Podcast Episode 47: A Room Full of Fun

We start off this month on Main Street, USA - more specifically the Penny Arcade! This classic is part of our overall topic of arcades and game rooms. Then we take you back to one of the greatest vintage spots in all of Walt Disney World – the infamous and now gone, Fiesta Fun Center.Read More...

Early days of the Polynesian & Contemporary Resorts – Home Movie

This incredible film includes ample footage of the grounds of the Polynesian Village Resort in 1974. We open with a panoramic view from area between the Ticket & Transportation Center and the Maui (now Raratonga) longhouse. Note that the area being filmed is the present day location of the Pago Pago, Moorea & Tokelau longhouses (built in 1978 and 1985). Plenty of images of the monorails gliding to and from the resort are featured – following...Read More...

A Gift to All: My personal 1980 WDW Film – 30 minutes!

Below you will find the restored film of my first trip to Walt Disney World in October 1980. I'm a tad over 6 years old in the film, a big time first grader that wears a sun visor without concern about his image. The Kodak processed Super8 film features sound and the run time is over 30 minutes. The sights and sounds included are amazing - The barker from PoC, a brand new Big Thunder, Adventureland…Read More...

Podcast Episode 2 – Amongst the Plexiglass Trees

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…Read More...

Contemporary Resort – 1970s Shag and Flair – Restored Home Movie HD

The first of the three is a silent 8mm film and we were impressed at the filming locations and the steadiness of the camera. There are many shots of the monorail gliding in and out of the resort - almost to the point of ad nauseam; fortunately we soon move inside and are treated to the area that has now become Chef Mickey's. Look at the lights! Look at the Orange Juice dispenser on the buffet…Read More...

1978 Super8 Magic Kingdom Home Movie – HD – Restored

A few months back I stumbled upon a 3 minute reel of film on ebay titled "Disney World '78". The seller had no information of what was on the film, so I took a chance and bought it...I kept my fingers crossed that it wasn't laced with character greetings! The short 3 minute film is like most that were taken years ago; The family full of excitement boards the monorail, enters the Magic Kingdom, sees a…Read More...

The Good Old Days – 1972 Prices

One of my most recent acquisitions is this 1972 info brochure. It is just a one pager, but full of neat information from many years ago. I love the tagline "The Vacation Kingdom of The World" - I wish they would bring this back, but I wouldn't cross my fingers on that. The front focuses on the ticket pricing, or Adventure Ticket Books as they called them back then. The high rollers could get an 11-Adventure…Read More...