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

[Stacy's a freak]

My very first trip was in the womb (early 1973). I don't remember it, but I think some of the magic was absorbed into me by osmosis, because I've been hooked on WDW my entire life

 

[Mouse House Mama]

My first trip was on 1977!!! I was 4 years old! I remember going on 20,000 leagues under the sea and going on Space Mountain for the first time! I also remember going on the teacups with my grandfather and aunts. It was a great time. I have loved Mickey Mouse from the day I was born!

 

[Hannathy]

My first trip was in 1977 and we camped in a nice campground close that is all motels now. Mom tried to get into FW but couldn't (sound familiar) I guess it was before insect repellant was popular because I got bitten everywhere on my body - hundreds and I kid you not! I still remember standing in line for the Swiss Family treehouse and my sister thought it was funny how many I had and decided to count them by touching everyone as she did when she got to 50 I tried to kill her and my Mom finally seperated us! It was a great trip because next we went to Daytona beach and I got sunburned terribly, blisters all over, my face looked like an orange skin not the color but the texture and leaking fluid. could barely walk. I guess it is true about youth though because I still love it and have returned many times.

 

[Evans Family]

I grew up in Tampa and went to WDW a bunch growing up. I remember going one time with my parents and it was a kind of non planned trip (I don't remember why.) These were the days before the wide use of credit cards. I remember standing outside the ticket and transportation center as my parents tried all kinds of ways to get us into the Magic Kingdom since they didn't have any cash on them. This was also before there was an ATM on every corner. It was very heartbreaking to us. However, I do remember tons of people coming out and giving us their unused tickets (A, B C, D etc) since they were leaving and didn't live close.

I remember we always had tons of A and B tickets around. To this day my husband and I still joke "that was an "E" ticket ride!"

Remember actually being able to swim in Bay Lake! I remember swimming at Fort Wilderness and River Country!

 

[spiceycat]

first trip stayed offsite (1972) - but Grandmother found on that trip about the Polyn. Asked the front desk how to get reservations there....

so from 1973, 1974, 1975 - we stayed in the Polyn. Loved it.

grandmother had money - so she and mother stayed in 1 room; brother and I stayed across the hall in another room.

It was GREAT!!!

oh the Polyn was cheap in those first years - about the same as the hotel we stayed at on the first trip - $49.00

so every year in the middle of June we went for a week.....I miss grandmother.

when I could afford to go back 83 - stayed offsite for the main trip but did Polyn (it was only $125 then with MK discount) for the final night.

our first day visiting MK we both were in tears - grandmother loved it so much....so we went to Epcot.

in 1985 when CBR was new $69 a night we came back.

then in the early 90's I started to go one year, then in 92 I started twice a year, now I go anywhere from 4 to 7 times.... (some long weekends) after I joined DVC in 1993.

this year I am TRYING for less trips in a long time. I have gone in March but my next scheduled trip is Dec....although I might be there in Sept for a few days....

I remember the waves....also those swan boats that would get stuck and the staff would have to rescue you.... also those other boats what would go in circles while going forward....

then you have time to relax - you could see the MK - then go have fun at the resort.... It was wonderful.

now there is so much to do - that I have to make myself take a day off.....

would you believe I have no pictures to mark those first trips.... Mother did not want us to take the camera - now I really wished I had taken one....

oh well live and learn.

 

[CJRN]

We went when I was 7 yrs old, and Magic Kingdom was IT, I think this was back in the early 70's!

 

[balletlove]

collwowowowow

 

[twinklebug]

1976. I was 10. We camped in the MOST incredible campground called Fort Wilderness:
TRAMs took us to/ from our camper, armadillos everywhere, SWIMMING in the Lagoon, swinging in the hammocks and some incredible tree-house playgrounds.

I remember one day in the MK no one wanted to go in a show called Space Mountain with my Dad. I felt bad for him having had to hit the ticket booth so many times that his wallet hurt, so I told him I'd keep him company no matter how boring it would be.

