Fondest WDW memory from your childhood

[Lsumatt72]

My first trip to WDW was 1991. I was watching an old VHS a while back that my dad had recorded on our trip. Thinking back on those trips in the early 90's, I think my fondest memory is just having all of the characters wander the parks. You never really knew who you'd see around each corner, and watching the VHS, there were NO LINES for characters. This meant each character got to spend more time with each child and not rush them in and out, which definitely made for a more magical experience.

So what is your fondest childhood memory of yester-year?

 

[goofyfan78]

My first visit was also in 1991 and I was 13 years old. My favourite memory was arriving at the Magic Kingdom for the very first time on the ferry and just as the ferry docked and the gangplank was being lowered, Goofy, Pluto and Donald came running towards the ferry to greet us all. This was my first moment of feeling the excitement and real magic that disney gives to us all

 

[Schneewittchen]

My first trip to WDW was in the summer of 1985. My fondest memories are of EPCOT and the World Showcase in particular. For a little kid, it really was like stepping into a whole different country. I remember wandering around the Mexican pavilion after dark. The warmth of the lights, the joyful atmosphere and the wonderful music. We stopped to listen to a mariachi band. Morocco was another amazing immersive environment at night. I remember darting around corners and being mesmerized by the hand-painted tiles, silver fixtures, fine fabrics, all of it. And the CM's were so nice and seeming to want to share their culture.

At MK, 20 000 Leagues Under the Sea was the bee's knees. That's all I remember of that day.

 

[Tom]

I agree that it was a much more pleasant experience to interact with characters back then. We have photos of my brother and I with Pluto, somewhere back in World Showcase. It was just us two, hanging out with him, with no other guests even close by. And that's just one example.

I remember the days of no Fastpass, but also manageable lines and crowds.

 

[Tom]

My first visit was also in 1991 and I was 13 years old. My favourite memory was arriving at the Magic Kingdom for the very first time on the ferry and just as the ferry docked and just as the gangplank was being lowered, Goofy, Pluto and Donald came running towards the ferry to greet us all. This was my first moment of feeling the excitement and real magic that disney gives to us all

I loved the journey to the MK. We always stayed off property and would drive in, and got to experience everything from the tram to the ferry.

I remember how the characters used to water ski and play chicken with the ferries.

 

[belledream]

First trip in 1995, wore Belle's blue apron dress and met her at France. She said, "you look just like me!" It's the kind of thing I dream for my children someday.

Another was in 2006 around the time I knew my parents weren't getting along and the split was coming...we were staying at Beach Club and walking to EPCOT and we decided to race over and under the bridge in the walkway, my mom and I versus my dad and brother, laughing and giggling the whole way, hearing them do the same. One of those moments I'll always appreciate knowing how lucky we were to share those moments.

 

[Raineman]

I was 16 during my first visit in 1990, and my best memories were from Epcot, specifically Communicore and Horizons. I was a big sci fi/computer nerd, so those two attractions hooked me instantly.

 

[YozhikRoth]

Back in the early 80's, characters would actually greet you as you were exiting the plane. I remember being so excited to see Chip and Dale that I knocked the poor cast member backwards.

In terms of the Park, when I walked on Main Street for the first time. Before WDW, my experiences with amusement parks were cheesy Poconos parks and county fairs-everything at the MK just seemed unreal

 

[brb1006]

I remember seeing a big group of various Disney character heading to the parade entrance before the Share A Dream Come True Parade started back in 2004. It was one of the last times I've ever seen character wandering around the park at that point. I remember seeing no character attendants when they meet guests back then. This was back when character schedules weren't that know at the time. So I remember meeting Geppetto either near the flag pole or close to Cinderella Castle after the parade.

I used to have a crush on Minnie in 2006. I remember meeting her near Camp Minnie Mickey in Animal Kingdom and I remember blushing and made a goofy grin straight out of the scene from Bambi where Bambi gets kissed... licked by Feline. I remember telling my parents that I would never wipe that kiss away from my cheek. I still have the photo of that encounter.

 

[mf1972]

when I was 7-8, I was so excited to meet Chip & Dale that I forgot to get my autograph book back. I remember we were sitting in a nearby restaurant, & either Chip or Dale came over to hand it back to me & ruffled my hair.

