Original Magic Kingdom Icons

Preview Edition: Walt Disney World "The Vacation Kingdom of the World"
1970, pg 4

In the Preview Edition: Walt Disney World "The Vacation Kingdom of the World", each land was represented by their own unique icon.  These icons also appeared at the bottom of the early DP Postcard series.  If you have seen these images appear on other items, please share!  I would love to see these logos make a return to the Magic Kingdom.

Complete Your Back to School List

 

Main Street, USA eraser

Complete your back to school supply shopping list with these early WDW erasers.  Although it looks like a child drew the logo, the sketches are great!  My collection is missing just one of the lands.  Can you tell which one is missing in action?  It was probably used to erase a young child's doodle on their notebook... "I wish I was back at Disney."

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.

King Louie's Receding Hairline

Look for the Bare Necessities postcard
01110245

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.

Happy 4th Anniversary!

4th birthday button
America On Parade, 1975

This week marks the 4th Anniversary of my blog.  To celebrate, I shall do as Walt Disney World did on their 4th birthday with this cast member birthday button.

Below are the top three viewed posts over the past 4 years.  Apparently diet drinks are popular Walt Disney World commemorative items.

 

Drink Up Me Hearties: October 12, 2013

Japanese Small Plate: September 21, 2013

Nutra-Sweet Daisy: September 7, 2013

Happy Anniversary and thanks for sharing some of the magic with me!

School Supplies

Adventureland eraser

It's back to school time, at least here in the US.  Do you have all of your WDW school supplies?  Here are 3 rubber erasers featuring individual lands of the Magic Kingdom.  They measure 1 1/2" X 2" and are about 1/4" thick.  The printers in Japan need to go back to school apparently with typos like ADVENT_URELAND and FRONTIERLANDOD.

Coloring Main Street

Walt Disney World: a coloring book
Main Street U.S.A., 1983

Main Street, U.S.A. is the perfect place to start our tour through "Walt Disney World: a coloring book" that I introduced last week.  Each land has a section showing characters interacting with attractions in the respective area.  Peter Pan & company are checking out the shops, Goofy & Donald are trying their hand at firefighting and Mickey is taking Minnie on a date to the Crystal Palace.  These are just 4 of the 12 pages highlighting  turn of the century fun on Main Street, U.S.A.

Heading clockwise around the hub, Adventureland is the next stop.  Mickey & Minnie are the first brave souls to enter past the tiki gods.  Of course, you will find Mowgli & Baloo there, along with the Three Cabelleros.  Adventure can happen in any type of jungle, right?  Then there is adventure on the high seas in Pirates of the Caribbean.  Check out Grandma Duck scolding the pirates.  

Coloring the Lands

Walt Disney World: a coloring book
1983

For the past few weeks I have been sharing WDW items that highligted or omitted 'Lands' of the Magic Kingdom.  This 1983 coloring book from Golden Books features all six of the lands with several of our favorite Disney characters enjoying attractions throughout the Magic Kingdom. 
The title page has Mickey Mouse juggling hats from the six....no wait....5 of the 6, lands.  Can you figure out which one isn't represented by a hat?
There are, coincidentally, 71 pictures in the coloring book.  I will be sharing some from each land over the next couple of weeks.

Intentional Omission

Child's bucket hat

Is this another example of some missing 'Lands?'  In this case, the 'non-lands' of Main Street, USA and Liberty Square are not included on this small child's bucket hat.  Of course, this could be due to the fact that the hat was made for both WDW and Disneyland and you won't find Liberty Square in California.

Missing Lands: Found

Pewter keychain

Last week I shared with you the coaster set that excluded Frontierland and Tomorrowland.  I am happy to report that they have been found on the back of this 1 1/2 inch pewter keychain.  The front has the curved logo with the Big D pulled out, similar to some of the early plate designs.  

The Case of the Missing Lands

Glass coaster set

This set of coasters is one of the most popular* early Walt Disney World souvenirs.  Four of the Lands of the Magic Kingdom are featured on these tiny 3 1/4" glass coasters.  Why only four?  Why no love for Frontierland or Tomorrowland?

The coasters match the design of the also popular* ruffled bowl.  The bowl, with 6 spaces for images, also leaves out Frontier and Tomorrow.  While only artist's renderings, can you spot the errors in Adventureland & Liberty Square?
*based on frequency of appearances on eBay

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.