Which Disney resort holds that special memory for you?

[TheMaxRebo]

In the chit-chat thread @WebmasterMaryJo suggested this being a cool thread ... so why not start it

Thought it could be a cool way to see other ways Disney created special memories for people


For me, the resort would be Port Orleans French Quarter (though at the time I think it was just called Port Orleans and Riverside was called Dixie Landings) ... it was the first onsite resort we stayed at when I was a kid and what really made me see Walt Disney World as a full destination and not just a trip to a theme park with how well themed it was and just the first time I was fully in the Disney Bubble

Honorable mention would be the Contemporary Resort just for the look on my son's face when he realized we were staying there and how excited he was to watch the monorails go through the resort

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Port Orleans it Dixie Landings for us too! First stay on world! In those days the mug had the resort printed on it. We had that mug for years. Last year we saw a couple at SSR with them! I didn't even try to do the math how old those mugs would be!

 

[chillitsanne]

I think of my first on property stay was Dixie landing too but all I remember is the dragon slide.

I think my answer for this would be the Beach Club! It was my first deluxe stay . My family stayed there in September 2001, and we were supposed to fly home 9/11. Obviously that didn't happen and we got stuck at the hotel for a little while but considering the circumstances I just remember everyone being so nice, friendly, and positive (other guest and staff). It made a bad situation better to deal with so I think the Beach Club always holds a special place in my heart for that.

 

[Aerin75]

Port Orleans Riverside for me. First resort of two where we've stayed, and I just remember walking in and going "WOW!" I was a reluctant visitor to WDW because I'm not a crowds person, but that put me in the bubble and I almost couldn't get irritated for a week.

 

[Aimros]

Great idea for a thread!

I have a lot of nostalgia for Caribbean Beach. We stayed there when I was 6 on a big family trip. I still remember the music, colors, and the general feeling of warmth and happiness I had when staying there. I don't remember the room much, but I do remember going to get breakfast each morning at Old Port Royale. I haven't yet stayed there as an adult, but would love to try it again someday.

 

[gmboy95]

BY far it is OKW....we did have our honeymoon at the newly opened Beach Club....but almost all of our family memories are at OKW!!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

The Contemporary has always been my favorite resort for a number of reasons, but it was our resort for the first Disney surprise trip I ever planned for the kids and the first birthday we've ever celebrated at WDW. The kids couldn't read yet, so they had absolutely no clue where we were until we drove under the maingate...but it didn't really click until MK and the Contemporary came into view. It was just such a magical trip.

 

[rteetz]

Oh man this is hard but an awesome question.

I could go several ways with this.

The first that comes to mind is Pop Century. It wasn't my first stay but it's the earliest one I remember since I was 6-7 years old. I lost my first tooth there on an 8 day trip. The tooth fairy gave me five Disney dollars and five regular dollars. I also got lost at the resort after possibly wandering off to look in the gift shop... Anyways I ran back to the room and waited until someone came back for me. No I didn't have a key to get in I just sat outside the door...

Another one would be Port Orleans Riverside I've stayed their twice and absolutely love it. Birdie the doorman is awesome and we sat and talked to him for a good 30 minutes waiting for magical express. The resort is beautiful and very wel themed.

Finally Beach Club. My first deluxe stay this year. It was amazing. Club level access, water view, DHS fireworks view. Storm along bay and beaches and cream. The CMs were amazing and I loved the whole deluxe experience. This was also my first half marathon stay.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The tooth fairy gave me five Disney dollars and five regular dollars.

wow, my kids wish they had your tooth fairy

 

[rteetz]

wow, my kids wish they had your tooth fairy

It was only for my first tooth after that the tooth fairy must've run out of money because I only got a dollar or two.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

It was only for my first tooth after that the tooth fairy must've run out of money because I only got a dollar or two.

we did a $5 bill covered in glitter for the first tooth and then have done a golden dollar coin for subsequent teeth

 

[rteetz]

we did a $5 bill covered in glitter for the first tooth and then have done a golden dollar coin for subsequent teeth

I wonder what the people who got that glittered five after you guys had it thought lol.

 

[disneysteve]

I have fond memories of my first visit to WDW when we stayed at Disney's Golf Resort, later called the Disney Inn, and now called Shades of Green. This was back when there was only 1 park and 3 hotels on property. I was a huge Disney geek- I mean fan and I knew everything about everything. But finally seeing it in person was fantastic and I was hooked for life.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I wonder what the people who got that glittered five after you guys had it thought lol.

I've wondered that too! I did fine grade glitter on the $ for each of my kids' first Tooth Fairy gifts. Someone is getting some fancy money! LOL

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I wonder what the people who got that glittered five after you guys had it thought lol.

