Our Favorite Walt Disney World Memories

October 1st, 2021 is a very special day in the world of theme parks, because today marks the 50th anniversary of the most popular theme park on earth: Walt Disney World. In 2019, Magic Kingdom welcomed well over 20 million visitors, ranking millions above the next nearest competition. It’s no doubt that the park is popular, but there’s a reason that even over the past few pandemic-influenced years, the guests keep coming to the parks and resorts of Orlando, Florida. While it may sound cliche to say, there is a true magic that surrounds Disney property, and it is sure to capture the spirit of anyone who vacations there. To commemorate this significant anniversary, here are some of our favorite memories from Walt Disney World’s half-century of history.


Andrew

Growing up in south Florida, trips to Disney were fairly frequent growing up. But after I moved to North Carolina, the trips became fewer and farther between, which meant I had to learn to squeeze more out of each trip. Once I got to an age where I was able to travel on my own, I’ve tried to make it to Walt Disney World at least every other year – sometimes more frequently. I’ve got countless memories of Walt Disney World – including multiple 1-day four park “speed runs”, but will try to limit my favorites and keep concise for the sake of boring anyone who happens to read this.

2015: Keys to the Kingdom

My younger brother and I had the opportunity to take the behind-the-scenes “Keys to the Kingdom” tour in 2015. As a bonafide Disney nerd, this was an amazing tour, and I learned so much about Magic Kingdom, from the names on Main Street U.S.A. to hidden easter eggs on attractions like Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise. If you’re like me, and had been to Magic Kingdom dozens of times, I can’t recommend taking this tour enough. Read our recap here!

2016: This Photo

During a January 2016 trip, my younger brother (front row) and I returned to Disney World, and were taking advantage of evening Extra Magic Hours at the Magic Kingdom. On a night that can be best described as “Florida Cold” with temperatures in the high 40s, there was no demand for a ride on Splash Mountain – so much so that he and I were able to ride twice, solo, without getting out of our log. The second lap around, we knew we had to have some fun with the on-ride photo, and the above photo happened. The cast member working the Splashdown photos, either because she was bored with no customers, or because she genuinely thought we were ridiculous for riding Splash Mountain in the cold and felt bad for us, used a little Disney Magic to give us the digital copy of the photo for free. Definitely an awesome memory.

2020: Super Bowl Champions

This memory sticks out for a few reasons — first, I was able to completely surprise my brother with a Christmas gift for the first time in a long time. Second, it happened just over a month before the world shutdown for COVID-19, and it was my last big theme park trip for awhile. Finally, we happened to be visiting the day after the Super Bowl, and got to see the spectacle of the Super Bowl MVP parade at The Magic Kingdom. Patrick Mahomes even waved in our general direction!

Over the course of the three-day trip, we rode everything we wanted to ride in all four parks, including Rise of the Resistance for the first time. We also were the only passengers on a 2:45am Magic Express Bus from Pop Century to MCO, which was far more eventful than it had any business being.


John

I’ve taken four trips to Walt Disney World in the last 15 years, and each has come with a smorgasbord of special memories — from the sheer awe of my first visit to the very different experience of visiting in the middle of a pandemic. It took me quite a bit of time to narrow down my favorite moments, but these are the two that stick out in my mind.

2006: Expedition Everest Evacuation

On my inaugural trip to Walt Disney World in early March of 2006, I had the opportunity to ride the not-officially-open Expedition Everest during its soft opening previews. If you’re familiar with soft openings of any new attraction, you know it gives a park an opportunity to work out any kinks.

 

Well, I was able to participate in that process. As the train was climbing the second lift hill, it came to a gentle stop — an “e-stop” (“e” for emergency), as it’s commonly known in the theme park world. After a short period of time, Cast Members climbed to the point of the lift hill where we were stopped and began unloading the train. So I was treated to a “walk-back” of sorts down and under the mountain.

I was given an exit pass and was able to re-ride — the entire coaster — soon thereafter. Just to be able to be one of the first to experience Expedition Everest was a special memory. But to ride it “one in a half” times was just as exciting.

Oh, and the functioning Yeti animatronic was pretty cool, too.

2020: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Maybe it was because it wasn’t a major thrill ride, maybe it was because I was more focused on Galaxy’s Edge (and not riding Rise of the Resistance), but my first ride on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway was without a doubt one of the highlights of my 2020 trip.

