Early 1970s Tomorrowland

[marni1971]

And, the capped off central Wedway bridge to Flight to the Moon. The southern one was not capped, and the bridge out of Mickeys Mart (now Startraders) had a false wall flush with the building wall.

 

[Goofyernmost]

And, the capped off central Wedway bridge to Flight to the Moon. The southern one was not capped, and the bridge out of Mickeys Mart (now Startraders) had a false wall flush with the building wall.

View attachment 260867

Do you have the history of how long it took to build the complete PM track?

 

[marni1971]

Do you have the history of how long it took to build the complete PM track?

The sections not built by 71? I can dig it out.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The sections not built by 71? I can dig it out.

When you have the time... no rush. Just curious.

 

[marni1971]

When you have the time... no rush. Just curious.

It was around 18 months - two years if I recall. They also had to close and shorten the speedway. Surprisingly the concrete structures were all cast in-situ on a steel frame as opposed to being pre fabbed and craned in.

 

[jimbojones]

I get the feeling many people don't really understand that many of us Disney old timers don't really hate current WDW, so much as we are disappointed in what it is vs what it was supposed to be. Most of the criticism comes from a true love for the place...

This is more a general truth in life than just a WDW truth. It is realizing how much things could have changed for the better and the unfullfilled dreams of youth that often make middle age so disappointing.

ok maybe a little heavy for this forum...

 

[smile]

Pictures from July 1972

Entry to Tomorrowland
View attachment 260252

No infrastructure for anything other than race cars and skyway
View attachment 260253

The walled off area in back is where Space Mountain was built.
View attachment 260254

The next two pics were taken from the skyway.
View attachment 260255

View attachment 260256

aw, is that a young tuvalu?
thanks for sharing!

Wow these are clear pics

so happy these exist and that they emerge; always a pleasure - and the clarity of some is insane!
embarrassment of riches - thanks all!

 

[Goofyernmost]

It was around 18 months - two years if I recall. They also had to close and shorten the speedway. Surprisingly the concrete structures were all cast in-situ on a steel frame as opposed to being pre fabbed and craned in.

I took my kids on the speedway in 1983 so I am assuming that was after the first change to shorten it. Didn't it shorten again after that. I seem to remember, but, I don't know when or why unless it had to do with Mickey's Toon town thing (or whatever it was called back then).

 

[lazyboy97o]

It was around 18 months - two years if I recall. They also had to close and shorten the speedway. Surprisingly the concrete structures were all cast in-situ on a steel frame as opposed to being pre fabbed and craned in.

Precast usually doesn’t make sense on unique jobs. You’re adding in extra transportation costs that are typically offset by using more standardized pieces. You also won’t get that monolithic look the WEDway track has with precast pieces. The steel frame would be the reinforcing that is going to be in most concrete structures, wether precast or cast-in-place, as concrete has low tensile strength.

 

[marni1971]

I took my kids on the speedway in 1983 so I am assuming that was after the first change to shorten it. Didn't it shorten again after that. I seem to remember, but, I don't know when or why unless it had to do with Mickey's Toon town thing (or whatever it was called back then).

Yep. First shorten was 73 or early 74.

Then again for Birthdayland / Starland in 87.

Then again for Storybook Circus.

 

[Tuvalu]

aw, is that a young tuvalu?
thanks for sharing!

It is!

 

[zengoth]

Good as any place to ask - but did the skyway debut with the more square cars? The poster we saw at the epcot arts festival had a round version under the words Magic Kingdom, so we were confused.

 

[marni1971]

Good as any place to ask - but did the skyway debut with the more square cars? The poster we saw at the epcot arts festival had a round version under the words Magic Kingdom, so we were confused.

They were square. If the poster has the image I think it does that’s Disneyland’s original cars.

 

[180º]

So much of Tomorrowland was almost made up as they went along...

Circlevision was meant to be a carousel theatre.

Space Port was meant to be where the carousel theatre went

Wedway station was mean to be inside Space Port

Wedway was meant to travel up to 20k and back

If You Had Wings wasn’t meant to be...

Did Star Jets have a place in the original plan? Detached platform à la Tokyo or nothing at all?

 

[marni1971]

Did Star Jets have a place in the original plan? Detached platform à la Tokyo or nothing at all?

It depends which model / art you looked at. For a while it was almost like the land was made up as they went along.

 

[Horizons78]

So much of Tomorrowland was almost made up as they went along...

Circlevision was meant to be a carousel theatre.

