Who went to DW in the 70's - old memories?

[JerJan]

Well I was lucky enough to live in Orlando when Disney opened! I was 9 years old...how exciting! A lot of Jr High and High School memories were made there. They had special "E" ticket ride nights for residents. You could ride all of the "E" ticket rides as many times as you wanted to from like 7:00 PM until midnight for around $3.00!!!

My brother was a waiter at "KING STEPHAN'S RESTAURANT" (very upscale) now know as "Cinderella's Royal Table!

And I will never forget "GRAD NIGHT" at WDW class of *1979*

 

[doombuggy]

LuvsMickeyMouse - The old Golf Resort is now Shades of Green, the Military hotel.

This used to be The Disney Inn before it became Shades of Green.

bumping this great thread!

 

[new_mouser]

I went in February 1972 as a side trip to Gasparilla. I was 5. My one everlasting memory of that trip are those awful cannons in Tampa. In WDW, I met Pooh at The Crystal Palace. I'm a huge Pooh fan, and that was the highlight of my trip. DD can't wait to eat at The Crystal Palace and wants the *same* meal I ate and have her picture taken in the *same* poses (kids!). I got some Minnie Mouse ears that were black with white ears and a pink bow in the middle. I still have them. I also got a gold Mickey Mouse necklace.

Also, does anyone remember a Walt Disney World board game from the early '70s? I had one, but sold it in a garage sale in the early '80s. I vaguely remember some monorail pieces made out of cardboard and something about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

 

[Lissete]

I met Pooh at The Crystal Palace. I'm a huge Pooh fan, and that was the highlight of my trip. DD can't wait to eat at The Crystal Palace and wants the *same* meal I ate and have her picture taken in the *same* poses (kids!).

Too bad it's not the same Pooh! I LOVED the old roly poly Pooh with the hunny pot on his head!

 

[lck]

I went the first time in 72 or 73 when I was 10 and then again 2 years later. My dad planned the trips and I don't even know if I knew what DW was.

The first year we camped outside the property but the second time we camped at Ft. Wilderness. That was such a great campground (still is). I think we did Hoop D Doo--not sure. My parents went to a show at the Top Of the World and the kids went to the canoe ride/weiny roast at FW. It was great!

I remember a ride called "If You Had Wings" sponsored by Eastern Airlines (I think) and I loved that ride. I rode it over and over--mostly cause there was no line at all. I also loved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I thought 20,000 Leagues was kinda cheesey tho. You could see the top of the water from the porthole which ruined the affect for me. Ofcourse, HM was my fave and Peter Pan.

 

[JillinNC1964]

My first trip was summer 1975.. I was almost 11 years old. We drove down and stayed at the Days Inn. I was sooo excited. I remember standing in line at an entrance and the CM's were dressed up in funny uniforms..I remember funny hats... and they would go around discussing the ticket books... then you'd go up to the line and make the purchase. Does anybody else remember this?

The first thing I remember seeing is the trolley in Main Street.

We made sure we caught all the freebies.. GE's COP, Easterns "If you had wings." - Monsantos 360 Circle Vision (where timekeeper is). The lines were fairly long.. the freebies were very popular.

I loved (and still do) the WEDway people mover.. my family picked up on this name and we all still call it the People Mover. We rode everything and stayed for 2 days.

We also went to Cypress Gardens and Busch Gardens in Tampa that trip.. but the best part of the trip was Disney!

Even then it was a *big* deal to go to Disney.. I remember my friends at home were so jealous of my big adventure to Florida !!!!!

 

[Dizzy for Dsny]

First time I went was in 1977 when I was 10 yrs old. I remember we stayed at Fort Wilderness and I loved walking to the mercantile to get souvenirs (felt like I was in a Daniel Boone show). We saw Hoop-De-Doo Review and I thought it was really cool to sit around a table with other people. Oh, and the coolest was River Country. I felt like I was Tom Sawyer, what a cool concept at that age, I had never seen anything like it!

The Polynesian and Contemporary were the only hotels at the time, but loved the theming of Polynesian - all of the tropical foliage and waterfalls. We ate there often. I also wanted to ride the monorail all the time!