It was my first trackless Disney dark ride, and I so clearly remember my mouth (behind a face mask, of course) being wide open for the entirety of the ride. It is one of the most visually stunning, unpredictable, laugh-out-loud fun attraction I’ve ridden in recent memory.


Shane

Walt Disney World was always something of a legend for me, I had been once when I was very young, and didn’t remember much about the parks growing up. As I entered the theme park community, I was always intrigued by the park, but never really had a vested interest in it until after I visited Universal Studios in Orlando. This visit really opened my eyes to what a theme park could be, and I started delving into the industry beyond just coasters. After that, I was heavily invested in the Disney parks, and learned all I could about the history and innovation that come with the resort.

However, I still did not have a reference point for the parks. I didn’t really know the layout, and it was hard for me to visualize the size and scope of the parks beyond the individual attractions. So when I made my first visit as an adult in 2019, I was thrilled to finally be able to put together the missing pieces in my understanding of Walt Disney World.

I had been having a great trip, but the park finally “clicked” for me on the last night of my visit, during extra magic hours at Magic Kingdom. A vicious thunderstorm had just swept through the park, thinning out the already small crowd during the late night event. Every single ride was a walk on, and riding Pirates of the Caribbean late at night and walking through a nearly-empty Magic Kingdom really made me appreciate all of the magic that comes with the resort.

As a huge Star Wars fan, this moment was incredible (and intimidating)

There was still one thing missing for me though, and that was Epcot. We only spent three days at the parks during our trip in 2019, and I had not been to the park when I visited the resort as a young child, so I had never been to Epcot prior to this summer. Seeing as my 21st birthday was approaching, and I was planning a trip to Orlando anyways, it was inevitable that I would end up spending my birthday at Epcot.

I was finally able to put the last piece of my Walt Disney World experience in place, and spent a great summer day at the park. I got to experience some of my new favorite Disney attractions like Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Soarin’ and Mission: Space (you heard me), and had a birthday lunch in Italy where I had my first legal drink, an extremely bitter Campari and soda that I drank maybe five sips of. So, while that aspect of my 21st birthday may have been underwhelming for me, I was just happy to be back in the most magical place on earth.

The shaved ice at the Japan pavilion is a must!

The day after, I had a late flight back to New England, so I decided to spend the morning resort-hopping around the Magic Kingdom. I had Mickey waffles at the Contemporary, then took the monorail to the Grand Floridian, and a water taxi across Seven Seas Lagoon to the Polynesian.

I spent the afternoon at Disney Springs, one of my favorite places on Disney property, and left with a bag from World of Disney to commemorate my trip. I am beyond happy that I got to visit the resort during it’s 50th season, and can’t wait to experience even more of the magic in the coming years.


Nick

Visiting Walt Disney World is always a fun and memorable experience, no matter your age. However, everything becomes that much more special and magical once you become a parent and you’re able to take your kids. There’s no words to describe the feeling of watching the joy and wonder in their eyes as they take it all in for the first time.

I’ll highlight a few specific moments I was able to capture on camera. Here’s my 2.5 year old son meeting Jessie for the first time and not letting go.

We used to watch the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show at home so when talking Mickey at Magic Kingdom asked Henry to do the Hotdog Dance, man that was special. (Apparently we don’t hug him enough).

We most recently visited in February 2020 (just before pandemic and a week or two after Andrew’s visit mentioned previously). My son was now six and had been before but now our daughter was nearly three, so surprising them with the trip and seeing both of them loving the parks together was unforgettable. I put together the video below highlight some of their cutest moments.

My all-time favorite on-ride photo from Walt Disney World: my family’s first ride on Frozen Ever After. The surprised look on my daughter’s face is priceless. Shoutout to my hard working wife for making us all custom Disney themed shirts for this trip.

My second all-time favorite on-ride photo from Walt Disney World was from a high school marching band trip in 2003. Yes, that’s me in the front right pointing the wrong way. This was the second time the drumline rode Dinosaur and we knew we wanted to do a funny picture but not knowing exactly where the camera was, I held that pose a majority of the ride. Worth it.

Be sure to check out these vintage pictures of Walt Disney World my parents took in 1979 and 1983, as well as the Story of Walt Disney World book from the 1970s.


What are your favorite memories from Walt Disney World from the past 50 years? Let us know in the comments below.

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