1974 at the Magic Kingdom – Home Movie

This film opens with a brief glimpse of Fantasyland before capturing the VERY packed riverboat plying the Rivers of America.  The colonial parade through Liberty Square is briefly glimpsed before we jump on the Skyway and glide over Fantasyland, 20K Lagoon and set down in Tomorrowland where our tuckered subjects just need to rest on one of the planter walls.  Then we head back to Fantasyland to catch Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs on a...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...

Colorful and Patriotic Magic Kingdom from ’76 – Home Movie

[A previous version of this article erroneously included this film preceded by 1972 footage. The two films have been split and you and now find the 1972 footage here.] A bicentennial visit to the Magic Kingdom and America on Parade is featured in this 8mm film from 1976. The Town Square and Main Street USA open our day as the camera person makes his or her way quickly from the Flower Market to Cinderella Castle into...Read More...

Restored Mission to Mars upper scanner 16mm film with in-ride audio

RetroWDW was able to obtain an original copy of the the upper scanner 16mm film from Mission to Mars, we immediately had the it scanned in HD and then we improved the color/clarity by implementing a few different restoration methods. The result is nothing short of amazing – you’ve never seen this film in this clarity before. Even in the attraction, due to a series of mirrors, film degradation, fuzzy focus and the fact that the...Read More...

Podcast Episode 31: Mission To Mars

We have quite the episode lined up for you this month, and it posts in conjunction with an amazingly rare film we acquired as well. You are in for a real treat as we discuss Flight to the Moon & Mission to Mars. How takes us through the entire history and also lets us know he absolutely hated this ride... Looking back, we hear about the unique things that are actually happening throughout both rides. The…Read More...

Home Movie: Jack and Elliot Gottlieb at the Magic Kingdom – Sept 1972

Arthur Gottlieb filmed a few minutes of the family vacation back in September 1972…just as the Magic Kingdom was to celebrate it’s first birthday. The film opens with Tomorrowland’s majestic spires. Our subjects, the Gottlieb Boys, take a spin on the not-yet-covered-by-a-canopy teacups. They then head over to 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea where we’re treated to a glimpse of the signage before shots of the sub traversing the lagoon.  A nighttime view of the castle...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...

Pirates of the Caribbean – Restored 8mm Souvenir Film

The serene exterior/entrance to Pirates of The Caribbean in our latest souvenir film restoration stands in stark contrast to the busy area we see today. The ride footage opens after the opening scenes as boats approach the galleon just after the famous "drop". For those more familiar with the Pirates of the last decade where Barbosa from the Hollywood film is captain of the ship this film gives you a good glimpse of the original pirate…Read More...