Cool Stuff Backstage as seen from Google

[yensid67]

Here's a close up of the boat and trams.View attachment 67682

...and those upside down arches in front of the boat and across the road from the tram...guess what they are!?

Yep! You guessed it! That is The Lights of Winter that were so OBSOLETE! If anyone can confirm if they are still there, please do.

They are located on the road leading out of the back of the Epcot Parking Lot toward Backstage Lane and Epcot Cast Parking areas!

 

[Master Yoda]

This comes from the days before Google Maps but go to this article...

http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...ded-as-disney-s-animation-inn-and-suites.aspx

...and about halfway down the page you'll see this picture.

Anyone know where on property this is/was?

I am not positive on where it was, but I am 99% sure "was" is the correct term. I am fairly certain it along with several other mock ups in the same area were demolished a few years ago.

 

[meyeet]

This comes from the days before Google Maps but go to this article...

http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...ded-as-disney-s-animation-inn-and-suites.aspx

...and about halfway down the page you'll see this picture.

Anyone know where on property this is/was?

A commenter on the Jim Hill article stated that this was the the location:
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.as...mg864bh6_Former model room site____&encType=1

 

[216bruce]

Looks like Golden Oaks. I would love to live there.

Yeah, it's Golden Oaks. Had a tour there once through a friend. It's beautiful and incredibly expensive. I think the homes start at about 1.3 million or so. It's the mother of all planned communities.

 

[BigHero4]

Awesome thread... although I'm not sure my employer loves the huge time suck. Keep the posts coming!

 

[WDW Monorail]

Here is a google map capture that shows some updates done to the wastewater treatment plant at WDW. Located off Bear Island Rd. Looks like two new settling tanks were constructed. I know these pics are not that current. They are lo cated in the red oval.

View attachment 88221

Also shown in this view are new digesters and what looks to be a methane holding tank.

 

[Goofyernmost]

...and those upside down arches in front of the boat and across the road from the tram...guess what they are!?

Yep! You guessed it! That is The Lights of Winter that were so OBSOLETE! If anyone can confirm if they are still there, please do.

They are located on the road leading out of the back of the Epcot Parking Lot toward Backstage Lane and Epcot Cast Parking areas!

My thought on that was IF they do away with the streets of America in DHS and therefore end the Osbourne Lights, that the entire thing including a similar LoW would reappear in the World Showcase. I still think that is possible, so as long as we are dreaming... I'll go with that one.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

A commenter on the Jim Hill article stated that this was the the location:
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=28.35534~-81.541622&style=h&lvl=16&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=8180566&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&sp=Point.nqs3mg864bh6_Former model room site____&encType=1

That makes sense since it is close to the actual location of Art of Animation and it is also near by to Animal Kingdom as well. The location is a backstage area that is for Cast Members, Laundry distribution point, etc. for Pop Century and Art of Animation. Since they are basically part of a large singular resort area. Kinda like All-Star Resort, where it is split into three different themes and can be considered three different resorts. I still consider All-Star a single resort and I think Disney does as well on some level too based on road signage. It is labeled on WDW Roads as just All-Star Resort.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Here's a neat little area. Not really back stage all the way. In the pic below you can see in the Orange Oval the old Tram turn around area. Back when the EPCOT Resorts first opened they had a parking tram that took guests from Int'l Gateway to the resorts. The problem was the same as the double decker busses that used to circle World Showcase though. They became a hazard to pedestrians as they drove on the same walkway the people walked, but with no secure area, like the parking lots have with the designated tramways. The World Showcase busses had the same issue and fate. this is also why the walkways are so wide around World Showcase and EPCOT resort area.

Then in the RED OVAL/CIRCLE we have the other two water bridges that are on property. They are so close together you might consider it just one though. FYI The other water bridge it between Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake directly south of Contemporary Resort. The water bridge on the right is part of the backstage roadway around EPCOT. The left water bridge is for Guests traveling around the EPCOT resort area.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Here's another funny thing. Coronado Springs Resort is nearly equally centered between Backstage Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT area resorts. Yet Disney considers this part of the EPCOT area resorts. I guess they just drew straws to see how it was labeled. FYI Coronado is directly in the center of the below pic. Based on its location, it could have gone either way, EPCOT or Animal Kingdom resort, since it is sort of remote to all three parks.

 

[WDW Monorail]

Here's another funny thing. Coronado Springs Resort is nearly equally centered between Backstage Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT area resorts. Yet Disney considers this part of the EPCOT area resorts. I guess they just drew straws to see how it was labeled. FYI Coronado is directly in the center of the below pic. Based on its location, it could have gone either way, EPCOT or Animal Kingdom resort, since it is sort of remote to all three parks.

Coronado Springs is listed as being in the Disney's Animal Kingdom Resort Area.

 

[P_Radden]

Then in the RED OVAL/CIRCLE we have the other two water bridges that are on property. They are so close together you might consider it just one though.

View attachment 91973

@Monorail_Red_77 , I've been fascinated with this area for quite some time. I think its interesting you have 2 roads separated by a creek going under another body of water. The engineering involved here is really cool!

Really enjoying your posts, thanks!

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Coronado Springs is listed as being in the Disney's Animal Kingdom Resort Area.

