What do you remember about your first trip to WDW?

[cgcw]

I was maybe 12 when we first went to WDW. We vacationed there for an entire week -- and MK was the only park. I remember nothing about the MK but I do remember staying at the Contemporary and having the monorail go through the hotel. We thought that was the greatest thing. And, we stayed on the first floor of the Contemporary because my Mom has always been afraid of heights. We must have gone to MK but I don't remember it. I do remember the sight of those old strollers when I returned with my own family in 1998. It was a terrible flashback .

 

[Dan Murphy]

Even though I was at WDW in '98 for a business convention (same on I will be at this week), I consider my first real WDW visit (I did DL in '68 and family did DL in '92) the following year, Christmastime '99. I have MANY memories of the trip, a celebration of Marie's return to health, but the best memory I think was our family Illumination Cruise, a chilly evening, but such a happy evening. I wish some day we could do it again.

 

[browneyes]

Being 14, being without my parents for the first time (band trip), riding Space Mountain a couple of times (and having to wait in line for it forever!), and buying my Mickey ears with my name embroidered on the back.

 

[LuvTigger]

September 1994, we stayed at Shades of Green, which we loved!

Some memories:
* Seeing a dead snake in the road (we don't have snakes in Hawaii, so it was a big deal to me!)
* Having an armadillo scare the crap out of us as we walked back to our room at SOG
* Having dinner at Ariel's in BC (no longer there, boo hoo!)
* We perspired a LOT
* Thunder storms, trying to cross from UK to France to make our dinner ressie at Bistro de Paris, and watching lightning strike the Japanese Pagoda (which did not light up during Illuminations that night)
* Eating so much, so fast, at San Angel Inn that I got sick for a bit
* Riding the monorail for the first time
* Drinking margaritas and watching Illuminations
* Riding the Tower of Terror

Just to name a few!

 

[MerryPoppins]

My first trip to WDW was with DH and our toddler DS. We couldn't afford to stay on-site, so my first glimpse of the castle was from the ferry. I remember crying as I pointed it out to DS. I also remember seeing him kiss Mickey on the nose.

I was 3 when I went to a Disney park for the first time. My family took a trip to Disneyland and I was afraid to ride almost all the rides. My poor dad had to sit with me on benches while my mother and brother rode ride after ride. My brother kept trying to assure me that the next attraction would be fun. I'll never forget him telling me that I would like Peter Pan. He almost had me convinced and then he said the pirates shoot at you. I put on the brakes - no way! LOL! It was all very real to me.

 

[iluvdisney]

I remember that it was April 1973 - we were on our honeymoon - camping on our honeymoon, no less. We got married on his spring break and drove down from NJ to spend a few days in Florida and one day at WDW for our celebration. We parked in the main lot - the only lot then and boarded the monorail for our ride over to the park - we were both taken by the awesomeness of going thru the Contemporary Hotel and then over to the gates where I was so excited that I was finally going to see the castle!!!
We purchased our coupon books for the rides - that's how far back we're going - and walked onto Main Street and saw the castle - WOW doesn't describe the feeling I had! Even back then my eyes filled with tears taking in all the beauty of the buildings and just ahead was that Castle! As we walked toward the hub we spotted Chip and Dale - doing some kind of dance off to the side. We had a movie camera and we still watch and laugh at this today. Then to walk thru the castle was like a dream come true and I still have to do that with every trip I take to the MK.
We had lunch at the Crystal Palace that day and proceeded to do the rides that we had coupons for. If I remember correctly there wasn't as many rides back then - we did every ride in Fantasyland and walked around Tomorrowland and Adventureland - can't remember what rides we may have done here except for Carousel of Progress may have been one of them. It was an awesome day - WDW set a new record for attendance and when the day was over we took the ferry back to the lot and felt that day was a sweet start to our life together. Guess it worked cuz 30 yrs later we're still taking our trips down to WDW.

