What do you remember about your first trip to WDW?

[~*Belle 2003*~]

To be honest I can't really remember the first time as it was a such a long time ago now, but I'm certain I was very emotional when I entered the MK and saw the castle at the end of Main Street!

 

[BobbinWeez]

I remember that the first park I went into was MGM and I was just in awe. I was 20 and I was there in January during my winter break from college. I was there with my best friend and what I remember the most is she and I being so silly the whole 10 days we were there.

 

[Towncrier]

It was spring break in 1975. Three of my college roommates and I headed down to Florida in a Toyota Celica. I remember riding in the back seat with my knees in my ears. We visited all sorts of places during our week there, but the highlight for me was my very first trip to the Magic Kingdom. I remember running from attraction to attraction, not wanting to miss a thing. It wasn't until we had been there for nearly half a day when one of my buddies (who had been following my lead) realized that it was my very first visit to the happiest place on Earth. He could not believe that I had never been there before. I was a commando on my first trip to WDW.

I still have a newspaper from the day we visited. On the front page is a line of cars and the headline reads something to the effect that the Magic Kingdom had to close their gates at noon because there were so many visitors in the parks. Funny thing is that I don't remember the crowds at all.

We took the monorail over to the Contemporary to look around. It made an impression because I returned there a quarter of a century later with my family to spend three glorious nights there.

It seems like only yesterday, and yet it was 28 years ago. I guess that time really does fly when you're having fun.

 

[poohbear1029]

My parents took my brother (10 - at the time) and myself - then just turned 14 for Thanksgiving 1985. It was our first trip to WDW and our first plane ride....people could still smoke on the planes!!!

We stayed at a Marriott Courtyard on international dr...no longer there and I remember we had breakfast somewhere on Int'l Dr with HUGE belgian waffles.

I am scarred for life by that visit...DH wants to know what my DM did to me...she brought DB and myself on Space Mountain (dad was a chicken!)....I rode in the back by myself and was terrified!!! To this day although I will do other "scary" rides (okay, NOT RnR)....I refuse to go near space mountain!! Drives DH crazy!! must conquer this fear with many trips to WDW.

I also remember that Epcot was still "new" and seemed futuristic.

 

[Blondie]

It's a good thing I gave Disney a second chance, because my first trip wasn't all that memorable!

It was the middle of July 1994 and it was oh so hot! We got there around 10AM and they had run out of strollers so my (then) little boys had to hoof it on foot all day.

Then there were the tour groups who would literally cut right between me and my son while I was holding his hand and walking!

Oh..and did I mention it was hot?

And crowded?

I don't know what I was expecting, but that wasn't it!

When we returned a year later in September 1995, it was much more pleasurabe! Didn't get back for 3 more years, but have gone every year (and sometimes twice a year) since!

 

[ASFCurly]

as my first trip was June 2001 I remember a lot of it, but a few things stick out.

Walking into the MK and seeing a woman inappropriately dressed and being told that she needed to change.

Seeing cameras and a parade going on and realizing that they were filming the Share a Dream Come True Parade for a commercial and that I was watching a parade that didn't come out for about 4 months.

Pulling up to the Contemporary, it was a dream of mine to stay there and we got a free upgrade, and just being in awe, then going to the room and seeing the view of the castle.

Playing in the arcade each night with my sister after the parks closed, just spending time and having fun, just the two of us while our mother slept.

 

[twinz]

WE first went to WDW when we were 7 (almost 22 years ago), I remember the plane door opening, and the humidity hitting us like a tun of bricks. We rode Space Mountain (our first "real" rollercoaster) and fell in love with it. After tht we could ride ANYTHING. I remember going on the Speedway, and my sister sitting with our cousin, and he kept yelling "your going off the rod, were gonna crash." WE rode the skyway, and was dissapointed to see it gone on our next trip. WE got scared in Haunted Mansion (the floating candelabra use to freak me out!). I also remember the Main Street Electrical Parade...although I am not too sure if it was from this trip. I remember the turtle turning around and around. Also going on 20000 Legues under the sea, and the giant octopus scareing us.
Lots of great memories...we stayed at the Marriot Hotel in Orlando (I think). We also got "swimmers ear" because we were always in the water.

