An appeal for Help from LBVHS RetroWDW 2024-10-16 | Some quick information on how you can help the How Bowers Family after hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Earth Day At Walt Disney World - 1996 Disney Channel Special RetroWDW 2024-09-23 | Just an all-star cast as Earth Day at Disney World is celebrated all over the property. We have special guests, on-location shots, and musical performances. This is a great special that has that 90s feel we all miss. Enjoy!
92 - Meet the Japan Pavilion RetroWDW 2024-09-01 | Join us in this captivating episode of the RetroWDW Podcast as we explore the rich history of the Japan Pavilion at EPCOT. From its stunning architecture to the immersive cultural experiences it offers, we delve into the origins and evolution of this beloved destination. Discover how the pavilion has celebrated Japanese traditions, cuisine, and artistry over the years, while also examining its significance within the broader context of EPCOT’s mission to promote international understanding. Whether you’re a Disney aficionado or simply curious about the intersections of culture and entertainment, this episode promises to be a delightful journey into the heart of the Japan Pavilion. Tune in and let’s take a stroll through time together!How leads us this month with a deep dive into every aspect of the pavilion, its history, and how it has changed over the years. We refer to this video from 1983, A Visit to EPCOT Center (youtube.com/watch?v=QBo0EDhjX14) , which has some very early footage of the Japan area. The dining experiences have changed over the years and we get you an entire walkthrough of how the place used to be. We discuss a letter (recordmecca.com/item-archives/john-lennonthe-beatles-1978-handwritten-letter-to-friend) from John Lennon, recommending a Japanese restaurant (http://daikanyama-ogawaken.com/index_en.html) . Most of us have hit up the various establishments in the Japan area and share some experiences from the different menus and locations.Overall, the Japan pavilion has much more to offer than you first realize when walking through. The shopping and dining experiences more than makeup for the lack of attractions and rides. One of the true original pavilions that has the original World Showcase feel to it, allowing you to explore the unique culture of Japan. Hope you enjoyed this in-depth walkthrough and history of this one of a kind pavilion.
Walt Disney World: Treasure Island, Magic Kingdom, & Little Oscar! - June 1976 RetroWDW 2024-08-28 | Today we head to 1976 and enjoy some great 8mm footage at the Magic Kingdom and we even get to take the boat over to Treasure Island! This restored film offers up some amazing footage. Enjoy!
1987 Magic Kingdom - Restored 8mm Video - Small World, Scenery, & More! RetroWDW 2024-08-26 | We restored this 8mm video from November of 1987. Ths largest section is a Small World ride-through but there is tons of great scenery, visuals, and small shows taking place at MK. Enjoy!
1976 Walt Disney World - Contemporary Resort, Magic Kingdom, TV Show Filming - Restored Film RetroWDW 2024-08-21 | This one is an amazing restoration of footage from 1976. We start off with the bicentennial parade, take a ride on the PeopleMover, get to see some unique angles of a tv production, and get tons of great shots inside the contemporary. Enjoy!
Found Footage: 1970s Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom - Restored 8mm RetroWDW 2024-08-20 | This is a quick one-minute restored film at the Magic Kingdom, featuring Main Street & the main entrance plaza. The quality is very nice and you get a little snippet of how it looked back in the opening years. Enjoy!
Walt Disney World - Fall 1974 - Restored Film w/Sound! RetroWDW 2024-08-15 | This 8mm film takes us everywhere via monorail from the Ticket & Transportation Center to Magic Kingdom. We get two days at MK with lots of attractions, scenery we don't usually see, and we end this trip with some other local attractions. Enjoy!
RetroWDW Summer Movie Night RetroWDW 2024-08-12 | Come join the @RetroWDW crew for a live description and narration of Home Movies from the past!
1970s Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World - Restored 8mm Film RetroWDW 2024-08-06 | This one runs about four minutes and takes us on a quick trip through the Magic Kingdom. We have the usual Jungle Cruise footage, some gift shops, and even fireworks fairly well shot at night! This one is quick but fun, enjoy!
