#8 Looking Back: World of Disney Store

The largest Disney store in the world can be found at the Walt Disney World Resort at Disney Springs. In 1996, the company opened the World of Disney store in the then Disney Village Marketplace, later becoming Downtown Disney. This is where guests could find the largest selection of Disney merchandise. 

After Downtown Disney transformed into Disney Springs in 2015, it was only a matter of time until the World of Disney store underwent an overhaul.

In 2018, the World of Disney closed for expansion and reimagining. The store officially unveiled it's complete transformation in October 2018. According to Disney, the reimagined store "makes shopping easier and more fun - with a dash of pixie dust."

While the new World of Disney store has everything a Disney fan could ever want, the old store had a special feel to it. You knew that in the center of the store you would always find Cinderella's castle with large television screens showing company clips surrounded by merchandise for that year's theme and celebration.

The store also had characters on the ceilings and pictures above the shelves. It wasn't anything special but it had a Disney feel to it. Unfortunately, the store now just feels like you are walking through a giant Disney warehouse. While it does fit into the concept and design of Disney Springs, the building just doesn't have the same character it once did.

Trivia:

Q: The World of Disney store is currently located in Disney Springs. This area has held multiple names over the years. When this area opened in 1975, what was it's original name?

A: Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village


"World of Disney Reopens in Grand Style at Disney Springs", https://wdwnews.com/releases/world-of-disney-reopens-in-grand-style-at-disney-springs/

#7 Chicago: Walt Disney's Birthplace

In a small house on the corner of Tripp Avenue and Palmer Street, Flora and Elias Disney gave birth to their fourth child, Walter Elias Disney, on December 5, 1901. The family had been living in this house just outside of downtown Chicago, Illinois since early 1893.

Elias Disney, a carpenter, built the house with architectural plans from his wife, Flora. Shortly after moving into their new house, the family had their third child, Roy O. Disney on June 24, 1893.

The Disney family lived in Chicago until Walt was four years old. Elias sold the property and the family moved to Marceline, Missouri, where Walt's uncle had purchased land.

After the Disney family moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1911, they returned to Chicago in 1917 because Elias bought stock in the O-Zell Company. Back in Chicago, Walt attended McKinley High School where he drew patriotic cartoons about World War I for the school's newspaper. As his love for drawing continued to grow, Walt took night courses at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.

In 1918, like most young men Walt tried to join the United States Army to fight the Germans but was to young to enlist. Later in September of that year, he joined the Red Cross after forging the date on his birth certificate. While in France as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross, he continued to draw cartoons. In 1919, he returned to Kansas City and the rest is history.

Recently, the house where Walt and Roy O. Disney were born has been renovated to look like it did in 1893 when Elias Disney completed it. The home is a historic landmark for Disney fans and is a must see. It is a place where the entire Disney family spent time together and was the formative years in Walt and Roy's young lives. While most connect Marecline, Missouri to Walt Disney, we should never forget this house where he was born and raised by Flora and Elias Disney.

Trivia:

Q: In December 1903, Elias and Flora Disney had their fifth child, what was his/her name?

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/walt-disney-close/

A: Ruth Flora Disney


More information about the restoration for Walt and Roy O. Disney's birthplace:
http://www.thewaltdisneybirthplace.org/

#6 Looking Back: New Fantasyland Construction

Walt Disney World announced the largest overhaul for Magic Kingdom at the D23 Expo in 2009. The transformation project, named 'New Fantasyland,' would bring two new rides to the land based on The Little Mermaid and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It also included a Beauty and the Beast themed area and restaurant, two Dumbo the Flying Elephant rides, Princess Fairytale Hall and a Storybook Circus themed area.

View of the former location of Ariel's Grotto

New Fantasyland utilized the large site of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage ride, that was not being fully used after closing in 1994. It was partially used as Ariel's Grotto where you could meet Ariel and enjoy a water play area. The area also included Pooh's Playful Spot across from the Winnie the Pooh ride. The new land added two Dumbo rides, the Barnstormer and Storybook Circus to Mickey's Toontown Fair.

View of the former location of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Construction began in early 2010 at The Most Magical Place on Earth and concluded in 2013. During this time, walls were erected in Fantasyland and Mickey's Toontown Fair to transform this area of the park. Guests were eager to see the ongoing construction and new rides being built behind the walls. Before the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride was removed from it's original location in Fantasyland, it was the perfect way to see into New Fantasyland.

The construction crews quickly leveled the ground and started worked on the Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid and The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train rides, as well as the Beast's castle, Belle's cottage and moving the Dumbo ride and Mr. Saunders house to their new locations.  

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train being built

The mystery behind the construction walls made the anticipation of New Fantasyland grow by the day. Once guests could slowly start to see The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the Little Mermaid area and the Beast's castle appear over the construction walls, they knew this would be an amazing overhaul of Fantasyland. 

View from Disney's Contemporary Resort at Beast's castle

This was a major transformation of the Magic Kingdom, one that had not been seen before in the park's history. While the Magic Kingdom was the top visited theme park in the world, just down the road a newly themed Harry Potter area was being opened at Universal Studios. The Disney Company knew that adding these new sections to their park would keep guests coming through their gates looking to experience new rides and areas. As construction continued and ultimately finished, New Fantasyland opened to the public and the lines still have not decreased 6 years later. 

Trivia:

Q: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh replaced Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in 1999 in Fantasyland. Who is Mr. Toad handing the deed for Toad Hall to on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride?

A: Owl