Retro Disney World Podcast

Welcome to Episode 56 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "Good Neighbors" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows!

Comments & Corrections

1. Jake Nelson wrote in about a possible hidden skeleton somewhere inside Catastrophe Canyon. We give our take on this one from the old days of MGM.
2. Reuben wrote us asking about the old shop to the left right inside the entrance to the Disney-MGM Studios. He is referring to Sid Cahuenga's of course! We discuss this store and the various items we have seen there over the years.
3. Joe Barlow wrote in about some backlot vehicles, mainly the Hardcastle and McCormick car. We misidentified it as a Lamborghini, but Joe tells us it really is a kit car from back then.

Listener Mail

The mailbag is full and we love that! Every month, you can possibly get on the show, so be sure to write to us at podcast@retrowdw.com.

1. Tom Potter is our first letter and it is all about time capsules. Tom brings up the opening of Coronado Springs and how they placed a capsule back in 1997.
2. Next up is Ron. He asks us about trucks being buried at the Magic Kingdom from way back during the late 60s construction. We hear about some trucks out in the lakes, but as far as the parks, we aren't really sure...
3. John wrote us and has been a binge listener since August. He is curious about the EPCOT Center pavilion logos and who designed them and why. This is right in How's wheel-well and is super fun to learn about.
4. Finally, we got a tweet from Michael, giving some major props on the upcoming Horizons release we have coming. Todd gives us the updates next...

Audio Rewind

Our audio rewind this month is El Rio del Tiempo - Thank you for all the guesses and emails!

We have a winner! Congratulations Jimmy Tucker!  - you won the book by Marty Sklar from Brian.

If you think you know the answer to this month's audio rewind, email us! contest@retrowdw.com - This month, the winner will be getting 3 books from author Christopher Smith - All entries due 4/15/2020 and a random winner will be selected.

Main Topic

This month, our main topic is Good Neighbors mostly focusing on Sea World. The early days of Lake Buena Vista had just one theme park so people needed more to do and more places to stay. A few years back, we discussed some of the good neighbor hotels and that program back on Episode 39. Brian leads us this month through some of the history and how Sea World got it's start. This includes California, Ohio and the other locations as this is all an important part of the story. 
We walk you through every attraction through the years with personal experiences and also lots of great memories. This includes things like the Dolphin Feeding Pool, original Whale and Dolphin Stadium, Fountain Fantasy, Water Skiing and so much more. The construction history is also discussed, which has changed quite a bit over the years. 

This wouldn't be an episode of the RetroWDW Podcast without some food discussions. We take a deep-dive into the Hawaiian Punch Village along with some very detailed discussion about 'Hula Pie'. If you have ever been to Sea World since it opened, this episode will for sure take you back and also give you a look at how it has changed over the years. We hope you enjoy this look at one of our favorite 'Good Neighbors'.

2020: The Year of Film

To make sure you are the first to know when items are released, subscribe to us on YouTube. Be sure to click the notification bell too, that way you are alerted when we post.  Finally, be sure to check out Vimeo if that is your thing, as we will post there as well. This past month we have posted a great resort tour from The Disney Channel, The original DVC Resort Tour, and a great Innoventions commercial from the mid-90s.

As a bonus, to accompany this episode we have released a great new video from 1980 Sea World. This was shot on Super8 with sound! You are going to love this vintage footage that looks amazing - especially the Whale & Dolphin show.

Next Month

• Join us next time for Episode 57, which we have not fully planned out, but you won't want to miss it  Thanks for joining us!

Welcome to Episode 55 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "Backstage Tour - MGM" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows!

Comments & Corrections

1. Take a listen to our latest mini-episode, Bringing The World Closer To You - this was a quick one but ended up being very good. Enjoy!

Listener Mail

The mailbag is full and we love that! Every month, you can possibly get on the show, so be sure to write to us at podcast@retrowdw.com.

1. Rob wrote in, asking about the VIP Lounges at EPCOT. Rob is mainly interested in the Kodak lounge at Journey into Imagination. Brian gives us his take on it. As I was putting this write-up together, I realized Rob is the owner of the site we reference. Check out his collection of VIP lounge pictures and information: Future World's Hidden VIP Lounges
2. Next letter we discuss purchasing fog machines at Innoventions. Was this actually a thing? We discuss...
3. Dane writes in, regarding ephemera. Do we have any from Toys Fantastique? Todd gets us up to speed on how our photo archive is growing and improving at this very moment. What any RetroWDW fan can do, is use the search and find so many more images! This is great, use this link and give it a try: Photo Search

[listenerfeedback]

Audio Rewind

Our audio rewind this month is the opening of Holiday Illuminations - Thank you for all the guesses and emails, and we didn't get many!

We have a winner! Congratulations Beth Goldman!  - you won a set of RetroMagic ornaments!