1970s Magic Kingdom - Disney World - Restored 8mm Film RetroWDW 2024-08-01 | Don't blink! Another quick and ok shot film we had restored from the 1970s. Anybody able to identify the high school drum corps in the parade? Or a year?Enjoy!!
WDW Magic Kingdom 8mm Film - 1978 - Untangled & Restored! RetroWDW 2024-07-30 | This one was a huge mess of tangled 8mm film, but Todd got it all squared away. Restored to look better than ever, this film offers up some unique angles and footage that we have never seen before. Tons of great shots, ride footage, and more. Enjoy!
1998 Festival of the Lion King - Restored 8mm Video RetroWDW 2024-07-28 | A long-time guest favorite, the Festival of the Lion King was an opening day show, originally located in the Camp Mickey Minnie section of the park. This restored video contains "Be Prepared", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", as well as the finale.
1970s Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom - Restored 8mm Film RetroWDW 2024-07-26 | This restored 8mm film has us traveling back to the Magic Kingdom in the 1970s. We get a Skyway ride with some great views, shots of Fantasyland, and even a shot of the old Davy Crockett canoes paddling by. Enjoy!
Sea World: Orlando, Florida - 1986 Super8 Restoration RetroWDW 2024-07-25 | Take a 7 minute trip to Sea World in 1986. We get some great footage of the Shamu show, some water skiing, and more. We love the good neighbor properties and attractions in Florida and Sea World was one of the biggest in the 80s. Enjoy!
91 - Contests at Walt Disney World RetroWDW 2024-07-24 | For our main topic this month, we decided to dig into the always-present and always-sought-after contest connecting to Walt Disney World. If we all think back, I am sure you all have seen, heard of, or attempted to win some sort of contest either at Walt Disney World or at home trying to win a trip to WDW. JT takes the lead on this one and begins with the group telling us about a contest they have each won, in one form or another. To follow this up, we reached out to listeners and fans to see what they have won. We had lots of great responses, including the ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Play It!’ prizes that Jared supplied us to showcase at the various events we hold. Another fun one we heard about was Eric and the story about winning a Segway Scooter at EPCOT; amazing!The mother of all prizes though, the infamous Night in the Castle during the Year of a Million Dreams. Everyone wanted this one and we tracked down a real person who actually won and spent the night in the castle. Ian joins us from Intercot (intercot.com) , which we have a little history with, and gives us the entire story on how this all came to be. Brian gives us his experiences with this contest and we all chime in on how big of a promotion this was. Hearing how big of a deal this was, it is amazing nothing like this has happened in recent years for all the anniversaries.For the next portion, we go through a massive assortment of contests, ads, promos, and even local contests that connect with Walt Disney World. Some of these contests are very obscure and interesting, which we take deep dives into. Overall, these things are an absolute blast to look back on and we hope we do most of them justice by discussing them in detail. We did not hit them all by any means, but we would like to hear from you. Have you won a contest that got you to WDW? Did you enter one and get the consolation prize? Either way, let us know! This was a fun episode and we hope you have enjoyed this journey with us through contests at Walt Disney World.
1983 Walt Disney World: EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, & More! Restored 8mm Film RetroWDW 2024-07-23 | This one has it all! We restored an amazing 8mm film that takes you all over the complex in 1983. We see Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, the Disney Village, and more. So many little quick shots that show some details that are not normally seen. Enjoy!
1975 Walt Disney World, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, & Golf - Restored 8mm Film RetroWDW 2024-07-14 | Relive a summer vacation from July 1975 beginning in the mid-Atlantic states with a crossing over and through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Our family visits Walt Disney World and has some great shots of the Jungle Cruise as well as America on Parade!
1982 EPCOT Center Aerial Press Footage - Converted U-Matic Tape RetroWDW 2024-07-08 | This footage taken between 9-6-82 to 10-4-82 shows the early years of EPCOT from the air. Amazing quality and lots of great views of attractions, crowd sizes, and how clean the park was upon opening. Enjoy!
Walt Disney World Summer Jam Concert - Restored Video: 2001 RetroWDW 2024-07-08 | A very 2000s concert lineup, which takes place all over Disney properties. Tons of snappy cuts, 90s/2000s music, and great footage of WDW. Enjoy!
