EPCOT Center Guide Book - 1985

On the surface this guide is identical to those that proceeded it (likes this one from late 1983 and early 1984), but closer inspection reveals a few notable exceptions. For starters, the Information page inside the opening flap has been reformatted to emphasize the new "Tickets & Passports" section, while the descriptions of services for guests with different disabilities was reorganized and clarified. The blurbs about suggesting same day dining reservations, leaving messages for your traveling party at Earth Station, and descriptions about the Restroom and Telephone symbols on the accompanying map were removed from this page. The park rules regarding acceptable attire were also emphasized, while expectations regarding flash photography, eating, drinking, and smoking on attractions were added, along with explicitly banning outside food and drink in the park.

Careful observers of the information page may also notice the description of World Showcase now includes the phrase, "Ten nations open their doors to you," as opposed to the "Nine nations" noted in previous guides. That is because the Morocco pavilion opened to the public after the summer of 1984. And, this wasn't the only new pavilion included in the guide, as the soon to open Living Seas pavilion was described in detail along with the other Future World pavilions, including some concept art of what guests would when they could visit Sea Base Alpha in person in January, 1986.

These two new pavilions necessitated moving around some pars of the guide. The American Adventure, had previously been the first World Showcase pavilion listed in older guides. However, that spot on the page next to The Land pavilion was now occupied by the Seas, so the World Showcase pavilions were now all listed in counterclockwise order, starting from the Mexico pavilion, with the American Adventure in the middle. The resort information page, which previously was near the end of the guide moved up to a spot next to the last two World Showcase pavilions listed (The United Kingdom and Canada), while the map showing the location of the Walt Disney World Village that had previously appeared with that resort information was removed. The full property map was also removed, while ads for the Disney Channel and upcoming Disney film releases remained, leaving the booklet with the same number of pages as previous guides.

One last notable edition came in the detail pages for Future World and World Showcase pavilions, where small maps of each pavilion were added to accompany the iconic representation of that place that appeared on the larger map of the entire park.

 

1985 Magic Kingdom Guide Book

For decades Disney has used brochure style/sized guides/maps to their parks. Earlier designs were wider and more booklike, but this new style guide was established beginning in the mid 1980s. The contents were very similar to previous guides, even using many of the same graphics, but the park map was moved to a foldout section in the front of the brochure and the map itself became a less stylized more utilitarian design that many readers will remember from their early Disney World visits.

These guide books including similar sections devoted to each "land" than were part of previous guides. Also included were nearly identical resort maps and discussion of recreation, shopping, and other things to do around the Disney World property. The photo tips section remained, though in a different format, as the park's photography sponsorship shifted from Polaroid to Kodak.

This is the guide book my family used when we visited the Magic Kingdom in late March and early April, 1985.

 

 

Walt Disney World Information Guide - 1985

In the old days, before the Internet, you had to write to Disney to get basic information about ticket prices, hotels prices, dining, recreation, transportation, and other information about the Disney World resorts (or call Central Reservations or ask your travel agent). Disney also used these "Information Guides" to highlight changes or new things in the parks. At times these guides were inserted into larger Vacation Guides, but it looks like there were also standalone versions printed at certain times, some updated seasonally. This is the Fall 1985 version of the Information Guide.

Walt Disney World Star Spangled Summer Brochure and Information Guide - 1985

Back in the old days, before you could read what was happening in the parks almost in real time, you had to write to Disney and ask them to send you marketing materials.

Fortunately for you, some of us saved some of these items, like this brochure highlighting what to expect from 1985's Star Spangled Summer in Walt Disney World!

But, wait, there's more. Disney also included a four page Information Guide, with some of the information that used to be included as an insert into older Vacation Guides and a list of prices for Disney resorts through the end of the year.