Disney World Home Movies

EPCOT Center – Narrated by Harold and Yvonne Jenkins – Home Movie

by

If you joined us for RetroWDW’s Home Movie Night #4, you’ll recognize this film as the star of the show. Harold and Yvonne Jenkins of Savannah, GA documented their trip to EPCOT Center not only on film, but they dubbed over their film with their own narration. From the opening line, “Home of the big silver ball”, you’ll be immediately drawn in as their southern charm and not so subtle descriptions provide a dialogue that is...Read More...

Magic Kingdom Home Movie from 1972 – With Jungle Cruise Frogs!

by

If you missed our 2nd Home Movie night yesterday, you can catch up by watching this short film that features a quick tour around the Resort Beam monorail track! There are some fantastic zooms of signs all around the park, the topiary gardens, a short glimpse of Jungle Cruise frogs, a peek inside of If You Had Wings, rare Rivers of America props and more! Don’t forget to check out our 3rd Home Movie Night on...Read More...

Comedy Warehouse at Pleasure Island – May 28, 1992

by

We have some more Pleasure Island fun for you and this time we take you inside the Comedy Warehouse. This comedy club opened back in 1989 and ran until 2008 featuring the look of a warehouse, filled with various props and things of that nature. Improvisation was the main idea of the act and our very own How Bowers is on the receiving end of the stage to audience phone call. You get a quick view...Read More...

Home Movie: America on Parade – March 1976

by

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

by

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: Touring the Magic Kingdom – 1976

by

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...

The Shiny New Polynesian & Magic Kingdom – 1978

by

This film was shot on a silent roll of 16mm. We get an early shot of the Polynesian beach, adorned with sailboats and white sand. This feeling of go anywhere and boat all over is long gone. The day this was shot, it looks overcast and breezy; but the color correction is amazing. For me, I always seem to expect the look of an old VHS, no matter what the footage is or when it was...Read More...

Magic Kingdom Fun – Home Movie from 1979

by

This film, shot in 1979 on silent Super8 is all Magic Kingdom. We start off on Main Street, like almost every film we seem to find. You will be stunned by how empty the street actually is – you could easily drive two cars side by side. We see some great shots in Adventureland, which is more barren than Main Street. Most people you see are in pants and coats, showing a somewhat cooler day. Our...Read More...

Home Movie of the Magic Kingdom in 1981

by

A 1981 visit to the Magic Kingdom and the Polynesian Resort show off the Vacation Kingdom looking swell at 10 years old. The film opens in Town Square and the entrance plaza before cutting to an omnibus rolling down Main Street USA.  Cinderella Castle and the hub have held up well in their first decade and Tomorrowland sports a very different look than it did in 1971 (chiefly half of it didn’t exist!). We see the...Read More...