#13 Looking Back: 1991 Magic Kingdom Guide Book

It is always fun to look back at what once was in Disney's history. Today we are looking back at the Magic Kingdom Guide Book from 1991.

Nearly 30 years ago, the Magic Kingdom was entirely different. And as a matter of fact, so was the entire Walt Disney Company. It was being run by Michael Eisner and they were on the edge of beginning the 'Disney Renaissance.' Walt Disney World had just opened their 3rd gate in 1989 (Disney-MGM Studios) and were in the process of developing a 4th gate involving animals. From 1988-1991, Eisner pushed the company to open 8 new hotels including the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (1988), Caribbean Beach Resort (1988), Swan (1989), Dolphin (1990), Yacht Club Resort (1990), Beach Club Resort (1990), Port Orleans Resort (1991) and Old Key West Resort (1991). These were the first new hotels being opened at Disney World since 1973.

The cover of the Magic Kingdom Guide Book from 1991 gives you a guiding light to where the park and company were at this time. The cover included the ever popular Scrooge McDuck from DuckTales and Chip and Dale from the Rescue Rangers.

The map of the park is something to behold. It includes Mickey's Starland, the Skyway from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, a ferry to Discovery Island and Fort Wildness, and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction.

On Main Street USA, there are some attractions, shops and restaurants of yesteryear that are no longer with us.

• The Penny Arcade, House of Magic, Harmony Barber Shop and Main Street Book Store are now shops along Main Street, U.S.A. where guest can purchase their favorite Disney merchandise.
• The Main Street Market House is now where you can purchase a coffee, tea or frappuccino from Starbucks.
• Sun Bank is now the Main Street Chamber of Commerce.
• The Disneyana Collectibles has been transformed into the Town Square Theater where you meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

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• "Tropical Serenade" has been renamed Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.
• Aloha Isle and Sunshine Tree Terrace have switched spots.
• El Pirata Y el Perico is now the Tortuga Tavern.

Over in Frontierland, Splash Mountain was in the process of being built.

• Frontierland Shootin' Arcade is now a the Frontier Trading Post.
• "The Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree" has been re-purposed as a seasonal restaurant called the Diamond Horseshoe.
• The Pecos Bill Cafe expanded into the Mile Long Bar. It is now named the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.
• The Mike Fink Keelboats no longer cruise the Rivers of America. The Liberty Square Riverboat only operates from Liberty Square.

Over the years, Fantasyland had undergone numerous changes and expansions.

• The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White's Adventures, Fantasy Faire and the Skyway have all been replaced. 
• Mickey's PhillarMagic is the new 3-D show in the theater that housed "Magic Journey's."
• King Stefan's Banquet Hall is still where you can dine with Cinderella and the Disney Princesses but it has been renamed Cinderella's Royal Table.

As with Fantasyland, the Imagineers have transformed Tomorrowland over the year.

• Mission to Mars, "American Journeys", Dreamflight, StarJets, Skyway and the Tomorrowland Theatre were all replaced with updated attractions featuring Disney characters.

Mickey's Starland, formerly Mickey's Toyland and Mickey's Toontown Fair, was part of the New Fantasyland expansion and renamed Storybook Circus.

• Mickey's House and Meet Mickey are now Pete's Silly Sideshow and Big Top Souvenirs.
• Grandma Duck's Farm is now part of an area that includes Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station and The Barnstormer.

At the end of the Magic Kingdom Guide Book were other experiences and adventures in Walt Disney World, as well as what was coming next.

• At the time, the Shades of Green resort was The Disney Inn.
• Between Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios, the Walt Disney World Dolphin resort just opened, joining the Walt Disney World Swan.
• Before transforming into Disney Springs, you could shop and eat at the Disney Village Marketplace and Pleasure Island.
• Two classics around the Magic Kingdom resort area that are now closed were River Country and Discovery Island.

