Official Opening of the Contemporary Resort

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Official Opening of the Contemporary Resort

Walt Disney World opened  October 1, 1971. But the official openings of the Vacation Kingdom of the World took place from October 23 to October 25, 1971. There were gala celebrations and special dining events to kick off the official opening of the Contemporary Resort, the Polynesian Resort, and others, including the dedication of the Magic Kingdom.

I have a scanned copy of one of the tickets for the Official Opening of The Contemporary Resort Hotel.

A ticket to the grand opening of the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. The light blue ticket has the early logo of WDW featuring Cinderella Castle, the Contemporary Reort, and a sailboat.

The ticket reads:

WALT DISNEY WORLD
GRAND CANYON PLAZA RECEPTION
and LAKESIDE BUFFET
the Official Opening of The Contemporary Resort-Hotel
SUNDAY-OCTOBER 24, 1971
At Twelve O’Clock Noon
Grand Canyon Plaza and Lakeside Gardens
The Contemporary Resort-Hotel
Informal
Admit One

According to the D23 website:

The official opening of the A-frame shaped Contemporary Resort Hotel, featured master of ceremonies Bob Hope. After fanfare of the event subsided, the gathering later dispersed for a luncheon buffet on the lagoon side of the hotel, hosted inside a striped tent along the shores of Bay Lake. “American Food Festival” was the theme, with dishes from New England, New Orleans, and the West, along with desserts from Florida.

Digging a little deeper, I ran across a blurb about the opening ceremonies in the Winter/Spring 1972 Walt Disney World Vacationland.

The Polynesian Village and the Contemporary Resort-Hotel were launched with a festive nighttime luau, an electrical water show, and a celebrity-studded ceremony and poolside buffet presided over by comedian Bob Hope.

Official Opening of the Contemporary Resort. An overview of the Grand Canyon Concourse and Grand Canyon Mural at the Contemporary Resort. The image showcases the mural which consists of earth-toned oranges and browns. There is an inset of comedian Bob Hope and a cast member as Bob Hope acts as emcee for the grand opening

If you get a chance to watch the grand opening special, you can see the shock and surprise on Bob Hope’s face as he exits the monorail inside the Contemporary. He also makes a joke about the Goodyear blimp, which I won’t repeat here. The image above has musicians stationed in the plaza and on the monorail station. There are also several cast members in tuxedos.

Opening Spectacular & Dedication Ceremony Master Event Script

I found a copy of the Opening Spectacular & Dedication Ceremony Master Event Script, Procedures and Itinerary which offers more details about the event, including some hand-drawn images.

Drawing of the Contemporary Resort lobby showing the placement of the temporary stage for Bob Hope. from the Opening Spectacular & Dedication Ceremony Master Event Script
In this hand-drawn image, you can see the temporary stage built for Bob Hope to use during the Grand opening of the Contemporary Resort.
Hand drawn image of the temporary stage built for Bob Hope to use at the opening of the Contemporary Resort. It is a stage with two sets of stairs that lead directly from a monorail to the plaza.
The temporary stage actually allowed Bob Hope and his tour guides to exit directly from the mornorail cabin.

Comedian Bob Hope presided over the dedication of the 1 ,057-room, 14- story Contemporary Resort Hotel. Standing on a platform, in the Grand Canyon Concourse (a lobby unique with monorail trains running through it and so vast it was decorated by landscape architects), the master wit introduced celebrities to the hundreds of guests and got off a series of ad-libs that were classic.

“It’s the biggest ‘Vacation Kingdom’ in the world,” quipped Hope, “and just think, it all started with a gentle mouse, a bad-tempered duck, and seven mixed-up dwarfs.”

Grand opening Luncheon Buffet

An overview of the Contemporary Resort marina featuring guests exiting the hotel for the Lakeside buffet. October 1971. Official Opening of the Contemporary Resort

In this image, you can observe a large group of guests exiting the Contemporary Resort. I appears they are  heading towards the Marina Pavilion. However, I don’t see the blue and white striped tent, unless it’s located further down the beach, to the left of the photo.

a and drawn image of the Lakeside Gardens at the Contemporary Resort as part of the luncheon for the official opening of the resort in 1971
This hand drawn image from the Opening Spectacular & Dedication Ceremony Master Event Script shows guests standing along the pool areas.

