Your first WOWs !!!

[gericoronado]

My first WOW: "Mickey owns the sky here".
I grew up my entire life watching the Disneyland fireworks but when I saw the Magic Kingdom fireworks for the first time in 2010, I was amazed at the difference. It seemed like 10 times the amount of fireworks that are allowed in Anaheim! A Cast Member told me "Mickey owns the sky here".

 

[rootbeerkid]

I am apt to reminisce and these types of threads encourage an indulgence.

It was August, 1974. My best High School buddy invited me to vacation with his family and stay with his grandparents who lived in Melbourne. We were both on the golf team and crazy passionate about the sport. The trip promised the opportunity to hideously indulge in our passion.

My friends grandfather had set aside a day for the family to experience the Magic Kingdom and he paid for almost everything. Even so I was less than grateful and remember thinking that this was just a wasted opportunity to play golf. I had expectations that this was going to be like Kings Island or LeSourdsville Lake which were the two amusement parks nearest to Dayton, Ohio. Two magical (WOW) events occurred that stand out and changed my attitude and perspective.

With the limited number of E-tickets sold in the ticket books, we were selective in using them. We approached the Haunted Mansion and I remember having some hesitation – not because of fear but because I had the idea that this was going to be nothing more than one of the frighten-you-with-fake-blood and jump-out-from-hiding-and-scream-at-you fests that popped-up during Halloween or at the summer county fairs in Ohio. The magic first started to work on me in the stretching room. It’s effectiveness increased as the Doombuggies paraded past ghosts having a party in a ball room, statues that sang Grim Grinning Ghosts, and Madame Leota. I think the deal was sealed when we picked up a Ghost Hitchhiker. And at the end, when Little Leota invited us to “Hurry Back” we did just that and rode again without hesitation and with much anticipation.

The second event occurred at Tomorrowland Terrace (now Cosmic Rays Starlight Café). Sunny Eclipse had yet to discover Earth and the hexagon stage where he now resides had some plants on it and maybe some other items that made it look uninteresting to us. While we were sitting and eating, and suddenly without notice, the stage began to slowly rise and there was another stage below it that rose up and took its place and it had a rock band on it that was already playing. I can’t remember what they played but I remember enjoying the music. I was just so impressed with this unexpected and “magical” transformation of what looked like an unused stage area.

These and other events transformed a skeptical and even somewhat bitter teenager down the path of becoming a lifelong Disney fan. I have since married and raised a family. We have returned for visits as circumstances have allowed. Last year I attended for the first time with one of our grandchildren.

I hope that Disney can always provide this type of magic. I hope so. I really hope so.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

My first big WOW is still the best and something that is unique to Walt Disney World. I first went before any other parks existed besides MK.

1st is the boat ride to the park. No other place on Earth has such a cool grand entrance to their park. You have a slow approach across the lake. It is magical and we do it at least once every trip even though it is not the quickest route.

Second would be the monorail approach. Both of these make for such a cool approach for 1st timers, especially children.

 

[mamabird3]

My daughter loved Turtle Talk but no matter how many times she raised her hand-she wasn't picked to talk to him. Our last day, as we left the show, she was crying. A cast member asked if everything was ok. I explained and said -she'll be fine-just a little sad right now. The CM had us wait for a minute and then brought just the 2 of back in. Crush appeared and had a 5 minute conversation with my (then) 3 year old. It was amazing and incredible and I will never forget it.

 

[alicat8]

A bunch of my wows were from the first trip I can really remember well, when I was in high school:
-We were there to dance on the TL stage, which was a craaaazy amazing feeling. Got to see "backstage" Disney. Stayed at AS Sports, and I was so impressed by the all the big sports stuff (it was pretty new and shiny then). First time on ToT, and we got to ride it about 6 times in a row during what I assume now were morning emh.
**That was also the year of the birthday cake, which I loved. Maybe because I was a 14 year old girl

-First time for Fantasmic-mind was blown.

-First time on Everest when you saw the yeti-before they changed him-I almost peed my pants.

-Every time I see Festival of the Lion King-tears, tears, tears. And walking down Main Street in the morning-music and smells, mmmmm!

 

[DisneyFive]

WOW is right! Awesome replies! Please keep them coming! I love reading these.

Another WOW that I thought of:

Breaking the rules since this wasn't our first trip, but... Two years ago as we were leaving MK on the last night of our stay, my oldest daughter (almost 11 at the time) teared up the entire bus ride back to Port Orleans Riverside. This might not seem like a big deal, but she’s just not one to show emotion like that very often. It was extremely moving for my wife and I to see, and validated how much our kids love these trips and that the $$$ has been well spent. It was our third annual trip and it was so nice to know that the kids still loved it and the magic was very much alive and well.

