Disney World 1970s/80s to NOW

[rutgers1]

I consider myself a bit of a Disney veteran, though at age 34 I really didn't start truly paying attention to the entire "package" until I went on my honeymoon 10 years ago. I was wondering if the real veterans here - those who were adults in the late 70's - could comment on the evolution of the parks over the past 30 years. Bonus for those who remember the first days of Disney World!

What have been your favorite changes (rides, amenities, service)?

What have been your least favorite changes (rides, amenities, service)?

When would you say was the "golden years" of the Orlando area Disney parks?

When were things most stagnant or regressive?

What are your thoughts on the current direction of the parks?

What do you think Walt would have been proud of? What do you think he would have passed on?

---feel free to include things like hotels, DVC, or other things associated with Disney ----

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

Although I was just a child in the 70's I would have to say customer service (especially booking more than one room over the phone) and cleanliness of the parks has really gone down hill through the years. I think Walt would be disappointed in many things...mainly the two mentioned above but also believe he would also be upset that families which consist of more than 4 people really aren't taken into consideration.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Well, I have been going to Disney parks since 1965 (age 7) and I have seen changes. I think many are related to changes in society and peoples tastes.

1. Shorter attractions. Attention spans are shorter. People don't want to sit through the whole length of the original Tiki Room show so there is Soarin that lasts for minutes. But there are more attractions to see now. It used to be simpler. You went there and had fun without thinking about it too much. You did not have to plan a year in advance and make ADR's 180 days ahead. But there are more choices now.

2. Of course the attractions have gotten more complex with new technology. I am a big fan of technology if it can be used in an interesting and creative way. Disney usually does this very well but not always.

3. Late 70's, early 80's where WDW's slow times. Sure Epcot opened in 1982 but otherwise expansion was slower. Say what you want about Michael Eisner but he got things expanding and the 90's were probably the best time for WDW.

4. I always look forward to the future at WDW. I think Walt would be proud of how Disney still finds way to create new attractions and "plus" them as he used to say. I think he would embrace the new technologies. He probably would not care for some of the "business first" moves of the company. I think Walt wanted to provide a great product before he worried about the stockholders. I think he thought if he satisfied his customers then profits would take care of themselves. I don't think he would like the size of the Disney company. He liked to run things and it is now just too big for the hands on of one person.

Those are my 2+ cents.

 

[zackiedawg]

I can't give you the adult 70's view either...but I'm a little older than you, and my first Disney World visit was the month it opened in 1971. I've been to Disney at least once a year since 1971, with much more frequency once my family moved to Florida in 1976.

I certainly remember the first days...though strangely the park itself didn't seem to make many changes for the first few years - the thing that sticks most in my mind is the evolution of the surrounding area. I can remember coming in on SR7, since no highways cut down there at the time...it was such a thrill taking that road trip from New Jersey, and entering what felt like some seriously old-fashioned southern country compared to our urban jungle up north. But Disney World brought tears to our eyes when we finally got there. The anticipation was huge right from the trams in the parking lot. The only disappointment was running out of E-tickets on the first day or two and begging the parents to buy us more. Yet I still had fun even on the A rides...as a matter of fact, one of my favorites was always the free 'If You Had Wings'!

Change-wise - the biggest upgrade of all was the evolution to park passes with unlimited rides. I remember that was big - for us kids, that was akin to living when electricity was invented.

I also love the evolution towards more Disney resort hotels available, so the trip to Disney can be completely immersive without the cheesiness and congestion of Kissimmee and the 192.

Service-wise, I've come to appreciate as I've gotten older the increased availability of upscale properties, rooms, and restaurants. I like the option to spend a little more for a nicer ambiance, maybe a quieter experience, more gourmet foods, a larger room, and a break from the kid-tensive atmosphere.

While I wouldn't necessarily consider changes Disney has made 'bad', since they are doing what is typical and normal to survive and remain profitable in a changing society. I would say my disappointments lie more in the changes to society - shorter attention spans, less courtesy, everything having to be bigger, louder, faster, brighter to please an increasingly demanding culture that doesn't want to go through the tedious process of paying attention to details. And educational displays and rides have had to fade back in place of more direct-marketing rides or fast-paced action rides - a disappointment for a school-loving nerd like me who always enjoyed learning experiences (Epcot blew me away when it opened - we were there opening day - and became my favorite park then, and forever more).

