Podcast

Podcast Episode 84: Disney Vacation Club

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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...

Videos

Walt Disney World Easter Parade – 1998-1999

by

Happy Easter from the LBVHS! To celebrate, here are two restored videos of the Walt Disney World Easter Parade from 1998 and 1999. In 1998, the parade was hosted by Regis Philbin and Ann Jillian and featured a preview of the yet-to-be-open Animal Kingdom Park. 1999’s parade was hosted by D. L. Hughley and Caroline Rhea, and had appearances by Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, and Collin Raye.       We’ve previously shared the 1992 Easter...Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 82: Remembering Rolly Crump

by

Welcome to another episode of the RetroWDW Podcast. We have quite a few things in the works, but we felt it was best to put those aside and focus on a Disney Legend who recently passed, Rolly Crump. If you remember back to 2019, the crew from The Lake Buena Vista Historical Society made the journey to California to meet with Rolly. What was initially planned as a quick Q&A, turned into a multi-hour interview with…Read More...

Videos

Restored films from Movie Night!

by

If you missed our February movie night, now is your chance to catch up on some of the fun videos we shared. First up is this very early home movie of the Magic Kingdom and a family’s hotel room. Next we have “The Crappiest Home Movie of WDW” which has a few unique looks at the Magic Kingdom in its first couple of years of operation.   Disney produced a series of educational films for schools...Read More...

Videos

Wonders of Life Video Series

by

Disney and Metropolitan Life produced a short educational film series in 1990 called Wonders of Life. Released on VHS, this would enable schools and other educational institutions to bring some of the concepts and content from the EPCOT Center pavilion “home”. Each is hosted by Captain Cortex in the animated Cranium Command. Bones & Muscles Got Rhythm Brain & the Nervous System Think Science Heart and the Lungs Play Ball  Read More...