Oh, and another WOW from our first visit was just how BAD Stitches Great Escape was!  We all walked out of there with puzzled looks on our faces and my wife had a wet butt since her mister decided to spray a stream of water down the back of her seat rather than mist her neck!

Dan

 

[Luv2Run]

Meeting Mickey for the first time. I cried like a baby. I was 30 years old.

Aww, this made me choke up a little. I love honest answers like this. It reminds me how meaningful Disney is.

My first trip to DLR was for my 5th birthday, and my 'WOW' experience was getting to ride Splash Mountain (my favorite ride to this day). I felt like such a big kid that I could experience all of the magic, not just the little stuff.

Going to WDW for the first time when I was 26, my 'WOW' moment was getting through the gates at MK and seeing Cinderella castle at the end of Main Street USA. It was exactly how I imagined it would look. That whole first moment, smelling the treats from the bakery, the sunshine on my shoulders, hearing the whistle of the train behind me. It was magical (as cliche as that sounds). Not only that, but I got to experience that first moment with my mom, which is something I will cherish forever.

 

[LCoulter]

First time I saw the castle. Next big WOW was seeing the birthday cake castle, but not in a good way...

I remember the first time I saw that too. I was totally unprepared for it as I did not know that the castle was going to be like that. I stopped dead in my tracks, mouth dropped open, and said to DH, "What in the world did they do to the castle?" and "When are they going to change it back?" I don't remember when they finally changed it back but it seemed like years and I was so thankful when it returned to it's former beauty.

I hated that pepto bismol pink castle.

 

[LCoulter]

I was 29 for my first trip and went for our honeymoon in 1994….DH had been a number of times as a kid.

-I was surprised at how huge the resort was. I bought and read the Unofficial Guide to Disney, cover to cover, several times but I was still unprepared for how huge the place was.

-I was wowed at how beautiful Main Street and the castle were….and how clean everything was.

-We went the first week in November and was shocked at how uncrowded the parks were. I came prepared with the touring plans from the Unofficial Guide and tossed those aside after the first couple of hours. I ended up not using the touring plans at all that week…it was so quiet at the parks.

-I was blown away by the fireworks!

-I was expecting the “feel” of the local amusement parks (which I don’t particularly like) that I have been to and was totally unprepared for what WDW is…the magic, the smells, the music and sounds.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

Two wow moments come to mind

The first time I walked into the Animal Kingdom lodge hotel is it huge and beautiful way better than it shows on Tv

Second is when I first saw the castle all lit up for Christmas. I can still stare at it for a good long while.

 

[Tonyz]

I get the wow feeling every time we go from the "outside" world onto Disney property. It never gets old. Everything is where it is supposed to be and all of the grass and landscaping looks perfect. It really gets you ready for you upcoming week of vacation and gives you that wow we are finally back here again.

You nailed it!! The moment I'm in the World, life is perfect!

I'll add the first morning of your first full day. Waking up in a beautiful resort, grabbing your mug for a quick drink of coffee, seeing all the other people doing the same thing - getting ready to start their day, hopping on the bus and going to rope drop at Magic Kingdom. We haven't even started the day yet, and it's already magical... and it's only the first morning!

One more: I love getting on the bus to go back to your resort after a great day in the World. Last year I was riding the bus back to the Beach Club after a night in Magic Kingdom. There were only a few people on the bus, and I had Disney songs playing on my Ipod. Driving by the billboards for Tower of Terror, It's Tough to be a Bug, Mission: Space; seeing signs directing you to Epcot or Animal Kingdom; passing by Caribbean Resort or Port Orleans... you really are in a completely different world, and it really is magical.

Wow, September cannot get here soon enough!

 

[daisyx3]

Has to be the castle. Family joke that I cry when I see it the first time. But now my oldest DD is married and living in CA--they went to DL and SHE cried. Ha ha, it's genetic.
I remember on our first trip my son was 2 and when he was excited he would say "lookit! Lookit!" He was really into MSEP, seeing Tigger and Tapestry of Nations. In fact I had to sing him the song from ToN at bedtime for a couple of years.
Our first trip was at the Poly too, which was a "wow" in itself.
Daisyx3

 

[Sparkly]

Taking the monorail through the Contemporary
Seeing the castle get closer as you travel across the lake on the ferryboat
The fireworks- both Illuminations and Wishes!
Walking into our room at Kidani and looking out from the balcony
Visiting the Poly, the GF and POR for dinner
Seeing CBR for the first time as we pulled into the resort on the ME
Riding new Dumbo at night time
Riding Peter Pan's Flight
Watching the MSEP- both from Frontierland and actually on Main Street! Plus watching it for the second time on the one night from the Hub at 11pm.
Mickey's Philarmagic- every time!

