Eddie Sotto's take on the current state of the parks

[EPCOT Explorer]

I'm exhausted. It was moving to say the least. Shot it all in HD so when I figure out how to compress it without ruining the look, maybe it can be uploaded.

I went to the WDI patio party the day before the window ceremony. BEST MOMENT. Sitting in a retired "Peoplemover" vehicle having a few beers watching Richard Sherman (the co-songwriter of just about every attraction song) serenade Marty with "There's a Great BBT" LIVE on the piano! A quintessential "Progress City" geekout moment!

Lots of legends like Alice Davis, Bob Gurr, Rolly Crump, Walt Peregoy, all the 2G guys and gals (old home week), and way more. They did a spoof video on how "Disneyland" was gonna be "Martyland" but Walt changed it. Cute. The thing Tony mentioned was that it was likely the last event where you see this many original folks together as many flew in for Marty. It was truly historic and overwhelming. Well done affair.

Entertainment and DL did a great job on his window ceremony (had a choir of cast members come out and sing TAGBBT to him. Dove release.) It was moving and got right to my "inner Imagineer". He rides in on the Fire Engine just like Walt did (whenever he worked a DL Xmas party night he drove it). It was a beautiful morning on the park's anniversary no less. So you can imagine what he felt being there on opening day and then getting his window 54 years later! Marty's City Hall window is the same location as his old office from the fifties! So it's accurate! I think that's a first. Marty is a true legend, the only Imagineer who has "opened" every single park. We are kind of his "kids" as he says in that he "raised us all" at WDI, so it felt like one big happy disfunctional family.

I asked him to sign my "Disneyland" hardback book (1969) that he wrote and I had as a kid. It was the only thing you could read at the time that told you why the park existed and it was what you read over and over in your room. That book was a big inspiration. Others have had him sign theirs for the same reason. Anyway, I asked him to sign the last page where it mentions the coming of WDW and the sub heading is "Work yet to be Done". Seemed fitting as he is retiring.

You know what he wrote?

Makes a big arrow to the subtitle and in "Red Sharpie" splashes across the page.

"Make no Sequels! That was Walt's way! Keep moving forward."

None of this "miss you" "all the best" HS yearbook kind of stuff. His instant reaction to that subtitle tells you who was Walt's speechwriter. Marty encourages us all to NEVER abandon the creative charter of staying original even as he retires! GOTTA LOVE THAT!!

Great advice for us all from a great Imagineer. Keep moving forward!

Thanks for everything Marty!

My gosh.:sohappy: That is FANTASTIC.


Can't wait to see some vids. I got teary eyed just reading THAT.

 

[Huck]

I'm exhausted. It was moving to say the least. Shot it all in HD so when I figure out how to compress it without ruining the look, maybe it can be uploaded.

I went to the WDI patio party the day before the window ceremony. BEST MOMENT. Sitting in a retired "Peoplemover" vehicle having a few beers watching Richard Sherman (the co-songwriter of just about every attraction song) serenade Marty with "There's a Great BBT" LIVE on the piano! A quintessential "Progress City" geekout moment!

Lots of legends like Alice Davis, Bob Gurr, Rolly Crump, Walt Peregoy, all the 2G guys and gals (old home week), and way more. They did a spoof video on how "Disneyland" was gonna be "Martyland" but Walt changed it. Cute. The thing Tony mentioned was that it was likely the last event where you see this many original folks together as many flew in for Marty. It was truly historic and overwhelming. Well done affair.

Entertainment and DL did a great job on his window ceremony (had a choir of cast members come out and sing TAGBBT to him. Dove release.) It was moving and got right to my "inner Imagineer". He rides in on the Fire Engine just like Walt did (whenever he worked a DL Xmas party night he drove it). It was a beautiful morning on the park's anniversary no less. So you can imagine what he felt being there on opening day and then getting his window 54 years later! Marty's City Hall window is the same location as his old office from the fifties! So it's accurate! I think that's a first. Marty is a true legend, the only Imagineer who has "opened" every single park. We are kind of his "kids" as he says in that he "raised us all" at WDI, so it felt like one big happy disfunctional family.

I asked him to sign my "Disneyland" hardback book (1969) that he wrote and I had as a kid. It was the only thing you could read at the time that told you why the park existed and it was what you read over and over in your room. That book was a big inspiration. Others have had him sign theirs for the same reason. Anyway, I asked him to sign the last page where it mentions the coming of WDW and the sub heading is "Work yet to be Done". Seemed fitting as he is retiring.

