Imagine a world where Walt never existed

[Walt Disney1955]

Alright, so if this happens Mickey Mouse never exists. Neither does Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Pluto, etc. This means the animated movies of Snow White to Frozen don't exist. If none of those movies exist Disneyland doesn't exist. Which means Disney World doesn't exist and so on. That also means that I am willing to bet Universal Studios never comes to Orlando and stays in Hollywood and is used as just a tour.

There are lots of changes to cinema, and I think furthermore the state of theme/amusement parks are mediocre at best. But feel free to add some other "butterfly effect" moments

 

[216bruce]

What??? A world without Selena Gomez ? Demi Lovato? Miley Cyrus?
Seriously though...interesting question. Probably the biggest 'what if' question would be in theme parks. Would anyone have ever raised the bar for existing amusement parks that high? It was sure a real risky capital venture in the 50's and probably more-so now. Animated features probably would have popularized eventually but maybe not as good and as fast, network tv would have probably partnered with a film studio eventually too, but theme parks...that might not have happened. I could do without Radio Disney very easily though.lol

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I'd rather not imagine such a world!

 

[ImagineerDude]

Stop it you'll give me nightmares

 

[TXDisney]

No the US would just be covered in more Six Flags probably. I live 30min from a Six Flags and never go bc we go to Disney pretty much every year.

 

[G00fyDad]

It did exist. It was called the Great Depression.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Someone would have filled the void.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Alright, so if this happens Mickey Mouse never exists. Neither does Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Pluto, etc. This means the animated movies of Snow White to Frozen don't exist. If none of those movies exist Disneyland doesn't exist. Which means Disney World doesn't exist and so on. That also means that I am willing to bet Universal Studios never comes to Orlando and stays in Hollywood and is used as just a tour.

There are lots of changes to cinema, and I think furthermore the state of theme/amusement parks are mediocre at best. But feel free to add some other "butterfly effect" moments

Of course, those obvious things wouldn't exist, but lets think about those things that people don't usually connect with Disney. One would be Anaheim. Being fairly close to LA it would more then likely have been caught up in the urban sprawl in southern California, but, I doubt it would have had the significance that it presently has with Disneyland in it's center. It would probably be a big town but mostly just a bedroom community of LA. The one that would be vastly different would be Orlando/Kissimmee. There would have been no reason for any expansion in that area without the influence of Disney. It (they) would probably be the small communities that they were before the Disney tidal-wave struck them. There are many wide open spaces that still remain through-out the Center Strip of Florida and I have no reason to think that it would be much different today. But as it is... Wow, it is all there because of one man and that was Walt Disney. Yes, the towns existed before Walt, but, certainly not with the importance that it has now. Without Disney that area would probably just support a Stuckey's for people to stop in for lunch on the way to Miami.

 

[wendysue]

I would probably have new windows in my house or a bunch of money saved in the bank....instead of scads of pictures and lighted ear hats.

 

[rob0519]

I think Goofyernmost hits it pretty square on the head. Even after Disney arrived, Kissimmee as still just a small town into the mid 70s. We stayed at a place called Captain Benbow's and our room looked out over an orange grove. Walt Disney revolutionized or started multiple industries which in turn spawned the start and development of other industries. The butterfly effect of Walt not being born makes George Baily not being born look like nothing.

 

[tigger1968]

It's interesting to think about how tourism in Florida would be different. Would Universal have come to be? Would the smaller / roadside attractions flourished? Would Cypress Gardens have thrived?

 

[ChrisFL]

I've considered posting a topic about this myself before.

Without Walt, the germans may have had more influence on South America during WWII.

A few of the innovations we first saw in the World's Fair and theme parks may not have advanced, like monorails, peoplemovers (See: Personal Rapid Transport), audio-animatronics of course.

Mickey Mouse probably has done more for positive U.S. outreach around the world than anything else.

Would Japan have such a ubiquitous culture around kawaii mascots without Disney's help?

I think Florida wouldn't have 1/2 of the population it has now without the MASSIVE influence that WDW has had. I just read that Florida is now the third most populous state in the U.S. (!!!)

 

[epcotisbest]

Someone would have filled the void.

Right. We might be going to Ricardo Shillyshally World, but there would be something similar. Besides, we would never know the difference.
Maybe George Bailey World?

 

[mouse_luv]

Nope. I refuse to imagine such a thing.

 

[huis14]

I would probably have new windows in my house or a bunch of money saved in the bank....instead of scads of pictures and lighted ear hats.

That's awesome. My house would be completely remodeled, but I have a tendency of not saving the money and spending it at Disney every September. Ha!

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

So you're saying that Horizons, which no longer exists, would never have existed to begin with? So would that cancel it out and make it so Horizons actually exists? Okay, send the terminators back to kill Walt!

 

[Bugz]

I can't even imagine!!

 

[rob45]

that would suck

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

 

[rct247]

The world would probably be like the alternate 1985 in Back to the Future II.