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

[miamimama]

Some of my favorite DW memories are from the early years- we lived in Miami and visited as soon as DW opened- I think the Contemporary and Poly were the only hotels onsite - - the only park was MK. My first car trip was from MIA to DW with my BF - we actually stayed at the Contemporary! must have cost nothing - any other memories out there?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I went in the 70's too with my BF but we came down from NY! I remember going (think it was my 3rd trip) for the 1976 July 4th celebration..the park was so crowded that day. It was the only time I had (even to this day) been in the park where they had to close it. Poly & Contemporary were the only places there. My aunt stayed at the Poly when it first opened up & she paid like $85 per nite...but then that was a lot of money

 

[doombuggy]

My mom's parents moved to the Tampa area from Wilkes-Barre, PA in January 1974. My mom & I went to visit them the following month, and the four of us made the day trip to the Magic Kingdom. I was about 6 1/2 at the time and don't remember too much, but I have some great snap shots to remember the day. One of the photos that I had copied and enlarged was of me on the Skyway. You see the castle in the background (we were going from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland) and the roof of the Teacups. I put this blow up in a frame I bought in Liberty Sq - it's a flag with MM in the corner and it says "An American Tradition Since 1971 - Walt Disney World."

My favorite photo from that trip, however, is of my grandmother, "Mom" is what we called her. She was the socialite type, and wore a sleveless dress that day. The photo is of her on the Carosel, wearing a very large sombrero and clutching one of the red shopping bags they had back then with the white plastic handles. She is laughing - the bag is dangling from her wrist as she tries to hold on to the hat and her "horse!"

I went with her almost every year for nearly ten years after that. She's been gone since 1996, but I will always remember our trips to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[daisyduck123]

We went during Christmas of 1976. I was in the 5th grade.

I remember getting off of some type of bus or trolley when we got to the MK. As soon as I stepped off, I bent down & touched the pavement with my finger. My mom asked what I was doing & I remember replying, "Wow. I've touched Disneyworld".

I guess even then it was a BIG deal to go.

I don't remember much else about the trip except riding Space Mountain. I was sitting between my mom's legs with the seatbelt around the two of us. During the ride, I slid down farther between her legs & the seatbelt was around my neck, almost choking me!

 

[byoung]

Our first time was in the eighties. Easter time never again .

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I went for the first time in April of 1972. I remember sometime during the 70's there was a third resort called the Golf Resort. I don't know what happened to it. Does anyone? We stayed in the Contemporary for 85 dollars a night in the tower part. The only park was MK and remember the ticket books?

 

[sapdaddy]

Wow funny you asked this question now!! Was going thru my "memory box" (My mom started 44 years ago) looking for something to let my DS8 borrow for a school project. I found a "Photo Memories of WDW" book and the rest of my ticket book dated from 1975. I did use up all the "E" tickets
My family always tent camped when we went on vacation. We stayed at a campground somewhere nearby but I don't remember which one. (It was not FW) My dad hated "Amusement Parks" and at the time you could go into the MK for free. He spent most of the time waiting for me, my mom & sister to get off the rides. He did go into the Hall of Presidents, and rode the train & steam boat. but that was it.

 

[PaMom001]

My family went in December of 1976. I turned 10 in January. We drove down and spent Christmas Eve with friends of my parents in Martinez, Ga. I know we stayed in hotels coming back up, but can't remember if we stayed in some coming down. We live in PA. When we crossed the Georgia/Florida border my sister and I made our parents open the car windows because we thought we were going to get sick.

I remember the tickets, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, 20,000 leagues under the Sea. I remember going on Space Mountain and being in the front seat, my dad in the second seat and my sister behind him. I don't remember where we stayed.

 

[Seahunt]

The good old days! Click on this link and just look at the 1970 ticket prices!

http://allearsnet.com/tix/tixpix70.htm

Adult admission $3.50! OMG!

 

[Kimmielee]

I went in 1976 - during 9th grade. I have a picture of me with Pluto - wow was I skinny then!!!

I remember how excited I was to see the Castle for the first time. I have the same feeling, even now.

