Whenever I hear the word “Disney” I get a comfy, warm feeling. I have so many memories of wonderful times at the parks that the mere mention of “the D word” evokes a smile.
What is the best memory? My fondest memory? Wow – that’s a tough question. It took me quite a while to filter through all those wonderful trips I have enjoyed over the last 36 years. Each and every trip has unique memories . . . but I finally settled on my favourite. The one I’ll always cherish – it was my first trip – October 1977. My children, Michelle and Stephen, were 6 and 5 years old and we were all in awe as we enjoyed the magic of Disney that very first time. The kids really liked The Astro Orbiter – we rode it again and again; probably a half dozen times. How could I ever forget smiles like the one Steve had in the picture below?
My second best? November 1999 – my first trip to Walt Disney World with Carol. I hadn’t been there in about 13 years but Carol was a seasoned veteran. She whisked me around and introduced me to three Disney parks I had never seen before. That was when she converted me from a Disney Fan to a Disney Fanatic!
Carol’s favourite memory? After 48 trips to Walt Disney World she cannot narrow it down to just one . . . there are just so many special memories.
Carol’s father John’s fondest memory? I didn’t actually ask him, but I’m going to go out on a limb and guess. I am reasonably sure it was in November 2000, when he saw the MuppetVision 3D movie for the first time. John giggled through the entire show. Thirteen years and about eight trips later . . . he still chuckles the whole time!
Jeff from Florida, New York shared his fondest memory: On our September 2006 trip, we experienced some Disney Magic. It started when I couldn’t find our reservations for our two character meals. When I called Disney Dining to confirm and get the numbers for the ADR’s the Cast Member asked, “So how are things in Paramus?” I was dumfounded, I hadn’t even given him my name! I grew up and worked in Paramus, NJ and when we moved to NY State, I had my old home phone number transferred to my cell phone, which I was calling from. He explained that he also grew up in Bergen County NJ, a few towns from Paramus and recognized the phone exchange. We chatted a bit about “home” and I got the needed info. Later that day we headed to 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian for our dinner at Cinderella’s Gala character dinner. We arrived before the doors to the dining room opened and checked in. While we were waiting in the foyer, a cast member approached our daughter Isabel and asked her if she would like to help Cinderella and Prince Charming open the restaurant and start the Gala. When she said yes (and we approved) the Cast Member asked her name and where she was from. We were so surprised. Five to ten minutes later, Cinderella and the Prince entered the waiting area and approached Isabel. As the crowd gathered around they each took one of Isabel’s arms. At this point a Cast Member took out a scroll and announced to the crowd that “Princess Isabel of the Kingdom of New York” would be assisting Cinderella & Prince Charming in opening the restaurant. Their highnesses escorted her to the door which had a Red Ribbon beautifully tied around it’s handles and asked Isabel to pull the ribbon to untie the doors. Then they escorted her, still arm in arm, to our table and posed for pictures and autographs. Now that’s Disney Magic! To this day I am convinced that Isabel being chosen for the “Royal Treatment” was arranged by the Dining Cast Member I had spoken to earlier in the day, which makes it even more magical.
Kameo from El Mirage Arizona says: There are so many wonderful memories. I think my fondest dates back to my first trip. It was a year or so after my husband and I got married. We stayed at the All Star Sports and had a blast! When we first arrived, we were welcomed by the cast members at the hotel like family. We had a towel shaped Mickey waiting in our room to welcome us. I had no idea how big Disney World was; we had only been to Disneyland. The first time we stepped through the gates at Magic Kingdom, it was overwhelming and I was in sensory overload. Wow! That castle is huge! We grabbed a park map, which we never do at Disneyland. I have to say it was somewhat difficult to orient myself with Magic Kingdom, I kept mentally going to Disneyland. There’s no New Orleans Square, there’s no Critter Country, and what is this Liberty Square? It was so much fun though, I’ll never forget it.
As always, different things make a big impression on different people. Fortunately there is a never-ending supply of great Disney memories and there’s always a new one waiting around the corner.