If you think you know the answer to this month's audio rewind, email us! contest@retrowdw.com - This month, the winner will be getting a copy of the Marty Sklar book, Dream it, Do it - All entries due 2/17/2020 and a random winner will be selected.

Main Topic

The main topic this month is one of the recently closed classics, The Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour. There have been so many changes and updates over the years, but we are going to focus on the original, for the most part. How is our guide on this episode, walking us through the entire tram portion of the tour. We take it right back to 1989, going through how the Disney-MGM Studios actually worked. The concept of going past the theme park and then entering the studio - this is how the tour basically began. The walking tour was part of this, but we are not going to discuss this.

The backlot tour had so many different aspects including residential street, the boneyard, the various production trailers, and so many other little nuggets. The tour seemed to change often, as far as props and items but the tour wasn't complete with a look at the Streets of America, or the New York street set. You would know this as the set for "The Lottery", which seems to be the only movie filmed here that we ever hear about. To accompany this episode, we have a great video on our YouTube channel - click here to watch after the episode!

 

2020: The Year of Film

To make sure you are the first to know when items are released, subscribe to us on YouTube. Be sure to click the notification bell too, that way you are alerted when we post.  Finally, be sure to check out Vimeo if that is your thing, as we will post there as well. This past month we have posted the Backlot Tour video, a ride around the monorail in 1991 and the 1994 runDisney Marathon. Enjoy!

 

Next Month

• Join us next time for Episode 56, which we have not fully planned out, but you won't want to miss it  Thanks for joining us!

Welcome to Episode 54.5 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "Bringing the World Closer to You" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows! 

Main Topic

Back in Episode 42 (Communicore West) we interviewed Lisa Bastoni, granddaughter of Walter Einsel, the designer of the Age of Information Exhibit at Futurecom in Communicore West. Through her grandfather's notes and a correct search of the song, we were able to locate the author and lyricist of the song, Tom Tierney! In this episode we speak with Tom about the creation of the song, how he developed the melody and lyrics and his interaction with Walter and Naiad Einsel. We top it off with a special version of Bringing the World Closer to you performed at RetroMagic by Lisa Bastoni!

Tom's other works currently in production:

NARNIA (based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) is at the Serenbe Playhouse in Atlanta, GA through January 12, 2020. It's an "immersive" production - here’s a link…
http://www.serenbeplayhouse.com/narnia
http://www.NarniaTheMusical.com   

And coming up in January, ELEANOR – An American Love Story at the Media Theatre in Media, PA (near Philadelphia) playing January 29 to February 23, 2020. It's about the young Eleanor & Franklin Roosevelt. For info and tickets, here’s the link…
https://mediatheatre.org/event/eleanor-an-american-love-story/
www.EleanorTheMusical.com

You can find Lisa's music at www.lisabastoni.com and on itunes!

2020: The Year of Film

We have quite a year coming up and we want you to be a part of it, every step of the way. The 'How Bowers Archive' has been digitized, we have tons of restored film movies and so much more, just waiting to get posted. To make sure you are the first to know when items are released, subscribe to us on YouTube. Be sure to click the notification bell too, that way you are alerted when we post.  Finally, be sure to check out Vimeo if that is your thing, as we will post there as well.

 

Next Month

• Join us next time for Episode 55, where we take you back to The Disney-MGM Studios!
  

Welcome to Episode 54 of the RetroWDW Podcast: “A Very ’90s Christmas” – We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows!

Corrections & Comments

1. Carrie wrote us regarding a jade carving in the China pavilion, connecting back to when we discussed the overly expensive items throughout EPCOT Center. Please, we are looking for any information regarding the rare, expensive and unique items sprinkled throughout World Showcase.  Thanks Carrie!

Listener Mail

The mail bag is full and we love that! Every month, you can possibly get on the show, so be sure to write us at podcast@retrowdw.com.

1. Richard wrote in regarding the STOL Port; he wants to run there during some half marathon training. We give him some top tips regarding seeing the airport and also running around WDW.
2. Bryan is up next, asking us about the early days of calling Walt Disney World. When did hold music first appear? Was it an ‘opening day’ thing for Disney?  We get into some old hold music history to help you out.
3. Jason Burley wrote in asking about our pin collections and other items – check out RetroMagic.org – this will allow you to make a donation to the Lake Buena Vista Historical Society and get some neat gifts.  Jason also asks about an image in the book ‘Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center‘ – there is a picture in there that says “BOOVI IS A MAMAS BOY”.  We dig into this and need your help to solve a mystery… 
4. Finally, Laney gave us a call on the Retro Line, asking all about the infamous birth happening at the Magic Kingdom. How has all the details on this one.

Questions, Comments & Concerns

We love feedback and hearing your memories!

