Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Walt Disney World, 1982/83

I decided to delve into my small group of Walt Disney World slides and share some of those vintage images with you. I'm not going to have much to add as far as my own commentary goes, because I've never been to Florida. So if anybody out there sees anything of interest, speak up! I should add that these photos aren't that vintage, being from the early 80's, but they're just the first to get scanned.

I have a friend who complains pretty negatively about Florida's Tomorrowland, but it looks cool to me. I love Disneyland and its intimate scale, but have to admit that the larger scale (particularly of Space Mountain) can't help but impress. And look, you can just see the WEDway Peoplemover, which is still there (lucky!). To the right you can see a bit of the Star Jets, placed at the top of the Peoplemover platform. I guess that this has been replaced with a version of the Astro Orbiter (and moved down to ground level) just like in Anaheim. Such a shame for a neat ride.


The Carrousel is a classic attraction, and an authentic 1917 ride that once graced Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey. In these days it was known as "Cinderella's Golden Carrousel", and for various lame reasons has been renamed "Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel".


Everybody loves Winnie the Pooh, wearing his jar of hunny (didn't there used to be a bumble bee?). Judging from Pooh's wonky eyes, he has suffered a recent head trauma. Tigger bounced him. Bounced him - with extreme prejudice.

More Dizzy World to come!

12 comments:

  1. Major, the Star Jets have been redesigned and renamed, but they still remain on top of the PeopleMover station WHERE THEY BELONG!!!!! Too bad Anaheim's Rocket Jets weren't allowed to stay put. I like this version of WDW's Tomorrowland. I didn't like the makeover that took place in 1994, but I thought it was still a heck of a lot better than the crappy job Disneyland's Tomorrowland received in 1998.

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  2. Anonymous1:06 AM

    was that an Apocalypse Pooh reference?

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  3. Are we sure that's hunny? Or maybe he's just flipped out wanting the girl beside him to grow up to become his honey. With those legs she's off to a good start! Poohey, I know... I think that was taken in the Crystal Palace on Main St, Magic Kingdom.

    tbh, that carousel pic might be one of the least "photogenic" pics on this blog (which points up how good the usual is!). Like your friend I'm not crazy about WDW's TL but it does have its good aspects and it is nice that it still has a Pipplemooer. Always liked that name for a Tomorrowland snack spot: The Lunching Pad. :p

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  4. I'm not ashamed to admit that I literally had tears running down my face when I rode the PeopleMover a couple of years ago. I miss ours sooooooo much!

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  5. Chris, I was given bad info from a friend regarding the Star Jets. He is no longer my friend, and when I have a birthday party with clowns and a pony, he won't be invited!

    Austin, you win a water buffalo!

    Chiana, I can only hope to see Florida's Tomorrowland for myself. Then I can ride the Peoplemover and cry just like Connie did!

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  6. "Bounced-With extreme prejudice"... I swear Major, I laughed so hard you make even apoplexy fun!

    As for that "Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel" nonsense, I'm sure the Disney Gender Equity Coordinator decided that the lack of male references in Fantisyland was inverse-sexist and had the name changed.

    That's how you justify a job that pays $85k/year and produces nothing.

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  7. Oh, and you're right about the honey pot having a bee on top. It was attached by a wire. Maybe some kid broke it off.

    Back to the Star Jets....Tokyo Disneyland still has their original unaltered version of this attraction (link)....at least for now. I hope they leave theirs alone!

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  8. oh yeah...gonna be there in a few weeks and i cant wait!!

    those rockets have no business on the ground, and i remember being really disappointed the first time i went to Disneyland and there they were :(

    i love the "blue and white" sort of 70s Tomorrowland we still have as well, and esp LOVE the bonus skyway gondola we see above the carousel :-)

    man, it sure looks like it was hot that day, and the crowds are always like this in summer. im looking forward to going in fall for a change, i just hope the hurricanes stay FAR away!

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  9. After spending SOOO much time at Disneyland (both work and the several times a month for 30 years) I had the place memorized. We then moved to the southeast coast, and started to spend our vacations at WDW. I have to say, I like it better. It's open spaces, old style feel, and it's modern additions (although not perfect) make us happy every time we go. Now with digital cameras, I have many times more photos than I ever had of Disneyland.

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  10. CoxPilot, it sounds like a little bit of "familiarity breeds contempt", though perhaps contempt is too strong a word!

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  11. Major, Cox,

    how about "Familiarity breeds content". Sometimes, thats true too.

    Great pics, esp. WTP. Always loved him.

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  12. Great Tomorrowland pic from the golden age. If You Had Wings, the RCA Home of Future Living and the Now Is The Time version of Carousel of Progress (and so less cluttered!)

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