True, my bad. I got it mixed up with Caribbean Beach resort.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

@Monorail_Red_77 , I've been fascinated with this area for quite some time. I think its interesting you have 2 roads separated by a creek going under another body of water. The engineering involved here is really cool!

Really enjoying your posts, thanks!

Yes, I agree. This just goes to show what WDI is capable of.

 

[Master Yoda]

@Monorail_Red_77 , I've been fascinated with this area for quite some time. I think its interesting you have 2 roads separated by a creek going under another body of water. The engineering involved here is really cool!

Really enjoying your posts, thanks!

Yes, I agree. This just goes to show what WDI is capable of.

While I agree that water bridges are cool, they are far from uncommon. The 2 located at WDW are fairly mundane compared to others around the world.

Now these are some impressive water bridges.

However, my personal favorite is the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland.

 

[danlb_2000]

...and those upside down arches in front of the boat and across the road from the tram...guess what they are!?

Yep! You guessed it! That is The Lights of Winter that were so OBSOLETE! If anyone can confirm if they are still there, please do.

They are located on the road leading out of the back of the Epcot Parking Lot toward Backstage Lane and Epcot Cast Parking areas!

They were there in the Google Earth image from 1/22/2013, but were gone by the next image 1/17/2014.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

While I agree that water bridges are cool, they are far from uncommon. The 2 located at WDW are fairly mundane compared to others around the world.

Now these are some impressive water bridges.

However, my personal favorite is the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland.

Those really are pretty cool. I think that water bridges are still pretty rare at least here in the US. Plus given TDO track record on refurbs and maint. I would wonder if they had built a mechanical bridge, would it still be in service today. Given that they cannot or will not extend the monorail, yet were able to build the monorail lines on two separate occasions. First was the two MK lines and then the EPCOT line. Plus the track record on monorail maintenance to boot. (pun intended)

I know monorail extension would cost billions and billions (even though the technology has been around for 50+ years).

 

[P_Radden]

Question 1: Why did they surround Epcot with a canal-like mote? Was this an aesthetic choice by the planners/WDI, or was it put there deliberately for municipal reasons?

Question 2: When looking at WDW aerial maps, you see lots of dirt roads going to random places or to nowhere. What job could you have to get to explore the property/dirt roads. A job with RCID? I am a project manager in construction, part of my job involves getting out of the office and going to some "off the main road" places from time to time. I consider it one of the best perks of my job to get opportunities to go places the general public can't. I can't help but be intrigued by some of these random dirt roads. I mean, if there's a road there, there was a reason for it at some point right?

Question 3: What the heck is this area to the west of MK?

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Question 1: Why did they surround Epcot with a canal-like mote? Was this an aesthetic choice by the planners/WDI, or was it put there deliberately for municipal reasons? There are canals all over property for this purpose. Basically flood control/water management.

Question 2: When looking at WDW aerial maps, you see lots of dirt roads going to random places or to nowhere. What job could you have to get to explore the property/dirt roads. A job with RCID? I am a project manager in construction, part of my job involves getting out of the office and going to some "off the main road" places from time to time. I consider it one of the best perks of my job to get opportunities to go places the general public can't. I can't help but be intrigued by some of these random dirt roads. I mean, if there's a road there, there was a reason for it at some point right?

Question 3: What the heck is this area to the west of MK?
View attachment 91975

Answer #1 a: It was for drainage purposes and water movement around the property. This is also why you see a giant canal system pretty much outlining the whole WDW property as well. Remember this whole area was pastureland and swampland.

Answer #1 b: Another interesting find. the Rivers of America in MK is connected via canals to the barge storage area for the Electric Water Pagent Parade that goes around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. This canal system itself connects Bay Lake to Seven Seas Lagoon to Rivers of America, inside MK.

Answer #2: The random dirt roads could go to any number of active or inactive areas of WDW, Like maybe the landfill, tree farm, etc. Maybe an area that they no longer use. Or they could also be used for security monitoring purposes maybe.

Answer #3: This area is for fireworks storage. That is why there is large areas between the buildings. Plus to the east of this location is a new fire station where Maple Rd. connects to Floridian Way.

 

[Rob562]

Answer #1 a: It was for drainage purposes and water movement around the property. This is also why you see a giant canal system pretty much outlining the whole WDW property as well. Remember this whole area was pastureland and swampland.

Answer #1 b: Another interesting find. the Rivers of America in MK is connected via canals to the barge storage area for the Electric Water Pagent Parade that goes around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. This canal system itself connects Bay Lake to Seven Seas Lagoon to Rivers of America, inside MK.

Answer #2: The random dirt roads could go to any number of active or inactive areas of WDW, Like maybe the landfill, tree farm, etc. Maybe an area that they no longer use. Or they could also be used for security monitoring purposes maybe.

Answer #3: This area is for fireworks storage. That is why there is large areas between the buildings. Plus to the east of this location is a new fire station where Maple Rd. connects to Floridian Way.

Answer# 1c: The canals also offer a firebreak to help protect the parks from possible brush fires.

Answer #2a: In conjunction with the above, random dirt roads through the woodlands provide emergency fire access to the wooded areas in case of fire. In one case west of Epcot there's a road that leads to both a cell tower as well as to the point where the overhead power transmission lines that skirt the edge of property from the north service area/generator plant transition from above-ground towers to underground service to Epcot.

-Rob


-Rob