Walt Disney World 4th Of July Spectacular (1989) - Audio Sync Issue RetroWDW 2024-07-04 | Happy Independence Day from RetroWDW! Enjoy this special broadcast from July 4th, 1989. Hosted by Willard Scott, it originally aired on national TV and features an opening musical performance on New York Street at the then-new Disney-MGM Studios. The special also includes performances by the Temptations, New Kids on the Block at Pleasure Island, and the Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeers at Typhoon Lagoon.
Disney-MGM Studios Christmas Parade & Fantasmic - 1998 - Restored 8mm Video RetroWDW 2024-06-22 | A really quick cut of a holiday parade in 1998 at the studios; not sure what this one is all about. We do get nearly the full Fantasmic show from this era though, which is super neat to see. Enjoy!
EPCOT: El Rio del Tiempo - Mexico - June 1992 8mm Video RetroWDW 2024-06-22 | A nice copy of El Rio del Tiempo at EPCOT from 1992. We restored this 8mm video footage that was shot in 1992, before the changeover to what we have now. Enjoy this vintage look at World Showcase & Mexico!
1970s McDonalds Birthday Party & Walt Disney World - Restored 8mm Film RetroWDW 2024-06-14 | Take a look back at McDonald's & WDW in the 70s! We restored this 8mm film and find all aspects of it super interesting and fun to look back on. The Disney footage gives us some views of Main Street and Adventureland, along with lots of character meet and greets. Enjoy!
1991 Magic Kingdom Map - Restored 8mm Video RetroWDW 2024-06-14 | Four minutes of zooms, closeups, and more. This restored 8mm video from 1991 shows off the 3D model of the Magic Kingdom with tons of neat details from the past.
The Making of Disneys Animal Kingdom - 1998 Restored VHS RetroWDW 2024-06-09 | Step into the magical world of Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom with this restored home video, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of one of Disney's most unique theme parks. Titled "The Making of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park," this video chronicles the journey from concept to reality.The vision for Disney's Animal Kingdom began with a focus on education and conservation. Imagineers traveled to Africa and other locales for inspiration, ensuring an authentic experience.This video includes stunning concept art, detailed models, behind-the-scenes footage of Imagineers, and many construction videos and photos
1975 Walt Disney World: Views From The Contemporary Roof! Restored 8mm Film RetroWDW 2024-06-09 | Experience the magic of Walt Disney World in the 1970s with this restored 8mm home movie! Despite some exposure issues, this vintage footage captures iconic sights, including the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea lagoon, Bay Lake, the Contemporary Resort pool, and the Seven Seas Lagoon.
90 - Computers at WDW RetroWDW 2024-06-08 | Brian takes this lead for this episode and we are super excited to get into all of the areas where computers innovated and impacted the first couple decades at Walt Disney World. After awhile, computers became common all over, but through the 70s & 80s, these innovative pieces of tech helped WDW in many ways. We start off with some pre-opening documentation, which is on DisneyDocs (disneydocs.net/rca-communications-proposal-for-wdw) . RCA had a huge plan for the communication system of the entire property, so be sure to dig into this doc, it is amazing!Next up is communications and we discuss the switchboard inside Cinderella’s Castle, which actually was a real thing. We also get into the water monitoring in Reedy Creek, which were powered by solar panels, relaying information to a satellite dish in space. The entire process is insane and super innovative for the era.Brian and How get into the old DACS system, how this worked, and even discuss some of the old school techniques used at Disneyland and the World’s Fair. Brian mentions the Honeywell 516, which is insanely vintage and absolutely massive. Take a look at this thing (t-lcarchive.org/honeywell-ddp-516) ! Brian also digs into the changes in cash registers because in the early days, they were super archaic. After a little time though, they got upgraded to a newer and fancier register from NCR. We also discuss our own experiences with early tech at home, home computers, and more. The world has changed so much and this old stuff in the home was so neat for the time.The big change in computers at WDW took place at EPCOT Center. The computers turned towards the guest and were not just used to run things behind the scenes. Sperry (frankmezzatesta.com/twitter/SperryPamphlet.pdf) , Bell, General Motors, and nearly every sponsor at EPCOT attempted to incorporate advanced technology into their exhibits. Brian also talks about how they filmed the movie D.A.R.Y.L. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.A.R.Y.L.) at EPCOT Center, which is a fun movie from 1985. If you watch the following clip (youtube.com/watch?v=PTNaq7BD8mM) , you can match up what Brian is saying from an old Twitter conversation, as they filmed this scene right at EPCOT. For another look at some of the computers at EPCOT, take a look at this video (youtube.com/watch?v=rn8lBjcsZLk) on our channel.This episode has been a blast to record and we hope you enjoyed it too! Be sure to ask any questions or share any computer memories you have from Walt Disney World.