AN AMERICAN FOOD FESTIVAL
Cocktails and stand-up buffet lunch to be served under canopies in the Lakeside Garden

Beverage Service
Hostesses to pass trays with a selection of:
Bloody Marys, Screwdrivers, Virgin Marys, Gin & Tonics, Great Canyon Coolers

Three Main Bars and Two Auxiliary Bars ·set with:
All drinks which are passed

Food Service
Three Theme Areas plus Florida Desserts:

1. Theme Area: New England

  • Quahog Clam Shells Filled with Minced Clams in Newburg Sauce in Chafing Dish (fork)
  • Fried Bay Scallops in Chafing Dish – Tarter Sauce (frill pick)
  • Corn Bread Made in Iron Forms
  • Maine Lobster Salad on Toast Rounds

2. Theme Area: Golden West

  • Alaskan King Crab Salad on Sour Dough Slice
  • Sirloin of Colorado Beef Carved by Chefs – served on Party Rye
  • Salmon Showpiece surrounded by trays of Decorated Bite-Size Medallions of Salmon
  • Small Barbecued Lamb Pieces with Green Pepper, Onion, Pimentos (frill pick)
  • Assorted Cheeses Featuring Large Wheels of Cheese on Display
  • Quiche Lorraine Tartelethes in Chafing Dish
  • Chilled Rosé Wine in Large Casks
  • Assorted Fruits on Display

3. Theme Area: New Orleans

  • Boiled Gull Shrimp Butterfried in Shell in Chafing Dish (small dish with napkin)
  • Decorated Snail Puffs – Chafing Dish
  • French Garlic Bread
  • Crepes Creole
  • Cafe Brulot

FLORIDA DESSERTS TO BE PASSED ON SILVER TRAYS

  • Tartelettes of Key Lime Pie
  • Ambrosia Petit Fours
  • Orange and Cocoanut
  • Flavored with Kirschwasser

Entertainment to be provided by various atmosphere groups from the Magic Kingdom and hotels.

1. Los Gallos Mariachi Band
2. The Pearly Band
3. The Polka Band
4. The Adventureland Steel Band

 

Map of the layout of the grounds of the Contemporary Resort for the grand opening ceremony 1971
This map of the Contemporary Resort Hotel is from the Opening Spectacular & Dedication Ceremony Master Event Script, Procedures and Itinerary and showcases the buildings and areas of the resort.

Guests Attending the Opening of the Contemporary Resort

Mingling with guests at a poolside buffet after the dedication of the Contemporary were: Rock Hudson, Annette Funicello, Walter Brennan, Fred MacMurray, June Haver, Agnes Moorehead, Ray Bolger, Andy Devine, Cesar Romero, Fess Parker, Sebastian Cabot, Hugh O’Brien, Sam Jaffe, Robert Stack, Jonathan Winters, Steve Forrest, Sterling Holloway, David Brinkley, Greg Morris, Astronaut David Mitchell, Lynda Byrd Robb, Johnny Whitaker, Cincinnati Red Catcher Johnny Bench, television comedian Joe Flynn, and the President’s Press Secretary, Ronald Ziegler. Many had known Walt Disney and had worked with him; all respected the contribution his genius had made to their lives.

Celebrities attending the Grand Opening included: Jonathan Winters (far left), Hugh O'Brien (top center), Fred MacMurray and wife, June Haver (below center), Agnes Moorehead and Caesar Romero (top right). and Arthur Fiedler (below right).
Celebrities attending the Grand Opening included: Jonathan Winters (far left), Hugh O’Brien (top center), Fred MacMurray and wife, June Haver (below center), Agnes Moorehead and Caesar Romero (top right). and Arthur Fiedler (below right).

Truly, a cavalcade of stars from the late 1960s, many from the Disney stable of actors. How many do you recognize?

Do you have any information on the opening of the Contemporary Resort?

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