Imagine a world where Walt never existed

[MagicFantasmic]

A world without Walt... I would not have any of my best friends in the world that I have now.

 

[Pocahontas]

Entertainment and pop culture would be completely different. Walt revolutionized that business and was a highly influential figure in cinema and many other realms.

 

[WondersOfLife]

The local theme park here on the state lines of SC and NC (Carowinds) probably wouldn't even exist... It was inspired by a trip to Disneyland.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The local theme park here on the state lines of SC and NC (Carowinds) probably wouldn't even exist... It was inspired by a trip to Disneyland.

If it did, it wasn't inspired very much. There is nothing about Carowinds that even closely resembles Disneyland in either concept or design. Sure glad they weren't inspired by Six Flags.

 

[WondersOfLife]

If it did, it wasn't inspired very much. There is nothing about Carowinds that even closely resembles Disneyland in either concept or design. Sure glad they weren't inspired by Six Flags.

The idea of creating a theme park doesn't necessarily mean that it has to resemble Disney World just because the guy was inspired by it.

 

[mimitchi33]

Cartoons would never be appreciated as much as they are today. Without Walt Disney, many famous cartoons wouldn't have been made.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The idea of creating a theme park doesn't necessarily mean that it has to resemble Disney World just because the guy was inspired by it.

Well, then it could have been inspired by any park he happened to go to wouldn't it. If something inspires you doesn't it stand to reason that one would want to re-create what they were inspired by?

 

[WondersOfLife]

Well, then it could have been inspired by any park he happened to go to wouldn't it. If something inspires you doesn't it stand to reason that one would want to re-create what they inspired them?

You're better off arguing with a lamp post on this one. Who cares? You don't really need to read that deep into it. He was inspired to create a theme park. That's all you really needed to get out of my post.

 

[Magenta Panther]

It would be a much sadder world if Walt hadn't happened. Sure, some other entrepreneur might have come up with a great American theme park, and no doubt some other cartoon producer would have used sound and color, and maybe some special-effects wizard working somewhere or other would have created something like audio-animatronics, but Walt always did things with a higher purpose in mind, and, as we've seen in men like Iger, that's something not easily found in Hollywood. IMO, Walt's crowning achievement is not just his works, but his character. He remained a Midwesterner with small-town values throughout his life, and put his values into his work because he believed in those values and tried to live them. And for the most part, he did; Hollywood couldn't corrupt him. And that's why he remains a hero to many to this day.

 

[Arthur Wellesley]

If it weren't for Walt, I probably would not have been fluent in Spanish before entering preschool. (At least in the conversation subject of standing clear of the doors).

 

[Goofyernmost]

You're better off arguing with a lamp post on this one. Who cares? You don't really need to read that deep into it. He was inspired to create a theme park. That's all you really needed to get out of my post.

OK, well that part I did get. So we can move on.

 

[ChrisFL]

Here's something a bit mind blowing, if you believe some popular rumors.

If not for Walt Disney, North Korea may not be run by Kim Jong Un right now.

The oldest son of Kim Jong Il attempted to enter Japan just so he could visit Tokyo Disneyland, but was stopped from entering, and rumor has it, was the reason he was kinda pushed out of the family succession plan.

 

[yensid67]

Without a Disney presence in the world, WE WOULD NOT HAVE MET AS FRIENDS! Now THAT'S deep thinking!

 

[Dog Ate Mouse]

I hear what your trying to say and appreciate the thread, however the best part is I won't do this because Disney is real and is hear and has been. Why waste the time trying to imagine when the imagination has already happened and continues to do so. My time is better spent enjoying this wonderful mind and allowing mine to be inspired as well. Disney has inspired my career and life. You see, everything I do at work is never good enough and I always don't allow my thoughts to be limited and think out of the box at times for solutions and lastly I always focus on Details. No reason to not imagine if Disney were not. He was and is and always will be. I think this is what some of the Disney Executives forget to do. Just imagine and then challenge those imagineers to just bring it to life. We have the talent, the creativity and desire. The only thing we don't have is Disney executives remembering the dream. I feel one day that will come about again. Until then let's focus on what can be instead of what if there were not. This is just my thought and IMHO.

