What are your first childhood memories of Disney?

[hooters dude]

I first went to Disney World back in around 1975 as a 6 year old! I don't remember being that excited before going (I was more excited about visiting America) as I didn't really know that much about it :shrug:

My first memory was my dad telling us that we were now on Disney property as we drove down towards the Magic Kingdom plaza. He tuned in the radio to the frequency advertised on the road signs and we all went silent as we listened to the announcements about the various Magic Kingdom attractions. I remember even as a 6 year old kid being amazed at the size and quality of the roads and being blown away when we arrived in the parking lot at all the cars! Back then the MK was the only major park, but still the world seemed a massive place back then.

I think like everyone the memory I'll never forget was seeing the castle for the first time from the bottom of Main St. I can remember feeling like I'd just set foot onto a movie set or into a book, it felt just so 'magical'. The first attraction we visited was 'Circlevision' and I remember being slightly bored by the film and having to stand . However after that we crossed to 'Mission to Mars' and I remember being completely blown away (no pun intended) by it and thinking what a wonderful place Disney was. I have no memories of having tantrums or getting cranky and it amazes me to see so many kids in the parks complaining when I visit?

I have loved the place since day one and now continue to visit annually with my lovely wife. Although we unfortunately can't have kids, we're like a couple of big kids ourselves when we visit and I always think back to that first time my dad took me all those years ago

:wave:

 

[Disney Soldier]

I remember we stayed at South of the Border on the way down from Pittsburgh. We stayed at Jellystone campground in Apopka and I remember the tickets for each ride.

Oh, and I think I remember seeing you there hooters dude.

 

[hooters dude]

I remember we stayed at South of the Border on the way down from Pittsburgh. We stayed at Jellystone campground in Apopka and I remember the tickets for each ride.

Oh, and I think I remember seeing you there hooters dude.

Yes, I was that handsome looking kid in the red t-shirt :lol:

You just reminded me about the tickets Disney Soldier! A book of tickets for different graded attractions, no doing Space Mountain four times in a day back then

:wave:

 

[Disney Soldier]

Yes, I was that handsome looking kid in the red t-shirt :lol:

You just reminded me about the tickets Disney Soldier! A book of tickets for different graded attractions, no doing Space Mountain four times in a day back then

:wave:

I thought that was you!!! I was the dork with my Mickey ears and my name embroiderred on it (Terry). Do they still do that?

It also gave our parents leverage to leave, when the tickets are gone the rides go away, I remember my mom saying.

 

[wvugeoggrad]

I don't remember a whole lot from my first visit since I was only 5 and never made it back till I was 23. Two things that really stick out are being terrified of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride :lookaroun and wondering why my grandma was "glowing" on Peter Pan!! :lol:

Luckily I was able to get over my fear of Mr. Toad last summer at Disneyland.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Getting reprimanded for dragging my new Figment stuffed animal hand puppet along the ground while in my stroller! :lol:
The rest I remember through video and pictures.

 

[LoriMistress]

My first memory was is of me when I was probably about one years old at DLR. I'm sitting in a DLR rented stoller, and wearing a cute Mickey Mouse outfit. My mom is sitting at the hub to relax. I'm facing Sleeping Beauty's castle, while I'm playing with my mom's keys. The funny thing about it, when I was little I knew EXACTLY where I was.

 

[IfWeCanDreamIt]

My first time to the world was in April of 2001, when I was in grade 5. My first and best memory was the first time I set foot in Epcot. It seemed so cool and so futuristic ( more so because I was young), but it also seemed really expansive to me ( also because I was young). Out of that day, I most vividly remember was my family and I's early morning jaunt into wonders of life. I'll never forget walking into that pavillion for the first time. I'll also never forget when my parents forced me and my sister onto body wars. It was sickening! Although I will remark, it really felt like a high tech medical center to me. Unfortunately as the Counting Crows once sang, you don't know what you got till it's gone, and I dearly miss body wars and the rest of Wonders of Life. Maybe it's just because that's what I remember most from my very first trip?

 

[Larry Mondello]

I have no childhood memories. It wasn't built yet.