Golden-year wise - tough call. There's something good to be said for many different eras. I guess I'd have to pick mid-eighties if I had to hone it down to one time period. The 'old' Disney rides and attractions were still going strong, the ticket-system was replaced by passes by then, Epcot had opened to offer more options, the MK resorts were gorgeous, Fort Wilderness was a great way to feel like you were staying in Frontierland, and the crowds were not as heavy or intense as they can be today.

I never felt like Disney was stagnant or regressive. I guess the Disney magic works too deeply in my veins, but through all the changes, it never felt stagnant or dead to me.

Current direction of the parks - some good, some bad. All changes are understandable, and perhaps inevitable, but I'll still miss some of the original rides and themes as they are being replaced more and more by movie-themed decor, rides, and overhauls. I really wish it was possible to leave Magic Kingdom the way it was 20 years ago, and call it 'Classic', then maybe open a new theme park where you can fill it with Captain Jack, Nemo, Incredibles, Monsters, etc. I love those movies, and thoroughly enjoy some of the rides - don't get me wrong. I just wish they didn't have to replace some of the classic beloved rides. And I would have liked to see all of the direct-marketing banners and ads, decor, P.A. announcements, etc at a shiny new park just for that purpose, with a classic-style MK. As I said, the changes are understandable as society changes...but those would have been my preferences if I was given the reigns of the park.

For the good, I would say sometimes Disney's changes and refreshenings are good - they keep the park fresh and current, and as I mentioned before, bringing in more options for adults to enjoy themselves within Disney World without kids is something I thoroughly appreciate now...and something that really didn't exist in Disney's original days.

I think Walt would be proud that his spirit and intent lives on, and what he has created, no matter how large or different it has become, still brings together people of all ages, sizes, religions, classes, and colors in a happy, friendly, clean environment. And the parks have continued to be a beacon for family entertainment, a mecca for tens of millions every year, a happy place.

Walt might not have liked the pricing so much - even adjusted for inflation, it can get hard on 'regular' families like the one he grew up in. And though he would always have connected his movies with the theme parks, I don't know that he would have marketed them so prominently even in advance at the parks. And I dare say that Walt might be a tiny bit disappointed that the parks are allowing social pressures in the country to restrict the freedoms of some groups of people because they don't fit the ideal social mold (smokers, for example, not having any optional places to stay on property where they can smoke. And before anyone jump to conclusions - I'm not a smoker, never have, and never will...I just don't think that it would be too hard to designate one small building in a few of the resorts that have separate buildings a 'smoking' building - and keep big gates and fences and skull-and-crossbones signs around it so no non-smokers stray anywhere near it! Especially given that Walt was a smoker).

For me, the Disney magic remains alive - there are enough good changes to outweigh the bad for me, many more options for me to enjoy within Disney World, and still a friendly happy safe place where people can enjoy being.

More change will come - it's how Disney stays on top and continues to entertain and please new generations while still keeping enough of the classic atmosphere and fun to retain previous generations. I'll keep going with the flow too, no matter how old I get...I always can't wait to get back to Disney World, even when I just left.

Starting tomorrow evening, I'll be there again.

 

[Donald&Tinkerbell]

DW opened when I was 18, my 1st visit was my 19th birthday. At that time it was the MK only. We came down for the day & left. The C & Poly were very expensive at that time for "normal people" who only lived 150 miles away. You could do everything in 1 day even if you bought extra E tickets. The 1st time I was in Orlando for more than 1 night was when my DH & 3 friends shared a room for 3 nights & went to MK, Seaworld & Circus World in 1980 I think.

So yes, I like the changes. I like having more parks. I like having enough to do I can stay on property for a week and totally forget the real world. I like doing old favorites and trying new rides.

 

[nanceliz]

I went to WDW the first time as a teenager in the 70's, then through the years as it expanded. I agree with the previous poster who said the increase in options of staying on property is a huge plus! The early days of fighting traffic on 192 were not fun.
I think Walt would be happy with the growth/expansion and the fact WDW is such a huge family vacation spot.
One thing I am happy hasn't changed is the spirit of Disney we still feel every time we go. It has always been a magical family time for us.

