Kodak at WDW

EPCOT Center Guide Book
1985

Since Kodak is in the news recently, I thought we would take a look at its relationship to Walt Disney World thru the lens of this 1985 EPCOT Center Guide Book.  (pun intended)  Eastman Kodak was a very prominent sponsor in WDW from the 80's until they filed for bankruptcy in 2012.

I am sure that many of us remember the "Photo Spots" sign stanchions located all around the parks, indicating "prime photo-taking locations" containing the Kodak logo.  The Guide Book maps also highlighted these locations with a circle in a square icon.

Kodak took over after GAF gave up its sponsorship in the late 70's.  You can read more about GAF by selecting the link above.  Kodak's sponsorship included giving their own "photo tips" in the guides.  They also sponsored attractions, such as Journey Into Imagination and Mickey's PhilharMagic.  And of course, they sold Kodak film all around the parks.

Something I was not aware of until reading the back of the Guide Book: "Borrow a Kodak Camera Free!"  At the Camera Center under Spaceship Earth, you could borrow (with a refundable deposit) a Kodak Disc Camera or KODAMATIC Instant Camera.  Kodak had it good for awhile.  Now let's see what they can do with round #2.  Maybe they could sponsor the first-aid stations if the drug thing works out for them.

The First Postcard

Contemporary Resort
pre-opening postcard
(Fl-024)

It all started with a....postcard.  This pre-opening postcard of the Contemporary Resort is sequentially the first postcard created for the 1971 opening of Walt Disney World.  Why Fl-024 if it is the first card?  Great question.  My research has yet to figure that one out.  You can read more about these early postcards at WDW in Postcards.

Christmas Party in July

Cast Christmas Party ticket
1973

Merry Christmas in July!  Here is a ticket from the '2nd Annual Cast Christmas Party' from 1973.  It is hard to say whether or not the holder of ticket 01493 made it to the party or not.  The hole punch in Mickey's feet would say yes but the non-detached ticket stub would say no.  Either way, I'm sure it was a very merry & magical time.  Click here for more vintage cast member Christmas items.

Bob, Bob, Bob....

Water Recreation
pre-opening postcard
(FL-026)

Sorry, Al, the girl in the picture does not come with the hotel.  At least that is Bob's joke on this pre-opening WDW postcard.  But there are "...many like her down here asking for you."  The postcard was created prior to the 1971 opening (notice the future tense in the text) but Bob's visit and stay in the Contemporary was in March of 1973.

Wigwams and Ducks?

Wacky Wigwam
Parker Brothers, 1972

Wigwams and ducks? Interesting topics for an early Walt Disney World game, right? This 1972 Parker Brothers game is labeled as "A Walt Disney World Game", although there is no reference to the resort in the game itself. 

The object: be the first to cover all of your ducks under wigwams.  First, cover all of the ducks based on the number shown on the spinner.  Then fun begins by trying to find your opponents' ducks and uncovering them first. 

The game was made in Canada, thus (instructions en francais a l'interieur).  The back shows two other WDW games that I am on the lookout for now.

Thanks to my daughter for testing this game with me.  (I won)

Colorful Bucket Hat

Multi-colored Globe Head Bucket Hat

Thank you, Michelle from eBay (or the person who resold this), for the great bucket hat.  It prominently features the Big D/Globe Head logo with the added multi-color filler.  Also, note the ears are much more oval in shape as compared to the more circular traditional ears.  I have very few items in my collection that feature this colorful design and am not sure when it was popular.  If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to share them with me.

Talking View-master Reels

Talking View-master Reels
The Magic Kingdom
AVA955 1973

In 1971, GAF developed the Talking View-master.  And as an official sponsor of WDW, it only made sense that they would create these Magic Kingdom reels with ''an exciting new combination of 3-D sight 'n sound."

The reels highlight all of the lands of the Magic Kingdom with the exception of Tomorrowland.  They also come with a booklet that contains a transcript of the narration.  More on that here.

Better Than Waiting on Hold?

Hotel Reservation Card
1975

In 1975, you used a card to 'reserve your corner of the world.'  Mailing in your reservation may not as efficient as online but look at those prices!

The resort hotels included: Contemporary ($42-$56), Polynesian Village ($42-$50), and Golf Resort Hotel ($42-$50).  Fort Wilderness Campground Resort ($12) and the Lake Buena Vista Vacation Villas ($50-$77) and Treehouses ($85-$95) could also be reserved.  The Lake Buena Vista Hotel Plaza, which included the Dutch Inn, Howard Johnson's, Royal Plaza and TraveLodge were listed as back ups if the WDW resorts were full.

100,000 Flashbulbs

Your Complete Guide to Walt Disney World
compliments of GAF
1975

General Aniline & Film (GAF) was an early sponsor of Walt Disney World.  They produced these guides for several years in the mid-70's.  This edition in my collection is from 1975.  Most of them use the stacked globe-head logo.

The brochure has a 3 panel map in the middle that shows the GAF Photo Trail and picture spots that '...have been carefully researched and selected as the best locations for taking memorable pictures.' -precursor to the Kodak Photo Spot.

Part of the 30 pages was dedicated to photo tips. My favorite: 'An Important Word About Flashbulbs: Don't try to illuminate large subjects or anything further than 12 feet away....A flash picture of the Cinderella Castle would require more than 100,000 flashbulbs!'

To see more from this guide, check out these other posts: Part 2, Part 3

Walt Disney World Sucrology

Dixie Crystals Sugar Packet

Apparently, people collect lots of interesting thing.  (Who am I to judge, right?)  But in looking for information about these items, I learned of Sucrology, "the hobby of collecting sugar sachets and/or packets."  Thank you, Wikipedia.


Here is a set of Dixie Crystals sugar packets, "The Official Sugar in Walt Disney World."  The set contains seven different packets.  Each packet has a photo from WDW on one side and the globe head logo on both.  I'm not sure when these packets were made but the images do contain the Walt Disney Productions copyright which I don't seem to find on the earlier 70's items.

The packets feature some great shots of The Magic Kingdom: The Hall of Presidents, Cinderella Castle, Rivers of America and Main Street USA, as well as The Contemporary Resort.  You can see another set of these on Flickr, posted by Sucrologist, Sugar Packet Chad.