RetroMagic: 10 Celebrating decades of WDW
September 26th – 28th, 2025
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Full details, guest list ,and more can be found at RetroMagic.net

Tickets and Pricing

• RetroMagic A 10th Anniversary Celebration  (Sept 27th & 28th, 9a-4p)
  • General Admission:  $185pp
  • Preferred Seating Closest To The Stage: $250pp SOLD OUT
• Living Seas Lounge VIP Dinner  (Friday, September 26th, 5-8:30p) – $250pp  SOLD OUT
  • Seas Lounge Dinner is a separate ticketed event and does not include access to Retromagic on Saturday and Sunday.

Ticking Summary

Tickets do NOT include admission to any Walt Disney World Theme Park, parking, or other Disney-imposed fees/charges. All ticket purchases are final; refunds are only provided if the event is canceled. Lake Buena Vista Historical Society reserves the right to change venues and modify the plans as Disney Event Services requires. This private event is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World, or D23.

Donations for Tickets is now open:

Discounted Accommodations at Coronado Springs Resort

Discounted accommodations at Coronado Springs will be available to our attendees for $239/nt.  We strongly encourage those staying on property for the event to take advantage of the convenience of staying at the host resort.  The deadline to book a room under the discounted rate is Wednesday, August 27th 2025.

Book your discounted room directly by clicking this link or by calling Group Reservations at 407-939-4686. Disney’s Phone Team is available Monday thru Friday, 8:30am to 6:00pm EST, and Saturday and Sunday, 8:30am to 5:00pm EST, closed major holidays. Any guests booking online or by phone will be required to apply a one-night deposit at the time of booking.

Discounted Park Admission Tickets

Discounted admission to Disney theme parks for attendees are available for purchase by clicking this link. Specially priced date-based theme park tickets are available 7 Days Before, During, and 7 Days After RetroMagic.

Event Parking at Coronado Springs

For attendees not staying at Coronado Springs parking will be available in the convention center parking lot onsite.

Event T-Shirts On Sale NEW

If you want to show your RetroMagic colors choose from an array of decade-specific options at our online store by clicking here.

RetroMagic 2025 Schedule (Tentative – Last Updated 9/22/25)

RetroMagic 2025: Day 1
Saturday, September 27

8:30a – Ballroom Doors open for Preferred Seating and Special Accommodations
8:45a – Ballroom Doors open for all guests

9:15a – RetroMagic 2025 – Opening Ceremony
The LBVHistory Board of Directors welcome you to RetroMagic with an opening film and remarks.

9:20a – It Belongs In A Museum!
Catch up with historian Ted Linhart as he previews the historic documents he’s brought with him. We’ll also preview some of the other exhibitors, authors and artists appearing in the Lake Buena Vista VIllage room.

9:35a – Fun For A Penny: The Main Street Arcade
This panel is all fun and games as Historian Foxx Nolte and arcade expert Todd Tuckey revisit the historical reason an arcade was on Walt Disney’s Main Street USA and tell you more about the novelties and games inside Disney’s version.

10:15a to 10:45a- Break
Your first opportunity to visit The Lake Buena Vista Village for photos, autographs, book signings and peruse collections.

10:45a – Swimming With Sharks
Imagineer Chris Runco talks about his career creating robots for Disney parks among other notable feats. Kym Murphy joins him on stage as we reunite the team that brought you Typhoon Lagoon.

11:45a to 1:00 PM- Lunch On Your Own
See our Dining Guide page for tips and recommendations on making the most of nearby dining options.

1:00p – Start Me Up: Opening Day Cast & Crew
A panel of “opening crew” and executives for Walt Disney World in 1971 and EPCOT Center in 1982 will join us to reveal behind-the-scenes anecdotes from their storied careers.  Disney Legend Tom Nabbe is joined by colleagues Steve Baker, Dr. Gloria Hardee, Jim McCaskill and Martin McCarthy sharing their stories opening Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center.

1:45p – We Love The 90’s!
Paul Osterhout revisits the Muppetvision 3-D, Magic Kingdom’s 1994 Tomorrowland reimagining, new management at the Enchanted Tiki Room and lots of other very 90’s Walt Disney World extreme makeovers.

2:45p to 3:15p – Break
Visit the Lake Buena Vista Village for photos, autographs, book signings and peruse 5
collections.

3:15p – Russell Brower: Musicscapes
Three-time Emmy-winning composer/sound designer Russell Brower discusses his career creating sound environments like the beloved “Innoventions Area Loop”, The Living Seas and famous video games.