Space Port was meant to be where the carousel theatre went

Wedway station was mean to be inside Space Port

Wedway was meant to travel up to 20k and back

If You Had Wings wasn’t meant to be...

I can only imagine if internet commentary existed as WDW was being planned and built:

Thread Title: Disney plans yet ANOTHER omnimover in Florida

CalDisney: Bad news everybody. My sources in California say disney is planning yet another omnimover like Adventure Through Inner Space in the Tomorrowland section of the Florida park. It’s going to have something to do with transportation. Transportation...can you believe that? How boring.

DisLuvr68: What’s with all the clones??? A submarine ride, cable cars, a train??? Seriously sad to see Disney has fallen this far. Pathetic.

FordFalconer: Don’t forget another Haunted House. Roy has sold out to US Steel. You can tell by the laziness of the planning for this Florida debacle. Supposedly they aren’t going to even have all of Tomorrowland finished by opening day! That’s never happened before! Place has a total going out of business vibe. US Steel wont ever let it open.

Marne1955: That’s not true @FordFalconer. Disneyland opened with things yet to be built right in view of guests. Florida will be fine.

TedDis: Thanks Martin!

Tigger321: Thanks Martin!

Bob’sBobsled: Can always count on you Martin! Love your Super 8 films!

FordFalconer: The orange groves being destroyed in Florida are going to stop this thing dead in it’s tracks anyway. Senator Morkey of Kissimmee has a bill ready that is sure to pass. Too bad Roy.

DisneylandMagic: Let’s stay on topic please.

 

[marni1971]

I can only imagine if internet commentary existed as WDW was being planned and built:

Thread Title: Disney plans yet ANOTHER omnimover in Florida

CalDisney: Bad news everybody. My sources in California say disney is planning yet another omnimover like Adventure Through Inner Space in the Tomorrowland section of the Florida park. It’s going to have something to do with transportation. Transportation...can you believe that? How boring.

DisLuvr68: What’s with all the clones??? A submarine ride, cable cars, a train??? Seriously sad to see Disney has fallen this far. Pathetic.

FordFalconer: Don’t forget another Haunted House. Roy has sold out to US Steel. You can tell by the laziness of the planning for this Florida debacle. Supposedly they aren’t going to even have all of Tomorrowland finished by opening day! That’s never happened before! Place has a total going out of business vibe. US Steel wont ever let it open.

Marne1955: That’s not true @FordFalconer. Disneyland opened with things yet to be built right in view of guests. Florida will be fine.

TedDis: Thanks Martin!

Tigger321: Thanks Martin!

Bob’sBobsled: Can always count on you Martin! Love your Super 8 films!

FordFalconer: The orange groves being destroyed in Florida are going to stop this thing dead in it’s tracks anyway. Senator Morkey of Kissimmee has a bill ready that is sure to pass. Too bad Roy.

DisneylandMagic: Let’s stay on topic please.

We need a laugh “like” button

 

[Stripes]

I can only imagine if internet commentary existed as WDW was being planned and built:

Thread Title: Disney plans yet ANOTHER omnimover in Florida

CalDisney: Bad news everybody. My sources in California say disney is planning yet another omnimover like Adventure Through Inner Space in the Tomorrowland section of the Florida park. It’s going to have something to do with transportation. Transportation...can you believe that? How boring.

DisLuvr68: What’s with all the clones??? A submarine ride, cable cars, a train??? Seriously sad to see Disney has fallen this far. Pathetic.

FordFalconer: Don’t forget another Haunted House. Roy has sold out to US Steel. You can tell by the laziness of the planning for this Florida debacle. Supposedly they aren’t going to even have all of Tomorrowland finished by opening day! That’s never happened before! Place has a total going out of business vibe. US Steel wont ever let it open.

Marne1955: That’s not true @FordFalconer. Disneyland opened with things yet to be built right in view of guests. Florida will be fine.

TedDis: Thanks Martin!

Tigger321: Thanks Martin!

Bob’sBobsled: Can always count on you Martin! Love your Super 8 films!

FordFalconer: The orange groves being destroyed in Florida are going to stop this thing dead in it’s tracks anyway. Senator Morkey of Kissimmee has a bill ready that is sure to pass. Too bad Roy.

DisneylandMagic: Let’s stay on topic please.

That was good! I actually chuckled quite a bit

 

[RScottyL]

Didn't realize how much of the contemporary you could see back then

IIRC, didn't it open in 1971 with the park?

Yeah, hardly anything around back then!

 

[marni1971]

IIRC, didn't it open in 1971 with the park?

Yeah, hardly anything around back then!

Technically the Contemporary opened mid October.