Credit: Disney Archives As we celebrate Disney100, we are reminded of how much the Walt Disney Company has changed over the years. New waves of merchandise are being released to highlight the ten decades worth of Disney memories, and the most recent drop pulls on the heartstrings of those who miss Walt Disney.
Related: Disney World Announces V.I.Passholder Days Coming Next Month
It’s crazy to imagine a future where no one was alive during the time when Walt Disney would regularly appear on television. Even now, many generations never got to experience the wonder that was Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
Ever since Disneyland began construction, Walt Disney would broadcast footage from the Park to thousands of homes nationwide to build excitement for his one-of-a-kind amusement Park and draw in Guests. Eventually, Walt Disney Presents was a reoccurring televised event where Disney would highlight every little detail surrounding Disneyland. If a family couldn’t visit the Park in person, they could indeed watch the broadcast on television.
When television became more popular in the 60s thanks to color TV sets, Disney took his show to NBC, which offered some of the first programming to be in full color. Thus, Wonderful World of Color was born. It featured footage from the Park, showcased new attractions, animated segments with Professor Ludwig Von Drake, music, and, for the first time, fireworks. Millions of homes across the United States were now tuning in to see Disneyland in color, giving them the closest experience to visiting the Park.
In honor of such a magical time in the company’s history, Disney100 merch with the Wonderful World of Color theming is now available. The collection features pullover sweatshirts and button-up shirts for women, men’s hoodies, girl’s tops, and sweat shorts featuring the Tinker Bell Wonderful World of Color logo. There are even a pair of Crocs to match.
Related: Disney Is Giving Away a 2-Night Voyage Aboard ‘Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser’
The Wonderful World of Color collection is just another wave of limited edition merchandise that is part of the Disney100 celebration, but there’s something special about this batch. It’s a reminder of a different time when Walt Disney would show up in everyone’s living room as if he was part of the family. Wonderful World of Color was such an endearing program because you could see the joy on Walt’s face as he shared all the updates at the Disneyland Resort.
Today we still have some shows like this, as Wonderful World of Disney on ABC occasionally broadcast holiday events from the Park to this day. However, nothing will ever be as extraordinary as when Walt Disney himself hosted the show.
Will you be picking up any of the Wonderful World of Disney merch? Let us know in the comments.