Drop us a line at podcast@retrowdw.com or call us and leave a voice mail at 978-71-RETRO. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Audio Rewind

Our audio rewind this month turned out to be Sorcery in the Sky – Thank you for all the guesses and emails.

We have a winner! Congratulations Jessie Edwards who wins a great selection of prizes.

If you think you know the answer to this month’s audio rewind, email us! contest@retrowdw.com – This month, the winner will be getting some of our holiday ornaments! – All entries due 1/10/2020 and a random winner will be selected.

Main Topic

Christmas and the holiday season is upon us, which means more specials! We are getting into three different shows; The Walt Disney World Christmas Very Merry Parade from 1993, A Musical Christmas at WDW from 1993 and finally the 1995 Very Merry Christmas Parade. The specials and shows always seem to be plentiful around the holidays, so we get to discuss them in great detail.  If you would like to follow along as we discuss so you have a visual, please utilize our latest VHS transfers:

 

 

 

 

RetroMagic Gift Set

If you attended RetroMagic, you were given a set of three Christmas Ornaments. The Journey into Imagination ride vehicle, The RetroMagic Logo/Float and The Mouse – Walt’s original plane. 

We have extras and we are giving them away with any donation of $50. To donate to the Lake Buena Vista Historical Society, please visit www.RetroMagic.org – there are many different donation options and gifts. We thank you for your support and hope you enjoy this unique gift set for the upcoming holiday season.

2020: The Year of Film

We have quite a year coming up and we want you to be a part of it, every step of the way. The ‘How Bowers Archive’ has been digitized, we have tons of restored film movies and so much more, just waiting to get posted. To make sure you are the first to know when items are released, subscribe to us on YouTube. Be sure to click the notification bell too, that way you are alerted when we post.  Finally, be sure to check out Vimeo if that is your thing, as we will post there as well.

RetroWDW Merchandise

Be sure to get your shirt, iPhone case, tote bag, pillow or coffee mug today: www.retrowdw.com/supportus

Welcome to Episode 53 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "Cute Stories With Rolly" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows!

Listener Mail

The mail bag is full and we love that! Every month, you can possibly get on the show, so be sure to write us at podcast@retrowdw.com.

1. Jason Burley wrote in about the EPCOT Center Book we reference often. Jason wants a Magic Kingdom book... Which we recommend a few, including "Walt Disney World: 20 Magical Years".
2. Matthew Driftmier wrote us about some various rocket names in the parks. The X-1 & X-2; these are all classic names within the theme parks and How gives us some history on these various names.
3. Joe Barlow is up next - telling us a great story about how they would trick people at River Country to shorten the line.... Clever story Joe!
4. Kyle wrote in about the Asian & Persian; simply asking why these themes haven't been used since the idea was abandoned in the 70s.
5. Our next letter is from Matthew and he is curious about the higher end items in World Showcase. We are unsure if this is true, but we are asking our listeners for any input on this. Do you have any of the high end, expensive one off items from World Showcase?
6. We spotted some great photos and also had some shared with us, from a recent Spaceship Earth breakdown. The stuff we saw in Episode 33.35 is way different compared to what people saw a couple weeks ago. We explain what we were able to see and compare to the latest photos that came out. Neat stuff!

[listenerfeedback]

Audio Rewind

Our audio rewind this month turned out to The Haunted Mansion- Thank you for all the guesses and emails.

We have a winner! Congratulations Marty Darling!  - you won a Vacation Kingdom Poster and a copy of the film "Walt's Frozen Head".

If you think you know the answer to this month's audio rewind, email us! contest@retrowdw.com - This month, the winner will be getting some vintage ticket stubs courtesy of Joe Barlow and also some great ephemera - All entries due 12/5/2019 and a random winner will be selected.

RetroMagic Recap

We take a few minutes to discuss our latest event, RetroMagic. This was our biggest undertaking for the site, podcast and society. Needless to say, we are still catching up on sleep and also our sanity after everything wrapped up. Join us for a our recap, thank yous and just our overall take on what went on throughout this amazing weekend.

Main Topic

Back in May 2019, we traveled to California to have a chat with Disney Legend Rolly Crump. For this episode, we are releasing the audio from our interview with Rolly. You get to hear all the various questions and responses from this time and this is the sections we played during RetroMagic. Rolly is quite colorful and has a bit of language, so be cautious with who you play this around. The majority of our conversations with him focus on Walt Disney World, which are super interesting and relate to the park he is not asked about too often.
We hope you enjoy this section of RetroMagic, as this is the direct audio cut from the event.  Enjoy!

RetroMagic Gift Set

If you attended RetroMagic, you were given a set of three Christmas Ornaments. The Journey into Imagination ride vehicle, The RetroMagic Logo/Float and The Mouse - Walt's original plane. 