 

[Bete]

The earlier years with hard copy e-tickets and a tier system for rides was a drag. No fastpasses didn't help, either. The parks were newer and prettier back when. We often heard that every night on third shift a staff of painters would go around the parks and touch up any dents, scratches, etc. Maintenance was done on third shift and it was seldom that a ride would have a problem during operating hours. The restrooms were immaculate. I seem to remember a cast member present all the time in the restrooms cleaning up and doing supplies like paper towels, etc. I think the ratio of cast members to guests were better back when, too; so, I think customer service was better.

The upside of today is there are more parks, resorts, and restaurants. Thrill rides are up in count. There are more events like the Food and Wine Festival. It seems the parks today are better for all age groups. I think with all the choices available there's more appeal to every size pocket book, too.

 

[Evans Family]

Boy I sure miss River Country....you were actually swimming in Bay Lake!

I remember when it opened...there was nothing like it around. What fun. It's also interesting to see how the water park concept has changed and grown!

How about Discovery Island? the Swan Boats at MK......If you had wings! I can still sing that theme song in my head!

 

[DisneyMim]

Well, I'm not in my seventies, but have been going to WDW forever. There have been many changes over the years and some of them have been good and some not so good. I remember years ago when the characters used to be able to walk around the parks. People would go over and get pictures and autographs, but nobody was pushing and shoving to get ahead of others. People were way more polite and considerate years ago. Now I now that there are many more people now, but I just find that everyone is our for themselves. Way too much "Me, me, me" attitude. Years ago it was much easier to get dinner ressies and there wasn't whole threads about how to get into the castle for dinner, you just walked up and ate. I love the fact that WDW has expanded over the years. I've watched from when there was only the MK and now it is truly a complete destination. I still vacation with a relaxed attitude, but see way too much commando style people dragging crying kids and trying to do everything "perfect". One of my biggest concerns is the fact that some people feel the need to make several different ressies (as an example of tryng for "perfection") and then they pick what restaurant they want to eat. They are hurting other families who could use their other times. I guess what I am trying to say is that the biggest change I've seen is how people act. Sometimes very sad. All that being said, WDW is still my favorite place to go and I will continue to visit into my seventies and beyond. I saw a woman a couple of weeks ago at Toy Mania with a Birthday pin saying she was 87. I told my daughter that will be ME someday!!

 

[BostonRob]

I'm in my mid-thirties, but my parents took us to WDW regularly since about 1980 - I remember there was no Epcot Center the first time I went.

I'd agree with the previous poster who picked the mid 80s as the golden years. Once they built Epcot Center, WDW really became a vacation destination. You could easily kill a week by spending a couple of days at the MK, a couple of days at Epcot, a day at River Country, and OK, maybe a day to explore offsite. But the parks weren't as crowded then, the monorail took you to all the parks, as somebody else said, the characters just walked around, if you wanted to eat at an Epcot restaurant, you made your reservation that morning (on a cool tv communicator device), and there was never an agenda - no YOAMD, no pink birthday-cake castle - it was just WDW.
I'm not complaining about how things are today, things change and most changes are for the better, but it was simpler back then and I remember it fondly.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

My first trip to WDW was in 1976 at the age of 3. I remember a few things from that trip, 32 years later. I went several more times as a kid, then hadn't been back for about 17 years until my girlfriend and I went last Spring. The first thing that really struck me at MK was the influx of all the Pixar characters. I guess it makes sense as that's what today's kids are familiar with. I don't think it's necesarilly a bad thing, it was just a surprise to walk through Tomorrowland and see Monsters Inc. and Buzz Lightyear there.

The changes that surprised me the most were at EPCOT. I remembered EPCOT as a place to be entertained AND to learn. Gone now are a lot of the more educational attractions, replaced by more thrilling rides like Test Track and Mission:SPACE. (Don't get me wrong, I like those, too.) I just miss the oldies like Body Wars at the Wonders of Life pavilion. All those really neat hands-on sensory experiments gone now. I also miss Horizons and the old version of The Living Seas, complete with the Hydrolators and all. I understand why the changes were made. I just wish some of them hadn't been. I personally liked the educational aspect, but then I always was kind of a nerdy kid.

 

[Wild4Walt]

I consider myself a bit of a Disney veteran, though at age 34 I really didn't start truly paying attention to the entire "package" until I went on my honeymoon 10 years ago. I was wondering if the real veterans here - those who were adults in the late 70's - could comment on the evolution of the parks over the past 30 years. Bonus for those who remember the first days of Disney World!

