Error in Famous Inventor Circles on Epcot Sidewalk

maconMouse

Member
Original Poster
Hi Everyone,

On my recent trip to Epcot, I noticed the really nice circles of famous inventors and their inventions to the right of Innovations West as you head over to the Land Pavilion. They include everything from ancient history up to modern day with a small circle attributed to each invention. It's pretty neat to observe, and includes some very recent inventions as well. I'm not sure if it's been at Epcot since the original opening or not. This was the first time I've ever noticed them after many visits, and often just walk right on by enroute to the Living Seas or the Land. One of those little gems that are easy to miss, and I recommend checking it out. It's very educational as well. Here's a link to a picture showing the error.

http://www.cs.mercer.edu/courses/Andy%20Digh/transistor.JPG

However, if you look closely, on the invention of the transistor they have the name of one of the co-inventors of the transistor misspelled. His name is William Shockley, with an o, not William Shackley. As a computer science teacher, my students always find it humorous that the inventor of the first transistor was named Shockley. Here's the link on the co-inventor.

http://www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/shockley.html

Does anyone know how long this has been at Epcot and if this error has been noticed before? I wasn't sure if I should notify someone at Guest Communications or not. I'm looking forward to bringing a group of 15 of my students for a day at Epcot in October, and definitely wanted to show them this exhibit.

I know how very important small details were to Walt Disney, and this is really something that should be fixed. If it's something they regularly update, hopefully it wouldn't be too hard to do.

Thanks,
Andy
 

SirNim

Well-Known Member
(Walt) Disney (World) is notorious for spelling & grammar errors. In fact, I've personally found spelling/grammar errors in a few company publications (documents, newsletters, annual reports, calendars, and such). For such a big company you think they could have hired a proofreader or two! In fact, since many suits, no doubt, frequent this board from time to time, I personally volunteer to proofread corporate publications, both external and internal, as well as theme park signage!

(EDITED as an example that things should be edited!)
 

Epcot82Guy

Well-Known Member
I also love that depiction. Good on on seeing the mistake (and, yes, there are quite a few of them around the World). I personally wish they would update that area and add some of the fiber optics or lighting effects, going through the inventions chronologically.
 

SewIn2Disney

Well-Known Member
Cool, I'll have to check that out!
What are these other spelling mistakes you speak of? The only other one I know of is on Space Mountain where the sign used to say "It's out of this would!" (Instead of world)
Enlighten me please! :)
 

nicholas

New Member
SewIn2Disney said:
Cool, I'll have to check that out!
What are these other spelling mistakes you speak of? The only other one I know of is on Space Mountain where the sign used to say "It's out of this would!" (Instead of world)
Enlighten me please! :)
Not necessarily a spelling mistake, but the monorail sign at the Contemporary used to say it was open from 7am-12pm. Meaning it would close at noon.
 

peter11435

Well-Known Member
Lets not forget the sign saying Space Mountain is "out of this would" and the sign directing guests to the "Coral Reef Restanrant."
 

Woody13

New Member
nicholas said:
Not necessarily a spelling mistake, but the monorail sign at the Contemporary used to say it was open from 7am-12pm. Meaning it would close at noon.
Actually, the 7am-12pm sign was correct. 12pm can be noon or midnight!
 

Woody13

New Member
nicholas said:
I did not know that. Thanks!

So did they end up changing it for the sake of the general public who don't know that?
Yes, they did! Otherwise they would have had to go to 24 hour time and that is beyond a lot of people.


maconMouse said:
As a computer science teacher, my students always find it humorous that the inventor of the first transistor was named Shockley.
I have always found it interesting that Shockley was such a racist. I don't mind that his name is misspelled.
 

thimblekisses

New Member
Ugh! This seems an appropriate topic in which to vent a frustration:

Staying at Disney last weekend for four days, I remarked to my mother that one of the (many) things I adore about Disney is their consistent use of proper punctuation and grammar. Not only was I misinformed, judging by the previous posts in this forum, but was soon proven wrong. Ryland came up to me to show me his recent pin trade. It was a lovely pin with the quartet from Main Street on it, but underneath them it read:
"The Dapper Dan's".

Oh for crying out loud!!!!

It should most definitely read "The Dapper Dans" as it is intended to be plural, not possessive. Good grief. And to think there is likely more than one of these pins floating around. Shame.

*For those of you who are as nitpicky as I am about these things, I highly recommend the book <i>Eats, Shoots, and Leaves </i> by Lynne Truss. You'll love it.
 

Woody13

New Member
thimblekisses said:
*For those of you who are as nitpicky as I am about these things, I highly recommend the book Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss. You'll love it.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left width=10></TD><!-- COLUMN THREE --><TD vAlign=top align=left width=439><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=+2]The Elements of Style[/size][/font]</FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3>[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=+1]William Strunk, Jr.[/size][/font]</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 

ogryn

Well-Known Member
Woody13 said:
Actually, the 7am-12pm sign was correct. 12pm can be noon or midnight!

Since when? 12am is 0000. 12pm is 1200

I have never ever ever heard or seen it referenced any other way.

They should have just put it up as 24 hour clock in the first place. 0700-0000
 

Dr.Seeker

Member
Yeah, I assumed that it was an 'Americanism'. The "Let's take a 'U' out of the word colour-it's more efficient" kinda thing.

(Seriously, I don't hold it against you guys, I think it's better. And the word 'center' makes much more sense than 'centre'. Honestly!
 

WiCKMaN

Member
Not directly related to Walt Disney World, but more to Disneyland Resort Paris, there has been a Big Thunder Mountain pin released which featered a pretty bad misspelling. Instead of Big Thunder Mountain, it reads Big Thunder Moutain:
http://www.pinpics.com/img/p147/pin7368

The pin has been taken out of the stores, but the ones that have been sold might become some true collector pieces.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom