Four Decades of Magic | Ayefour Publishing | Trade Paperback | 978-0-615-43101-7 | $19.95 | Order online

FOREWORD

Given that nearly a billion people have visited Walt Disney World since this destination resort first opened back in October of 1971, it seems kind of hard to believe that there was once a time when Mouse House execs actually felt compelled to try & explain just what Disney World was going to be. How “Project Florida” was going to be different from the original Disneyland Park which Walt had built among the orange groves of Anaheim, CA. back in 1955.

And yet – if you were driving through Central Florida from January 1970 through September 1971 – you could get off I-4 at State Road 535 and then go visit the Walt Disney World Preview Center. Which was the very first building on property that was open to the public.

Inside of this relatively modest structure (which is still there, by the way. It currently houses the offices of the Amateur Athletics Union) were a variety of models and artists renderings. Which then allowed tourists to “ooh” & “aah” at all the WED-designed wonders yet to come. Beautifully themed structures like Thunder Mesa (which was to have housed the Western River Expedition ride) not to mention highly ornate hotels like the Persian Resort with its white columns and huge blue dome.

What’s that you say? You’ve never heard of Western River Expedition? Well, then it’s lucky for you that you just now picked up this copy of Four Decades of Magic. For this 379-page paperback happens to feature an excellent essay by Mike Lee which will then tell you all about this never-built attraction.

And if you were previously unaware of the Persian Resort (which was one of the five monorail hotels that were supposed to have been built during “Phase One” of Walt Disney World’s construction), then check out the chapter that Lou Mongello contributed to this book. Which will tell you all about many of the other amazing hotels that the Imagineers designed for WDW over the past 40 years that never quite made it off the drawing board.

That – to me, anyway – is the real charm of Four Decades of Magic. This book contains the wisdom of some of Disney World’s most dedicated fans, Webmasters, and historians who are now sharing their insights about this Resort. Not to mention all sorts of great behind-the-scenes stories which will then explain why certain rides and shows eventually turned out the way that they did.

The topics covered here run the gamut from unique pieces of entertainment that have been up and running for almost as long as WDW has (see Greg Ehrbar’s terrific “Much Ado about Hoop-Dee-Doo” essay), short-lived attractions (see George Taylor’s feature on Discovery Island and then learn of the mystery of Ben Gunn’s buried treasure) as well as much-beloved parts of this Resort that have recently disappeared (see Jim Korkis’ article about the late, great Pleasure Island). You’ll also get the chance to explore whole lands that were never built (see Scott & Carol Holmes’ Beastly Kingdom piece) as well as parts of WDW theme parks that didn’t quite reach their full potential (check out Tom Corless’ Sunset Boulevard story and then find out about all the cool stuff that Disney’s Hollywood Studios visitors have missed out on).

In short, Four Decades of Magic is the perfect way to celebrate the rich history and heritage of the Walt Disney World Resort. Which – not that long ago – wasn’t really all that much to look at. Just a single modest building built right at the edge of Lake Buena Vista, along what’s now known at Hotel Plaza Drive. Some 5 miles southeast of where a huge piece of swampland was being transformed into “The Vacation Kingdom of the World.”
Which – FYI – is the very clunky catchphrase that Disney executives came up with back in 1969. Back when they were still struggling to come up with a succinct way to describe to would-be WDW visitors what exactly Walt Disney World was going to be like.

What a mouthful, huh? Makes you kind of glad that at least some things have changed over these past 40 years, doesn’t it?

Jim Hill
Editor / Publisher
JimHillMedia.com