Google Earth Imagery Update

[SeaCastle]

I'm not sure how new this is, but the Walt Disney World Resort area now has satellite imagery updated through May 2nd, 2010. Here are some notes:

- In Fantasyland, the two retention ponds are dug. Scuttle's Landing and Ariel's Grotto are intact but behind construction walls. The tree from Pooh's Playful Spot is moved, with a large rectangular hole in its place.

- The moat surrounding the castle is still dry.

- New parking lot in place of Galaxy Palace Theater and the minimalist landscaping around Space Mountain is visible. The Skyway station building looks like someone just cut off the north section of the building where it curves.

- Buildings at the Poly finally have the same roof color.

- Bay Lake Tower looks nice from above; it fits neatly and compactly.

- The sight-line clearing on the Mediterranean resort site is visible. It narrows as you head towards Seven Seas Lagoon.

- Four Seasons Resort site is cleared and is essentially a lot of dirt. Thankfully it's far enough away from Bay Lake to be of visible intrusion. (The land is huge! And very close to Fort Wilderness.)

- Construction continuing at compound for trailers at the STOLport site.

- Land was cleared adjacent to what I believe is Yacht and Beach Club cast parking.

- The new Cantina at Mexico is huge compared to the older one.

- Behind the scrim, the Italy pizzeria looks like it's coming along very quickly, much more so than you would think.

Those are all the changes I noticed, but there are definitely more. Have fun exploring! :wave:

 

[scpergj]

Very interesting!

Now, just north of Space Mountain, OUTSIDE of the train tracks, just east of ToonTown, there is a small area (about the size of Space Mountain) being cleared. This is not the parking and storage area, but right across the road from it. The area is stripped of trees except for a small area in the center.

Any ideas as to what this is? All of the plans I have seen (the ones posted here) show the new FLE to be totally inside the current railroad tracks...

 

[wm49rs]

Very interesting indeed. Thanks for these updates! :sohappy:

 

[wdwmagic]

Very interesting!

Now, just north of Space Mountain, OUTSIDE of the train tracks, just east of ToonTown, there is a small area (about the size of Space Mountain) being cleared. This is not the parking and storage area, but right across the road from it. The area is stripped of trees except for a small area in the center.

Any ideas as to what this is? All of the plans I have seen (the ones posted here) show the new FLE to be totally inside the current railroad tracks...

I think what you are describing is the access road and staging area that was cleared for the FLE expansion.

 

[brent2124]

Very interesting!

Now, just north of Space Mountain, OUTSIDE of the train tracks, just east of ToonTown, there is a small area (about the size of Space Mountain) being cleared. This is not the parking and storage area, but right across the road from it. The area is stripped of trees except for a small area in the center.

Any ideas as to what this is? All of the plans I have seen (the ones posted here) show the new FLE to be totally inside the current railroad tracks...

Possibly just a staging area for supplies and construction vehicle parking:shrug:

 

[adv.bluedude]

Im not sure if it's still there but when I was going through EPCOT on google maps and noticed a little box under test track that says the name of the pavilion. According to google, Test Track is still World of Motion

 

[SeaCastle]

I think what you are describing is the access road and staging area that was cleared for the FLE expansion.

The area is planned to be an expanded retention pond. There is a smaller one adjacent to the area you are describing. They will be combined into one retention pond.

Furthermore, a retention pond is being built northeast of it's a small world. This is also visible in the aerials.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Way cool!

Thank you for sharing this.



* returns to Google Earth *

 

[Master Gracey 5]

Is it just me, or do the images look lower quality than they have in the past?

 

[bgraham34]

Thanks for the update, I look forward to going home and checking it out.

 

[mp2bill]

Cool cool! Thanks for the update!

 

[toolsnspools]

A couple other things I noticed -

- You can now see Kidani Village

- The Best Friends plot is cleared

- SSR is completed, including the treehouse villas.

And offsite -

- Discovery Cove and Aquatica are

....

I'm WAYYY too much of a map geek. See ya in a week. :ROFLOL:

 

[theRIOT]

Did anyone notice on the island across from the Poly, google maps shows and icon for Los Generales Mexican Grill and Bar?

Did I miss something here?

Isn't that located on I-Drive or something?

I guess they're looking to branch out.

It also looks like Disney had scrapped the Animation Inn idea for the undeveloped Pop Century land as it is now labeled Epcot 'CENTER' ultralight flightpark.

 

[SeaCastle]

It also looks like Disney had scrapped the Animation Inn idea for the undeveloped Pop Century land as it is now labeled Epcot 'CENTER' ultralight flightpark.

Legendary Years/Animation Inn was previously an ultralight flightpark before it was redeveloped for hotel use.

Attached are before and after pictures of the area, from 1999 and 2010.

 

[theRIOT]

Nice. I never knew that.

I just found it funny that google was having some screw ups today.

Thanks for the pix. I love before and afters.

 

[trr1]

Legendary Years/Animation Inn was previously an ultralight flightpark before it was redeveloped for hotel use.

Attached are before and after pictures of the area, from 1999 and 2010.

i like pictures like this

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

Just saw that, almost made a new thread LOL. I never know how far in and away from the crowds the fountain barges were at epcot. They look so much closer. It almost seems like they distorted some things for a bit. I know I looked at my house and my moms Durango looks like a conversion van old all the cars on my block were white.