Post by Dave on Aug 22, 2014 9:06:05 GMT -5
While DW and I were on a “clean out, throw it away” rampage, 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”.
During the digging around I found a copy of a Disney publication dated October, 1971. 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:
*WDW monorail
Four trains are 171 feet long
Carry 212 passengers
Move up to 7,700 people per hour
Travel at speeds up to 45 mph
Ride up to 60 feet above ground on a three mile track
Are powered by electricity
Are 4th generation trains designed by the Disney Imagineers at WED Enterprises, Inc.
*WDW steam trains
Built from 1902 to 1928 in the USA and were used on sugar plantations in Mexico until purchased by WDW in
1969
Restored in Florida
Narrow gauge rail
Pull up to five passenger cars each
Carry 300 passengers each
Converted from wood-burning to high-grade clean-burning diesel fuel
*STOLport (Short Take Off and Landing) port (now closed)
First officially designated public-use STOLport for exclusively use by STOL aircraft
Had a 2,000 foot lighted runway
Was a terminal connecting major Florida airports
*Contemporary Resort
14 stories high
1,057 rooms in high rise and two annexes (annexes now gone-replaced by Bay Lake Tower)
Overnight capacity: 3,500
220 feet wide and 468 feet long at base
Steel A-frame construction
Rooms manufactured in “guest room” factory on-site
Each modular room weighs eight and one-half tons
Only hotel in the world with monorail train running inside
Grand Canyon Terrace and Pueblo Room restaurants on 4th floor
*Polynesian Village
492 guest rooms in eight separate “Longhouses”
Overnight capacity: 1,700
Great Ceremonial House lobby
Built by modular construction
Cor-Ten treated steel roof with natural rusting gives natural color
Hula lessons available
Restaurants - Papeete Bay Veranda French Colonial restaurant, Tambu Lounge, Coral Isle Coffee Shop, Captain Cook’s Hideaway Lounge and Barefoot Snack Bar
Page 3 under construction. Wait 'til you see the 1971 prices! My first trip to WDW was in 1972. I don't remember most of this stuff.
