The Magic Kingdom
I have a number of Magic Kingdom photos for you today, from two different batches. The first three are from July, 1974.
First up is this "Souvenir Guidebook Worthy" photo from Adventureland, with a Summer crowd milling around Adventureland. Maybe the folks walking toward us just watched the Tropical Serenade, (aka the Tiki Room). Where the birds sing words and the flowers croon!
If the sun had cooperated, this next picture would also have qualified for "Souvenir Guidebook Worthy" status. But a rogue cloud has cast its evil shadow over the land! It's still a nice image though, Main Street USA is bustling like nobody's business. They must have gotten a deal on American flags (at Honest Fred's Flag City), nearly every building has one. Cinderella Castle looks suitably impressive here.
There had clearly been one of Florida's frequent downpours later in the day, but it was all over now. The wet street gives it a "movie set" feel,, and the buildings of Main Street look great in the glow of the late afternoon sunlight. I'm sure the humidity was top-notch.
These last two are from August, 1977; both show some of the Little Pigs (but not all three, as one of them was doing his own thing with his eccentric artist girlfriend). Below is what I imagine is the Piper Pig, because he's wearing sailor's duds, and sailors always play the fife. ALWAYS. The kids love him and need to touch him. The girl with the red hat might even be licking him. The price of fame.
Next is my favorite of the Li'l pigs, the Practical Pig. He told me that I can freeze lemon juice into ice cubes and then it will always be available when I need it. That's so darn practical! His eyebrows make him look stern, but it's just because he cares so much.
I hope you have enjoyed today's Magic Kingdom photos!
13 comments:
Major-
Those pigs are definitely 'show stealers'-! I may have to get a set to liven things up at my estate.
Thanks, Major.
”I'm sure the humidity was top-notch.”
Major, that’s definitely one way of saying it, while leaving out the cuss words.
Boy, those poor pigs. EVERYONE has to touch them!
Fun trip to WDW, thanks Major.
The Main Street image: They grow buildings TALL in Florida... to make up for the low/flat landscape. I was there (WDW) once, in the mid seventies. I forget how much taller these building are compared to Disneyland.
Piper Pig: Oh yes. Red hat girl is definitely licking the Pig. You can tell by the startled look on the Pig's face. I'm envisioning the kids getting out of control and ripping chunks of the foam costume off... just because.
Practical Pig: It looks like Dad is getting into the foam ripping business after watching the kids do it. I'm guessing he just wants to see what the ear feels like. Is it vinyl or foam?
A pleasant day at WDW. Thanks, Major.
In the first pic, the kid in the lower left corner looks like he's making f*rt noises with his armpit!
In the third pic, seeing the lady with the hot pants and yellow halter top reminds me of a memory of being at DL in the rain. She's holding one of those paper merchandise bags, and I remember those did not hold together well, when it rained. We'd go into any of the shops, and they would replace our wet bag with a dry one.......for a $5 charge. Kidding, but if they still had paper bags, today, I just betcha they would charge for a replacement!
Thanks for the vintage WDW pics, Major!
Ah … Walt Disney World pre Eisner : it was PERFECT! The Florida humidity is bone dry compared to the humidity of Hong Kong and Mainland China!! I remember when the parks first switched to plastic bags …. The ink would come off on your hands by the end of the day. We were always told to give bags to guests if their bags were damaged (naturally) and oblige if they just asked …. UNTIL …. A big guest left ring was broken up . A group of local guests would ask for bags … then they were stealing tons of collectors pins ( they were just really taking off then) the Disneyland crooks were then re-selling their stollen loot at area Orange County antiques & collector malls … but despite the number of Disneyland guest stealing things …. It didn’t compare to the number of employees ( usually seasonal cast members) who were stealing things.
Bye he way I just read that Disneyland /Walt Disney World began replacing the terms “host” , “ hostess” and employee ( DISNEYLANDER was already out of favor) with CAST MEMBER officially in 1983!! This was directed by Van France and Dick Nunis.
I guess Dick Nunis made it official since Van was (mostly) retired other than sone consulting by 1983.