Wow I'm old

 

[DizneyPryncess]

For some reason, the Grand Floridian had real rabbits in some kind of fenced off area in the lobby that kids could pick up & play with. It was Easter time, and I was really little. It was in the 80's. I just remember loving the bunnies and I have lots of pictures with them. We were taking the monorail to the monorail resorts before we went into the parks. Why? I have no idea...we were staying at Old Key West or Ft. Wilderness. Can't remember which!

 

[LSUxStitch]

Stating in Fort Wilderness with 10+ people and sleeping in the bunk beds haha.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

My first memory? Crying my eyes out as we passed the Earful Tower, becuase I thought we were just passing through WDW, not staying.:lookaroun:lol:

Real PARK memory? Standing under Spaceship Earth and wondering how they built a ball, and how was this going to be fun.

About an hour of waiting in line, and riding...I began to explore EPCOT.

 

[lennonluvr9]

Lol, I dont remember anything about my first trip cuz I was only 3 years old at the time, back in 1989. All I have to go on is what my family tells me. Apparently I absolutely loved Small World, cuz I thought they were all real kids and I wanted to get out of the boat and play with them.

The first trip I do remember was when we went in 1992, when I was 6. I remember the first day being mad about something when we went to the Tiki Room as our first stop of the day. I was very irritated for awhile, but the Enchanted-ness must have done the trick, since by the time the show ended, I was happy again. I remember seeing Pooh (in what was then Mickey's Starland) and getting all excited and making my family get off the train (cuz I could see him from the stop) just so I could get my picture with him. Haunted Mansion at the time scared me quite a bit. Now I cant get enough of it...Go figure.

 

[WDW1991]

My first memory of WDW is driving down towards the arch and thinking "i'm finally here" (I must of spent the last year or so planning what we were going to do and when lol). Being my first time there all of the billboard, the ones of Mission:Space and Tower of Terror, were fascinating to me. Once we made it to the arch I just looked out of the front of the car and felt like I was home, my first time home. Magical.

 

[shaelyn]

i don't remember much from my first trip. I was only five haha. I remember coming out of breakfast at the Crystal Palace. I remember hte yellow ponchos during a random downpour. There was also the time my sister and I "raced" to the hotel room and I got locked out haha. I also enjoyed the luau at the Poly and we played on the beach afterwards.

So yeah, little snippets, but not much from the parks themselves hahaha

 

[julsie]

mines isnt a childhood memory cos i didnt get to go to wdw untill i was 20, but it was when i walked into the magic kingdom for the 1st time an seeing the castle

 

[WDFAN1977]

My first trip was with my sister's family when I was 12 (1989). MGM had just opened and we stayed at the Royal Plaza in Disney Village. I remember going to River Country, and being able to see Pleasure Island's fireworks from our room. I don't remember anything from MK other than standing in line for Splash M. for what felt like 3 hours. I loved that first trip and it is what hooked me and made me a life long visitor. I am now taking my child (time goes by quickly):shrug:

 

[LongballMG]

Crying endlessly beacuse IaSW was closed for refurb.

It's my mother's favorite ride and she talked about it endlessly and when we got to the gates and saw it was closed I was inconsolable.

I did eventually get to ride it, but not the next trip in 1994 either.... I had to wait until 2000.

 

[Tinkrbell]

See the light-up plastic sun visors in the Disneyland Fun Sing-Along Song video & deciding that's what I wanted to buy once I got to Disney World when I was 4. I remember picking out a red one for & telling my mom we should get a blue one for my brother who was at home with Dad cuz it was a girls' trip.

I know things from my first trip when I was 2, but Im not sure if that's because I actually remember them, or if it's from the video of the trip or my parents telling me.

 

[rock_doctor]

Good Question

I remember waking up to the train whistle from the Fort Wilderness railroad (~72) and i also remember a launch driver letting me climb down into the engine room of one of the launches (from Ft Wilderness to the Contemporary). I remember tons of life jackets hanging on the walls and a BIG (to me) blue ford tractor engine (running on Natural Gas). I, at the time assumed it was steam. I was about 4 and was already fascinated with machinery. It's interesting how WDW changes when you move from a child's perspective to an adults perspective.