WOW... what a LONG line.
What a long WAIT...
NEAT shooting stars effect though...

... we get toward the front of the line and I see people getting in rocket shaped cars...

Me: UMMMM, DAAAAAAD????
Dad: Yea?
Me: Ummmmmmm
Dad: Come on, keep moving
Me: DAD??!!!
Dad: What?
Me: Is THIS a RIDE???!!!!
Dad: Yes, come on, there are people behind us... move up.
Me: DAD?!!! Is this a ROLLER COASTER!!!???
Dad: Yes it is, Get in.
Me: Ahhhhhh!!!!!!

and off we went

I kept my eyes closed the whole ride. My dad couldn't see a thing either because they made him take his glasses off. LMAO

 

[sweetinmaine]

My first trip was in February 1976 with my family and my friend and her family. 16 years old and absolutely lovin' the Mouse! I've been hooked ever since and love passing that passion on to my children and grandchildren! While life has its ups and downs, my family will always have Disney! Hey, that's why we became DVC members just last year!

 

[PaMom001]

Me: UMMMM, DAAAAAAD????
Dad: Yea?
Me: Ummmmmmm
Dad: Come on, keep moving
Me: DAD??!!!
Dad: What?
Me: Is THIS a RIDE???!!!!
Dad: Yes, come on, there are people behind us... move up.
Me: DAD?!!! Is this a ROLLER COASTER!!!???
Dad: Yes it is, Get in.
Me: Ahhhhhh!!!!!!

and off we went

I kept my eyes closed the whole ride. My dad couldn't see a thing either because they made him take his glasses off. LMAO

Poor Dad!!!

 

[kimberh]

What a great thread! My first trip was in May 1978. We stayed at the Days Inn with Dh, DD4, DS7months. Some good friends said, "come, go to Disneyworld with us." They were staying at the Polynesian. We could not afford that. We had the ticket books and to this day I hear people say, " that's a E ride at Disneyworld." I remember how manicured the grounds were. I thought the grass was artificial turf. I knelt down and felt it. It was perfect, I couldn't find a weed. My baby would not drink juice of any kind, it was hot that day and on the Haunted Mansion he drank his first bottle of apple juice. He is 28 now and has been back many times. When he was 4 I had bought him Mickey Mouse socks and he informed me that he was a Donald Duck kid. He cut the Mickey's off of his expensive socks. Everytime I go back I feel the Magic. Life has it's ups and downs and when you walk in the gate something seems to take over and you can put things behind you and again go back to the memories you had made and will continue to make. I turn 50 this May and where am I going to spend the week but in Disney. I told my family we will get together when I get home but on that day I will be with my husband and Mickey.

 

[pgbaj]

My first trip was in 73 I was 2, I don't remember much, we stayed at a camp ground, I remember the pool and the float my parents bought for me. I remember hugging Minnie, and seeing Chip & Dale, I had my picture taken with them, they put thier elbows on my head with all their weight.

Speaking of prices, my parents took $650 we drove from VA, went to 6 Flags in GA, then DW and SW, and they came back with money left over. Talk about the good ol days, 1 week, 3 parks all for less then my mortgage.

Will be taking my kids for the first time in Nov, and will be like my first time, since I don't remember much from back then.

 

[cosmojacket]

My first trip was in sept 72. I had a friend in college who lived in orlando, so I stayed with him. We drove out the night before and looked at the two hotels. the parking attendent told us rooms were eithe $68 or $86, i don't remember which. We thought that was extremely high! We walked around both resorts. We went into the lounge at the top of the comtempory resort. Sherry Lewis and Lambchop were performing. The next day we went to the park. It was great, it was after labor day and it was forcast to rain. All the lines were really short, of cource potc and space mountain were not open. We even got to see the show at the diamond horseshoe with only about a 5 minute wait.

