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What Walt Disney World Used To Look Like

radiohost

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
My first trip to Walt Disney World came in the early 90's and since then I have been 100% crazy about the place. I remember seeing a website a few months back that had great pictures, history and details of attractions of the past. Does anyone know where I can find this website?

So what are your memories of WDW?? Obviously changes have taken place with rides, resorts...heck, the whole place has gotten bigger!! What can you remember about the attractions of the past that you still remember today?


Basically, this is a "I remember when" type thread...

Radiohost:cool:
 

ThinkTink721

Well-Known Member
My first trip to Walt Disney World came in the early 90's and since then I have been 100% crazy about the place. I remember seeing a website a few months back that had great pictures, history and details of attractions of the past. Does anyone know where I can find this website?

So what are your memories of WDW?? Obviously changes have taken place with rides, resorts...heck, the whole place has gotten bigger!! What can you remember about the attractions of the past that you still remember today?


Basically, this is a "I remember when" type thread...

Radiohost:cool:
My 1st visit was in 1977...only the MK was in existence then.
No Epcot, no AK, no MGM.
I was young, but I do remember walking through the castle for the 1st time & seeing the mosaics.
I also remember riding Space Mountain (it was fairly new then).
I remember the Electric Parade.
I also remember riding 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
I don't recall seeing many characters (I believe they are much more visible now).
I believe we stayed at FW because we took our camper.
We went to bed each night w/ the sound of fireworks from the MK in the distance.
It has really changed since then!
:wave:
 

Nansafan

Active Member
My first trip was in 1980. Sixteen of us in 4 cars drove down from Chicago (2 parents, 2-21 yr olds., 1-20, 2-19, 4-18, 1-17, 2-16, 1-14 and 1-9). I really don't know what my friends parents were thinking. We stayed at the Royal Plaza Hotel. All that was there was the MK and the Marketplace. We rode everything, 20,000, Mr. Toad, Space, Splash, Small World. What a blast! My next trip was my honeymoon in 1984 where we visited MK and Epcot and again stayed at the Hotel Royal Plaza. This was my husbands first trip and it was great showing him around. We next visited in 1993 with our 6 year old son. We stayed at the Poly with a lagoon view. The first night we drove down, we watched the fireworks from our lanai. We visited, MK, Epcot, MGM, and TL. Seeing WDW through my son's eyes was like seeing it for the first time. We have visited every year since then and still love going. Our trip for this summer has not been scheduled due to my niece's (a constant travel companion since 2000) diagnosis of Ewings Sarcoma. She started chemo this past weekend. Maybe we'll go at Christmas time.
 

jessfriends

Active Member
I remember when...I would drag my parents on Horizions. If the line was short I would keep going on it for 5+ times in a row! Especially when I knew it would be my last time since it was closing. I just kept going on it and my parents finally gave in and dragged me away. Still till this day they remember me wanting to go on that ride every second of the day. I also remember Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I am a big animal lover and I loved that ride. I also liked It's a Zip a dee do da Tip for today that aired on the resort TV. I also can remember what the Land pavillion looked like before Soarin. I remember how the food stations were setup. There is much more but these are the ones that just popped into my head.
 

whizGoofy

New Member
Could this be the site you're looking for?

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/


This is a great site for all things of "Old Disney". Even though in my eyes Disney could never get old!!

I remember the first time I arrived home, It was in 2001 and I was with my girlfriend. Niether one of us had been before, we were both deprived as children. We went to the magic Kingdom first and within 10 minutes got to see the head honcho himself, Mickey Mouse. We freaked out with excitment!! I had a permenant smile on my face the entire day. It was also the trip that I proposed to my girlfriend, she said yes and we have been back every year since. We had a great honeymoon 2 years ago, let me tell you what...Disney knows how to make someone feel like they are they only ones there. Thanks Walt!!
 

jalpcm

New Member
The earliest memories I have of Disney is being pushed around in the stroller down Main Street. I would say I was about 4 or 5, so that would make the year 1981ish. I remember watching the Electric Parade. I loved it!!!! I remember going on 20,000 Leagues. I wish they still had that ride. My parents still have the old pictures of it. I also remember going to Epcot and they were just building the Living Seas. I don't remember if that was the same trip or a different one, but the memories I do have are still as clear as if it were yesterday. Disney World has definitley doubled in size and magic since then. I love thinking back on all my wonderful trips I've had and how much Disney has changed since. That by far was one of the best things my parents gave me as a child. Now I am the parent and I am working on giving my daughter, who is 6, some great memories of Disney. We try to go at least once a year or once every two years. It is such an amazing thing to see Disney through her eyes. She has been to Disney three times already and we go again this October. She is so excited.

Thanks Disney for all the great memories and all our future memories!!!
:sohappy:
 

WDWFigment

Well-Known Member
My first trip was in 1980. Sixteen of us in 4 cars drove down from Chicago (2 parents, 2-21 yr olds., 1-20, 2-19, 4-18, 1-17, 2-16, 1-14 and 1-9). I really don't know what my friends parents were thinking. We stayed at the Royal Plaza Hotel. All that was there was the MK and the Marketplace. We rode everything, 20,000, Mr. Toad, Space, Splash, Small World. What a blast! My next trip was my honeymoon in 1984 where we visited MK and Epcot and again stayed at the Hotel Royal Plaza. This was my husbands first trip and it was great showing him around. We next visited in 1993 with our 6 year old son. We stayed at the Poly with a lagoon view. The first night we drove down, we watched the fireworks from our lanai. We visited, MK, Epcot, MGM, and TL. Seeing WDW through my son's eyes was like seeing it for the first time. We have visited every year since then and still love going. Our trip for this summer has not been scheduled due to my niece's (a constant travel companion since 2000) diagnosis of Ewings Sarcoma. She started chemo this past weekend. Maybe we'll go at Christmas time.

You must've been there for a really early soft opening if you saw Splash Mountain in 1980. :p
 

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