Tapestry of Nations

Here’s a look at Hammerman in front of a Millennium-themed Spaceship Earth in September 1999.

A ‘Cruise’ Through Disney History

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July 28 is the day the Disney Magic (the 1st Disney Cruise Ship) was christened at the Disney Cruise Line Terminal in Port Canaveral, Fla. Built in 1998 by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the Disney Magic can hold approximately 2,400 passengers

I thought it would be fun to take a look at some ads that ran even before the launch of the Disney Magic. The cruise ships would be fun, but how does Disney convey that message to consumers? With the help of some famous Disney friends, of course! [Click on the pictures to enlarge]

The ads informed guests of the world-class entertainment, fine dining and special fun for kids waiting aboard the Disney Magic. They also introduced our new private island, Castaway Cay.

Disney Magic holds the record for the highest regular toll paid for passage through the Panama Canal, at $331,200. 

until September 2012, the ship is sailing to the Bahamas and New England from New York.

Fun Fact: The ship's horn blast plays an excerpt from Disney's famous flagship tune, When You Wish Upon A Star.

Watch all the Dream´s Horn songs and the Magic horn in the video above!

Today, Oct. 7, 2012, marks the 21th anniversary of the start of sales for Disney Vacation Club. Here is a photograph of the original Preview Center as it was nearing completion in June of 1991 at what is now known as Disney’s Old Key West Resort. The Disney Vacation Club Preview Center is now located at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

Inside the Storybook Room, guests were given an entertaining presentation regarding the purchase of an ownership interest in Disney Vacation Club. And while the Storybook Room has been updated and moved over the years, the very first one actually included a giant pop-up storybook.

With a book that size, it’s no wonder Tinker Bell was on hand to turn the pages!

Walt Disney and Lillian Bounds are Married

This Day in Disney History - Walt Disney and Lillian Bounds are Married [Jul 13, 1925]

 

Lillian Bounds was a secretary working for Walt Disney shortly after the start of the Disney company, when he became enthralled with her, and although he vowed he would not marry before he was at least 25 years old with $10,000 saved, he couldn’t resist. On this day in 1925, the two married at Lillian’s brother’s home in Lewiston, Idaho. Thirty years later, in 1955, just four days before the opening of Walt’s new theme park, the couple invited 300 guests to celebrate their anniversary with them — according to their invitation, “by cruising down the Mississippi on the Mark Twain’s maiden voyage followed by dinner at Slue Foot Sue’s Golden Horseshoe!” The invitation continued, “Hope you can make it — we especially want you and, by the way, no gifts, please — we have everything, including a grandson!”

Looking Back at River Country

This Day in Disney History - Jun 20, 1976

River Country Water Park Opens at Walt Disney World

River Country, a relaxing oasis under Walt Disney World’s hot Florida sun, began dousing guests with filtered Florida lake water in 1976. Inspired by Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, this old-fashioned swimming hole included a host of natural swimming areas covered with mountainous manmade boulders. A number of water slide attractions made the park an inner tuber’s paradise with Slippery Slide Falls, Upstream Plunge, White Water Rapids and Whoop ‘n’ Holler Hollow — two winding half pipes that emptied into Bay Cove, a 330,000 gallon half-acre, sand-bottom lake. Here, guests could relax on sandy beaches or hang out on a tire swing at Bay Lake, with the Magic Kingdom’s beckoning skyline in view. Each summer, the All-American Water Party drenched guests from April to September with water balloon games, cannonball contests, live music and splash time with Disney characters. River Country hung up its towel on September 1, 2001, when Walt Disney World’s water adventures began to head upstream — reaching new heights with the opening of Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

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Today, you can take a plunge on Summit Plummet at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park or conquer Crush ‘n’ Gusher at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, but hitting a water park at Walt Disney World Resort was not an option until River Country opened back in 1976.

When River Country opened, it was described as a “unique new water-oriented land.” River Country promised to be “everything kids ever wanted to do at the old swimming hole down by the river in the good old days, plus all the comforts for Mom and Dad so they can participate too.”

One of the areas within River Country was Whoop-N’-Holler Hollow, with two separate twisting journeys (260 feet and 160 feet respectively) plunging into The Ol’ Swimmin’ Hole.

For over 25 years, River Country provided a refreshing escape from the warm Florida summers for guests of all ages.

Cinderella Castle Balloon

Walt Disney Dances The Night Away at Disneyland

In this 1958 photo, Walt is having so much fun dancing at Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Mickey in Vintage Guest Room at Disney's Contemporary Resort in 1972

This photo was taken in 1972 in one of the resort rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort.

Minnie in a vintage guest room at Disney’s Polynesian Resort in 1985

A Haunted Mansion is Built [Vintage Picture]

Here is a look at The Haunted Mansion while it was still under construction on February 24, 1971.

Mickey’s Super-Stretch LiMOUSEine

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“Make it a stretch; in fact make it a super stretch.” You may not know but Rock 'n' Roller Coaster's limo wasn’t the first super-stretch limo to hit Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Mickey Mouse also had a limo of his own? Take a look at this beauty.

That’s a 40-foot LiMOUSEine that Mickey Mouse rode while on a 37-city tour promoting the opening of the Disney-MGM Studios in 1989.

LiMOUSEine’s features: Four cellular phones, a radio remote DJ booth, two Sony TVs with VCRs, and four sunroofs. But, the crown gem has to be that hood ornament: a 24-karat gold-plated Tinker Bell and a lot of pixie dust!

The LiMOUSEine was also equipped with a Sony RDSS Wayfarer Mobile Communication System, which allowed Minnie to pinpoint Mickey’s whereabouts on a personal computer back at home.

And just in time for the Walt Disney World Resort 25th Anniversary, the LiMOUSEine got a paint job.

* All pictures by Disney

Walt Disney at Café Orleans and Plaza Inn [1966]

Walt Disney at Café Orleans and Plaza Inn [1966]

Shortly after New Orleans Square opened in 1966, Walt posed for this photo with Cast Members at the Creole Café. Later renamed Café Orleans, you can still find delicious desserts, and of course, espresso there.

Nowadays, you can go to Café Orleans to see the very same espresso machine pictured with Walt after all these years.

These little connections to Walt Disney are always a special treat to discover at Disneyland park. Do you have a favorite place or item in the parks that especially reminds you of Walt?

And we have one more picture! This one was taken at the Plaza Inn, in 1966, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather share a cup of coffee with.

Fantasyland Forever

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Gene Duncan (photographer) had the privilege of experiencing the magic and beauty of Walt Disney World Resort for 36 years, usually with camera in hand. Granted, he has also had extraordinary access to areas not usually visited by Disney guests.

Five years ago, He spent an afternoon at the Walt Disney World Horticulture compound, commonly referred to as the “tree farm”, wandering through the topiary construction area. Millions of guests have admired the finished pieces inside our parks, but few have seen them before or after their days “onstage”. I love “getting lost” there when I can …

This image is one of a series noting the ultimate whimsy in truly inanimate objects. The original transparency was made using a Fuji 680 medium format camera, and then converted to black and white.

Picture posted at the official Disney Parks blog on September 30th, 2009 by Gene Duncan, Photographer, Walt Disney World Resort

The King of Disneyland

This photo shows Walt Disney standing on the Mark Twain in Disneyland park in July 1955, just days before the park officially opened to the public.

DHS - Opening Team - Cast Member

Picture from my great Disney friend: http://twitter.com/AskDisneyGuide

Figment Figure with Vintage Epcot Sign

Dockside Diner at Hollywood Studios