Which decade did you first visit WDW?

[Heppenheimer]

70s. I'm old enough to remember the movie theater in the Contemporary, which would show classic Disney animated films nightly. I even saw Song of the South here once. I even retain very vague memories of the long-gone Mickey Mouse Revue, although it's possible I only remember it from an old family 8 mm movie.

My mom still refers to Disney Springs as "Lake Buena Vista".

 

[DugLovesU]

January 2002. I had been curious for years but work & family obligations-along with a general inertia (OK laziness) kept me away. But the deals were so good right after 9/11 that I knew this was the time. I got a flight/4 nights hotel/rental car for $400 from LA CA. Even though it was freezing cold and I only made it to Epcot* I fell in love with the place and the general Central Florida area. I have returned nearly every year-in fact 2021 will be the first year I have missed . But I definitely plan to return in 2022 and forward God willing.

* I rode Body Wars & Cranium Command just before they disappeared.

 

[Brer Oswald]

2002, so I missed most of the golden age stuff from Epcot that I definitely would have loved (particularly Figment).

 

[StarshipDisney]

70s. I remember the Fiesta Fun Center at the Contemporary Resort blasted my mind and was far bigger than any beach arcade I had ever seen.

 

[Heppenheimer]

70s. I remember the Fiesta Fun Center at the Contemporary Resort blasted my mind and was far bigger than any beach arcade I had ever seen.

Filtered through my memory as a 4 year old, that arcade was huge. I seem to remember they even had a shooting gallery.

 

[StarshipDisney]

Filtered through my memory as a 4 year old, that arcade was huge. I seem to remember they even had a shooting gallery.

I believe they did. OMG I wish I had a picture. I have searched you tube and the internet but never found anything.

I remember the rows and rows of pool and air hockey tables, skeeball along one wall, rows of every kind of pinball machine they likely made at the time. I cannot find any old guide or picture, but this place was basically the first floor of the Contemporary behind what I believe is still the original check-in area. At the time, it was by far the largest room I had ever seen.

 

[Heppenheimer]

I believe they did. OMG I wish I had a picture. I have searched you tube and the internet but never found anything.

I remember the rows and rows of pool and air hockey tables, skeeball along one wall, rows of every kind of pinball machine they likely made at the time. I cannot find any old guide or picture, but this place was basically the first floor of the Contemporary behind what I believe is still the original check-in area. At the time, it was by far the largest room I had ever seen.

In my subjective memory, that room almost kind of resembles a casino gambling floor. There were no windows, the color schemes were a little more garish than the generally muted tones of the hotel at the time, and there was a nearly constant sensory barrage of flashing lights, tinkling bells and buzzers.

The more I think about it, I distinctly remember walking up to the shooting gallery, but it was out of order. There was a technician working on something underneath the front barrier, and I was slightly scared when he suddenly popped into view. Amazing the things that you retain from a very young age. I have vivid memories of this arcade, but I remember almost nobody amongst my early grade school classmates.

 

[JohnD]

I remember camping with the family in Fort Wilderness. It had a train then.

 

[Mickeynerd17]

2005, back when Epcot was still trying to follow its original ideals. WoL was closed (seasonal, I never saw it), Missed what was left of The Living Seas by a month, and Soarin was brand-new. SSE with the mickey wand is the only thing from that year I remember. Cinderellabration castle was a thing and honestly is one of my favorite castle overlays ever.

 

[plawren2]

December 1971, 15 trips so far (1970s=2, 1980s=1, 1990s=1, 2000s=5, 2010s=5, 2020s-first one this Nov)

 

[PSM]

Wow, I'm really surprised to see the 1970s with a strong lead on this one. I suspected either 80s or 90s would have the most votes. Very cool to see such a high percentage of members have experience at WDW that far back!

 

[Bpmorley]

We drove from Philadelphia twice in the 70s. 72 & 78. The first time we stayed at a holiday in and drove to MK. The second we stayed at the Polynesian. The monorail was awesome at that age. I didn't return til 2000. Joined DVC in 2004 and have been going multiple times per year since. Well except 2020, and maybe this year too. I'll be back when I don't have to wear a mask

 

[LaughingGravy]

1977. In order to get a reservation at the Contemporary, one had to wait on a phone line for reservations, I think, a year out. The Disney Village Hotel Plaza rooms were easier. IIRC, the Poly was the same price as the Contemporary, or only a tiny bit more expensive.
They added new things seemingly every year to keep us coming back, a new attraction, an overlay, or a new parade but also didn't remove things or shut so many things down for so long.
How many years was 20K Leagues Under the Sea closed or vacant space with a lame and tiny Pooh playground?
They bought all that land for a reason and set up the Reedy Creek Improvement District with Florida and they used to use it. Oh, and park hours used to be longer, so better value and more to do for resort guests outside of up-charge events. Aside from possible a concierge floor or area in the hotels, there didn't used to be any up-charge items, unless you rented a boat.
When they opened EPCOT, it was all open with the exception of Living Seas still needing to be completed.

 

[Raineman]

March of 1990, when I was 16. As a nerd/tech lover/future enthusiast/history & museum lover, Epcot, especially FW, blew my mind. They had to drag me kicking and screaming out of Communicore, and I could have stayed on Horizons for hours.

 

[WEDYENSID]

October 1975 (15 years old). Got to stay on the top floor at the Contemporary (My dad thinks we paid $60 per night). Got to ride Space Mountain, I think it was brand new at the time. Also rode the Skyway a zillion times (my dad had to keep buying us tickets, he's a good dad).
Me and my brother almost got kicked out of the park --- Even though my dad told us not to, we went out in one of the big grassy areas, just to see if the Big Topiary type animals had real plant material, and we were surrounded by 3 or 4 security guards within minutes (Good Times). They scolded us and said if we got caught again, they would throw us out of there

 

[disfountainofyouth]

Summer of '72 .

 

[Bullseye1967]

Our First visit was Christmas of 1971, but here is one I just found from 1973 at Fort Wilderness. Anyone else remember the ****

skin caps they sold in Frontierland?

 

[MouseMelly]

'84 at 6 weeks old

 

[Heppenheimer]

Our First visit was Christmas of 1971, but here is one I just found from 1973 at Fort Wilderness. Anyone else remember the **** View attachment 549669skin caps they sold in Frontierland?

Yup, those "raccoon" (to avoid the censor) skin caps were very popular, and Disney World seemed to be one of the last places to sell them. There was a time.in the early 80s where it seemed every boy in my nieghborhood who visited Disney World would come back wearing one.

Another big seller that I think we'll never see again were the realistic toy firearms.

 

[CosmicRays]

May 1993, right before Jurassic Park came out. I remember going to Universal too and there was tons of Jurassic Park toys and how excited I was at the time being 8 years old.