Disney's Energy Crisis of 1973

The history of Disney is peppered with ups and downs much like any other company that’s nearly a century old would be. A lot of the times those downs can be traced back to poor decisions the company made. However sometimes it’s completely out of their hands. The energy crisis of 1973 was one of those times.

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The oil crisis of 1973 was a stressful time, not just for Disney but for the country. It was a reminder that we lived in a global community and how quickly an event on the other side of the world could impact day to day life. It was a lesson in coping with circumstances outside of our control, and it was one that had a lasting impact on Walt Disney World history.

📰Sources

Fort Lauderdale News
“The Question is Survival” (Dec 23 1973)

Tampa Bay Times
“With Tourist Parade Slowing, Disney Diversifies Operations” (Jan 13 1974)

Orlando Sentinel
“Disney Lays Off 2,000 As Attendance Declines” (Jan 10 1974)
“Hotel-Motel Owners Told Fate Depends on Gas Plan” (Jan 10 1974)
“Disney Bounces Back From Gas Crisis Slump” (Apr 11 1974)

Panama City News-Herald
“Disney World Happy; Motel Owners Anxious” (Oct 04 1973)

Tampa Tribune
“Disney World Tightens Belt” (Feb 09 1974)

Miami News
“Disney World breaks through slump, rehiring 500” (Feb 15 1974)
“Oil Cutback Could Backfire” (Oct 18 1973)

Realityland by David Koenig
“Power Plays” (p126-132)

San Francisco Examiner
Toothless Embargo on Oil (Oct 22 1973)

The Los Angeles Times
The Urgent Need for New Energy (Oct 24 1973)

The Yom Kippur War (P. Allen, 1982).

[DavidWasman]

I was very much alive during this time. My Uncle was a Cast Member. He was one of the layoffs and rehires. Also, I remember sitting in long lines for gas. HOURS. We didn't have iPads to keep us busy or air conditioning to keep us cool. Still, Disney kept up their appearance and standards. You never knew, walking into the parks, that there was any strife. Oh, and yeah...the cows. Boy did that area smell.

[xtalvt]

Very interesting video (as are all of yours)! I was born in Canada in 1962. I dreamed of going to Disneyland growing up and watching Disney on TV every Sunday night (we lived just over the boarder and watched TV from Buffalo). We had never been on a real vacation ... just a day or two away. My dad owned a small family shoe store on Main Street in Welland and had no one to run it if we left for a week. Finally (I think it was in the spring ... March probably .... of 1974), my dad decided to trust the store to his two part time workers and go on a one week vacation. We flew to Disneyworld in Florida. I still remember climbing off the plane down an open set of steps in Orlando. We rented a car and stayed at a Days Inn (don't know why I keep thinking it was 8 Days Inn) on International Drive just outside the park. We spent one day at the Magic Kingdom (the only park at the time), a day at Kennedy Space Center, a day at Bush Gardens. We went to Tarpon Springs, Cypress Gardens and a couple other places. My parents use to say "you can rest when you get back home" ... I feel sorry for my wife, I am still like this today, see all you can while on vacation, rest when you get back home. The one thing I vividly remember is my dad going out at 4 each morning to get gas! He would drive to a station, wait in line to get 5 gallons. If he had time, he would then go back to the end of the line and wait again for another 5 gallons. He did this every day of our vacation. It was great for us but I it could not have been a lot of fun for my parent. Still they did what they could to make it an experience my brother and I would not forget.

[EmmaKittyKat]

"Tracing back to poor decisions the company made..."
((cuts to footage showing Michael Eisner))
....Rob, you cheeky little

[SunflowerSpotlight]

Can I just say, that script was extremely well written? I’m a nitpicker. I pick nits in writing. I’m an editor, writer, and pedant. I don’t mean to be one much of the time, but I get taken out of videos or books all the time by little errors I snag on. You usually have good stuff, solid work. But this was just extremely well done. Keep rocking.

[livingbold]

I am currently at Disney world!! No shortage of guests here!!

[redcoltken]

Can you do the sequel - the 1979 oil crisis? Then complete the cycle with the 2000s energy crisis. On second thought this is a trilogy that does not need completing

[philrabe]

I grew up near D-world during all this. It was a tough time. I remember mom and my big sister not being able to find gas. Dad had a company car with it's own gas supply. Which was a company benefit back when companies had them.

[ModernMouse]

This story went poltical and DEEP!!!! Great job Rob! A pretty awesome anecdotal story. -Josh

[brianc]

I was a new(ish) cast member during this period, being hired the previous summer. Had a 90 mile commute with three friends, and getting gas for our weekend shifts was often a challenge. We were what Disney termed "Casual Regular" (CR), working weekends, holidays, and summer. I clearly remember having issues with getting enough hours for a short time. FWIW, gas was selling for around 35 cents a gallon pre-crisis, and you could buy a brand new Volkswagen Beetle for 2 grand.

[Yadiney]

Great Video! Interesting and well done as always! Keep up the good work Rob!

[christinecrawford]

OMG! Bill Bonds was a Detroit area news icon for many, many years! It was so cool to see him from about 45 years ago! 😃

[trentwerner]

This is a fantastic video Rob!
I appreciate the more in-depth videos despite them being longer than your average 5-6 minutes ! Thank you as always!

[thetreblerebel]

You can tell central Florida is still jam packed of motels and hotels of days gone by. Reduced to weekly flip houses. Really sad vibe actually. Cause u can see if u squint that it was a tourist paradise at one time..

[hazellightinthedark]

Their intricacies and there functionary, came from life lessons and experiences. Not by intellect, nor luck. It's shows that how much, they have grown to understand the importance of resources in all forms, especially at its basics

[raphaelmarquez]

It's why it's important to keep up to date with politics because you'll never if whatever issue may end up affecting your favorite theme park indirectly.

[SaturnCanuck]

I was around too and I had never thought of this. Thanks for bringing this out Rob.

[JeffFrmJoisey]

Yup. Gas lines and Odd and Even Days were lots of fun! This happened just before I got my Driver's License.

[unclepatrick]

My Parents had planned to take my Family to Disney World in December of 1973. We did not go because of the Oil Crisis. It would not be till 1979 that we made it to Disney World.

[starshine]

Great video Rob! Im fascinated by the subjects you cover! Thank you for your hard work!

[UmmYeahOk]

Have you done an episode about 9/11 yet? The day of, how they evacuated, the safe full of "just in case" unexpired tickets that were distributed to those evacuated guests, the days following, and the years following?