Things you thought about Disneyworld as a child

[jjarman]

Didn't really know how to phrase this or if anyone else had some silly ideas about Disneyworld as a child. Here is mine. I remember at age 10 or so, my first visit to Disneyworld when it first opened and riding the monorail for the first time. I was terrified. I remember at the time there were benches all the way across the car and I was so afraid that if the weight was not distributed evenly that it would tip over and the cars would fall off of the rail. Loved the ride but still terrified at the same time. Kinda like on a roller coaster now, LOL.

 

[MomofKatie]

I used to think that only rich people could stay onsite. I also used to think that it rained every time we went in to the Haunted Mansion .

 

[DawnMarie]

I used to think the Haunted Mansion was really haunted. I didn't ride until I was about eleven.

 

[jarrdisney]

When I was a teenager I used to think WDW was lame. Boy was I wrong!

 

[qanita92]

i used to think that disneyland and wdw were in the same place

 

[ohpoohmetoo]

I also always thought only rich people could stay at the World. We only got to go for quick one day trips driving from Fort Myers area when we were on vacation there visiting family. I remember looking at the Contemporary in wonder thinking about what the rich families did in that hotel we were now going through on the monorail.

The real "Disney" hook for me was actually a Disney on Ice show my dad took me to when I was 4. I didn't go to MK until I was 7 but I was a Mickey Fan well before that.

When my children were young their favorite thing was the monorail.

Can't wait to read about more of your childhood thoughts.

 

[MomofCKJ]

When I was about 5 I would NOT go on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I was convinced it went really deep and that the monster under there would get me. It scared me so much there was no getting on for me!

Allyson

 

[Cass]

I thought Walt;s family lived in the Castle

 

[trypnotic]

I went to Disneyland as a 7 year old so I always thought that DL was way better than WDW could possibly be.. having never seeing it before. Now I haven't been back to DL since so I'm gonna have to go on a research trip here to make an accurate comparison

 

[mtemm]

we went to disneyworld the summer of 72 I think, so I was 5. I remember distinctly there being a long line for the submarine ride, and that I was TERRIFIED of it (the ride, not the line, lol). I mean scared out of my gourd. I thought everyone was going to drown. I threw such a fit that my mom ended up taking my sisters on it while dad took me over to the carousel. I think I rode that carousel many many times, since the line for the sub ride was long. Thinking about it now, I feel kind of bad that dad didn't get a chance to ride it.

I did ride it years later at disneyland. wasn't that great, but certainly wasn't the fear fest I had expected.

 

[mtemm]

When I was about 5 I would NOT go on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I was convinced it went really deep and that the monster under there would get me. It scared me so much there was no getting on for me!

Allyson

omg, so glad another 5 year old was freaked out about it. lol. although I didn't even think about monsters, I was sure everyone would drown (just posted before I read thru the thread)

 

[twinz]

I remember quite a few things about my first trip. My twin and I were about 7 and I remember we were at the door of the airplane and the humidity just hitting us...BAM there it was (we had to walk on the tarmat to get into the airport). I also remember being deathly afraid of the floating candle in Haunted Mansion. We stayed at the Marriott on I drive, and we rode a trolley to the coolest fun house I ever remembered. We drove to Coco Beach and I was CONVINCED I seen a Shark in the waters under one of the bridges. We both got ear infections cause we were in the pool so often--then we had to wear bathing caps. Spcae Mountain was our first "big" rollercoaster (we've been hooked ever since). We rode on 20000 leagues under the sea and I swore we were so far under the water, and I thought the octopus was real. WE rode the Speed way with our cousins. Also we went on the hanging baskets that went above wdw (what were they called?), LOVED those!

 

[DueyDooDah]

I liked 20,000 LUtS so much, I ended up a submarine sailor in the navy. LOL

The title says "...about Disneyworld" but it didn't exist when I was a child. DL was it, and it was the best. We went often, living in Arcadia, CA as a kid. Never had to stay at the hotel, but agree that it was "for the rich".

I used to aways wish the books were filled with nothing but E-Tickets. The Main Street shooting gallery was lame, but loved the Stamina Challenge (read electric shock machine). I don't remember the name of it.

And don't tell anyone, but I loved the Utopia cars. They were loud and fast.

 

[petrymom]

I used to think "Man, I can't wait to go there when I grow up!!!!" My parents could not afford to take us!!!!!

 

[AStamm]

I grew up in a family that just didn't "do" vacations. My poor DM is such a homebody she never wanted to go anywhere, so we didn't. I thought I'd never get to WDW (which was just the MK, I thought). Thankfully my best friend and her family showed compassion on me and included me in their family vacation there following our high school graduation in June 1991. I cried that first time I saw Main Street. Even as a 17 year old I thought it would probably be my first and last trip there. Boy, was I wrong! Fast forward 12 years and the mania began.

 

[poohs_hunny]

I never went to Disney World as a child. My first trip was at age 17. As a kid, I used to think that all of Epcot was inside "that big golf ball".

 

[Pig Pen]

My first WDW trip was when I was 16 in 1975. I lived in Clearwater and my boyfriend (now DH) took me for a day, along with another couple. I was immediately enchanted. We ate in the Contemporary (maybe where the Concourse Steakhouse is now?) and I remember thinking that someday I would spend the night there. I went on many day trips after that, eventually we could afford to stay offsite, finally graduating to onsite...but I still haven't stayed at the Contemporary!

I remember seeing people zipping around on Sea Racers and thnking how cool they were and wondering how rich would I need to get to be able to do that?

Well now I have done that! And it IS totally cool! And I am not rich at all (because I spend all my extra money on Disney).

 

[hniki234]

I used to think Space Mountain was the scariest ride ever! I remember coming back from WDW telling everyone it was so dark and you couldn't see where you were going. Of course now I don't think its so dark and scary.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I never got to go as a kid, but my best friend's family went every year, and she would bring her Birnbaum guide over to my house, and I'd spend hours reading through it! Apparently the planning obsession began early!

 

[joshsmom]

I remember seeing commercials about it--especially when they were getting ready to open Epcot. It seemed like such a magical place, so far from the Midwest, and so far removed from anything I had been exposed to. I've loved Disney since I was a small child. I always remember my dad telling me "you will never get to go there, so don't even think about asking." Well, he was WRONG!!!! I had to wait until I was an adult, but I AM HOOKED. My son doesn't have to worry about me telling him he can't/won't go, we try to make it every year!