 

[Ilove8Trax]

I remember being excited as i'm sure most people are. I was 12 years old, I believe. It was in the summer of 1993. It was a lovely time, lots of fun like i dreamed of. What is signifigant now about that trip was at the time, the All New Mickey Mouse Club was still taping and on the backlot tour or one of the rides at MGM, we walked thru and saw the studio where they taped the show. The cast members were all around doing stuff and I remember seeing Justin Timberlake. Not that that specific memory is completly "O my God!" but a few years back when N Sync first came out i was like HEY! That's them!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

best memories:

first night in a club was at PI
Tower of Terror and hearing people behind me screaming like crazy
my first fake booze in Epcot
seeing a improv comedy show outside of WL on TV(Comedy Warehouse) and getting pulled into the action

 

[Minnie824]

I was 4. I loved Its a Small World. We stayed at the Howard Johnsons near Downtown Disney in room 426....yes, for some reason the room number is what I remember. Oh, and they had good orange sherbert.

 

[Sonya]

I remember meeting Donald and Mickey, the parade, not being able to go on Space Mountain and VERY mad I knew it was a coaster and wanted to go!), and I let go of my orange Mickey baloon and that night there was an orange full moon. I thought it was my baloon gone up to the moon to make it so orange. (I was 4)

 

[preshi]

I remember the confusion of getting lost in Epcot my first night.

I remember the feel outside, the humidty and heat.

I remember tears of joy when I first got to AK and again at the Flights of Wonder show.

I remember the tranquility of eating lunch in one of the little coves.

I remember the panic of 9/11 and then again panicking about TS Gabby.

I remember the overwhelming feeling of thanks and relief when TVT came to stay with me and when I recieved the caring phone calls from Dan.

I remember SSB's warm hug.

The overwhelming and eerieness of the moment of silence at MK.

The emptiness of the parks, the joy of each ride, the smell and feel of everything... totally magical.

 

[tc]

The first time I went to WDW was August of 1993. The girls were 11 and 13. Kimmi, 11, was Goofy crazy. She got the back of her head shaved, so when she put her hair in a ponytail, there was no hair at the base of her neck. She got the word "Goofy" shaved in it. All she wanted to buy was a Goofy hat. We have a picture of her in her Goofy boxers, Goofy shirt, Goofy hat, and Goofy scrunchy around her wrist. It's so funny to see that now, she never wears characters on her clothing, to immature.

I remember getting our picture taken on Main Street.

I remember lines, but not minding it.

We stayed at Dixie Landings and I thought we were staying at the Ritz.

I remember Kimmi freaking out the whole ride on Splash Mountain because a friend told her that the drop goes "straight down". She was almost hyperventilating by the time we got to it. Just after the drop she screamed, "Let's do that again!!"

I remember my feet really hurting because my philosophy was, "It's better to look good than to feel good, baby." Not any more. I wear my Tevas regardless if they match my outfit.

I remember Sarah smelling Stephen's sandals because he said they didn't smell bad, but they did.

I remember having the best vacation of my life, and vowing to go back as soon as possible. I was hooked after that trip.

 

[JAP]

I was seven and EPCOT was just being built. I remember meeting Mickey and Pluto. I remember buying my Aristokats animals and a hat. I also remember buying my Mickey ears. They did not have Minnie at the time. It was the best day!

 

[CamColt]

I was 5 and got sick while there. I remember going to the doctor and getting aspirin/gum which was new to me. I remember the taste of the vanilla soft serve icecream sold in the Contemproarys food/fun center, and the old paper straws they used to have. And to this day, when I ride the monorail through the Contemporary and see that mural on the wall, I feel 5 years old again. Can you tell I spent a lot of time in the resort?

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

I just have to start by asking "ehagerty" how old are you!!??!!
"Easter Tuesday, 1776
I worked full time since senior year in high school - so I was thrilled when the grocery store I worked for closed in March, 1776 - it was the first chance for a vacation before college graduation" WHERE WAS DISNEY IN 1776?

OK now for my reply: It was May of 1995. Our first day was AWFUL! It was sooo hot! I cried that night. We did not do our homework and we basically knew NOTHING about Disney! However the next day, when we entered MK my 5 year old daughter looked at me and said "THIS is where Mickey really lives!" and that darling look on her face turned my whole attitude around. We made the best of our trip and had a great time. You ask my family what they remember and the answer is always - IT WAS HOT! There were breaking high temperatures in Orlando everyday we were there! We spent a lot of time in the fountains .

 

[ILUVDXL]

I remember being awed at DXL when we arrived and how beautiful it was. Then leaving there and going to EPCOT and thinking what a long walk it was from the bus. I remember our very first ride was on Space Ship Earth and having a panic attck because if was so excited. I remember thinking WDW is huge and we'll never see it all in a week.

