Listen to the Episode:
Welcome to Episode 2 of the Retro Disney World Podcast. We have had lots of great feedback thus far, we hope you continue to enjoy our retro presentations!
Introductions
The regular crew is all here, Todd, Brian, How & JT are all present and accounted for. How kicks off the podcast with the correct story behind the crying alligator gag in the Jungle Cruise from the last show.
Main Topic
The team starts by mentioning their favorite part of the Contemporary Resort, from there we dive into the overall design, the association with US Steel and how the rooms were constructed. JT gets to say “Like a chest of drawers” a few times while Brian imagines the construction view from Roy’s Cabin.
Todd struggles with the escalator size and continually gets lost in the Grand Canyon Concourse.
We move on to the North & South wings and then ask “What would you pay to stay in a retro Contemporary Room?”
Todd once again mixes up Shari Lewis and Phyllis Diller as we move up to the Top of the World. The commercial discussed during the show can be viewed here: US Steel Contemporary Resort Hotel Construction Commercial
Guest Star
We welcome Chad from wdwmap.com to the show to discuss his amazing reproduction Paul Hartley map of WDW that hung in the rooms at the Contemporary and Polynesian Resorts.
Audio Puzzler
Congratulations to Carolyn for winning the Episode #1 Audio Puzzler, the answer was “Foot Power Scene” from World of Motion. . If you think you know the answer to the audio puzzler, email us! podcast@retrowdw.com We will enter all correct answers into a drawing for retro prizes! All correct answers will be entered into a drawing in December 2015 for a Paul Hartley reproduction map from wdwmap.com!!
Viewer Mail
From David, we discuss a retro WDW Globe souvenir, one that How purchased a number of years back – Send your questions to podcast@retrowdw.com.
Film Restoration
We watch and discuss a retro film that has been restored with Pixcel and Imageworks. Follow along with us as we add color commentary to this film: Contemporary Resort – 1970s Shag and Flair – Restored Home Movie HD
Listener Memories
Keep the calls coming, sharing your memories and giving us feedback. If you would like to call and leave us a message, please dial 978-71-RETRO.
Tweet at us, send us a Facebook post or message, tag us on Instagram or send us your thoughts.
We hope you have enjoyed this episode! If you have any questions, suggestions or find errors please email us podcast@retrowdw.com.
Next Month
Be sure to check back with us very soon for Episode #3 when we pay a visit to Fort Wilderness.
Until next time, “Do not pull down on the safety bar please…I will lower it for you…”
Loved the ep- yet had to comment on negative characterization of the wing rooms!
We greatly preferred these to tower rooms in the late 70s-80s, with the old marina, beach and pool it was the best place to be- not only was it quieter than being on 7 Seas, but you could walk out your sliding doors right on to the beach, walk over to the poolside bar, or just stumble onto a ferry for a trip over to FW or Discovery Island. I remember how nice it was not having to go anywhere near the bustle of the tower unless you wanted to, almost as if it was a separate, more secluded resort… was even quicker to get to the Fiesta Fun Center from parts of the wings!
I have stayed there recently, and the marina area (entire lake for that matter) isn’t nearly as vibrant or welcoming, and the lack of beach right out your door makes the location much less appealing (though still probably the quietest spot within walking distance to MK!)
Excellent podcast episode. It’s further worth adding the Contemporary, as with most remodels, fell victim to losing itself in mismatched or misdirection throughout the years. This place was designed in the 70s mindset but in many ways still looks delightfully dated today. It only took Disney about 40 years to do something to try to pull this resort into the next century but still finds itself at odds to define “contemporary”.
It’s worth noting that the Contemporary still had early 70s elements and leftovers all the way up until 2007-2008 or so, including those steel fountain lamps, Concourse Sundries sign and brownish tiled floors — all of which had finally been removed around 2010. I took a slew of pictures that Summer and even captured the oddball escalators corner area that had been completely remodeled shortly after. This was the last area and vestige of the plant beds and general theme of the decor from the original era.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10073060@N00/albums/72157601204693115
As far as I am aware, there is not another hotel in the world that has a monorail going through the center of it. That alone would keep the Contemporary futuristic. I don’t know what exactly it is that makes that hotel look dated to you, but I strongly disagree. I happened to love the plexiglass trees that have long since been removed and I also loved the theming of the entire hotel. I genuinely miss the way it looked in the 1970s.
I have just started listening about a month ago have decided to start at the beginning of them. I just finished listening to the great podcast of the Contemporary. First off I wanted to share my link to the USSteel commercial. Its clearer then the version you have a link to. I came across it when I started doing research myself back around 2005 of how the Contemporary Resort was built. This copy actually came from the USSteel website buried way deep in some folder. This was way before it was easily accessed all over youtube and now facebook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJNzmydrivI
I do not think I have any information to add to your podcast of the Contemporary or the Polynesian. I thought it was awesome and loved hearing it. After listening to it I may have something to add regarding another hotel that was built around the same time using the same construction methods, with USSteel.
I learned about this first hand from my father. One day I was having a conversation with him about the Contemporary and how it was built and that USSteel was involved, he quickly jumped in and told me that the hotel that he helped manage in the mid to late 70’s (and that the we actually lived there as he was the resident manager) had prebuilt stacked rooms done by USSteel. It was the Court of Flags Resort on Major Blvd. They had four separate buildings with a total of 800 rooms.
I was so amazed to hear the story. The hotel was already opened for about 3 years when he started but he personally had to deal with USSteel even after that much time. Building 2 had to be shut down because mold was forming between the room spaces. During the whole time we lived there we were never able to go into that building as it was being worked on to fix the problems. I wanted to mention that because you mentioned the myth or rumor on your podcast that Disney had mold issues also. My guess is they most likely did but kept that very quiet. Also one of my best friends from way back, his father actually worked on building 2 helping fix the issues the building had.
I have one image and a piece of an article that helps proof at least the construction part.
I am hoping you didn’t come across my website or facebook page about this resort since it has been a number of years since you did this podcast.
I will email you also this post and the picture.
Thanks again for another great episode.
Scott Jensen
I was sooo excited to listen to this episode as this was our hotel in ’77. For a kid who’d never been in one until then, it was absolutely fantastic and probably set the bar way too high from that point on! :0 If anyone has any suggestions for where to find Contemporary ephemera from ’76 or ’77, I’d love to hear any tips. Have an auto-search set up on eBay but I know there must be other options out there. Thanks!! 🙂