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Figment78
10-18-2008, 07:35 PM
First, my apologies! Very sorry everyone for the delay in the second question. My computer had power issues on Friday and I was unable to turn it on! I'm on temporary power right now, so this will be short and sweet and with no actual "poll" because.... well, you'll see.

#2 Where did you stay (what hotel) on your first trip to WDW?

(Obviously, it would be near impossible to list all the past hotel locations as well as offsite resorts).

PS - this question was inspired by everyone's answers to the first -what a great trip down memory lane!

ibelieveindisneymagic
10-18-2008, 07:56 PM
For my first trip, we stayed off-site at Westgate Lakes timeshare, thanks to friends of the family. It wasn't like being at Disney, but we could see MK fireworks from our balcony!

VWL Mom
10-18-2008, 08:25 PM
My mom was attending a conference at the Contemporary and I went with her.

pdrlkr
10-18-2008, 08:26 PM
Off site. I don't know which one.

sassafras
10-18-2008, 08:35 PM
Our boys were going to march in the Main Street parade with the high school band, right after Christmas. We put them on the bus, flew to Orlando, and stayed at what was then Dixie Landings (Alligator Bayou). Our first trip trip to Disney and we were hooked!!!:cloud9:

beksy
10-18-2008, 08:42 PM
I know we stayed off-site because Dad always refused to stay on-site (I'm glad I'm doing the planning now! :D) and I was only 3 but every trip after that until our last trip we stayed at Wilson World by the main gate.

Tinksalot
10-18-2008, 08:44 PM
Sheraton Lakeside Hotel. Not sure that its even there anymore.
Can't believe I remembered that! It was almost 30 years ago. :mickey:

michelLe x3
10-18-2008, 08:54 PM
The first resort I stayed @ was the Poly. I hardly remember it though.

justice11
10-18-2008, 08:56 PM
we went in 1992 and stayed at the carribean beach resort in jamaica

AwPhooey
10-18-2008, 09:05 PM
The Disney Inn, previously called The Golf Resort and currently named Shades of Green.

TinkerbellT421
10-18-2008, 09:37 PM
I honestly cannot remember the name of the hotel we stayed at when I was little for my first time ever...I dont believe its in existence anymore...it was really nice and really big....and at the time there wasnt on-site I dont think...it was literally as close as you could get to the world....Im going to have to see if I can find anything with the name of it...but my first trip with DBF in 07 which was the first time in years....was at the All-Star Movies

badkitty
10-18-2008, 09:40 PM
CBR. It was new then and quite wonderful. I loved the themed lodging. It was the first time I had every experienced that.

SBETigg
10-18-2008, 09:55 PM
We spent a few days at a hotel in Kissimee, and then we moved to the Contemporary, Bay Lake Side. When we planned our trip, we wanted the Polynesian first, or the Contemporary second, but there was no availability at either-- back in the days of MK only. My mom kept calling and finally found an opening for us. We moved immediately. It was so amazing. We swore we would never stay offsite again and the monorail hotels are still my favorite.

Bethis26fan
10-18-2008, 09:57 PM
We stayed at Allstar movies the first time we went to disney and everytime after we just love it there.

the other micki
10-18-2008, 09:59 PM
I was about 11 years old, and we stayed at the Comtemporary. The monorail actually going through the bldg. was the most exciting thing we'd ever seen. Oh, and we also loved the "game room" - air hockey is what I remember most. This was 1979!

glenpreece
10-18-2008, 10:12 PM
All Star Music SOLO!!!

azdisneymom
10-19-2008, 01:34 AM
AKL - I still remember the first time I drove up to the resort. It was such an impressive site and I had to pinch myself to see if I were really there or just dreaming.

Marilyn Michetti
10-19-2008, 02:43 AM
Our first trip we stayed at the Contemporary, in the East Wing. It was fun because the kids were old enough to "kind of" run around the pool area alone, then come back to the "apartment". It was a great five days - not a long time, but there were only two parks then.:thumbsup:

Cinderelley
10-19-2008, 06:36 AM
On my first trip, we hopped due to the comings and goings of various family members. 1st we stayed at Pop, then we stayed at Cypress Point with my WHOLE family. After the extended family left, we went to the Ft. Wilderness Cabins. After DH flew back home, the kids and I moved to the Poly.

paragon
10-19-2008, 07:04 AM
We stayed at the 1776 Inn on I-drive. it was two doors down from Wet & Wild, our trip served two purposes. First, to scout real estate- my father was looking for a house for my grandparents to live in, he replied to a tiny ad in the Boston Globe newspaper. We drove out to Deltona. Bought the house. I remember all along the highway the smell of orange blossoms as that stretch of I-4 was flanked by orange groves almost all the way. Second reason, was to stop me from asking "when can we go to Walt Disney World", the trip was a 7 day travel agency package, it included three days at MK ( it took 3 days back then ) 1 day at Sea World, and a day at Cypress Gardens.
Yup, at the 1776 inn on I-drive.