 

[DisneyJunkie217]

My favorite childhood memory was my first trip back in 1995 (I was about 3 years old) - having dinner at one of the Wilderness Lodge restaurants and doing the stick horse race around the restaurant for a cookie prize. Its my first memory of ever being on property. Sadly I haven't been able to make it back to Wilderness Lodge since I've become an adult, but I hope to eventually bring my future children there and have them experience it.

 

[DisneyDelirious]

Slurping down the sweet contents of an orange shaped drink cup and seeing Spaceship Earth mid construction. Even partially built, it was huge and the coolest thing this farm kid had ever seen.

 

[MississippiBelle]

My fondest memories are from the early 2000s when I was in my very early teens (like 13 or 14). The parks were still ghosts towns during the week before Christmas during this time and we would stay at Magic Kingdom every single night until the last EMH. My brother and I felt like we owned the place. We thought we were the only ones to know certain "shortcuts" and the CMs would let you stay on the rides continuously if you wanted. They still served the strawberry vanilla swirl ice cream at that snack stand in Fantasyland too! Our most recent trips were almost disappointing because things are so different now. I say almost because it's hard to be disappointed in the World!

 

[WEDYENSID]

Riding the Skyway to Tomorrowland, and driving the Sea Raycer boats across Seven Seas Lagoon -1975!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I was already grown up and one month away from getting married when WDW opened up, so I'm afraid that I have no childhood memories of the place. In fact, I never set foot in any Disney Park until I was 35 years old with 7 year old and a 9 year old daughters.

I do, however, remember laying on the floor in front of the TV, eating a Fluffernutter and watching, with a certain amount of preteen emotion, Annette frolicking around Disneyland.

 

[DfromATX]

I don't have any childhood memories of WDW, so I came here to say y'all are so lucky to have experienced it in those days! My first trip was 2006 as an adult and my kids were 4 and 8-10 (great ages for Disney). Great memories! I did go to Disneyland back in the 80's but I barely remember it cause I'm old.

 

[World_Showcase_Lover007]

My first trip to WDW from which I have actual memories from was in 1997 when I was in the 7th grade on an out-of-state educational field trip. One of the best memories is hanging out with some of my friends at the TTC and then riding the monorail over to EPCOT and seeing all the parks and hotels far in the distance between all the trees. There is something very peaceful about being on the monorail and just gliding past everything, in what is otherwise typically a rather hectic experience when in the parks.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Great thread, @Lsumatt72 !

My first trip was in 1990 when I was 3.5 years old so I don't remember much from that other than the characters freely walking around and I remember refusing to go on Haunted Mansion (BTW I didn't open my eyes on it until I was 24!) I believe I also dragged my Figment hand puppet along the ground while in the stroller.

My next trip was in 1995 when I was 8. I have very vivid memories of staying at All Star Music, Broadway section which was only months old I believe. My aunt and I went down every morning to a small cart in a near by courtyard for her to get a coffee and I got a pink frosted sprinkled donut while my mom did her hair in the room. We woke up on Easter morning to melted chocolate on the door handle and I got a sun blister on the bridge of my nose that I still have a broken blood vessel "scar" from. I remember eating at Cape May and loving the Beach Club.
Funny how I remember all of this but barely the parks! Great memories!!

 

[networkpro]

My first trip in 1973 with my grandparents. Waiting in the line for the Polynesian review at the newly built covered stage area, being dive bombed by bees circling the huge punch bowl of Blue Hawaiian. Watching the review at the top of the world lounge! Wow was that ever a different place than today, the vegetation hadn't grown in yet so it was all bright and shiny new in clear cut brush.

 

[ShoalFox]

Returning to the parks for the first time in two years when I was 9 in 2007. I barely knew the parks at that point (didn't become a Disney fan until a year later), but it was awesome. My family visited Epcot at night (since it was and still is my favorite park), and I had a blast. Then the next day we went to MK and ate lunch at the Crystal Palace. When we went to MGM (yes, MGM), we got to ride RnRC twice in a row thanks to a very friendly CM.

Though I wasn't a Disney fan at the time, my December 2007 trip to WDW (and a trip to DLR in June of the same year) was what sparked my interest