This is one of the first images in the guidebook that refers to the entire property. The GAF Guides were small booklets that listed each and every attraction, as well as restaurants and stores. The next three scans are all from a 1971 GAF Guide to Walt Disney World. Did you know that the yellow building in the bottom right corner of Main St was supposed to be a hotel? You can see the show building for the proposed Western River Expedition in Frontierland. It’s looking more like the Magic Kingdom, but there are still some differences. This was also the map that appeared in the guest rooms of the Contemporary and Polynesian Resorts. The Story of Walt Disney World (1971 – 1975)Ī closeup of the Magic Kingdom section of the map from the 1971 Story of Walt Disney World. The full map only shows the Magic Kingdom, the two hotels and a plethora of recreational activities. It was one of the first published views of what could be expected in October, 1971. This Magic Kingdom map is from the Preview Edition that was sold in the Preview Center. It’s not really a Magic Kingdom map but it is one of the first images released with the park layout. You can see a lot of familiar landmarks in the drawing. This is from the cover of The Complete Edition About Walt Disney World, a magazine-style report released in 1969 and includes an illustration of one of the early models of the Magic Kingdom. The Complete Edition About Walt Disney World Let’s take a look at how Disney presented the park to guests through various Magic Kingdom maps over the years. Most of the early PR focused as much on the recreational activities, like tennis, boating and horseback, as well as the Magic Kingdom itself. Marketed as the Vacation Kingdom of the World, Disney spent time trying to show people the scope and size of the resort, while still making it feel like a family destination. Walt Disney World was a different idea altogether. By the time Jrolled around, pretty much everyone in America (and a lot of the rest of the world) knew what to expect with Walt’s Magical Kingdom. The nascent television industry was a perfect way to broadcast the ideas behind Disneyland into millions of homes. With Disneyland, the country was ripe for Walt’s vision of a family-inspired theme park.

Until the Disney Decade, Disney had always struggled with promoting Walt Disney World. Magic Kingdom maps can be considered the first promotional vehicles for the Florida property.

Disney 2018 magic kingdom map