More Mouse: Celebrating Four Decades of Walt Disney World: Part III

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Celebrating Four Decades of Walt Disney World: Part III by Jeff Kober

1991-2000

Read it here (http://www.mouseplanet.com/9731/Celebrating_Four_Decades_of_Walt_Disney_World_Part _III)!

[Jeff Kober]

Now that I think of it, Kimball's train came online at Disneyland, not Walt Disney World. My apologies for not catching that. If you see something else, please let me know. Best, Jeff

[mmorizio]

Jeff, what a wonderful series this has been. Thank you for creating it.

[coronadoman]

Great article, I love everything Walt Disney World.

Over the years I read a lot of negative article about Eisner, but after reading this, I realize he did more good than bad. He took WDW and really turned it into a wolrd class vacation center, has intended from the start. Maybe he stayed too long, but still, I now respect the man.

[jpg391]

This is a great series of articles. I love reading time lines on WDW, Disneyland or anything else that Disney is involved in.

[davidgra]

First, let me say that I'm very much enjoying this series of articles. It certainly stirs a lot of memories!

Now, you did ask if we caught any other problems:

"August: Celebration's school opens for it's first year of students."

"It's" means it is. This incorrect usage is found several times in this article. I'm an English teacher; I can't help but correct other peoples' writing...

[mkelm44]

One thing which sticks out to me is how much of the World's "Landscape" is now 15-20 years old. Ellen's Energy adventure is now 15 years old (and how relevant to a kid are Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye anymore?) Honey I Shrunk the audience is 17 years old, with the last portion of the "Shrunk" ended in 2000, so it's now 11 years out of date.

Walt Disney described Disney land as never being finished and I think the imagineers and management have done a good job of changing the parks to keep them fresh. But these two are some examples of how pop culture is used in the parks, except is now out of date and no longer relevant. In order to keep connecting with kids (as well as us adults who pay for admission, Disney Management should look at staying on top of pop culture and refreshing some of the more out of date shows in the near future.

[mousecanuck]

I am really enjoying these articles - keep 'em coming! Then Disneyland? And after that, can you put it all together in a coffee table book for me? This is EXACTLY the kind of thing I'd like to see in a book - history with some cool photos thrown in; don't know if there is a book out there that already covers it? But your articles (maybe expanded a little) would be wonderful - again, need the same for Disneyland. And please, if there's one out there already, let me know and I'll try to buy a copy.

I'm getting the second 'Imagineered' book for my birthday in two months...briefly looked through it on our trip and it will satisfy me a bit (I hope!) but I really am enjoying your series!

[carolinakid]

The Disneyland Encyclopedia by Chris Strodder ( 2008 Santa Monica Press) may be what you're looking for. There aren't a lot of pictures but as a history of every land, attraction, restaurant, shop and event in DL (with great maps showing you where everything is/was), this book is fantastic. I wish Mr Strodder would do the same for WDW!

[triesch]

I'm a few days late in getting to your article, Jeff, so I hope you see this correction. The Mike Fink Keel Boats did not close at WDW in 1997. That date is widely quoted on the Web, but it's actually the closure date for the attraction at Disneyland. The WDW version was around (though operating seasonally) until April 2001. For more info, see Werner Weiss' excellent Yesterland article about the Keel Boats. (http://www.yesterland.com/keelboats.html)

Thanks for all the work you've put in to these timelines. They'll be an excellent resource for years to come!

-Jon

[Jeff Kober]

Thanks for all who have added their comments--especially those who have provided some needed corrections. In time I would love a more complete outline, that might showcase restaurants and retail even more. Still, there's sure a lot to cover! Thanks!