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First time
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Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Imagine, if you will, it's 1983. I was 35 years old and had never been to a Disney Park. I was 7 when DL opened and watched the Mickey Mouse Club religiously. Through that I saw a lot of the park. I wasn't sure how WDW would work with an adult, but my wife and children had never been, EPCOT Ctr. had just opened and we had the opportunity to go...so we went.
I really didn't know what to expect, but, while driving on property they had signs telling you what radio frequency to tune into for directions. I tuned in and for some reason from that point on I was hooked. Even the parking procedure impressed me. The tram ride was funny and great to the point that even today, if I don't drive and use the trams a large part of the experience is missing. We took the Monorail to MK and we were all so high by that time (on life) that we could have gone home from there and have had a great vacation. Fortunately, we went into the park. I'm sure my jaw didn't close back up for a week.
This was before Fastpass so you just went to whatever attraction you wanted. One had to stand in line in all of them, but, I don't remember it being overly long, and when it did stretch out on rides like Peter Pan, we just laughed and joked about it with other people (strangers) in the line with us. Not once did we get off the ride saying that it wasn't worth the wait. We went to HM and at the time, my youngest daughter was just a month shy of being 7 years old. I'll tell you why I brought that up in a second.** My older daughter had just turned 9 years old. Both of them went on every single ride with us. And never uttered any words like afraid or I don't wanna!
My favorite memory was when we rode the Carousel of Progress. At the time the theme song was "Best Time of our Lives". In the short time we were on the ride, the three of us memorized the words and the melody only to drive my wife crazy all the way back to Vermont by car. Everything was a marvel for a group of Vermonters that had been staring at snow for the previous 4 months.
We went to EPCOT and didn't stay very long because compared to MK it just seemed unorganized and lacking in anything interesting. OK, I know, we didn't look close enough, but, that's what happened and I don't mind letting you all know how stupid a newbie can be.
Anyway, myself and my daughters, all fully grown with their own children now are still huge fans of the place. As for my wife...well she's is now my X-wife...she didn't care for the place! Just kidding, she is my X but I don't have a clue as to her feelings currently.
** A few years later we went again. This time everyone was a little older. I asked the girls if there was anything special that they wanted to see or see again. My youngest said, she wanted to go to HM because she had never seen it. I corrected her and told her that we had indeed been on HM. Her reply was...I know we were on it but my eyes were closed the whole time so I've never seen it.
This is my girls and I on that first trip.
I really didn't know what to expect, but, while driving on property they had signs telling you what radio frequency to tune into for directions. I tuned in and for some reason from that point on I was hooked. Even the parking procedure impressed me. The tram ride was funny and great to the point that even today, if I don't drive and use the trams a large part of the experience is missing. We took the Monorail to MK and we were all so high by that time (on life) that we could have gone home from there and have had a great vacation. Fortunately, we went into the park. I'm sure my jaw didn't close back up for a week.
This was before Fastpass so you just went to whatever attraction you wanted. One had to stand in line in all of them, but, I don't remember it being overly long, and when it did stretch out on rides like Peter Pan, we just laughed and joked about it with other people (strangers) in the line with us. Not once did we get off the ride saying that it wasn't worth the wait. We went to HM and at the time, my youngest daughter was just a month shy of being 7 years old. I'll tell you why I brought that up in a second.** My older daughter had just turned 9 years old. Both of them went on every single ride with us. And never uttered any words like afraid or I don't wanna!
My favorite memory was when we rode the Carousel of Progress. At the time the theme song was "Best Time of our Lives". In the short time we were on the ride, the three of us memorized the words and the melody only to drive my wife crazy all the way back to Vermont by car. Everything was a marvel for a group of Vermonters that had been staring at snow for the previous 4 months.
We went to EPCOT and didn't stay very long because compared to MK it just seemed unorganized and lacking in anything interesting. OK, I know, we didn't look close enough, but, that's what happened and I don't mind letting you all know how stupid a newbie can be.
