Ward Kimball

   I came across this article in an old Disney magazine issue, and was inclined to share it with everybody.  I was perusing this particular magazine because it was issued about 10 years ago.  Soon after Wards death on July 8th 2002.  I will let Charles Solomon, the author of this article, tell you about Ward Kimball.  Open this in a separate window to view full size.

Polynesian Pools of The Past

      Granted the refurbished volcano pool at the Polynesian Resort is still relatively new,  these pictures of the old pool were taken in the late 80's.  The volcano pool was remodeled in 2001, which at that time got rid of the deep end of the pool.  I was a big fan of being able to actually swim in pool on Disney property.  Now all the pools that I know of have a max depth of less than six feet.  This pool used to have a max depth of 9' 6", and the other pool at the Poly had a max depth of 8'.  Now the other "adult pool" has a max depth of less than 5'.  There are a couple reasons that I can think of to remove said deep ends of pools. Either because of insurance liabilities, or not having to pay lifeguards to be on duty. 

      The other round pool used to be a quiet place for adults to relax and sunbathe with all the children at the volcano pool or swimming in the lagoon.  Now that pool is pretty much a kiddie pool as well there is not that area for the adults.  Even when we used to swim there as children we had to keep it mellow for the sake of the other people enjoying their time as well.  If we wanted to roughhouse and be crazy, our parents would send us to the volcano pool.   The last time I was staying at the Poly, which was over the 40th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom, the round pool was as much of a madhouse as the volcano pool.  I do miss the days when Disney actually catered to adults as well as children.  Either it is cost cutting or the fact that Disney knows us adults will come back because of our memories of how awesome it used to be.  One more thing, why does the Poly not have a hot tub?  My rant is over, thanks for reading!

Old volcano pool from the deep end of the pool

Overview of the pool area in its former glory

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The "adult" pool in it's former glory

   Gra

Backlot Tour at Night

     I am not exactly sure when the last time that the Studio Backlot Tour Trams pulled guests around the "backlot" of Disney's MGM Studios at night. I do know it was well before the name change to Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2008. Here are some pics of the tour at night around 1990.  Check the Dick Tracy cars and the Flight of the Navigator ship.  Catastrophe Canyon was such a cool experience at night.  Also there is one pic of Residential Street. Enjoy.

Let's Tour EPCOT Center

      I always love to peruse Amazon to find old Walt Disney World literature.  There are a lot of used book retailers out there that are ready to unload books that only we as Disney super fans would care about.  Case in point, here we have a children's book from 1984. Guess how much it cost me? It cost $.30, no not $30.00, but $00.30.  Granted I paid 10 times that amount in shipping, but that is beside the point.  This book is only like eight pages long, but for the price how can you go wrong.  I would pay that for just one picture of EPCOT Center in 1984.  So I will share a few of the photos found in this little gem.

The front cover

The back cover

Original Journey into Imagination

Look how clear the dome windows were back then

 Radok screen pre show in Universe of energy 

The Energy Exchange in CommuniCore East

Dreamfinder the maestro

A-mazing Microchip

Kitchen Kaberet

Future city in World of Motion

Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit

Transportation of Tomorrow

  This is very cool.  Picture from the WedWay People mover with a Skyway bucket in front of Space Mountain  from 1989.

More 20,000 leagues

    I came upon a bunch more photos from the eighty's.  And I actually have access to a computer to scan and post them.  So I will bring a few more 20,000 leagues pictures to the table as the new Little Mermaid attraction is almost online in New Fantasyland.  We can take a look back to an attraction that used to occupy some of that real-estate.

A view from the skyway

Local seafood

The seaweed sways with the ebb and flow of the tide

More wildlife

    Here are a few promotional pictures I have from a book from 1986.  The lagoon was so beautiful, and offered some amazing photo opportunities.

A beautiful fleet of seafaring vessels

Early morning mist

I absolutely love this angle

Sea farmers

Children's Activity Centers

     Children's Activity Centers at select Walt Disney World Resorts allow parents to enjoy a night out and leave the kids at a Disney resort where they will be cared for and entertained. The clubs provide video games, toys, Disney movies, dinner and snacks. Parents are provided with pagers so they can be contacted if necessary. I am not sure how much it cost to house you child at one of these clubs then, but now it will run you $11.50/hr.  Which I do not think is ridiculous by today's standards.  Camp Dolphin at the Dolphin Resort runs $10.00/hr.  The other clubs around property include The Mousketeer Clubhouse at The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Simba's Clubhouse at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Neverland Club at the Polynesian Resort, Sandcastle Club at the Beach Club, and Cub's Den at the Wilderness Lodge,  Each club has a different theme based on the resort within which the club is located.
 

climbing out of the nursery window

Cloud pillows

         The best facility I visited was the Neverland Club at the Polynesian Resort. It was a blast as a child here.  As a child of the 80's, arcades were the most fun you could have.  The Neverland club featured arcade games that you could play continually without pumping in quarters, which was unheard of to me at that time. Constant classic Disney shorts or feature animated films shown on a screen that only rivaled that of Universe of Energy, or so it seemed.  Amazing themeing throughout including climbing out of the nursery window to "fly" to Neverland, cloud pillows from being in the sky "flying", even Hooks pirate ship.

       There was a buffet which served only kids favorites like mac and cheese, pizza, chicken fingers, and pb&j.  With dessert I might add.  Unlike today, where you are limited to so much per child, I served myself up an "unhealthy" portion of ice cream for my hot fudge sundae. I loved these times as a child, and made some fond memories at the club.  I am sure my parents had a blast without us three kids.  They ate at nice restaurants like California Grill and Narcoossee's,  while we as children had a ton of Disney fun. I would not hesitate to send my child to one of these places, especially the Neverland Club.  Even though times have changed in 20 years, the Disney difference hasn't.

   The above certificate was handed out to the children after your stay at the Mouseketeer Clubhouse at the Grand Floridian, at least back in 1986.  I do not have one for the Neverland Club, so I am not sure if you received something like this.  If anyone knows what was given out, if anything, from the Neverland Club I would love to hear about it.