Models of Main Street - QUIZ

Main Street, USA postcard
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Let's play a game!  In the days prior to the Magic Kingdom's opening in 1971, models were used in photo shoots for the marketing, publications and post cards.  Several of the models in this Main Street, USA postcard can be found on another card.  Can you find the people below in the above picture?  To see the full postcard were these models also appeared, check out Riding Down Main Street, USA.

Peter Pan Can

Diet Sprite soda can
Peter Pan, 1986

For the 15 Years celebration cans produced by Coca-cola, characters or areas of Walt Disney World were featured on specific flavors of soda.  Some choices, like this green Peter Pan Diet Sprite can, make sense, unlike the pink Adventureland Tab pirate.

Pre-opening Cruising

Cruising By Excursion Steamer
pre-opening postcard
(Fl-027)

Prior to its opening in October 1971, Walt Disney World released a series of postcards highlighting some of the coming attractions.  This 4th in the series (Fl-027) features an 'old-fashioned excursion steamer' offering cruises over the unnamed lake and lagoon.  
The previous cards in this series are:
Contemporary Resort (Fl-024)
Riding Thru the Contemporary Resort (Fl-025)
Water Recreation (Fl-026)
There is also a second version of this card which features the Florida Flag logo, to separate WDW from its big sister in California.

Mother's Day Bell

ceramic bell

Happy Mother's Day!  My mother was a collector, too.  She didn't collect WDW items but bells.  So to honor her, here is a bell from my collection.
The bell measures 4.5" high and 3" across the bottom.  It has the same curved logo design on both sides and matches the salad fork and spoon set I shared previously.

Bowling Bag?

vinyl carry-all bag

A recent flea-market find was this unused bowling style bag.  The owner was away from his stand but his daughter let me have it for $5.00.  Deal!  I didn't tell her that in 1974 it retailed for $4.00.

The Universe Before Ellen

Mickey and Goofy Explore the Universe of Energy
comic book, 1985

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to talk about conservation from Exxon in this 1985 comic book from Epcot's Universe of Energy.  This is one item in my collection originally owned by me from a 1986 trip.  

Canadian Brew II

Brass-toned coaster set

Last week I shared a Canadian made bottle opener.  Here it is sold in a set with four matching coasters.  The coasters are a little under 3" and are made of a very sold brass-like metal.  They would have made the perfect gift for your 80's Strange Brew/Walt Disney World friend.  Just don't use this quote: "Yeah.  OK, well, uh, we found, uh, this mouse in a bottle of your beer, eh."

Canadian Brew

Brass-toned bottle opener

"Take off, you hoser." - Strange Brew
OK, so what does this Walt Disney World bottle opener have to do with a 1983 movie (other than starring the Honey, I Shrunk the Audience lead, Rick Moranis)?  They are both from Canada and have something to do with beer.  It's also possible that this 3 3/4" souvenir was made in the early 80's.

Donald is No Joke

 

Who's my favorite Disney character?  And what is one of the favorite pieces in my collection?
Well, thank you for asking.  And since it is my birthday, I will share it with you.  
This ceramic Donald Duck bobble head stands 6 1/2" and his base is 2 1/2" square.  He was originally priced at $1.50, plus tax. His spring action head is still in great shape.  Almost in better shape than I am.  And if he was made for WDW's opening year, that would make us the same age.

Disney Ducklings

Minute Maid orange soda can
Huey, Dewey & Louie, 1986

All this month I have been sharing soda cans from Coca-cola's celebration of Walt Disney World's 15th Anniversary that featured EPCOT.  To close out the month and celebrate Easter, I thought it fitting to share these 'mischievous little' ducklings, Huey, Dewey & Louie.  Like their Uncle Donald, they are on a black Minute Maid orange soda can.

Spring Soda Celebration

Cherry Coke can
American Adventure, 1986

As we continue our Spring celebration of EPCOT, here is a third can from the Coca-cola company designed for the 15th Anniversary of Walt Disney World.  This Cherry Coke can features American Adventure in World Showcase, which, at the time, was sponsored by Coca-cola and American Express.

Cheers to Spaceship Earth

Coca-cola can
Spaceship Earth, 1986

Let's continue to celebrate EPCOT, or should I say EPCOT Center, all this month in the same fashion that the Coca-cola Company did back in 1986.  This commemorative 15th Anniversary can highlighted "the world's first geosphere," the 18-story symbol of EPCOT Center which would have been only 5 years old at the time.

Cheers to World Showcase

Coca-cola can
World Showcase, 1986

As the 23rd annual EPCOT International Food & Garden Festival kicks off this week, lets raise a glass.  Okay, lets raise a can of Coke, specifically this 30 year old can celebrating Walt Disney World's 15th Anniversary.  This is just one of several commemorative cans produced by Coca-cola in 1986.  You can view my previous posts here.  Cheers!

Postcards With Character

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom postcard
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All this month I have been sharing postcards from the early Walt Disney World 0111 series featuring characters 'come to life' in the park.  So I thought we would take a look back at some of the earlier cards that also had 'character.'  You can read more about these cards, at the following links:
Welcome to the Magic Kingdom
Goofy Goes for a Spin
Fun on Bay Lake

Watch Out Pinocchio!

Watch Out Pinocchio! postcard
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The third and final character postcard in this early Walt Disney World series comes from Fantasyland and features Pinocchio and his "friends" Foulfellow (aka Honest John Fox) and Gideon.  I assume that the title of this postcard, "Watch Out Pinocchio!," comes from the evil intentions of the animals on his right and left.  But it could also refer to the brick wall that they are standing on in order to get this shot.

King Louie's Receding Hairline

Look for the Bare Necessities postcard
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Our next postcard with 'character' comes from Adventureland and features another bear.  This time it is Baloo looking for the 'bare necessities' along with King Louie.  It's interesting to see how the characters have changed over the years.  But usually they don't 'age.'  Clearly King Louie has lost that amazing part since 1971.

I'm Gonna Knock Your Head Clean Off! - Brer Bar?

I'm Gonna Knock Your Head Clean Off! postcard
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These two are not the sharpest of Disney characters and one of them must have written the first description on the postcard.  They misspelled Brer Bar but it was corrected on later printings.  (I understand the name has been used for a refreshment location)  This card is the first of 3 in the series to only feature "classic characters 'come to life.'"