I Remember...

[bigbrian-nc.com]

The first thing we did was go in the Main Street Arcade. I still remember putting a quarter in the one man band that was on the left wall when you walked in.

Is this the one, pictured below, that is now in the Main Street station of the Walt Disney World railroad? I think I also have a little music from this on my Mini Disk player.

[wdw4us2]

That's the smaller of the two they had in the arcade. The one I was referring to was larger and kind of built into the wall. I believe it was about twice the size of the one you have pictured.

[karamie]

I know this is a really old topic, but oh well. I remember the first ride I rode was the Grand Prix race thing (I dont' really know the name). I think it was the ride we first came to, so we decided to ride it. My little brother threw a fit (we were about 7 and 9) because he wanted to cut clear across the park and ride something else first. Finally my dad told him he couldn't ride the Grand Prix, and I remember being so proud that I was good and able to ride the ride... I don't really even remember the ride. Hehe.

[xbeccahx]

Okay, I expect a lot of laughing at my expense, since that's what I usually get when recanting the story. I was 9 on my first trip to WDW, but I had been to Disneyland four years earlier and experienced the terrifying (to me) ride of Pirates of the Carribbean. It really shouldn't have been scary to even a 5 year old, but it was. Anyways, the rest of Disneyland I was OBSESSED with and so my mom bought me this tape of Disney songs from the attractions. The Pirates theme was on there and it used to terrify me even then and I always fast forwarded through it.
So on the trip to WDW at the age of 9 it had been a long time since I'd really thought about it and how it scared me. I figured I'd be over it. I was not over it. My sister wanted to go on it and so we started walking towards it and my fear was minimal so I got in line. Then I heard the music and panic erupted. I started crying and my dad took me outside and waited until my mom and sister were through with the ride.
People normally start laughing at me about now, but the end of the story is that at the age of 14 I also chickened out. I'm not sure why I'm so afraid of animatronic pirates... You are officially allowed to make fun of me. I'm going back at the age of 24 and I intend on conquering Pirates of the Carribbean. Wish me luck.

[karamie]

Good luck! That's a great story.

[bigbrian-nc.com]

You are officially allowed to make fun of me. I'm going back at the age of 24 and I intend on conquering Pirates of the Carribbean. Wish me luck.

Speaking from my own experience I'll bet you'll do fine.
I used to be a "coaster chicken" when I was younger, the fact that you want to overcome the fear you had, and try to enjoy the ride leads me to belive you will. Good Luck!

[xbeccahx]

Thanks, guys! It's funny because I'm not afraid of roller coasters, but man, the second I hear that music I still get the creeps. Of course, I was the child that was afraid of the Easter Bunny. The thought of a man-bunny leaving me candy... Didn't sit so well with me!

[Rocketeer]

I remember... probably mid '70's [ I was probably <10 yrs. ] in the Main Street magic shop, watching an animated Mickey (though I doubt you could call it a true AA) in a display case holding cups (or shells?) one in each hand, putting them down over a ball(s) and they would disappear or reappear. The flooring was done in black (velvet?) and I remember struggling to figure out how it was done. I eventually noticed a very slight cutout to the black material - and so ball was 'disappearing' under the flooring.

Anyone else remember this?? Would be interested to track down a picture...

[xbeccahx]

My first time in WDW me and my sister were in Mickey's dressing room in wherever that was (ToonTown?). Well we were getting his autograph and we had the little autograph books with a matching red pen. Mickey went to put the cap back on my marker and totally missed and ended up with a big red line on his glove. I felt so bad for him, but me and my sister couldn't stop laughing! Poor Mickey. I'm sorry for laughing at you!

[Mal'sGal]

Hmmm....It was the late 70's, I was probably 5 or so, and I remember doing the Sky Buckets, and thinking we were SO HIGH off the ground. I also remember being scared to death of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I think it would still give me the willies to ride it if it was there today....

[DisneyManiac]

My very first memory of Disney World was throwing up spectacularly in the back of our crappy Chevy Vega and looking up to see the flags at the entrance to the parking area. Great, huh?

Actually, I felt better after throwing up - luckily on this horrid homemade blanket, made of this material that had "Groovy" stamped all over it, and it quickly went in the nearest trashcan - and I just remember the fun tram ride to the front gate, and the happy music once we got inside the gates. To this day, when I hear that music, I feel like a little kid again. (But I don't throw up.)

[DisneyFREAK91]

Well, my first trip was when I was 6. My first ride was Snow White's Scary Adventures. I screamed my head off according to my parents. I was FREAKED!!

It is now one of my favorite rides.

[queenofhearts36]

My first memory of Walt Disney World is from my first trip, in 1994, when I was about 2. We had rented a stroller and my seven-year old sister sat behind me (these aren't the strollers they have now, they were more like regular strollers), making my feel quite crowded. But I remember, we went to a small store (I don't know where it was). My parents let me pick out a toy that I wanted. I remember seeing a display in the middle of the store with hundreds of small, plastic, dalmatian figurines. I picked out a Pongo, who I loved.
We have video of this trip, on a different day, where you can hear my mom saying, "Kristen, show me Pongo!"
I unfortunately lost Pongo years later. But I found a Pongo just like him at The Disney Store, not long after, which I still have!

[LoveBugsMommie]

My first time at Disney World was in 1975 when I was 10. I remember that long drive down World Drive, it took forever to get to the gates. To this day as we drive it those memories come flooding back. We stayed at The Contemporary. They were doing the Bicentennial thing. I remember watching a parade and this float with the Statue of Liberty keep coming at me and not turning I was so freaked that I bolted thinking I was going to get squished by that thing. I was so ready to ride Space Mountain back then while standing in line they played that stuff over and over about if you had this or that you should not ride and all the while my brother kept saying someone died on this ride, someone fell out of this ride, we finally get on the ride the last straw was when they asked my Mom to remove her scarf, I lost it. I freaked out screaming and crying they let us out and didn't even give us back our tickets. I also lost it on 20,000 to. I still have my Mickey ears, the ears are white and the beanie part is black.

[disneylady]

My first ever visit was in January 1997 & it was to the Magic Kingdom, we,d only been a few hours in Orlando & headed straight to see the "Spectromagic" parade..............it was the most wonderful thing ,we were so excited & the following day were staight back to see everything else........the Castle was dressed as the Pink Cake & to us it was just magic as of course we,d never seen it any other way........I fell in love with That Castle, &every thing about Disney.
I am only sorry I never got there as a child myself or was able to take my own children when they were kids, but that year in 1997 they( my now grown up kids ) took me with the grandchildren .
I think I,m now in my second childhood (or, lol ,third or fourth )as I can,t get enough of Disneyworld.
Magic Kingdom is my favourite park, just love the Magic you feel as you walk in every time