Mystery Project at Epcot

[stevehousse]

Walt Disney would never say anything about no monorail to DHS as one of the first things out of his mouth and it wouldn't be the first thing coming out of Walt's Mouth either. That is really your own feeling about no Monorail at DHS based on what you mentioned on the past.

When Walt bought a lot land, Walt originally wasn't going to put any theme parks in the land he bought before he was talked into creating the Magic Kingdom. Walt wanted to do more than Theme parks, and entertainment.

The first thing Walt would say is "Where is the Epcot that I visioned". Remember Walt never had Epcot as a theme Park his plans. Walt wanted Epcot as a a Utopian city of the future.

Walt visioned Ecpot to be a planned, controlled community, a showcase for American industry and research, schools, cultural and educational opportunities. That doesn't like a theme park, but Walt's vision on what the future should be like in the United States. That meant DHS not having Monorail wouldn't as much as concern as his believed Epcot as a result.

I remember watching a documentary about the Florida project and yes it was to be the utopian city only. It was others that convinced him to add a magic kingdom park. That is why it was built all the way at the top of the resort area.

You were suppose to be able to fly into magic kingdom airport an be taken by monorail to Epcot, which was to be at the center of the resort area. From the Epcot city, you could then take another monorail to magic kingdom.

I do not know what the show I watched was called but it was several years ago...

 

[PeterAlt]

Walt Disney would never say anything about no monorail to DHS as one of the first things out of his mouth and it wouldn't be the first thing coming out of Walt's Mouth either. That is really your own feeling about no Monorail at DHS based on what you mentioned on the past.

When Walt bought a lot land, Walt originally wasn't going to put any theme parks in the land he bought before he was talked into creating the Magic Kingdom. Walt wanted to do more than Theme parks, and entertainment.

The first thing Walt would say is "Where is the Epcot that I visioned". Remember Walt never had Epcot as a theme Park his plans. Walt wanted Epcot as a a Utopian city of the future.

Walt visioned Ecpot to be a planned, controlled community, a showcase for American industry and research, schools, cultural and educational opportunities. That doesn't like a theme park, but Walt's vision on what the future should be like in the United States. That meant DHS not having Monorail wouldn't as much as concern as his believed Epcot as a result.

He would be very upset that EPCOT - as he envisioned it - wasn't built. He would be proud of his brother for making the MK part of it and the resorts happen, including the monorail and the Seven Seas Lagoon. He would probably appreciated the efforts of the people who made EC happen and elated that they extended the monorail there. Don't forget, those people were his subordinates when he was alive. They worked hard and really tried to deliver Walt's dreams as Walt envisioned, with Walt's guidance. I'm sure there were times that their efforts got off kilter and not exactly as Walt had envisioned, or even couldn't think of how to deliver things Walt asked them to do. In those situations, Walt would probably explain to them calmly, in a fatherly way, what was being done wrong or how they could do it. EC is the result of what would happen if Walt wasn't there to advise or guide these people and steer it into the vision Walt had. That said, while he would be disappointed about EC, he would be impressed with the effort and would probably praise the people who made it happen, while also being forgiving. If anyone knew what could happen to his vision if he wasn't there to guide it, it would have been Walt - because he had to work with them every day and do course corrections every step of the way. He would be like "Oh, they'll never change... Impressive... Not what I wanted, though..."

 

[englanddg]

I remember watching a documentary about the Florida project and yes it was to be the utopian city only. It was others that convinced him to add a magic kingdom park. That is why it was built all the way at the top of the resort area.

You were suppose to be able to fly into magic kingdom airport an be taken by monorail to Epcot, which was to be at the center of the resort area. From the Epcot city, you could then take another monorail to magic kingdom.

I do not know what the show I watched was called but it was several years ago...

As a side note to what you wrote...check this out.

http://progresscityusa.com/2010/01/11/retroworld-the-lake-buena-vista-stol/

 

[PeterAlt]

I remember watching a documentary about the Florida project and yes it was to be the utopian city only. It was others that convinced him to add a magic kingdom park. That is why it was built all the way at the top of the resort area.

You were suppose to be able to fly into magic kingdom airport an be taken by monorail to Epcot, which was to be at the center of the resort area. From the Epcot city, you could then take another monorail to magic kingdom.

I do not know what the show I watched was called but it was several years ago...

Watch this video. This was the second last film he made before his death...

 

[CDavid]

I believe from 82 till 99 there was a way to access the Magic Eye Theater from the upstairs Imageworks. Since JIYI you had to exit the building to access the Magic Eye.

I think this is correct. From the ride unload you could go upstairs to the Image Works, and from there take an escalator down to the Magic Eye theater. I'm thinking it may have been closed off (maybe just with planters or something???) before 1999, but again, memory is fuzzy.

 

[PeterAlt]

Wow, did they lie in this EC preview film, saying that EC was Walt's last dream. Notice the part where it says that there were plans to build a solar energy farm at WDW. I didn't know about that one. And the part that says "first all-electric telephone system". In the digital age, that's really quiet comical to hear!

 

[Darth Sidious]

Wow, did they lie in this EC preview film, saying that EC was Walt's last dream. Notice the part where it says that there were plans to build a solar energy farm at WDW. I didn't know about that one. And the part that says "first all-electric telephone system". In the digital age, that's really quiet comical to hear!