Magic Kingdom - I remember the ticket booklets and the ticket booths. My brother was always trying to persuade me to give up the good tickets, or making a deal of some sort. I remember I chicken'd out on space mountain right when we got up to get into the vehicle and the cast member had to take us out through a door on the side. My mom was upset at me to say the least after standing in line for so long.

Oh, what wonderful memories I have! I hope I never lose them!

 

[Carol1973]

Thanks for the great memories. My first visit was in September 1973 on my honeymoon. We were driving home from Fort Lauderdale and my DH asked if I wanted to go through Orlando and stop at "that new Disney place". I said sure. Oh my goodness! I had no idea this would be the beginning of a life-long love affair with WDW! We had a blast! Yes, I remember "If You Had Wings." We rode it several times. We still talk about it. Anyway we easily used up all our E ticket coupons. Then we decided to catch the parade on Main Street. We positioned ourselves at the front of Main Street to take pictures. We had a polaroid camera where you had to time the pictures before you peeled off the backing. We had pictures lined up on the curbing trying to remember how long each one had been there and pulling off the backing. We were laughing like crazy because we couldn't keep up with all of it and watch the parade at the same time. For two very young mid-westerners this was an incredible place! After the parade was over we decided to leave because we didn't have any ticket coupons left. As we were walking to the exit an elderly couple approached us and said that they had been watching us during the parade. They had left over ticket coupons and wondered if we would like them since we seemed to be having so much fun. We said sure thinking they were just leftovers. We said thanks and they left. Then we looked and they had given us two E tickets. We were thrilled because we had wanted to see Country Bear Jamboree but ran out of coupons. So off we went. It was great. We've since been back ten more times after we had DD and DS and just last fall I took my grown DD on a mother/daughter getaway week at WDW. What a great place for a vacation. I never get tired of it and still love all the old attractions as well as the new ones. What fun today to remember so long ago!

 

[Lissete]

I loved (and still do) the WEDway people mover.. my family picked up on this name and we all still call it the People Mover.

We still call it the People Mover as well We also still call DTD "The Village".

My favorite was the stage show in Tomorrowland. There was a stage that come out of the floor and the cutest "boy band" performing. My sister and I went to so many performances over the few days we were there that they were waving to us from the stage. I can still see them in all white,tight costumes with big collars and bell bottoms.

My cousin & I saw this show a gazillion times as well! We were 11 at the time. We wasted all the film in our little 110 pocket cameras on these boys! Those two timing boys kept waving at us as well!

I love this thread! Keep those memories coming!

 

[DLBDS]

I went 3 times (3 different years) with my aunt, uncle and 2 cousins during the 70's. I can't remember how old I was exactly (9,10 11?) Anyway, we stayed off property the first time. Then we stayed at the Contemporary and the Poly (don't remember which one was 1st). Contemporary: I remember the monorail during dinner (and riding the monorail...WOW. I remember the topiaries!), a really great chocolate pudding, a large busy floor with someone doing caricatures (I had mine done. My mother has it displayed in her computer's credenza.) Poly: Tropical setting and a realy great fruit salad served in a halved cantaloupe. I have a big frosted glass mug in the shape of a mask (I'm doing this from memory--the mug is in an unused kitchen cabinet WAY up high right now). It says Polynesian on it. I don't remember the rooms at either resort. I remember it was scorchingly hot every time we went (summer vacation) and there were long lines to eat. I don't remember buses either. They were open trams or something like that. I loved the light parade and the music they played along with it. I can't get the melody right in my head but I know I would recognize it if I heard it again. I remember the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, It's a Small World (I HATED the music though), Hall of Presidents, Pirates of the Caribbean and a Christmas shop (I bought my mom an ornament). I remember eating at a big place at the MK. Looking at the map and the restaurants, I'm guessing it was The Crystal Palace. Again....long lines to eat. Did they even HAVE ADR's back then? I'm thinking NOT. I also bought myself a navy blue sporty t-shirt with white printing. It had a number on it (the year?) and Walt Disney World printed on it. I think I still have it. I also bought a Lady and 'lady' pup (still have both in a spare bedroom). I think that's about it for what I can remember....except the FEELINGS I had being there. Magical. Now, after all these years, I'm returing with my DH37 and DD8. He'll be having a birthday while there and she'll be 9 by then. It'll be the 1st time for both of them. I'll experience it all over again through my DD! *sniff* I think I'm gonna cry now.....

