What Do You Remember As A Child From WDW?

[AndyMcV]

Thought I'd start a fun thread.

I remember that A-frame hotel with this space-age monorail going right through it. How cool!! I also remember wondering who they got those ghosts to sit beside you in the haunted mansion. Oh and that Tomorrowland Transit Authority where you could ride around Space Mountain and actually see inside.

Anyone else?

Andy

 

[kitkatsnindylou]

I remember the ferry boat's to the Magic Kingdom. The swan boat's, and the E ticket's. I remember when Tony's Town Square restraunt was sponsered by Oscar Meyer.

 

[missypie]

I remember heat and long long lines. It's no wonder that it took almost 30 years for me to want to go back.

I also remember that we rode a boat to a louau (sp?). My mom was all mad that the price of the adult tickets included one alcoholic beverage and she and dad didn't drink so she felt that they should have received some sort of a refund. (Yet another negative memory.)

 

[PatriciaH]

I remember going to WDW with my 2 cousins and my aunt, uncle and mom. My dad did not want to take off from work. My mother woke me up very early and said "wake up- we are going to Disney World!" It was a total surprise. It was snowing out b/c it was January.

It was only the MK at the time (1978.) I remember the old Space Mountain cars and my uncle Charles yelling "here we GO!" when we went through the light tunnel.

 

[Cinderella37]

Awesome thread! I was three when I first went to WDW (1980), so I don't remember much. I do recall crying when my parents were trying to pry my paws off of the horse on Cinderella's Golden Carousel. My dad took a picture of me taking a temper tantrum because I had to get off. A sign of things to come, I guess.

The following year, I remember the crazy birds at the Poly and the Electrical Water Pageant. My parents took me every year after that and my most thrilling moment came when I got to meet Dreamfinder and Figment the first year Epcot opened (1982). And I loved the character breakfast on the Empress Lilly. Seeing the characters was amazing since back then, they were more scarce than they are now (I still run after them like crazy, though).

Even now, though my fiance and I stay at the BWI, I have to go to the Poly. Just the smell brings me back to all of the trips when I was a child. We stayed there every year until my fiance and I started going (8 years ago) and leaving my parents behind and I just have to visit my first WDW resort.

 

[DisKim]

I remember watching the afternoon parade and being mystified by IASW, my favorite ride as a child. I also remember being hot and fussy because of the crowds (I think I was 5). My mother tells me that I hated Disney and I was miserable the whole time. When we got home, she tells me that I told everybody what a wonderful time I had and how I got to see Minnie Mouse. Go figure! I was not the easiest child to raise.

 

[drgnfly30]

1972 - I was only 4 (maybe I had turned 5 already) - I remember the ghosts sitting next to us in the Haunted Mansion & the "lightening & thunder" on the way out - my Mom was SO angry that it had started to storm - only to come out to a still sunny day!! I remember the Jungle Cruise hippo & a big stuffed Mickey doll that had a long "rat" tail - my 13yr old DB kept teasing me that it was Mickey the RAT!!! I still have a picture of me holding that Mickey & standing next to Dopey!
Fast forward to the year that Epcot opened, my mom & I went down to visit my snowbird grandparents. We attempted to go to Epcot but the line of cars at the Exit to Epcot was backed up about a mile or two... I didn't get to Epcot again until 2001!!!
What a great thread! Thanks for the memories!
Christine

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

As a child I remember when WDW was an Orange Grove.

 

[Cinderella37]

Oh, how could I forget my Haunted Mansion experience? I was petrified the first time I went on it (age 5). I was an easily scared child but I convinced my parents I'd be okay. I rode the entire time with my head under my mother's arm, only lifting it up to see Madam Leota's head in the crystal ball. Down it went until my parents make me look at our "hitchiking ghost." Can you say scarred for life? I was convinced that he "followed me home." At 27, I'm much better now and keep my eyes open the whole time!

 

[NMAmy]

I remember our first time at Disneyland (well, I was 6 months the first time, but this was when I was about 10 or so) and I remember being so concerned with the ticket booklet. My uncle was in the Magic Kingdom Club and so got a special deal so we got the bigger booklets. I remember trading all the A's and B's for my mom's E tickets so we could ride the cool rides while she took my sister on the Speedway! You really had to plan what you would be riding that day!

Did they have the tickets at WDW when it first opened?

 

[Maleficent13]

I remember staying at the Poly, and watching the Water Pagent from our balcony. Also remember the first time I was old enough to drive a watermouse on my own. And some breakfast show at Pioneer Hall with Chip and Dale...Melvin the Moose breakfast show? Does that sound familiar? Actually, I have lots of memories...these are just the first that popped in my head!

 

[catsrule]

My mom and I being chased by Goofy down Main Street. Also the pool on a rooftop at the Contemporary.

 

[Sirius]

I remember "Mission to Mars" in Tomorrow Land. Only, I think it was at Disneyland.

 

[grinningghost]

Space Mountain used to be pitch black in the mid 70's. I miss that.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Well, I was 17 when WDW opened, so I remember the Magic Kingdom. I actually didn't go till 1975, and I remember riding Space Mountain. But you are asking a lot for an old lady to remember that far back!

 

[kimwim8]

Back in the 70's and 80's my family went to Florida every other year. We would only spend one day in the parks (we had family in Kissimmee & St. Petersburg). I remember IASW and not too much else. My parents weren't much for thrill rides, so we didn't do any of those. I just remember walking A LOT.

Does anyone remember Circus Circus or Circus World. I can't remember what it was called, but it was a theme park that was there for a while, and some kind of Baseball park?!? I'm certain they weren't related to Disney at all, but no one else I talk to remembers those places.

I totally admit that my memory is VERY sketchy!

Great thread!

 

[kadaten]

Nothing I didn't make it to WDW until I was 19

You better believe my kids get to answer this question differently

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by kimwim8
Does anyone remember Circus Circus or Circus World. I can't remember what it was called, but it was a theme park that was there for a while, and some kind of Baseball park?!? I'm certain they weren't related to Disney at all, but no one else I talk to remembers those places.

I totally admit that my memory is VERY sketchy!

Great thread!

It was Circus World, and it was great. All I remember is getting my face painted like a clown and riding an elephant. But I remember we had a lot of fun!

Stepharoonie had a thread about Circus World and the baseball park a while ago. I never went to the baseball one.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I remember on my first trip to Disney ( 1973 ) I was scared to death of Goofy and his wiskers ( I had allergy shots and they reminded me of needles )
Poor CM in the costume had a 3 year old in full panic attack mode!!
I have the picture from the same trip of Donald Duck and me..he was much more "kid Friendly"....funny what you remember!

 

[grinningghost]

I also remember swimming in the lagoon at the Poly. Those were the days.