What is your earliest Disney memory?

[TMcDwyer]

I was just thinking about when I took my kids to Disney for the first time. I know what I remember from the trip, and I started thinking about what they will remember in a few years. (They were 5 & 3 when we went.)

Then I started thinking about my trips to Disney when I was a kid and what my earliest memories were. I remember one trip when I was about 6 or 7. I was terrified of Space Mountain, but my Uncle convinced me to ride it with him. I remember screaming the whole ride while he sat behind me laughing. At the time it was awful, but now every time I ride Space Mountain I smile when I think about.

So...what is your earliest Disney memory?

 

[MomofKatie]

We visited Disneyland in CA in 1971- I was 5. I remember loving It's A Small World and being scared in Pirates of the Caribbean bacause my cousin and I were convinced the pirate ship was shooting real cannonballs at us. I was nervous for my big brother- he rode the Matterhorn, but I didn't think he should because it looked too scary. I got to ride a real burro on an attraction (Rainbow Canyon, I think?)- the pictures are funny because my cousin and I both have dresses on while on the burros.

2 years later, we went to WDW for the first time. My most vivid memory of that trip was my brother talking me into doing the Haunted Mansion. I was so scared- I literally climbed my dad's leg in the stretching room so I wouldn't be touching the floor. Once we got in the Doom Buggies, I closed my eyes and plugged my ears to try and shut out all the spooky stuff. I opened my eyes just in time to see the Hitchhiking Ghost sitting right next to me!! I cried and told my brother I was NEVER going to listen to him again- he told me it was a fun ride! It was not fun at all.

 

[jlindemer]

I went for the first time in August 1988. I remember attending some type of birthday party. I think it was for Mickey Mouse's 60th. Yes, it was. I just googled it.

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id27.htm

It looks like I remember Mickey's Surprise Party Show.

 

[PinkBudgie]

We visited Disneyland in CA in 1971- I was 5. I remember loving It's A Small World and being scared in Pirates of the Caribbean bacause my cousin and I were convinced the pirate ship was shooting real cannonballs at us.

Wow! That is so much like mine! I first went to DL around 1973. I was about 4 years old and I actually got down on the floor of the boat in POTC because I also thought they were really shooting! Now it is my favorite ride!

I did go on the Matterhorn with my dad and loved it. I tasted beef jerky for the first time on Tom Sawyers Island and loved it.

Oh! And best of all- "The Microscope Ride" as I called it. Adventures Through Inner Space. I loved how it made you tiny.

 

[sayhello]

I grew up in Southern California, and we went to Disneyland at least once a year, so I can't say for sure how old I was. But I remember walking along behind my Dad, and then suddenly realizing it wasn't my Dad. I stopped & looked around confusedly, and someone came up to me almost immediately, asked "Are you lost?" and took me directly to my parents, who were looking for me. I still remember my Mom standing on a bench looking over the crowd. I assume the person who found me was a Cast Member, and even at a young age, I was impressed at how efficient they were.

Sayhello

 

[Cherinva]

My first memory of anything Disney (besides the Sunday night show on TV) was that my sister took me to the Worlds Fair in New York when I was 9 years old...that is where Walt premired "Its A Small World"...

After that, I went to DisneyLand in 1975 and I remember walking down Main Street...going on 20,000 Leagues and the Materhorn (didn't like that)

 

[jpeka65844]

Sitting on a bench at Epcot on a breezy March day drinking a beer.

Ha ha....my first Disney trip was only 6 years ago.

 

[FireDancer]

I didn't get to Disney World until I was 13 so I remember most of the trip. My earliest Disney memory in general was when I was 3. We were on our way to see The Fox and the Hound at a local drive in movie and we had to wait for a train to cross while we were on the way. I have no idea why I remember that but I do.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

This is I think the Magic Kingdom railroad, fall 1982. EPCOT had just opened, so my parents took me down for our last trip as a family of three before my brother was born.

 

[wdwscout]

My first Disney memories are actually from the 1964-65 NY World's Fair.
I vividly remember It's a Small World and LOVING it. At the Fair, you entered through a jungle like queue and I remember the floor being squishy! It was probably a thick rubber pad, but it felt like I was walking in the jungle. And there were vines hanging all around. Very, very cool!
I also remember Progressland (Carousel of Progress) at the Fair and the Ford's Magic Skyway (loved riding in a convertible for the first time!!).
I know the Illinois Pavilion had Mr Lincoln, but I do not remember seeing him.

We visited the World's Fair about 5 or 6 times in it's 2 summer history and there were many, many fun things to see and do.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

My first Disney memories are actually from the 1964-65 NY World's Fair.
I vividly remember It's a Small World and LOVING it. At the Fair, you entered through a jungle like queue and I remember the floor being squishy! It was probably a thick rubber pad, but it felt like I was walking in the jungle. And there were vines hanging all around. Very, very cool!
I also remember Progressland (Carousel of Progress) at the Fair and the Ford's Magic Skyway (loved riding in a convertible for the first time!!).
I know the Illinois Pavilion had Mr Lincoln, but I do not remember seeing him.

We visited the World's Fair about 5 or 6 times in it's 2 summer history and there were many, many fun things to see and do.

I think that's my husband's first memory, as well. My sister in law actually WORKED at the Fair for a summer.

