What were Disney theme parks like in the 90s?

[Dancind]

First trip was in 1999, and it was fine, medium crowded. We did enjoy the restaurants a great deal.

Second trip was September 2001, flew home on the 9th actually. That's another story. It was a memorable trip. I have an album with photos of my DD, 10 at the time, with almost every Disney character and tons of CMs. Like the Living Statue, and the puppets in Italy, and the trick rope lady (was that Canada?). We didn't wait for anything, though there were some pretty huge thunderstorms. I don't think it's ever like that anymore.

 

[North of Mouse]

Did you go in the height of summer, when all schools were out? At the time of year we could go, the lines were much worse, when MK was the only park. Adding Epcot helped a lot.

We would go end of May, first of June, as soon as our children were out of school.

 

[snappy]

We also went end of May, early June for many years, right after the end of school. Flower and Garden festival. Warm weather and extended night time park hours. Lots of pool time. Good times.

 

[chicagoshannon]

In the 90's I was a teen and we always traveled at Christmas. It was always crowded at MK but the other 2 parks weren't bad. The Christmas parade used to be LIVE and we spotted Regis and Joan Lunden frequently.

The AP's were about $100 (my grandparents were snow birds and had passes) and our 4 day tickets (which were non expiring and hopper) were about $40. Each day the ticket was stamped and you got a really cool invisible hand stamp when you left the park. It glowed under black light.

There was plenty of time to relax and since there were no fast passes or dining reservations there wasn't much stress.

Plus they had the Golden Horseshoe in operation with a show.

We have so many good memories. I wish we could have shown our kids the original EPCOT Center rides. They were so good!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We would go end of May, first of June, as soon as our children were out of school.

That explains a lot. Most schools aren't out that early. We never got out of school in May. Getting out the first of June would have meant we had very little snow. My parents couldn't count on that. I'm talking about late June or July visits, when everyone was out of school.

 

[Sara_H]

When I was a kid we would go to Disney every other year because my grandparents were snow birds and we would spend a week in Florida every other year, driving to Disney for the day at least once during each trip. I remember the parks definitely being less busy. I'm not sure why because prices were so much cheaper back then. Were there lines? Absolutely, but my memory of the parks has less lines and much less people. It also seemed more relaxed because you didn't plan so far in advance and you didn't have to worry about pre-planning fastpasses. Heck, in the beginning they didn't even have the paper fastpasses. Disney has definitely improved some of the rides, for instance, I believe where Buzz is in MK used to be DreamFlight...don't remember much about it but I do remember walking in a portion of a plane. I believe Disney has also vastly improved EPCOT which I hated as a kid...I love it now! Back then there was no Kidcot or as many rides and it just wasn't as kid friendly as it is now. In some ways I wish Disney would go back to no fastpasses and just arrive and get in line...I know it will never happen but there is a lot to be said about going with the flow. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy having my fastpasses and going to the front of the line but it is also frustrating when you can't get a fastpass for a ride and you know you will be in line forever.

 

[RedAngie]

I just found a DM ticket from early 90's. As far as I can tell it was a regular ticket and it was $35.

Sounds accurate. We went in 1992 and a four day pass was something like $120.

I can’t remember if it was the late 80’s or early 90’s, but I went to Epcot with my girlfriend, and she knew to go to some kiosks at the front of the park first thing to make dinner reservations for that evening. It actually seemed excessive to me at the time—who knew where we would be in the park when we wanted dinner?!?! It was certainly way better than trying to plan six months in advance...

I think the location was under Spaceship Earth (the golf ball). You could see and talk to the CM on a monitor while making your reservation. Quite novel at the time.

 

[SamFaniam]

I think the location was under Spaceship Earth (the golf ball). You could see and talk to the CM on a monitor while making your reservation. Quite novel at the time.

I thought it was over by guest services. There is a curved structure still there. But, it may have been in more than one place. It did seem very futuristic at the time!

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Our first trip was for 2 weeks, starting April 27, 1994. It was wonderful. There was a single really crowded day... a Saturday in MK, blistering heat and wall-to-wall people. We rope-dropped every day and stuck around for fireworks, but we only lasted in that crowd until about 1 pm. Went back that night and it was much better.

We never did back-to-back park days, visited TL and Pleasure Island as well as touring every resort. We loved the resort & park specific merchandise, and the very diverse menu selections.

In 1997, we went to our first MVMCP. Everyone got a party button, and you could stop and have a complementary family photo taken, which was mailed to your home.

It all seemed to be pricey (at the time) to us, with our very limited budget but everything is relative, when it comes to money. I now add some extras to our Disney vacations which I never could have done in those early trips.

I agree with everyone who says that planning was less stressful. It’s true! Now it is like a competition for months before you go. If you don’t get on board with planning madness, you are 99% likely to miss out on the hot ticket attractions unless you have half a day or more to waste in lines.

We appreciate the new attractions, and usually the shows, except for Illuminations... we never liked the current version as well as the previous one. Food choices are rebounding somewhat after a terrible period where every counter service and many table service menus seemed nearly identical. Likewise the merchandise. The loss of the MK nighttime parade made us very sad.

The absolute worst change to us is the recent ticket structure, in which your ticket expires before you could use all your options, if doing water parks, etc as alternatives to park days.

 

[Park Pirate]

To me, it just seemed more special and less stressful. I have the same feelings as many here. The dinning and merchandise were somewhat unique to each location. You did not have to plan everything out so far in advance to eat at favorite restaurants on go on favorite rides without excessive waits. Disney seemed to care more about making sure they lived up to their reputation of high quality and customer service, rather than grinding out every last dollar from that guests that were there. We still enjoy going, but it is getting more and more like other theme parks every year. It seems as if the company now only really cares about the shareholder, not necessarily the product. Not that there is anything wrong with that in a business sense, but Disney seemed to set themselves apart (at least in my mind).

 

[Praying Colonel]

Loved Disney World in the 90s except for this-

View attachment 397367

I'll take "Things I Can't Unsee" for $200, Alex.

Yikes.

 

[Redhead5]

I got married in November 1991 and we honeymooned at Disney. It was my first visit ever and it was so uncrowded in the Magic Kingdom that sometimes we were the only people in an area.

 

[SamFaniam]

I'll take "Things I Can't Unsee" for $200, Alex.

Yikes.

As you can see from this thread it was definitely a love/hate sort of thing with the castle cake.

 

[longboard55]

Disneyland was pretty run down in the early 90s, all the money was going to WDW. We were buying season passes including all days and vip parking for $125 a year as I recall.

 

[cabanafrau]

Abundant with spontaneity.

 

[North of Mouse]

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I think the location was under Spaceship Earth (the golf ball). You could see and talk to the CM on a monitor while making your reservation. Quite novel at the time.

We made our dining ressies there at little kiosks around the park.

 

[snappy]

I remember a kiosk where you could book dining reservations at HS near the little fountain where you turn right to go to TOT. The CM’s were very accommodating and willing always to chat.

 

[PeeWee70]

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[PeeWee70]

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[Baduist]

Funny story, I remember the lines fondly. It was family quality time (I was a kid). I remember characters entertaining people in long lines, before FP’s were a thing.

When I first went as an adult, and took my gf (now wife), who was a first timer... they already had FP’s, and no lines. I was almost disappointed. I remember telling her all about how the lines were the best part lol...