The Start of My Collection

Walt Disney's Donald Duck
Coloring Book Page
1972

So my love for Donald and the early Walt Disney World logo may come directly from these pages.  The book itself, "Walt Disney's Donald Duck: Donald Duck's Camper USA," is long gone,  but I did save these few pages that reference WDW.  The book was published in 1972 but from my handwriting and expert coloring, I must have colored it in the mid to late '70s. 

Best of 2015

Walt Disney World: a coloring book
Golden, 1983

Based on the popularity of Adult Coloring Books this year, it should be no surprise that the most popular items from my blog in 2015 were from the 1983 Walt Disney World: a coloring book posts.

Coloring Main Street - March 21

Coloring Frontierland - March 27

Coloring Long Lost Attractions - April 3
 

Coming in a close second to the coloring book posts, was the Water Recreation pre-opening postcard that Bob sent his friend Al.  If you missed it, you can revisit it at this link: Sorry, Al - August 7.

So Much Dust

The Haunted Mansion coloring pages
Walt Disney World: A Coloring Book, 1983

Leading up to Halloween, it is only appropriate that I share some early Haunted Mansion items.  Although, I must say that in reviewing my earliest Walt Disney World guides, the Haunted Mansion does not get much coverage.  It appears in all of the early guides but typically is overshadowed by other Liberty Square attractions.  The pages above are from a 1983 coloring book.  The Haunted Mansion gets 2 of 8 pages in the Liberty Square section of "20 Magical Years."  

While doing my research, I learned an interesting fact about the dust used to create the old effect in the mansion. "Local legend has it that enough has been used since the park's 1971 opening to bury the mansion."  That began appearing in WDW guides around 1990.  Imagine how big the pile of dust would be now.
And those cobwebs....well that's a secret process.

Coloring Long Lost Attractions

Walt Disney World: a coloring book
Fantasyland, 1983

We wrap up our tour through the lands of the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World: a coloring book,  with Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.  There are 10 pages dedicated to Fantasyland and 5 for Tomorrowland.  Fantasyland has seen significant changes in just the past few years but these pages remind us of what was lost even before this recent transformation: Mr Toad's Wild Ride (1998), Skyway (1999) & 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1994).

The few Tomorrowland images feature some icon attractions like Space Mountain & Tomorrowland Speedway.  But I had to share this fun image of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover or the WEDWay PeopleMover as it would have been called in 1983 and Donald and company riding Astro Orbiter or should I say Star Jets.

Coloring Frontierland

Walt Disney World: a coloring book
Frontierland, 1983

As we continue our tour through Walt Disney World: a coloring book, Mickey and Minnie lead us into Frontierland.  There are 14 pages for the Old West, several featuring characters exploring Tom Sawyer Island.  Grandma Duck is giving her disapproving glare, this time at a dancer from the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon in the last image from this section.
Liberty Square only gets 8 pages to show off their few attractions.  Donald is shaking Lincoln's hand in the Hall of Presidents and Morty & Ferdie are running from the Haunted Mansion ghosts.

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.

From My Childhood

Walt Disney's Donald Duck
Coloring Book Page
1972

So my love for Donald and the early Walt Disney World logo may come directly from these pages.  The book itself, "Walt Disney's Donald Duck: Donald Duck's Camper USA," is long gone,  but I did save these few pages that reference WDW.  The book was published in 1972 but from my handwriting and expert coloring, I must have colored it in the mid to late '70s.