Retro Disney World Podcast

This month we turn back the clock to 1977 to talk about the first expansion of the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Center, the Empress Lilly. The complex, which was designed to resemble an 1800's river boat, contained multiple restaurants and lounges, including a fine dining establishment which was the Victoria and Albert's of it's day. We'll discuss the building's interesting construction techniques, go over the menus items and prices at opening, and finally discuss that changes the facility went through before becoming Paddlefish today. You'll want to grab a slab of Western Beef and a big glass of Seaman's Ale for this one!

We are excited to announce the first batch of confirmed presenters, authors, and entertainers who will be appearing at RetroMagic California — February 6-7, 2027, at the Embassy Suites Anaheim South.

IMAGINEERS: Barry Braverman, Tony Baxter, John DeCuir Jr., Tim Delaney, Peggie Fariss, Bob Gurr, Joe Lanzisero, Tom Morris, Chris Runco, & Frank Stanek

AUTHORS AND HISTORIANS: Bethanee Bemis, Bill Cotter, Fox Nolte, & Todd Tuckey

ENTERTAINER & PODCASTER: Tammy Tuckey

And of course, your hosts, from the RetroWDW podcast: Todd, Brian, JT & How!

General admission tickets are $175 each and include two days of presentations, a catered lunch on Saturday, and our popular “Movie Night” on Saturday evening.

Premium Seating tickets are $230 each and include everything mentioned above PLUS classroom-style seats with tables (closest to the stage) and early ballroom entry.

A limited number of tickets are available at retromagic.net.

Summer is a great time for a vacation, so for a change of pace JT, How, Brian, and Todd talk about where they went on vacation this summer and what they experienced. JT visited the Wilderness Lodge when the air conditioning was out, How goes to Space Camp and Knoxville to visit the remnants of the 1982 World's Fair, Brian travels to New York to take in modern art and shop for sardines, and Todd opts for the European Gold Key package in France and Italy.

Listen in on a lively discussion about Walt Disney attractions that have reused ride tracks three or more times, including Countdown to Extinction/Dinosaur/Indiana Jones, If You Had Wings/Dreamflight/Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Mission to Mars/Alien Encounter/Stitch Encounter, World of Motion/Test Track 1, 2, & 3, and some runner-ups like Carousel of Progress and Sunset Showcase. PLUS: Todd goes on vacation and adopts a dog!

Find out all about the Orange Bird, the former mascot of the Florida Citrus Growers who once appeared on merchandise everywhere around Florida and at the Sunshine Tree Pavilion at Walt Disney World. We'll talk about his origins, his work promoting citrus, and his eventual disappearance and later new lease on life at Disney's parks, first in Tokyo, and finally Walt Disney World.

Take a walk around Downtown Disney West Side as it was on opening day in 1997.

The Virgin Megastore dominated the corner block, but there were fun smaller stores too like Magnetron and Starbillias. West Side was a ‘90s diners‘ paradise with themed restaurants like Bongos, Forty Thirst Street and Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe. We go into detail about each location, including when they closed, what they became, and where they were in relation to today's West Side.

We also discuss the state of retail shopping in the 1990s and 2000s, the demographics that made Disney shopping boom, and how West Side's strategy of having tenants instead of Disney-run stores set up what Disney Springs would become.

Step back with us to Walt Disney World during America’s 1976 birthday celebration, when the parks were dressed to the nines for the United States Bicentennial. We relive the sights and sounds of the era—patriotic parades and float details, nighttime fireworks, and the red-white-and-blue bunting and decorations that transformed Main Street and beyond. Expect lots of vivid nostalgia, deep-cut observations, and the little design choices that made the Bicentennial feel uniquely Disney.

This month How leads a discussion about the selection process that brought Walt Disney World to Orlando, the different sites in the area that were considered for purchase, and some of the alternate locations that were considered. He also talks about when Walt Disney World almost helped build a city of the future and theme park in Palm Beach Gardens in 1959!