TRIVIA

Q: What was the original name of Mickey's Starland?

https://d23.com/this-day/mickeys-starland-opens-in-the-magic-kingdom/

A: Mickey's Birthdayland

Breaking News: Bob Iger Regains Control of The Disney Company

Bob Iger told the board at The Walt Disney Company he was ready to exit the role of Chief Executive Office in December 2019. He worked with the board to name his successor, Bob Chapek the former Disney Parks chairman. During the late afternoon on February 25th, the news broke that Mr. Iger was stepping down as CEO of the company and Bob Chapek would be his replacement as chief executive. This sent shock waves throughout Hollywood, the stock market and the world.

Bob Iger (left) and Bob Chapek (right) in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/bob-chapek-disney-ceo-analysis-bob-iger-1203515957/

At the same time, the world was experiencing a virus that was quickly spreading across the globe. The COVID-19 virus, quickly became a global pandemic and Disney parks, hotels and cruises closed to guests and workers to help mitigate the spread of the virus with social distancing practices. To help with costs, the company joined countless businesses in the travel, hospitality and entertainment industries and began to furlough workers.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bob Iger regained control of the Disney Company according to The New York Times.

After a few weeks of letting Mr. Chapek take charge, Mr. Iger smoothly reasserted control, BlueJeans video call by BlueJeans video call...The new nominal chief executive is referred to, almost kindergarten style, as "Bob C," while Mr. Iger is still just "Bob." And his title is "executive chairman" - emphasis on the first word.

Before stepping down as CEO, Bob Iger spent 15-years growing the Walt Disney Company as chief executive into one of the top entertainment and media companies in the world through innovation, expansion and acquisition. He acquired Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox, oversaw the opening of Shanghai Disneyland, grew Disney Parks and Resorts with expansion of new lands, attractions and resorts, and added more cruise ships. In November 2019, the most ambitious and innovative project was finally launched: Disney+. 

As a result of the company's focus on entertaining through on-screen performance and in-person experiences at their parks, resorts and cruises, Disney was the perfect target for the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Disney owns ESPN which is now broadcasting replays of major sporting events and athletes playing video games, since every professional and collegiate sports league has suspended play. 

However, the streaming service that Bob Iger pushed, Disney+, now has over 50 million subscribers. This is about twice as many as were reported on their Q1 earnings on February 4th. To understand how big of a jump this is, Netflix only added 8.8 million subscribers during Q4. And after launching in 2007, Netflix did not surpass 50 million subscribers until 2014.

To continue driving their subscription base up while the parks are closed, "Frozen 2" was added to the streaming service early and the recently released Disney-Pixar movie "Onward" became available to all members. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Bob Iger has been quoted as saying new health measures and additional safety screenings will be added to the parks. 

Mr. Iger is now intensely focused on remaking a company that will emerge, he belives, deeply changed by the crisis...[He], meanwhile, is trying to figure out what the company will look like after the crisis. One central challenge is to establish best practices for the company and the industry on how to bring people back to the parks and ride while avoiding the virus's spread - using measures like taking visitors' temperatures.

Even though we do not know the exact date, we know that the pandemic will end. We all look forward to that day when guests can once again enter through the gates and enjoy a Disney park again. It is something we all need - a place to escape and leave all of the world's problems behind. For that one day or for just a couple hours, we will have feelings of happiness and joy as we experience pirates signing, elephants flying and journey into a galaxy far, far away. And at the end of the day, knowing that Bob Iger is the man leading the company through these challenging times cannot be more satisfying.

As Mickey Mouse would say: See ya real soon!

Sources:

• Ben Smith. "Bob Iger Thought He was Leaving on Top. Now, He's Fighting for Disney's Life." (The New York Times, April 2020).
• Travis Clark. "Former Disney CEO Bob Iger has informally reasserted control during the coronavirus, The New York Times reports." (Business Insider, April 2020).
• Tom Corless. "Bob Iger Takes CEO Responsibilities Back from Chapek, Disney Company Downsizing Expected Once Dust Settles from Pandemic According to New York Times." (WDWNT, April 2020).
• Todd Haselton. "Disney share jump as Disney+ subscriptions pass 50 million." (CNBC, April 2020).