We have extras and we are giving them away with any donation of $50. To donate to the Lake Buena Vista Historical Society, please visit www.RetroMagic.org - there are many different donation options and gifts. We thank you for your support and hope you enjoy this unique gift set for the upcoming holiday season.

2020: The Year of Film

We have quite a year coming up and we want you to be a part of it, every step of the way. The 'How Bowers Archive' has been digitized, we have tons of restored film movies and so much more, just waiting to get posted. To make sure you are the first to know when items are released, subscribe to us on YouTube. Be sure to click the notification bell too, that way you are alerted when we post.  Finally, be sure to check out Vimeo if that is your thing, as we will post there as well.

 

Next Month

• Join us next time for Episode 54, which we have not fully planned out, but we probably will end up with a holiday theme.  Thanks for joining us!

Welcome to Episode 52 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "Twenty Questions" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows and also look into Twin Pines Chalet!

Corrections / Notes

1. Our first set of corrections/notes comes from an anonymous source - after they listened to some of our previous episodes they had a few notes:
   1. From Episode #2 Amongst the Plexiglass Trees – The Contemporary - the third floor of the Contemporary Resort actually houses the restrooms for Chef Mickey's and is accessed from the fourth floor. How explains the details.
   2. In our episode #39 – Preview Center and Hotel Plaza Boulevard - We forgot to mention that the Reedy Creek Improvement was housed in the preview center before they got their own building.
   3. We we were talking about touchscreens in our Communicore episodes (#38 – Communicore East &  #42 – Communicore West) How gives us more info on where in WDW that specific early touchscreen technology is still in use today!
2. Ryan R. writes in about how the Horizons Choose Your Own Ending videos were used in the exit of Tokyo DIsneyland's Star Tours as other destinations you could "visit" on Star Tours! Watch the Video here.
3. Alex Lewis writes in to tell us about an homage to Horizons in the Star Wars Launch Bay.

Listener Mail

The mail bag is full and we love that! Every month, you can possibly get on the show, so be sure to write us at podcast@retrowdw.com.

1. Mr. Williams asked if we could produce a second episode on WDW radio loops. JT & Todd give us details on when/if that will be coming up in the near future. We plan to review our stockpile and release a mini-episode soon.
2. Michelle B. talks about staying at the Golf Resort back in 1976 when her dad was playing in a Walter Hagen Golf Championship. The guys talk about the Golf Resort pool and how similar it was to the fountains found in malls across America in the 1970s.  Thanks for sharing this memory Michelle!

 

[listenerfeedback]

RetroMagic 2019

Are you ready for our big event celebrating our 5th anniversary? No, well what are you waiting for? Head over to RetroMagic.net and grab your tickets before they're all gone.

The Lake Buena Vista Historical Society cordially invites you to our 5th Anniversary Celebration:

Tickets

Tickets are now on sale at this link:

Event Details

• RetroMagic Celebration and Luncheon (Sunday October 13th) - 10a-5p, Contemporary Resort - Join us in the historic Ballroom of the Americas at the Contemporary resort for a day filled with stories and never before seen photos and artifacts from Disney legends, Cast Members, music and more!
• EPCOT Forever VIP Reception and Viewing* (Saturday October 12th) SOLD OUT- Approx 8:30p-10:30p - Enjoy a beverage and selection of snacks on the shore of the World Showcase Lagoon for a once in a lifetime chance to watch the new nighttime show alongside all of our RetroMagic VIPs! (Includes admission RetroMagic Celebration on 10/13)

RetroMagic VIPs
Disney Legend Bob Gurr		Disney Legend Rolly Crump**
Disney Legend Ron Logan		Disney Legend Tom Nabbe
Disney Imagineer Tom K. Morris		Ron Schneider
Disney Imagineer Jim Sarno		Ali Olmo
Michael Campbell		Tammy Tuckey
Jeff Blyth		Lisa Bastoni

All presentation content is tentative and subject to change.
** Appearing via pre-recorded video interview

Learn more at RetroMagic.net!

And grab some custom Magic Band covers for the event - including some RetroWDW, RetroMagic and Lake Buena Vista Historical Society stickers only available via MagicYourBand.com. Search for the keyword "Retro" to see all our designs:

 

Audio Rewind

Our audio rewind this month turned out to be Big Al from the Country Bear Jamboree - Thank you for all the guesses and emails.

We have a winner! Congratulations Christopher Smith!  - you won a Vacation Kingdom Poster!

If you think you know the answer to this month's audio rewind, email us! contest@retrowdw.com - This month, the winner will be getting a Vacation Kingdom Poster & a DVD copy of the independent film, Walt's Frozen Head - All entries due 10/13/2019 and a random winner will be selected.

Main Topic

This month the entire episode is dedicated to your questions!  We opened up our floodgates to anybody and everybody. You all had the opportunity to send in questions, as us anything and possibly get on the show.