vizsla
10-19-2008, 07:57 AM
My first trip I stayed at Dixie Landings (now Port Orleasn Riverside) in the Oak Manor section.

princessjojo
10-19-2008, 10:13 AM
I don't know the name of the hotel, but is was off site somewhere in Kissimee. The only thing i remember about the hotel is that it had a game room that was surrounded by plexiglass walls. My youngest sister at the time was only 2. My dad dropped her a quarter over the rail for a game, not that she could play, but she thought she could. She took off running, as fast as she could. Then blam, right into the glass wall. So hard you could see it bend and she bounced back about 10'. It was hilarious and when we talk about it, we all still laugh about it today.

DisneyBabies
10-19-2008, 10:30 AM
DH and I stayed at the Beach Club for our anniversary trip. LOVED it! We will be at CBR in a pirate room for our DS's b-day trip. Not sure where we will stay for DD's trip, but I'm Lready thinking about it :blush:.

Mad About Mickey
10-19-2008, 10:33 AM
The Kissimmee KOA 0n 192 in the family's '69 VW camper :mickey:.

Damon18
10-19-2008, 11:15 AM
My first time was off-site in Kissimee but I can't tell you what hotel. It was a long time ago.

amd780
10-19-2008, 11:17 AM
We stayed at the Royal Plaza on my first trip in 1986. I was only 3 at the time -I only remember the room, and even that memory is a little fuzzy. :mickey:

EpcotChic23
10-19-2008, 11:45 AM
My first stay(and most of them) were at the Contemporary Resort:mickey:

hokies4life
10-19-2008, 11:46 AM
My first stay was at All Star Sports. I haven't stayed there since, but thats what started my love of staying in onsite hotels.

:chipdale:

BluewaterBrad
10-19-2008, 01:22 PM
Contemporary Resort. I was in the first grade in 1973. I was caught by the magic then.:mickey:

TheMartellFamily
10-19-2008, 02:35 PM
Ft.Wilderness was my first place we stayed on site. My father owned a seasonal busniess and so when he closed downfor the winer, we would be gone for longer than a week. We got a motorhome and stayed there. We also visited other parts of Florida. We did this every other year until we sold the motor home in 1986.

MickeyMousse
10-19-2008, 03:29 PM
My first trip to WDW was when I was in the 2nd grade, just weeks after my brother broke my arm! We have great pics of me swimming with a garbage bag wrapped around my cast!

We had a camper and stayed at Fort Wilderness Campgrounds. It was about 2 years after the park opened.

Maleficent's Dad
10-19-2008, 03:43 PM
Christmas week of 1981, a mere 10 months before EPCOT Center was opened, we stayed in Fort Wilderness; we were in some type of cabin, but not the luxury things they have now!

mouseketeer mom
10-19-2008, 04:36 PM
Offsite, at some sort of condo village. I was 12 years old. Then, when my family returned, we stayed at the Polynesian village!! It remains my favorite resort!

Bethanymouse
10-19-2008, 05:32 PM
I was three years old and we stayed at the Contemporary.

cal5755
10-19-2008, 06:50 PM
We actually stayed off-site during our first visit. I think it was a comfort inn on I-Drive. But I am not totally certain... it was too long ago and I remember Disney not the hotel.

luvDaMouse
10-19-2008, 07:00 PM
We stayed at a Days Inn in Kissamee. I remember though I always wanted to stay in the hotel that had the Monorail going right through it! I have yet to stay in the CR. BUT... since I am now a DVC member maybe in the future I will stay at Bay Lake Towers!:D

Tinkerfreak
10-19-2008, 07:12 PM
AKL in oct./nov. 2002. I will also never forget driving up to the front of the resort and just being in awe of how beautiful it was. Then going into the lobby and just staring with my mouth hanging open because I just could not believe it. And it just kept getting better and better when we entered our room and the bell man threw the drapes open and we got our first look at the animals right outside our balcony. The kids were just so excited and so were DH and I. To this day even though we like to try different resorts it is still our favorite.

KT1234
10-19-2008, 07:14 PM
My first time visiting wdw, i was a baby and we stayed off property. The first time I stayed on property was at Dixie Landings (POR).

