25 Photos That Capture the Joy of Disney World Through the Decades
Since opening its gates in 1971, Disney World has become a living scrapbook of American nostalgia. The ‘70s brought the charm of the Carousel of Progress and the space-age thrills of Space Mountain, while the ‘80s and ‘90s saw Mickey’s kingdom expand with the fairy-tale magic of new lands like Toontown and Disney-MGM Studios. By the 2000s, crowds were pouring into the parks for the jaw-dropping worlds of Avatar in Pandora, proving that Disney still knows how to wow a new generation.
But through all the changes, one thing stayed the same: How that first glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle sparks the same wide-eyed wonder in kids (and adults). Here are 25 photos that capture Disney World through the decades, from opening day to today.
1. Disney World’s Opening Day in Orlando, Florida, on October 1, 1971
2. A Newspaper Clipping of the Orlando Sentinel’s Front Page Celebrating the Grand Opening of Walt Disney World, 1971
3. An Aerial View of Disney World, 1971
4. Guests Gather for a Performance at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, 1971
5. ‘Disney Characters Behind the Scenes at Disney World, 1972’
6. A Glimpse of Disney’s Retro-Futuristic Vision Featuring ‘Mission to Mars’ and the Rocket Tower Plaza, 1975
7. ‘Vintage Walt Disney World, Circa 1975’
8. A View of Cinderella’s Castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, 1976
9. Guests Stroll Past a Carousel With the Cinderella Castle Towering in the Distance, 1977
10. A Ferry Boat Pictured Crossing the Park’s ‘Seven Seas Lagoon’ Toward Magic Kingdom, 1980
11. Spending the Day at Disney With the Besties, 1980s
12. Kids Meeting Minnie Mouse, Early ’80s
13. All Aboard for Adventure: Guests Ride the Double-Decker Omnibus Through Disney’s Main Street, 1982
14. A Guest Takes a Break While Sharing a Laugh With Eeyore, 1980s
15. Family Fun at Disney’s Fantasyland, Circa 1985
16. Snow White Greets Young Guests at Disney’s Magic Kingdom as the Seven Dwarfs Look on, 1980s
17. A Family Takes the Plunge Down Disney’s Splash Mountain, 1980s
18. ‘Construction Workers at Epcot in Disney World, Early 1980s’
19. This Little Kid Was Not Impressed With Pluto, 1990
20. Visiting Disney World in the Spring of ’93
21. Cinderella’s Castle Transformed Into a Giant Pink Cake for Walt Disney World’s 25th Anniversary in 1996
22. Epcot During the 25th Anniversary, 1996
23. The Millennium Parade at Epcot, March 2000
24. ‘Stars Wars Weekend, 2010’
25. ‘Main Street at Magic Kingdom With an Old Vintage Film Camera’
In search of more Disney content?
For fans who collect Disney memorabilia, be sure to check out 15 Vintage Disney Items That Are Now Collector Gold. But if you’re interested in more general vintage toys, you’ll love 13 Valuable Toys From the 1960s Worth Thousands and 12 Vintage Train Sets That Are Highly Collectible Today.