WALT DISNEY WORLD |
PHOTOGRAPHY | ART | EMAIL DAVE | HOME |
|
|
|
|
 |
) ) (Oct. 1, 1971–Present) BACKSTORY: Largest recreational resort in the world with four theme parks. Located in Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, Florida, outside Orlando city limits. Walt Disney focused most of his attention on the “Florida Project” both before and after his participation at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, but he died on December 15, 1966, almost five years before his vision was realized. To avoid land speculation, Disney created dummy corporations to acquire 27,400 acres of land. The first five-acre lot was bought on October 23, 1964, by the Ayefour Corporation (a pun on Interstate 4). Another dummy corporation was RETLAW (WALTER backwards). A press conference was organized for November 15, 1965. At the presentation, Walt Disney explained the plans for the site, including EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), which was to be a futuristic city. Plans for EPCOT would drastically change after Disney’s death. EPCOT became EPCOT Center, the resort’s second theme park, opening in 1982. Concepts from the original idea of EPCOT would be integrated into the community of Celebration much later.Walt died December 15, 1966 before his vision was realized. His brother Roy Disney postponed his retirement to oversee construction of the resort, passing away in December 1971, barely two months after it opened. Construction began in 1967 and the park opened on October 1, 1971, as the Magic Kingdom, and since has added Epcot (Oct. 1, 1982), Disney-MGM Studios (May 1, 1989), and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (April 22, 1998). The resort contains two water parks, six golf courses, a sports complex, an auto race track, twenty resort hotels and numerous shopping, dining, and entertainment. It even has its own fire department and a massive public transit system of buses and monorails. The 20,000 acre property is the largest theme park resort in the world, although over the past decade significant land has been sold off for housing and other developments, including land now occupied by the Disney-built (but not owned) community of Celebration. |
JANUARY 1972 |
FEBRUARY-APRIL 1972 |
) Feb. 1972 |
) Feb. 1972 |
) March 1972 |
) March 1972 |
) March 1972 |
) March 1972 |
) March 1972 |
) March 1972 |
) March 1972 |
) March 1972 |
) March 1972 |
JUNE–OCTOBER 1972 |
) June 1972 |
) June 1972 |
) June 1972 |
) June 1972 |
) June 1972 |
) Oct. 1972 |
1974–1977 |
) March 1974 |
) March 1974 |
) March 1974 |
) 1975 |
) April 1975 |
) April 1975 |
) April 1975 |
) April 1975 |
) April 1976 |
) April 1977 |
SUMMER 1978 |
) Aboard the Monorail, Summer 1978 |
) Summer 1978 |
) Summer 1978 |
) Summer 1978 |
| (May 1, 1977–April 22, 1975) BACKSTORY: Name in honor of Walt Disney's wife, Lillian, The Empress Lilly served some of the finest cuisine in the area. Christened by Lillian herself, the Empress Lilly was 220 by 62', more than twice the size of The Twain and Richard F. Irvine riverboats at WDW. However, the Lilly was not an actual ship as it was permanentlydocked on a block of concrete. Three restaurants could be found inside: Steerman's Quarters, Fisherman's Deck, and the most luxurious, The Empress Room. The Baton Rouge Lounge featured live Dixieland music. When the Lilly closed, it was replaced by Fulton's Crab House. |
1980’s |
2000+ |
CONTEMPORARY HOTEL |
CONTEMPORARY HOTEL PHOTOS & MEMORIES FROM GREG KELLY |
| I worked at the Top of the World Restaurant in the Contemporary Hotel from 1974 through 1976. These pictures were taken in 1974, probably in the summer. The camera I had (and still have!) was a small Kodak. If only the technology was as it was today, I would have some great shots! The pictures of the King Sisters came out too dark (old flash cubes!) but I still thought I'd include them with the others. All were taken from the Top of the World catwalks. I took one of the Contemporary Hotel from a distance; I was lucky to be out in Florida when it was wide open spaces!!! I have many happy memories of my days as a cast member at the Top of the World. One of my favorite would be during the second show, all of us would go in the break room and watch Saturday Night Live back in the day when it was just starting and hillarious! Meeting celebrities was great too. I've been around a lot of celebrities ever since I was a kid, as my Dad sang with the Modernaires (1958 to 1964) and sang on the Red Skelton Show and the Danny Kaye Show. Thanks to that, I was used to it. In fact the Modernaires played at the Top of The World for a week and it was great seeing them as they (Paula Kelly, Vern Polk, and Hal Dickenson, God Bless their souls) watched me grow up. I think the best story I can share was when my friend and I were taking a break in the cafeteria on a slow morning and our colleague came down and his eyes were as big as saucers. He said John Lennon was in the dining room. Well, we thought he was kidding, as we used to kid around a lot. Sure enough though, John Lennon was sitting on the lower level with a whole bunch of kids and probably Yoko Ono's family. That was a trip seeing him and being that close to him! My friends followed him to the restroom and got his autograph. I couldn't as I had been around several celebrities in the past as I mentioned, and felt I should leave him to his privacy! Still, it was an experience I won't forget! One other quick one I can share was serving Lawrence Welk (just pouring his coffee) and he tipped me $5.00 dollars. In 1975, $5.00 had a bit more mileage to it!! He was a very cool guy. So was Buddy Greco; super cool as a matter of fact! Mel Torme, Rosemary Cloney, etc. Another interesting experience was when The Amazing Kreskin was peforming for a week—he was quite a talent! I was quite fortunate to get hired at The Top of the World and to have been part of Walt Disney's dream! It was an honor and I had such a great time. Now it is the California Grill. The new Top of the World is in the structure next to the Contemporary Hotel which is a private club or special "Key Club.” I can't wait to go back and visit. Just to see WDW and all of its growth seems so exciting! |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1974 |
) 1975 |
) 1975 |
) 1975 |
) 1975 |
) 1975 |
) 1975 |
) 1975 |
) 1975 |
^RETURN TO TOP |
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)