August 14, 2014

Magic Kingdom Opening Day Map

Disney park maps, especially "Castle Park" maps, have always been a favorite souvenir item. There have been many, many great and detailed maps for Disneyland but not really too many for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Here's the opening day souvenir map.

How different the park was then compared to now. Long gone are opening day attractions such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White's Adventures and the Mickey Mouse Revue. 

It's also hard to believe what wasn't there on opening day. Not a single mountain existed: no Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, or Splash Mountain. The legendary Pirates of the Caribbean was not even built. Nor was it on the drawing boards because the Imagineering legend Marc Davis was busy cooking up a Cowboy and Indian musical journey in the grand Pirates tradition: the unbuilt Western River Expedition

Regardless of the smaller number of attractions compared to Disneyland in California, guests couldn't wait to experience Walt Disney's Florida Kingdom. It was then and remains now, the heart of Walt Disney World.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

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