I’m interested in these since I’ve never been to WDW, they are fun comparisons to familiar scenes. I see that trash cans are as common on the Florida Main Street. Everything is so much taller and further apart. On my last trip to the Anaheim Park, I heard a guest complaining that Disneyland was “rinky-dink” compared to Florida. While irritating to hear, I suppose it is all in what you are used to. I like the compact little park, thank you.
Fifer Pig could go into the silk purse business. Those kids have fallen for Practical like a ton of bricks.
Thank you Major, a good Saturday visit.
JG
When the kid licked the pig, did she exclaim "IT TASTES LIKE CHICKEN!"...(just wondering). Guest to left of Mssr. Practical has overheard "Lisa the Licker", and is reaching out for a bite: he has heard that the ears are especially chicken-ee. Halter tops galore, and I am torn on halter tops. They read "underpants" to me. Seems a bit too much: I know it's hot and sticky, but doesn't it just make things stickier? Joyce Dewitt in Practical Pig photo: with her red halter top on has forgotten her shorts...and they are about to cause a disturbance in the atmosphere. Another reason not to wear a halter top. I suppose I am old fashioned, or perhaps just old. The Main Street photos are delightful and give more of a "Hello Dolly" feel than a quaint Disneyland feel: and I think the scale was the intent. The last time I was in the Park I took a photo of a big supporting beam that is smack dab in front of that corner Emporium door: I don't see it here, and it makes design sense for it NOT to be there: as it blocks the entry: I don't see it here, so I feel better. I like all the festooning of flags: feels like a classic Summer day in the park. Lots of bags means lots of shopping. I remember the plastic bag as the Disneyland version was an exact copy except it said Disneyland instead of Walt Disney World. That paper bag I don't remember, as Disneyland had a few different ones: the one I liked the best was the really bold color design one of the 70's. I can see how in Florida how they would "melt", and I can also see how giving a few to a guest poses shrink problems. A busy closing at the Emporium makes it quite easy to stuff a few things into your bag: despite the "foxes" : I think that's what they called the undercover security. '83 makes sense for "Cast Member" however I don't remember it being an "official" announcement, but then again, I could have not been paying attention. I said employee, and "employee" was on forms and schedules and other things until my departure. At the Queen Mary we adopted "Crew Member" and used that in all official language, despite the norm being "Employee", and in some documents "Employe", which while working in DL documentation I had to research if it was correct or not: and the "one e" spelling, although is not common, is an acceptable spelling. Language may have evolved since then however: as it does, as slang becomes acceptable, or other words like "often" pronounced "offen" or "off-Ten" are both acceptable pronunciations - in some circles anyway. I digress, lesson complete. Thanks Major!
Nanook, more like “show squealers”, am I right??
Lou and Sue, I know people love to go to those Florida parks, but every time I hear about the intense heat and oppressive humidity, I feel like I’ll just stay here! I assume that the cast members got used to being mobbed. It sounds exhausting.
JB, yes, as impressive as the Florida Main Street is, I’ve always found it a bit too gigantic. Was there ever a main street that looked anything like it? It reminds me of the 1893 Chicago “White City”. Even with Disneyland’s stylized version, it still feels (or used to feel) more “authentic”, at least in a movie backlot way. The pigs; I’m imagining them being “skeletonized” by gangs of children, just like piranhas. As for the foam-ripping business, it’s never been more profitable!
TokyoMagic!, I don’t know about you, but one way to become a hit at parties is to start making fart noises with your armpit. I tried it at the Philharmonic Gala the other day and everyone loved me. I never thought about how a paper bag would hold up (or not) in extreme moisture, but you’re right, they were not built for that environment. If they tried to charge me for a new bag, I’d make more fart noises. With my armpit I mean.
