Spunky, flirty and always ready for fun....

Coca-Cola Classic Can
Minnie Mouse, 1986

Not to be out done by her boyfriend, Mickey, here is the 'spunky, flirty and always ready for fun' Minnie Mouse on her '15 Years' Coca-Cola Classic can. Read the rest of the can...the copy writers were having fun that day.

Nothing Stays the Same

The Vacationer's Guide to Walt Disney World
1977

Every year brings changes to WDW and 1976-77 was no exception.  Although this brochure may look very similar to the one from 1976 that I posted previously, it does contain some changes.  The left side is from 1976 and the right is from 1977.

River Country was added in 1976 and it appears that it necessitated some changes to the Ticket Books, dropping the 17 2-day option and adding a Water Adventure Ticket.  The ticket prices stayed the same except for the River Country ticket.

The inside of both brochures feature a great map surrounded by smaller cartoon images and text describing various parts of WDW.  Can you spot the differences between these two drawings of Lake Buena Vista?

The Empress Lilly riverboat restaurant opened in 1977.  It was added to the map above and to the description of 'A Shopping Village.'  Interestingly, the name 'Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village' was dropped from the '77 text.

There were clearly changes taking place in Lake Buena Vista during this time.  The '76 brochure refers to '29 cedar-shingled shops' in the opening text but on the inside text above says there are 33.  The '77 brochure is consistent with 30.

These last two images compare other changes between the '76 & '77 brochures.  See if you can spot the changes.  And remember, nothing stays the same...even extra-magic hours.

Ruffled Bowl with or without Gold?

Ruffled Bowl with White Trim

These ruffled or scalloped or bent glass bowls (which ever you choose to call them) seem to be one of the most popular early Walt Disney World souvenirs based on how often I see them on ebay.

I have two versions of this bowl, the one above and on the left with white trim and with gold on the right and in the bottom image.  Both feature the same images, copyright and logo.

I'm not sure of the exact age of these pieces but I assume early 1970's since the Osceola steamship stopped running in 1976 and many of the images resemble artist renderings like those on the pre-opening postcards.

15 Years and a Smile

Coca-Cola Classic Can
Mickey Mouse - 1986

Coca-Cola was a big sponsor of Walt Disney World's 15th Anniversary celebration.  In 1987 they released a series of '15 Years' cans on various Coca-Cola products.  There were over 50 can styles featuring a different Disney character, a Magic Kingdom land or pavilion in EPCOT.  Depending on where the can was bottled, the logo appears in a different spot.  This one is from Silver Spring, MD.

The series appeared on Coca-Cola Classic 'Original Formula', New Coke, Cherry Coke, Sprite, Minute Maid Orange, and their respective diet versions, as well as Minute Maid Lemon and that great '80s pink classic, Tab.  The characters were 'The Fab 5' plus Daisy & the nephews and several characters from 'Alice in Wonderland,' 'Peter Pan,' 'Pinocchio,' & 'Snow White.'

I've had a few of these cans, including Mickey Mouse, in my collection for awhile.  However, this week while antiquing with my wife, we stopped in one last shop and I found several more.  That brings my count up to 14...only 40 some more to go!  I figured I'd better start sharing them and so of course I had to start with a mouse.  To see more from this series, check out popcan.org or usasoda.com.

Happy Birthday, America

Liberty Square Fife and Drum Corps Postcard
01110227

"Liberty Square relives America at the time of our nation's founding.  Outside the stately "Hall of Presidents", the Spirit of '76 is captured by the music and marching of the colorful Fife and Drum Corps."

Celebrate America With Big Headed People

America On Parade GAF PANA-VUE Slides
Set Four WDW-78

In honor of our countries birthday, here is a souvenir from Walt Disney World's Bicentennial celebration, 'America On Parade.'  This 5 slide set is the 4th in a series put out by GAF, an early sponsor of WDW.  You will notice in most of the images that the GAF Camera Shop on Main Street USA just happens to be captured in the background.  Coincidence?  I think not.

The slides in this set are: 'The First Thanksgiving' (WDW781), Fife & Drums (WDW782), Historic Liberty Bell (WDW783), Cannooneers (WDW784), Captain Navigates Showboat (WDW785).  To see the images and the big headed people from the parade, check out DisneyPix.  To learn more about the parade itself, visit Walt Dated World.