Who remembers WDW 1982

[katallo]

Just for fun - Found an old newspaper from 1982, Epcot was opening and rooms were available for $85.00 - $100.00 per night at the Contemporay, Polynesian -
two bedroom villas were $130.00. Oh, to return to 1982! It was funny to read about two countries that were projected and still haven't been built...Spain and Israel.

 

[Jaybrad]

Daughter at Magic Kingdom in July 1982. A 3 day pass for Magic Kingdom and EPCOT cost $30.00 for adults and $18.00 for children.

 

[disnut8]

I remember Disney World in 1982. From January 5-10 we were there on our honeymoon! Our "fondest" memory was us at the Lake Buena Vista Club or whatever that swanky place was called at the Village Marketplace. It was included in the honeymoon package my in-laws bought for us. I was 19, my new husband 21. A jacket was required for the men. My husband didn't take one and was led to this big room with all kinds of sizes of jackets to borrow. This was way out of our league. Our idea of fine dining was going somewhere that you didn't have to unwrap your food. I got up to use the bathroom and when I got back, my napkin had been neatly folded and arranged on my chair.

But it did open my husband's eyes to my love of Disney. Since then, we've made over 40 trips, some with just our son, some with the now grown son's new family, a lot just on our own. Simpler times but I wouldn't trade the past 23 years for anything.

 

[goofydad621]

I was there in 1982 and honeymooned there in 1983. I still have a 1 day left on my park hopper ticket/world passport. Value of 12.50 or I can get in 1 park for the day.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Boy, I do! I went in late October 82, right after Epcot Center opened. I could not believe how packed it was. The line for Spaceship Earth was almost to the fountain between the two communicore buildings. Construction on Horizons had just started and the ride portion of Journey into Imagaination was still being built. I stayed at the Contemporary and it was about $100 per night; I remember thinking the price was outrageous. I also remember being very disappointed that the living seas was not open and was not scheduled to even be built for several more years.

 

[cgcruz]

Wow, to be able to get WDW hotels at those prices now. But it was not until August of !982 that I was brought in to the world...

 

[foxfire]

We were there in '82...July, I think. I know Epcot had not opened yet. We stayed at the Club Lake Villas. Anybody remember them? Not sure what Disney did with them but I think they were near one of Disney's golf courses. I know we did enjoy staying there.

 

[ilovepcot]

Ah yes, I remember it well. DH and I watched it being built and I kept saying I didn't even want to visit EPCOT when it opened....sounded to scientific and futuristic for me at the time. So now, take a look at my name. Yes, I LOVE the place and usually make a trip over twice a month on average.

 

[JELBoggio]

My DH went on a family vacation to WDW in 82 to see Epcot. He's been traumatized ever since. See, he was 13 at the time and his parents said "Hey, we're going to Disney World!" My DH and his 3 brothers were so excited since they had never been. Well, my FIL wanted it to be a real educational trip so they ONLY went to Epcot. Needless to say, at my DH's age at the time and with only the educational stop at Epcot he was seriously disappointed.

We are going to WDW as a family next May and in his mind he has ruled out Epcot as one of the parks to visit ("too boring"). I told him that we will spend a half-day there and we'll go for dinner. (I went in 86 and loved Epcot).

Needless to say, I need to make this upcoming trip real magical for him as well as our kids so he'll want to go again!

 

[cindyfan]

I remember 1984!!! It was the first trip for me and DD.
She was 7 at the time. I was working full time and going to school, so no way could afford it!
So when grandma offered to take us.... wow... we jumped!
We stayed at the Holiday Inn...
My DD and DB (he was 12 at that time) loved Epcot.
I have to go dig up the pictures!!!

I remember buying a small glass figurine of Minnie Mouse!! And still have it!

 

[sotoalf]

My family went in December 1982, two months after "EPCOT Center" opened. We were in line at Spaceship Earth for more than two hours; it kept breaking down. We stayed offsite at a Sheraton since the Contemporary and Polynesian were quite out of our price range then (our first onsite stay was in August '87).