 

[EmmaAndQuinnsMommy]

Well, I didn't go until the 80's when Epcot first opened and I think I was about 11 or something? (Born in 1972 - does that sound right?) I thought Epcot was the most boring thing ever with all those hydroponic tomatoes! I remember eating in Germany and wishing my Dad would have picked any other country! LOL!

The best memory I have is eating breakfast in the castle. I remember having a strawberry crepe (had never had one) and the 'goblets' they gave you that were silver and SO COLD for your drink. I felt like such a lucky girl!!

My Dad and I rode Space Mountain and he LOST his glasses on the ride so we had to stay until midnight when the park closed when they turned the ride lights on in order to find his very badly broken glasses (I don't know why he wanted them back!). We watched some Walt Disney movie thing near the entrance until park closing. I remember frozen bananas and the Dumbo ride and the teacups. I remember being TOTALLY amazed by the ghost riding with us on the HM. (I am still kind of amazed!) I remember BTMRR and Splash Mountain and IASW and the Tiki Birds (which I sang forever after that!) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and POTC, which I thought was really cool but kind of scary! I do remember the COP, but just that I didn't like it. I remember the ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE (is that right?) and thinking that it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen in my entire life. I love the Cinderella and coach the best and I remember taking lots of pictures with my Disc camera! LOL!

So, I have not been back since then and that was maybe 1983 or 1984. DH and neither of my kids have EVER been .... I CANNOT STAND THE WAITING! I have wanted to go back always and especially since I have had my daughter who is a total princess lover. I can't actually imagine what it will be like to be there again and share it with them and see it as a grownup!

Carrie

 

[spiceycat]

you went in 84 and haven't gone back.....

now that is will power....

 

[Pocohantasfan]

My first trip was in the 70's though I don't remember exactly what year. There were signs up about Epcot but it hadn't been completed yet. We just went to MK for the day as we were at a beach somewhere in FL. The Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain were my two favorite rides and I never forgot them. Haunted Mansion was our very first ride when we went back the next time in 2004. And it was just like I'd remembered it. I "remembered" Peter's Pan Flight once we got on it. However, I am not sure if we actually rode it our first trip or if I read about it and thought I remembered it. Does anyone know if that ride was in existence back before Epcot opened? Or am I just crazy?

 

[jillyjoey]

Went to WDW alot in the 70's as we had family that lived in FLA -- never stayed onsite since we stayed with relatives.

Most memorable event: 1978, Teacups. On the teacups with my 2 sisters, my older sister and I were spinning the cups around and around. My younger sister, I think 5 years, had her head flung back laughing hysterically. When the ride ended, my dad who had been watching from the side grabbed me and my older sister by our pigtails -- he thought baby sister was crying. We got yelled at.

Second most memorable event: Same trip, had saved all my money, $42, and all I wanted to buy was a pair of chattering teeth (don't ask me why) anyhow, lost all my money somewhere.

 

[spiceycat]

it was.....

we just didn't ride it - it was not an E or even D ride in those days....

we really missed a good ride....

 

[mjgruber]

I went in December 1970, when they had a bus ride ($2) to see the magic kingdom being built. You went around on the bus seeing the Park as it was being built. Back then the first floor is now underground.

 

[DISUNC]

My first trip was in 1975. I went with my high school friend & his family and his Moms friends & her family. We stayed 5 days in Orlando & 5 days in Miami.
I can't remember the name of the hotel we stayed at, but it was right next door to the tall round hotel on International Drive. There was a diner across the street from the hotel...and to this day I swear it was the BEST BREAKFEST I ever eaten.

My portion of the airline & hotel bill was 200.00, and my Mom took out a loan for 500.00 to let me go!

I have very specific memories of that trip. One being the only ride we could get on with no wait was the parking lot trams. We rode them over and over at night.
I do remember waiting online for SM for hours! The Eastern Airlines If you had Wings. The sky ride! COP with the old song! Peter Pan ride. 20,000 Leages which was YUK! I remember being very disappointed at that!

Now if I could only go for a 10 day Florida trip for $200.00 again! That would be magical!