When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

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Debbie@Disney
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby Debbie@Disney » Wed Jan 27, 2021 4:29 am

My first trip was in 2011 with my husband for our 40th anniversary (and we both turned 60 that year as well).
I grew up in La Mirada, CA and treasure my memories of going to Disneyland with family and friends.
I never dreamed I would get a chance to go to Walt Disney World but when it happened it was everything and more that I had wished for.
Stepping off of that Magical Express into the torch-lit path to the front door of the Polynesian - I can't express how I felt it was so good.

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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby Aprilshack » Wed Jan 27, 2021 5:15 am

My first visit was only this January 2020. Fingers crossed for this December as I am going back then.
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby GAN » Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:11 am

1975....I was 12yo. I wonder what one of those ticket books would cost if buying today???
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby Pixiedustmama » Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:26 am

I think i was 4 the first time i visited The World. That would have been 1985. i know that not all the pavillions in EPCOT were built yet. Fun fact. My mom recently found our tickets from that trip.
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby Paul Engle » Wed Jan 27, 2021 6:31 am

My very first visit was in 1985 with my family. Love the experience and have come back multiple times and will be back in the future. Love Disney. :D
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby CarrieMcClaine » Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:02 am

I dreamt my whole childhood of going to Disney World. My family couldn't afford it. In 2002 I was living on my own as a young adult. I saved up the money and went on what I thought would be my only trip. That was my first of many trips. Now I'm a DVC member.
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby Courtney Scott » Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:13 am

In 1982 when I was 4. I beat the 3 Little Pigs with my Goofy hat because I was embarrassed that my Grandmother wanted me to get a picture with them. My family never let me live it down. :lol: Ah memories.
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby JanS Disney1974 » Wed Jan 27, 2021 7:39 am

My first trip to Disney World was on our honeymoon in September 1974. We stayed at the Contemporary for a week. We were 20 so too young to rent a car so took a bus -probably Mears- no such thing as Magical Express. From the moment the bus drove under the lake and we saw the resort we were hooked! It took me 12 years before I could convince him to go anywhere else on vacation (I finally talked him into Hawaii) We were the first of our friends to get married and we bought so many souvenirs for friends and family . The resorts didn’t sell luggage , we ended up going to Fort Wilderness and begged for a box at the store there and bought tape so we could pack all we bought. I remember when we got off the plane in Chicago between us we had $6.00. We bought our first DVC at Old Key West in 1997, been to WDW over 100 times. My husbands last trip was Dec 2017. He didn’t want to leave Magic Kingdom, he said he didn’t think he would return. A week later we found out his cancer returned and 6 weeks later he passed away. I’ve been back to WDW either solo trips or I bring my friends, will be back in March solo.
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When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby macbra » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:11 am

Hi guys
I visited Disney World for the first time back in 1980! ;)
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby Lovedisney20 » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:25 am

DLandChris wrote: Tue Jan 26, 2021 6:55 pm 1988! I went with my parents while my one-year-old brother stayed behind. And I still have the guide map from that time.

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Wow that is amazing!!! That would look so cool framed in one of those free floating frames! Like this:
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby amiamiami13 » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:26 am

I like to say that my first WDW trip was in Summer 1994 when my mom was pregnant with me, but technically it was Spring 2000 when I was in kindergarten! I love to look at pictures of my Disney in 2000, I love all the millennium celebration things!
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby WisconsinDisneyDad » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:31 am

My wife went a few times as a kid, but she finally was able to talk me into it. So we went in Feb 2020 with our then 2 year old. AND IT WAS AMAZING. I'm hooked. To see our daughter light up with characters was worth every penny. Thankfully we got to experience the parks prior to the covid shutdown, but even our 2 trips during covid were just as amazing. Now we're hoping they open up Annual Passes again so we can get them. Worth the travel from Wisconsin!
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby Lovedisney20 » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:34 am

My first time visiting was in 2001! The next time I went was on my Disney College Program in 2018. I have been back many times since!
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby benlawson992 » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:38 am

I first visited Walt Disney World in 2015 and have been since in 2017 and 2019
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby danlb_2000 » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:46 am

I first visited Disney World in 1985. Epcot really made an impression on me, and I saw it at good time, Horizons was there but Living Seas hadn't opened yet. I didn't visit again until my honeymoon in 2009 and so much had changed it was like visiting for the first time again. Unfortunately I totally missed the original Living Seas and the Wonders of Life pavilion.
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby ds9writer » Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:54 am

First time was in 1993 with my wife, our 3 year old daughter and my in-laws.

Our daughter got scared on the Journey to Imagination ride, and we had trouble getting her to ride any other ride :?

I also remember The Land having a guide on the boat ride, and they wore these really goofy-looking light blue jumpsuits...??
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby ADantuono » Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:10 am

February 1996

I was 3 going on 4. My memories of it are quite vague though. There's a picture of me and my family eating at breakfast at Polynesian, but I have no memory of that whatsoever. But I do remember it being so cold that my family and I couldn't even go in the pool at the hotel. :lol:
We stayed at All Star Sports.

I also went in 2004 and 2006, and I'm hoping to get back there someday.
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby tallguy001 » Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:42 am

August 1987 - 13 years old. I recall the monorail passing the Grand Floridian while it was under construction.
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby indygolf » Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:50 am

My first visit was in 2000, and I have loved Disney ever since!
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby Rick485 » Wed Jan 27, 2021 11:50 am

I remember going to WDW back in the 70's It was true the happiest place on earth I remember going on the gondolas that went thru the park and going on the 20K leagues under the sea the mad hatter . The best was probably the tea cups where i made my dad sick by spinning the wheel even faster lol, I also remember my dad taking us on a helicopter ride while they where building Epcot and that was unbelievable .I really consider myself lucky to have gone as many times as we did back than when the crowds where low and you could really enjoy what they have to offer.
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby AnimalKingdomFan79 » Wed Jan 27, 2021 1:47 pm

Early 90's. I only vaguely remember that experience and of course the pictures. Then we went back for the Millenium celebration which was just awesome!



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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby RockyMountainMouse » Wed Jan 27, 2021 2:20 pm

1983 when I was a young'un. We were poor and never returned, but it stayed firmly fixed in my mind as the utopia of happiness. Returned in 2009 and have been back every year since!
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby SerranoPE » Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:21 pm

First time was 1999 and haven't looked back. We thought of returning while we were still on property!! The rooms at Caribbean Beach were about $90/night! :shock: :shock:

I tell you what though, after all of this "stuff" going on, my next trip has to be for about a month just to catch up!! LOL
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Re: When did

Postby Barbfeltner » Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:58 pm

We first went to WDWin 1981 on our honeymoon. I still have the paper tickets!
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Re: When did you first visit Walt Disney World?

Postby Kristian » Wed Jan 27, 2021 4:11 pm

My first visit was in June 1998. 3 guys visiting from Norway, We where staying at a hotel in ft Lauderdale.

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