Have you had a chance to visit the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this year? The character topiaries throughout Future World and World Showcase are my favorite part. Topiaries have been a part of the Walt Disney World Resort for many years. Below, Goofy and Pluto admire their own topiaries back in 1985.

 
Pretty great for 1985, but they pale in comparison to their counterparts of today. Today our horticulture team creates topiaries that are even more advanced and realistic. Here’s a look at the 2013 version of Goofy and Pluto at the festival.

This year’s festival runs through May 19, so you still have time to see all of the amazing topiaries throughout Epcot.


Read on for more “Vintage Walt Disney World”:

• Vintage Walt Disney World: A Wild Dedication for Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Vintage Walt Disney World: Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village Opens
• Vintage Walt Disney World: What’s Your Ticket?

Tagged: Epcot, International Flower and Garden Festival, WDW

Filed: Disney History, Epcot, Special Events, Walt Disney World Resort

On April 21, 1998, Walt Disney World Resort dedicated its fourth theme park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a colorful ceremony celebrating animals real, ancient and imagined.

Michael Eisner, then chairman and chief executive officer, along with Roy E. Disney, former vice chairman of The Walt Disney Company were on hand to dedicate the park. Roy stated, “Disney’s Animal Kingdom, like the animal world itself, will evolve and grow. It’s truly a living thing.”

While large puppets of birds flew over the crowd and other animals marched down the aisles, the dedication ceremony was a celebration of animals, conservation and the cast members who made Disney’s Animal Kingdom possible. Here’s to another 15 years of wild adventures!

Tagged: DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney History, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

“Our tours are designed to take you to the early crustaceous period. And I can assure you that all Time Rovers have been securely locked on those coordinates.” Famous last words from Dr. Marsh, right?

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park brought the age of the dinosaurs back to life in 1998 when the Dino Institute in Dinoland, U.S.A., opened. Here’s a look at the Institute still under construction in October 1997.

Originally called Countdown to Extinction, this attraction takes guests 65 million years back in time to rescue an iguanodon from extinction. The attraction changed its name on May 1, 2000 in honor of the Walt Disney Pictures film “Dinosaur.”

DINOSAUR is one of two attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to open before the movie it was based upon premiered in theaters. The other is “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” based on the Disney●Pixar film A Bug’s Life.

It doesn’t matter how many times I travel back in time on a Time Rover, I always believe Dr. Seeker as he screams, “You’re not gonna make it!” Luckily we do make it, and I’m still here to write about my adventures at the Dino Institute.

Tagged: DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney History, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

Since opening in 1998, Theater in the Wild has been home to three different productions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Below is an aerial view of the theater when the park was still under construction back in September 1997.

Originally an open-air amphitheater, Theater in the Wild brought The Jungle Book to life from Walt Disney Feature Animation in Journey into Jungle Book. Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie and more sang, danced and retold the story in this 30-minute stage show.

Premiering July 9, 1999, Tarzan Rocks! opened. With singers, dancers, gymnasts, aerialists and in-line skaters joining Tarzan, Jane and Terk this show celebrated the movie’s soundtrack along with amazing stunts and spectacular costumes.

Now home to Finding Nemo-The Musical, Theater in the Wild continues to bring Broadway caliber entertainment to guests of Disney’s Animal Kingdom every day.

Excited about the park’s anniversary? Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #DAK15.

Tagged: DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney History, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

In April, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will celebrate its 15th anniversary. We’re celebrating here at “Vintage Walt Disney World” by taking a look back at this one-of-a-kind theme park over the next four weeks.

Sprawling across approximately 500 acres, Disney’s Animal Kingdom brought the world of animals (both alive and pre-historic) to life for guests at Walt Disney World Resort when it opened in 1998. Below is a look at an aerial view from the park’s entrance in September 1997. (Look closely in the distance; you’ll even see Magic Kingdom Park.)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened with over 40,000 mature trees – 16,000 of them grown right at the Walt Disney World Tree Farm. There were roughly 2,000 species of shrubs and 260 different types of grasses throughout the park, too. Below is a look at the icon of the park, The Tree of Life, still under construction in January 1997.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the first Walt Disney World Resort theme park where the show literally eats the landscape. And by the look of those numbers above, it’s quite the buffet for our animal friends to enjoy.

Excited about the park’s anniversary? Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #DAK15.


Check out more posts about Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

• We Got The Beat: Visiting The Tam Tam Drummers At Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Wildlife Wednesdays: Saddle-Billed Stork Has First Chick; White-Cheeked Gibbon Expands Family with New Addition at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Today in Disney History: Maharajah Jungle Trek Debuts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Tagged: DAK, WDW

Filed: Disney History, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

This week back in 1975, shopping took on a whole new meaning as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village (you might know it as the Downtown Disney Marketplace) opened.

The LBV Shopping Village was home to shops such as Toys Fantastique, The Flower Garden and The Pottery Chalet pictured below. What I wouldn’t give to purchase a treasure offered at The Pottery Chalet today!

Although the area has grown and changed over the years, it’s still a great place to spend the day shopping, dining, and playing at Downtown Disney.

Tagged: Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Disney History, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

Even though St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until Sunday, it’s never too early to send some luck your way from Vintage Walt Disney World. Here’s a look at Mickey Mouse all decked out for the holiday back in 1978. Be safe. Have fun. And the luck of the Irish to ya!

 
Read on for more “Vintage Walt Disney World”:

• Vintage Walt Disney World: What’s Your Ticket?
• Vintage Walt Disney World: Becoming Castaway Cay
• Vintage Walt Disney World: Saluting the Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom Park

Tagged: WDW

Filed: Disney History, Walt Disney World Resort