Mike Cozart, they’ve used plastic bags in Anaheim, I have a few in my collection, I wonder when they switched? And do they still use plastic? The only bag I have from a recent purchase is from the Lego store in Downtown Disney, and it’s paper (with handles). It’s disheartening to hear that guests were stealing so much at the parks - I’m sure that shoplifting is probably more rampant that we imagine, even today - I guess I was raised right because I can’t imagine doing that. I’m also sad to learn that the employees were also stealing! I use the term “cast member” a lot, but it always kind of bugs me. It feels a little pretentious.
Mike Cozart, I have the Dick Nunis biography, I wonder if he talks about the adoption of “cast member” in it?
JG, I used to listen to a number of Disney park podcasts, and one episode recorded the impressions of WDW regulars during their first visit to Disneyland. I finally stopped listening to it because all they guys said was, “Everything’s so small! I can’t believe how small it is!” (etc). Like, OK, do you have anything else to say? I guess kids liked the Little Pigs more than I would have imagined, it’s like seeing a photo of the Beatles on the street!
Bu, as we all have learned, pork is “the other white meat”. I’ve always thought that was a very odd slogan, but it is what it is. Halter tops - it was the 70s after all. Though perhaps they are as popular today? I never really thought about it. A proper halter top can look pretty great on a gal! No complaints from me. “Joyce Dewitt”, I hope she is OK, infomercials might pay better than I know. I feel a little embarrassed for that woman who has no idea that her “fly is down”. I’m sure you’re right about all the flags adding a festive air, as if it’s the Fourth of July every day. Plastic bags are practical, but they are indestructible, so they don’t have that ephemeral quality that a nice paper bag from the 1950s or 60s has. “How did this survive 60 years in such good shape?”. I’ve always wondered if they had undercover security in the shops - they can get so crowded at times that I’d think that a lot of tchotchkes would wind up going into a pocket or purse. Zap them with the Mickey-themed taser! “It hurts, but I don’t mind!”. I’ve seen the use of “Employe”, and it feels old-fashioned. Language evolves, homie!
Some interesting details in the first photo…
The bird show is signed as “Tropical Serenade” at ground level in front of the pagoda, but as “The Enchanted Tiki Room” on the roofline to the right of the other sign. Was that an opening day feature or something added to help guests tie the show to the California original?
Also - you can see the brand-new Caribbean Plaza behind the pagoda. And note the baby in the stroller that just realized he could have had a V8. He’s over 50 now.
This photo would be impossible to recreate today. There is no way that kid could fit in the stroller at his age.
John Hench said the resulting MAIN STREET USA designs DISNEYLAND = charming , WALT DISNEY WORLD = grand .
MAJOR: about 90% of WDW’s Main Street uses facades that still exist or once existed in Saratoga Springs New York …. The other facades used real structures from Philadelphia, St. Louis and New York City.
BU : WDW’s Main Street USA should look very 1969 film HELLO DOLLY as the art director for both was John Decuir!
I suspect had Walt had the money , 1955 Disneyland would have been grander like Walt Disney World. It’s what Walt wanted for Florida ….. and it’s what Disneyland’s original imagineers created for Walt Disney World.
It’s interesting that the Florida project officially became “DISNEY WORLD”, Roy Disney , family and Walt’s closest desigers agreed that it should be called WALT Disney World as even in the late 60’s there was fear ( and evidence) that people were responding to Disney … like FORD , KODAK … and forgetting it was WALT DISNEY.
The first feasibility studies for a second Disneyland was called Disneyland East…. For Tokyo Disneyland it was Oriental Disneyland , and for Euro Disneyland it was Disney World Europe …. To show it was to be a resort scale project but it was decided that there would only be only one Walt Disney World ….
Fabulous photos today.
MS
It looks like the Barker Bird is visible in the little roof at the bottom right of the pagoda.
Funny that people complain about WDW-goers complaining that Disneyland being small. I found it nice that I could go from ride to ride in just a few steps as crowds thinned out. Also, the Park Hopper made a lot more sense in California than Florida. It's at least an hour to go park-to-park in FL, but just a few minutes in CA.
On the other hand, I had a aunt and uncle join us at WDW a few years ago. They live in Las Vegas and go to DL pretty often. They were shocked at how much walking you have to do at WDW.
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