The event has taken a huge amount of time from all of us, so for this episode, we shoot from the hip a bit. Brian took the lead on this and we felt we could pull new questions, old questions and so much more. We even hit up some current topics at the Walt Disney World Resort, based on listener mail.

Some of the highlights include: Discussions on the 'old imagination and ideas' of Disney Parks coming back, the old discussion on the Paris sewer ride is brought back, Galaxy's Edge, Roger Rabbit, The 1970s Gas Crisis, Missing Resorts, and ride operator costumes - just to name a few. We bring you this and so much more!

We hope you enjoy this unique topic and show idea! Thank you to all our fans and listeners for reaching out to participate.  This is going to be a fun listen!

 

Next Month

• Join us next time for Episode 53. As we are hard at work on RetroMagic, please check for updates on when the next episode will release.
  We thank you for your support and welcome you to enjoy all of our other offerings including our photos, restored films & The Lake Buena Vista Historical Society. 

Welcome to Episode 51 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "Horizons - Part 3: The Legacy" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows.

Listen to Horizons Part 1 - The Prologue
Listen to Horizons Part 2 - The Promise

Corrections

1. We had a correction about The Living Seas from @Futureport on Twitter, the name we were looking for was 'Moon Pool'.
2. Last month, we discussed Mizner's - We had @DisneyFiedAsh tweet us about a Mizner's tour and his pet monkey!
3. The people in the Mesa Verde scene from Horizons are brought up and their ages...interesting topic.
4. Joe is up next, telling us that the Seal is connected to Carousel of Progress with the name, Rover.

Listener Mail

The mail bag is full and we love that! Every month, you can possibly get on the show, so be sure to write us!

1. Jimmy wrote in to discuss some old souvenir items you would find in Tomorrowland. The bulb spinner and Spacewarp Toy Coaster were somewhat rare, but available places other than Disney. We get into these things and some other items being sold at WDW.
2. Shaun wants to know if Morgana was the name of the fortune teller at the Fiesta Fun Center. Well, How tells us about this fortune machine and directed us to a Widen Your World article.
3. Michael McClure is up next, letting us know about his binge listening and a big thank you for taking him back.
4. BREAKING NEWS:  We have discussed this in the past, but we now have confirmation on Stormalong Bay and the real fish tank styled pool.  Patrick and I discussed a river ride with freshwater fish and snorkeling - think lazy river. This is the only pool of the three that has a loop. In May 1990, Patrick heard from a lifeguard that the fish wouldn't make it through the night - so they ditched the idea. This was in Birnbaum's though!  David is up next and he stayed there, during this time period. The letter is from the GM of the resort, Antonio Torres.  Super good stuff and a huge thanks to all of our sleuths on the case. 

Thank you for all the emails, tweets and comments you have sent our way. We try to respond to almost everything and do our best to pick unique questions for the show. 

[listenerfeedback]

Audio Rewind

Our audio rewind this month turned out to be Food Rapper from Food Rocks! Voiced by Tone Loc - Thank you for all the guesses and emails.

We have a winner! Congratulations Christian!  - you win a Vacation Kingdom Poster!

If you think you know the answer to this month's audio rewind, email us! contest@retrowdw.com - This month, the winner will be getting a Vacation Kingdom Poster - All entries due 8/15/2019 and a random winner will be selected.

The Speed Ramp Onesie winner has been picked!  Matt Gahs is our winner and his baby is due this coming November.  That will be shipped out asap!  Thanks for all the kind words and congratulations to all the new parents out there.

RetroMagic

We spend some time updating everybody on RetroMagic - This two day event is coming soon and tickets are on sale now!  We also have some exciting news from MagicYourBand.com - they have some great covers for your Magic Band that feature RetroWDW, LBVHS & RetroMagic.  Check them out!

Main Topic

Horizons: Part 3 - The Legacy

We finalize the ride this month, as the last episode was just insanely long and had to be cut off. Todd gets us back in the ride vehicles and we talk about choosing your own ending. How has everything worked out in detail, as to how this worked as a ride.... Ted even chimes in with some official wording on how all of this functioned day in and day out, using the Horizons Ride Control System manual. Very techy stuff, part numbers, duty cycles and so much - insanely detailed.

The Legacy though...We discuss our own personal rides and recollections related to Horizons. The closure is brought up, with how it was open, then closed then reopened. Disney World didn't bring much fanfare for closures, but Test Track being delayed kept Horizons opened even longer. Todd gets us talking about the Mesa Verde Times - which is an amazing story of documentation and danger!

We hope from these efforts, Disney has learned to document better and also take note of the fanbase, as people have emotional connections to these attractions. The auction scene is a huge part of this closure, as we discuss and go over how much of Horizons went right to the trash bin.  Todd tells us about a few products that feature the distinctive Horizons orange scent: My Shaldon Air Fresheners & Pacific Shaving Cream. 

