Videos

Celebrate Christmas in July

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Welcome to Christmas in July from RetroWDW! To celebrate, today we have three videos from our archives to share. First, from Walt Disney World in 1978, is this TV special featuring Shields & Yarnell making their way from Los Angeles to Orlando for a visit to Walt Disney World. A performance by band Pablo Cruise on Bay Lake follows and appearances by Phyllis Diller, Andrea McArdle, and Danielle Spencer are made in this one hour special....Read More...

Videos

Restored film: Traveling to & Visiting Walt Disney World (early 1970’s)

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This great film from the early days of Walt Disney World’s existence starts with the road trip from Georgia to Clearwater, Florida and then onto Orlando. Once in Walt Disney World, the film continues on the monorail through the Grand Canyon Concourse in the Contemporary Hotel before pulling into the station at the Magic Kingdom – note the great shot through an empty Tomorrowland because it hasn’t been built out yet! The film includes a musical...Read More...

Videos

Restored film: Woody, Bea, Gail and Bertha visit Walt Disney World (March 1974)

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This film contains nicely composed shots of the Magic Kingdom from a visit in 1974. Included are views of the Enhanted Tiki Room Preshow, Main Street, Cinderella Castle, and Fantasyland. Next up is a great segment of the Fort Wilderness Railroad, including a great close up of the locomotive taking on water! Finally, the film wraps up back at the Magic Kingdom after a quick ride on the monorail.Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 68: Magic Journeys

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This month, we take you back to EPCOT Center and as far back as opening day. Magic Journeys: This is one of those short-lived attractions that most have not seen, but if you did, you get it. This was extremely high tech, advanced and the effort level that went into this is absolutely insane. Todd takes the lead, giving us a bit of history and why this whole thing came about. We hear from Murray Lerner,…Read More...

LBVHS

RetroMagic 50 Information Sign Up

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The Lake Buena Vista Historical Society will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World the weekend of April 23-24, 2022 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL! The schedule will include our RetroMagic 50 event with presentations, performances, and personal interactions with the men and women who made the Vacation Kingdom a place to remember. Sign up below to be the first to know when tickets and more information will be available Mark...Read More...

Videos

Restored 16mm film: Cloudy Day at the Magic Kingdom

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Take a 7 minute silent tour of the Magic Kingdom. The film starts at the TTC where there appears to be a healthy wait for the monorail. Moving on to Main Street USA, of course and a horse-drawn streetcar ride. After some shots around the hub, the film moves to Adventureland and the Swiss Family Treehouse, followed by the Keel Boats making their way around the Rivers of America. In Fantasyland, there are some great shots...Read More...

Videos

Restored film: Carlo and Bev Visit WDW

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In this 4 minute film, see the Magic Kingdom in its early days, decorated for Christmas. This film features some great shots along Main Street USA, Adventureland, and around the Rivers of America. Catch a glimpse of the canoes and Mike Fink Keel Boats sailing along the river, too!Read More...

Videos

Restored film: Through the 70s at WDW

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Enjoy 20 minutes of a great look back at Walt Disney World in its early years. Some of the highlights include the Polynesian lobby and pool area, a ride in the front cab of the Mark IV monorail, and some excellent shots inside and out of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea submarines. Other attractions in the film include the roofless teacups, Dumbo, the riverboat, and a ride on the train that passes by empty land...Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 67: Pleasure Island Part II

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For this episode, we continue where we left off on the first episode of this series, Pleasure Island Part I. If you missed Part I, please take a minute to download that episode and get caught up. How is once again leading us and we are so excited to get into the 90s where Pleasure Island went through some changes. Within a few months of opening, we learn that it wasn't drawing the crowds that were…Read More...