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Disney Shopping in the 1970s | Star Wars Character Visit 1977 | Disney Shopping in the 1980s | Disney Shopping in the 1990s | Disney Shopping in the 2000's
Disney Shopping in the 1970s
Disney Shopping in the 1970s
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The First Decade: 1976 Snapshot
Shops
24KT Precious Adornments: This jewelry shop was located near the Village Restaurant and Village Lounge.
2 R’s -Read’n & Rite’n: A card shop located next to Crystal Arts and across from Chalet Candle Shop. In addition to stationary, party supplies and books, the shop also did personalization and was a Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Shop.
Anniversary Room: The store sold china, silver and giftware and was located near Miss Merrily’s Madness. It later became the Christmas Chalet.
Apothecary: In addition to cosmetics, you could get film, sundries and magazines here. It was located near Village Spirits and later was known as Village Gifts and Sundries.
Bath Parlour: Located near Pipe Dream and Cane, Wicker, Rattan & Suns, this store stocked bed and bath items. The name of this shop was later spelled as Bath Parlor.
Candy Factory: Located next to the Gourmet Pantry, you could look through two walls of windows to watch candy being made. It was later known as the Candy Shoppe. The Gourmet Pantry later took over the entire space.
Cane, Wicker, Rattan & Suns: You could find a wicker rickshaw, rattan gazebo or cane-backed rocking chair at this store located near Port of Entry.
Captain’s Tower: Special events were held here, including the famous Darth Vader Star Wars visit in 1977 that could be said to be the very first “Star Wars Weekend”. This tower also had lighted reindeer positioned to look as if they were circling the tower at Christmas time. It later became known as Character Kids Tower. It became Disney Pin Traders in July of 2002.
Carolyn’s Couture: Designers would often make appearances at this shop. Lilly Pulitzer designed a collection for this store in 1975 that was only the second time she designed for a specific buyer (the first was the King of Morocco). It was located near Posh Pets and 24K Precious Adornments.
Chalet Candle Shop: Craftsmen created candles in this shop near the Pottery Chalet. It later became Village Guest Services and candles were featured in the Pottery Chalet.
Country Address: This store featured casual clothes for women and was located near Carolyn’s Couture. It later relocated by the former Flower Garden and Michael’s. It closed on July 23, 1994 and was replaced by The Art of Disney.
Crystal/Cristal Arts: Located near the Village Restaurant, crystal cutters could be observed here. Early press materials spelled the name of the store as “Crystal” Arts but it was later known as “Cristal Arts”.
Flower Garden: Located near Toys Fantastique, this shop sold live and artificial plants, as well as floral arrangements. It also was part of the “Night of Wine and Roses” held on Mondays at the Lake Buena Vista Club. It later became part of Mickey & Company.
Gourmet Pantry: Stock up on delicacies from around the world at this shop next to the Candy Factory.
Michael’s: This barber offered haircuts and manicures for men and was the only store to be closed on Sundays. It was located near Heidelberger’s Deli and later became Shoe Time.
Miss Merrily’s Madness: This store focused on clothes for young women and examples of clothes sold at this store have turned up with tags sewn in with the name of the shop. Located near Plus You, the shop was later known as Miss Merrily’s Fashions.
It’s a Small World After All: Located near Posh Pets, this children’s clothing store also offered Disney items and plush.
Pipe Dream: This tobacco store near Bath Parlour advertised that it had a “Pipe Hospital to quickly heal your pooped-out pipes.” The shop later became Sachet In.
Plus You: While the name of this shop near Miss Merrily’s Madness sounded like it was for plus-size women, it actually sold accessories.
Port of Entry: Sometimes referred to as Ports of Entry, this store was near Cane, Wicker, Rattan & Suns, the shop featured items from around the world before Epcot Center was around. There was later a store at Epcot also named Port of Entry. The Port of Entry shop in the Village later became Mickey’s Character Shop.
Posh Pets: Live animals (including an albino skunk!) were sold at this store near Carolyn’s Couture, as well as accessories and pet grooming by appointment. It closed on October 9, 1976 and in December of 1976, Toys Fantastique relocated into this space.
Post Office: It was located near Village Spirits and later moved to the Walt Disney World Village Reception Center where the check-in for the villas was located.
Pottery Chalet: At one point this was the largest shop in the Village and was near the Chalet Candle Shop. Potters could be observed working on their wares. Part of the store later became You & Me Kid.
Sir Edward’s Haberdasher: Located across from Pipe Dream, this shop for men was named after Disney executive Edward Moriarty.
Toledo Arts: Craftsmen were usually on hand to demonstrate Damascene work (etching metal with acid and adding gold or silver) near Crystal/Cristall Arts.
Toys Fantastique: Located near the Flower Garden, this shop had high quality toys ranging including Breyer horses, Madame Alexander dolls and teddy bears made from mink fur. In December of 1976 it moved and replaced Posh Pets. The original location later became Sassy’s and the toy store was connected to It’s a Small World After All. The shop closed in May of 1988.
Village Spirits: Sample wines and purchase them along with beer and spirits from around the world at this location near the Apothecary and Post Office.
Von Otto’s Antiques: Located near Port of Entry and Toledo Arts, Otto Rabby was the antique buyer for Olde World Antiques in the Magic Kingdom and stocked this shop with items such as mahogany children’s beds, a French chateau’s dining set, Spanish knight-puppets, hound-head walking sticks, gilt-edged mirrors and grandfather clocks.
Windjammer Dock Shop: Guests had to pass through this shop to get to Cap’n Jack’s Oyster Bar. It sold swimwear and also featured some nautical items during the early years.
Restaurants
Empress Lilly (Opened in 1977 but added here as to be listed in its opening decade.)
Cap’n Jack’s Oyster Bar: This restaurant was known for its oysters on the half shell, strawberry margaritas and the views of Buena Vista Lagoon. It was name after Jack Olsen, who was the head of merchandise operations at Walt Disney World. The name was changed on February 20, 2000 to Captain Jack's Restaurant and closed for good on August 17, 2013.
Heidelberger’s Deli: This eatery advertised that it had “palm-stretching sandwiches” and was located near Michael’s. It was sometimes referred to in press materials as Der Heidelberger’s Deli.
Lite Bite: Although it sounded like it catered to guests who wanted a healthy meal, it actually featured fast food. It was near Toledo Arts and later became Goofy’s Grill.
The First Decade: 1978 "Village Whatchamacallit"
For many years, there was a playground slide with covered climbing tubes in Walt Disney World Village. Later painted blue, it was most likely taken out due to liability reasons and there was a giant kaleidoscope-type sculpture in its place near the World of Disney Store for awhile. Some press materials referred to the slide as the "Village Whatchamacallit". In the photo below, a youngster plays on the slide in 1978.
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