PittFan
10-19-2008, 07:54 PM
We stayed at a resort in Kissimee in '72. I don't remember the name, but it was pretty cool. 2 pools, a nice play area and a great restaurant. :mickey:

ibrowse17
10-19-2008, 08:17 PM
We stayed at Ft. Wilderness campground on our first trip. Our family loves to camp, and had a great time at the fort. On that first trip in 1975, they only had FW, the Cont and the Poly. It was so cool to visit those, and I remember taking the monorail through the Cont being so impresssive:thumbsup:

BMan62
10-19-2008, 08:17 PM
First trip (5th Wedding Anniversary - 2003) we stayed in Caribbean Beach - Barbados section. Loved the layout, didn't mind the walking, great bus services.

Since then, we have stayed at Pop Century.

Aggie97
10-19-2008, 08:45 PM
We stayed offsite somewhere for my first visit as a child.

My husband and I stayed at Dixie Landings for our first visit together in Feb. 2000. :mickey:

tinksmom02
10-19-2008, 09:12 PM
In 1987 we stayed offsite somewhere, I don't remember where it was. But it had a pool LOL

2004 we stayed at CSR.

EllieMae
10-19-2008, 09:30 PM
The first time we went was is 1982 and I was 4 years old. We were rookies and stayed at the Sheraton World and my dad says it was because we thought it would be by Disney World. Turns out it was by Sea World, but I remember it had an awesome pool and we had fun. Every trip since we have stayed onsite, it's much closer ;)

KylesMom
10-19-2008, 10:23 PM
Days Inn Kissimmee - the one with the Tiki Bar. OMG, what a dive it was! It was a package deal through our bank, and when we arrived I started crying it was such a dump. We went to the front desk & I told them it was our honeymoon - and we couldn't possibly stay in the room they assigned us. At least they upgraded us to a more spacious, cleaner room (without the water stains & filthy carpet). :D

grumpyguy
10-20-2008, 07:35 AM
off site somewhere,i think it was a holiday inn??

yjgirl32
10-20-2008, 08:12 AM
We stayed at the Caribean Beach Resort- I believe in the Jamaica section. It was very nice- I loved the theming.

Diznee4Me
10-20-2008, 08:57 AM
It was somewhere in Daytona. It was the early 70's and we used the hotel as a jumping off point to WDW, St. Augustine, Marineland, the beach, etc.

Faver
10-20-2008, 02:18 PM
It was in 1974....we stayed at a Holiday Inn offsite!!! :thumbsup:

pixiegoose
10-20-2008, 05:08 PM
My first trip was in 1997 and we stayed somewhere off-site. The first time I stayed on-site was at Coronado Springs for my honeymoon in 2006.

Nut4DW
10-20-2008, 05:54 PM
My first trip was 30 years ago - my parents took my best friend and I and we stayed at a Jellystone campground in their "pop-up" camper. Lots of fun :) The first time with my own family was 4 years ago and we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside - even more fun!

NewmanFamily6
10-20-2008, 06:39 PM
I don't remember exactly but I do remember it was offsite. My family stayed off site every year growing up. Now we stay onsite DVC;)

ILoveLegos
10-20-2008, 07:24 PM
Jacksonville waayyy off site! :mickey:

The Flying Dutchman
10-20-2008, 07:29 PM
First trip DW and I stayed at Coronado Springs (and loved it!):number1::thumbsup:

Boojum
10-20-2008, 08:59 PM
This was in 1977, before all the resorts started being built. The only one I remember being there then was the Contemporary.

That being said, we stayed at a Howard Johnson's on Buena Vista Drive. I recall that the swimming pool was shaped like Mickey's Head.

DisneyOtaku
10-20-2008, 10:58 PM
My first trip to WDW didn't have a hotel stay--it was a one-day trip (we lived two hours away). When we started spending multiple days there once we moved away, it was at some off-site hotel; there's so many there now, and many have come and gone, I don't remember.

I *do* remember that the first Disney hotel I stayed at was the Carribean :mickey:

Norwellian
10-21-2008, 07:00 AM
was in 1979 at the Hilton on International Drive. There was only MK then.

My first on-site stay was at POFQ in 2004 and I will never stay off-site again. The magic engulfs you the second you reach your resort. This year--Dec. 7-18--will be our first at the Polynesian. :cloud9:

Laura

cknorr28
10-21-2008, 08:15 AM
For my first trip which was my Honeymoon my Wife and I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge.

Ian
10-21-2008, 08:22 AM
I mentioned this in the other post, but our first hotel was the Contemporary.

c&d
10-21-2008, 09:23 AM
It was off site and I believe it was a Howard Johnson's.

Beach Club Babe
10-21-2008, 01:21 PM
Yacht Club

laward32
10-21-2008, 05:16 PM
My first trip we stayed at the Sheraton Vistana on my parents timeshare. It was really nice and roomy. But it still is not as good as staying on property (I have since found out.):mickey:

Katzateer
10-21-2008, 06:33 PM
My first trip to WDW we stayed at Howard Johnsons on Disney property (our honeymoon in 1975).