Anyway, myself and my daughters, all fully grown with their own children now are still huge fans of the place. As for my wife...well she's is now my X-wife...she didn't care for the place! Just kidding, she is my X but I don't have a clue as to her feelings currently.
** A few years later we went again. This time everyone was a little older. I asked the girls if there was anything special that they wanted to see or see again. My youngest said, she wanted to go to HM because she had never seen it. I corrected her and told her that we had indeed been on HM. Her reply was...I know we were on it but my eyes were closed the whole time so I've never seen it.
This is my girls and I on that first trip.
Disvillain63
Well-Known Member
April 1972 was my first time (8 years old), I remember parking in "Chip-n-Dale" and that impressed me. It was my first tram ride and then the monorail...totally awesome. When we walked through the tunnel and onto Main Street, it was 'magical'. We wanted to see it all and ride the trolley...no the horse-drawn carriage...no the fire engine...we wanted it all. Back then, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse was 'magical'. The only disappoint that I remember is that my dad didn't want to pay for more than the base ticket book, so we had only one of each ticket...except maybe 2 'E' tickets...Small World and Jungle Cruise...
September 1990 was my DS's first time and September 1993 was my DD's first time. It was definitely 'magical' to watch their eyes, as we rode the bus towards the MK, when they first saw the castle and monorail. They were wide-eyed at both.
September 1990 was my DS's first time and September 1993 was my DD's first time. It was definitely 'magical' to watch their eyes, as we rode the bus towards the MK, when they first saw the castle and monorail. They were wide-eyed at both.
All Disney All The Time
Well-Known Member
Congratulations to all of you on your experiences and Disney-fandom.
CtDisneyGuy33
Well-Known Member
I remember my first time at Disney World and it was magical. The noises, the smells, the long walk from the Tram. It was absolutely amazing. I remember meeting Mickey as the highlight of my day- having him sign my autograph book.
I remember also going to Epcot Center my first time and going to The Living Seas with my Dad and getting in the VIP area because he was employed by United Technologies /P&W. We walked around like kings with our free soda. I miss that and him terribly, but will always remember my first time at Epcot!!
I remember also going to Epcot Center my first time and going to The Living Seas with my Dad and getting in the VIP area because he was employed by United Technologies /P&W. We walked around like kings with our free soda. I miss that and him terribly, but will always remember my first time at Epcot!!
Wow.What a great story. The monorails, trams, COP song, and Disney Radio! Oh as soon as we could tune onto Disney Radio I would get so excited I nearly split in two! Thank you for that story, so wonderful.I too had the same reaction to HM when I was 7 in 1971.Imagine, if you will, it's 1983. I was 35 years old and had never been to a Disney Park. I was 7 when DL opened and watched the Mickey Mouse Club religiously. Through that I saw a lot of the park. I wasn't sure how WDW would work with an adult, but my wife and children had never been, EPCOT Ctr. had just opened and we had the opportunity to go...so we went.
I really didn't know what to expect, but, while driving on property they had signs telling you what radio frequency to tune into for directions. I tuned in and for some reason from that point on I was hooked. Even the parking procedure impressed me. The tram ride was funny and great to the point that even today, if I don't drive and use the trams a large part of the experience is missing. We took the Monorail to MK and we were all so high by that time (on life) that we could have gone home from there and have had a great vacation. Fortunately, we went into the park. I'm sure my jaw didn't close back up for a week.
This was before Fastpass so you just went to whatever attraction you wanted. One had to stand in line in all of them, but, I don't remember it being overly long, and when it did stretch out on rides like Peter Pan, we just laughed and joked about it with other people (strangers) in the line with us. Not once did we get off the ride saying that it wasn't worth the wait. We went to HM and at the time, my youngest daughter was just a month shy of being 7 years old. I'll tell you why I brought that up in a second.** My older daughter had just turned 9 years old. Both of them went on every single ride with us. And never uttered any words like afraid or I don't wanna!
