I was thinking last night, this could be a fun (or extremely boring) thread. There's a lot of negativity on the boards, much coming from me. But I thought I'd start a happy little thread about my history with WDW, and how I fell in love with it. Feel free to ask questions, or post your own auto-biography.
1986. My first trip. At the time, there was obviously just the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center. I went my with mother, step-father and 2 sisters. I was 10 years old. We stayed for 4 nights at the Quality Inn on International Drive.
We spent 2 days at the Magic Kingdom and 1 day at Epcot. We had a great time. I remember being too scared to ride Space Mountain, and Thunder Mountain was closed. I met Mickey for the 1st time. He was walking out from backstage. I went up to him to give him a hug, and he basically pushed me away. Amazing I still love the rodent. Anyways, I had fun and obviously looked forward to going back, but that was about all. It was also my first time on an airplane, so that was pretty exciting.
1990. My second trip. I was 14, and I went with my Dad, step-mother, sister and 2nd cousin and his wife. We stayed at the Fortune Place Resort in Kissimmee.
This was the first trip I rode both Thunder and Space Mountain. It was also the first trip that Disney-MGM Studios was open. We stayed for 7 nights. We spent 5 days at WDW. This was the trip I became obsessed with WDW. I remember getting home from that trip I was extremely depressed. For about 2 years, I would sit and look through the pictures of the Disney Pictorial Souvenir book, wishing I was still there, and praying someone would take me back.
I would also frequently look at my 5 day passport longing to be back.
It was a really weird time for me. I always thought of WDW and how much I missed it. I remember walking to school and I had to cross these train tracks. Every day, I would look at them and think of Thunder Mountain. Looking back at it, it was very odd that at that age I felt this way.
Skip ahead 6 years to 1996. I've just turned 20. My best friend calls me in early February and says that he's going to WDW with his parents next month, and they're allowing him to bring a friend of his. I jump at the chance, as all I have to pay for is my ticket and spending money. I save all my money from my $5.00 per hour retail job and we go. It's my 1st time staying on site. We stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort.
I immediately fall in love with staying on-site, and realize, I'll never stay off-site in any other trips. We have a great time. We also visit Universal Studios which has just opened.
The following year, I make my first trip with just my friends. We stay at All Star Sports in the tennis section.
By this time, I'm completely in love with WDW, and every trip for the next few years after will be with different friends, and we always stay at what will become my favorite resort at the time, All Star Movies.
I have a nice streak of being able to go for about 5 straight years. Then, I run into some money problems. I'm now living in an apartment where rent is expensive, and I have to take about a 4 year break from WDW. I'm watching planning videos all the time to remind me of WDW. In November 2003, I meet a girl, who I would marry 18 months later. As it tuns out, she's a big WDW fan as well. We take our 1st trip together in January of 2004, and stay at ASMovies. In September of 2004, we take our 2nd trip together, and our first with her son who is 4 at the time, and stay at 3 different resorts - ASMovies, Old Key West (first time renting DVC points) and Pop Century.
PC is a last minute decision to stay 1 extra night, as this was during the hurricane that the parks were closed for about 3 days. In May 2005, we get married at the Polynesian.
Sadly, we're still kind of low on cash, so our honeymoon is spent at Pop Century. We take our annual summer trip in 2006, again staying at Pop Century. We welcome our twin boys in February 2007. We make our first trip with the twins in June of 2007, and stay at Port Orleans Riverside for just 4 nights.
We have a great time as always. In December of 2007, we have our first Deluxe stay, at what will become my favorite resort, the Wilderness Lodge.
Also my first time seeing WDW with Christmas decorations up. In the next 5 years, we have been fortunate enough to go twice per year and stay at some of the most beautiful resorts on property.
And next July, we'll be spending our first trip at the Beach Club Villas.
Well, that's about it. A little photographic memoir of me and WDW. Hope you enjoyed this stroll down memory lane as I have.
1986. My first trip. At the time, there was obviously just the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center. I went my with mother, step-father and 2 sisters. I was 10 years old. We stayed for 4 nights at the Quality Inn on International Drive.
We spent 2 days at the Magic Kingdom and 1 day at Epcot. We had a great time. I remember being too scared to ride Space Mountain, and Thunder Mountain was closed. I met Mickey for the 1st time. He was walking out from backstage. I went up to him to give him a hug, and he basically pushed me away. Amazing I still love the rodent. Anyways, I had fun and obviously looked forward to going back, but that was about all. It was also my first time on an airplane, so that was pretty exciting.
1990. My second trip. I was 14, and I went with my Dad, step-mother, sister and 2nd cousin and his wife. We stayed at the Fortune Place Resort in Kissimmee.
This was the first trip I rode both Thunder and Space Mountain. It was also the first trip that Disney-MGM Studios was open. We stayed for 7 nights. We spent 5 days at WDW. This was the trip I became obsessed with WDW. I remember getting home from that trip I was extremely depressed. For about 2 years, I would sit and look through the pictures of the Disney Pictorial Souvenir book, wishing I was still there, and praying someone would take me back.
I would also frequently look at my 5 day passport longing to be back.
It was a really weird time for me. I always thought of WDW and how much I missed it. I remember walking to school and I had to cross these train tracks. Every day, I would look at them and think of Thunder Mountain. Looking back at it, it was very odd that at that age I felt this way.
Skip ahead 6 years to 1996. I've just turned 20. My best friend calls me in early February and says that he's going to WDW with his parents next month, and they're allowing him to bring a friend of his. I jump at the chance, as all I have to pay for is my ticket and spending money. I save all my money from my $5.00 per hour retail job and we go. It's my 1st time staying on site. We stay at the Caribbean Beach Resort.
I immediately fall in love with staying on-site, and realize, I'll never stay off-site in any other trips. We have a great time. We also visit Universal Studios which has just opened.
The following year, I make my first trip with just my friends. We stay at All Star Sports in the tennis section.
By this time, I'm completely in love with WDW, and every trip for the next few years after will be with different friends, and we always stay at what will become my favorite resort at the time, All Star Movies.
I have a nice streak of being able to go for about 5 straight years. Then, I run into some money problems. I'm now living in an apartment where rent is expensive, and I have to take about a 4 year break from WDW. I'm watching planning videos all the time to remind me of WDW. In November 2003, I meet a girl, who I would marry 18 months later. As it tuns out, she's a big WDW fan as well. We take our 1st trip together in January of 2004, and stay at ASMovies. In September of 2004, we take our 2nd trip together, and our first with her son who is 4 at the time, and stay at 3 different resorts - ASMovies, Old Key West (first time renting DVC points) and Pop Century.
Sadly, we're still kind of low on cash, so our honeymoon is spent at Pop Century. We take our annual summer trip in 2006, again staying at Pop Century. We welcome our twin boys in February 2007. We make our first trip with the twins in June of 2007, and stay at Port Orleans Riverside for just 4 nights.
We have a great time as always. In December of 2007, we have our first Deluxe stay, at what will become my favorite resort, the Wilderness Lodge.
Also my first time seeing WDW with Christmas decorations up. In the next 5 years, we have been fortunate enough to go twice per year and stay at some of the most beautiful resorts on property.
Well, that's about it. A little photographic memoir of me and WDW. Hope you enjoyed this stroll down memory lane as I have.
