Originally Posted By MerryMouseWife First and second trip from IL 1965 and 1966, then not again until 1977 for high school graduation after moving to AZ. A long hiatus followed until 1993 when we took our 2 DDs and I found out I was expecting DD3 about 3 weeks before our trip. Space had just reopened after a long refurb and I couldn't ride because I was pregnant. Wahhhh! I remembered riding in 1977 right after it opened and LOVED it. I was so disappointed, but philosophical about it though. Merry
Originally Posted By dluvsdisney I went when I was two...I met Donald and got along fine with him, but Mickey seems to have scared me...I have no memory of this trip. I went again when I was four...still not much memory of this trip but some. Basically have gone every year since then.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Sometime in the early '70s. Our next door neighbors used to go once a year and they took me on one of their trips. The only thing I really remember is riding Matterhorn sitting with the mom. I was somewhere between 4 and 6 years old, they moved when I was in second grade and this was sometime before then. I have gone semi regularly since I got my drivers license in '82 and have had annual passes several times over the years starting in 1990.
Originally Posted By everyyearofmylife The first time I went to Disneyland was in 1985, and my mom almost gave birth to me on the Carrousel. After that every year since.
Originally Posted By dresswhites i have a lot of fond memories of disneyland railroad. i remember when they were building splash we were disappointed that the train was closed. however in early evening, they were running the trains!! we got to ride them as they went thru the undercontruction Splash. It was so cool!
Originally Posted By 4Disnee Mine was 1972 and I was 5 my Grandma and Grandpa took me for my first time and I will always remeber how wonderful it was and still is. We were so lucky to be able to take my Grandma with us 3 years ago but now that she has just turned 88 she is not willing to go now. I will keep asking though. LOL
Originally Posted By ssturgeo Well, let me just hobble on the board to say ... my first trip was when I was 11...August 1955!!!! I may be the oldest poster on this topic...but would go for "youngest at heart" against any of you!!! I remember how magical it all seemed...Peter Pan, the Jungle Cruise are ones that stand out from that trip. Many trips since!!! We used to stay at the Jolly Roger or the Alpine when they were GREAT places to stay!!!
Originally Posted By sherrytodd I'm not sure exactly when my first trip was. It would be the early 70's and I was pretty young. We would go pretty much at least once a year since my Grandmother lived close to Disneyland and it was a cheap vacation to pile in the car and drive there from Tucson and stay with Grandma. We were allowed one day at Disneyland and one day at Knott's Berry Farm. This was when each was closed one day a week but Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm were never closed on the same day so you always had one park to go to. I remember riding the Mine Ride Through Natures Wonderland and remember the balancing rocks and the geysers. I still take my son out once a year to stay with Grandma and go to Disneyland though now we have to fly from Denver.
Originally Posted By Colin Mine was January 1987, and I was 15. The first day on the trip it poured rain, but luckily enough, we were at a different park(but just for the one day, since the main reason for the trip was Disneyland). It was the week before Star Tours opened. The first two days during the week were great because of almost no lines. Then Friday came, and because Star Tours opened, Disneyland was open around the clock Friday to Sunday. I must have ridden Matterhorn about 30 times during those four days. Shortly after I got into line for ST at the 90 minute wait point, the line quickly filled up to the 3 hour wait point.
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM The summer of 2004. We took my daughter for a surprise for the 50th. George and I were planning out wedding for that summer, but decided that spending our money for Disneyland would be more fun that spending it on a wedding. We' re still together, still not married, and have decided to go back to Disneyland next august with our "wedding fund." As a matter of fact, I am booking our trip later on this morning.
Originally Posted By skywilliams My first trip was in 1985 sometime. I was 7 years old and my parents had just gotten divorced and my mom wanted to take my sister and I there to help witht the depression. I don't remember much other than the submarines, matterhorn, and the haunted mansion a little bit. But I still remember that wonderful feeling you get and that for the first time since my parents split up I felt happy inside. I still feel that same feeling every time I go back.
Originally Posted By SleepingBeauty82 My parents say they took me when I was about 11 months (this would have been 1983) but I don't remember a thing. The next trip was about 1986 and I was 4 years old. I was just tall enough to ride all the coasters except Space Mtn and my dad took me on Matterhorn and Thunder. I remember gripping the bar with my eyes squeezed tight and crying hnysterically. I was terrified out of my mind. That's all I remember about the trip and it was so traumatic that I didn't ride either ride again until I was about 14 and I still have a fear of roller coasters. In any case, I still love Disneyland and despite my first experiance there.
