What was the first Disney hotel you stayed in?

[TXYankee]

The Contemporary in December 1971.

Kevin-Did ya see me there? Same hotel, same year, same month. (Christmas week) I was the short, round, cute 9 year old.

That trip changed our family forever, and for the better!

 

[ead79]

My first Disney hotel was All Star Music. I stayed there for spring break my senior year in high school. The first time I went back after that trip it did bring back memories of my first stay ever, but now I prefer Pop Century to the All Stars in terms of value resorts.

 

[amyhughes]

We stayed off property more times than I can remember. My grandma loved all the monorail resorts in the 80s but grandpa wouldn't stay there! So we happily bedded down in Kissimmee.

But, my first experience on property was Port Orleans, before they made Dixie Landings Riverside and PO-French Quarter. It was also my first time having a bignet, due to the breakfast at PO.

After that I was hooked. Even when my grandparents travel down there now they won't stay off property. Grandma loves the All-Stars. Next up on our list is Board Walk Villas. I have wanted to stay there for almost a decade!

 

[Maverick Mike]

My first WDW hotel was "Disney's Port Orleans", as it was called then. (Now POFQ!) It was so amazing. I couldn't believe the theming upon arrival!

 

[crazydisneyman]

I was two years old (1973), and my parents went down to Disney for a conference. We stayed in the South Garden Wing in the Contemporary. I love looking at the pictures because the MK looks deserted. I think that it was this trip that activated the Disney gene inside of me, beacuse I am a hopeless Disney fan. Sometimes, my wife just shakes her head.

 

[mrcricket]

My first Disney Hotel to stay in was the Beach Club. It was my family's first ever trip to WDW and thought it might be our last as my wife wasn't wild about the whole WDW idea in the first place. So I stayed first class to try and impress her. It worked. We've been back many times since and have stayed at Moderate or Value resorts to save a bit of money. I'm ready for a Deluxe Hotel on my next stay. Wilderness Lodge or Polynesian here we come...well sometime soon I hope.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Hubby and I got a great deal on a package Disney called "Jolly Holidays". They were really trying to get people into the parks in early December.

We stayed 5 days in the South Garden Wing at the Contemporary, with 5 day tickets, and the jolly holiday dinner show for $900.00. (This was 1994.)

Disney didn't publish that package in their travel brochure again, but we stopped by the travel agent every year to get the brochure and dream.

We finally broke down and paid $2k+ when we went back in 2002.

 

[choirboy501]

My first stay at WDW was in May 1984. We stayed at one of the non-Disney hotels that were on property. There were six of them IIRC. I can't remember the name of the one we stayed at - does anyone remember their names? I think one was a Sheraton...

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

When I went with my parents for my first two trips we stayed offsite on I-drive. Then my first trip to stay onsite was with my husband and we stayed at POP. We are going back in 2009 we are again staying at POP because we loved it so much.

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

My honeymoon was my first trip, and we stayed a POFQ. We haven't returned, but only because we want to stay at some other resorts. We did go visit PO last year and browsed through the gift shop. It did bring back some terrific memories! However, we still opted for the WL for this years stay!

 

[jacstangler]

Hi everyone: my first trip to WDW was 1975 and we stayed at the
Polynesian. It was great back then and in many ways better. The tourists
were fewer and everything was more easy going. You could actually swim in the lake. They had part of the lake roped off for swiming. You could attend
your particular church service at the cove which was convenient for us.
We could watch the kids swim in the pool from our patio and not worry.
We had a 12 year old son at the time and he could be on his own around
the resort with no worry. We are DVC owners now and mostly stay at
OKW but I still remenber the good old days with River Country, and all
the rest. Yes I still love everything about WDW but the old days were
good.

John
ps: hope to see many on the cruise in 09

 

[bits-n-pieces]

My first was Carribean Beach in 1996 for DH and I's honeymoon. we have now tried all the Moderates and POFQ is our fave.

 

[Disney Brat]

As a child I had stayed at off site hotels all but one time, and then we stayed at a DTD hotel, I believe it was the Howard Johnson....So my first stay will be at ASMu this upcomming Oct! Can't believe I have been 15 times and this will be my first at a Disney Resort!

 

[MomofKatie]

We never stayed onsite until 2002- my mom was attending a confrence and we got to stay at Coronado Springs. We stayed at POFQ on our next trip, then Pop in 2005. We have gone back to offsite hotels since then, but I hope to stay onsite again soon. My dream resort would be the Boardwalk, followed by the Poly. I just can't bring myself to spend the $$ for onsite resorts right now, though.

 

[erogers]

It was 1993. I was 14, and we stayed at Dixie Landings. My parents loved it so much that we only ever stayed there on family trips. I went back with DH and some extended family for a trip last year and had so much fun! I'll always think of it as Dixie Landings; it brings back such great memories from my first WDW trip!

 

[mnra]

I won;t list all the visits but I first went to Disney World in june of 82. for my honeymoon. Been back many times over the next 25 years and have enjoyed them all. It is hard to say one is my favorite over the others but last year went with my travel group and my kids. It was a very special trip since we also took a cruise( 5 curises so far) and it was the first with just my kids and me. We would try to get down there at least 2 times a year and enjoy the different season. Each trip we find something new that we didn;t know or most likely never paid attention too. I have stayed at almost every resort except pop and fort wilderness. I actually remember River country. lol I find the whole place a magical place where worries and stress of every day leave and you can just relax. I think as my kids get older I enjoy it more since they are able to experience the full range of things.

So I have a magical day everyday thinking about a return trip and there is no place I would rather go.

 

[Time Traveler]

Was All-Star Sports for me, about a week after it opened.

Was Polynesian back right after it opened for my mother though.

 

[pjwelch]

First, I believe was Fort Wilderness. Second, Port Orleans French Quarter. Third AllStar Sports. Enjoyed them all. Stayed offsite a number of times. may cost a little more on site, but I think it's worth it. Particularly if you have a camper. I think I enjoyed that the best. You had more freedom to move around with little extars you don;t get at the motels. I would like to try one of the MK hotels. may be next time.

 

[Dodie]

Although we went as early as 1974 (my parents and I) and a few times between then and my honeymoon in the spring of 1994, none of those stays were on-property.

My first on-site stay was our honeymoon in March 1994 (we were married in October 1993 - but I was teaching then so no time off) was at Dixie Landings (Port Orleans Riverside - but it will ALWAYS be Dixie Landings to us!)

We've gone back at least per year and have never stayed off-site! (We finally bought DVC.)

 

[GSDRescuer]

Poly was the first. I am trying to stay at different resorts each time.