Did you ever wonder about the names of the Seven Seas Lagoon Ferry Boats. Here is the history behind those men.
Major General Joe Potter (blue ferry) (former Kingdom Queen):
Major General William E. "Joe" Potter had already spent 38 years with the U.S. Army and served as a Panama Canal Zone governor when Walt Disney hire him in 1965 to direct the construction of the infrastructure for Walt Disney World. He used techniques that were considered at that time revolutionary (ex. waterbridge). Following the opening of Walt Disney World, he became its Vice President until retiring in 1974. This boat is named in his honor.
Admiral Joseph W. Fowler (green ferry) (former Magic Kingdom II):
After serving 32 years in the U.S. Navy, Admiral Joseph W. Fowler was encouraged out of retirement in 1954 by Walt Disney tu supervise the construction of Disneyland. For the next ten years, Fowler served as the manager for Disneyland until Roy Disney asked him to lead the efforts to build Walt Disney World, which he did until his retirement. This boat is named in his honor.
Richard F. Irvine (red ferry) (former Magic Kingdom I):
Richard F. Irvine first joined Disney as an art director in 1943. A decade later, he became one of the originals members of WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering), the organization of designers, artists, architects and engineers responsible for the planning and development of Disneyland. As head of WED Enterprises, he directed the design of Walt Disney World until his retirement in 1973. This boat is name in his honor.
Major General Joe Potter (blue ferry) (former Kingdom Queen):
Major General William E. "Joe" Potter had already spent 38 years with the U.S. Army and served as a Panama Canal Zone governor when Walt Disney hire him in 1965 to direct the construction of the infrastructure for Walt Disney World. He used techniques that were considered at that time revolutionary (ex. waterbridge). Following the opening of Walt Disney World, he became its Vice President until retiring in 1974. This boat is named in his honor.
Admiral Joseph W. Fowler (green ferry) (former Magic Kingdom II):
After serving 32 years in the U.S. Navy, Admiral Joseph W. Fowler was encouraged out of retirement in 1954 by Walt Disney tu supervise the construction of Disneyland. For the next ten years, Fowler served as the manager for Disneyland until Roy Disney asked him to lead the efforts to build Walt Disney World, which he did until his retirement. This boat is named in his honor.
Richard F. Irvine (red ferry) (former Magic Kingdom I):
Richard F. Irvine first joined Disney as an art director in 1943. A decade later, he became one of the originals members of WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering), the organization of designers, artists, architects and engineers responsible for the planning and development of Disneyland. As head of WED Enterprises, he directed the design of Walt Disney World until his retirement in 1973. This boat is name in his honor.
