Items Tagged with:

Magic Kingdom

Home Movie: A Patriotic Day at the Magic Kingdom – March 1976

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This film captures a family’s visit to the Magic Kingdom March 1976, during the festive United States Bicentennial. A sampling of Walt Disney World’s patriotic decorations can be seen throughout the park. In the first couple of minutes we see the vacationing family posing in a variety of park scenes. Views of vehicles, flowers and shops along Main Street give way to a close-up of the castle main entrance. Attractions such as the Haunted Mansion and...Read More...

Home Movie: A Fun Filled Day At The Magic Kingdom March 1973

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Our film opens traveling up World Drive towards the Magic Kingdom tolls and into the parking lot. Hopping aboard the tram we make our way to the Ticket and Transportation Center with monorails rolling by overhead. Aboard the Highway in the Sky we can see the topiaries lining World Drive en route to the Contemporary Resort. After passing a pristine and serene Bay Lake we find ourselves past the Contemporary and finally arriving at the Magic...Read More...

Home Movie: The Magic Kingdom as seen in 1974

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This film, shot in 1974, opens on what appears to be a sunny and quiet day in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. Our family in this film have brought their grandson to explore the park and start with a ride on Cinderella’s Golden Carousel followed by a meeting with Prince John from Robin Hood – though the grandson is clearly frightened. Next we hop aboard the WDW Railroad and make our way around the park with...Read More...

Restored Home Movie: Magic Kingdom Visit – 1970s

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It’s a sunny start to this family’s day as they enter the Vacation Kingdom via the Ticket and Transportation Center and prepare to queue for the monorail. En route to the Magic Kingdom we get a nice aerial shot of the topiaries between the Contemporary Resort and the park. We then open to a generous 360 degree pan of Main Street before the parade makes its way through the crowd. There’s some great footage of Mickey...Read More...

Podcast Episode 48.5: A Chat With Jeff Blyth – Director of The Timekeeper

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Jeff Blythe joins us on this bonus episode, which is a follow-up to Episode 48, which is all about The Timekeeper. Jeff has been a film director for many years, getting his start in Circlevision with the original China film at EPCOT Center. We take a massively deep dive into what it takes to make these types of films. As you listen, your mind is going to be blown and you are in for a few…Read More...

Podcast Episode 48: The Timekeeper

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Welcome to Circlevision and The Timekeeper. This super unique format was used throughout Disney properties and this episode we dive into one of the last productions, The Timekeeper. Our entire crew has a great recollection of this film and animatronic show, starring Robin Williams. The show itself, featured a unique character based on the actual camera system and they called her, Nine Eyes. With this episode, we go scene by scene, discussing the stars, filming, production…Read More...

WDW Restaurants Photo Gallery – April 1975

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A remarkable set of slides dated April 1975 capture a necessary and notable part of any theme park: The dining establishments. When we get a set of slides like this with no context as to their origin we are left to speculate or create our own backstory. At RetroWDW we choose to believe this set of slides was taken by a person doing research on how Disney does counter service and buffeteria-style dining. You’ll notice photos...Read More...

Home Movie: Touring the Magic Kingdom – 1976

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An early morning rise and we see the gardeners trimming topiaries and then a quick view over bay lake and the Contemporary lends to the spires of Space Mountain and Cinderellas Castle. After the obligatory castle and flower shop shots we find ourselves in Fantasyland and we are soon transported 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. Fantasyland, the Rivers of America give way to some quality time on Tom Sawyer Island and the Swiss Family Treehouse. Our...Read More...

Podcast Episode 47: A Room Full of Fun

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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...

Podcast Episode 46: Snow White’s Scary Adventure

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This month, we take you back to one of the opening day attractions and one of the more recently closed dark rides at the Magic Kingdom. How takes the lead to go through the various versions of this ride and also takes a deep dive into the word 'scary', relating to this ride. The comparisons to Mr. Toad appear in this episode as well as the vintage origins of this type of ride. Dark undertones are brought…Read More...