What's your first memory of WDW?

[kevlightyear]

Originally posted by k9kris
I remember a moment during my last visit in 1985. I was but a slight 7 years old. It was a rainy day in the Magic Kingdom. My dad was busy dashing us in and out of shops keeping us dry. After several blurs of overly priced souvenirs and patrons dropping cash by the droves we finally arrived at our destination. Space Mountain stood towering over my rain-soaked, poncho-hooded head. The line for the attraction flowed across the Tomorrowland pavilion like the streams of water pouring from roof of the matallic monolith. Intimidated by the overpowering crowd, we hesitantly approached the lemming-esque death march. After what seemed like an eternity, our time for sheer pleasure arose. It all seems as though I had awoken from a strange dream when it ended. I try to remember it this day, but no such luck should arrive on my doorstep. My next journey in 40 days will awaken this buried memory impatiently waiting to be exposed.

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. . .like poetry--Disney poetry. What a writer you are!

I have so many memories, it's hard to pick one to share. Being deathly afraid to go on the Great Movie Ride, for fear of the bank exploding. . .World of Motion, and that spiral ascent. . .almost getting run over by the double decker bus at the UK in Epcot. . .the shoot-out in Frontierland. . .so many!!

 

[RobFL]

Sitting outside of Space Mountain.. waiting.. and wondering why we never could "find" the haunted mansion...

Next, less vague, memories are of Horizons - the robot chef, and World of Motion - the future car reflection. Then, sitting in the Odessey and getting my hand shaken extremely hard by Mickey and some chipmunk.

-Rob

 

[DisneyCP2000]

Most vivid memory would have to be arriving in Epcot in the family van. All I remember was that I kept staring at Spaceship Earth and was amazed at how big it was. After that: getting lost at the entrance of Epcot when I was a kid (I was at the turnstyles and my family was under SE).

 

[Just A Big Kid]

My first time to WDW was back in 82 when Epcot first opened. Magic Kingdom was ok to me i guess but Epcot fasinated me. Then back in 2000 i finally returned with my daughter and my girlfriend. I remembered the magic i felt in 82 and when we walked though the train station that first day i saw the same amazement and wonder in my daughters eyes as i had when i was a child, and being the normal dad.. I almost got upset seeing how happy she was But anyways... we've went back twice now, once in 2001 and just last month in 2002. Sharing that feeling of " WOW " with my daughter is in my opinion what makes Disney World the happiest place on earth

 

[gjpjtj]

Originally posted by Just A Big Kid
My first time to WDW was back in 82 when Epcot first opened. Magic Kingdom was ok to me i guess but Epcot fasinated me. Then back in 2000 i finally returned with my daughter and my girlfriend. I remembered the magic i felt in 82 and when we walked though the train station that first day i saw the same amazement and wonder in my daughters eyes as i had when i was a child, and being the normal dad.. I almost got upset seeing how happy she was But anyways... we've went back twice now, once in 2001 and just last month in 2002. Sharing that feeling of " WOW " with my daughter is in my opinion what makes Disney World the happiest place on earth

Very beautiful....and so true........

 

[dliddi]

The first thing I remember was seeing the MGM water tower. When we were coming from the airportthe first time, there was a road that turned right by it at the time, and I had that Disney wash come over me (you know the feeling none of can shake ever ) and I knew right then that it was going to be a special place, and just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[conntom]

My first memory was my Hotel the Polynesian Resort it was so
great it was 1974. they I went to MK and walking down main
street I saw the Castle for the first time. I found the Castle was
biger they I though and to go on a ride you had a book of
tickets. I did the Luau to that was fun

 

[Holly]

Originally posted by conntom
My first memory was my Hotel the Polynesian Resort it was so
great it was 1974. they I went to MK and walking down main
street I saw the Castle for the first time. I found the Castle was
biger they I though and to go on a ride you had a book of
tickets.

We stayed at the Poly too - in 1976. The thing I remember most about it was the luau - and standing up with about 100 other people and doing the hula.