4:00 PM – We Go On: Remembering Tapestry of Nations
Tapestry of Nations cast and crew members William Campbell, Lillian Reyes and Amy Kesman conclude our Saturday stage sessions remembering one of EPCOT’s most innovative parades. Don’t miss this finale!

4:30p – Dinner Break On Your Own
The ballroom and Lake Buena Vista Village doors will be closed and locked during the dinner break.

7:00p – Ballroom doors reopen.  Lake Buena Vista Village will be CLOSED during movie night.

7:30p to 9:30p – Movie Night: Live!  “Ready When You Are, C.B.”
Join The LBVHistory crew, Imagineer Tom K. Morris, Disney Legend Tony Baxter and other special guests for movie night!

RetroMagic 2025: Day 2
Sunday, September 28

8:45a – 10:15a – Buffet Breakfast Service
Includes Assorted Juices, Fresh Brewed Coffee and Selection of Teas. Seasonal Fresh-cut Fruit, Scrambled Eggs, Mickey Waffles with Maple Syrup, Seasonal Berries, and Whipped Cream, Smoked Bacon, Crispy Country Style Potatoes

9:30a – RetroMagic Day 2 Opening Remarks

9:35a – Welcome Home To Lake Buena Vista
Historians Hastin Zylstra and Foxx Nolte peel back a bit of fascinating history on Walt Disney World’s “host community”, the shopping village and townhomes and how it all ties back to Disneyland and California.

10:20a – Break
To facilitate the schedule of some of our VIP guests this short break is a good time to stretch your legs or use the restroom.

10:30a – Tony Baxter: Ask Me Anything
Disney Legend Tony Baxter answers questions YOU submitted. Have a question for Tony? Call 978-71-RETRO and leave your voice message and your question may be answered by Tony onstage at RetroMagic!

11:20a – The Living Seas
Imagineers Tim Delaney and Kym Murphy are joined by colleagues as they recount EPCOT Center’s oceanic masterpiece Living Seas pavilion.

12:15 Lunch Break On Your Own
See our Dining Guide page for tips and recommendations on making the most of nearby dining options.

1:30p – Highway In The Sky
Disney Legend Tom Nabbe is joined by Steve Case, Bruce Fox, Ted Meberg and Bob Woodham to tell tales of opening Walt Disney World’s monorail system in 1971.

2:15p – Tom Morris’s Excellent Adventure
While spending his “retirement” relentlessly chronicling the early decades of Imagineering Tom K. Morris has uncovered unknown, forgotten and overlooked bits of WDW history he’ll share with us.

3:00p – Break
Visit the Lake Buena Vista Village for photos, autographs, book signings and peruse collections.

3:30p – Imagineer Lightning Round
We join some of our special guests and remember some of their past colleagues, past RetroMagic guests and ask a few questions that didn’t relate to their sessions.

4:00p – Finale
We bid you farewell in characteristic RetroMagic style.

5:15p – Lake Buena Vista Village Closes
As the ballroom is cleared and the archives are packed away Lake Buena Vista Village will remain open for one final opportunity for photos, autographs, artist and author interactions.

Session Descriptions (Tentative – Last Updated 9/1/25)

The Living Seas

A deep dive into and comprehensive recounting of EPCOT Center’s groundbreaking marine pavilion. Our panelists will include lead Imagineers Tim Delaney and Kym Murphy and the men and women who worked on early concepts as well as designed and built the final pavilion. They’ll share stories, rare artwork, photos, and video of the planning, construction, and opening of The Living Seas.

Russell Brower: Musicscapes

The three-time Emmy-winning composer/sound designer behind Epcot’s iconic 1990s “Innoventions Area Loop,” The Living Seas (with previous RetroMagic guest George Wilkins), and video games including World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and StarCraft II, Russell Brower will discuss his career and approach to creating sound environments.

Tony Baxter: Ask Me Anything Q&A

Disney Legend Tony Baxter will enchant and inspire during a Q & A session as he shares his “EPCOT journey,” which began with the Seas pavilion, then the Land, and finally Imagination. Tony’s many other contributions to Walt Disney World are sure to be topics as well.  Have a question for Tony? Call 978-71-RETRO and leave your voice message and your question may be answered by Tony onstage at RetroMagic!

Highway in the Sky

Disney Legend Tom Nabbe reunites with members of the opening-day monorail crew from October 1971. You’ll hear tales and travails of the early years of the futuristic transportation system. Joining Tom on stage will be Bob Woodham, Bruce Fox, Ted Meberg, and Steve Case.  Bob was the first monorail operator hired in August 1971.  Bruce was an opening day monorail operator who spent his entire career at Walt Disney World.  Ted was an opening day monorail man but spent his career as a school teacher.  After Steve drove Disney’s highway in the sky he took to the skies in a career with Delta Airlines.  This session should be a lot of fun!