My favorite memory was when we rode the Carousel of Progress. At the time the theme song was "Best Time of our Lives". In the short time we were on the ride, the three of us memorized the words and the melody only to drive my wife crazy all the way back to Vermont by car. Everything was a marvel for a group of Vermonters that had been staring at snow for the previous 4 months.
We went to EPCOT and didn't stay very long because compared to MK it just seemed unorganized and lacking in anything interesting. OK, I know, we didn't look close enough, but, that's what happened and I don't mind letting you all know how stupid a newbie can be.
Anyway, myself and my daughters, all fully grown with their own children now are still huge fans of the place. As for my wife...well she's is now my X-wife...she didn't care for the place! Just kidding, she is my X but I don't have a clue as to her feelings currently.
** A few years later we went again. This time everyone was a little older. I asked the girls if there was anything special that they wanted to see or see again. My youngest said, she wanted to go to HM because she had never seen it. I corrected her and told her that we had indeed been on HM. Her reply was...I know we were on it but my eyes were closed the whole time so I've never seen it.
This is my girls and I on that trip.
I was also 8 in 1972. Do you remember The Lunching Pad in Tomorrowland?
englanddg
One Little Spark...
I was tasked to write a comparison between the parks, and it's still not complete because to me...DLC was just the first draft.
WDW is where I grew up (with Disney Parks), and is so ingrained in how I view Disney Parks, that even DLC seemed like a faded copy to me (even though it was the original).
The size differences alone strike you at first.
Point is, I've found it very difficult to compare the two, as I find myself biased towards WDW every time. The scope and scale is just...not comparable.
(ducks to avoid the slaps he's about to receive from DLC lovers)
Mind you, DLC is worth visiting, and I completely get why people like it. Where I think they make up for the size difference, at least in my experience, is that DLC still seems to pay attention to little details (as I mentioned, the Main Street vehicles that have long since passed away at MK). As a result, they squeeze in far more little unique things that just aren't at MK or WDW, where they seem to impress with size, rather than experience.
Even California Adventure has joined in with this theme, as I found the walk along Hollywood Blvd towards Tower of Terror with the streetcar lines above, and an active streetcar, and all the little nooks, much better than the current walks down streets in HS.
The Park seems to hum with a much simpler, but much more unique vibe than MK, which in my opinion is a lot of fun, and majestic (the physical buildings are beyond compare)...but not as quaint (and I mean that as a compliment).
That being said...I prefer WDW.
I was tasked to write a comparison between the parks, and it's still not complete because to me...DLC was just the first draft.
WDW is where I grew up (with Disney Parks), and is so ingrained in how I view Disney Parks, that even DLC seemed like a faded copy to me (even though it was the original).
The size differences alone strike you at first.
Point is, I've found it very difficult to compare the two, as I find myself biased towards WDW every time. The scope and scale is just...not comparable.
(ducks to avoid the slaps he's about to receive from DLC lovers)
Mind you, DLC is worth visiting, and I completely get why people like it. Where I think they make up for the size difference, at least in my experience, is that DLC still seems to pay attention to little details (as I mentioned, the Main Street vehicles that have long since passed away at MK). As a result, they squeeze in far more little unique things that just aren't at MK or WDW, where they seem to impress with size, rather than experience.
Even California Adventure has joined in with this theme, as I found the walk along Hollywood Blvd towards Tower of Terror with the streetcar lines above, and an active streetcar, and all the little nooks, much better than the current walks down streets in HS.
The Park seems to hum with a much simpler, but much more unique vibe than MK, which in my opinion is a lot of fun, and majestic (the physical buildings are beyond compare)...but not as quaint (and I mean that as a compliment).
That being said...I prefer WDW.
So WDW Is more majestic and DL more quaint and charming?I was tasked to write a comparison between the parks, and it's still not complete because to me...DLC was just the first draft.
