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Many of us visited Walt Disney World as a kid in the ’70s, ’80s, and beyond. My first trip that I remember clearly was in 1984, just two years after the opening of EPCOT Center. It’s easy to look back at those times and wish certain attractions or other aspects of those vacations was still in place. But that’s too simple and doesn’t get at the core of why they connected so strongly. Todd McCartney and the guys at the Retro Disney World podcast help to explain that love and educate us about the entire resort.
Todd is my guest today on The Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about the podcast and a lot more. We talk about his diligent efforts to restore vintage films that document the history of the resort. A perfect example is Horizons Revisited, which involved an extremely complex process to create an incredible restoration. Todd explains the steps involved to make that happen and his process in general for restoring films.
Another key part of Todd’s work is the Lake Buena Vista Historical Society, a non-profit organization focused on preserving the history and heritage of the resort and more. Todd describes how this project makes their focus different than many other podcasts focused on Disney. It was great to have the chance to speak with Todd about his background and the podcast.
Show Notes: Todd McCartney
Learn more about the Retro Disney World podcast on their official site and the Lake Buena Vista Historical Society on their page.
Follow Todd McCartney and Retro Disney World on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Check out all the restored films from Walt Disney World’s past on the Retro WDW page on YouTube.
Listen to past episodes of The Tomorrow Society Podcast with How Bowers and Brian P. Miles of the Retro Disney World podcast.
Hi Dan,
Enjoyed your podcast as usual. Bonus points for featuring Todd from one of my other very favorite podcasts. And of course whenever I see Horizons in the title, it’s an automatic listen for me
It was really cool to get a more in depth look at how they did the restoration, especially the 3d part. I’m still a bit unsure how they got the moving parts of the scene to sync when taking frames for different eyes at different moments… But somehow they managed to make it work great. I just got one of those cheap visors you can find at any Walmart… The kind you slide your phone into, but it works just fine. While the 3d version isn’t quite as clear as wide-screen version… For the first time in years I had the distinct feeling that I was there again (now I just need to get an orange )
Were looking forward to seeing Disney again, but it probably won’t be for at least another year… Or until an effective vaccine can be found. As it is, I’d be too preoccupied with real world concerns to enjoy myself there anyway… No matter how many precautions they take, They can’t control guests behavior. They can’t guarantee that some arrogant conspiracy nut who doesn’t believe this pandemic is real will respect my personal space.
So thanks for bringing some of the Disney magic to the podcast , where we can enjoy it in the comfort and safety of our own home!
Thanks Chris! I should probably pick up a cheap visor like you did just to watch Horizons in 3D. I can’t do the trick of crossing my eyes that Todd referenced on the show. I’m right with you on going back to Disney. We had planned to visit Disneyland in late May after my girls were out of school. I’m thinking we may not go back until mid-2021 barring a fast-tracked vaccine. I get nervous sometimes walking around my neighborhood, so being in a theme park just doesn’t sound feasible right now. Glad to hear the podcast is helping a bit. It does the same for me, along with other shows like Retro WDW.