The first DVC

[disneykidatheart]

My husband sent this to me this morning. He called it the first DVC.

http://www.ocregister.com/multimedia/disneyapartment/

Enjoy!

 

[sajetto]

Thanks for posting that! I've always wanted to see what Walt's Disney Land apt. looked like

 

[sajetto]

Actually, that just reminded me of a rumor I hear years ago and I want to see if any of you can set the record straight. I was told that In the construction of Cindy's castle at WDW that what is now Cinderella's Royal Table was supposed to be Walt's apartment there. However, it was never completed b/c he died before it could be put to use. I was told that it was not CRT until a few years later. Is this true?

 

[Doctor P]

As I understand it, there was an apartment built for Walt in Cinderella's Castle, but it is higher up than CRT. It has been used in the past, and maybe currently, for WDW telephone operators according to what I have read.

 

[DVCconvert]

I was told that In the construction of Cindy's castle at WDW that what is now Cinderella's Royal Table was supposed to be Walt's apartment there. However, it was never completed b/c he died before it could be put to use. I was told that it was not CRT until a few years later. Is this true?

actually the restaurant was always in the plans for the castle. There was a plan for a Disney family apartment (mainly for Roy's family and Diane's use). Walt of course had passed away before the construction had even started. The apartment spaces were never fitted out as an apartment and have served many and various uses over the years--including security, storage and production spaces.

HTH

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for posting the apartment tour! Great stuff!

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

Actually, that just reminded me of a rumor I hear years ago and I want to see if any of you can set the record straight. I was told that In the construction of Cindy's castle at WDW that what is now Cinderella's Royal Table was supposed to be Walt's apartment there. However, it was never completed b/c he died before it could be put to use. I was told that it was not CRT until a few years later. Is this true?

Cindy's Royal Feast was originally King Stephan's Banquet Hall but the apartment that was originall intended as Walt's home away from home is still there and, as someone pointed out, higher up and at the front of the castle overlooking main street. Roy Disney used the apartment during the final phases of WDW's construction and during the dedication and opening weeks in 1971. It has been used periodically by special guests. At the current time I do not know if it is still being used as an apartment or something else.

 

[DVCconvert]

Roy Disney used the apartment during the final phases of WDW's construction and during the dedication and opening weeks in 1971. It has been used periodically by special guests.

To the best of my knowledge, it has never been used as an apartment -- even by Roy O.

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

We'll have to agree to disagree. Apparently we have different sources for our information.

 

[DVCconvert]

Here's one source:

wikpedia

Also, having been in what was to be the apartments as recently as last October (and many times before), in addition to prolonged working interactions with personnel from WDI--I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.



editied to add text from above link:

The hidden apartment
Inside the upper levels of Cinderella Castle, there is a penthouse that was intended to be an apartment for Walt Disney and his family when they were in Florida. After Walt Disney died in 1966, the apartment was left unfinished - for a period, Roy O. Disney was due to take up residence there but decided against it, in respect for his brother. Instead, the penthouse served as the operations area for Vista United Telecommunications (switchboard operators). It now serves as dressing rooms for the entertainers performing in the shows at the Castle Forecourt Stage.

also-- from Deb's site (allears) :

There is a penthouse inside Cinderella Castle that was intended to be an apartment for Walt Disney and his family when they were in Florida. After Walt Disney died in 1966, the apartment was never finished. Instead, the penthouse served as the operations area for Vista United Telecommunications (switchboard operators). It now serves as dressing rooms for the entertainers performing in the shows at the Castle Forecourt Stage.

additionally:

There really was an apartment planned for Cinderella Castle, but it was never built. The rooms are there, as well as a separate entrance, but there is some question as to whether the apartment was planned for Walt Disney or for other members of the Disney family, since Walt died in 1966, and the castle construction was started in late 1969. Either way, the rooms are there, as I said, but they have never been used as a dwelling. They have been used variously as the Central Reservations office, a dressing room for show Cast, and storage. In the late 1990s there was a wild rumor that the apartment rooms would be refurbished and made into an exclusive and very expensive guest suite, but of course we know that never happened.

Also, from hiddenmickeys.org

There is a room upstairs in Cinderella Castle. Actually, it is more like an apartment. Walt was going to use this not as a hotel room but as an apartment for his family. This idea was abandoned with the apartment half finished. Unfortunately, Walt never saw the opening of Walt Disney World and this apartment has never been used.
REPORTED: Mr Kenneth W Miller 06 JUL 95
CONFIRMED: G&L 13 JUL 95
CONFIRMED: Michael Littell 04 OCT 95
CONFIRMED: James T. Horn 28 NOV 95
CONFIRMED: Gene Jackson 31 JAN 96
CONFIRMED: Ann Marie Cummings 28 FEB 96
CONFIRMED: Sean Henderson 26 JUN 96
It is currently used as a dressing room for the female kids of the kingdom. There are no windows in the room.
CONFIRMED: Sorcermic 22 SEP 96
CONFIRMED: Laurie 16 FEB 97
CONFIRMED: Andrew Schub 22 MAY 97
CONFIRMED: Andrew Rossetti 01 SEP 97
CONFIRMED: K. Borgen 02 OCT 97
I've seen pictures of it in The Disney Magazine.
CONFIRMED: Jan 13 APR 98
CONFIRMED: Lisa-Anne Mitrovic 08 JAN 99
Although it may have been his idea, the apartment in the castle was not for Walt. He died in December 1966, well before the ground breaking of the Magic Kingdom (which opened in October 1971). I've heard reports it was for Roy's family, but can't confirm.
UPDATE: David Poole 09 JUL 99
The apartment that had been built for Walt is now used as a dressing room for the people from Entertainment (for example, the "Mayor's" costume is kept there). The stairs outside the castle, on the Fantasyland side go up to the second level. You would end up on next to the windows for Cinderella's Royal Table. There is a walkway that goes all the way around the castle on this level. The stairs do not take you all the way to the top... There are two elevators in the castle (Not including a dumbwaiter). The one in the lobby of the Castle, which only goes up the the second floor (for use by guests to the restaurant) and the one that is for Cast Member's ONLY. This one goes from the tunnels, to the "2nd" floor (the walkway through the Castle, on the opposite side from the mural. There is a locked door in front of it, so guests can't get into it.) and then the upper kitchen of the restaurant, and finally it stops on the floor by the apartment/dressing room. It is a VERY small elevator. Watch the people from entertainment after a show (like Disneymania) and see how hard they have to squeeze to get in there. (Costumed characters enter a dressing room nearby, and get out of costume BEFORE trying to use the elevator.) The restaurant itself has two kitchens. One on the level with the tunnels, where food is mass prepared, and one on the level with the restaurant, where finishing touches are done. The elevators and dumbwaiters are used often, because there are a lot of stairs to climb.
CONFIRMED: Holly 23 JUL 99
CONFIRMED: Mrs. Suzanne Witter 14 NOV 99
CONFIRMED: Duper00 17 FEB 01

Also, from wdisneyw.uk

Inside Cinderella Castle, space for an apartment for the Disney family was designed & built inside the castle's upper floors, but it has never been completed or used.