Peterburg - Mum told me that I would be pregnant by the time we came home. Getting nearer the departure date I discovered 6 weeks before we went that I was 6 weeks pregnant and nearly cancelled the holiday thinking that we would not risk anything happening but Dr told me that there was no need to go, enjoy myself and take things easy! (obviously he had never been to Disney world) We had a fantastic 3 weeks, came home with lots of baby things and that Disney bug that is hard to shift - we now have two lovely sons and 9 more visits 'home' behind us, and can't wait to start planning the next if not before it will be a solo trip for Dh and I on our 25th wedding anniversary - although it may need to be deferred due to the Olympics - me thinks I had better start planning

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

My memory isn't all it should be (just had to check when we first went) - but our first trip was in 1989. We booked a 'late deal' with Airtours - I remember we were delayed & arrived really late. The directions to the hotel took us down Orange Blossom Trail & then said 'turn left' at the 192 junction - it should have been right - but we sort of guessed as we seemed to be driving away from everything! On arrival at the hotel we weren't the only ones who had got lost.

I don't think we had bought tickets for WDW and we definitely hadn't planned anything - how things change.

I remember the Waffle house (it seemed nice back then) & we also visited Xanadu (a funny house on 192 - long closed & with good reason).

I bought a cuddly Mickey & Minnie & still have them inl my DD's bedroom.

Well that was the start & I hope it never ends

 

[tony64]

My memory isn't all it should be (just had to check when we first went) - but our first trip was in 1989. We booked a 'late deal' with Airtours - I remember we were delayed & arrived really late. The directions to the hotel took us down Orange Blossom Trail & then said 'turn left' at the 192 junction - it should have been right - but we sort of guessed as we seemed to be driving away from everything! On arrival at the hotel we weren't the only ones who had got lost.

I don't think we had bought tickets for WDW and we definitely hadn't planned anything - how things change.

I remember the Waffle house (it seemed nice back then) & we also visited Xanadu (a funny house on 192 - long closed & with good reason).

I bought a cuddly Mickey & Minnie & still have them inl my DD's bedroom.

Well that was the start & I hope it never ends

We have driven past Xanadu, what was it all about

I must admit there wasn't alot of planing done on our first trip, we have saved so much time, money and more importantly, seen things that we would never have had any idea about if it hadn't been for the dis.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We have driven past Xanadu, what was it all about

I must admit there wasn't alot of planing done on our first trip, we have saved so much time, money and more importantly, seen things that we would never have had any idea about if it hadn't been for the dis.

Think Xanadu was supposed to be a house of the future - but was a bit of a rip off in reality!!