 

[Unregistered]

The last thing my dad wanted to do b4 he died was to take our family to Disneyworld. And he was able to do it summer of 75 (they had started the bi-centenial celebration) We flew into Miami and stayed with family for a few days, enjoyed the beach and then drove to Orlando and stayed at the days Inn right outside of the Magic Kingdom. It was so much fun, we have super 8 silent movies of me and my brothers on rides, and of the parade..................So funny how different it was then, only one park and hardly any rides..................no shows, nothing like it is now and we were so happy to be there!
Sadly my father passed away the following May, he would love it as it is today! I still get teary eyed on the old rides (small world, pirates of the carribean, dumbo.........and the carousel of progress .........even though the song is not the same) it was now is the time, now is the good times of our lifes, anyone remember that one?

 

[scorpad99]

that last post was from me, i dunno y it didnt show my name

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I was a senior in college in 1975 and we took a family vacation to WDW, then only the Magic Kingdow was open, with my mom, step-dad, brother and 2 little sisters. We stayed at a Holiday Inn in Orlando and spent a day and half at the MK. I was so excited because I had always wanted to visit Disneyland (yes, I was a mousekeeter fan from the 50s). However, my brother and I went our own way because we were older and we had no money, didn't see the rest of the family until 6:00 PM, were we so hungry!I have loved Disney ever since but I went from 1981 until 2000 without visiting so there were so many new things!

 

[shoes99]

In 1973 I took my 16 yo sister on a "girls only" trip. We stayed at the Contemporary Garden Wing for $29 a night. We went to "Top Of The World" and saw Shari Lewis and LambChop. We thought we were hot stuff because you had to dress up for the dinner show. We had a blast and she still talks about her first trip to Disney World.

 

[Unregistered]

My first trip to WDW was in November 1975 when I was 8 years old.

We stayed at the Contemporary and I have vague memories of the resort and our room. A few years ago I found some old paperwork from our 1975 trip and it even shows what room we were in! We were in the Tower on the 4th floor.

I also have vague memories of riding the monorail, going on the Haunted Mansion over and over and over with my Dad, Discovery Island (I think-I just remember touring somewhere with lots of spanish moss).

I also remember some things that we bought - my sister and I both got orange Mickey Mouse sweatshirts (I still have mine!), floppy hats with Disney characters (still have that too!), character necklaces (chipmunk for sister, Donald Duck for me), and a jar from the Confectionary with red hots in it. I think my brother bought some kind of Haunted Mansion souvenir where the portrait ages.

It's hard to believe my first trip was over 30 years ago!!

Debbie

 

[prestonsmomma]

I went twice a year from 71 on. Since I was born in 71 though, I don't remember those early trips. I do have some pictures that I would love to be able to share if I only had a scanner. It was amazing how little was there. My Mom was just saying Saturday that the first time they (I wasn't born yet) visited DW that the only thing there was literally a sign saying Welcome to Walt Disney World and a few sculpted bushes.

 

[debaudrn]

My first trip was in Dec. 1976 the week before Christmas. We drove time down from RI and stayed at the Days Inn in Kissemmee. We had so much fun. 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. Oh be still my heart!!!
Debbie

 

[Lissete]

Our first visit to DW was in Jan 1972. I was 5 & my brother was 4. I still clearly remember that visit. I remember talking to Snow White for almost 5 minutes (according to my mom). She squatted down to talk to me and I was in heaven. The characters were always roaming around the park, none of this make a line to see the characters.

It was soooo different though, people actually waited their turn. Maybe since I was so young I really didn't pay much attention. I do remember lots of characters out at any given time. We have 8mm film of my brother & I with Dumbo. His ears alomst touched the floor.

We of course went regularly after that 1st visit, since that is when the addiction began. One other memory is riding the Eastern Airlines ride over & over because it was free. If you had wings, If you had wings , If you had wings, had wings had wings.....

 

[CTillberg]

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!

 

[Dreamer04]

My first two trips were in 1973 and 1974. I belonged to a marching band and we would travel by bus from New York to march in the Orange Bowl Parade. St Camillus Band from Rockaway Beach, New York.

We stayed in Fort Lauderdale and drove to Disney World. How Awesome!! Space mountain was still being built. I rode Pirates of the Caribbean over and over again! That and the train around the park. I thought tbe monorail was truly the transportation of the future. Great memories!