Walt Disney World Publications

   This page is a cursory glimpse at the nearly innumerable publications that have focused on WDW over the past thirty years. From the widely available hardbound books and free guides to the rare preview literature, I couldn't begin to cover it all. But the following does hint at the range of items that have come about since the resort's inception. The entries below are arranged in reverse chronological order.
 

Walt Disney
World Resort -

   This book was nothing short of a positive signal from the company regarding WDW's treatment of its own history. It starts with the Animal Kingdom park and other recent developments and works back to 1971 in phases, highlighting the openings of most shows, attractions and other resort areas.

   Finally, a Disney publication is seriously acknowledging some of WDW's past wonders. Accordingly, some great old color photos were taken out of cold storage and committed to the public record for the first time ever.  A couple of prime examples are offered below.

   It seemed, briefly, that the company could reflect on the many changes WDW has undergone in the last 30 years while simultaneously blowing the horn for all the new things. Looking at this book, you got the idea that maybe they wouldn't always promote the Studio park as their proudest moment. While the text is largely vapid, peppered with inaccuracies (a photograph of the Admiral Joe Fowler, with its name clearly visible on the wheelhouse, is identified as the Richard F. Irvine) and carries on the rich WDW souvenir tradition of using photographs taken at Disneyland (!), this book is still a step in the right direction. I've been told it's no longer in print, but it may still be available at WDW shops. If you're feeling lucky the ISBN # is 0-7868-6386-2.

Walt Disney World...
a pictorial souvenir
1977

   While not the first pictorial souvenir (the first was issued in 1972), 1977's edition was instrumental in crystallizing what I think of as WDW's "finest hour."  Nothing significant had disappeared from the park when this was published, Tomorrowland had recently flowered into an exciting garden of white concrete, EPCOT had yet to be committed to a final conceptual format and the Vacation Kingdom's future seemed irrepressibly bright.

   The photographs are fantastic, and take in a great range of subject material.  There are pictures of many quiet corners, little shops and real people doing real things that make the old pictorials seem like true time capsules.  It wasn't long before subsequent souvenir publications were overrun with posed shots of model families in unbelievably bright clothes, publicity stills from new attractions and photos with Disney character art superimposed atop them. Ick. 

Walt Disney World
Winter/Spring 1975 brochure
Published in late 1974

   This was just one in a long series of customized handouts that touted things that were new to the resort at a specific point in time

   In early 1975, Walt Disney World was at the end of its "Phase One" development - as defined by its then-president Card Walker. And one could see in this small foldout just how much had been added in a short period of time.

   Space Mountain was the showpiece of WDW during the mid-1970s and took top billing under the "New Sights For '75" portion of this publication. The Carousel of Progress, which was returning to the East Coast after a six-year run at Disneyland, also figured prominently. The StarJets and Pioneer Hall (Fort Wilderness) were the remaining two marquee additions.

   The brochure also featured a map of the property, information on accommodations and recreational activities, plus a breakdown of ticket options and prices. General admission to the Magic Kingdom was $5.25 for an adult. But if you wanted an "8 Adventure" ticket book to go with it, you had to hand over $6.50.

   

Walt Disney World - Florida
1970

  This oversized publication, measuring approximately 14" x 18", was the more elusive counterpart to the 8" x 10" "Walt Disney World Preview Edition," also published in 1970. The smaller booklet was made available to the general public at the Walt Disney World Preview Center, while the larger version was reserved for civic and business leaders, dignitaries and institutional use.

A great selection of concept art was included in this book, including this early look for Space Mountain, which more closely resembles the original Space Port concept
envisioned for Disneyland in the mid 1960s than it does the final version
of the ride that came to Florida in 1975.

PROJECT FLORIDA - A Whole New DISNEY WORLD
1967

   The public's first real look at the company's plans for Florida came in the form of this 20-page softbound booklet.  Released in conjunction with the first screening of Walt's EPCOT film in February 1967, this was part of the push to secure the legislation that Disney wanted before committing to construction on the 43 square miles of land it had begun purchasing in 1964.

    EPCOT (the city) was the focus of this publication, and hence the majority of the content and illustrations bears little resemblance to what actually transpired in the years that followed. Some material on Disneyland, the 1964-65 World's Fair, and the amusement and recreational aspects of WDW (that were to be just a part of the larger whole) is contained within its pages also. There is no doubt, though, that the driving force behind the project was Walt's showplace for the reinvention of urban life.  And here is ample proof that EPCOT was both ideologically mature and on track.

   The illustrations are plentiful and fascinating.  They range from detailed cutaway paintings of EPCOT's city center to photographs of WED legends chewing the fat (such as Marc Davis, Dick Irvine and Claude Coats below) amidst seas of wild concept art and models.  Although fairly rare, this edition has shown up from time to time at conventions.

Images copyright the Walt Disney Company.  Text copyright 2001 Mike Lee.