By Keith Mahne

In commemoration of Walt Disney World's 45th anniversary, Disney Avenue will be running a 3 part series on the development of the Florida resort that is jammed-packed with quotes over the years from Disney employees who were responsible for the concept, planning and construction that led to Opening Day, October 1, 1971. Join us today for Part I as we remember the obstacles the Company faced as they attempted to bring the magic of Disney to Florida as we celebrate the creation of the Vacation Kingdom of the World...

By Brittany Bell

Walter Elias Disney was an innovator. He made his dreams become a reality, and sought to bring new entertainment experiences to the world. He also strived to create a better, more connected world, an idea which he materialized in his plans for E.P.C.O.T.: the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. If one were to visit Epcot today, some of Walt’s original ideas still are alive and well. In addition, one quick ride on the Magic Kingdom's PeopleMover will give guests a glimpse at Walt’s model for his groundbreaking idea for the future of our cities—a model that is only a fraction of his entire dream. However, Walt’s untimely death halted, and almost lost, all plans for his EPCOT City, with the idea only coming back to the table in the late 70s when construction on EPCOT Center began. With all of the new ideas and innovation planned for EPCOT City, one can’t help but wonder what the world would look like today if Walt had lived another ten or twenty years. Join us in today's new article as we journey into a dream of the future: one in which Walt Disney’s E.P.C.O.T. became a reality and the effects it would have on our world today…

By Ron Baxley

Published Wonderland and Oz author Ron Baxley, Jr. leaps down the rabbit hole to illogical, mad adventures and shows us some Wonderland-themed options at the Disney Parks for his latest Disney Avenue article. Join him and be sure not to be late for this very important date...

By Ted Linhart

When Walt Disney World was being developed and constructed it needed a world class communications system in order to fulfill the goals Walt himself set for “The Florida Project.” And so, in 1968, RCA stepped up to the plate with a proposal for a system that attempted to provide those solutions for the Disney World complex, although it may have been decades ahead of its time. In today's new article, you will be able to see that exact same 72-page RCA proposal thanks to a copy once owned by an executive who actually worked on this very enthusiastic and exciting project. This is a piece of Disney World history you won't want to miss...

By Keith Mahne

Here is the music loop you've all been waiting for!! Sit back and relax as you listen to 3 hours of magical Disney Polynesian Resort music that plays at the unload area/Monorail Station, the Great Ceremonial House (lobby) including Kona Café and Captain Cook's, the Lava and East pools, and along the beach. I can't think of a more magical way to be transported to one of Walt Disney World's most beloved resorts between trips than this. Enjoy friends...

By Keith Mahne

The talking skull in Pirates of the Caribbean has warned guests that "Dead Men tell no tales" millions of times over the years. The poor mayor has been dunked countless times (and still hasn't drowned). The auctioneer has been trying to unload the same plump young wench on the same six pirates hundreds of times a day, 365 days a year with no takers. And those same six pirates have been wanting the "red 'ed" without success for almost 50 years. Day after day, year after year, the pirates have been singing and pillaging and plundering and kidnapping and extorting and marauding, much to the delight of the thousands of Disneyland guests who line up daily to see the less-than-daring exploits of these fun-loving scalawags. In fact, Pirates of the Caribbean has emerged as perhaps the most successful attraction ever built at a Disney Theme Park and it's all thanks to the Imagineers. In today's new article, we'll hear from some of those very same Imagineers who have shared their memories over the years on creating one of the best Disney attractions that has been exciting guests with almost 50 years of plundering fun...

By Keith Mahne

In 1964, the first Disney designed PeopleMover system carried guests through the Ford pavilion at the New York World's Fair. Three years later, Disneyland inaugurated a similar system called the Goodyear PeopleMover which has carried countless numbers of people over millions of passenger miles before its unfortunate closer in 1995. The year 1975 brought the WEDway PeopleMover to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom by utilizing a linear induction propulsion system to economically transport thousands of guests silently every day. The Community Transportation Services (CTS), a former subsidiary of Walt Disney Productions, was responsible for all the research, development, construction, testing and operation of transportation systems for the Disney Parks, including Walt Disney's planned Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). In today's new article, thanks to a 1977 booklet created by the CTS, we will take an in-depth look at the WEDway PeopleMover, your quiet and carefree highway in the sky...

By Jimmy Wienholz

Disney California Adventure has been perhaps the most troubled theme park ever built by the Disney Company. When the park first opened in 2001 it was immediately the subject of controversy among die-hard Disney fans who felt that the park was built on the cheap and quite tacky. Thankfully in 2007, Disney announced a major expansion as well as a major overhaul of a significant portion of the park. Construction lasted for five years and was completed in stages, culminating with the opening of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land in June 2012. The evolution of Disney California Adventure is fascinating and is a real testament to how talented Disney Imagineers truly are. Let's take a look at how Disney saved the park in today's new article...

By Ron Baxley

Gawrsh! Who wouldn't enjoy a fun-filled breakfast or dinner with Goofy as your host? Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel welcomes you to the eatery where boisterous fun is the order of the day. It's a place where you can come and enjoy all you care to eat while snapping memorable photos with Goofy and the gang. In today's new article, new contributing writer Ron Baxley takes us with him on a recent trip to the restaurant and offers his review of this memorable dining location you won't want to miss...

By Rebekah Coley

Ever since Walt Disney began producing feature-length animated films, audiences have fallen in love with the concept of cartoon musicals. To no one’s surprise, the movies’ colorful locations, lovable characters, and catchy melodies have translated well into several stage productions. Starting with Broadway’s extremely successful adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (1994), Walt Disney Theatricals has gone on to produce several smash hits. Many Disney fans are familiar with these shows; however, one had fallen under the radar for Disney Avenue contributing writer, Rebekah Coley. Musical lovers will definitely want to check out today’s article to read her thoughts on Elton John and Tim Rice's fantastic musical Aida...

By Keith Mahne

How would you like to take a behind-the-scenes look at Walt Disney World back in the 1990s that focused on the challenges and creative solutions being researched and implemented by the Walt Disney Company with Epcot as the testing grounds? Thanks to a booklet put together by the Disney University specifically for cast members titled "Innovation In Action," we are going to take a closer look and explore the systems and projects that have made, not just Epcot, but the entire Walt Disney World Resort complex the real Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow that it is today...

By Chris Lyndon

In 1957, Disneyland Records produced a fantastic album featuring the Mellomen Quartet singing a dozen barbershop ballads inspired by Disneyland's Main Street USA. This group also provided many vocal performances for both Walt Disney's animated and live-action films, television shows and theme park attractions throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The bass singer with the group was none other than Disney Legend and voice-over icon, Thurl Ravenscroft. Learn the rich history of Walt Disney and the Mellomen Quartet and hear the nostalgic and soothing album "Meet Me Down on Main Street" in today's new article...

By Keith Mahne

The world premiere of Walt Disney's Mary Poppins took place on a warm summer night in August of 1964 at the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The glamorous premiere was broadcast live on local Los Angeles television along with a separate live radio broadcast of all the opening night festivities. The complete recordings for these two broadcasts are not known to exist. However, a variety of film and sound elements from that special night were recently discovered in Disney vaults spanning two continents. The surviving film clips you are about to see are a mix of color and black and white. For the first time, the recordings have been cut together and matched as close as possible to recreate the excitement of that gala premiere. Let's return to the summer of 1964 and join in on the excitement of Walt Disney's most incredible film as we visit the world premiere of Mary Poppins...