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Looking Back

While the kids don't care too much yet about Walt, Roy, and their hope and dreams, those of us who grew up watching their rise to fame and playing in their theme parks always want to know more about how it happened and how we got from the "Florida Project" to what we have today. The column will be dedicated to history, Disney-style.

Articles

POSTED Wed, 07/13/2011 - 12:00 | POSTED BY Kristen Heptinstall
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'Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue' history [Looking Back]

Considered to be one of the longest, continuously running musicals in American theatre history, with more than 35,000 performances and 10 million happy audience members -- my, that's a lot of fried chicken! -- the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue has been going strong since June 1974 at Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness.

POSTED Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:00 | POSTED BY Kasey O'Connor
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Extinct Disney World Attractions [Facebook Fans]

We recently asked out Facebook fans, "What's your favorite extinct Disney World attraction?" And we got some great responses!

POSTED Tue, 06/21/2011 - 12:00 | POSTED BY Kristen Heptinstall
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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea [Looking Back]

What historic Disney World attraction required 11.5 million gallons of water and almost a quarter of the space in the largest land in the Magic Kingdom? 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, of course.

POSTED Fri, 06/17/2011 - 11:00 | POSTED BY Kasey O'Connor
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Profile of an Imagineer: Xavier Atencio

How did a shy animator come to write some of the most recognizable lyrics in all of Disney World? According to Xavier "X" Atencio, "Walt had an uncanny ability of finding talent in these people that we didn't know we had ourselves."

POSTED Wed, 06/08/2011 - 12:00 | POSTED BY Kristen Heptinstall
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Pleasure Island [Looking Back]

What's your take on Pleasure Island? Are you looking forward to the new Hyperion Wharf? Do you miss the closed nightclubs?

POSTED Thu, 06/02/2011 - 12:00 | POSTED BY Kristen Heptinstall
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River Country Water Park (Looking Back)

We're talking about Disney World's forgotten water park. We all love Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, but did you know about Walt Disney World's first water park? River Country opened on June 20, 1976 and ceased operations on November 2, 2001.

POSTED Thu, 06/02/2011 - 01:55 | POSTED BY Kasey O'Connor
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Profile of an Imagineer: Roger Broggie

Roger Broggie was the first Walt Disney Imagineer. A mechanical genius who embodied the spirit of Disney Imagineering with his ability to blend creative imagination and technical knowledge, Broggie was a close friend of Walt Disney. He helped lay the groundwork for Disneyland and the other Disney parks that followed.

POSTED Tue, 05/17/2011 - 12:00 | POSTED BY Kristen Heptinstall
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Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress [Looking Back]

Did you know that Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom is the longest-running stage show with the most performances in the history of American Theater? It's also the oldest attraction at Walt Disney World and the only attraction to have a direct tie to Walt himself.

POSTED Mon, 05/09/2011 - 12:00 | POSTED BY Kristen Heptinstall
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Remembering Mr. Toad's Wild Ride [Looking Back]

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was an original opening day attraction at the Magic Kingdom in October 1971. A classic Fantasyland dark ride, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was based on the Disney adaptation of "The Wind in the Willows."

POSTED Mon, 04/25/2011 - 12:00 | POSTED BY Kristen Heptinstall
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Magic Kingdom's The Timekeeper [Looking Back]

Tomorrowland's The Timekeeper was Disney's first attempt to merge a Circle-Vision 360deg movie with Audio-Animatronic characters.