Disney Property

[Imagineer Mitch]

Can someone draw me on a map on how far out the disney property extends? i was just curious on how much land they have surrounding the area. thanks!

 

[Polydweller]

Can someone draw me on a map on how far out the disney property extends? i was just curious on how much land they have surrounding the area. thanks!

Search for Reedy Creek Improvement District, they have maps on there. WDW is approximately twice the size of Manhatten Island.

 

[s8film40]

They technically don't own nearly as much land as they used to. An accurate map would probably be very sad to see.

 

[ParentsOf4]

They technically don't own nearly as much land as they used to. An accurate map would probably be very sad to see.

It is rather sad. Walt went through all sort of hoops to purchase the land cheaply in the 1960s only to have Eisner & Iger sell off much of it to make a fast profit.

To be fair, it's my understanding that areas like Celebration (perhaps even Golden Oak?) were intentionally ceded so their inhabitants would no longer be under the umbrella of the Reddy Creak Improvement District. I can't fault the development of Celebration. If I understand the history correctly, Walt wanted his "Florida project" to be a new community with its center being EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, not "Epcot" the theme park). IMHO, Celebration is more in keeping with that then MK or any other theme park.

I believe corporate Disney also has sold off much of the land for hotel development, something I thought Walt was trying to avoid after his experiences at DL.

 

[jim1051]

47 square miles

 

[s8film40]

It is rather sad. Walt went through all sort of hoops to purchase the land cheaply in the 1960s only to have Eisner & Iger sell off much of it to make a fast profit.

To be fair, it's my understanding that areas like Celebration (perhaps even Golden Oak?) were intentionally ceded so their inhabitants would no longer be under the umbrella of the Reddy Creak Improvement District. I can't fault the development of Celebration. If I understand the history correctly, Walt wanted his "Florida project" to be a new community with its center being EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, not "Epcot" the theme park). IMHO, Celebration is more in keeping with that then MK or any other theme park.

I believe corporate Disney also has sold off much of the land for hotel development, something I thought Walt was trying to avoid after his experiences at DL.

Celebration has virtually nothing in common with the concept and purpose of EPCOT other than the fact that people live there.

I don't really fault Disney with selling off the land. You don't need 47 square miles to build a theme park resort. Since they abandoned Walt's plan there is really no need to have that much land.

 

[DisneyJoe]

I believe they have reduced from 47 square miles to 43 square miles.

 

[s8film40]

I believe they have reduced from 47 square miles to 43 square miles.

Probably more like 20.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Probably more like 20.

I'm putting together the math now, but that would be impossible unless they sold some of the interior areas of property. I believe they have mainly sold from around the edges; so far all of my research has backed that up.

 

[s8film40]

I'm putting together the math now, but that would be impossible unless they sold some of the interior areas of property. I believe they have mainly sold from around the edges; so far all of my research has backed that up.

Yeah that's a rough estimate, but there are some huge tracts that they no longer own. I'll see if I can put together a map been meaning to for a long time anyway.

 

[s8film40]

I agree, Celebration is not what Walt had envisioned for EPCOT. What I respect about Celebration is that it was an attempt to create a "Disney community". I'll admit that I'm not as familiar with the orignal plans for EPCOT as I should be. But wasn't Walt's idea to create a community?

Yes, but the purpose wasn't just to build a community but to build a special type of community that would always be testing and pushing the technological envelope. If you've never seen it you should take the time to watch the film, it's a little under half an hour and will completely change your perspective of Walt's plans for Florida.

http://vimeo.com/8798681

 

[DisneyJoe]

Yeah that's a rough estimate, but there are some huge tracts that they no longer own. I'll see if I can put together a map been meaning to for a long time anyway.

I have 3 varied and independent sources now that are telling me that it's no longer 47 square miles, but "just under" 40 square miles and that is a 2011 figure.

This matches the Disney annual report that states that the WDW resort is approximately 25,000 acres, which converts to 39 square miles.

