1976 in the Magic Kingdom

[Tigerinvestigator]

Just thought I would share this with the only people in the world who would care at all.

My earliest memory as a child was when I was three years old. It was actually my fourth trip to WDW although I have no memory at all of the previous trips. My earliest memory was 1976 and I actually remember several things about that trip. It was special because it was the only vacation I ever took with my paternal Grandparents. I remember the flight to Orlando with my Grandfather. I remember running down the little hill at the Polynesian where we stayed. I remember sitting in the Great Ceremonial house at check-in with those blue and seafoam green tile floors. I remember riding 20,000 leagues because my grandparent's took my little brother back to the room so that my parent's could ride with me.....ANYWAY I was looking through some of my Grandparent's old papers recently (they are both no longer living) and I ran across the brochures my Grandfather received at check-in. I have enjoyed reading them very much and wanted to share some of the info in them.

For instance: The price for one day entry with 8 attraction tickets was $7.25 per adult and $6.25 per child. A two day 18 ticket admission including a cruise to Treasure Island and admission was only $18.25 per adult and $15.25 per child.

Other things were very inexpensive as well. River Country waterpark was $3.50 per adult and $2.50 per child. Pretty good for a day at the "ole swimmin hole".

I will be posting some other info I found interesting shortly.

[Tigerinvestigator]

I found the shops on Mainstreet USA very interesting in 1976. There were many shops and some were pretty funny. Do you remember "The Greenhouse"? It was a florist on Mainstreet USA that specialized in corsages! Thats right, many people "dressed up" and the photos in the brochures are all of people in their Sunday best. Many of the ladies were apparently bought corsages by their husbands. My wife would die if they did that now.

How bout the shop the "Tobbaconist" which sold fine cigars, tobacco, cigarettes, pipes and accessories. How politically correct would that be today?

I remember "The House of Magic" which not only specialized in magic tricks, but scary masks as well. I still have two of those masks at home. Buying a mask was always a highlight for my brother and I.

Then there are the "lost attractions" in the brochure that are no longer there.

Skyway, The Mickey Mouse Revue, Mr. Toad's WIld Ride, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, Davey Crockett's Explorer Canoes, Diamond Horseshoe Revue, Mike Fink Keelboats, Plaza Swan Boats, The Walt Disney Story, Caribbean Arcade, If You Had Wings, Circle Vision 360, and Mission to Mars.

I miss those old attractions, but reading these brochures has brought many memories back to me. More later......

[bruin1344]

Even though my first visit disney wasnt until 1990, I enjoy hearing what the old WDW and Disneyland were like, reading old brochures, and looking at old photos or videos.

[BigRedDad]

The earliest memory I have (not mine but from my sister and mom), is that I was the first person to get their head stuck in the slats of the fence at the Haunted Mansion. They had to pry the bars apart to get my head out. I was about 2.

[Aurora]

I remember "The House of Magic" which not only specialized in magic tricks, but scary masks as well. I still have two of those masks at home. Buying a mask was always a highlight for my brother and I.

Ours too!! My sister and I were teens in the late '70s and bought rubber Frankenstein and troll masks there. Then we wore them while riding our hotel elevator up and down the floors, not saying a word, just getting a kick out of the looks on people's faces as they entered the elevator. Ah, the innocent days!

[ransam]

1976 was the first year i ever went to WDW

[Tigerinvestigator]

Ours too!! My sister and I were teens in the late '70s and bought rubber Frankenstein and troll masks there. Then we wore them while riding our hotel elevator up and down the floors, not saying a word, just getting a kick out of the looks on people's faces as they entered the elevator. Ah, the innocent days!

We still have the dark green Frankenstein rubber mask. We also have a glow in the dark rubber skeleton mask. They were pretty expensive and built to last back in the 70's.

[Zippy 1]

I just love to read stuff like that - thank you for sharing

[magicofdisney]

'75 or '76 was when I have my first memories of Disney. Because we lived so close, all we ever took were day trips. No one in my family held onto any brochures of any kind. I wish I had some to look back on and revisit the memories. This is why I love so much when others share pictures or stories from the past.

[dmallan]

1976 was our first trip as well. I remember the bicentennial themed parade and the "free attractions" that did not cost a ticket: circle vision 360, if you had wings, and (I think) carousel of progress.
We stayed offsite at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. Lots of fun family memories!

[BrowncatP]

1976 was my first visit too! I don't remember much though.

[11290]

1976 was our first trip as well. I remember the bicentennial themed parade and the "free attractions" that did not cost a ticket: circle vision 360, if you had wings, and (I think) carousel of progress.
We stayed offsite at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. Lots of fun family memories!

"bicentennial themed parade" is on YouTube. How things have changed.

[minnie-mouse]

Yes! I went that year too, I was 3. I remember staying at the Poly and the pool area at night. I remember sitting on the sidewalk of Main Street at the parade. Wow, this brings back such great memories.

[BAMABOY]

76 was my first trip too and It was with my Grandparents as well. We stayed in the Snow White campground in Kissimmee and it was HOT! I still have the bucket hat my parents bought me, wonder if it is worth anything?

[RavsRuleDisney!]

Can't beat all these great ol' Disney memories!! First trip for me was '74(I was 10)....stayed at the Contemporary North - remember running those halls constantly....we ran like banshees getting onto the monorail....had a blast at the Hoop-de-do where i believe my uncle ended up onstage and we walked out to a monsoon....Speedway was 1st ride i remember ever going on - now a first ride tradition for me and my DS'....did the Luau which was fun AND buggy - have not done it since but on the bucket list ....remember the band coming up from the stage at the old food court....great brakfast buffet at Top of the World where I discovered tasty WDW bacon....

I look back and think how big and how much there was to do and see as a 10 year old not realizing it was just the beginning. Definately a fun, innocent time to be at WDW as a kid with the family in the 70's....

[indytraveler]

Thanks for sharing. My grandparents lived in Kissimmee so we went and visited in the summer and winter Christmas times. I remember the tickets to purchase for attractions, and the places on Main Street. The flowers I remembered because they smelled and also, I was stung by a bee too.

Your souvenirs that you mentioned are the reasons why I've kept everything from the WDW vacations I took with my family starting in the late '90's. Old Park hopper tickets, maps, popcorn buckets, you name it. It's not the monetary value of these things as they age, but rather the memorable value they mean to my family.

Thanks for sharing.

[dmallan]

"bicentennial themed parade" is on YouTube. How things have changed.

Wow! Thanks for finding that!

[BrowncatP]

Ok you 76'ers Do any of you have The Story of Walt Disney World-commemorative edition? Black cover with a D shape front cover.

[SandmanGStefani24]

thanks so much for posting!

it's funny how much that first trip really sticks with you. I was too young to remember my first, but I have most of my second trip burned into my memory. i will never forget all the little details about it..

I also liked your listing of the attractions that were gone too, very interesting! I started thinking about all the ones that were gone from the times I've been. Eh, probably best not to think about that part...

[11290]

Wow! Thanks for finding that!

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxqt1vNtxLU

Kind of hilarious to see a walking telephone earpiece and a walking mustard jar.

First saw it a couple of years ago before one of our night parade meetings at MK. We usually have some kind of video before the meeting depending on who the coordinator is for the night.