Walt Disney World is in a state of constant change. New resorts pop up. Old attractions make way for the latest thrill ride. Classic attractions undergo minor refurbishments or major overhauls. This continuous evolution is what brings many visitors back year after year. And every one of those visitors will tell you no two trips are the same.
Type an internet search of Walt Disney World followed by a specific year and you will find a ton of images, videos, articles, and information about the World for that year. Go ahead. You have my permission to open a new tab in your browser and google Walt Disney World 1975. Just be sure to finish reading the rest of this blog.
The other night as I vegged out on the sofa—still stinging from my beloved Falcons playoff choke—I put in the video of my WDW honeymoon vacation. Wait a minute! Don’t click away yet. I’m not going to go bore you with a vacation review. I won’t tell you how lovely the wife looked sporting a “Just Married” button or how stunningly handsome I looked in my mouse ears top hat. Won’t even mention how many times cast members congratulated us—it was too many to count anyway. Even if you beg me, I won’t tell you how the wife and I stood up on our seats at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater to an arousing round of applause. You won’t get any sappy “I love you” moments in front of a glowing Cinderella’s castle at night or any sentimental rehashes of the many smooches or hand holds shared while riding the Haunted Mansion, Splash Mt., or Pirates of the Caribbean.
While watching the video from 1998, what amazed me most (other than how thin I looked and the thickness of my hair) was how different the parks were a little over a decade ago. Seeing Alien Encounter housed where Stitch now lives and the Horizons Pavilion—though not as sleek and futuristic looking as its predecessor Mission Space—made me want to lift my fat... (Wait! That’s too harsh)...my “slightly overfed” bottom (that’s better) off the couch and hop through the TV.
Each of the four parks had plenty different about them. Since I’ve already used up too much space, I’ll name the attractions that were present in 1998 that are no longer around. If you or anybody else you so graciously command to read my blog wishes for more information on any of these bygone attractions, an internet search will do wonders.
Magic Kingdom
Adventureland Challenge, Legend of the Lion King, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland Skyway, The Time Keeper, Galaxy Search (In the Galaxy Palace Theater), Disney Mania (Castle Forecourt Stage), Every Day’s a Holiday (Castle Forecourt Stage)
EPCOT
Body Wars, Cranium Command, the Making of Me, Goofy About Health, Horizons,
Food Rocks
Disney-MGM Studios
Backstage Pass to 101 Dalmatians, Goosebumps Fright Show, Hunchback of Notre Dame Musical, ABC Sound Studio, Superstar Television, Sorcery in the Sky Fireworks
Animal Kingdom
Discovery River Boats, Colors of the Wind: Friends from the Animal Forest, Journey into Jungle Book
Many attractions that exist today weren’t present in 1998. Soarin’, Expedition Everest, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Aladdin’s Magic Carpets just to name a few. The parades are different. Many restaurants have since been added or changed. Innoventions, Image Works, Project Tomorrow (Spaceship Earth Post Show), and many other exhibits have been upgraded or overhauled extensively to the point where one may not recognize them if they jumped straight from 1998 to today.
Thinking about how different Walt Disney World was back in 1998 compared to today makes me wonder what the World will be like a decade from now. Will I be watching a 2011 home video in 2021 wishing that Carousel of Progress was still in operation? Or will I be salivating at the memories of the defunct fixing bar at Pecos Bill? I don’t know. And that’s what makes a WDW vacation a yearly must do for me. People ask me “Why do you go there all the time?” To that I simply reply, “Because I know I’ll enjoy myself.” And that’s true no matter what the year is or what attractions and restaurants are in the parks.