Originally Posted By MousieRoo 1983, I was 7 years old. I have been 13 times, and was married there in 1999. I haven't been since 2000, I'm planning on taking my kids for the first time in January
Originally Posted By Big Thunder my first DL visit was 1964 I was 3 years old, I dont remember much, but I still have postcard book and wall map that my dad bought that day. My next trip was 1967, I DO remember that trip. I still have a hat with a long feather and my name embroidered on it. I am told by my mom that a CM called me by name [due to my name on hat] I had no idea my name was on there and I thought "wow this place is magic, they know my name" I also have a pennant and set of Viewmaster reels from that trip. I remember the people mover was new, my dad was fascinated with Tomarrowland. I remember Indian Village, old Frontierland and the painted desert. I remember coupon books and trying to use as many as I could, the E tickets were gone first of course. I remember less people and how clean the park was, my dad through down a cigarette butt and a sweeper came out of nowhere to sweep it up. That DL trip was my most cherished DL visit ever. My parents were still together, I was still young and innocent, life was simpler and cheerful back then. I'd give anything for a picture of me and my family at that trip. I am a collector of Disneyland souvenirs and memorabilia, those DL souvenirs I mentioned from my first two trips are some of my most valued possessions. I have many more older, rarer, and monetarily valuable Disneyland treasures, but those from my childhood visits are worth much more to me.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy My only trip to date was for The Big LP Meet in July of 2004; I was 26. I was there Friday through Tuesday, met many LPers, strengthened and made some friendships, and had a 5-day escape that I reeeeeeally needed. I took notes along the way and at night before bed and wrote down every single detail I could possibly imagine. That trip is one of the most cherished times of my life.
Originally Posted By Monty Cristo I've posted this before, but here goes again... my first trip was back in '03. Up until that point I *hated* everything having to do with Disney. Didn't even like the movies growing up. My wife and her family were HUUUUGE DL fans. So after living on the east coast for two years with me, I agreed to move out to Northern CA with my wife towards the end of '00. SO, after years of begging and pleading I finally agreed to go to the park. The night before I was hating her and the idea of the trip. Didn't want any part of it. I even attempted to start a fight just so I wouldn't have to go. Well, it didn't work so off we went. Six hours later, we arrive at the park. Now let me just preface this by saying it was mid-November and I am a bigtime Christmas fanatic. So what do I see? The park is all decked out for the holidays! Immediately, my heart softened a little. I did manage to keep up my anti-Disney feeling as we waited online to get in. Sure, it was decorated for Christmas...but it's still just a stupid amusement park, I thought. I thought wrong. We walked in and Main Street absolutely blew me away. I was not expecting such an immersive set up. Had no idea what to expect, really. Then...they took me on my first ride - they took me to Star Tours, because of course I"m a SW geek and they figured it would put me in a good mood (I hadn't let on yet that I was LOVING what I was seeing thus far). I was thoroughly enjoying myself and the discovery of each new "land" at the park. Again, I had no idea it was sectioned off into different little immersive lands. This was just aweseome, awesome stuff. But...then... They took me to Haunted Mansion Holiday. OH...MY...GOD!! I fell in love! I must have gotten on that ride 15-17 times during our three day stay. That was it. I was hooked. DL owned me. I was the first one up the next morning beckoning everyone to get up and get a move on - I couldn't wait to get to the park! It really was the Happiest Place on Earth for me. When we got home, I immediately began planning our next trip - just a few months later. I wanted to see the park "off season". Loved it just as much. And now, we kick off our holidays every year with a trip to Disneyland. We take two or three to "tide" us over until the big holiday trip. In fact, we're going there next week. I gotta see all the new Halloween decorations. Who knows, it may be the start of a new DL tradition in my household. By the way, I was 28 that year. Just goes to show you Disneyland can get to anyone - even a cynical bastard like me.
Originally Posted By Clotho Monty, That story is great! I bet your wife was just so incredibly happy to find that you love it now, too! My first trip was in '80, when I was 6. That was the youngest a child could fly alone at the time (is it different now?). It was a family tradition that when you turned 6 you could fly down to meet Grandma and Grandpa, who were snowbirds who traveled with their trailer down the West Coast every winter. I think it was October of that year, I had just turned 6. I got to go alone (without my brother, who was 18 months older and had gone the year before on HIS own), with a little nametag and the stewardesses looking out for me. The next year, and every year after, my brother and I traveled together. For the record, we were an airline family. My Dad was a pilot for United, and so we had flight priviledges which allowed us to afford this trip every year. Fun memories.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <1966, on my birthday. I was 6 years old!> OMG, me too. Really. Now if you tell me you were born in May, it's going to get really freaky. I remember quite a lot about that first time: The 3 Little Pigs were at the entrance near the floral Mickey. Even at that age I knew this place was all about Disney and not other characters. My Mom saw one of the pigs and said "Look, there's Porky Pig!" I said "Mom, that's Warner Brothers. This has to be one of the 3 Little Pigs." The first character I wanted to talk to was the Mad Hatter, who at that time was a rubberhead. I remember being distinctly bummed out that he couldn't actually speak to me, just mime. I thought the animals on the Jungle Cruise were the most realistic things EVER. We tried to go on Alice but it broke down. So we went on Mr. Toad and it freaked me out. Later it became a favorite, but I wouldn't ride it for a couple of trips after that. I was in awe of Mr. Lincoln, and loved how all kids got a free ticket to see him. I was really jazzed to drive my own autopia car, but alas, too short to reach the pedal. So I had to ride with my big sister, who was barely tall enough herself, and got tired pushing it down. So I spent the last half of the ride ON THE FLOOR of the autopia car, pushing the pedal down with both hands! I couldn't wait to go again.