1983 Horizons Cast Member Guide

With the help of Ted Linhart, we've reconstructed the original cast member guide  that details each and every scene in Horizons. Click the cover to download and read along with us as we discuss Horizons in this episode:

1983 Horizons Cast Member Guide

Todd's Mad L'Orange Drink Recipe

 

Horizons & EPCOT Documents

• EPCOT 1976 Introduction
• Horizons GE Client Marketing Brochure
• Executive Club News newsletter with the opening of Horizons
• Horizons GE Magazine (Click cover to load PDF)
• Horizons Cast Member Guide (Click cover to load PDF)
• Proposal for Edison Square (Click cover to load PDF)
• 1983 Walt Disney Productions Annual Report
• Horizons Ride Control Manual

 

Read More About Horizons

Read more about the design and construction of Horizons from:

• "From Horizons to Space Mountain - The Life of a Disney Imagineer." by Horizons show designer, Imagineer George McGinnis  
• "It's Kind of a Cute Story" by Imagineer Rolly Crump
• The Progress City Primer by Michael Crawford

 

 

Next Month

• Join us next time as Brian chooses our topic. It's a surprise!
  We thank you for your support and welcome you to enjoy all of our other offerings including our photos, restored films & The Lake Buena Vista Historical Society. 

Corrections

1. Rick wrote in, regarding The Timekeeper. At one point in the film, The Timekeeper mentions something about “If you had wings”. We find out if that was intentional or not from the director himself.
2. Connor wrote in discussing “Century 3” and “Future Probe”. The vintage book called Horizons is discussed and some World’s Fair snippets as well. We discuss the possible connections to WDW, EPCOT Center and more.

Read the Horizons Book by Norman Bel Geddes via Archives.org

Listener Mail

The mail bag is full and we love that! Every month, you can possibly get on the show, so be sure to write us!

1. Park wrote in asking about Mizner’s and where the name came from. How discusses who it was actually named after and why…
2. Adam asked us about the old Teacher Center brochures we mentioned some episodes back. They are here and here and are very snazzy – enjoy!
   If you have any of the Teacher Center materials, please contact us as we’d love to add them to the galleries and JT would really appreciate it!
3. Ryan wrote in about aquatic areas at WDW – he really enjoys River Country! Ryan more specifically wants to know about the possibility of live fish at Stormalong Bay. We discuss the possibility of this, our knowledge on pools Stormalong Bay in general.

Thank you for all the emails, tweets and comments you have sent our way. We try to respond to almost everything and do our best to pick unique questions for the show. 

Questions, Comments & Concerns

We love feedback and hearing your memories!

Drop us a line at podcast@retrowdw.com or call us and leave a voice mail at 978-71-RETRO. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Audio Rewind

Our audio rewind this month turned out to be The American Adventure! (Listen to Episode 9 – Building the Golden Dream – American Adventure)

We have a winner! Congratulations Heather Manning – you win the VHS copy of ‘A Day at The Magic Kingdom’. You can pick the version you want too! 

If you think you know the answer to this month’s audio rewind, email us! contest@retrowdw.com – This month, the winner will be getting a Vacation Kingdom Poster – All entries due 7/8/2019 and a random winner will be selected.

For a Summer Bonus Prize, drop JT an email if you would like to win a new 6-month old ‘Speedramp’ Onesie. This doesn’t fit my son and is blue with the yellow Speedramp logo on the front.  jt@lbvhistory.org 

Main Topic

Horizons: Part 2 – The Promise

The moment you have been waiting for is finally here. The classic attraction from EPCOT Center is finally getting time on our podcast and we couldn’t be more excited. Horizons is here and get ready: this is going to take more than one episode!

For Part 2 – The Promise, this is the meat and potatoes episode, ride throughs, scene discussions and so much more. Our discussion starts though with a simple questions: Was Horizons under construction on opening day? Well we get into this with some aerial photography (footings, construction after opening).  From here though, we start this main topic off walking through the front door.  No waiting around and no discussion about the company who made the seals on the front door – although I’m sure some of you would enjoy that fact.

The main entrance had an amazing quote, which has been a controversy for many, many years. The Disney Company misquoted it, many people claim ownership, but we have some BREAKING NEWS on the topic of “If you can dream it, You can do it“. 

The discussion continues and we discuss the queue, known as Future Port. How and Todd paint such a great picture throughout this ride, but be sure to look below at the various galleries and images we have on the site. Each scene is gone through in detail this episode, taking you back on the ride. How gives us a little behind the scenes information and Todd gets technical with some various facts and figures.  

