WDW Tour c. 1990 — Updated to Imagination

tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The Diamond Horseshoe had three shows: the original Revue, a Christmas special, and a short-lived jamboree with Goofy (c. 2003).

Disney definitely used to put more effort into its entertainment, but back then, audiences expected more than M&Gs with characters.


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Read more about it here:

Diamond Horseshoe Revue Show at Walt Disney World

Visit the Walt Disney World version of Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Saloon.
waltdatedworld.com
 
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tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
LIBERTY SQUARE
from Birnbaum’s 1990 Official Guide to WDW

ATTRACTIONS:
  • The Liberty Tree — “recalls trees...on which the Sons of Liberty used to hang lanterns after the Boston Tea Party of 1773.”
  • The Hall of Presidents
  • Liberty Square Riverboat
  • Mike Fink Keel Boats
  • The Haunted Mansion

ENTERTAINMENT:
The guidebook doesn’t mention the fife-and-drum set because it officially moved to Epcot in the early ‘80s. However, the musicians would still occasionally appear for special events (e.g. Fourth of July). The book simply advises picking up an entertainment times guide the day you enter the MK.

SHOPPING:
  • Olde World Antiques — “This little, lace-curtain emporium stocks real antiques — hutches, drop-leaf tables, and assorted decorative items in brass, pewter, copper, mahogany, oak, and pine ... [and] jewelry and clothing.”
  • Heritage House — “early American reproductions ... [such as] parchment copies of famous American documents ... pewter plates and candlesticks ... busts of the presidents ... wrought-iron knickknacks ... lovely enameled paintings of clipper ship ... perfumes created to order”
  • Yankee Trader — “kitchen knickknacks ... Smucker’s jams and jellies in more varieties than any supermarket shopper would have imagined existed”
  • Ichabod’s Landing — “horrific monster masks and assorted ghoulish goodies”
  • Silversmith — “tings and teaspoons, Revere-style bowls, tea sets, silver-coated roses, candelabra, and more — all in sterling or silver plate”

FOOD:
  • Liberty Tree Tavern
  • Columbia Harbour House
  • Sleepy Hollow
 
ExRoadie

ExRoadie

Member
My youngest Sister is in the process of scanning our Mom's 35mm Kodachrome slides. She won't get to the late 70's for quite a while when Mom took dozens of rolls of slides at WDW with her Voigtlander Vito B camera. I hope this thread is still active when the scanning is done. Mom had a creative side that really showed in our family pics of vacations.
 
CumulusIsobar

CumulusIsobar

Member
tirian said:
FRONTIERLAND
from Birnbaum’s 1990 Official Guide to WDW

ATTRACTIONS:
  • Diamond Horseshoe — “The half-hour-long show, the Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree, presented in this recreation of a western dance hall saloon, is the kind of thing that makes sophisticated folk laugh in spite of themselves... Reservations are necessary and must be made in person at the Hospitality House on Main Street on the morning of the day of the performance.”
  • Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
  • Country Bear Vacation Hoedown — the summer vacation version of the show, which the book notes was “a top attraction” at the time. Over the years, Disney rotated the original show, the vacation hoedown, and the Christmas special.
  • Tom Sawyer Island — “One particularly pleasant way to pass an hour here is over lemonade and a sandwich at Aunt Polly’s Landing.”
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Splash Mt. was under construction
ENTERTAINMENT:
  • The Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree — “Five times a day, there’s a lovely old-time show with cancan dancers.” (Listed as an attraction and entertainment.)
  • Banjo Kings (Technically part of Main Street entertainment, but the players traveled to FrL too.)
SHOPPING:
  • Frontier Trading Post — “venison chili, wild boar meat, buffalo, cornbread mix... cowboy hats... feathered headdresses and moccasins, hefty brass buckles, sleeve garters, sheriff’s badges... reproduction pistols and rifles...”
  • Tricornered Hat Shop — hats and leather goods
  • Bearly Country — “hand-crafted goods plus Big Al stuffed bears... country skirts with matching blouses...”
  • Wood Carvers
  • Frontier Wood Carvers — a larger version of the one listed above; “a craftsman is usually on hand to demonstrate his talent.”
  • Brier (sic) Patch — predates Splash Mt! “woodsy gifts...and stuffed forest friends”
FOOD:
  • The Diamond Horseshoe (again!) — “freshly baked pies ... and cold sandwiches”
  • Pecos Bill Café — burgers
  • Mile Long Bar — “Three ... animal heads hang on the walls ... Guests who stand around long enough will see one animal turn to another and wink...” Tex-Mex
  • Aunt Polly’s Landing — sandwiches; at this time, the restaurant was always open, and would become seasonal later in the decade before shutting down completely.
  • Westward Ho — snacks
Click to expand...
Great thread!

So many things I really miss: the barker birds, AAs inside the Mile Long Bar, the topiaries...

From everything mentioned so far, the thing I miss the most is the mural outside The Walt Disney Story. It was a thing of beauty.
 
tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
CumulusIsobar said:
Great thread!

So many things I really miss: the barker birds, AAs inside the Mile Long Bar, the topiaries...

From everything mentioned so far, the thing I miss the most is the mural outside The Walt Disney Story. It was a thing of beauty.
Click to expand...

