High-Flying Heritage

High-Flying Heritage: A Walt Disney World Moment 50 Years in the Making

By Becky Cline and Kevin M. Kern, Walt Disney Archives Every now and then, we here in the Archives have the honor of spotlighting historical materials so unique from our collection that the objects themselves seem to transcend matters of just Disney history and cross over into a realm documenting a wider moment from popular …

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predator

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1980s: Predator

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives This film is for mature audiences. Halloween is just a couple weeks away and with it, all manner of spooky, scary creatures have begun haunting us… Among these ghouls and goblins, there may be a particularly scary creature lurking in the shadows of the jungle. Get to the chopper …

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archives walt disney world

50 Years of The Vacation Kingdom of the World

By Francesca Scrimgeour, Walt Disney Archives With the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World underway, what better way to celebrate than by looking back at the grand opening celebration of the Magic Kingdom Park? After the success of the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, Walt Disney recognized the impact an East Coast theme park and …

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Manuel Gonzales

Legendary Handprints – Manuel Gonzales

In 1936, the Disney studio needed new artists to work on its first feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Open auditions for artists were held at Rockefeller Center in New York, and Manuel Gonzales was one of 33 selected from thousands of applicants to join the Disney ranks. In 1938, Gonzales took over penciling …

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1970s: The Rocky Horror Picture Show

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives This film is for mature audiences. Halloween is creeping up ever closer, and with the eerie flicker of jack-o’-lanterns lighting our way through a stormy evening, we are continuing our journey through some of the most “spooktacular” films from 20th Century Fox. What awaits us now is perhaps the …

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collector set inspo

The Retro Inspirations Behind the 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector Set

By the D23 Team This month, we’re ringing in 50 magical years of Walt Disney World Resort—but here at D23, we’ve been celebrating this milestone anniversary all year long, thanks to our 2021 D23 Gold Member Collector set! The Collector Set takes inspiration from the classic souvenirs of “The Vacation Kingdom of the World.” With …

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Planet of the Apes

20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” – 1960s: Planet of the Apes

By Christina Pappous, Walt Disney Archives Fall is officially upon us and Halloween is creeping just around the corner! To celebrate, our 20th Century Fox “Spooktacular” continues on to our next stop: that most swingin’ of decades—the 1960s. We’re not “monkeying” around when we say our next film explores what could await humanity in a …

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A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth

Painting A Portrait of Walt Disney World: Inside the Stunning New Book That Celebrates 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth

By Zach Johnson Today, Walt Disney World Resort kicks off “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” an 18-month event to commemorate its 50th anniversary with new attractions, nighttime spectaculars, and more. Across its theme parks and resorts, there are countless ways to mark this milestone—and thanks to Disney Editions, you can also immerse yourself in its …

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