This episode is the one you have been asking for with music, sound effects and everything in between. If you are a fan, have a foggy memory, never ridden or always dreamed of this ride coming back, you have to listen to this episode multiple times. This is one of our longest episodes, but it sure doesn’t seem like it as you listen.  Enjoy!

1983 Horizons Cast Member Guide

We’ve reconstructed the original cast member guide that details each and every scene in Horizons. Click the cover to download and read along with us as we discuss Horizons in this episode:

1983 Horizons Cast Member Guide

How’s Mad L’Orange Drink Recipe

Horizons POV Ride-Thru Video

Horizons & EPCOT Documents

• EPCOT 1976 Introduction
• Horizons GE Client Marketing Brochure
• Executive Club News newsletter with the opening of Horizons
• Horizons GE Magazine (Click cover to load PDF)
• Horizons Cast Member Guide (Click cover to load PDF)
• Proposal for Edison Square (Click cover to load PDF)
• 1983 Walt Disney Productions Annual Report
• Horizons Ride Control Manual

 

Read More About Horizons

Read more about the design and construction of Horizons from:

• “From Horizons to Space Mountain – The Life of a Disney Imagineer.” by Horizons show designer, Imagineer George McGinnis  
• “It’s Kind of a Cute Story” by Imagineer Rolly Crump
• The Progress City Primer by Michael Crawford

( Links go to Amazon & helps support the Lake Buena Vista Historical Society and the RetroWDW podcast)

The Lake Buena Vista Historical Society cordially invites you to our 5th Anniversary Celebration:

Tickets

Tickets will go on sale May 18th at 1pm EST at this link:

Event Details

• EPCOT Forever VIP Reception and Viewing* (Saturday October 12th) – Approx 8:30p-10:30p – Enjoy a beverage and selection of snacks on the shore of the World Showcase Lagoon for a once in a lifetime chance to watch the new nightime show alongside all of our RetroMagic VIPs! (Includes admission RetroMagic Celebration on 10/13)
• RetroMagic Celebration and Luncheon (Sunday October 13th) – 10a-5p, Contemporary Resort – Join us in the historic Ballroom of the Americas at the Contemporary resort for a day filled with stories and never before seen photos and artifacts from Disney legends, Cast Members, music and more!

RetroMagic VIPs
Disney Legend Bob Gurr		Disney Legend Rolly Crump**
Disney Legend Ron Logan		Disney Legend Tom Nabbe
Disney Imagineer Tom K. Morris		Ron Schneider
Disney Imagineer Jim Sarno		Ali Olmo
Michael Campbell		Tammy Tuckey
Jeff Blyth		Lisa Bastoni

RetroMagic Highlights

The event schedule will be published in plenty of time to plan your day.  Our VIP presenters and the RetroWDW/LBVHistory team will include presentations related to:

• Walt Disney World: A Kingdom in Florida with Disney Legends Bob Gurr and Tom Nabbe
• The Spectacle of SpectroMagic with Ron Logan
• Exclusive video interview with Rolly Crump
• Building EPCOT with Imagineer Tom K. Morris & Artist Jim Sarno
• The Fort Wilderness Railroad with Michael Campbell
• Birthdayland with original Dreamfinder Ron Schneider
• The American Adventure in Song: A discussion and performance of “Two Brothers” by original artist Ali Olmo accompanied by Tammy Tuckey
• Presenting The World in 360 Degrees: A Discussion with Jeff Blyth director of Circlevision films including Wonders of China, Timekeeper and more.
• The Age of Information: Original Communicore attraction song performed by Lisa Bastoni, granddaughter of the original attraction artist
• RARE never before seen artifacts including the original SMRT-1 model!
• Presentation of never before seen private films of WDW and a home movie of EPCOT Center from 1985
• Special RetroWDW gift for all attendees!
• This is a family friendly event, children are welcome as long as they have a ticket (Children 3 and under do not require a ticket)
• And much, much, more!

*All presentation content is tentative and subject to change.

RetroMagic Lunch Break

• Contemporary Resort’s Executive Chef and his team will present History in the Baking: The original Handwich. A build your own Handwich luncheon buffet is included with your ticket.  Of course that won’t be the only throwback surprise in the lunch offerings.
• Light nonalcoholic refreshments

Pricing

• EPCOT Forever VIP Reception* (Saturday October 12th) & Retromagic (Sunday, October 13th)  – $225 per person – Tickets are limited due to venue restrictions!
• EPCOT Forever VIP Reception ONLY* (Saturday October 12th) – $150 per person – Tickets are limited due to venue restrictions!
• RetroMagic Celebration (Sunday, October 13th)  – $100 per person.

*Theme Park admission is required for EPCOT Forever VIP Reception.