 

[lylacat]

This is my first post and boy is it bringing back memories. We went pretty much every year when I was younger...my grandfather had a vacation home in the area. The thing I remember the most is the first time I rode Space Mountain...I sat in the seat with my brother and we were both about 7 years old at the time...we were having a blast...laughing and hollering. We pulled into the area to get off the ride and a cast member came up to help us unbuckle the seat belt and she started screaming...apparently during the ride my head had hit my brothers nose and blood was everywhere. Neither one of us knew it has happened, and we kind of though it was funny, but that cast member was freaking out...I just remember them taking us and out parents into a room and asking us if we were ok, did we need an ambulance, etc...we just heck no, cleaned up the blood and went back out to get in line for it again.

I also really miss the magic shop and penny arcade that used to be on main street in the MK....they had the coolest stuff!

 

[mickeymousemom]

My first trip was Feb. of 1977. I was 11 yo, and this was our first family vacation to Florida. My mom and dad were divorced, and my dad lived in Tampa at the time. I hadn't seen him in a few years(which was really awkward), but when he picked me up at our hotel in Clearwater Beach, he told me he was taking me to Disney World. He seemed very excited and I think even made mention of the fact that Disney World was something I just had to see! I remember the ticket book, Space Mountain, If You Had Wings(Is that right??? I loved that one!), and the "Wedway People Mover" the most. I was hooked on WDW from that day on, and usually went with either my dad or my mom on our FL vacations.

 

[Drizzo67]

Wow, what memorys you are all bringing back.

My very first trip was in 71, I was 2yo and really can't remember it at all. My next trip was 5 years later in 76. We stayed at the Contemporary. Just me, dad and mom....little brother stayed home. I clearly remember 20,000 Leagues and the Haunted Mansion. My next trip was when I was 12, some 5 years later. We went to Miami to visit friends during school winter break and we all decided to drive down for the day. We had lunch in the Castle for my friends 13th birthday and rode Space Mountain several times. I remember my dad falling asleep in CoP. My husband has since carried on that tradition. LOL. My last trip with my family (before I married and had kids of my own) was in the mid 80's when EPCOT opened. Again we stayed at the Contemporary and really enjoyed both parks. I remember watching Illuminations with my dad so clearly as if it was only yesterday. He has since passed and I still cry everytime I watch Illuminations. Heck I still cry each time I see the "big golf ball" as I enter EPCOT.

Thanks for making me remember.

Dina Marie

 

[dznymom1]

Our High School Band also did the Orange Bowl & Disney Parade back in 1972. We took 3 or 4 busses from Plymouth, Mass, and even the bus ride was a blast with all the anticipation. I was hooked from the minute we hit Main Street

It was Christmas week, so lines were long, but that was half the fun! My favorite memory is of being underneath the Park in the tunnels while we were getting ready for the Parade. It was just amazing, and I will never forget the adorable young guy that took off his Tigger head <swoon>. We spent all of our time flirting with the characters (and the cute boys in the bands). Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum chased us around the castle. Oh, to be young again!!

I was so addicted that I dragged my future husband there in 1976 with 2 sleeping bags and a ratty old tent. We stayed at Fort Wilderness and ate hot dogs we cooked on sticks, because we had almost no money left after buying plane tickets and paying like $4 a night for our campsite! I loved the train that used to circle the entire campground, and I remember waking up to quacking ducks waddling around our campsite every morning. Just the best times of our lives!

Thanks for the memories!

 

[RealMickey]

Great memories everyone!

My first trip to WDW was in 76. I was 14 and went with my folks and younger brother. We stayed off property at the Hyatt(?). I remember a bus from the hotel with the driver acting as guide telling us all about WDW.

