Post by Dave on Aug 16, 2014 9:55:59 GMT -5
While DW and I were on a “clean out, throw it away” rampage this week, I was directed to go through my Disney “stuff” to see if I could get rid of anything. I knew before I started that the answer was going to be “No”.
I collect Disney pins, pens, hats, T-shirts, menus from the parks and cruise ships, watches, etc. We have been to WDW more than 120 times in our 36 year marriage, and I went many times before we were married. So, I have amassed my treasures over many, many years. I didn’t go out and get all this stuff at one time. A lot of it came from the Character Premiere store at the St. Augustine, Florida outlet mall. Disney items there are at least 50% less than at the parks.
Here’s what I am leading up to – during the digging around I found a copy of a Disney publication dated October, 1971 (it's not going in the throw away pile). It’s titled “Eyes and Ears of Walt Disney World”, and appears to be information provided to cast members for opening day. There’s an excerpt from the inaugural speech given by Roy O. Disney, several pictures of rides and attractions, and details and trivia about the park. For example (keep in mind that this was effective October, 1971:
*First ground clearing for WDW was May 30, 1967. It took 1,584 days and $400 million from beginning to opening day.
*Disney expected 10 million guests during the first year.
*Total area is 27,400 acres (43 square miles). 100 acres for Magic Kingdom theme park, 12,000 car parking lot, 8-acre “basement” below Magic Kingdom, 4 miles of white sand beaches, 7,500 acres of permanent conservation area for Florida wildlife and vegetation.
*Disney’s fleet of boats is the ninth largest “Navy” in the world.
*Disney has the largest working wardrobe in the world.
*Magic Kingdom has the first pneumatic refuse removal system in the Western hemisphere.
*Resort hotels have the first manufactured assembly line steel-frame guest rooms.
*The Contemporary Resort has one of the world’s largest murals, ‘The Pueblo Village’ at 18,000 square feet.
*One of the two largest retail outlets in the world for post cards and camera film (Disneyland was the other). The post cards laid end-to-end would stretch from California to New York and 1,000 miles into the Atlantic Ocean.
*Walt Disney World is the biggest use of fireworks in the world.
*Approximately 55,000 trees and shrubs of 800 varieties were used in the landscaping.
*Cinderella Castle is 18 stories high (180 feet) and has 276 tons of steel inside.
*Walt Disney World is the largest food operation with a capacity for 175,000 meals per day.
*Cinderella’s Golden Carousel is one of the world’s largest (90 horses). It was made in 1917 at the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
*More than 8,000 constructions workers were employed on site at Walt Disney World.
Stay tuned for Page Two.
I collect Disney pins, pens, hats, T-shirts, menus from the parks and cruise ships, watches, etc. We have been to WDW more than 120 times in our 36 year marriage, and I went many times before we were married. So, I have amassed my treasures over many, many years. I didn’t go out and get all this stuff at one time. A lot of it came from the Character Premiere store at the St. Augustine, Florida outlet mall. Disney items there are at least 50% less than at the parks.
Here’s what I am leading up to – during the digging around I found a copy of a Disney publication dated October, 1971 (it's not going in the throw away pile). It’s titled “Eyes and Ears of Walt Disney World”, and appears to be information provided to cast members for opening day. There’s an excerpt from the inaugural speech given by Roy O. Disney, several pictures of rides and attractions, and details and trivia about the park. For example (keep in mind that this was effective October, 1971:
*First ground clearing for WDW was May 30, 1967. It took 1,584 days and $400 million from beginning to opening day.
*Disney expected 10 million guests during the first year.
*Total area is 27,400 acres (43 square miles). 100 acres for Magic Kingdom theme park, 12,000 car parking lot, 8-acre “basement” below Magic Kingdom, 4 miles of white sand beaches, 7,500 acres of permanent conservation area for Florida wildlife and vegetation.
*Disney’s fleet of boats is the ninth largest “Navy” in the world.
*Disney has the largest working wardrobe in the world.
*Magic Kingdom has the first pneumatic refuse removal system in the Western hemisphere.
*Resort hotels have the first manufactured assembly line steel-frame guest rooms.
*The Contemporary Resort has one of the world’s largest murals, ‘The Pueblo Village’ at 18,000 square feet.
*One of the two largest retail outlets in the world for post cards and camera film (Disneyland was the other). The post cards laid end-to-end would stretch from California to New York and 1,000 miles into the Atlantic Ocean.
*Walt Disney World is the biggest use of fireworks in the world.
*Approximately 55,000 trees and shrubs of 800 varieties were used in the landscaping.
*Cinderella Castle is 18 stories high (180 feet) and has 276 tons of steel inside.
*Walt Disney World is the largest food operation with a capacity for 175,000 meals per day.
*Cinderella’s Golden Carousel is one of the world’s largest (90 horses). It was made in 1917 at the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
*More than 8,000 constructions workers were employed on site at Walt Disney World.
Stay tuned for Page Two.