Walt Disney World's 20th Anniversary Press Kit

By: Nick   

I don't know where I got this Walt Disney World 20th Anniversary Press Kit. I also don't remember what I paid for it.
What I do know is, it's a fascinating look at a very exciting time in Walt Disney World history.

Let's turn the handle and see what pops up.

Roger Rabbit! A character now sadly absent at Walt Disney World.


Inside is a packet of information, and a small calendar covering park hours for the 3 gates at that time, The Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, and Disney-MGM Studio from October 1991 to January 1992.



The information included would make anyone interested in Disney park history, drool.

• An overview of some of the new surprises awaiting guests, such as "Spectromagic" and "Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3-D".
• 20 reasons to visit Walt Disney World, such as "Surprise in the Skies" a daytime extravaganza above and around Epcot's World Showcase, and "Sorcery in the Sky", a fireworks display at Disney-MGM Studios.
• 2 pages of Milestones, Attendance Marks, and Attraction Opening dates.
• Park statistics and employment info. 33,000 employees at that time!
• Pricing. A one day ticket? $33. 4 day pass? $111. Annual Pass? $190!
• Personalities available for interviews, such as Michael Eisner, Frank Wells, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Roy E. Disney.
• A list of the celebrities that would be in the "Parade of Stars" in the 20 Year Homecoming Celebration at Disney-MGM Studios. Stars such as, Sally Struthers, Art Linkletter, and Eva Gabor!
• Golf Course info
• Information about a new concept in family vacationing called the Disney Vacation Club.

And if that wasn't enough, there is a plethora of 8x10 glossy photographs, with information on the back.

The 20th Anniversary "Surprise" Celebration Parade.



Dinosaurs, I confess, I never ever watched.



Before it was Old Key West, it was the Disney Vacation Club Resort.



Muppets!



I miss Spectromagic!



I had the great fortune to see most of the attractions described and shown here, and I must say, a lot of it is missed. The "Surprise" parade in the Magic Kingdom was amazing, and "Surprise in the Skies" at Epcot was also spectacular. And while I know "Fantasmic" is incredibly popular, I am not a fan of the crowds, and preferred "Sorcery in the Sky" at the Studios.

Also included is a Vacation Guide.



The back cover of the folder.




I hope you enjoyed this trip with me down memory lane.

Disney World, Reasons to Smile: Story Behind the Photo

by Nick

There are several reasons why I'm smiling in this photo from nearly 8 years ago, January of 2007.

For one thing, it's sunny and warm. We had just flown in from the very dreary and cold Northeast United States. I'm smiling at the sun! It's also our first stay at a Disney Vacation Club resort, Old Key West. I'd rented points, and we loved it so much, we bought in a couple of months later. And finally, we're in Walt Disney World! How could I not smile?!

Choosing your Resort By Room Picture – the Deluxe Villas

By Shendl

If money was no object, or if you are a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Member,  and you could only choose your Disney Villa by a picture of the bedroom, which one would you choose?

The names are at the bottom of the article – No peeking!

Your choice may surprise you!

1.

2.

3.

4.

 5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Of all the Deluxe Villa Bedrooms, my #1 choice would be No10!
Which one will you choose?

1. Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House
2. Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village
3. Contemporary Resort - Bay Lake Tower
4. Beach Club Villa’s
5. Boardwalk Villa’s
6. Old Key West Resort
7. Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa – Treehouse Villa’s
8. Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
9. Villa’s at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
10. Villa’s at Wilderness Lodge Resort & Spa

Room photographs are from the Walt Disney World website.

Worldess Wednesday: Name These Disney Resort Pools

Photos by Barbie and Nick

 

How Often Do You Change Your Disney Vacation Plans?

by Nick

I know I'm not the only one.
I tinker and tweak my Disney Vacation right up until the day we go, and very often, during our trip.
Our upcoming trip in October 2014 may be a record breaker though.

It started off when I booked 3 nights at the Beach Club Villas (BCV) in November of 2013, for a Saturday, Sunday, and Monday night.

Why only 3 nights? Because we only have a very small 30 point Disney Vacation Club (DVC) contract there, and that is all I could book at the 11 month window.

The plan was to book 3 more nights at the 7 month window.

When that window opened up, the ONLY studio rooms available were at Saratoga Springs.
Now, I should have just booked 3 nights, and wait-listed them for the Beach Club.

But here is what happened instead.

I decided, spur of the moment, that we really needed to take a Disney Cruise!

A couple of things played into this somewhat hasty decision.

One, we had booked another DCL Cruise while on our Alaskan Cruise in 2012, but had to move it back as something had come up, so had a 10% discount and $100 credit to use.

Two, we had JUST gotten back from a Royal Caribbean cruise that my Father-in-Law had given us as gift, and I had cruise fever!

  The Disney Dream in Nassau. 

So here is what I did.

While speaking to Guest Services, I went online and saw that there was a 4 night cruise on the Dream leaving on a Sunday.
I told Guest Services I'd call back, and got on the phone with Disney Cruise Line (DCL), and booked the cruise! I then called DVC back, and cancelled 2 nights at the BCV.

When I told my wife Barbie what I'd done, her first response was "Awesome!" And then she asked "Didn't you book Beach Club because it's during the Food and Wine Festival, and you wanted to be close to Epcot?"

Oh my.

Yes, that is exactly what I'd done.

So, while I was excited about the cruise, I now had a bit of remorse that we'd only have one evening to enjoy Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival!

This remorse sort of stayed with me for a few days. 

So, a week later, I called DVC, and booked one night at the end of our cruise at Old Key West, which was the only thing available besides Saratoga Springs.
I'd have booked more, but we have a pet/house sitter, and we need to work around their schedule, so we only have Saturday-Friday to work with.

We really like OKW, but, again, Food and Wine is going on during that time, so I wait-listed Boardwalk and Beach Club.

A couple of days ago I got a letter in the mail (yes, snail mail, not email!) that we were booked for one night at the Boardwalk Villas! Our wait-list had come through very quickly indeed!

Every change that has been made has had me on the phone with DVC and DCL, and online with Southwest Airlines, changing flights, transfers, and Magical Express.
But I love it!

The plan as it is now.

Saturday: Fly in to Orlando in the afternoon. Check into the BCV. Walk around Epcot's World Showcase and eat and drink! Maybe spend a bit of time at the pool in the evening.

Sunday: Not sure what time the DCL bus picks us up. If we have time, we'll go to the Magic Kingdom. If not, we'll have an early breakfast at Cape May Cafe.
Cruise!

Monday-Thursday: On the Dream. Transfer from Cape Canaveral to BWV. Thursday evening at Epcot, hitting booths we missed. Depending on where our room is, we'll either stay at Epcot for Illuminations, or watch it from our room.

Friday: Magic Kingdom. Late flight home

How often do you change your schedule while planning a Disney Vacation?