101 - Downtown Disney West Side

101 - Downtown Disney West Side

Author: Lake Buena Vista Historical Society April 20, 2026 Duration: 2:19:05
Take a walk around Downtown Disney West Side as it was on opening day in 1997. The Virgin Megastore dominated the corner block, but there were fun smaller stores too like Magnetron and Starbillias. West Side was a ‘90s diners‘ paradise with themed restaurants like Bongos, Forty Thirst Street and Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe. We go into detail about each location, including when they closed, what they became, and where they were in relation to today's West Side. We also discuss the state of retail shopping in the 1990s and 2000s, the demographics that made Disney shopping boom, and how West Side's strategy of having tenants instead of Disney-run stores set up what Disney Springs would become.

The Retro Disney World Podcast from the Lake Buena Vista Historical Society is a deep, conversational dive into the layers of history embedded in the Vacation Kingdom. Each monthly episode gathers four hosts with a shared passion for peeling back the contemporary veneer to examine what came before. Their discussions are less about listing facts and more about reconstructing the experience of a place in time, focusing on the architectural choices, attraction designs, and overall atmosphere that defined eras from the ambitious pre-opening plans up through the resort's evolution roughly twenty-five years ago. This isn't just a nostalgia trip; it's a thoughtful look at how the park's physical and imaginative landscapes were built, changed, and live on in collective memory. You'll hear detailed recollections and analysis of spaces that are now closed but whose influence persists, understanding why certain elements resonate so powerfully. The podcast operates at the intersection of cultural study, travel memory, and societal observation, making it a unique resource for anyone who believes the story of a place is found in its details, transitions, and vanished corners. Tune in for a consistently engaging and richly specific exploration of Walt Disney World's past, thoughtfully preserved in audio form.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Retro Disney World Podcast
Podcast Episodes
RetroMagic California Guest Speaker Event Updates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:56
We are excited to announce the first batch of confirmed presenters, authors, and entertainers who will be appearing at RetroMagic California — February 6-7, 2027, at the Embassy Suites Anaheim South.
106 - Outside the Bubble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:22:14
Summer is a great time for a vacation, so for a change of pace JT, How, Brian, and Todd talk about where they went on vacation this summer and what they experienced. JT visited the Wilderness Lodge when the air condition…
105 - Three Times a Lady [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:40
Listen in on a lively discussion about Walt Disney attractions that have reused ride tracks three or more times, including Countdown to Extinction/Dinosaur/Indiana Jones, If You Had Wings/Dreamflight/Buzz Lightyear Space…
104 - Orange Bird [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:52
Find out all about the Orange Bird, the former mascot of the Florida Citrus Growers who once appeared on merchandise everywhere around Florida and at the Sunshine Tree Pavilion at Walt Disney World. We'll talk about his…
102 - The Bicentennial at WDW [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:18
Step back with us to Walt Disney World during America’s 1976 birthday celebration, when the parks were dressed to the nines for the United States Bicentennial. We relive the sights and sounds of the era—patriotic parades…
99 - Orlandoland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:15
This month How leads a discussion about the selection process that brought Walt Disney World to Orlando, the different sites in the area that were considered for purchase, and some of the alternate locations that were co…
98.5 RetroMagic June Update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:12
This episode of the RetroWDW Podcast is somewhat unique and calls for a different type of introduction. Our team has been hard at work planning for RetroMagic, which will take place from September 26th to September 28th,…
98 - The Disney Difference [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:31:11
This one has been in the works for quite some time, and we are excited to bring it to you. Years ago, Disney was just a different type of place to vacation, and we all have our memories of things we have lost over the ye…