Tell me this doesn't look classier ...

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

Since Destination D existed to largely showcase a much better time in a much more MAGICal place, I came across these over the weekend.

When folks want to know why I fell in love with WDW ... and why we've grown apart of late, I point to examples shown below.

No sign of meet-greet-and-gropes, timeshares, buses, pintrading, and massive strollers and ECVs.

Just seemed like a higher end product. Of course, I say that all the time and am told my memories (as well as materials such as this) aren't the reality.

You be the judge (and someone find Expo and poing him to the part that shows the Pueblo Room!)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72vfxUWDfbg&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...=related</a>


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnGB-opUbZw&NR=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...bZw&NR=1</a>



<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1pky3f56KM&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...=related</a>

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Agreed, though I would say it continued to get better for the next 5 years too.

 

Originally Posted By Autopia Deb

I'm not going to say your memories are totally wrong, especially where ECVs are concerned. But I remember going to at least 3 character meals on my honeymoon (none of them exist today) in 1989 and getting around property by the Disney bus system. We bought our non-DVC timeshare in 1991, not long before we first heard Disney was in the TS business, and the worst stroller injury I received was years before I became a mom in 1996. True there was no pin trading, but I have some really cool ones from Disneyland's 35th.

So it's all been there for a very long time, but it wasn't as dominant and I will try to view those links and enjoy the good old days when I get to a computer.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

Absolutely, Dave ... but just the way the resort was presented showcased it in a very different way then today.

They showed characters and even used the word MAGIC once or twice ... but the whole package was the point and it wasn't a Walmart package.

It was about an upscale family resort with all sorts of options for folks beyond two world-class parks.

Oh, and you'll notice how THIN and CLASSY both the CMs and guests look. Not the same picture on MSUSA today.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Absolutely agree, and they also very much showcased things like the wine shop and the Arrabas Bros workshop in the village, as well as tennis, and golf. It was more Arts World than MTV. Sadly WDW reflects the sad state of society though.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<I'm not going to say your memories are totally wrong, especially where ECVs are concerned.>>

I appreciate that!

<<But I remember going to at least 3 character meals on my honeymoon (none of them exist today) in 1989 and getting around property by the Disney bus system.>>

Character meals existed in 1989 ... but they weren't all over ... and some (like Ariel's breakfast at Coral Reef ... breakfast at Empress Lilly's and Trail's End, which I think was Chip and Dale) didn't last.

As to buses, the only way you used buses for most of your getting around in '89 would have been if you stayed at CBR or DD or if you went to TPFKaTD-MGMS. Buses weren't a dominant WDW transport mode until the 90s when the EPCOT resort area was developed and PO and DL opened.

<<We bought our non-DVC timeshare in 1991, not long before we first heard Disney was in the TS business, and the worst stroller injury I received was years before I became a mom in 1996. True there was no pin trading, but I have some really cool ones from Disneyland's 35th.>>

My first visit to DL was during its 35th and I don't recall any pins at all ... maybe they sold them, but that would be it since trading didn't begin until much later ... 2000ish.

<<So it's all been there for a very long time, but it wasn't as dominant and I will try to view those links and enjoy the good old days when I get to a computer. >>

Enjoy!

 

Originally Posted By Autopia Deb

>>>Oh, and you'll notice how THIN and CLASSY both the CMs and guests look. Not the same picture on MSUSA today<<<
I actually kind of like the current "chunk factor" there, it make this middle aged mama look like a pretty hot babe!
;-D

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Pins debuted before the 35th, in fact I have some from the 30th (so 1985) where they gave some away in the gift giver, but you could buy others (and we did). Lol.

Even in 1992, there were a few at the opening of EuroDisneyland and special cast ones too (I believe I have them all now).

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

 

Originally Posted By Autopia Deb

The Empress Lily and Trail's End w/ Chip and Dale were 2 of the 3 character meals we went to, very special experiences. The other was at the Electric Umbrella at EPCOT back when it was table service and the characters wore those funky "space" outfits. That was slightly less special, lol. I will say, no one regrets more than I, King Stephen's becoming a character venue. I'm just happy I got to eat there before it was over-run by Princesses.
We stayed at CBR, so depended on the busses the first half of our trip before we got the rental.
During the 35th anniversary you had a chance to win a prize just by going through the gates. The most common prize was a gate pin, one issued every month, with a character on a Disneyland attraction. We never won anything, but the pins were for sale in one of the castle shops (IIRC) and we collected 2 of each.

 

Originally Posted By -em

>> actually kind of like the current "chunk factor" there, it make this middle aged mama look like a pretty hot babe!<<

I heard the quote of "At home I'm considered large at WDW I'm considered anorexic" and it can be true...

