By Kevin M. Kern, Walt Disney Archives
Here at the Walt Disney Archives, Disney Parks souvenirs are some of our favorite things to study. Designs of bygone times, these objects are memories of a feeling, pieces of a moment, that all help to remind us about when we might have visited any number of beloved happy places.
One area of particular interest to several of us on staff at the Archives is paper ephemera from our Parks and Resorts. From menus and ticket stubs, to coloring books and park maps, the Archives collection is an absolute treasure trove of legacy print media to revel in, dating all the way back to the creation of Disneyland Park in the mid-1950s.
So, let’s wind back the clock to simpler times—when snail mail carried a little more collectible weight than the email, text messages, and social media posts of today—to revisit a few down-home views of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, seen through a curated selection of vintage Walt Disney World postcards.
Got your postage stamps ready? Favorite pen handy? Then let’s visit the souvenir spinner rack of yesteryear and take a look!
Bicentennial Summer Publicity Fan Card, 1976
Here we see our pal Mickey Mouse—in his frontier best!—welcoming guests near the campground’s entrance marquee.
Souvenir Postcard, Mid-1980s
This composite of resort images highlights a few of the wide-ranging (and…goofy?) views Walt Disney World Resort has become known for over the years. According to our research, the Pioneer Hall photo in the bottom-left of this postcard dates to 1974, while the others date to 1983.
Resort Postcard Set, Late 1970s
This postcard gleefully posits how “at Fort Wilderness, vacationing guests relax in wooded campsites” perfectly surrounded by nature. (Thematic balloon décor purely optional.)
Resort Postcard Set, Mid-1970s
Outdoor recreation— including horseback riding and always-memorable animal interactions at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch— has been a key tenet of campground operations from the very beginning.
Here’s another compilation of images seeking to celebrate the rustic pleasures found at Fort Wilderness—highlighting how the resort has sought to offer engaging activities for adventurers of all ages. (And chipmunks, too!) The Settlement Trading Post snapshot in the top-left of this postcard is from 1976, while the others date to 1983.
Souvenir Postcard, Early 1970s
Just how long have canoers explored this historic resort? While the place wouldn’t open until November 1971, the publicity photo used for this early postcard was captured in April 1971, while the campground was still under construction.
The 1973 snapshot used for this postcard highlights the resort’s campfire program in its infancy. Held at dusk, the songs, games and surprise entertainment of days gone by shaped what has become a beloved tradition.
Souvenir Postcard, Late 1970s
Disney’s River Country Water Park was a veritable paradise for the Tom-and-Huck types who reveled in the down-home fun offered at this old-fashioned swimmin’ hole from 1976-2001. The park’s “11 big acres of excitement” is on full display in this 1978 souvenir snapshot.
In the resort’s early years, a pair of Peddler’s Wagons – or “Funny Old Trucks,” as they were known – sold sundries as they traveled the campground. One was made from spare vehicle parts, while the other was an actual antique 1928 Ford Model AA.
Resort Postcard Set, Late-1970s
There’s always time for a game of checkers when shopping at the Settlement Trading Post. Eagle eyes may notice that this photo matches a similar shot in the composite card seen on the previous page (though a concentrating cowboy has lost his hat).