And many more WOW moments and amazing memories over 8 trips!

 

[lustergirl]

To the OP: Pop Century does give you a big WOW!! I didn't realize how big this resort was until we stayed there a few years back.

Just the sheer size of Disney World: WOW
My first ride on Splash Mountain and the big drop: WOW (still cant keep my eyes open to this day)
Illuminations at EPCOT: WOW
The overall atmosphere and caring of the great CM'S who work there: WOW!

Honestly in all of my Disney trips we have never had a difficult experience and I cant wait to go back.

 

[mseldga]

I was lucky enough to grow up fairly close to wdw, so I got to go to the magic kingdom lots of times as a kid including Night of Joy when youth groups got in at night for concerts and rides - so much fun - and Grad Night right before high school graduation. Anyone know if Disney still does those events? Other than those special times, the Wows that stick with me were:
- the first time I got to go on the brand new BTMR
- first time riding space mtn. I'd always been afraid as a little kid - for good reason - I'd been on the people mover through the mountain and thought the meteor streaks going by were the coaster! .
- seeing Epcot's giant "golf ball" for the first time. From the commercials, I thought the entire park was inside that ball. I was a strange child.

But, because we lived close by, I never got to stay on property. So, a more recent wow was my family's first stay at the Swan (I know it's not really a Disney resort but close enough). The incredible pools w/ baby ducks swimming in them! My daughter sawm around after them for hours and I thought, "Where else but Disney World would allow duck families to wander in the pools?"

 

[micksn]

The lobby at AKL on our once in a life time visit! Going back for fourth visit next month
Illuminations and Wishes
My DH actually enjoying himself and being photographed with characters

 

[Bigmo]

We had a breakfast ADR at Crystal Palace our very first day on out first visit to MK. Just being able to be in the park early before the crowd and getting that family picture with no crowd in front of the castle was Wow! Also being very first on Space Mountain was awesome as well.

 

[disnut8]

My first trip was in 1977 and I was fifteen. We went with lots of people to celebrate my sister's and another friend's high school graduation. I think we had a total of six campers at Fort Wilderness and each family did their own thing.

The trip was saved for over a year like all our family vacations were. There was a budget and we had routines on all our camping trips (two weeks every summer). For this one, we would eat all our meals at the campsite, not at the parks. That was too expensive. We arrived at Fort Wilderness around lunchtime, got all checked in, set up the trailer, ate lunch and then went over to the only park, Magic Kingdom. My sister and I were told that it was just to take a look around and we wold be returning to the campsite for dinner and our nightly fire. We left for Magic Kingdom around 2:00 PM.

We returned to the campsite about 2:00 AM. My WOW moment was seeing my father, who worked so hard as a truck driver to save for our vacations, just stare at everything at Magic Kingdom. he laughed, he joked, he smiled, he chatted with Cast Members. He bought our ticket books (this was back then) and said one was enough. And he was laughing later when he bought us another one. Dinnertime came and he guided us to the Columbia Harbor House. My sister and I were amazed because we never ate out for dinner on our trips. My dad laughed through that meal too. We watched the parade and the fireworks and then boated back to the campground. My dad was even laughing and *gasp* singing when we walked to our site.

And later that trip, my dad with his hands on his hips standing in the middle of the road saying "this place is neat". That was the highest compliment m my dad ever gave anything.

That first trip made all of us Disney fans. That's the WOW for me.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We went to Disneyland in 1977 & MK in 1985 (with friends when I was 17) and honestly don't recall any "wow" moments.

DW & I went to AK in 1998 & jumped on Safari right off the bat. Plenty of "wow" moments, but I specifically recall being excited (and surprised) to see Sable on that ride. I once read a story about a Sable that was attacked by 2 lions and the Sable killed them both. So, always been a fascinating animal to me & one I didn't expect to see on Kilimanjaro.


First "wow" moment with my own kids was also on Kilimanjaro - our first attraction visited in 2012. DD8 (then 6) is super nuts about giraffes. And we ended up in a giraffe traffic jam. Perfection

 

[lustergirl]

The lobby at AKL on our once in a life time visit! Going back for fourth visit next month
Illuminations and Wishes
My DH actually enjoying himself and being photographed with characters

The lobby at the AKL will take your breath away