The Contemporary and Polynesian Resorts were the first to open at Walt Disney.
Many things have changed since the beginning. Quite a debate/discussion could be started
on that topic alone, Change at Walt Disney World.
To dabble a bit in the nostalgic past of Disney World I recreated a couple
of what I think are the original resort logos (if anyone actually knows for
sure, please confirm). “Where did I obtain the reference for these logos?”
you ask. Matchbooks. I found them quite worn and wanted to capture the glorious
art to be seen for all time.
I scanned in the matchbook covers and traced the logos in Illustrator, being
careful to keep the original art intact. After I finished it, I displayed it
on Flickr, the web’s newest toy, and posted
it in the Disney Geeks group.
Someone recommended I put the Illustrator file up somewhere on the web. “Great
idea,” I thought.
Feel free
to download the Illustrator file (v 10.0).
Hi David!
Nothing from the seventies, but this photo tour should jog some memories!
Pardon the interruption. It had nothing to do with the flood of visitors from Boing Boing.
Please, kick back, relax, and enjoy your evening.
Rock on and hit some more great graphic files from your mental vault…email me please Im greedy for hot graphics
You have been Boingboinged hope you survive the traffic courtesy The Doctorow
I really liked the Polynesian Village one. I tried to adapt it a litte. I called it “Fire Spirit” :
http://www.simonestudio.com/sgreif/trucs/firespirit.jpg
Back in June of 2002, I released a set of tribal mask icons for Mac OS X. The set contained several variations of Disney’s Polynesian Resort Mascot. You might want to download and check it out. Enjoy!
http://www.iconfactory.com/preview.asp?type=show&id=149
Mike: Excellent work.
Out of these two logos, which one is your favorite? I’m partial to the Polynesian Resort logo because of my fascination with island culture, but I love the simplicity and boldness of the Contemporary Resort logo.
The Polynesian’s logo is actually based on a traditional carving. They have several examples of it hanging in the Great Ceremonial House, mostly on the second floor. It was kind of fun to discover the origin of the icon accidentally one day..
Also of note for you Polynesian fans is that the resort’s original signs were produced by famed tiki outfitters Oceaniac Arts,
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Thor: Hot graphics, this is the place. Well not always. I have wanted to do the newest versions of both the Contemporary and Polynesian logos, that will be the next of the hot graphics.
I was forewarned that I would be Boingboinged (if that’s a word).
Sacha: Well done adaptation. They are really flexible icons and look cool in just about any color texture. That’s an idea, somebody carve them out of wood!
Gedeon: Nice icons. Tribal masks gone Aqua.
Kartooner: I love the Contemporary Resort’s logo most from a graphic design standpoint. It really is a timeless design; with an adjustment of colors and maybe typeface it could still be used today and look fresh, I would love to see that happen. The Polynesian logo is cool, and I love it too, in that it is fun and represents, I think, what Walt had in mind for family fun, not too serious (smiling Tikis) and casual.
How: Thanks for the insight. I’m sure there is a name for the actual Tiki or carving, I think. Disney signage is second to none.
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I must have been ten or eleven when my family visited WDW in 197something or other – we stayed at the Contemporary Resort.
I have these very clear memories of pebbles in cement walls, gaudy color schemes and weird lighting effects and bad musak in the lobby.
Someone, somewhere must have pictures of what it looked like back then – classic bad-70s interior design.
Meg – thanks… It did bring back some memories.