Know how much Disney cost in 1981?

[kstinw19]

...just found an old Disney brochure from 1981 and dh and I were looking thru it.

A three day "magic kingdom passport" (includes River Country and Discovery Island) was $29.25 or you could buy ride coupons like the county fair! You could buy a 10-adventure book for $11.00 or a 5-adventure book for $3.50.

The Poly buffet dinner (now Ohanas) was $6.95 for adults. Their prices have gone up slightly don't you think?

Of course back then all that existed was MK, River Country, the Village, Poly, Contemp, Discovery Island and FW.

Pretty wild huh?

It even gives planning suggestions for a week's stay...2 days at MK 1/2 day at Village, 1/2 day at Discovery Island, 1/2 day at River Country and 1 day relaxing at the pool at the resort. That was it!! And we still had a blast...

 

[OK!]

That's too cool! I was just thinkin' today that it'd be neat to have some old guidebooks (ie. Birnbaum's or The Unofficial Guide) from years and years back, just for nostalgia's sake.

 

[momrek06]

THAT IS SO AWESOME. DH & I WERE THERE IN October 1980 on our Honeymoon. ONE PARK the MK and we stayed at the Contemporary. We could see them building EPCOT off in the distance.

If I remember correctly, we had COUPONS as our tickets that we would use daily.

It absolutely amazes me to think we were there so long ago and only had MK to walk around.

We had so much fun and CONTINUE to have so much fun in the WORLD vacation after vacation.

Thanks for the neat info. Made me think of some awesome memories just now.

 

[mrsdon]

We srayed at the Poly on our honeymoon in 81 and my mom thought we were crazy cause it was like $89 a night.
It was beautiful and DH still has our room card

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

When we went there was Epcot and mGM. I remember prices being much much cheaper too.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I remember the old vacation packages they had. We never actually booked...but my mom would always order the planning materials and I remember the pics of Disney Village and the Empress Lily....the Treehouse Villas and the place I cannot remmeber that they turned into the Disney Institute and now SSR. (Also remember thinking I hope my mom doesn't book there--it's too far from Disney! LOL! (Disney = MK back then.)

 

[ChristmasElf]

I remember back in the mid 80's and the only credit card Disney took at that time was VISA.
NO MC, and NO AMEX.We had to go to a bank and withdraw cash every few days, as we had an Amex and a Master Charge as it was known back then.

Then the following year when we went back the Official card was suddenly Amex!

Sunday Brunch was $6.95 for adults and under 5 was free. And there was so much food for that price! There was a small platoon boat that picked you up at where DD theatre area is now and you were given a glass of champagne for the ride over and ginger ale for the kiddies.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I can actually remember looking over my dad's shoulder at check-out in 1982 and saying, "Wow! Fifteen hundred dollars?" Family of five, 7 nights, Contemporary Tower Room w/ MK view, the then-version of two-park hopper tickets, meals (including a character meal at Empress Lilly and dinner for Mom & Dad at Top of the World), and River Country.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

That's pretty neat. 1981 is around the first time I went to WDW (I was 1 1/2).

 

[eeyore25]

...just found an old Disney brochure from 1981 and dh and I were looking thru it.

A three day "magic kingdom passport" (includes River Country and Discovery Island) was $29.25 or you could buy ride coupons like the county fair! You could buy a 10-adventure book for $11.00 or a 5-adventure book for $3.50.

The Poly buffet dinner (now Ohanas) was $6.95 for adults. Their prices have gone up slightly don't you think?

Of course back then all that existed was MK, River Country, the Village, Poly, Contemp, Discovery Island and FW.

Pretty wild huh?

It even gives planning suggestions for a week's stay...2 days at MK 1/2 day at Village, 1/2 day at Discovery Island, 1/2 day at River Country and 1 day relaxing at the pool at the resort. That was it!! And we still had a blast...

Hi there,

You mention Discovery Island, can you tell me what that is exactly? I have only been to WDW twice, we leave in less than 7 days for our third trip. I have heard of Discovery Island but I can't find any information on it.

Thanks in advance.

Jamie

 

[ChristmasElf]

Hi there,

You mention Discovery Island, can you tell me what that is exactly? I have only been to WDW twice, we leave in less than 7 days for our third trip. I have heard of Discovery Island but I can't find any information on it.

Thanks in advance.

Jamie

Discovery Island has been closed now for years and is not on any of the maps anymore!
You aren't missing anything though, just head over to the Animal Kingdom as you will see many of the birds over there as well as all the other animals.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Discovery Island is a small island between the Contemporary Resort and Fort Wilderness. You used to be able to take a boat there, and explore the island. There were many tropical birds and interesting plants to see. It was closed when Animal Kingdom Park was built, and the birds and animals were all moved there. As with River Country, it sits unused.

The section of Animal Kingdom Park with the Tree of Life is also called Discovery Island, which is why you'll see signs in that park with this name. This isn't to be confused with the original Discovery Island.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Sorry! I really didn't describe Discovery Island that well! It was an island that you could only reach by boat and you could tour through and see a lot of exotic birds and that was about it.
There were no "rides" or anything like that. I never really enjoyed going over there.

 

[eeyore25]

Thanks for the information on Discovery Island. My DMIL had read about it and said that she wanted to go over there and see it. I did a search on the internet and the only thing that came up was the Discovery Island in Animal Kingdom. Thanks again for the informatin. I will pass it along!

Also didn't mean to highjack this thread. Sorry OP!

Very interesting how much the prices have gone up. My DH used to go to DL all the time and he found some old stuff from way back when...when you had to buy ticket books to use in each land......

Thanks again!

 

[kstinw19]

Isn't it crazy? This was my 2nd time to Disney and I was 10 years old at the time.

I really miss River Country...lots of fun memories there. Why did they close it? Does anyone know?

 

[ChristmasElf]

Isn't it crazy? This was my 2nd time to Disney and I was 10 years old at the time.

I really miss River Country...lots of fun memories there. Why did they close it? Does anyone know?

The water was very dirty and unfiltered. The equipment on the water edge was starting to rust and pose a danger to guests. The park was going to be transformed into something else.
These are just a few of the reasons that have been given.
It just sits here like a ghost town.

 

[kstinw19]

I thought it had something to do with the water being unfiltered. Thanks