 

[wld]

We were there in July, 1982. My sister had just gotten married and we towed her car and presents down. Hey lets go to WDW. Called to get a place (so naive we were going to camp in our tent at FW even though it was $35.00 a night) No room and the only one available that was something like Golf Villas was over $200. as I remember. We ended up staying with my sister on the floor in the living room. I was 7 months pregnant and I swear 3 CM's nearly knocked me down to keep me from going on Space Mountain (I was walking up there with the others and going to do the walk through). My sister and I were standing side by side watching a show in the forecastle. And there he was!!! We looked at each other smiling while we both whispered "Mickey Mouse". We had always watched The Wonderful World of Disney at home. It is a moment I won't forget. Our DHs looked at us like we were crazy, but we didn't care!!!!!!!

 

[sue1013]

We were there in spring of 1982 Epcot had not opened yet. DD's first trip we stayed 3 nights at Golf Links I think that was the name now SOG. Spent 3 days at MK. Now we wonder what did we do for 3 full days.

 

[sotoalf]

We were there in spring of 1982 Epcot had not opened yet. DD's first trip we stayed 3 nights at Golf Links I think that was the name now SOG. Spent 3 days at MK. Now we wonder what did we do for 3 full days.

That was the Golf Resort, which changed its name in 1986 to the Disney Inn.

 

[katallo]

My DH went on a family vacation to WDW in 82 to see Epcot. He's been traumatized ever since. See, he was 13 at the time and his parents said "Hey, we're going to Disney World!" My DH and his 3 brothers were so excited since they had never been. Well, my FIL wanted it to be a real educational trip so they ONLY went to Epcot. Needless to say, at my DH's age at the time and with only the educational stop at Epcot he was seriously disappointed.

We are going to WDW as a family next May and in his mind he has ruled out Epcot as one of the parks to visit ("too boring"). I told him that we will spend a half-day there and we'll go for dinner. (I went in 86 and loved Epcot).

Needless to say, I need to make this upcoming trip real magical for him as well as our kids so he'll want to go again!

Just a suggestion, try to book an Illuminations Cruise to make it magical.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

August 1982 was my first trip to WDW ever. First dd was only 5! We tried to stay at the Poly but they were booked so we ended up at Grosvenor's (not sure if it was called that then - but remember the Windmill pool). Epcot hadn't opened yet. We went to MK (3 days) Sea World, Circus World (anyone remember that) and Kennedy Space Center. Crystal Palace was still a cafeteria then.

 

[disnut8]

We are going to WDW as a family next May and in his mind he has ruled out Epcot as one of the parks to visit ("too boring"). I told him that we will spend a half-day there and we'll go for dinner. (I went in 86 and loved Epcot).

Needless to say, I need to make this upcoming trip real magical for him as well as our kids so he'll want to go again!

Please tell your husband that Epcot has changed so much since 1982. It certainly is NOT boring. Even the long Universe of Energy has some humor in it now. Mission:Space, Test Track and Soarin' are welcome additions and not boring. Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is a scream (for a lot of people). Poking around the shops around World Showcase, taking in all the entertainment (like Off Kilter). It's definitely an all day park. That's where we, as two adults, spend most of our time.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

I remember DW in 1982. I was 4 years old! Epcot was almost opened. The monarail took people around epcot before it opened. Then in the MK I got lost because I wanted a drink at the water fountain. After I took a drink, my parents were gone! I cried and found some strangers to help me find my parents. I remember it so clear and I was only 4! Then finally I found them, I was so upset. Every year we go, and pass that fountain, the parents still say "Remember you got lost right here!" lol

 

[homer424]

That is something I would have LOVED to save! I love that stuff.

We went in the summer for a day trip that year. We were visiting my grandmother at their timeshare in Miami and my mom decided to take a day trip up. My mom heard about Epcot Center opening(how could you not?) and when she was planning our trip to Cocoa Beach in 1984, she deicded we would do both. But, while at the hotel, she heard from someone there that Epcot was a waste of time so we never went-we just spent 2 days in MK . When we went back for a full trip in 1988 we finally went and LOVED it! It was my mom's favorite park and is mine, DD's and my grandmother's, too.

As for Contemporary-we stayed there in 1988 and 1989 and my grandmother remembers that it cost us $100 a night for each year. I only wish it was still that way!

 

[tessqt]

I was there after EPCOT opened with 2 girl friends, we stayed in the Contemporary in the tower with a view of the Magic Kingdom. To stay there now!!! We split it 3 ways, I remember getting really sunburned.