You know what he wrote?

Makes a big arrow to the subtitle and in "Red Sharpie" splashes across the page.

"Make no Sequels! That was Walt's way! Keep moving forward."

None of this "miss you" "all the best" HS yearbook kind of stuff. His instant reaction to that subtitle tells you who was Walt's speechwriter. Marty encourages us all to NEVER abandon the creative charter of staying original even as he retires! GOTTA LOVE THAT!!

Great advice for us all from a great Imagineer. Keep moving forward!

Thanks for everything Marty!

Fantastic!

 

[EpcoTim]

Very Cool, Eddie.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

RFID at EPCOT

If you have not read this WDW Rumor thing on the Disney Blog, it mentions RFID for EPCOT which is very interesting. I worked on what was to end up as the "Pal Mickey" thing way back and this RFID deal seems like the next Gen of that.

http://thedisneyblog.com/


The Fantasyland plans look interesting too.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

If you have not read this WDW Rumor thing on the Disney Blog, it mentions RFID for EPCOT which is very interesting. I worked on what was to end up as the "Pal Mickey" thing way back and this RFID deal seems like the next Gen of that.

http://thedisneyblog.com/


The Fantasyland plans look interesting too.

Very interesting to hear of RFID on the Blogosphere. Up until now, it had all been forum based.


Hope it's true...sounds VERY awesome.

 

[Huck]

If you have not read this WDW Rumor thing on the Disney Blog, it mentions RFID for EPCOT which is very interesting. I worked on what was to end up as the "Pal Mickey" thing way back and this RFID deal seems like the next Gen of that.

http://thedisneyblog.com/


The Fantasyland plans look interesting too.

Thanks for the link! I also saw pictures of Marty's window in that blog. Very cool and now I have a great new motto... Id Somniate, Id Facite! Love it!

 

[WDW1974]

The Fantasyland plans look interesting too.

Don't they, though?

Anyone talking about them at Marty's bash in hushed whispers?

Looked like it was a great bash with some wonderful folks!

 

[Missing20K]

If you have not read this WDW Rumor thing on the Disney Blog, it mentions RFID for EPCOT which is very interesting. I worked on what was to end up as the "Pal Mickey" thing way back and this RFID deal seems like the next Gen of that.

http://thedisneyblog.com/


The Fantasyland plans look interesting too.

I'm curious as to what kind of information would be needed to use the RFID idea they way they would like to. Would they be looking to use these for more interactive attractions (height, weight, age, gender, first name) or, to ease entry and shopping/dining (full name, credit card information, possibly billing or home address?). The former doesn't bother me like the latter. But then again, I'm kind of paranoid about all that big brother stuff. :lookaroun

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Don't they, though?

Anyone talking about them at Marty's bash in hushed whispers?

Looked like it was a great bash with some wonderful folks!

Oh my Yes! Speaking of such, good to hear from the ol' WDW74!

It's funny, the last thing that came to my mind at old home week was shoptalk. Everyone asks about the kids, etc. It was hard enough to put names with faces after ten years. It was such a special moment of peace for the dysfunctional WDI family, that we just kinda pounded the beer and cheered on Marty who outlasted us all. I hung out in that old "Peoplemover" with friends. (The craftsmanship back then was really bad, like an old Dodge.) I wish you all could have been there. So many faces and legends all on one patio. Alice Davis, costumer and wife of Marc Davis was there. She told me that the "gilted bride" story in the HM was something Walt didn't want. Interesting. Another Beer.

The next day after the window thing. I headed down to the Uva Bar (Downtown Disney) to meet Bob Gurr. Over a Manhattan and a Martini we got to know each other a bit and compared notes. WOW! What a guy. We go back 30 years with the same folks! We both had mutual clients like Steve Wynn and basically knew everyone in the biz except each other. What a talent. That whole day in the park was overwhelming but Gurr was the highlight.

To see "Buzz" Price seated in the front row (window ceremony) on the anniversary of the park he helped find the land for with Walt. The morning was magic as the sun was just peeking over the facades and it was to be a blistering hot day just like it was in 1955. I brought the 1956 DL USA movie on the iPhone so I could compare the park "then and now" in real time. Took it on the Mark Twain to reference the Stagecoaches going by. Geekout!

I'll never forget it, especially since I quit, but was still invited to everything and got a reserved seat. How nice was that? Very. i felt honored to be among those greats. And like Rocky, you could say he got beat up from time to time, but Marty still went the full distance and opened every park.
.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Thanks for the link! I also saw pictures of Marty's window in that blog. Very cool and now I have a great new motto... Id Somniate, Id Facite! Love it!

