Big Bamboo

Bullwinkle · Post by **Bullwinkle** » Sep Fri 21, 2007 7:27 pm

Assuming som of you guys are cast members....Anyone ever go to the "Big Bamboo" ?

Post by **js3901** » Sep Fri 21, 2007 9:59 pm

what's this "Big Bamboo"?

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Sep Sun 23, 2007 1:29 pm

I'm curious....what is the Big Bamboo?! Please elaborate for us!

Lobelto · Post by **Lobelto** » Sep Thu 27, 2007 2:26 pm

Back when MK was being built there was only one road in and out of Disney property State Road 535 or Apopka-Vineland Road.

Since there was really nothing else around, The Big Bamboo and Johnnie's Place were the only two establishments where construction workers could stop and basically get a beer on their way home to Orlando or Kissimmee.

The Big Bamboo was located on the south side of property on the intersection of SR535 and US192 and Johnnie's Place was located where now the Orlando Ale House is on SR535 and Palm Parkway.

The Big Bamboo was basically a house with a center located garage that was converted into a bar. Since it was construction workers who stopped there, the place was built with parts and pieces from WDW construction sites, for example, the table were spools of cabling that were placed on the side.

Thru the years and until it really started to decline around 1997, Cast Members almost from when it opened in 1968-69, would leave something Disney related pinned on the walls, nametags, signs, signatures, stickers, pins, Imagineers and Disney artists would do napkin sketches and pin them on the walls, many got framed and lasted for decades. It was really a historical snapshot of the development of WDW thru a very insider way.

Below is the link to Google Maps with the location of The Big Bamboo and a link to a website dedicated to The Big Bamboo. Check out the photos of Ralph Kent, a Disney legend and Disney Cast Member of 41 years who recently passed away (Sept. 10, 2007) and who was a regular since it opened.

http://www.bigbamboolounge.com/

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... =addr&om=1

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Sep Thu 27, 2007 8:13 pm

That is so neat! I had no idea that that even exhisted. Thanks for sharing that!
I wonder if they'll try and rebuild it somewhere else?

yodiwan1 · Post by **yodiwan1** » Sep Fri 28, 2007 11:22 pm

i worked there for 6 months, never heard of the place, we just went to PI or Jelly Rolls to drink.

Bullwinkle · Post by **Bullwinkle** » Oct Sat 13, 2007 9:52 pm

Sorry, I took a brief vacation from the site. Thanx, Lobelto. The Big Bamboo was, at the time, the closest and friendliest beer next to MK....IE the local watering hole.
And a hole it was....hope I can paste
www.bigbamboolounge.com/

The Hurricanes and finally, a fire took it out...it was directly across from the all plastic house (Xanadu?) on 192.

Joe90 · Post by **Joe90** » Oct Sun 14, 2007 4:44 am

The Boo looks like the kind of place I like to hang at. Didn't know it existed till I read this post. Good info Bullwinkle. How did you know of its existance?

Bullwinkle · Post by **Bullwinkle** » Oct Sun 14, 2007 2:41 pm

I did time (about 5 months) @ WDW working on Epcot when it first opened. The Boo was a regular hangout back then and one of very few local bars (not an expensive hotel bar). It had wonderful ambience and was kind of a dump...but cheap drinks and a Disney cast member crowd.

yodiwan1 · Post by **yodiwan1** » Oct Sun 14, 2007 4:18 pm

i actualy remember the old xanado house, even have pic from there as a kids, but i really dont remember the bamboo, oh well

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Oct Mon 15, 2007 12:23 pm

Bullwinkle wrote:I did time (about 5 months) @ WDW

That almost sounds right for these days.

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Oct Wed 17, 2007 5:33 pm

Wow, that sounds so cool!!!! I went to boot in Orlando in 78 and never even heard of the place!! To bad, it would have become a NAVY hang out also!

Bullwinkle · Post by **Bullwinkle** » Nov Wed 14, 2007 6:55 pm

Here are two pics from my personal collection, circa 1980's

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32 ... /Boo04.jpg
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32 ... /Boo05.jpg

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Nov Wed 14, 2007 6:57 pm

That reminds me of a placed called Snoopy's in south Ft Myers!! You've got to love roadside dives!!