 

[Southside]

Disneyland, 1969. Flew from Atlanta to LA, and rented a car. Just my wife and I; left the boys at home (6 mos. and 5 yrs. old). We had a ball! I was so impressed that I went around with my mouth hanging open for the three days we were there. However, the moment we arrived, heavy rains began in the area (I thought it never rained in sunny California). The day we left, the LA newspapers read in Large Bold Front Page Headline: FLOODING RAINS STRIKE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

But it didn't stop us, and hasn't since. Next trip was WDW in 1973, and we have been going back every year since. But the memory from Disneyland that sticks with me most is The Hall of Presidents.

 

[disprincessatheart]

I was nine on my first trip in 1987 and I remember a ton.

we had dinner one night in the contemporary at the old top of the world lounge and i had chocolate mousse for the very first time

I was wearing bright yellow stretch pants and a white and yellow shirt and the skipper on the jungle cruise told me the gorillas were going to mistake me for a banana

We ate in the castle one day and i remember that they butter was actual molded full body stand up mickeys and I was sad to cut his head off to butter my roll! I also remember the plates and goblets were metal and I thought that was so cool

We stayed off site and i remember the hotel (ok it was a motel) and I was so excited that we could swim in the pool in February!

Other things I remember doing were the hoop de doo, river country and eating in living seas.

 

[anonymousegirl]

First trip 1972 (I was ten, my sister, 8). I remember our room at the old Disneyland Hotel, 6th floor with views of the dancing waters and the marina. It was my first hotel stay and I ever remember the layout of the room and which bed my sister and I shared.
My first memory of the park is in Tomorrowland, going through some sort of hands-on display of future technology (video phones) before being shrunken in Journey thru Inner Space. I also remember exploring Tom Sawyer's island and loving Small World (I was fascinated by the Balinese dancer adn the Taj Mahal.

 

[sayhello]

Disneyland, 1969. Flew from Atlanta to LA, and rented a car. Just my wife and I; left the boys at home (6 mos. and 5 yrs. old). We had a ball! I was so impressed that I went around with my mouth hanging open for the three days we were there. However, the moment we arrived, heavy rains began in the area (I thought it never rained in sunny California). The day we left, the LA newspapers read in Large Bold Front Page Headline: FLOODING RAINS STRIKE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

But it didn't stop us, and hasn't since. Next trip was WDW in 1973, and we have been going back every year since. But the memory from Disneyland that sticks with me most is The Hall of Presidents.

People who think it doesn't rain in Southern California have never been there in February! But rainy days *were* the best in Disneyland, because the locals wouldn't go when it rains, and you really could sometimes have the park to yourself. Don't know if that's still true.

Oh, and while I hate to mess with your memories, the Hall of Presidents is Walt Disney World. Disneyland only has President Lincoln (Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln), although it's also a fabulous show.

Sayhello

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Around 1975 walking into the Contemporary and being amazed that the monorail went right through it. Riding Dumbo over and over. Also the Hoop De Doo Review for the first time. Not sure of which year but I loved it. Another fond memory is River Country and going down that weird slide that just dropped into the pool.

 

[k5jm]

about 4am. I was getting up and going down to Capt. Cooks.

 

[elaine and the boys]

It was April of 1976 and I was 10. I remember getting up at 4:30am to start the 2-day car trek from Massachusetts to Orlando with my family of 7.

Some of my memories of that trip include 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the original Tiki Room (I loooooved that attraction!), staying at a Days Inn motel with an orange grove next to the parking lot, and drinking Orange Julius drinks out of a plastic orange with a green straw....so refreshing on those warm April days in the Magic Kingdom.

I remember the A,B,C,D and E ticket books, arriving about an hour before the park was scheduled to open (and getting in early!), and eating lunch at The Diamond Horseshoe Review (when they actually had a western style stage show there).

But most of all, I remember how happy I was to be there. I felt the magic then and I still feel it now!

 

[PeterPan09]

I was there the June after MK opened. We drove, so we were coming in off I4 and we went through the Walt Disney World gate...and drove, and drove and drove and all you saw were trees. I kept asking my Dad if we were lost, he was probably ready to leave me by the side of the road. Finally we saw the auto plaza with the Magic Kingdom sign! Our first cast member experience was with the parking attendant who welcomed us and directed us to the Contemporary. We felt like royalty the way everyone treated us. I remember the monorail going through the hotel and the hallway vibrating! I remember the smell of Main Street, the popcorn and cinnamon. It was the cleanest amusement park I'd ever been to, Mom and I watched a kid drop a container of popcorn and a cast member appear within what seemed like seconds to clean it up. We spent 4 days just in Magic Kingdom and loved every minute of it. I also remember getting up early and watching the trucks pass the hotel and wondering just where they were going. (I know now!)

It was the most amazing place on earth to me back then and it still is today. Sure, there are things that have slipped, things I wish were different-but it's still wonderful to me.

 

[DEA]

I went with my parents back before Epcot opened, it was either 1980 or 1981. My clearest memory is of a meal we had at the Polynesian, in a restaurant about where 'Ohana is today. I do not remember the name of the restaurant, but I definitely remember getting the Mt. Fuji salad for my meal. I would love to see a menu from that time from that restaurant.

I can also remember futzing with tickets, the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride and the interminable wait to actually get on the submarine, and climbing around the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

My mother tells me that we stayed at the Contemporary, but I have absolutely no recollection of this apart from that drilled into me by her continued insistence that this actually happened