Here's more on the patio party...

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2009/07/d-exclusive-marty-sklars-retirement_18.html

 

[jt04]

The Fantasyland plans look interesting too.

I'm just wondering how far back a plan like this goes. I'm not talking about the main adds like LM or BatB but the overall plan for the "land". When I look at the new plans it appears to me that this is how FL was designed in the first place. That it was supposed to have a castle courtyard and elements outside the castle walls. The medieval fair look seems to have been designed from Day 1 to be outside the walls. And then somone decided to plop 20K into FL at the last minute and the entire plan was altered until now.

If this is not the case, then someone took a long look at what existed and came up with an absolutely brilliant way to tie Fantasyland together into a cohesive whole that is nothing short of brilliant. And if they decide they can't fund the entire thing, I hope they build it in a way as to keep the overall scope and integrity of the concept and add in the cut details later.

Any thoughts or inside knowledge about 20K not being part of the original design of FL? And do you agree that the castle walls above the fair facades are meant to place it "outside" the castle walls? Sorry I'm obsessing on this detail but it always bothered me until I saw the new plans. Then I was like, "ohhhhhhh, now I get it. This is the way it always was supposed to be. THIS is the original design"

 

[Scar Junior]

Oh my Yes! Speaking of such, good to hear from the ol' WDW74!

It's funny, the last thing that came to my mind at old home week was shoptalk. Everyone asks about the kids, etc. It was hard enough to put names with faces after ten years. It was such a special moment of peace for the dysfunctional WDI family, that we just kinda pounded the beer and cheered on Marty who outlasted us all. I hung out in that old "Peoplemover" with friends. (The craftsmanship back then was really bad, like an old Dodge.) I wish you all could have been there. So many faces and legends all on one patio. Alice Davis, costumer and wife of Marc Davis was there. She told me that the "gilted bride" story in the HM was something Walt didn't want. Interesting. Another Beer.

The next day after the window thing. I headed down to the Uva Bar (Downtown Disney) to meet Bob Gurr. Over a Manhattan and a Martini we got to know each other a bit and compared notes. WOW! What a guy. We go back 30 years with the same folks! We both had mutual clients like Steve Wynn and basically knew everyone in the biz except each other. What a talent. That whole day in the park was overwhelming but Gurr was the highlight.

To see "Buzz" Price seated in the front row (window ceremony) on the anniversary of the park he helped find the land for with Walt. The morning was magic as the sun was just peeking over the facades and it was to be a blistering hot day just like it was in 1955. I brought the 1956 DL USA movie on the iPhone so I could compare the park "then and now" in real time. Took it on the Mark Twain to reference the Stagecoaches going by. Geekout!

I'll never forget it, especially since I quit, but was still invited to everything and got a reserved seat. How nice was that? Very. i felt honored to be among those greats. And like Rocky, you could say he got beat up from time to time, but Marty still went the full distance and opened every park.
.

I've abstained from posting in this thread... partly because I don't want to seem like some guy who is su_king up... nevertheless, it's been great to read a lot of your comments. I appreciate the insight you have to offer.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

I'm just wondering how far back a plan like this goes.

Any thoughts or inside knowledge about 20K not being part of the original design of FL? And do you agree that the castle walls above the fair facades are meant to place it "outside" the castle walls? Sorry I'm obsessing on this detail but it always bothered me until I saw the new plans. Then I was like, "ohhhhhhh, now I get it. This is the way it always was supposed to be. THIS is the original design"

I don't have any inside knowledge, but the plan reminded me of Herb Ryman's original DL rendering of the overall park showing a Castle with attached "castle walls" surrounding it. Good idea.

As for 20k. Who knows? In the 60's the Subs were popular as an E Ticket on the park menu, maybe they thought it was a must? It's situated to the NW of the Castle as the Subs are in DL, maybe as a transition between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. The lagoon kind of forces it to be on the outskirts. The problem with Fantasyland at WDW was that they put IASW in a place that prevented growth and locked everything in. Now it seems they are breaking free of that.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

I've abstained from posting in this thread... partly because I don't want to seem like some guy who is su_king up... nevertheless, it's been great to read a lot of your comments. I appreciate the insight you have to offer.

You're not. Please join the discussion. That way we can get your insights as well. It's been great so far. (Was that a suckup?).

