Historical Research, Retro Disney World

National Disability Independence Day – Accommodations Guide at Walt Disney World 1972

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July 27th is National Disability Independence Day marking 33 years since President George H.W. Bush signed the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act into law in 1990. While visitors today are familiar with the myriad accommodations for individuals with disabilities available at Disney parks and resorts you may wonder what the experience was like in the Magic Kingdom’s opening year. To mark the occasion we are adding to our archive the very first accessibility guide produced for...Read More...

Videos

Happy 4th of July

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Happy 4th of July from all of us at LBVHS! To celebrate we are happy to share “Celebrate the Spirit! Disney’s All-Star 4th of July Spectacular” from July 4th, 1992. Shot in Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the special aired on broadcast TV and was hosted by John Ritter. There are performances by Celine Dion, Billy Ray Cyrus, Los Lobos, Kris Kross, and more.  Read More...

Videos

Videos: 4 hours of time travel to 1992

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We’ve added nearly 4 hours of restored home movie footage shot over several days in February 1992 to our YouTube channel. Early in the “Disney Decade”, the first video contains a visit to the Magic Kingdom. There are lots of character greetings, as well as a castle stage show starring Roger Rabbit. Plus some great shots inside attractions including Dreamflight. There are lots of great views around the park, and the day ends with footage of...Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 84: Disney Vacation Club

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For our main topic, we take you back to the late 80s and early 90s and get into the history of the Disney Vacation Club. We all know what the vacation club is nowadays, but how did it start, and why? In this era of Walt Disney World, things were much different, and the concept of a timeshare at Disney World seemed impossible. Disney decided to change this and tackled the concept of taking ownership in…Read More...

Videos

Video: Everyone loves a parade

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We recently published a number of videos of Magic Kingdom parades over the years on our YouTube channel! Additionally, this special from the Disney Channel gives a behind the scenes look at the Main Street Electrical Parade.   We also have a brief restored film of the parade from 1979. The “Remember the Magic” parade was introduced for the resort’s 25 anniversary. We have this video, shot from Main Street USA, as well as another as...Read More...

LBVHS

LBVHistory Announces 2023 Holiday Ornament: Holly Jolly Poly

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The team at The Lake Buena Vista Historical Society has been hard at work creating a special holiday ornament or decor adornment, whatever your fancy, for 2023! We present The Holly Jolly Poly! Donate to Reserve your Holly Jolly Poly! In the style of the Polynesian Resort Signs, the ornament is cast resin, hand-painted, and features a traditional brown background, Maui’s likeness, and of course, the phrase Mele Kalikimaka right front and center! We’ve also included...Read More...

Podcast

Episode 83: The Disney Institute

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In this episode, we head back to the mid-1980s when Michael Eisner took a vacation at The Chautauqua Institution and decided to bring its blend of enrichment, entertainment, and fun back to Florida, adding a "uniquely Disney" touch. Originally conceived to be part of the Disney Development Corporation's "Celebration" project, The Disney Institute opened in February of 1996 on the site of the former Lake Buena Vista Townhouses/The Disney Village Resort, offering "Discovery Vacations" where guests…Read More...