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.

Breakfast With Aladdin Button

by Nick

Back in the 90s, in what was once Disney-MGM Studios, was The Soundstage Restaurant located where Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage! is currently located in Disney Hollywood Studios. It was a full-service restaurant that was designed to look like a “live set” from whichever Disney animated film was released at that time.
When I visited, it was themed around Aladdin.
As this is 20 some years ago, my memory is fuzzy on details, but I have this button to remind me that I ate there at least!



Did you experience this meal, and what did you think of it?

Walt Disney World Guidemaps, 1994

By:Nick

Guidemaps are like a snapshot of a moment in time. A time machine if you will. These Walt Disney World Guidemaps show a wide range of attractions that I dearly miss. I truly believe the Epcot of today doesn't hold a candle to 1994's version.

And don't even get me started on Disney's Hollywood Studios', (then Disney-MGM Studios) current incarnations of the Backstage Studio Tour and the Magic of Disney Animation.

Don't get me wrong, I still love Walt Disney World, but believe many of the best attractions were around in the early to mid 90's.

The Magic Kingdom is better than the 1994 version due to the New Fantasyland expansion.

Epcot '94.
My favorite ride, perhaps of all time, was Horizons. Test Track was a great ride, but I dislike the new version, and it makes me miss World of Motion. Then there was Journey Into Imagination, with Dreamfinder and Figment. I like today's version, but only because of Figment, and nostalgia. It is a shadow of it's former self.

Speaking of shadows, if you were fortunate to have gone to Walt Disney World during the new Golden Age of Disney Animation, you may have actually been able to see actual animated movies being produced at The  Magic of Disney Animation at Disney-MGM Studios.

Of course, one major thing Walt Disney World didn't have in 1994, was Disney's Animal Kingdom, which is an amazing park. Sometimes nostalgia gets the best of us. What was your favorite period of Walt Disney World's history?

One of My Favorite Characters - Meeko From Pocahontas

By: Nick

When Pocahontas came out in 1995 the standout character for me was Meeko the raccoon. He reminded me of my dearly departed cat, Morpheus.
I worked at a Disney Store at the time, and collected every reasonably priced Meeko item I could find, many of which I will share here on Disney Musings in the future. My wife was even inspired to write about Meeko back before I started writing this blog with her!
I got the chance to meet Meeko at Disney's Hollywood Studios back when it was still Disney-MGM Studios in January of 2007!

This is the only time I've seen Meeko in any Disney Park!
Do you have an off-beat favorite character that you've had the opportunity to meet at a Disney Park?