But most of all I remember how when we returned the next year, I couldn't get over how small WDW had gotten.

 

[Patch'sD]

My first trip was February 73 during Presidents day I was 15. You flew into what is now Orlando Executive Airport and when you got off the plane, you would go down one of those portable ramps. Walked across the tarmac to the terminal. We stayed off-Site what is now called the Ramada Inn maingate. By accident my wife and I stayed there again in 1987, It seemed kinda of stale then, I wonder what is like now. There were no other hotels near it. In fact from what I remember 192 was kind of barren. I had to sneak smokes at the time and used to walk around the hotel. At that time onsite Reservations for On-Site were booked for two years in advance. . The next day we took the rented Vega to the Magic Kindom. My excitement started when we saw the Gulf Station. You used to see the Station during the gulf comercials on Sunday night during the Wonderfull World of Disney. When you saw the Gulf Station you knew you were in Disney World. Parked the car and rode the tram to the Ticket Center. Purchased three Ticket books and off we went.

It was amazing. As a 15 year old teenager from New York, I was impressed. Of course we took the monorail. Going through the contempory was awesome. Mainsteet was cool. Steamboat Willie was playing at the Mainstreet Movie Theater. There was a double decker bus running along with the Horse Carts and other types of cars.

We had breakfast at the Crystal Palace. Our first ride was the Jungle Cruise. I thought it would be a lame boat ride, It was great. We went directly to the Haunted Mansion, skipped the tree house. ( At this time there was no Pirates, Thunder Mountain, or Splash) . All I could remember was Walt Disney demonstrating some of the attraction on TV, I think it was the four talking statues. I could not wait to see it. There was a long line like about an hour wait but it was worth it. Next we went to the Hall of Presidents, Abe Lincoln gave the speach. Richard Nixon was the last president introduced. We went to the Columbia harbor house for lunch. I still remember their Boston Creme Pie.

Tomorrow land consisted of Mission to Mars, If you had wings, Skyride, and the Speedway. I remember Mission to Mars with the moving seat. Speedway was the most popular there. 20,000 Leauges was great. I am not sure if James Mason did the voice over. After that Mister Toads Wild Ride, A small World, and Peter Pan. I don't think we ever did Snow White or the Mikey Mouse Review. Being 15 Dumbo, The Carrousel, and teacups were out of the question.


The all time best was the Penny Arcade. It was filled with Pinball games, those old Baseball games where you made the bat hit the ball, Fortune Telling machines and alike. The Shooting Gallery in Frontier used pellets which were a B ticket. I still have a picture of myself and my sister in the stocks in Liberty Square, it is right next to the picture of my kids in the same stocks almost 30 years later. The rivers of America was drained and you could see the rail that the Riverboat runs on.

We went for two and 1/2 days. It was great and I always wanted to go back. Which I have, but not as often as I would have liked.

 

[snoopy]

Not a very wholesome memory, but the most vivid memory that stands out for me about the first time I went to WDW was my best friend got sent home for smoking. We were there on a class trip, she got caught smoking at Magic Kingdom (one of the teachers/chaperones had hawk eyes and caught her from a mile away!), and the next thing you know, Debbi was on the first flight home. Her parents were livid! I didn't have a very fun time after that, although prior to her untimely dismissal, we both really enjoyed Space Mountain. I think the year was 1979, and the lines for everything were sooooooo long.

I prefer my later memories of WDW, with my family, and with the invention of the 3 other parks, plus the water parks, and FastPass!

 

[musicalSaranader]

I was only five. But I remember eating lunch or dinner in Cinderella's castle. I remember playing hide and seek in the hotel room with my mom and sister, who was two then. And I don't remember this, but my mom said I was so excited the first time I saw Mickey Mouse.

 

[ehagerty]

Ellen aka Snow White

Thanks for the QA on my message. I'm surprised there aren't more errors in my late night musings.

By the way, I too am an Ellen. It lends itself to "Cinder-ellie", but I look more like Snow White - so that is what my kids called me until Disney started producing other dark-haired, female lead characters. Now, based on the fact that I always have a book in hand, I am officially Belle (but not yet "Bellen" - though sometimes "Ellie-Bellie").