Disneyworld memories from 1971

[stepnut]

I'm hoping someone can settle something that has perplexed me. I was at DisneyWorld a month after it opened in 1971. I was 10. My aunt and uncle lived in Kissimmee and we stayed with them. They had three sons, all in thier late teens/early 20s. My memory is that at least one of them worked at Disney as a character. I don't know which one because he never told us.

What I'm trying to remember is if it is true that the people who work as characters are never allowed to reveal what character they play. I don't know if I made up that memory, or if it really is true. I seem to remember he told us that. I have no contact with that part of the family so I can't find out. I know it's a silly thing, but it's been bugging me for weeks, now that I'm heading back to DisneyWorld for the first time since 1971 this coming June.

I remember when I was there in 1971...the surrounding area was barren! I remember theme park, and the monorail going into a hotel (I now know it was the Contemporary, but it had a different name then.) But that was about all there was in the area. When I recently started to make the plans for our family to go, I was astonished at how much the area had exploded. I never even KNEW there was Animal Kingdom and MGM. Under what rock have I been living, I'm sure you ask.

I'm pretty excited to go back! More so than my kids!

Anyway, can anyone settle my memory issue? Thanks!

Stepnut

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

As for the Contemporary part of your question I am pretty sure it was always called The Contemporary Resort Hotel.

 

[JenM]

What I'm trying to remember is if it is true that the people who work as characters are never allowed to reveal what character they play. I don't know if I made up that memory, or if it really is true. I seem to remember he told us that. I have no contact with that part of the family so I can't find out. I know it's a silly thing, but it's been bugging me for weeks, now that I'm heading back to DisneyWorld for the first time since 1971 this coming June.

I think that's actually true, at least while they're employed by the park. I was talking with a cm at one of the Downtown Disney stores and she had told me Goofy had visited the day before. I thought she meant Goofy in costume, but she meant the guy who played Goofy. He was there shopping and was using his cast member ID for his discount.

She told me they're not allowed to say if they play a character, but he was very tall and had kinda the same walk as Goofy, but before he left, she took a guess and said "And behave yourself, Goofy!"

He never fessed up, but she said she could tell by the look he gave her that she had guessed correctly who he was.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Epcot opened in 1982, Disney's MGM Studios in 1989 and Animal Kingdom in 1998.

Have a wonderful trip!!!!