** Appearing via pre-recorded video interview

Tickets do NOT include admission to any Walt Disney World Theme Park, parking or other Disney imposed fees/charges. All ticket purchases are final; refunds will only be provided if the entire event is cancelled. RetroWDW reserves the right to change venues and modify the plans to as required by Disney Event Services. This is a private event is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World or D23.

Merchandise: T-shirts and more are available at www.retrowdw.com/supportus

Proceeds of this event benefit the Lake Buena Vista Historical Socieyt. Event Sponsorships welcome; Interesting service trades will be considered, please contact info@lbvhistory.org for more information.

Notice: Filming, photography, and other recording will take place this event. By attending, you consent to and authorize RetroWDW and LBVHS to record you via audio, video or the similar to be used for distribution on our website.

Welcome to Episode 49 of the RetroWDW Podcast: “Horizons – Part 1: The Prologue” – We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows.

For this episode, one of our top donors Ted Linhart got to sit in because of his generous donation and also because of his amazing archive. Take a look at what he has going on, over at DisneyDocs.net – If you would be interested in joining us to get a behind the scenes listen, be sure to check out our Donation Page. Thank you Anthony!

Corrections

 

1. Lucy wrote us to discuss The Timekeeper, regarding a scene filmed for the movie. We reached out to the director to get the facts for Lucy.  Thanks for writing!
2. Another Timekeeper question came in, asking about the years on the Timekeeper’s display, stopping at 2000. We discuss this and also confirm some video evidence.
3. How helps us out with this last question, from John Kitty. He was asking about the EPCOT name, with the word ‘Center’ being used. Danny Kaye has an explanation and so does How, so we hope this helps you out John. 

Listener Mail

The mail bag is full and we love that! Every month, you can possibly get on the show, so be sure to write us!

1. Rick Webster wrote in about The Timekeeper, letting us know about the grand opening of EuroDisney. Rick is asking about the wording “If you had wings, I’d let you go”. We discuss how this is before nodding to other attractions. Once again, we reach out to Jeff and he said it wasn’t a deliberate plug, but many writers were swimming in the same Disney Soup. So yes and no… We actually got more information on this after we recorded the episode.
2. Maverick is up next, letting us know what it was like working in the old Penny Arcade. Maverick is looking for the old band organ and How actually fills us in on where it is this very day… Happy hunting Maverick!
3. Josue wrote us about The Timekeeper and the concept car featured at the end. Josue here is a car nut and we get some more information, relating back to an old Renault.

Thank you for all the emails, tweets and comments you have sent our way. We try to respond to almost everything and do our best to pick unique questions for the show. 

Questions, Comments & Concerns

We love feedback and hearing your memories!

Drop us a line at podcast@retrowdw.com or call us and leave a voice mail at 978-71-RETRO. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Audio Rewind

Our audio rewind this month turned out to be the Star Tours! We have three winners this month, each getting a LBVHS Vacation Kingdom Poster and a shirt, size small. Nathan Hartman, Trenton Gladding & Kelly Daly all win! Congratulations everybody and thank you for playing.

If you think you know the answer to this month’s audio rewind, email us! contest@retrowdw.com – This month, the winner will be getting a VHS copy of ‘A Day at The Magic Kingdom’ – All entries due 5/20/2019 and a random winner will be selected. In our discussion, we talk about the ‘Day at The Disney Studios’ VHS as well and how the word ‘MGM’ is digitally blocked out.  If you’d like to watch that, click here.

Main Topic

Horizons: Part 1 – The Prologue

The moment you have been waiting for is finally here. The classic attraction from EPCOT Center is finally getting time on our podcast and we couldn’t be more excited. Horizons is here and get ready: this is going to take more than one episode!

For Part 1 – The Prologue, we get into quite a bit of the origins of EPCOT, going over mission statements, concepts and much more. This is all important and leads up to the start of Horizons. Ted is on board with us this month too, as he is pulling original documents to quote and use for reference. This is absolutely amazing!

We get into the Imagineer design process and also what kind of company GE was at the time. With them being one of the largest in the world, it only made sense that they would be taking on this type of attraction. Ted chimes in often, with on hand documents and facts to fill in the blanks often. How has so much information, regarding the design of the building, who came up with this and also the small details you may have not noticed before. We also learn that the exterior was designed first, with the interior pieces, track and screens all being fit to match. There is so much packed in this episode, everything from how GE provided input on the attraction to cast member documents, used as evidence to share the original visions, way back when. Finally, our facts and numbers machine is fired up, ready to give you tons of great facts and figures about Horizons.

The sad part is, we end here for this month. Next month is Part 2, which will take us deeper into the attraction and ride aspects. We wrap up with some current updates, shirt ideas, drink ideas and much more. We really hope you enjoyed the first part, which has been years in the making. While you wait, take a look at EPCOT Center in 1982 – this amazing restored film has the footage we discussed, showing construction workers on the roof of Horizons. Enjoy!