Yes, it really was a lovely mural. I saw it shortly before it was torn down, but since it was covered in curtains and technically in a backstage area, I couldn’t photograph it.
 
tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
MICKEY’S BIRTHDAYLAND
from Birnbaum’s 1990 Official Guide to WDW

*** Renamed “Mickey’s Starland” midway through 1990. ***

ATTRACTIONS:
  • Main Street of Duckburg
  • Mickey’s House
  • Stage Show themed to the Disney Afternoon (originally a birthday show for Mickey)
  • Tent playing cartoons
  • Tent with wooden cutouts for photo ops
  • Merchandise tent lined with animated window displays that had previously been on Main Street over the years
  • Grandma Duck’s Farm petting zoo with Minnie Moo the cow
  • Mouskamaze
  • Entertainers
  • Train Station
  • Playground
Conceived as a temporary land, Mickey’s Birthdayland merits only a single page in the guidebook. It was renamed “Starland” when the stage show proved popular, and later became moderately better when it was — ahem — upgraded to Mickey’s Toontown Fair. Finally, it became Storybook Circus.

Since the guidebook barely mentions this “temporary” land, I’ll post other images plus links to web resources.
 
tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
A short blog on Walt Dated World:

Mickey's Birthdayland at Walt Disney World

Every day is Mickey Mouses birthday in Birthdayland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
waltdatedworld.com

A tiny tribute — a single photo — from the Disney Parks blog, which states “Birthdayland” became “Starland” in late May 1990. This is also when the stage show transitioned from Mickey’s Birthday Party to the Disney Afternoon.
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disneyparks.disney.go.com

Disney Days of Past: Mickey’s Birthdayland Becomes Mickey’s Starland at Magic Kingdom Park

Mickey’s Birthdayland became Mickey’s Starland at Magic Kingdom Park this week in 1990. A few of the local residents gathered by the town sign to commemorate the name change.
disneyparks.disney.go.com


The stage show!



A decent post about the original 1988 version:
d23.com

Unwrapping Mickey’s Birthdayland at Magic Kingdom - D23

Mickey’s Birthdayland was meant to be a temporary land that occupied the approximate three-acre space adjacent to Fantasyland.
d23.com d23.com
 
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tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
FANTASYLAND
from Birnbaum’s 1990 Official Guide to WDW

ATTRACTIONS:
  • Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Dumbo
  • Magic Journeys — previously at Epcot, moved to the MK to make room for Captain EO
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Skyway to Tomorrowland
  • It’s a Small World
  • Snow White’s Adventures — the original, terrifying version that was toned down and renamed “Scary Adventures” later that decade
  • Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride — “takes Guests zigging and zagging along the road to Nowhere in Particular”
  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
ENTERTAINMENT:
  • Kids of the Kingdom — “During the summer and Easter seasons, this group performs every day in the Castle forecourt.”
  • Fantasy Faire stage — “a lively musical revue...presented 5 times daily, 5 days a week” with characters and human performers
  • Walt Disney World Marching Band — same guys who played in various configurations for Main Street, Frontierland, and Fantasyland, much as they still do today
  • Fantasy in the Sky fireworks — “a rate of 1 shell every 2 seconds”
SHOPPING:
  • The King’s Gallery — “one of the Magic Kingdom’s best...Spanish-made swords, German beer mugs...chess sets, and more—very little of it at rock-bottom prices. Also here, practiced artisans demonstrate the art of damascening, a form of metal-working originated by the inhabitants of Damascus in the sixth century A.D. ... Painstakingly, these skilled workers dip steel pendants into acid to create tiny pores, then use a combination of sterling silver and 24-karat gold wire to outline butterflies and other designs onto the acid-blackened steel.”
  • Mickey’s Christmas Carol
  • Disneyana Shop — film cels and such
  • The Mad Hatter
  • Tinkerbell Toy Shop — “stuffed animals, miniature model cars and trucks...windup toys and wooden toys...and a positively marvelous array of Madame Alexander dolls. A must.”
  • The Aristocats — Disney souvenirs
  • The Royal Candy Shoppe — candy and souvenirs
  • Kodak Kiosk
  • Nemo’s Niche — named for Capt. Nemo from 20k; stuffed animals
FOOD:
  • King Stefan’s Banquet Hall — Named for Aurora’s father despite being located within Cinderella Castle because Imagineers thought “King Stefan” sounded more regal. “Reservations are required for both lunch and dinner. To make them, present yourself at the Castle door as soon after arriving at the Magic Kingdom as possible.” That’s right, everyone: in 1990, the castle restaurant only took same-day reservations!
  • Pinocchio Village Haus — chicken strips, burgers, hot dogs
  • Enchanted Grove — slushes
  • Troubadour Tavern — “a small refreshment stand” with chips and soft drinks
  • The Round Table — ice cream
  • Tournament Tent — milk shakes
  • Gurgi’s Munchies and Crunchies — chicken strips, etc. “to please finicky eaters”
 
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tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Mickey’s Christmas Carol shop (pic from the guidebook):
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A blog post from a guy who worked at Gurgi’s:
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disneyphemera.blogspot.com

Gurgi's Munchies & Crunchies Photos

While on vacation a couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit one of my fellow College Program cast members. While looking through h...
disneyphemera.blogspot.com disneyphemera.blogspot.com


The kid’s menu from the banquet hall. I still have mine from c. 1992, and it is die-cut with full-color illustrations throughout the item listings.
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The adult menu cover:
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In 2019 dollars, the filet mignon entree would cost $29, the dessert crêpe would be $2.45, a kid’s filet mignon would cost $10.60, and a drink would be $1.47.
 
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