 

[Antonia]

My most vivid memory of my first trip to WDW is that of watching my father and brother pull away from the Comtemporary in a mouseboat and my mother and I were left standing at the dock. We couldn't afford for us all to ride and it was the 1970's so the men got to do it. To this day every time I rent myself a mouseboat at WDW, I think how far I've come. LOL

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I have 2 first trip memories. The 1st was when my mother and father took me, my sister, and neice back in 1987. Driving through those arches the first time and realizing that Disney was only minutes away....WOW!! The second memory was when DH and I first went as a couple back in 98. Arriving at the Shades of Green hotel and checking in was such a thrill for me. We were only there for 3 days, but we made the most of it. We visited the MK twice and Epcot....WHAT FUN THAT WAS!!

 

[whtyger97]

My most vidid memories
- eating at cinderellas castle my uncle ordered a beer and the waiter told him "but sir, its a DRY kingdom"
- wanting all week to get a ballon shaped like mickey head, (the regular kind of ballon since i don't think they had the milar ones), finially getting it while leaving the last day, hugging it all the way back to the room because my uncle threatened to pop it, being so relieved i got it back to the room i let it go, right up to the 'popcorned' ceiling and hearing it go *POP*

I remember having a really good time, but those are the specific things i remember.

 

[MickeyMouse418]

I was two, and all I remember is waiting outside of Splash Mountain and THunder Mountain while my parents did a baby swap. I also remember "It's a Small World" being shut down...that was a great disappointment!

 

[jvas]

I remember waking up on the morning we were going to leave .....at 2am...and seeing our 2 girls standing next to the bed, asking if it was almost time to go...(or flight did not leave till 7am and LAX is only 1/2 hr away!)

I remember waking up as 6am and getting in the pool with my oldest daughter (she was 10 at the time).

I mostly remember the feeling of just being soooo happy being at WDW with my DW and our two little girls!

 

[Shel]

I went to WDW for the first time w/my DH when I was 30, in 1992. We'd just been told by doctors that we would never conceive, and also my friend was PG w/2nd baby & unmarried, and was considering us for adoptive parents! All this a week before we were to leave. So that was our mindset.

Some memories:
* Mickey & Minnie being in the airport to welcome people because it was the 20th anniversary of WDW.

* Staying at Dixie Landings & being in total awe.

* My first view of the castle and how the tears fell.

* The spectromagic parade!!

* Being amazed at how BIG WDW was! We went on a whim & didn't do a lot of research other than plan our days down to the minute. We were mistaken in that we thought we could walk from park to park.

* My favorite memory is seeing the fireworks over the castle for the 1st time & wishing upon the stars that everything would work out for the best, and if possible, I'd really like a daughter.

btw...that wish came true, and DD is now 11, has been a member of our family since she was 3 days old, and has been to WDW 6 times!

 

[Kitty 34]

What a great thread Patrick!!!

My first fond memories:

Seeing palm trees for the first time and my youngest DS (who was 9 at the time) calling them pom pom trees!!

Having all three boys with us on the trip.....older DS went off to college the other three trips and was unable to accompany us.

The view from the 12th floor of what was called the Buena Vista Palace hotel at the time. You could see all three fireworks at night.

Being right across the street to Downtown Disney......we loved all the stores, Rainforest cafe, Legoland and riding in those little sprites or Mouseboats.

Riding the monorail!!