 

[ChrisFL]

I hear what your trying to say and appreciate the thread, however the best part is I won't do this because Disney is real and is hear and has been. Why waste the time trying to imagine when the imagination has already happened and continues to do so. My time is better spent enjoying this wonderful mind and allowing mine to be inspired as well. Disney has inspired my career and life. You see, everything I do at work is never good enough and I always don't allow my thoughts to be limited and think out of the box at times for solutions and lastly I always focus on Details. No reason to not imagine if Disney were not. He was and is and always will be. I think this is what some of the Disney Executives forget to do. Just imagine and then challenge those imagineers to just bring it to life. We have the talent, the creativity and desire. The only thing we don't have is Disney executives remembering the dream. I feel one day that will come about again. Until then let's focus on what can be instead of what if there were not. This is just my thought and IMHO.

Actually I think this thread is a good thing, because it kinda forces us to consider how much influence Walt had over the world. The only way we can really understand it is if we are to imagine the world without him. Kind of a Walt Disney version of "It's a Wonderful Life"

 

[Goofyernmost]

Actually I think this thread is a good thing, because it kinda forces us to consider how much influence Walt had over the world. The only way we can really understand it is if we are to imagine the world without him. Kind of a Walt Disney version of "It's a Wonderful Life"

I agree. I always admired what Walt Disney managed to accomplish in the same amount of time that I have now been on this earth. It wasn't until I stood on the 8th floor balcony of a hotel on Universal Drive that it struck me just how much one man and his imagination created that wasn't even in a theme park. Almost all of the Orlando/Kissimmee area would still be a cattle town if not for him. It is just mind boggling to think about how one person can have that much affect on the world around him.

Imaging there's no Disney
It's easy if you try
No utiladors below us and
Above no Fantasy in the Sky.

Etc.

 

[JIMINYCR]

A world without Walt????? A world without anything Disney????

There goes my entire childhood... ruined.
Life is sooooo meaningless. Years of vast emptiness.

What would I do with all that money that was spent on Disney now sitting in my bank account?????

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Good thread here people. So what I've gathered is this. No Walt Disney then there are no theme parks. There are no classic animated movies that we know today. Some would have come, but they wouldn't have been the same. Also, I'd say no Universal Studios. There would still be the one in Hollywood, but more as a tour. The theme park idea wouldn't have flown without Disneyland in the first place, and then Disney World.

Florida has much less tourism and things like sports teams wouldn't exist. The Orlando Magic? Nope. The Anaheim Ducks? Nope. The Los Angeles (really Anaheim) Angels? Nope. Plus no Mickey, Minnie, etc.

What would central Florida look like today? Well, maybe Cypress Gardens is still there, but I doubt it. Cypress Gardens closed down with WDW in the area as it was. The entire theme park industry changed after Disneyland in 1955. Remember, these were thought to be just run down places you'd go, maybe polite folk didn't visit your average amusement park. They were dirty. Walt changed all of that.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Good thread here people. So what I've gathered is this. No Walt Disney then there are no theme parks. There are no classic animated movies that we know today. Some would have come, but they wouldn't have been the same. Also, I'd say no Universal Studios. There would still be the one in Hollywood, but more as a tour. The theme park idea wouldn't have flown without Disneyland in the first place, and then Disney World.

Florida has much less tourism and things like sports teams wouldn't exist. The Orlando Magic? Nope. The Anaheim Ducks? Nope. The Los Angeles (really Anaheim) Angels? Nope. Plus no Mickey, Minnie, etc.

What would central Florida look like today? Well, maybe Cypress Gardens is still there, but I doubt it. Cypress Gardens closed down with WDW in the area as it was. The entire theme park industry changed after Disneyland in 1955. Remember, these were thought to be just run down places you'd go, maybe polite folk didn't visit your average amusement park. They were dirty. Walt changed all of that.

Some of the things you've mentioned are far-fetched, for example theme parks not existing and Universal Studios Hollywood not existing. The theme park aspect of USH naturally grew from the studio tour, and what you should really say is the Disney theme parks wouldn't exist. To say there would be no theme parks at all is unrealistic.

In regards to the Angels, they existed for around 30 years before Disney took control of them in the 90's. Before then, they were the Los Angeles Angels. There's really little to no affect.

Who's to say someone else wouldn't have come along and built good quality theme parks if Walt Disney never existed and built Disneyland?

 

[Matt_Black]

I can say this- the Superbowl post-celebration would be substantially different.