 

[s8film40]

I have 3 varied and independent sources now that are telling me that it's no longer 47 square miles, but "just under" 40 square miles and that is a 2011 figure.

This matches the Disney annual report that states that the WDW resort is approximately 25,000 acres, which converts to 39 square miles.

It sounds like that number is including the publicly owned land that was sold by Disney as well as other parts that were purchased beyond the initial property by RCID. They often consider that land to be a part of the resort however as Disney does not own it it cannot be used for future development.

 

[toolsnspools]

If you're looking for a close estimate for the property size, go to the regular map view on Google maps. They have Disney property (or at least close to it) in grey.

 

[s8film40]

If you're looking for a close estimate for the property size, go to the regular map view on Google maps. They have Disney property (or at least close to it) in grey.

That is a somewhat decent approximation. There are some areas in grey that they don't own and some areas they own not in the grey so it probably balances out. Keep in mind when looking at that they used to own land all the way south to 17-92. Aside from a few pieces that haven't been sold as more of Celebration yet that has mostly been sold.

 

[Clever Name]

I agree, Celebration is not what Walt had envisioned for EPCOT. What I respect about Celebration is that it was an attempt to create a "Disney community". I'll admit that I'm not as familiar with the orignal plans for EPCOT as I should be. But wasn't Walt's idea to create a community?

The purpose of EPCOT was so that Walt would have a cheap source of labor living on property and at his command. None of the EPCOT residents would be allowed to own property or vote. Walt would control the entire complex (including the government) and residents would pay rental, transportation, garbage collection and utility fees to Walt’s private company for the privilege of living there. Walt would have a real kingdom and get rich in the process. He died before he could pull it off. :wave:

 

[s8film40]

The purpose of EPCOT was so that Walt would have a cheap source of labor living on property and at his command. None of the EPCOT residents would be allowed to own property or vote. Walt would control the entire complex (including the government) and residents would pay rental, transportation, garbage collection and utility fees to Walt’s private company for the privilege of living there. Walt would have a real kingdom and get rich in the process. He died before he could pull it off. :wave:

Your statement assumes that people would have just been living there and working in the park. It's clear that Walt Disney's focus was on EPCOT itself not the park. The park element was there mainly just to help make the project seem a little more grounded to investors since they could see potential return on an investment in an already proven business model. As Walt said most of the people would either work in EPCOT itself or the industrial park. You really should learn more about EPCOT before making completely unfounded statements like that, not that anyone actually would believe it.

 

[pamousefan]

If you're looking for a close estimate for the property size, go to the regular map view on Google maps. They have Disney property (or at least close to it) in grey.

I just looked at the GREY PROPERTY on google maps and the property is bordered by the following...

To the North Reams Road
To the East Highway 535
To the South I-4/Irlo Bronson HIghway(192)
To the West Highway 429

If you connect these roadsthat will give you the approximate size of WDW today.

 

[Clever Name]

Your statement assumes that people would have just been living there and working in the park. It's clear that Walt Disney's focus was on EPCOT itself not the park. The park element was there mainly just to help make the project seem a little more grounded to investors since they could see potential return on an investment in an already proven business model. As Walt said most of the people would either work in EPCOT itself or the industrial park. You really should learn more about EPCOT before making completely unfounded statements like that, not that anyone actually would believe it.

Walt would have had a direct interest in the industrial park and all the other business ventures on property. Don't forget that Walt would also be the government as a result of the sweet deal he got from Florida. I made no assumptions but you did. :wave:

 

[s8film40]

Walt would have had a direct interest in the industrial park and all the other business ventures on property. Don't forget that Walt would also be the government as a result of the sweet deal he got from Florida. I made no assumptions but you did. :wave:

The assumption you made is that the purpose of EPCOT would have been to establish a labor pool. Also the myth that Disney would have "been" the government is completely untrue. The special government situation was established for WDW even though EPCOT never was built and it is till in effect today, we know it as Reedy Creek Improvement District. There are indeed people living within the district and they are allowed to vote.