Podcast

Podcast Episode 75.5 – A Chat With Ray

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Welcome to Episode 75.5 of the RetroWDW Podcast: A Chat With Ray – We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows from over the years. We have visited multiple parks, resorts, and just about everything else in between. Main Topic On this episode, we are joined by Disney entertainer Ray DeForest. Ray spent many years in Walt Disney World entertainment...Read More...

LBVHS

RetroMagic 50 Video Release – Part 4 – Geoffrey Snider

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The Swan Boat returns to Disney property! Well…sort of. In this fourth segment from RetroMagic 50, Todd speaks to Geoffrey Snider who brought his beautifully restored Swan Boat swan to our event. This was an amazing part of the weekend and we were so excited Geoffrey was able to share this with us. We hope you enjoy this interview conducted by Todd, as he goes into what made all of this possible. Enjoy!Read More...

LBVHS

RetroMagic 50 Video Release – Part 3 – Dave Vermuelen

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As we approach the two-month anniversary of our biggest event ever, RetroMagic 50, we felt it was time to take a trip back to that amazing weekend in April. Throughout the day, you may have noticed cameras and a number of volunteers scrambling around to document this amazing time we had together. The entire day was captured on multiple cameras and we are so excited to share everything with you here on our website and YouTube...Read More...

Videos

Restored videos from Disney-MGM Studios

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Today we take a visit to the Disney-MGM Studios in 1991! The park was very focused on production and offering guests a peek behind the scenes in its early years. The Great Movie Ride was often the first stop for many guests, and offered a spectacular journey into the movies in a classic Disney attraction with detailed sets and Audio-Animatronic figures. The main attraction was the Backstage Studio Tour, a tram ride through various facades and...Read More...

Brian's Corner, WDW History

Crossroads Shopping Center Brochure – 1986/87

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When our refurbished website is built with a document archive these are the kind of things we hope to bring to you. Crossroads shopping center was developed in the late 1980’s at the end of Hotel Plaza Boulevard on a sliver of land Disney owned just across the intersection of I-4 and 535.  Among the many restaurants and tourism-centric shops that occupied the center over the years was the anchor supermarket Gooding’s.  Once numerous in central...Read More...

LBVHS, Videos

RetroMagic 50 Video Release – Parts 1 & 2

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As we approach the two-month anniversary of our biggest event ever, RetroMagic 50, we felt it was time to take a trip back to that amazing weekend in April. Throughout the day, you may have noticed cameras and a number of volunteers scrambling around to document this amazing time we had together. The entire day was captured on multiple cameras and we are so excited to share everything with you here on our website and YouTube...Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 75: Honey I Shrunk The Kids Movie Set Adventure

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The Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure was one of the early attractions at the Disney-MGM Studios that opened in late 1990, following the success of the film Honey I Shrunk the Kids which opened in 1989. In this episode we start with the film itself and the success of this movie. Back then, this movie was made way different and it lent perfectly to the Disney-MGM Studios and the reason for the park…Read More...

Videos

Beauty and the Beast at Walt Disney World

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The 1991 release of Beauty and the Beast was Disney’s most successful animated release to date, and characters from the film were quickly added to Walt Disney World. The Main Street windows had animated scenes from the movie added; you can see the details of each in this short video:   Belle and Beast also greeted guests and took pictures in the Disney-MGM Studios soundstage.   A stage adaptation was also added to Disney-MGM Studios; the...Read More...

WDW History

Antique Music and Arcade Games at Walt Disney World

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The following is a list of equipment bought from Paul Eakin’s Gay ’90s Village in Sikeston, MO, and sold to Disney in August 1977: Belgian Band Organ34 Whistle Steam Calliope – experimental model made by the Tos. J. NicholsSeeburg Style “H” – The largest Orchestrion made by SeeburgEncore Automatic Banjo – made in the 1890sBeale Street SpecialMr Sam – Large Wurlitzer Orchestrion from MemphisBig Bertha – Limonaire Fair Organ with 3 hand carved figuresBig Nelly –...Read More...

Videos

Restored films from Walt Disney World in 1971-1973

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We are happy to share a group of videos from the first few years of operation at Walt Disney World. Many of the films we receive contain some common shots – a parade, the jungle cruise, and usually some skyway footage. These are no exception but we’ll point out a few highlights along the way In this film, we start in the car ride to the Contemporary with a nice shot of the monorail running alongside...Read More...