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Oh my Yes! Speaking of such, good to hear from the ol' WDW74!

It's funny, the last thing that came to my mind at old home week was shoptalk. Everyone asks about the kids, etc. It was hard enough to put names with faces after ten years. It was such a special moment of peace for the dysfunctional WDI family, that we just kinda pounded the beer and cheered on Marty who outlasted us all. I hung out in that old "Peoplemover" with friends. (The craftsmanship back then was really bad, like an old Dodge.) I wish you all could have been there. So many faces and legends all on one patio. Alice Davis, costumer and wife of Marc Davis was there. She told me that the "gilted bride" story in the HM was something Walt didn't want. Interesting. Another Beer.

The next day after the window thing. I headed down to the Uva Bar (Downtown Disney) to meet Bob Gurr. Over a Manhattan and a Martini we got to know each other a bit and compared notes. WOW! What a guy. We go back 30 years with the same folks! We both had mutual clients like Steve Wynn and basically knew everyone in the biz except each other. What a talent. That whole day in the park was overwhelming but Gurr was the highlight.

To see "Buzz" Price seated in the front row (window ceremony) on the anniversary of the park he helped find the land for with Walt. The morning was magic as the sun was just peeking over the facades and it was to be a blistering hot day just like it was in 1955. I brought the 1956 DL USA movie on the iPhone so I could compare the park "then and now" in real time. Took it on the Mark Twain to reference the Stagecoaches going by. Geekout!

I'll never forget it, especially since I quit, but was still invited to everything and got a reserved seat. How nice was that? Very. i felt honored to be among those greats. And like Rocky, you could say he got beat up from time to time, but Marty still went the full distance and opened every park.
.

Gosh, that's awesome....To be a fly on the wall...

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Gosh, that's awesome....To be a fly on the wall...

Bob Gurr story.

We were walking past the Matterhorn and he stops me and points to the Bobsled waiting to unload. He tells me how they used him as a "human sandbag" and made him ride the thing first before it was done as it was his work. I wish I was a 1959 fly on that wall to see that!

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Bob Gurr story.

We were walking past the Matterhorn and he stops me and points to the Bobsled waiting to unload. He tells me how they used him as a "human sandbag" and made him ride the thing first before it was done as it was his work. I wish I was a 1959 fly on that wall to see that!

Heh! Very interesting...and quite scary.:lol::lookaroun I wonder what Walt thought about that...

 

[MousDad]

Don't they, though?

Anyone talking about them at Marty's bash in hushed whispers?

Oh my Yes!

Not to ...erm... pry or anything, :lookaroun

But did those hushed whispers involve things like "Can you believe those bogus plans that were leaked," or "How did our plans get leaked?" or "I hope our leaking of the plans will get the buzz going." or...

Nevermind, I know you would have already said something if you could.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Herb Ryman told me a story once, that Jack Lindquist, DL's original marketing guru didn't recall when I told it, but it got a big laugh anyway.

One New Year's Eve at DL, instead of Tinker Bell at midnight they decided to fly a "New Years Eve" Baby down the cable over the fireworks when the clock struck twelve, and of course, they used a midget in a diaper made up as a baby with a ribbon, etc. as it was high up.

So when the time came, they slid the "baby" down the wire but he slowed to a stop halfway out just dangling over Fantasyland! the spotlight held on him but he was stuck for some reason. Realizing he was not going to go any further, the "baby" matured in about two seconds and started cussing "to get him down!" Imagine "Baby Herman" over the Castle! Herb told it better than I.

There were lots of fun DL moments trying to figure out "what worked" in those days.

 

[Eddie Sotto]

Not to ...erm... pry or anything, :lookaroun

But did those hushed whispers involve things like "Can you believe those bogus plans that were leaked," or "How did our plans get leaked?" or "I hope our leaking of the plans will get the buzz going." or...

Nevermind, I know you would have already said something if you could.

Sure, as you know, I can't. Anything that would be confidential or anything like that is off limits for me, and I avoid asking my friends about things like that as it can harm our friendship and compromise them if it leaks. The less I know the better! Stories from the past and stuff like that, or discussing design or whatever is more of why I'm here and to give you guys a sense of what Imagineers really go through to do these kinds of projects. Those plans are pretty cool and so since they're out there we can chat about them for sure. I think I gave the wrong impression with the "My yes", thing. The "oh my yes", wasn't about any plans as I didn't know about them myself till seeing them on that blog, post festivities. It was "oh my yes", in reference to having a great time. Sorry about that, thanks for understanding.