99 - Orlandoland

99 - Orlandoland

Author: Lake Buena Vista Historical Society September 22, 2025 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 considered. He also talks about when Walt Disney World almost helped build a city of the future and theme park in Palm Beach Gardens in 1959!


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: 138

Retro Disney World Podcast
Podcast Episodes
48 - The Timekeeper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49:22
Welcome to Episode 48 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "The Timekeeper" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows. Tonight we have a spec…
47 - A Room Full of Fun - Arcades [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:24:28
Welcome to Episode 47 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "A Room Full Of Fun" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows. Corrections Our fi…
46 - Snow White's Adventure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:30
Welcome to Episode 46 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "Snow White's Scary Adventures" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows. Correct…
45 - Holiday Potluck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:16
Welcome to Episode 45 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "Holiday Potluck" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows. Corrections Todd gets…
44 - Mickey's Birthdayland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:45
Welcome to Episode 44 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "Mickey's Birthdayland" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows. Corrections Eri…
43.75 - A Chat with Jim Sarno [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:35
We are still plugging along in the Episode 43 series, this time with 43.75. The crew welcomes Jim Sarno, an artist who has been all over the entertainment industry. Jim spent some time with The Muppets, Hannah-Barbera an…
43.65 RetroWDW Special Announcements [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:15
We interrupt your normal podcast, for a special edition of the podcast. This episode is filled with lots of news, updates and tour info; so here we go! Our Lake & Lagoon Tour: Discovery Edition is getting closer and clos…
43.5 - A Chat with Chris Debiec [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:19
Welcome to Episode 43.5! We are here tonight to chat with Chris Debiec, who plays a key role in the early days of Disney-MGM Studios. Todd, Brian & How are in attendance tonight and we start you off with some information…
43 - Game Shows at the Disney MGM Studios [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:52
Welcome to Episode 43 of the RetroWDW Podcast: "MGM-Studios Game Shows" - We appreciate your support and hope you have been enjoying each and every episode. Be sure to check out some of our previous shows. Listener Mail…
42 - Communicore West [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:47
Corrections & Listener Mail Corrections The Chapeau Shop on Main Street has come up on the show multiple times, regarding the old time phone. We recently received word that the phone was broken...So sad. Hopefully it wil…