Restored Films

Restored Home Movie: Magic Kingdom Visit – 1970s

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It’s a sunny start to this family’s day as they enter the Vacation Kingdom via the Ticket and Transportation Center and prepare to queue for the monorail. En route to the Magic Kingdom we get a nice aerial shot of the topiaries between the Contemporary Resort and the park. We then open to a generous 360 degree pan of Main Street before the parade makes its way through the crowd. There’s some great footage of Mickey...Read More...

LBVHS, Retro Disney World

Save the Date – RetroWDW’s 5th Anniversary Celebration!

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Traveling to WDW this fall? RetroWDW’s 5th Anniversary event benefiting the Lake Buena Vista Historical Society is coming Columbus Day weekend 2019! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Historic Location Exclusive interviews and appearances with Disney Legends Multiple Panel Presentations Exclusive never before seen footage Rare Artifacts Topics including Disney-MGM’s 30th and all the October birthdays; Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center Additional special topics in the planning stages! Exclusive Gift VIP Meet and Greet Event Details...Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 48.5: A Chat With Jeff Blyth – Director of The Timekeeper

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Jeff Blythe joins us on this bonus episode, which is a follow-up to Episode 48, which is all about The Timekeeper. Jeff has been a film director for many years, getting his start in Circlevision with the original China film at EPCOT Center. We take a massively deep dive into what it takes to make these types of films. As you listen, your mind is going to be blown and you are in for a few…Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 48: The Timekeeper

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Welcome to Circlevision and The Timekeeper. This super unique format was used throughout Disney properties and this episode we dive into one of the last productions, The Timekeeper. Our entire crew has a great recollection of this film and animatronic show, starring Robin Williams. The show itself, featured a unique character based on the actual camera system and they called her, Nine Eyes. With this episode, we go scene by scene, discussing the stars, filming, production…Read More...

Brian's Corner, Slides

WDW Restaurants Photo Gallery – April 1975

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A remarkable set of slides dated April 1975 capture a necessary and notable part of any theme park: The dining establishments. When we get a set of slides like this with no context as to their origin we are left to speculate or create our own backstory. At RetroWDW we choose to believe this set of slides was taken by a person doing research on how Disney does counter service and buffeteria-style dining. You’ll notice photos...Read More...

Disney World Home Movies, Restored Films

Home Movie: Touring the Magic Kingdom – 1976

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An early morning rise and we see the gardeners trimming topiaries and then a quick view over bay lake and the Contemporary lends to the spires of Space Mountain and Cinderellas Castle. After the obligatory castle and flower shop shots we find ourselves in Fantasyland and we are soon transported 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. Fantasyland, the Rivers of America give way to some quality time on Tom Sawyer Island and the Swiss Family Treehouse. Our...Read More...

Retro Disney World, Videos

Video: @RetroWDW Lake and Lagoon Tour: Discovery Edition & EPCOT Walking Tour

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In 2016 we held the Lake and Lagoon Tour where we commandeered a number of pontoon boats and sailed with our listeners on a tour of Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. Due to the small size of the boats we had a limited number of tickets to sell, as a result the event sold out in 9 minutes! We always knew we could do better, and in 2018 we held the tour again, only this...Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 46: Snow White’s Scary Adventure

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This month, we take you back to one of the opening day attractions and one of the more recently closed dark rides at the Magic Kingdom. How takes the lead to go through the various versions of this ride and also takes a deep dive into the word 'scary', relating to this ride. The comparisons to Mr. Toad appear in this episode as well as the vintage origins of this type of ride. Dark undertones are brought…Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 45: Holiday Potluck

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In this episode we talk about Christmas time in the Vacation Kingdom of the World. Starting us off, Brian takes us through this vintage VHS. This was sold alongside the other VHS tapes - A Day at The Magic Kingdom, A Day at EPCOT Center, and A Day at Disney MGM Studios. We discuss how Santa takes us on a journey, throughout the resort, about what is done for Christmas at WDW. There are some hidden…Read More...