I remember the bi-centenial themed decorations and parade. And seeing characters greeting kids on main street. I loved Space Mountain, 20,000 Leagues, POC, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse, WEDway People Mover, Mission to Mars, Tom Sawyer Island and the Monorail. Those early rides (the ones that have not been retired) still are some of my favorites.

I bought a floppy hat with Mickey Mouse on it and had my name sewed on it. When they asked my name I said Mickey (my name), and the CM said "Like THE Mickey!". I always laugh about that.

I still have an adult and a kids ticket booklet from that trip with lots of tickets left. The "Adult" cost $7.25, the "Junior" cost $6.75. Those ar still my favorite souviners from WDW.

My two trips in the 70's were fantastic, and set the stage for my being a big WDW fan. I still get that same wonderful feeling when I arrive at WDW some 30 years later.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

LuvsMickeyMouse - The old Golf Resort is now Shades of Green, the Military hotel.

My first time to WDW was spring of '72 then I think we returned every year for about the next 12 years. We used to drive over for a day from St. Petersburg, then a few years later we started staying for a week at the Polynesian. We are staying again at the Poly this winter with my parents (and with my kids and husband), I am so excited to relive some of my childhood memories and share them with MY family!

Cool, Thanks!

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

This used to be The Disney Inn before it became Shades of Green.

bumping this great thread!

Thanks, great thread, hope we can keep it going!

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

My first trip was in June of 1972 when I finished my first year of college. My then-BF (later my DH) and I drove town to Sarasota and stayed with his grandparents. We made a day trip to WDW and wouldn't you know, the day we went a tropical depression came through. We practically had the park to ourselves. We got there before the worst of the weather, which didn't come through until after we got home that evening, so we were able to ride the sky cars (which made me ) and go through the Swiss Family Robinson house before they were closed due to weather, and we rode the swan boats that used to be on the moat by the castle. If there was an attraction that was open, we checked it out, but as we got into the afternoon more and more things closed as the rain and wind picked up. But even though the weather wasn't the greatest, and the park wasn't nearly what it is today, I remember I had a great time and couldn't wait to go back. Unfortunately, that didn't happen until 18 years later.

 

[POLY1985]

1st time I went was in July 1976 when I was 13. We stayed at Ft. Wilderness campground. It was the bicentennial and even the Mickey head at Magic Kingdom was done in red, white and blue flowers. It was alot more work to go on rides because you had to figure out how many "E" tickets you had and if you could ride the good rides one more time. We went on the free rides alot: If You Had Wings and Carousel of Progress.

2nd time was in 1979 when I was 16. My cousins went with us and our parents let us take the boat from the campground at night to go back to the park when they were too tired. I also remember there being concerts in Tomorrowland. We saw Pure Prairie League.

 

[martinp13]

My very first trip to "Disney World" was probably in the late 60s. My uncle had an orange grove outside Orlando, and we drove from Atlanta to visit him. He was considering getting out of the orange business and moving back to VA (which he did), and as we were about to leave, he told us to go see the "Disney thing" just off the highway. I don't remember if there were any signs, but the one road led up to a small windows-on-all-sides building surrounded by topiary bushes (in Disney character shapes, of course). You went in, and it was just a presentation: a diorama showing proposed development of the area, illuminated from above at the appropriate places as the soundtrack talked about each one. There were no seats... you stood and leaned against railings (like the old Circlevision 360 "ride"). I don't remember anything about the presentation (if it was the 60s, I was at most 7!), but the whole thing was cool.

On another trip, I believe WDW had just opened (or at least the park was fully built). We drove down past Orlando, but my parents kept reminding me that we were NOT going into WDW. We took that same road, and that old building was still there (I think it was the gas station), but of course the toll plaza and Disney World were just beyond it. We drove up to the toll plaza, and TURNED AROUND. Oh man, I BAWLED... I was already a Six Flags kiddo from the park in ATL, and this was like Mecca for me. I knew they had said we weren't going in, but we were RIGHT THERE, and I could see the castle, and I felt so betrayed.

I think that original building (or one like it?) is the current Car Care Center just outside the MK.