Then and Now - WDW Comparison Photos

[MinnieM123]

Eleventh photo pair. Then: May 1974. This Main Street building was originally named "The Cup 'n Saucer" (see the sign on the balcony). Note the full pavement curb along the street. There are hanging lamps under the "porch" ceiling. Although the colors in the photo are muted over time, the building was not as "bright" as today. (There are three smudges on the original print in the center of the photo.) Note the bell-bottom pants on at least two gentlemen!

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Now: August 2015. This Main Street building is now called "Uptown Jewelers" and recently underwent an exterior restoration this spring/summer. Note the pavement curb has been removed at the corner of the street for safety. The outdoor hanging lamps are gone. More window awnings are present on the building now, as well as multiple flower arrangements and seating on the second story balcony. Hanging flower baskets appear on streetlights now.

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I like both the old and the new versions of this Main Street building. In this photo comparison, my favorite of the two is actually the newer version, with the colorful striped awnings and brighter paint. The green and white paint scheme, with just a touch of red at the top of the building, really draws your attention.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Wait...that can't be right! There's the same number of strollers in both pictures!

Someone obviously Photoshopped that one in the first picture. Everyone knows they didn't exist back in the "good old days". Back in the days when men were men, women were women and mice were not much more then rodents.

 

[Timon]

Past ... Present and maybe the Future Tomorrowland fountains.

 

[Nick Wilde]

Ninth photo pair. Then: Aug 1978. Magic Kingdom entrance. There is a large planter island in the middle of the photo with ample benches, in front of the Mickey-face berm at the base of the train station. Note the people in the walkway between.

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Now: July 2015. The planter island is much smaller now, with entrance stations on the left and right. The benches are gone. Note the large window in the clock tower has been re-configured to display an Imagineer's name.
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The "Imagineer's name" actually says Walter E. Disney.

 

[Professor_Jason]

Past ... Present and maybe the Future Tomorrowland fountains.

They should bring back those giant waterfalls, the Yesterday pic says the future is epic while the Today pic says the future is a shopping mall

 

[Timon]

They should bring back those giant waterfalls, the Yesterday pic says the future is epic while the Today pic says the future is a shopping mall

Having been in tomorrowlands for both DL & WDW before and after each remodel, I found the 1971 WDW to be a bit too sterile and a sea of featureless dark concrete.

I do miss the waterfall towers but don't miss the light blue side falls, they just leaked and got algae all over them. If I were building them today I'd add modern LED light effects for nighttime plus additional fountains for evening EFX show every 30 minutes.

I just wish when they remodelled Tomorrowland they extended the same quality thru the entire land. After you pass the Astrojets it's pretty thin theming out to Space Mt or the other direction towards Cosmic Rays.

 

[WDWtraveler]

Twelfth photo pair. Then: June 2002, Hollywood Studios. A mere 13 years ago, this is what the trees and vegetation was like looking towards the Tower of Terror from the courtyard of Rock 'n Roller Coaster.

Now: August 2015.

 

[DisneyJeff]

Twelfth photo pair. Then: June 2002, Hollywood Studios. A mere 13 years ago, this is what the trees and vegetation was like looking towards the Tower of Terror from the courtyard of Rock 'n Roller Coaster.

It looks like they need to cut the trees back a bit. The building looks so much taller with the smaller trees.

 

[JeffR73]

You know, you really should create animated GIFs of these pictures to show the transformation.

Example: Shanghai 1990 morphing into Shanghai 2015

That is an amazing transformation.

 

[blueboxdoctor]

Past ... Present and maybe the Future Tomorrowland fountains.

Yes, they should definitely bring them back. I never knew they were a thing but now that I know I think they're missing out by not having them.

 

[Timon]

They were amazing, dramatic and visually stunning. During the day or night they look great. With added hidden jets below they could do an automated water & light show every 30 minutes, all night long (of course skipping conflict times with Parades and other Night events.

 

[WDWtraveler]

Thirteenth photo pair. Then: May 1974. Alligator Swamp cabin on Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom. The trees behind the cabin are small enough to allow a full view of the train track.

Now: June 2015. 41 years later. Besides the trees that have grown up, the ole' timer has collected a lot more "stuff" on his deck around the cabin, and the "stuff" is more colorful than in 1974. A careful observation shows a ramp has replaced the steps (in 1974) from the back of the deck to the shore. He has a boat now, tied to the shore on the left. He also got a new hat. In 1974, the old hat was pulled over his face, as if he was asleep. The train tracks are in the same place in the "now" photo....a train was going by in the "now" photo, partially hidden by the trees.

 

[PlaneCrazy1978]

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I didn't know Disney had the right to use the robot from Rocky IV???

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Thirteenth photo pair. Then: May 1974. Alligator Swamp cabin on Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom. The trees behind the cabin are small enough to allow a full view of the train track.

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Now: June 2015. 41 years later. Besides the trees that have grown up, the ole' timer has collected a lot more "stuff" on his deck around the cabin, and the "stuff" is more colorful than in 1974. A careful observation shows a ramp has replaced the steps (in 1974) from the back of the deck to the shore. He has a boat now, tied to the shore on the left. He also got a new hat. In 1974, the old hat was pulled over his face, as if he was asleep. The train tracks are in the same place in the "now" photo....a train was going by in the "now" photo, partially hidden by the trees.

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The top picture evokes an empty world. Lonely, barren, devoid of luxury. A frontier.

The newer picture has too many goods. Note to set decorators: you may get paid to decorate sets, but that does not mean you are paid to add decoration. The goal is to create a world, express an idea. Less is more.
It is also too colourful, too bright and cartoony.

 

[thomas998]

No! Too any people!

Need to cut down the trees and plant smaller ones, but do it slowly over time. Nothing wrong with the number of trees it just seems like too many because they were all planted at the same time so they are all in their peak now... In the real world you would have a mix of big and little and it wouldn't be quite so thick.

 

[Matt_Black]

The top picture evokes an empty world. Lonely, barren, devoid of luxury. A frontier.

The newer picture has too many goods. Note to set decorators: you may get paid to decorate sets, but that does not mean you are paid to add decoration. The goal is to create a world, express an idea. Less is more.
It is also too colourful, too bright and cartoony.

While technically part of the frontier, the top is TOO barren, I think, to represent things. Twain's Hannibal MO was a lived-in community.

 

[RayTheFirefly]

The top picture evokes an empty world. Lonely, barren, devoid of luxury. A frontier.

The newer picture has too many goods. Note to set decorators: you may get paid to decorate sets, but that does not mean you are paid to add decoration. The goal is to create a world, express an idea. Less is more.
It is also too colourful, too bright and cartoony.

As someone from South Louisiana who frequently sees "alligator swamps," to me the second photo is more authentic. Swamp shacks tend to have collections of "junk" around them... doesn't necessarily imply luxury. And trust me, wood in the swamps never has the chance to get dried out enough to get that grey. Just my two cents.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

As someone from South Louisiana who frequently sees "alligator swamps," to me the second photo is more authentic. Swamp shacks tend to have collections of "junk" around them... doesn't necessarily imply luxury. And trust me, wood in the swamps never has the chance to get dried out enough to get that grey. Just my two cents.

I'll take your word for all of it!

 

[WDWtraveler]

Fourteenth photo pair. Then Feb 2009: Downtown Disney West Side street view. Most notable feature is the top hat and magic wand on the building above the magic shop.

Now: June 2015. Of course, some new paint schemes on the buildings, and the addition of the elevated high line.

 

[mouse_luv]

I currently have a love/hate relationship with this thread.