Let There Be Peace on Earth

Walt Disney World press photo
"Holidays Around the World", 1994

Let's end 2014 with one more press photo from 20 years ago.  This one comes from EPCOT and shows Mickey and the gang in native attire from countries represented around World Showcase.  Whatever you may be celebrating, wherever you are...let there be peace on earth!  Happy New Year!

Holly Jolly Holiday Fun

Walt Disney World press photo
"Holly Jolly Holiday Fun", 1994

Here is another press photo from 1994 highlighting holiday celebrations at WDW.  This time it is the Jolly Holidays Dinner show held in the Fantasia Ballroom at Disney's Contemporary Resort that ran from 1992-1998.  The show was a "...magnificent musical extravaganza featuring a cast of more than 100."  You can read Jim Korkis' reminiscence of the show on Mouse Planet & even see an amateur video of the hour long show shot in 1994.  (The Dancing Hippos are at 26:00)
Have a Holly Jolly Holiday, everyone!

Christmas Toy Land

Walt Disney World press photo
'Toy Land', 1994

You know that it is almost Christmas when the filming of the Christmas Day parade has been completed at Walt Disney World.  Here is a press photo from 1994 showing the iconic toy soldiers marching around the hub in front of Cinderella Castle.  The rocking horse is still part of the parade today but it is now ridden by a cowboy/elf. 

3rd Anniversary

Walt Disney World 3rd Anniversary photo
October 1, 1974

3 years ago I began sharing my Walt Disney World collection here.  What better way to celebrate than by doing it in Disney Style.  For their early anniversaries, WDW recreated their opening day cast member photo.  Up until this point that was done in front of Cinderella Castle.  But with the pending opening of Space Mountain in early 1975, the new attraction was used as the backdrop for the 3rd Anniversary photo.
These photos were given to cast members.  This one belonged to Tom Henry who worked in the Planning Department at the time.  You can read more about his work and his time at WDW on his company webpage.
Thank you for celebrating with me for the past 3 years.  I look forward to many more.

An Update on an Original

Mickey Mouse and Friends Souvenir Tray

Happy Black Friday & Happy 3rd Anniversary to my blog.  Disneystore.com is celebrating with me by releasing, or should I say re-re-releasing, an early souvenir tray from Walt Disney World.  

The Orange Bird is a new addition and the hungry crocodile has been replaced by a happy hippo.  You can compare all the changes over the years by checking out my early posts:  "Look Out Donald" & "Where Did Donald's Nephews Go?"

  

Drink Service

metal drink tray

As the holiday season approaches, it is time to pull out this drink serving tray.  It measures approximately 10 1/2 inches in diameter.  The six recessed glass holes are about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and about .25 inch deep.

If this tray looks familiar to you, it is because I previously posted the original version of this tray.  The early version was most likely pre-opening of WDW because the images were all drawings. 

All of the "lands' are still represented and use the same subjects, with the exception of Tomorrowland.  The entrance image was replaced by 'Star Jets' and 'Space Mountain."  I'm sure glad they kept the 'Jungle Cruise' vultures, though.

Before Online Booking

'How to reserve your corner of the World'
hotel reservation card
1978

Before online booking, there was 'Central Reservations' and this handy mail-in reservation card from 1978.  To reserve 'your corner of the World,' you could select from Fort Wilderness Campground, one of the three 'Resort Hotels,' or the Lake Buena Vista Vacation & Treehouse Villas. 

For the three Resort Hotels, you could choose a 1st - 3rd choice in case your first choice was full. With the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian, and Golf Resort going for $50 - $65, it wouldn't matter where you stayed.  You can compare the rates with 1975's from a previous post.

Campfire at the Campground Resort

Fort Wilderness Campground Resort matchbook

Now that there is a chill in the air, at least here in the Northeast US, it is a great time for a campfire.  This matchbook from Fort Wilderness Campground Resort should do the trick.  WDW seemed to have a hard time settling on a name for this resort.  Based on the guide books, it appears that 'Campground Resort' was used with this logo in the late 70's to mid-80's.  The current official name is Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Welcome to Fantasyland!

Welcome to Fantasyland! postcard
01110234 dp 79904-c

It's a new month and time for another postcard.  The Fantasyland series continues with a welcome from a no-neck, high-waisted, thin-armed Mickey Mouse.  Costumes sure have come along way since the opening in 1971, when this Dexter Press, Florida Flag postcard would have been produced.

When is a Birthday Button Not a Button

13th birthday cast member name tag ribbon
1984

When is a birthday button not a birthday button?  When it is was a ribbon cast members would stick to their name tag.  In 1984, Walt Disney World broke from tradition and instead of giving cast members a pin back button to wear on October 1 for their birthday, they gave them this leather-like, 2" x 4" ribbon.  The significance of this unique design?  Well, as we have seen with buttons beginning in the 80's, the design represents a milestone or new attraction that opened that year.  In this case, the Morocco Pavilion which had just opened a month prior, September 7, 1984.  This was the first expansion of World Showcase since Epcot's opening in 1981.

Birthday Buttons - Early 80's Style

9th birthday cast member button
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 1980

The early 1980's saw a departure from the traditional Cinderella Castle birthday button design.  These hard plastic pin back buttons were given to cast members on October 1 each year to celebrate Walt Disney World's birthday.  For the 9th birthday, and for several years that followed, the button took a variety of shapes and highlighted a significant addition to the parks.  In 1980, that addition was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in the Magic Kingdom.  Disneyland saw the premiere of the mine train roller coaster one year earlier in California.  This button was also the largest birthday button to date at 2 1/2" x 2 1/4".

Continuing the Celebration

7th birthday cast member button
1978

Let's continue celebrating Walt Disney World's birthday all month with various birthday buttons from the early years.  This hard plastic pin back button design of Cinderella Castle was used for WDW's 5th - 8th birthdays (1976-1979).  Each year the color was different but the design remained the same.  This 7th birthday button from 1978 measures 1 1/2" x 2".

Happy Birthday With the Seven Dwarfs

16th Birthday Button

This week, Walt Disney World celebrates its 43rd birthday.  Each year, cast members are given commemorative pin back buttons to celebrate.  The image on the button often reflects something significant from the year.  For their 16th birthday in 1987, Walt Disney World recognized the 50th anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  It is only fitting that I share this button now for the 43rd birthday with the opening of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  Hmm....possibly a foreshadowing of this year's design?  I happen to be traveling to Orlando for work this week, so maybe I will find out first hand.

Before the FAQ...

"Questions we figured you'd ask!"
1978

Before the FAQ, Walt Disney World had Questions We Figured You'd Ask (QWFYA).  This 'booklet,' as they describe it, was an insert to the 8 1/2" x 11" full color magazine that was mailed out in 1978, similar to this World Magazine from 1977.

The 4 panel spread has information on ticket prices (adult 2-day $17) and parking (.50/car).  The Contemporary, Polynesian Village & Golf Resort rooms ranged from $50 - $65.  What about camping, you ask?  Fort Wilderness Campground Resort - $16/night.