If solar was more cost effective disney could use it to lower their costs for running the parks. They should actually try and innovate energy systems for their own use. I think Walt would have but Walt was and is one of a kind.

 

[PeterAlt]

If solar was more cost effective disney could use it to lower their costs for running the parks. They should actually try and innovate energy systems for their own use. I think Walt would have but Walt was and is one of a kind.

I agree with you. It probably would have happened if Eisner wasn't made CEO in 1984, but Disney would have been gobbled up and torn apart by corporate raiders if he wasn't. Not worth the trade off.

 

[Darth Sidious]

I agree with you. It probably would have happened if Eisner wasn't made CEO in 1984, but Disney would have been gobbled up and torn apart by corporate raiders if he wasn't. Not worth the trade off.

Eisner wasn't as bad as he is made out to be. I think he genuinely loved the company.

 

[PeterAlt]

Eisner wasn't as bad as he is made out to be. I think he genuinely loved the company.

Me too. I've not always sided with popular opinion on these board. I spoke up in support for Eisner when everyone wanted his head!

 

[Admiral01]

If solar was more cost effective disney could use it to lower their costs for running the parks. They should actually try and innovate energy systems for their own use. I think Walt would have but Walt was and is one of a kind.

Solar has gotten a lot cheaper over the last few years. There is a misconception regarding solar power today. In central Florida, with some effort, Disney could do a great solar farm, get tax credits and help innovate the way forward.

Addition: Solar cell state-of-the-art was around 10% efficiency in 1980. Today we are around 40% for state-of-the-art. That is a HUGE increase. Imagine what WDI could do with simply replacing the solar cells on the roof of UoE one-for-one. They could strive to make UoE the first LEED certified theme park attraction in the world.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Solar has gotten a lot cheaper over the last few years. There is a misconception regarding solar power today. In central Florida, with some effort, Disney could do a great solar farm, get tax credits and help innovate the way forward.

With all of those big show build roofs, would they even need a farm?

 

[Admiral01]

With all of those big show build roofs, would they even need a farm?

No, they probably wouldn't. If they installed photovoltaic cells on every flat roof (unseen from the park), like the back of all the show buildings through the parks, it would be huge.

I don't know how much energy WDW uses on a typical day, though, so it would most likely not be energy independent...but that's ok. No need to get off the grid.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I thought WDW used a mix of grid power and its own on-site power plant.

Correct. The Reedy Creek Improvement District has a power generating facility. I believe it is coal fired (they do have approval from the State for a nuclear facility) and provides roughly 1/4 of Walt Disney World's current power needs.

 

[Admiral01]

Correct. The Reedy Creek Improvement District has a power generating facility. I believe it is coal fired (they do have approval from the State for a nuclear facility) and provides roughly 1/4 of Walt Disney World's current power needs.

I've always wanted to see WDW (or a consortium of Vegas casinos) become private use nuclear power reactor operators. It would do so much to further the acceptance of nuclear power.

 

[englanddg]

I've always wanted to see WDW (or a consortium of Vegas casinos) become private use nuclear power reactor operators. It would do so much to further the acceptance of nuclear power.

The regulatory requirements of nuclear power is a major limitation. A plant can be built in five or so years of construction, but compliance and approvals can take literally a decade or more.

Just a last month construction started on the first non-military use nuclear reactor built in 30 years. While these are new reactors, it is an expansion of the existing Plant Vogle site.

On top of that, there are still massive political disputes over the storage and handling of waste after Nevada reneged on its commitment to Yucca Mountain.

While I am a fan of nuclear technology (best bang for the buck), I doubt you'll ever see it carry public popularity like it did before Three Mile Island / Chernobyl and more recently Fukushima...

 

[marni1971]

I believe from 82 till 99 there was a way to access the Magic Eye Theater from the upstairs Imageworks. Since JIYI you had to exit the building to access the Magic Eye.

Indeed. The down escalator from Imagworks reached the lower level behind todays register desk in the pavilions store. From there a corridor led straight ahead into the theatres entrance hall. The ramp up from the corridor is still there today, if you enter the exterior theatre doors and turn right you can still see it. As you exit the store today, the glass doors are underneath the escalator.

Edit... I knew there was a reason I took these:

And if you go just past 20 minutes here:



you can see the theatre entrance hall at the end of the corridor from the down escalator.

 

[JenniferS]

I wasn't being entirely serious about that monorail bit. I was poking fun at myself because of all my monorail posts!

Now, the Gary Busey bit, that I was serious about.

It was painful to keep watching Gary. Thankfully, he has finally been cut loose.

You do know that Walt was never frozen, right?! He was cremated and his ashes are buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.
The first cryogenic freezing of a body did not happen until a month after his passing.

 

[PeterAlt]

It was painful to keep watching Gary. Thankfully, he has finally been cut loose.

You do know that Walt was never frozen, right?! He was cremated and his ashes are buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.
The first cryogenic freezing of a body did not happen until a month after his passing.

I know, but according to Tom Green, his head was frozen. I just watched his stand up comedy routine on NetFlix and he said that multiple times, so it must be true... Lol

 

[hiptwinmama]

Please lets try to keep this thread on topic. We already had a thread go haywire because of "apple love".

I don't think we're going all lovey on apple, just making the point that People are willing to pay a premium for what they believe is a premium product (i.e. Disney vs 6 flags)