What is your earliest Disney memory?

[pampam]

We stayed at that Dutch themed resort too. Does anyone remember what the actual name of that place was? What hotel is it now. It was the Dutch Somethng at Lake Buena Vista?

The hotel originally opened in October 1972 as the Americana Dutch Inn. It operated under the name until 1985 and in February 1986 it became the Grosvenor Resort. The hotel operated as Best Western Grosvenor for a number of years. On September 1, 2007, the property changed its name to Regal Sun Resort as part of a $25 million renovation. The hotel changed names again on November 20, 2010 when it became Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, operated by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

 

[Stasieki]

Loving the memories. Here's mine:

Summer of '88. 10 years old. I can't actually remember walking into MK for the first time, but I recall my first attraction was the Swiss Family Treehouse. I was amazed! It was so big and "totally tubular." (Hey, it was the 80s, cut me some slack). I then promptly begged for an Orange Bird drink in one of the little plastic oranges.

Next day, EPCOT. Me: What's with the golf ball? Mom: There's a ride in there. Again, I was amazed. SSE is still one of my faves to this day.

I totally remember the orange drinks!!!!

 

[ghtx]

I have a whole bunch of early memories of various trips when I was a kids, but I am not sure which is my earliest. It might be staying at the (old) treehouses and being obsessed with Huey, Dewey, and Louie (insisting on taking all three plush dolls with me to the parks and on the plane). I also remember thinking that Tom Sawyer Island was the greatest place on earth. And I have a sad memory of waiting for an autograph from Donald but not having enough time to get my book signed

 

[mickeyboat]

I wasn't young, but my first visit was a long time ago. When we got to MK, Pluto was neat the entrance, so we stopped to get our picture taken. DH (then boyfriend) was on one side and I was on the other. I was quite shocked when Pluto reached down and grabbed my butt!!!!! My boyfriend was not pleased. (BTW - he proposed later that day).

 

[OldsDr]

Being a month or two shy of 3 years old, in my dad's lap on Space Mountain with my face buried in his shirt, screaming. Wouldn't go on roller coasters for 10 years and never let them forget it!

You have the same meory as my sister I was the youngest so I sat with him, 1981 so you just sat beween the legs of the other person, she sat behind us. Was crying horribly as we got off. I still laugh at her.

 

[OldsDr]

my first memeory is driving down the road towards the Magic Kingdom (august 1981) I was 5, they had a radio channel playing disney characters and such. I also swer that I saw a water tower with mickey ears(just like at MGM today) back then. My sister remebers it too, she was older (she was 8) But no one else seems to remember it(ive asked on these boards befor) . So we both may be crazy.

 

[MisWal]

I was 6 or 7 the first time we went to WDW. I remember waiting for my Dad and sister to ride Space Mtn. I also remember we stayed at a Howard Johnsons and my sister was laying out at the pool all alone because it was in the 60s. And Polynesian Village... is that the right name? Vague memory of that.

 

[krb2g]

I was 6 when we first went. Our parents told us we would be going sometime in the summer before our fall trip, and what I imagined was a Roger Rabbit ride (obviously I was thinking of the wrong coast!) and a movie about Walt Disney. We stayed at the Grand Floridian, and when we got there, I told mom we weren't dressed well enough. Dad took me on Space Mountain (according to my parents, I was the one who wanted to go on it) and I hated it because I thought the car was going to fall off the tracks! Love it now, though...

 

[TavieP]

Probably during our first trip, when my sister and I were around 3, so it must have been 1982- I remember being somewhere in the WDW train station at Main Street - maybe underneath, or outside, but somewhere, and it was pretty late at night and near closing time and I was just exhausted and crying, and I remember a pretty young castmember came up to me and offered me a stick of Doublemint gum. A really simple little gesture, but I never forgot it, because it was a treat and a stranger and it made me smile and made me feel better.

My first little bit of pixie dust, that. Every time I taste Doublemint I'm back on Main Street.

 

[wdw&sonny]

Well thanks to Yesterland website, I narrowed it to 1967-1969. I was 3-5 years old. I remember my big brother spinning me dizzy on tea cups, the exhiliartion of POTC, seeing a ghost next to me on HM, and singing the caroussel of progress song.

But, I also remembered something where you would watch the ride vehicles shrink...I looked it up and it was called "Adventure Through Inner Space". you were 'miniaturized'.

I also remember that my dad would buy me one of those colorful, swirly, giant suckers and I would suck it til my tongue bled. I have one next to my desk right now, from a trip w/ my kids.

 

[dislover8943]

I remember going to Disney when I was 4. Back then you could run right up to the characters and get your picture taken with them. I remember how magical Disney felt and thinking the characters and rides were all real. I definitely remember going on iasw and the tea cups. That's why I love taking my little ones to Disney!

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

But, I also remembered something where you would watch the ride vehicles shrink...I looked it up and it was called "Adventure Through Inner Space". you were 'miniaturized'.

Adventure Through Inner Space is one of my earliest memories too, but I called it "The Big Eye" and was terrified of it! The ride vehicles appeared to shrink when they went through the tube you could see from the loading area. Once you were on the actual ride there was a GIANT eyeball peering at you as if you were under a microscope. That giant eye freaked me out and I refused to ride "The Big Eye" ever again.

 

[DCTooTall]

I remember Epcot and riding the Ford World of Motion and the old Horizons ride. Also Figment was cool.

Just for the record, GM was always the sponsor of the World Of Motion Pavilion. Although, a lot of the ideas for the attraction did come from Ford's old World's Fair pavilion that Disney was involved in.



As for me? Sadly (sort of) I took so many trips to Florida as our annual Family Vacation as a kid, that a lot of things have ended up blending together so I can no longer really pick out my earliest memory.

Some of the Most Vivid? The Disney Welcome Center off 75 just before the Turnpike Exit on the way down.

Listening to the Disney information AM radio Station as we entered the park property everyday from 192.

"CLACK!" "BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!" of the old MKIV's at the TTC. And then seeing the family of elephants below us as I sat by the window. looking over the water.

Playing in the Imageworks! And waiting in line to run in place, or jump to ignite the rocket boots I was wearing to escape with the Dreamfinder

And I still have a really vivid image of standing in front of Big Thunder one time with my Dad back when it was open (no shade... pre-Splash) and leaning on a rail. Maybe I was working up the guts to ride with him?

 

[Amber74]

Spaceship Earth! I wish my Mom would have known more information. I loved Cinderella when I was little. That castle would have been magical to me. Probably just as much as it is now...lol. They just drove to Epcot and thought it was the entrance to the whole thing. We didn't have more money to go pay for another park. I love her for driving us down there though.