What is your fondest Disney memory?
My favorite?
It is the one I just came back from 5 days ago .
Wwhere to begin , Carl, Gavin, Sara, Pam Brody @ Rose & Crown. Hollie @ Cat Cora , Bob Jackson & Spencer @ Port Orleans Riverside . It was my 57th birthday & 18th wedding anniversary. Being the bell ringer @ Liberty Tree Tavern . . . HERE YE HERE YE LET FREEDOM RING.
You are never to old to enjoy the magic .
I have been to Disney 5 times, twice without children and the other three with. It is hard to think of my fondest memory especially since my first ever trip to DW was also my honeymoon.
I have to say though that I think my absolute fondest memory is that first trip with our children! When my husband and I went for our honeymoon Animal Kingdom did not exist. My next trip was for one day only to Hollywood Studios as a chaperone with a high school group. So when my husband and I decided to take our children for Christmas in 2008 it was like all of us getting to discover it together.
My children were 10 and 7 at that time and were in complete awe! From the moment we drove under the Disney World sign and they were singing and clapping, to walking into each park and taking in the sights and pulling up to our resort (Wilderness Lodge) we constantly had our breath taken away by the beauty and sights.
We have been back twice since and while both of these other trips have been special that first trip will always be the most memorable!
One of my favorite memories at WDW is from a trip about 12 years ago. My family (me, aunt, & grandparents) were eating lunch at Hollywood & Vine’s character meal with Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, & Pluto. I’d scheduled it for 10:30 so we could try the breakfast & lunch menu and it wasn’t very crowded. In fact, there were only about 3 other tables with people so Pluto and the chipmunks came around several times and spent a lot of time at our table. That restaurant always had crayons on the tables and paper tablecloths for kids to color and Pluto started playing with my hair and sticking crayons in my ponytail. When we told him we had a cat at home he threw himself on the floor crying.
The next day when we went to the ice cream social at the Land Pavilion at Epcot, my grandpa commented to one of the chipmunks how nice it was that here they got to wear bib overalls instead of just the vest they were wearing at H&V the day before. Dale took my pen & actually wrote in my notebook that “Disney was too cheap to buy pants”. It was hilarious!
My fondest memory is when my daughter Evie was 5 and we took her to breakfast with her favorite character, Pooh. First, our waiter noticed she wasn’t eating her pre-plated breakfast; he asked her if she could have anything she wanted for breakfast, what would it be? She said, “Fruit Loops!” He left and returned with a bowl of Fruit Loops “from Pooh.”
Later, our waiter brought her a coloring page and crayons. When she finished, she ran across the room to Pooh and said, “Look, Pooh! I colored this just for you!” Pooh made a huge fuss about it; he hugged the paper, he made the other characters come over and see it, and he made our waiter hang it on the wall. I will never forget the look on Evie’s face. I have never seen her so happy.
We all had tears in our eyes . . .
My fondest Disney memories are every visit. I am an adult and I travel with my Mom. Each trip with my Mom is a GREAT and WONDERFUL Disney memory we make. We turn into big kids when we go, we have SO much fun on each and every trip.
In the 25 plus times we have visited our favorite place in the world, I have had many wonderful memories. Everything from sitting next to Roy Disney and his family at the Hoop Dee Doo, to taking our family including our 8 Grandchildren for a family vacation at WDW.
But the memory that sticks with me always is the time a simple gesture brought to me the true meaning of the magic that WDW brings to me. While my wife shops Main Street in the Magic Kingdom I have always enjoyed standing on the curb and watching the expressions on the face of families as they round the curb and see the Castle for the first time.
Once I was watching a young boy, maybe in his early teens, being wheeled by his family coming up Main Street. It was clear that this was a permanent chair for him. As he was wheeled closer up Main Street towards me, we made eye contact. He smiled at me and lifted his right hand slightly and waved. I returned the gesture as he passed by. No one is a stranger at WDW.
I’m 60 years old and as I write this I am as teary eyed as I was that day almost 8 years ago.