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Orange Bird Photo Hunt

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Feb172013

THEN AND NOW Photo Collection

 

  

 

 

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Reader Comments (30)

These are amazing! This is something I have always wanted to do. Is it possible that you could put the years under the photos? I'd love to know when the then was taken and the Now will change rapidly. Thank you!

February 18, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterAlex Todd Anderson

Wow! It takes a robot elephant forty years to raise his trunk! ;)

February 18, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterMelissa

About 90% of the "now" is worse that the "then". Explain to me again who decided it was a good idea to reduce the number of attractions and enhancements. I see this stuff, especially what is now missing and will never return, and almost want to throw up.

February 18, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterEduardo

The pictures of Epcot's France pavilion seem to indicate that the Eifel Tower has been moved back several feet from its original spot. Is that true? If so, when and why did that happen?

February 19, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterParker Monroe

This is one of the most striking collection of Disney photo's I've ever seen. Being a wanna-be photographer, I tend to see emotion in a lot of pictures and some of these really convey a sense of sadness to me. Walt is there, then he's gone, so to speak. Great job, love th website.

March 28, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterCraig

I love the retro Instagram filters you applied to the "then" photos. Nicely done!

April 21, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPhil

I was at the original Disneyland in 1957. About 12 years before I was born. Lots of changes......some good, some not. But it looks like a lot of people have been nonstop eating ever since.

April 22, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterBobby Knapp

When I was a kid we went to Disney World 4 times a year (being from FL). It seemed to be in a constant state of flux. So it's funny to see these photos and realize that MOST of it has been the same all this time.

April 22, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterEric Mesa

Very impressed with how few people posted in hysterics about how much worse the 'now' photos are. Well done!

April 22, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterAdam

Does anyone remember Tinker Bell who for 50 years brought in so much cash. The artistry of Ollie Johnstone and Marc Davis Replaced by computer-generated plastic with no soul. Must have been the guy who invented "Classic Coke" that needed a job. It seems wrong to use the Disney name on clearly inferior products. You make passing on easier.

April 22, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterJohn Barker

Cool. Be fun to see the b4 and after of Animal Kingdom and DHS and the Boardwalk area.

April 22, 2013 | Unregistered Commenterjade

But where's the change in the backside of water???

April 22, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterPatrick

Too bad they don't still have the little "chair lift" in Fantasyland. It looks like so much fun. Anyone know when they took that down?

April 23, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterLindsay

The Skyway was taken out of Disneyland in 1994, from the Magic Kingdom in 1999. It used to run between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, then one way only, and eventually died due to maintenance issues. It was also a terrible bottleneck because of slow speed and limited carrying capacity.

April 23, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterTheMadLibrarian

If you really want to see a big difference between then and now, check out the prices.

April 23, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterShari

It seems to me that the before is much better than the now in some respects. The sculptures are more realistic when it came to animals for example, and much less cartoony. I would have preferred the realistic over the cartoony any day. Makes me sad to realize that in order to appeal to the audience today that you have to manipulate something that was just right to begin with into something distorted and overly exaggerated. I don't think I will visit Disney World now.

April 23, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterSlersk

thanks for the walk down memory lane. I first visited WDW December 1980 and visit now at least once sometimes more a year. It is fun to show the kids and say - oh I remember when it looked like that. Would be fun to see side by side pics of DL and MK- some people just don't realize how different those 2 parks are.

April 24, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterGeri

Quote:
"I love the retro Instagram filters you applied to the "then" photos. Nicely
done!

April 21, 2013 | Phil "

Really Phil? Really? You know that the filters were inspired by the actual look of old photos don't you? Pick up one of your parents photo albums!

May 22, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterCass

The picture of Walt standing at the front entrance to Disneyland with the Disneyland attraction posters, train depot and the Mickey Floral. Someone take a careful look at the ground plane and wall to the right of his pants legs. Is it me or is the wall behind him not matching up at all from one side to the other. This looks like a creepy photoshop blunder.

June 14, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterMr. Banks

this is truly fantastic ! . Love the images with Walt Disney , you can tell he cared about his creation . Also the images of the NY worlds Fair are phenomenol ! This required a lot of work thank you for all your hard work , dedication , patience and creativity. Bruce Glover

August 1, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterBruce I Glover

Cass... you do realize Phil was being sarcastic, right?


Love these comparison shots!!

October 16, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterBarb

Mr. Banks, I've only been to disneyland once but the wal you are talking about has a curve to it. That is why they look like it doesn't matchup.

October 18, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterBrian

My first trip to Disneyland was in the mid-60s, and visited Disneyworld shortly after its opening in the early 70s...today my wife and I continue to visit the parks (as well as the Paris version) as frequently as possible. It was so wonderful to see these photos, the before photos triggered many forgotten memories of Disney trips!

October 26, 2013 | Unregistered CommenterEd

Went to Magic Kingdom back in the early 70's... It was absolutely wonderful. Went again around 2001 and was shocked to see how overcrowded the park was. Couldn't even walk down the sidewalks for all the people! On my earlier visit the patrons were mostly Americans, but in 2001 they were all foreigners, speaking every language on the planet! What a difference. Also at least 25% of the employees we encountered were overtly gay, as tho Disneycorp had gone on a campaign to find gay employees to hire. The atmosphere of the Magic Kingdom had changed so much that I have never had a desire to return. Wish I could have gone to Disneyland during Walt's life, especially after seeing these lovely old photos.

Another thing I remember was the pavement within the park. It was all cement, with a million coats of paint on it and cracked, like an old drained swimming pool. Yuck. But with the herds of people tramping through all day and night, grass would probably be out of the question!

February 14, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterBonnieE

@BonnieE.....who really cares if the employees are gay or not?? They need to work too! Kind of an ignorant thing to say..

February 20, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterMe

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