What have been your favorite changes (rides, amenities, service)?

What have been your least favorite changes (rides, amenities, service)?

When would you say was the "golden years" of the Orlando area Disney parks?

When were things most stagnant or regressive?

What are your thoughts on the current direction of the parks?

What do you think Walt would have been proud of? What do you think he would have passed on?

---feel free to include things like hotels, DVC, or other things associated with Disney ----

Well, let's see, I need to reach back in the memory banks some:

Favorite ride change: Spaceship Earth - because having been updated it really show Disney's acknowledgement towards progress.

Least favorite ride change: hands down, the Enchanted Tiki Room - under new managment

I think the Golden Age was the 90's under Eisner. He really revitalized Disney as a company and helped bring it to the wonderland it is today.

Most stagnant was right before that. I remember in the mid-80's when I was in high school just being blah about Disney. And not just because of teenage angst.

I think Walt would have been proudest of Epcot. I think he would marvel at all the things accomplished there. It was the stepping stone to adding additional theme parks.

I love to think that Walt would have passed on putting McDonald's in his parks. I love McD's but come on! It kind of takes away from the fantasy of being submerged in a long ago place when I can see the Golden Archs.

 

[cocowoushi]

I think Walt would have been proudest of Epcot. I think he would marvel at all the things accomplished there. It was the stepping stone to adding additional theme parks.

I love to think that Walt would have passed on putting McDonald's in his parks. I love McD's but come on! It kind of takes away from the fantasy of being submerged in a long ago place when I can see the Golden Archs.

Agreed!

 

[kaybird]

What have been your favorite changes (rides, amenities, service)?

Love Love LOVE the all inclusive tickets. The coupons were hard to keep track of, and love being able to Ride whatever I want how many times I want. The family friendly resorts are terrific. On our honeymoon in 75, we could do the campground or Contemporary. (1975) Not even a choice for us, it was the campground in the back of a Gremlin. 

What have been your least favorite changes (rides, amenities, service)?

Don’t think I have much to complain about, although I much preferred the ole Alien Encounter to Stitch. Miss the Character Breakfast at the campground, and Certainly Wonders of Life Pavilion, but think the good certainly outweighs the bad.

When would you say was the "golden years" of the Orlando area Disney parks?

Like him or not, Eisner certainly saved the decade~surrounded by many talented directors, imagineers, and the like. Seemed like lots of fast growth in the time he was there.

When were things most stagnant or regressive?

Think after EPCOT, things took a while to gel, and maybe they were a little gunshy. Think now that people realize each park is a gem in its own right, it is easier to try new things again.

What are your thoughts on the current direction of the parks?

Love the new bent toward a more interactive generation. Still love that the parks are generationally friendly. Everyone can find something they enjoy, from toddlers to elders.

What do you think Walt would have been proud of? What do you think he would have passed on?

Think he would still be proud, and maybe a little amazed about the sheer numbers of people who dream and go on almost meccas to WDW. I also think he would be a little disappointed in the number of people who think he would have never updated or closed rides. Doesn’t mean they weren’t good, but he always tried to be trying new things.
Will try to post a pic of me in DL in 1955, don’t think anyone would want to step backward!?!

 

[CarolA]

Well I started going as an adult in the mid 80s


Since I started we got two new parks. We got a new water park. Lots of changes. My favorite addition is Animal Kingdom ESPECIALLY the Safari. I LOVE THAT! I also like the fact that there are TONS of hotel options. I rember staying at CBR right after it opened and it was so nice.... (I still really like it!)

While there are things that I don't enjoy I don't really think that it's worth focusing on, plus they are probably folks that LOVE them. My biggest negative is hotels... while Disney has built lots of new ones IMHO the service at "deluxe" is sub standard and the pricing not in line with the quality/service. Would I have said that about 10 years ago? No, but since then I have been lucky enough to have a job where I got to stay in REALLY nice hotels, true DELUXE hotels and now realize how sadly Disney compares

As for the Walt view.... For years and years after his death the management did ONLY things that "Walt approved" Small problem, since he was dead he was producing NO new ideas. Walt was a dreamer and moved on. Personally I think if he was alive now.. he would be OVER theme parks and onto something else... Who knows what, but... he tended to move on! LOL!