Blast From the Past!!

spodie · Post by **spodie** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 12:48 am

http://www.jetsetenterprises.com/cruise ... Photos.htm

I don't know if you guys have seen this yet or not, but I just stumbled upon this site and thought it was really cool. These pictures were taken at WDW in 1974 and it shows pictures of the Polynesian Villiage, the Golf Resort, and the Contemporary, then pictures of the Magic Kingdom. Here's what was the most interesting to me:

- The sign that told you that you were in Disney World. It's kind of sad compared to today's signs.

- The decor of the room at the Polynesian Villiage and what the people were wearing in the parks.

- The pictures that were taken in the parks and particularly, Tomorrowland since most of it was under construction.

- I also noticed how open everything was in general - the resort areas, the parks, everything!

Isn't it cool?? What do you guys think?

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 12:54 am

That's pretty cool! It's always great seeing Disney photos of the past.

Future Guy · Post by **Future Guy** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 9:15 am

Fascinating. I never realized that Tomorrowland was so empty during the MK's first few years. It's so strange seeing empty space where the TTA terminal is now.

It's amazing how little shade there was in the park back before the trees grew in. Adventureland especially is much shadier now; I wonder how people survived the Florida summer back then. The higher concrete-to-greenery ratio must have magnified the heat. I'm willing to bet that the average temperature inside the park was higher then than it is now.

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 10:02 am

WOW, that really brings back memories, seeing the "old" style of Tomorrowland. And the trees, I didn't realize that the obstructed views we enjoy today didn't always exist. I think the smaller trees add to the forced perspective of the castle. It looks so much grander in those pictures. And can you believe the line for Tropical Serenade? You won't see anything like that nowadays at that attraction. I don't remember the towers at the entrance to Tomorrowland, when did they come down? Were they present until the 1994 remodel? I really don't remember them. Thank you so much Spodie for taking us down memory lane.

Future Guy · Post by **Future Guy** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 10:44 am

^The towers at the entrance to Tomorrowland were present until the '94 rehab, yes. I understand why they had to come down, as they really didn't fit in with the Flash Gordon design sensibility, but the fake boulders that took their place don't fit in much better.

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 11:46 am

WOW!!!! I LOVED those pics! Brings back memories! I remember the Poly from when I was 3, in 1980, we have family pics. and the tress are so small and there wasn't much there, now everything is so lush and filled in. Those are the Tomorrowland signs I remember! It's always cool to look back and see what Disney looked like then. Sometimes I wonder though, is it better now, or were things better then?! More simple?! When I was younger, there wasn't so much you felt like you had to get done, it was more relaxed.

Anyway, I'm rambling! I loved Disney then and I still love it now. I enjoyed taking a step back in time!

Post by **horizons1** » Dec Mon 01, 2008 5:26 pm

That was very fun. I loved the old outfits.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Dec Tue 02, 2008 2:56 am

That old Poly wallpaper was so cool...

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Dec Tue 02, 2008 10:43 am

Here is another good site I have found, thanks to a link on Future_Guy's blog. It is mostly old EPCOT Center pics, but they do have a few pics of other parts of WDW.

rknrlrcstr · Post by **rknrlrcstr** » Dec Wed 03, 2008 5:13 pm

Awesome pictures. I always love to see what Disney World had looked like prior to its current incarnation.

It is amazing to see how open the space once was. But it's like Walt had said, that Disney World should always be evolving and growing.

slylandro · Post by **slylandro** » Dec Wed 03, 2008 5:32 pm

now the problem is they will have a space issue... If you look on the satellite map...there is not that mutch space left 0_o

Post by **horizons1** » Dec Wed 03, 2008 5:39 pm

slylandro wrote:now the problem is they will have a space issue... If you look on the satellite map...there is not that mutch space left 0_o

I worry about this too. When there's only a thin stretch of forest between resorts and parks it makes me think Disney needs to get themselves another 28,000 acres.

Have you ever seen how the Lowes resorts at Universal are crammed in there? It's not even forest that separates things - just some trees.

slylandro · Post by **slylandro** » Dec Wed 03, 2008 5:55 pm

never went to Universal...and I don't feel compelled to do so. The way Disney is doing things at the moment indicate that they do not plan to increase their number of infrastructure. They rather do a replacement than to build new structure or theme park. In the past years, only notable exception are MGM and Animal. Animal is pretty obvious...still half devlopped. MGM added the light motors action show (with all that come with it). But, They also scrapped some ride to modify them: sound dangerous is gone for example (it is for the best tho it was horibly rated) and I could name many ride that were destroyed.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Dec Wed 03, 2008 6:00 pm

slylandro wrote:But, They also scrapped some ride to modify them: sound dangerous is gone for example (it is for the best tho it was horibly rated) and I could name many ride that were destroyed.

It is? It's been a while since I looked too hard but I thought the signs were still up in October.

slylandro · Post by **slylandro** » Dec Wed 03, 2008 6:18 pm

was it open? because when I went this summer it was closed..and it seemed to me that it was forever!