I've wondered that too! I did fine grade glitter on the $ for each of my kids' first Tooth Fairy gifts. Someone is getting some fancy money! LOL

Well, the only options I can see is from a kids first tooth, a Disney princess, or a stripper

 

[samsteele]

My first onsite stay was POR Riverside & I loved it. The theming, the music, the CMs & everything. It was also at a nice, sweet price point then & was what a moderate should be. Moderate price for great Disney theming. Since then, prices have jumped significantly, the convenient bldgs have become preferred room rates and as an international guest, my dollar has shrunk. But who knows what the future will bring. All economies cycle & there may be a future stay at POR for international guests on a budget.

My other fav is POP. It was my first (and a multiple repeat) solo stay. I always find something in the theming to relate to growing up (check out the A-Team info in the 80s diorama on the lobby wall). I love the CMs doing the twist & working the hula hoop at the front door.

Looks like I'm in good company with both

 

[Accident]

Most of my long term disney memories are generally somethign that happen or a time together at meals so there is some memory at almost every resort....

One I didn't know I had until this year. While I was moving to the area, my father came along to help with the driving and getting situated and we happened to get down a day earlier than we expected too. While staying elsewhere we decided to have a meal at whispering canyon since my father had never been to that resort and the atmosphere is something I knew he would enjoy (he's a huge fan of hoop de doo review but we couldnt' get in there). On the boat ride back (we boated to MK then bused back to our resort) for the first time in almost 30 years I was able to get him to confirm exactly which room we were in at contemporary. It was a great moment remembering that trip and some special things that happened at that room (the memory specifically being me, about age 7 standing on the patio outside the room and the water pageant going by.. the castmembers turned it on so I could see it as it went down the river to bay lake). So that moment of something special happening as a child and now this boat ride passing by the room and remember that trip with my father 30something years later are both things I'll not soon forget.. and yes, they did take me to the beach to see the whole thing after it passed.

I have tons of little moments like this but this is that childhood special memory that was upgraded to an adult special memory...

 

[gmboy95]

ya know...this thread actually spurred a memory....When I was a kid, probably around 1978-79, I went to Disney with my grandparents. We had family that lived over in a small town near cape Canaveral (Mims)...we went over and spent a couple of days at the campground in Disney. We where pretty damn poor at the time, living in a housing project up here in Massachusetts....I remember the day we went to Magic Kingdom and took the ferry over and the first time I laid my eyes on the Contemporary hotel I was blown away. For some reason I remember word for word what my first thought was..."wow, that's where the rich people stay". I remember feeling like it was never anywhere I would be able to stay in my life, which is sad, but was and is to often the reality of poor kids then and now......Fast forward to 2009. We had been DVC owners for 9 years, had two children, and had been fortunate enough in life to rise into the "middle class" with a love of Disney.....We where going on a trip from Christmas eve through new years day that year. We always stay at our favorite resort OKW and had a reservation already made. But I also quietly made a wait list for the first two days (Christmas eve and Christmas day) at Bay Lake Tower. Unbelievably at the time, the wait list came through!....I remember arriving that night with a family that couldn't quite understand why we were splitting our stay, other then the "excuse" that it was to check out a new resort....But there was that moment at night on Christmas eve 2009, looking out at seven seas lagoon and picturing a poor kid from Brockton Massachusetts looking over to where I now stood thinking he would never have a chance to stay in a place like that......Its the one memory i have from Disney that has nothing to do with anyone else but me, and its one I will never forget!

 

[Princess Jaz E Jaz]

Port Orleans for me. I have stayed at both hotels and they are just so welcoming and the resorts are quiet at night. I love exploring resorts. It's where my family and I stayed on our last vacation a long time ago and I am hoping my husband and I will stay there when we visit in the future.

 

[EPCOT is a verb]

ya know...this thread actually spurred a memory....When I was a kid, probably around 1978-79, I went to Disney with my grandparents. We had family that lived over in a small town near cape Canaveral (Mims)...we went over and spent a couple of days at the campground in Disney. We where pretty damn poor at the time, living in a housing project up here in Massachusetts....I remember the day we went to Magic Kingdom and took the ferry over and the first time I laid my eyes on the Contemporary hotel I was blown away. For some reason I remember word for word what my first thought was..."wow, that's where the rich people stay". I remember feeling like it was never anywhere I would be able to stay in my life, which is sad, but was and is to often the reality of poor kids then and now......Fast forward to 2009. We had been DVC owners for 9 years, had two children, and had been fortunate enough in life to rise into the "middle class" with a love of Disney.....We where going on a trip from Christmas eve through new years day that year. We always stay at our favorite resort OKW and had a reservation already made. But I also quietly made a wait list for the first two days (Christmas eve and Christmas day) at Bay Lake Tower. Unbelievably at the time, the wait list came through!....I remember arriving that night with a family that couldn't quite understand why we were splitting our stay, other then the "excuse" that it was to check out a new resort....But there was that moment at night on Christmas eve 2009, looking out at seven seas lagoon and picturing a poor kid from Brockton Massachusetts looking over to where I now stood thinking he would never have a chance to stay in a place like that......Its the one memory i have from Disney that has nothing to do with anyone else but me, and its one I will never forget!

That is an awesome story.