Our first real on-site stay was at Dixie Landingsabout 15 years later. We stayed there for 4 or 5 Decembers in a row and loved it. I still have some crayon drawings of farmer Mickey surrounded by vegetables. Very cool poster like drawing I colored in with drawing pencils. They gave those out the first couple of years they were open.

TiggeRia
10-21-2008, 06:38 PM
My first trip was 2005 and we stayed at the Pop Century.

LandFan
10-21-2008, 09:13 PM
Oops! I kind of answered this in the first question already by accident:blush: So I will just post it again...

We camped at Fort Wilderness where I met my first 'Possidilly'. I was a bit precocious, somehow I knew at age 5 that the armadillo wouldn't hurt us. My parents flew into the camper as I sat patiently at the picnic table and exclaimed "mom, the Possidilly won't hurt us!":D

brewcrew26
10-21-2008, 09:28 PM
Fort Wilderness. We had a motorhome, so we stayed there a lot when I was a kid.

BW Fan
10-21-2008, 09:36 PM
In 1982 (Spring Break with 2 little girls) we decided to make a trek to WDW from Dallas. I made reservations on the internet (way ahead of my time) and booked a room at the Sheraton World, thinking it was near Disney World. Turned out to be across the street from Sea World on International Drive. It was a nice hotel, but was not "on property". Have stayed on property ever since, since to me you have to get away from the regular world and be totally involved in only Disney World. I am the biggest fan, but my family has joined me as being biggest fans of staying on property to get the total experience.

MississippiDisneyFreak
10-22-2008, 10:54 AM
All Star Movies Jan 2003

pixiesmimi
10-22-2008, 09:35 PM
The Days Inn in Kissimee a long, long time ago. :)

Tink#64
10-22-2008, 11:25 PM
Our first visit we stayed at ASMo! DS's then 4 & 6 were so into Toy Story & Buzz & Woody, & they loved the HUMONGOUS icons there from this movie! That's why I chose that resort! We have the cutest pix of them in the RC car there on the property! It was perfect for us that first trip! Very magical! :mickey: :magic:

mainemajor
10-23-2008, 08:03 PM
Royal Plazza for the first two trips - '75 & '77 then my first on property - Golf Resort. Boy have times and the number of resorts changed :number1:

GrmGrninGost
10-25-2008, 12:00 AM
We camped at Fort Wilderness my first trip.

DizRunner
10-25-2008, 08:50 AM
We stayed in Daytona Beach and drove the whole way. Today I feel bad for my dad to have to drive all the way back after a long day at the MK. (This was in '72.)

bjbunny
10-25-2008, 08:59 AM
We stayed at my grandparents house in Ocala and drove down for the day.

PlutoLVT
10-25-2008, 04:52 PM
In 1981, when I was 6 years old, we stayed at Fort Wilderness. Then after years and years of begging we went back in 2002 and stayed at Port Orleans Riverside.

conorsmom2000
10-25-2008, 08:30 PM
My first trip was in 1977 and we camped at Fort Wilderness. I don't remember much, other than the movies with Chip & Dale! My next trip was in March, 1995 with my then boyfriend, now husband, Mike - our travel agent booked as at the newest hotel, the Wilderness Lodge!!! It was love at first sight for us and that's been our hotel for Disney ever since! :mickey:

ozmom
10-27-2008, 07:06 PM
All Star Sports:mickey:

IloveDisney71
10-27-2008, 07:12 PM
My first 12 + visits I stayed at my house, since we lived about 30 minutes away from the MK.
As an adult, my first on-site hotel was ASM.
(We stayed off-site once - we won't even go there - awful! I don't remember where it was.)
We loved staying at ASM. I will never stay off-site again if I can help it. :mickey:

LauraF
10-28-2008, 09:21 AM
I don't recall the proper name of the hotel, but it was the Marriott right off the highway and we could see Illuminations and the Epcot ball get lit up by lasers from our balcony. (For a 8 year old in the 80's that was cool!)

RedSoxFan
10-28-2008, 10:49 AM
Port Orleans French Quarter

dolphinmickey9170
10-28-2008, 04:35 PM
At Outdoor World timeshare off of I-92 to 5hundred something. I can't remember the actual route number, but it was near the big fire they had nearly 10 years ago because just past the enterence to the campgrounds, it was police blocked. I wanna say like 535 or something like that. It's closed now, we drove down there last December to see if it was still there.

rt207
10-28-2008, 07:15 PM
Embassy Suites in LBV. They were pet-friendly at the time...:dog: