The Start of Something Great

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dixie landings, tower of terror, Walt Disney World

I’m an 80’s kid and I grew up on the classic Disney cartoons and animated films.  When the time came where I would actually get to go see where the magic really happened, I was speechless.  I was 9 years old on my first trip.  My family and I went the last week of April-first week of May.  That happened to be my parent’s wedding anniversary time and my 10th birthday.  WOW! A birthday I’ll never forget.  I got to turn double digits in the most magical place on earth.

My first memories of Walt Disney World aren’t actually from the parks themselves.  Prior to our trip, I had my mom and dad buy me the Birnbaum’s Guide, the Unofficial Guidebook to WDW and anything else I could get my hands on.  Granted the internet was still growing, I searched all I could to find out about what I was about to experience.  I read the books front to back, made notes in the margins, and used my cool new typewriter (I always loved them) to make an itinerary and essentially re-write the descriptions of every store, ride and attraction that I had on my must-do list.  A couple months prior to our trip, you had to fight to get the books out of my hands.  Any free time at home or at school was spent learning about Walt Disney World.

When booking the trip, my parents booked us at Dixie Landings, specifically the Alligator Bayou section.  Why do I remember this? As a family of 5, it was always hard to find places to vacation that would allow 5 guests in a room without needing to rent two rooms.  Since my younger brother was 8 and my older brother was 12, my parents didn’t want to get two rooms.  The Alligator Bayou section of Dixie Landings allowed 5 guests to a room since they had trundle beds.

We flew on ATA (man do I miss that airline, they had so many freebies they’d give us) and took Mears to get to the resort.  I remember getting off the bus and just looking at the entrance.  We had been transplanted to a southern plantation.  My brothers and I got to sit on the couch, watch Disney cartoons, and relax while mom and dad got us checked into the resort.  The lobby was so cool!  I remember seeing names of all the ports from the south.  Once checked in, we then got on a golf cart and taken to our room.  I was in shock! This place was incredible!  Everything about the resort was warm and cozy.  You were made to feel at home, and Disney did an excellent job at that.  One of the coolest things about the resort that I remember was the food court.  Not only was it huge, but it had a real working water wheel!  I could sit and watch that for hours (ya, I’m boring and nerdy like that).  We also loved the main pool area, but loved the smaller private pools found throughout the resort.

As far as the parks, I have a hard time remembering everything on that trip.  I remember not wanting to go on Tower of Terror because I was too scared.  Thankfully that didn’t last long as it’s one of my favorite rides now!  I did, however, really enjoy Extraterrorestial Alien Encounter at Magic Kingdom.  I remember going on the Tomorrowland Skyway going between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.  I remember being above everyone and looking at what was once 20K Leagues Under the Sea. I remember stopping and taking pictures with the family in front of the castle, all of us rocking our fanny packs!  One of the most memorable things that happened was a character breakfast at Chef Mickey’s.  It was towards the end of our stay, if not the last day, and we were celebrating my parent’s anniversary and my birthday.  The characters were very interactive with us the whole time.  I remember Chip and Dale stealing my older brother’s napkin and running around chasing each other for it.

All in all, I don’t have a lot of memories from that trip, but enough to last a lifetime.  We didn’t get to go back for two more years, and that trip was even more incredible.  More on that later!  After having visited the parks over 1,000 times now, I can honestly say that there is no better place in the world.

Until next time…

Scott

My First Disney Park Visit – Sean

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Memories, Walt Disney World

In the summer of 1984 thirty years ago this month I made my first pilgrimage to the place that has brought such fond memories to my life. At the age of 9 I knew very little about Walt Disney World except for what I had seen on TV or from friends who been before me.

Believe it or not I have few actual memories from visiting Walt Disney World in that year. I have more memories of driving in the car or the reluctance of my older sister to actual go with the family. But the memories that I do have are the ones that help to lay the brick work for future visits.

The only food I can honestly remember eating was having a Monte Cristo Sandwich at Pinocchio’s Village Haus. The Reason I remember that so much is not only loving the sandwich but waving to the passengers on the boats for It’s a Small World. I can’t really recall riding many attractions from that trip but I do recall 2 attractions that are no longer at the Magic Kingdom.

I loved riding the Skyway from Fantasyland to tomorrow because that gave me a bird’s eye view to my favorite attraction 20k Leagues Under The Sea. This attraction fascinated me because at the age of 9 I really thought we were going under water. But 5 years later I discovered that was not true and broke my heart, but that’s another story. To ride 20k Leagues at that age it was magical. I could not believe what lurked under the sea in Walt Disney World. From mermaids to gems I wanted to see it all. My mind would wander on that attraction thinking about what it would really be like to be in a submarine on the ocean floor. Good thing I never joined the Navy cause I would have been thoroughly disappointed.

I can also remember visiting River Country which is still there but no longer operating. I was fascinated with that place because you were swimming in water from Bay Lake just a short distance to the Magic Kingdom. And Heck I even remember swimming with Goofy, what is better than that.

When visiting Epcot Center I can remember riding Spaceship Earth, Journey Into Imagination, Horizons, World of Motion and World Showcase. Boy did I hate World Showcase back then. I thought it was the most boring thing in the world but honestly it was when you take into account those previous attractions that I mentioned. Epcot Center back in 84 was a wondrous place. Our future was taking place right before our eyes and you just needed a little imagination to take you there. The imagination attraction was incredible you couldn’t help but smile while riding it. There are lots of things from the other attractions I can remember from Walter Cronkite’s spiel on Spaceship Earth to the voyage outside of the attraction at World of Motion but it was Horizons that I feel in love with.

Horizons was a look at our future and it was a great big beautiful future. I wanted to step into that world or at the very least explore the sets to Horizons. From the Music to the message that was shown I saw a future that looked like a lot of fun. From space exploration to the deep ocean floor it was all there to explore. I never got to explore the attraction but I felt the love and the appreciation for what that attraction was.

Sean