 

[Pooh67_68]

What I remember most about my very first trip is that there were only the MK and Epcot, and that a friend actually got me to ride Big Thunder Mountian

 

[NHAnn]

I remember parts of it as though it were yesterday!
It was February 1993, with my DD6, my soon-to-be DH and soon to-be-DSS 8. We stayed at Dixie Landings. I remember walking down a path to the bustop at the resort the first afternoon....DD and DSS were wired with exitement (so was I )..... DH took my hand and we smiled at each other...then glanced ahead just in time to see DD and DSS take each others hand and skip on ahead together. I still see it in my mind and feel the magic

My other vivid impressions from that first time were the the "WOW" of entering MK and looking up at the castle....and priority seating outside at the Rose & Crown for Illuminations....

 

[lizdotcom99]

I remember wanting to see Mickey Mouse so badly that I could not stand it!! Well, wouldn't you know it, as soon as my mom, my sister and me all went to the bathroom, Mickey Mouse made an appearance while we were gone. My dad had the insight to at least get an autograph on the blue Mickey name tags we were given at entry. To this day I have that name tag...funny thing is, Mickey Mouse's autograph very closely resembles my dad's writing!!! I also vividly remember my sister kicking and screaming and being politely escorted to the chicken door with my mom at the Haunted Mansion. A few other things that come to mind is me telling my dad NO SPACE MOUNTAIN and the Speedway!! It does seem like those cars went a lot faster way back when......since then, Space Mountain is one of my favorite rides!! And we all still tease my sister about Haunted Mansion.....I to this day ask her if she wants to hold my hand......and she is now 31!!! On the flip side of all of this....we took my 72 year old father to the World last year....I think this was one of my favorite trips.....I got to see what he saw oh so many years ago. It was just what I would imagine parents see in their kids eyes. Much had changed since his last trip....the World entirely, finances, kids, grandkids and his mobility. The neat thing about this trip was, he felt like a king and could do al that his heart desired. And he did. When I asked him if he would like to take that ride on Space Mountain...he declined! I knew exactly how he felt
There is nothing like a Disney trip coming full circle!!!

 

[Mickey76]

I remember more than I thought I would. It was 1981 and I was 4, almost 5. My grandmother went with us and I remember sitting next to her on the plane because I was scared. I remember the Magic Kingdom being huge to me. Cinderella's Castle was so big to me, but not in a scary way. Like most people, I was drawn to it. I remember going on Thunder Mountain with my grandmother and my father and crying the whole time. We also went to Discovery Island and saw a lot of animals. I got a Donald Duck hat that squeked like Donald when you gabbed the bill of the hat. We stayed at the Dutch Inn, which is now the Grosvenor, I think. I remember sitting on the old fire truck that used to be parked in a garage on Main Street, USA. There's a lot more that I remember, but I'm babbling, so I'll stop. Disney obviously has a lasting impression on me, and it's all because of that first trip.

Mickey76

 

[crz4mm2]

First trip to WDW 1989. I was 30. Took my 9yo son. (I had been to DL several times). I remember how BIG it was. Poly was the nicest hotel I had ever stayed in. The warmth and hospitality of everyone there. Made the magic stick. DS falling on a wet sidewalk. CMs coming out of nowhere to help us. The look in DS eyes when he saw the castle close up. He loved Space Mountain (I was scared to death!)!
THe magic was everywhere. Chokes me up to think of it.
FIrst trip to DL was in 65. I remember Anne, our guide. She was so nice. ANd I rememeber the glowing stamp on my hand to get back in the park when we went to see Tinkerbelle fly in front of the castle.
Oh yeah, and we got the ears with our names on them And I got a rubber tinkerbelle which I still have!

Cathy

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I think I need a tissue readng all of this stuff cuz I'm crying now.

The first thing I remember about WDW and my first trip there was how exicited my siblings and I were to finally BE there after 2 weeks on the road, visiting various relatives and eating bad fastfood from Texas to Florida. That first afternoon we were there and I held their hands as we entered MK and saw the castle for the first time is my favorite memory.

I think I'm gonna go cry some more now. Waaaaaaaaah!

TOV