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.

Creative Name

Golf Resort Hotel matchbook

Walt Disney World is filled with lots of creative ideas.  This name, from an early resort, is not one of those. Opened in 1973, the Golf Resort Hotel was, well....a golf resort hotel located near the Magnolia and Palm courses.  The name changed to the Disney Inn in 1986 and it was then converted to the Military Armed Forces Recreation Center: Shades of Green in 1994.  I will say that the logo on the matchbook does help make up for the lack of creativity in the name.

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.

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.

Guided Without GAF (part 2)

Your Complete Guide to Walt Disney World, 1978
pg 16 -17

Last week, I shared the first half of this guide to Walt Disney World from 1978.  The second half highlights 'A World of Special Attractions and Events,' the resorts and recreation options.  It begins with a fun caricature type map of the entire Walt Disney World property or at least what was developed at the time.  Similar maps can be seen in the World Magazine and previous GAF guides from 1977 and a year earlier in the Vacationers Guide.  The biggest change in this newer map is the incorporation of Lake Buena Vista area into the larger map as opposed to being separated out as it was in previous editions.  Included on the map, and with its own photo and description at the end of the guide, is the Lake Buena Vista Office Plaza.  I am not sure exactly why this was important to include in the guide other than the fact that it would include a post office and Sun Bank when completed...hmmm....maybe a new sponsor to replace GAF?

End of a Classic

National Team Championship Golf Classic matchbook

Since 1971, Walt Disney World has been a stop on the PGA Tour.  That was until this year.  So in honor of the loss, here is a matchbook from The National Team Championship Golf Classic.  The tournament went by many names in its 41 year run.  Most recently, The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.  The Team Championship format was used from 1974 - 1981, giving us an approximate age for this piece of phillumeny.

The Other Side of the World

World Magazine, 1977, pg 9 -10

 
When we last left World Magazine, this 1977 glossy advertisement for Walt Disney World, page 8 introduced "The Other Side of the World."  Pages 9 - 18 describe "the Contemporary Resort Hotel, the Polynesian Village Resort Hotel, the Golf Resort and Fort Wilderness....where each person in your party will receive an identification card....(Your identification card is not valid in the Magic Kindom them park, however.)"  In between the resort pages is an excellent map of the entire Vacation Kingdom and Lake Buena Vista.  There were several variations of these caricature maps made in the 70's.  Enjoy!

Preview Edition - The Master Plan

Walt Disney World Preview Edition
1970, Back Cover

The final sections of the 1970 Preview Edition of Walt Disney World describe the resort amenities, provide a Q & A, and layout the "Master Plan" for the 43 square miles where "...Walt Disney incorporated the ideas and philosophies of a lifetime."

Pages 16 & 17 detail the entertainment, golf and convention options that would be available.  The Q & A section contains a map with the 'original' castle logo and the Big D/Globe Head marking Orlando.  There is also information on the Preview Center as well as instructions on purchasing an additional "Preview Edition" for $.65.

The Master Plan included "an airport of the future, an industrial park designed to showcase American industry at work...and an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,"  and new innovations, such as "the first 21st century information communication system" and vacuum tube disposal system.