Originally Posted By X-san Just curious, what was already "up and running" when the Magic Kingdom opened up in '71? (1971 was the opening right?) I'm thinking Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, Poly, Golf Resort (thus one golf course right?), the water attractions on Bay Lake and the 7 seas lagoon?, Fort Wilderness, River Country?, the treehouse villas and Disney Village? Which were open right away? Which came soon after? And am I missing anything?
Originally Posted By dshyates Poly, Contemp, MK, FW, and palm and magnolia golf courses. In the 7 saes lagoon they had the night light parade thing, and the worlds first wave machine that sent waves towards the Poly. The Disney Village opened in 1972. Disney's Golf Resort in 1973. Discovery Island in 1974. WD Village Marketplace in 1975. River Country opened in 1976.
Originally Posted By Coconut Telegraph What of those are still open? I know River Country is closed and just sitting there rotting right? I just saw the night light parade thing about a year ago from the Wilderness Lodge. It was beautiful and a neat surprise. Has it been running all these many many years? One thing I love about WDW is when I get to go (once about every 4 or 5 years) I walk through certain archways, or stand in certain spots, and I instantly am back in 1975 (my first visit) and am a kid all over again. That to me is the magic. I love photos from the old 70's era of WDW. I juust love WDW. Someday I want to go to Disneyland so bad.
Originally Posted By brotherdave I believe that on opening day, all that was there was the Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness, Contemporary and Polynesian. I think the Golf Resort opened slightly later, although at least one course may have been open. As for the roster of MK attractions, I think they were the following (though some may have opened within the first few months): WDW Railroad Main Street Vehicles Walt Disney Story Main Street Cinema Plaza Swan Boats Swiss Family Treehouse Jungle Cruise Tropical Seranade (Tiki Room) Country Bear Jamboree Tom Sawyer Island Hall of Presidents Liberty Square Riverboats (yes, there were two) Mike Fink Keelboats Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes Haunted Mansion It's a Small World Mickey Mouse Revue Peter Pan's Flight (though I read it opened a few days later than Oct 1) Snow White's Scary Adventures Cinderella's Golden Carousel Dumbo Mad Tea Party (minus roof!) Mr. Toad's Wild Ride 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Skyway Tomorrowland Speedway Most of the rest of Tomorrowland wasn't finished until the following year (Flight to the Moon, If You Had Wings, Circlevision), with it finally being completed in 1975 with the opening of Carousel of Progress, WEDWay Peoplemover, Starjets, and Space Mountain. Also, Pirates of the Caribbean wasn't added until late 1973 and Big Thunder Mountain opening in 1980.
Originally Posted By mickey_ring For great info on the WDW of the past, try: <a href="http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/" target="_blank">http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/</a>
Originally Posted By beamerdog Does anyone know when the Swan Boats were pulled? I never got to go on one :-( I do remember thinking to myself that the park was huge, lol.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 With time I think that some of the attractions need to be updated or removed. I would have loved to stay: were 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and one of my fav was Mr. Toad's wild ride. I really6 miss that one. And yes you can still see it at DL.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys Disneymom- I also miss Mr Toad, so much so that I took a trip cross country to DL and rode it about 20 times over a two day period, laughing like a little kid each and every time.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Does anyone know when the Swan Boats were pulled? I never got to go on one :-(>> I believe they took their last cruises in the 1985-86 timespan. I know my last ride on them was on Easter 1985 (right after the Parade ... back when WDW had a spectacular Easter Parade). <<I do remember thinking to myself that the park was huge, lol.>> They've made it smaller. Things like removing trees, closing attractions/dinng/shops without replacement, cutting live entertainment ... you can't quite put your finger on it but it all adds up to smaller, lesser experience. I feel that way about all of WDW since they've chosen to cut down every last tree and develop every last inch (I dread what is happening with the Four Seasons development, even though I'm sure to stay there). It used to seem that WDW went on forever, with a huge greenbelt around it and you really could buy into Walt's 'We have enough land here for all the ideas we can possibly imagine' deal ... but now, that's not the case. You have MANY entrances to property and they're loud and colorful ... and you can easily see off-property or on in places like the All Stars, Blizzard Beach and DAK Lodge ... there's asphault everywhere and traffic with buses galore. It just seems that WDW is a much smaller place in 2008 than in 1978 or 1988 despite having so many more facilities. But that just goes into the is bigger better debate.
Originally Posted By gmaletic Spirit of 74 said: >>>(I dread what is happening with the Four Seasons development) Why do you dread it?
Originally Posted By kennect I feel sure if the internet had been around during that time some would have called it a half day park...It was amazing to visit that first year but yet to see what it is now it makes one wonder...I never dreamed what a monster it would become...Regardless, for me, it has been a fun thing to watch grow...Some bad and some good...Regardless I still love it...
Originally Posted By dshyates "WDW circa 1971, what was there?" ME!!!! WhooooHoooo for bein' old. Who'se with me here?
Originally Posted By tonyanton Swan Boats, Tom Sawyer Island, and Walt Disney Story did not arrive until about 1973. I also believe Fort Wilderness Campground did not start up fully until early 1972.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Spirit of 74 said: >>>(I dread what is happening with the Four Seasons development) <<Why do you dread it?>> Why? Because WDW used to be an oasis of scrub and pine forest and is now starting to look just like areas off-property. Buena Vista Drive is a very Disney approximation of Apopka-Vineland Rd (SR 535) these days with traffic and wall to wall lights. The area the Four Seasons is being built on is one of the very last large greenbelt buffers between development areas at WDW ... really. Some people consider a nicely landscaped berm a greenbelt, but 'tis not. So an area known for its birds and snakes and deer and assorted other wildlife and trees will become yet another resort ... with some nice landscaped berms between the golf course ... and a few little spots before you're on top of Port Orleans. To me, that's very sad. And it surely in no way resembles what Walt had in mind for the Florida Project. WDW is now largely just a giant timeshare, hotel and retail zone with some theme parks tosses in for good measure. Hyprebole? Sure ... but not as much as you might think. As recently as the early 1990s, most of Disney's developable land in Central Florida was in a ntaural state. But then came huge things ... like Celebration, WWoS, the DD Resort area and Buena Vista Drive expansion, which paved the way for BB and the All Stars and eventually DAK. Pretty soon that land was used up. And despite what you may read or hear, most of Disney's land is now developed. So fantasies of major future projects will remain just that ... unless you see Disney tearing down huge resorts to redevelop and I sure don't. So, yeah, as beautiful as I'm sure the Four Seasons will be, I dread it being built where it is going. As much or moreso as I dread the DVCing (or should I say pinshacking since Disney hasn't announced anything to the media/public) of the Contemporary!