1977 WDW Discovery Island, MCO, Polynesian, Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort RetroWDW 2024-06-07 | We showed this amazing film during our last movie night and it's a blast. This couple tours all over the complex showing some neat locations, lots of fun, and great shots. We are dying to know who this could is!
2002 Test Track - EPCOT - Queue, Pre-Show, Ride-Through RetroWDW 2024-06-05 | One of the earlier years of Test Track in all its glory. We get everything from the walk up, the queue, the preshow, and a full-on ride-through from the rear passenger side of the car. The original was a blast and we hope you enjoy this ride from 2002!
1970s Magic Kingdom - Restored 8mm Film RetroWDW 2024-06-04 | This 3-minute reel is full of some great early footage of the Magic Kingdom. As usual, we get treated to a Skyway ride, showing all the good stuff from an aerial view. You may want to keep the pause button handy, as some clips are short and sweet. Enjoy!!
The Making of Disney MGM Studios - 1989 VHS Transfer RetroWDW 2024-06-03 | Many of us have seen this one, but it's always fun to look back at what the Disney-MGM Studios was on opening day. They really pulled out all the stops to make this a journey into movie-making. Enjoy this 52-minute VHS conversion filled with all the original, opening-day attractions.
Walt Disney World November 1971 - Restored 8mm Film RetroWDW 2024-05-31 | Enjoy the Magic Kingdom when it was brand new! This family records some amazing 8mm footage from their November 1971 visit to MK. Super smooth camera operation, nice views and slow pans. Some angles we have never seen before too. Enjoy!
1998 Walt Disney World for Big Kids Vacation Planning VHS RetroWDW 2024-05-28 | This VHS conversion plays like a vacation planning video where all the benefits of the entire property are shown. You see some interesting things that are no longer there, which makes this a fun 30-minute watch. Take a trip back to 1998 and enjoy the journey!
RetroWDW Movie Night #19 RetroWDW 2024-05-16 | Come join the @RetroWDW crew for a live description and narration of Home Movies from the past!
89.5 - A Chat with Foxx Nolte RetroWDW 2024-04-30 | Welcome back to another episode and this time, we have a special guest for this ‘half episode’, Foxx Nolte. Foxx has been in the Disney community for years and has been a trailblazer in all things Disney history. For this episode, we are excited to have the ‘Queen of Lake Buena Vista’ joining us to talk all about her latest book, Hidden History of Walt Disney World. This book is filled with a treasure trove of tales and stories curated by Foxx, which were hand-picked and organized in an entertaining way. Todd and the fellas touch a bit on an earlier episode where we got into the old stories told to us about Bay Lake & the various watercraft duties. Check out Episode 8 if you haven’t already!One of the main discussion points that Foxx brings up, is the 44,000 word limit in this book. As she states, she had to ‘cut the crap’, which makes this a very fun read that comes in somewhat short snippets. You get the information, you digest it, and you keep going without going too far into the weeds. If you remember, Foxx also wrote Boundless Realms a few years back. Her sense of history and record keeping is right in line with how most of us think; this history has to be documented and recorded before it is forgotten or lost. We love that and hope she continues to record these stories and memories before it is too late.We get into one story in particular, all about a packing house. During the construction of Walt Disney World, they utilized a closed-down packing house to build ride pieces and set items. Foxx dug deep into this little bit of history, getting down to the type of windows in each building, shed designs, and when these places were shut down. One big issue she has run into is the history is murky due to so many people moving in and out of the area. This book also hits on the old ticket system, which allowed Disney to see which rides drew in the crowds and allowed you to adjust the maintenance schedules based on use. Another fun chapter is all about McDonald’s in the parks, which if you don’t remember when this was a thing, you need to get into this bit of Disney history as it was a magical time. Overall, this was such a fun read and a fun interview. We hope you take some time to pick up a copy and enjoy it the next time you are traveling to WDW, heading on a summer road trip, or even sitting by your favorite resort pool. Huge thanks to Foxx Nolte for sharing copies with all of us and for spending time with us on this episode.
