Tourists after being a local

[lilpixie]

Is anyone else amazed at how different it is to visit the disney parks as a tourist as opposed to being a local??
I grew up in FL -- and my family went at least once a year, sometimes a couple of times each year. I honestly don't remember going to Toontown once -- I didn't even know it existed when I was a kid (maybe it was different). I don't remember getting souvenirs really, I guess because we lived so close, it wasn't as much as a novelty. I don't think I ever went to a character meal or did any of the "special" activities or events. Don't get me wrong -- I LOVED going on the rides, etc and had an absolute ball at WDW as a child -- but now that we don't live close, I just want to do everything when we go there. I feel like I will go totally overboard!

 

[HaleyB]

Yep, same here- except the other park- Disneyland. I had AP's for 8 years. We would go to just have dinner or just to see the fireworks and ride Space Mountian. We could always go when the crowds were low (like the day of a small earthquake )

Now when we go back to visit I want to be in the park from open to close and do every last thing (which is not possible in one day, it takes two).

Toontown was added to DL in the 80's (or could have been late 70's) and I assume MK got it a little after that.

 

[linda0706]

I'm the same way. My first trip was when I was 6, the night before Opening Day in 1971. My dad was in construction & worked on WDW. The workers got to bring their families on Sept. 30 before the Oct 1 opening.

I went a million times, my brother & boyfriend worked there in high school and even snuck me down in the tunnels a few times, took numerous field trips, went to Grad Night, and marched with my high school band in the "Pooh for President" parade in 1980.

However I've since moved away from Florida. It is a TOTALLY different experience to stay on-site & visit it as a tourist.