Springtime at the Magic Kingdom – April 1974 – Home Movie

The Jungle Cruise was often the first attraction many guests experienced if they headed left at the end of Main Street USA. Our movie makers in this April 1974 film did just that as they capture their journey on Jungle Cruise before boarding the Walt Disney World Railroad and capture the scenes along the way – even racing the monorail at one point! Views of the hub and the waterways around it are captured before we...Read More...

A crowded Magic Kingdom from 1972 – Home Movie

A few days ago we posted a home movie from 1976 featuring a very patriotic Magic Kingdom. Unbeknownst to us, the film was actually two home movies spliced together – it was not until we released it that @MKPony alerted us that we had a home move from ’72 and ’76 clipped together. So back to the editing room we went, cutting the two films apart and re-uploading them as two separate films. Here is the...Read More...

Jungle Cruise Frogs Take 3 – 1972 Home Movie

We visit the Magic Kingdom again in its infancy, just a few weeks-old baby, starting in Adventureland with shots of the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.  Chip ‘n Dale meet our young protagonists in Adventureland Plaza outside the Enchanted Tiki Room. They seem to be the only two people (and two Chipmunks) in the park. We walk through the Treehouse (note the glimpse at 2:15 of a piece of construction equipment!) before we board the Jungle Cruise...Read More...

Jungle Cruise – Restored 8mm Souvenir Film

Our restoration of Disney 8mm souvenir films next takes us to Adventureland's legendary Jungle Cruise. The film opens with the earliest of Jungle Cruise's many signs and entrance designs over the years. We see ships leaving the dock and entering a covered thicket canopy which you might not recognize because you're usually sailing under it and looking at the giant butterflies on either side of you.Read More...

A visit to Walt Disney World – Restored Home Movie HD from 1974

Title screens were the purview of real film enthusiasts and our cinematographer sets the stage by showing us the Winter/Spring 1974 WDW guide map. This is really unique because it chronicles all facets of the arrival and entrance to Walt Disney World property and the Magic Kingdom. On the open road headed to the Disney World exit and then approaching the parking plaza. Our driver is seen paying his fee and collecting his guide for his…Read More...

Podcast Episode 12: There’s No Place Like World Showcase

We have a special guest, Glen Simpson, who is on board to discuss his career at Walt Disney World. He primarily worked at EPCOT Center in the World Showcase area. Glen also did some work at the Magic Kingdom starting in 1978 with food service and he was also a Jungle Cruise skipper. We get some great insight into the opening days of World Showcase, special guests, and some hilarious mishaps that only a former cast…Read More...

1976 Magic Kingdom Swan Boats and More – Restored Film

Sometimes things on eBay pop up that are worth spending a few dollars on. Sometimes you know whats on there, and sometimes you are purely taking a chance. With the help of a friend we were able to secure a few reels of Magic Kingdom footage from 1976. With a total running time of of nearly 5 minutes we are first treated to ride on the Peoplemover - oh how I long for the days of…Read More...

A pristine Magic Kingdom from Nov ’71 – Restored Home Movie footage

@BrianPMiles was nice enough to send me a reel of film that he obtained from a garage sale. The film canister said “Florida November ’71” and he took the chance that there was some WDW footage on it. Well his curiosity paid off, sandwiched between visits to Silver Springs and other Florida attractions was pristine footage of the Magic Kingdom in November 1971 – at this point this is the earliest post-opening film of WDW that...Read More...