To be blunt, 1984 did not start as a good year for Walt Disney Productions. Attendance at EPCOT Center was lagging, and had cost more than double initial estimates. The newly formed Disney Channel was at about half of its estimated subscribers. The studio turned out stale films, the majority of which were failures. Management’s mantra … Read more
October 1, 1981 would mark Walt Disney World’s tenth anniversary, and to celebrate, the company launched the Tencennial celebration. The resort was also in full-speed development for EPCOT Center, with the park slated to open on Disney World’s 11th birthday. But with a milestone to celebrate, Disney is not a company to sit and let … Read more
Walt Disney World began its first new decade not just preparing EPCOT Center, but by preparing for EPCOT. The World needed to change to accommodate the concept of a multi-park resort. The Magic Kingdom had to adapt to keep itself relevant, and make space for guests who were coming to experience the new park. And the … Read more
River Country’s June 1976 opening would prove to be the last major addition to Walt Disney World in the 1970s, but that doesn’t mean the resort would sit completely stagnant while EPCOT Center was being developed. These seemingly minor changes would last for decades and become staples, if not symbols of a Walt Disney World … Read more
By the end of 1975, Walt Disney World Resort had largely recovered from the gas crisis, welcoming its 50,000,000th guest, Susan Brummer, on March 2, 1976. The Magic Kingdom was largely finished with its initial layout. The three hotels were operating at 97% capacity and the campground was under constant expansion. With the Vacation Kingdom … Read more
Like the rest of the nation after the Watergate Scandal and the gas crisis, Walt Disney World entered 1975 a different place than it had been in the beginning of 1974. And we’re not just talking about attraction openings, but the events of 1973-74 changed the company’s plans and outlook for the future. What can … Read more
An auction at Van Eaton Galleries set for August 15 and 16 features over 1,000 artifacts from Disneyland and Walt Disney World history. And while rare props, signage, and other park-used items are treasured by many Disney collectors, an even more elusive item is up for bid. A Splash Mountain Pitch Book developed for McDonald’s … Read more
Disneyland Park has experienced its ups and downs when it comes to attractions throughout the years. When looking back, one of the most prominent failed projects, Rocket Rods, sits pretty close to the top. Problems of Tomorrow Rocket Rods was the new anchor attraction for Disneyland’s infamous Tomorrowland relaunch in 1998. The 1998 update was … Read more
In 2020, The Walt Disney Archives will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA will be hosting a new exhibit filled with relics of the company’s rich history. The exhibit, titled “Inside The Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic,” will span 10,000 … Read more
Subscription boxes have been available from shopDisney for months now, providing fans of Disney princesses monthly surprise crates full of goods. Now, shopDisney is adding a new subscription box to the lineup that will appeal to the biggest fans of Disney history and heritage. Introducing the Disney Backstage Collection, a monthly retro keepsake canister with … Read more
Editor’s Note: “Road to the Ride” was a column that focused on the background and development of Disney attractions, including all the twists and turns a project takes as it goes from original concept, to theme park attraction, and beyond. This article was originally published on October 14th, 2018, but we’d figured we’d bring it back … Read more
Editor’s Note: “Road to the Ride” was a column that focused on the background and development of Disney attractions, including all the twists and turns a project takes as it goes from original concept to theme park attraction. This article was originally published on June 16th, 2018, but we figured we’d bring back this lively tale … Read more