Imageworks

Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tram Tour – October 1, 1991

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Leading up to our next podcast, which will be release soon, we dug up some footage from the Backlot Tour in 1991. This was filmed on 8mm video and there are some notable things to look for. Normally, you would see Herbie sitting there in these early days, doing wheelies, popping the hood, etc. Well in this video, Herbie is gone and we see a truck which looks to be from Ernest Saves Christmas – anybody...Read More...

Pleasure Island – May 1992 – New Year’s Eve Countdown

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So here we are, just a few days away from New Years and we have a gem for you. This takes us back to 1992, May 28th to be exact. Some say this was the heyday of Pleasure Island where a nightly New Year’s Eve countdown happened and it was just crazy fun. This entire video is roughly six minutes long and features the stage show and buildup to the countdown. Dancers, fireworks, confetti, spotlights –...Read More...

Holiday Specials of the 90s

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If 2020 is the year of ‘video’ for RetroWDW, then we need to start right now for the holiday season. On our upcoming podcast, we tackle three different Christmas specials that Disney released in the earlier part of the 90s. These three VHS rips really take you back to when Disney did the shows live and Regis Philbin was on top of his game. We have the Very Merry Christmas Parade from 1993 & 1995. This...Read More...

Home Movie: America on Parade – March 1976

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This silent film presents about nine minutes of America On Parade, which ran at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom from June 1975 through September 1976. The parade celebrated the United States Bicentennial. Tall doll-like characters representing the “People of America” accompany the many floats depicting American history, spanning eras from the voyage of Columbus through the 20th Century. Our vantage point for the parade is in Liberty Square near the end of the bridge leading from the...Read More...

Home Movie: A Patriotic Day at the Magic Kingdom – March 1976

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This film captures a family’s visit to the Magic Kingdom March 1976, during the festive United States Bicentennial. A sampling of Walt Disney World’s patriotic decorations can be seen throughout the park. In the first couple of minutes we see the vacationing family posing in a variety of park scenes. Views of vehicles, flowers and shops along Main Street give way to a close-up of the castle main entrance. Attractions such as the Haunted Mansion and...Read More...

Home Movie: A Fun Filled Day At The Magic Kingdom March 1973

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Our film opens traveling up World Drive towards the Magic Kingdom tolls and into the parking lot. Hopping aboard the tram we make our way to the Ticket and Transportation Center with monorails rolling by overhead. Aboard the Highway in the Sky we can see the topiaries lining World Drive en route to the Contemporary Resort. After passing a pristine and serene Bay Lake we find ourselves past the Contemporary and finally arriving at the Magic...Read More...

Home Movie: The Magic Kingdom as seen in 1974

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This film, shot in 1974, opens on what appears to be a sunny and quiet day in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. Our family in this film have brought their grandson to explore the park and start with a ride on Cinderella’s Golden Carousel followed by a meeting with Prince John from Robin Hood – though the grandson is clearly frightened. Next we hop aboard the WDW Railroad and make our way around the park with...Read More...

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...

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...

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...