 

[Sherm00]

i don't remember the year like 1979 or 1980, I was like 7 or 8 my brother was like 4 or 5 and my sister was like 3 or 4. I remember takeing the boat ride around tom sawyers island, my first ride on it's a small world (still one of my favorites) and (sigh) my first ride on mr. toad. my mom said that I had to ride that ride like 6 times. it was my favorite. we camped at ft. wilderness, I remember the steam train they had going around the campsite. the bon fire with chip and dale. I remember the only park there was the magic kingdom and down town disney was just a riverboat and a charector shop. since that was the only thing to do I also remember going to kennedy space center. a few years later 1985 or 86 not sure, epcot was there, and it was awesome. MGM wasn't built yet I remember seeing signs and when we got back home seeing commercials of the construction on the disney channel. then we went back for the 25th anniversary (pink castle cake) I thought that was fun and unique and imaginative. glad they painted it back again but for that year it was sure awesome. I remember thinking how the place grew. i remember riding mr. toad for the very last time and horizons. Animal kingdom wasn't there yet (see a pattern developing) and test track was not open yet. there was so much to do we rushed, I remember MGM for the first time and thought how neat it was. a park all about movies and theatre was really cool. there was so much to do we didn't get to universal. I will be going down the day after tomorrow. august 1st, hopeing to see animal kingdom for the first time, ride test track for the first time, and all my favorites again, although horizons and Mr. Toadare not there I hope pooh is a good replacement. there are more countries now in epcot and I want to see universal and island of adventure. though old rides will be missed the new ones should also be nice. and when I have kids of my own and take them down they will have favorites. and thats what disney is all about not the rides, but fun, for kids and adults. I can't wait to go.

 

[nikimsu2002]

My very first WDW memory is from when I was about 5 years old. I went on the trip with my family and my aunt, uncle, and cousins. I remember me and my brother and my 2 cousins looking into the little shop windows in Mickey's Birthdayland. I also remember that all 8 of us stayed in one of the treehouses and at the bus stop my uncle used to play games with us while we waited for the bus.

My most vivid memory is of the trip we took for my Senior Trip last April. My boyfriend and my brother's best friend went with us and my boyfriend convinced me to go on all the roller coasters despite the fact that I don't like them. He even convinced my brother's best friend to do it and he feels the same way I do about roller coasters. The picture we got of the 4 of us on Rock N Roller Coaster is hilarious. Two of us are holding on for dear life with our eyes closed and the other two don't. Another favorite memory from that trip was the day my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins came to MK and spent the day with us. My cousins are 5 and 7 and had so much fun with us. My boyfriend and I took them on a bunch of rides like HM and Aladdin's Carpet Ride and they had so much fun. Also when all of us went on PotC, I was sitting between my cousins and the five year old had his hand on my knee the entire time. When we went over the drop, he put all his weight on my knee until it was over. Then the rest of the ride, he had the biggest smile on his face and he sat there and made fun of all the pirates.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

The monorail ride towards MK, riding through The Contemporary Resort (on a monorail !!!!!),the views of the castle and then walking along Main Street - taking in the atmosphere, the sights, sounds and smells (all pleasant) and just being completely over - awed by the whole thing and thinking :
"I just gotta come back again" :sohappy:

 

[tarabl]

I remember in 1976 they had a bicentenial parade theme and the people in the parade were dressed in early era costumes with these HUGE heads. Also using single tickets for rides and ALWAYS having to have my parents buy more "E" tickets.

 

[jmewin]

My first memory of WDW was from 1979. Seeing Ci
nderella's(sp?) Castle at the end of main street





Contemporary 1979/1990
CBR 1996
CS 1999
POFQ 11-2002

 

[kwt10]

Never fails that the first time that we turn the corner and see main street and the castle it feels like the first time. My family went when WDW first opened and I still get that awsome excited feeling when I see that wonderful street.

 

[cymbaldiva]

I have so many wonderful WDW memories that no one in particular stands out - does that make me a total defect? :veryconfu

 

[roysta123]

My first memory of WDW is the show in Mickey's Birthdayland where Mickey pops out of the birthday cake.

 

[AdLibSean]

Gosh when I was about 4 I remember riding the Monorail and being scared to death walking into Magic Kingdom because of the characters being out and about. I was scared of anything of that nature, clowns too. I feel awful now cuz I made my family miss Mickey's Birthday Celebration Show when Mickey's Birthday Land first opened. Never got any free cake...

 

[mickeyfanatics]

Believe it or not, sitting in a stroller at the age of 2 watching the Main Street Electrical Parade. The lights were just so bright. Now I really enjoy Spectromagic.

 

[dreamer]

November 1973.

It was cold -- at least cold for us Miamians (don't live there any more). I remember the lights twinkling on main street as the sun went down. To me, the best part of the Magic Kingdom is Main Street after dark.

I also remember the long, long drive down that road to the TTC.

I still have brochures from that visit.

 

[mousecar]

It was 1974. I thought 20,000 leagues under the sea was unbelievable! I also remember riding the WDW RR in the dark holding my wooden musket ( with the black metal tip, not the plastic orange ones!)