-em

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

>>>Empress Lily<<<

Does it bother anyone else that she lost the paddle over a decade ago without replacement?

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

There are some really good points in that film

There are also some really good points about WDW now that weren't around when that film was made.

Spirit if your happiness is based on skinny people, and the return of River Country you are in for a miserable life.

I especially like the looks of Epcot, and the MSUSA vehicles.

We do not need to set the clock back though. We were always meant to go forward. A return to the Disney philosophy of the day is what is needed.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

>>>I heard the quote of "At home I'm considered large at WDW I'm considered anorexic" and it can be true...<<<

Yep, in the UK I am fat, at DLP I am morbidly obese, in California I felt large to average, in WDW I felt average to small. Not cool. What is up with that?

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

I think that is the point of this video. It was about well rounded experiences for something for everyone, and they made a point to feature the edutainment. How I long for those days.

There were no focus on thrills, and very little on toons. Bliss.

Now WDW is a commercial for toons and everything is short timespan experiences.

 

Originally Posted By Autopia Deb

LOL -em! I love that quote!

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

<<There were no focus on thrills>>

Eh...I like that there are more thrill rides now.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Sorry Spirit, but you could make much the same film today and see very few differences except for:

River Country - I think most people who've tried them all would prefer the present water parks to River Country.

Discovery Island - doesn't even start to compare with Animal Kingdom (which is why they closed Discovery Island).

Imagination and World of Motion - Without getting into a debate over which is "better", a film made today showing a clip of Test Track would look just as interesting as the clip of WoM. You've got me though on Imagination.

Lack of buses - that is true though you could certainly make a promotional video today without ever showing them. I think that is exactly the case on the videos they currently show in the hotels. Buses weren't needed then because all WDW hotels were on the monorail.

Glorious lack of strollers - I'm sure some existed in 87 though probably far fewer. With none of the Moderate or Value Resorts open then far fewer families with very young children could afford to go to WDW.

I think the major difference in "feel" of WDW in 1987 comes down to two things:

1) WDW's hotels being limited to the monorail resorts greatly changed both the style of transportation and the clientele that could afford a WDW vacation.

2) A totally different style film style (more refined) than what is used in today's promotional videos. I think that is really more an indication of how marketing styles have changed over the past 25 years than anything else.

WDW in 1987 was a more upscale in experience not so much because the parks were greatly different but because the clientele was. I've long agreed with that being the case but also feel it is a somewhat elitist point of view... which you've readily admitted.

Which comes down to a question of goals and values. What does the Disney Company sees as a more important goal for the parks... keep the original upscale feel or make it so a far larger percentage of Americans could afford a WDW vacation. They obviously went for inclusiveness.

Given where I'm at today I would far prefer the more exclusive feel. But I can guarantee you, when I was in my thirties and had a 7 and 14-year-old that I wanted to bring to WDW I FAR preferred the goal of inclusiveness. It is the only way I could have ever gone then.

By the way... so far I've only viewed the first film, but I think I would likely feel the same after having seen all of them.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

>> actually kind of like the current "chunk factor" there, it make this middle aged mama look like a pretty hot babe!<<

<<I heard the quote of "At home I'm considered large at WDW I'm considered anorexic" and it can be true...>>

It's very hard, needing to lose between 25-30 pounds (depending on the day!), to feel anything but thin at WDW.

I know old man Pierce things I am obsessed with fatties, but I'm not. I just have never seen the sheer amount of morbidly obese people that I see at WDW regularly. Sorry, but 300-600 pounds aren't normal healthy weights.

It's awful ... but it also speaks of some socio-economic issues with visitors and cast alike.

You won't find one 400 pounder driving an ECV while chomping on a burger basket or turkey leg in those 1980s videos ... because you wouldn't see one soul like that.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<There are some really good points in that film>>

Agree.

<<There are also some really good points about WDW now that weren't around when that film was made.>>

Some to be sure.

<<Spirit if your happiness is based on skinny people, and the return of River Country you are in for a miserable life.>>

No, if I want to see skinny people I can visit a Disney resort outside the USA (although Anaheim still has smaller guests on average because people in SoCal seem to care more about healthy eating/living).

As to RC ... I am resigned to the fact it will continue to rot away until some kid dies or they can build a DVC on the site.

<<I especially like the looks of Epcot, and the MSUSA vehicles.>>

Me too.

<<We do not need to set the clock back though. We were always meant to go forward. A return to the Disney philosophy of the day is what is needed.>>

I agree ... Disney needs to go back to the quality and attention to detail AND CLASS that made it what it was in those clips ... I'd never say we should make WDW a museum. But making it a much lesser place does bother me.