WDW is where I grew up (with Disney Parks), and is so ingrained in how I view Disney Parks, that even DLC seemed like a faded copy to me (even though it was the original).
The size differences alone strike you at first.
Point is, I've found it very difficult to compare the two, as I find myself biased towards WDW every time. The scope and scale is just...not comparable.
(ducks to avoid the slaps he's about to receive from DLC lovers)
Mind you, DLC is worth visiting, and I completely get why people like it. Where I think they make up for the size difference, at least in my experience, is that DLC still seems to pay attention to little details (as I mentioned, the Main Street vehicles that have long since passed away at MK). As a result, they squeeze in far more little unique things that just aren't at MK or WDW, where they seem to impress with size, rather than experience.
Even California Adventure has joined in with this theme, as I found the walk along Hollywood Blvd towards Tower of Terror with the streetcar lines above, and an active streetcar, and all the little nooks, much better than the current walks down streets in HS.
The Park seems to hum with a much simpler, but much more unique vibe than MK, which in my opinion is a lot of fun, and majestic (the physical buildings are beyond compare)...but not as quaint (and I mean that as a compliment).
That being said...I prefer WDW.
englanddg
One Little Spark...
That's where I'm arriving at, yes.
diznyboyz
Well-Known Member
Back in high school with my high school band, it was my first time but I was not paying attention apparently due to the fact that I do not have memories of anything other than souvenir shops as I was a very shy person and stuck to a smaller group of kids rather than the large group that knew how to have fun. In 2005, it was my second time but the first time with my two out of three sons and DH. One of my best memories of that particular "first trip" was when I was holding hands with my then 13 year old austistic son and saw the look of awe on his face as we entered the gates of Magic Kingdom and saw the castle. That moment brought tears to my eyes. Just as that night, watching as my son was stemming (getting excited) because the beautiful fireworks were overwhelming for him but at the same time bringing him such joy. Now he is 16. Anyone who has an autistic child will understand when I say that each time we go, for him, it is a brand new trip and just as if he had never been there. But I can tell you he is more verbal now and knows on Mapquest how to get from our house to Disney World. We have 49 days left until our new adventure at our most favorite place.... DISNEY! Treat every trip as though it was your first and you will never go wrong!!!
Disvillain63
Well-Known Member
I can't say that it stands out in my mind.
Emie
Well-Known Member
I live in France and I grew up with Disneyland Paris, I even work there now. When I was young, I used to watch a video and I was thinking "This is NOT Disneyland Paris", so I searched on the internet and saw pictures of WDW: OMG. Since this day, my dream was "Going to WDW"!!!
My dream came true in september 2010, my first trip to WDW (and my first time in the U.S.A)!! I was with 2 friends, one of them already knew the place, he did and decided everything so it was perfect for us. I cried when I arrived and I cried when I left!! It was the happiest moments of my life, even if I went to WDW two times in 2012, my first trip was the best beacause it was the first!!
This is the video I used to watch
My dream came true in september 2010, my first trip to WDW (and my first time in the U.S.A)!! I was with 2 friends, one of them already knew the place, he did and decided everything so it was perfect for us. I cried when I arrived and I cried when I left!! It was the happiest moments of my life, even if I went to WDW two times in 2012, my first trip was the best beacause it was the first!!
This is the video I used to watch
Uncle Remus
Well-Known Member
1986. I was 5 and refused to take a picture with the Big Bad Wolf.
That is so funny. I was scared of the characters and also really shy of them,
Why?
luv
Well-Known Member
I was an adult, solo, in Orlando for work.
Like many firsts, my first Disney experience was not the best one I ever had...but it was magical, memorable and unique...I had a sort of out-of-body experience, seeing the castle from Main Street, lol. Literally a dream come true. I'd always wanted to go.
Like many firsts, my first Disney experience was not the best one I ever had...but it was magical, memorable and unique...I had a sort of out-of-body experience, seeing the castle from Main Street, lol. Literally a dream come true. I'd always wanted to go.