Kraft Salutes Walt Disney Worlds 10th Anniversary RetroWDW 2024-04-27 | From 1982, Kraft salutes the WDW 10th Anniversary. We have some great appearances by Michael Keaton, Ricky Schroder, and more!This is one of those specials that goes all over the property with performances, skits, and fun. You have to remember at this point, the resort was not huge, so the places they film are absolute gems from 1982. Enjoy!
Walt Disney Worlds 25th Anniversary Celebration - Good Morning America Live! 10/1/1996 RetroWDW 2024-04-09 | Join Good Morning America Live at Walt Disney World for the 25th anniversary celebration. They take us through some history, all of the 1996 festivities, and we get views of the resort at year 25. The quality is decent, but you cannot beat this look back in time. Enjoy!
89 Pleasure Island - Part IV RetroWDW 2024-03-27 | For the main topic this month, we head back to Pleasure Island for more fun and excitement. This is Part IV and if you haven’t enjoyed Part 1 (http://podcast.retrodisneyworld.com/e/65-pleasure-island-part-1) , Part 2 (http://podcast.retrodisneyworld.com/e/67-pleasure-island-part-2) , or Part 3, we highly recommend you take a listen back as these were recorded years ago! How gives us a little recap of how each episode went in the past.The story on this episode though is changes. How gets us into each club and how they changed after a few years, including themes and names. These include Cage, The Wildhorse Saloon, 8-Trax, Planet Hollywood, Motion, Fulton’s Crab House, BET Club and more. We go through our memories of each of the various iterations and also what we thought of them over the years. The interesting aspect we get into here with Pleasure Island is that it evolved frequently and for the most part, was done to keep people attending and trying to find that club that hit.This episode also has us reflecting on fads of the era from Wine Coolers, The Chicken Dance, Zima, Planet Hollywood, and line dancing.Even though this area has come and gone, we discuss where it went and how it went out. Many of us have memories of the big changes in the end and we even discuss the unused concept of Hyperion Wharf. Pleasure Island was a fun concept that worked in many areas and did not work in others. How has promised us a Part V episode about Pleasure Island, so make sure you message him if you are interested in hearing even more history on ‘PI’. Thanks for listening!
Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom - 1970s 8mm Film Conversion - Skyway, Characters, & More! RetroWDW 2024-03-18 | We have three minutes of vintage 8mm film from the early 1970s that we have converted for your enjoyment. The video starts off on Main Street with a parade filled with tons of unique characters. We get a Skyway ride, showcasing all of the park, including that amazing view of the Contemporary Resort. If you can catch it, we see the Teacups under construction, which is super neat to see from this aerial perspective. Enjoy!
1972 Walt Disney World Vacation - Restored 8mm: Contemporary, MK, Water Skiing, Luau RetroWDW 2024-03-09 | We start off on this journey in the air! Our vacationers look to be spending this trip at the Contemporary and we get so much great footage from the early days. They also give us some amazing footage of the old waterski show with Goofy at the helm and Pluto on skis. This film has nearly every attraction at MK and also some great nighttime shots of the Electrical Water Pagaent.Polynesian fans will absolutely love this one, as we get some amazing front-row footage of the luau. Sit back, relax and enjoy 30mins of Walt Disney World in 1972.