Swimming With Sharks

When Disney decided to add more robots to EPCOT in the mid-1980’s they turned to Imagineer Chris Runco to create GYRO and GERO.  RX-24, the robot who piloted you through your Star Tours adventure?  That’s Chris’s creation as well.  Taking a break from futuristic robots in space he led the design efforts on Typhoon Lagoon water park working closely with Kym Murphy to bring unique experiences like swimming with sharks to Disney’s revolutionary water wonderland.  Chris also is responsible for concept design and art direction for some of Animal Kingdom’s most enduring spaces like Harambe Village and the Pangani Forest Trail.

Start Me Up

A panel of “opening crew” and executives for Walt Disney World in 1971 and EPCOT Center in 1982 will join us to reveal behind-the-scenes anecdotes from their storied careers. Panelists include Steve Baker, whose 23-year career with Disney began opening the parking lots and concluded as EPCOT Center’s Development Director and Jim McCaskill, who was enshrined as an “easter egg” in Wonders of Life.  Dr. Gloria Hardee worked throughout the Magic Kingdom in attractions before moving to College Program Education for 11 years as the Education and Curriculum Manager for both Florida and California teams earning her Master’s Degree and then her PH D. She retired in 2017 after 42 years of service to Disney. During Martin McCarthy‘s 50 years working in Merchandise at Walt Disney World he experienced every major change in the department. These folks all have some incredible stories to share with you.  Disney Legend Tom Nabbe will also help lead this panel.

Tom Morris’ Excellent Adventure

Imagineer Tom K. Morris has spent his “retirement” years tirelessly chronicling the early decades of Imagineering for a soon to be published book.  Along the way he’s discovered unknown, forgotten and overlooked bits of Walt Disney World history that he’ll share for the first time with our audience.  Get your notepads handy for this one, folks.

We Love The 90’s!

A look back at collaboration between the Disney organization and the Muppets with Paul Osterhout who spent the 1990’s working on Muppetvision 3D, the Muppet stage shows at Disney-MGM Studios, and other Muppet projects, and Magic Kingdom’s 1994 Tomorrowland reimagining. Hear all about his work on the last major refurbishment of Carousel of Progress, working with Robin Williams on The Timekeeper, Gilbert Gottfried on the Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management and many other iconic 90’s experiences.  Meet us at the Kugel fountain!

Movie Night: Live! “Ready When You Are, C.B.”

After a break for dinner on your own please join us in the ballroom for an evening of rare films, never before seen footage, photos and media from some of Walt Disney World’s most beloved attractions and experiences. If you’ve ever attended one of our move night livestreams this is your chance to experience the fun in person.  Imagineers Tony Baxter, Tom K. Morris will join historians and the gang to provide color commentary, fun interpretations and all the witty banter you can handle.

Welcome Home to Lake Buena Vista

Author and historian Foxx Nolte will revisit the Lake Buena Vista shopping village. Before Disney Springs, Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island, this quaint shopping and dining oasis was a charming beacon for locals and tourists alike. Learn about its diverse offerings, the origin of the store names, and the California location that inspired it.  Historian Hastin Zylstra will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the Lake Buena Vista townhomes and their California origins, including their connection to Disneyland. This oddball slice of Walt Disney World history is one you won’t want to miss.

Fun for a Penny

Once a charming fixture of Main Street U.S.A., we’ll reminisce about The Magic Kingdom’s Penny Arcade. Arcade expert Todd Tuckey of TNT Amusements will join a panel transporting you to the former dark and noisy haven of mechanical novelty games of yesteryear. See rare photographs of the arcade, find out more about the vintage games and musical automations that resided in the space, and discover where some of them live on today.  Historian and author Foxx Nolte will add some cultural history tidbits on where the penny arcade fits into a theme park.

We Go On: Remembering Tapestry of Nations

Tammy Tuckey will host a reunion of cast members involved in EPCOT’s Millennium Celebration’s signature parade the Tapestry of Nations.  The puppets, the performers, the music and more will be celebrated and remembered.  This session will be full of surprises. 

It Belongs In A Museum!

Archivist and historian Ted Linhart returns with rare documents he’s acquired and preserved over the years.  After a bit of time on stage describing what he’s brought with him you’ll be able to see these often one-of-a-kind documents up close in our display room.  Ted loves spending time with guests and talking about his collection.

Now available! RetroMagic logo shirts and hats at https://www.retrowdw.com/supportus