More Mouse: Celebrating Four Decades of Walt Disney World-Part I

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Celebrating Four Decades of Walt Disney World-Part I by Jeff Kober

The First Ten Years From October 1971 to October 1981

Read it here!

[jcruise86]

Jeff, thank you so much for writing one of my all-time favorite Disney articles!
Our family visited WDW every summer between '72 & '82,
so your article brought back memories.

[Jeff Kober]

You're so very welcome! I wish I could have seen the resort during that time frame.

[Little Mitchie]

Jeff,
I know you said you were trying to use many resources to be as accurate as possible and that you won't admit accuracy or perfection. But come on, 500 gazillion balloons?

[carolinakid]

Loved this column as my very first trip to the World was in August 1972. Although I adore WDW today, there was just something about that Magic Kingdom only experience in the 70s. Maybe it was just a simpler time all around and of course, I was just a kid. (The music was definitely better! LOL! Gilbert O'Sullivan's Alone Again (Naturally) was #1)

[bobaloo000]

What a great article. My family's first visit was in 1975 and I remember having to buy tickets. We ate at the deli in the Village Marketplace and walked back to our hotel (the Howard Johnson) after a terrific rain storm flooded the streets. I remember my Mom taking off her high heels since she could not walk in the wet grass with them on. Simple times.

My next visit was in 1981 with my senior class in HS. I recall discovering Adventureland with my friends. Somehow we had missed it in 1975!

Anyone know if the person who won the life time pass is still using it? That would make a great story as we approach the 40th.

Thanks for the memories and I cannot wait for the next 30 years,

[coneheads]

There was an article in the Palm Beach Post a couple of years ago about the family that was the first through the gates that got the Life Time passes. It seems they got divorced after a few years and Disney's position was that the passes were issued to them as a family and that after the divorce neither the husband, wife or kids could use them, Bummer.

My Mother was one of the first people hired here in Florida so I got to go to the pre-opening party with the employees and contractors. Then a few years later I worked on the construction crew that built Circus World, you think the Small World Theme is bad how about a non-stop Circus music tape loop for months on end.

[jimthedj]

Jeff, this is the best historical accounting of major events for WDW I have ever seen.

As a former cast member in the magic kingdom I chuckled to myself when you mentioned the 92,969 one day attendance on December 31 After Epcot opened, crowds spread out between the parks and I believe that record still stands.

I remember it clearly as I was the lead for Parade Crowd control in Frontier Land. Never forget that day.....

[mhhendricks]

Wow, thanks so much Jeff for the time and effort that you have put into these "decade" articles. My family and I went on our first trip to WDW in 2006 and have been back almost every year since (sometimes twice a year) and we live 14 hours away! Among the typical Disney fan feelings of "there is no other place to vacation" . . . . . we also engulf ourselves into Disney history. I have only read WDW Part1 but am going to re-read it with the fam tonight and wait to read Part2 and Part3 with them. We are all going to have SO MUCH fun reading this together as a family. And I know that when we are there in January that we will be making references to history moments that we learned from your articles! Thanks again for making what will be a fantastic vacation even better.

Daddy of 5.