The American Adventure
“Our heritage and ideals, our ode and standards – the things we live by and teach our children – are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings.” – Walt Disney
Walt Disney has always had a fondness of America. Even as a child, young Walt and his friend, Walt Pfeffer, would dress up for vaudeville-style shows, one of them themed to Abraham Lincoln – Walt’s favorite president. Throughout his years of cartoons and theme-park envisioning and building, Walt Disney stressed the importance of American history and culture: “Here we experience the story of our country’s past…the colorful drama…Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage, and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed trails across America.”
However, when technology came available, Walt Disney hoped to increase the mediums on ways to educate and inspire. With help from the current WDI President Marty Sklar, Walt hoped to create a “Hall of Presidents.” However, due to time constraints, Walt had to decide upon a way to bring American history into their new project: The 1964 New York Worlds Fair. After building a presidential attraction based on his childhood hero, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln became a reality. In it, the Audio-Animatronics figure of President Lincoln stresses the importance of liberty: “This government, must be preserved in spite of the acts of man, or set of men. Nowhere in the world is presented a government of so much liberty and equality."
Through his entertainment, Walt hoped for the unity of a family – a spiritual component of American culture. He showcased this ideal in his Carousel of Progress, in which the these ideas American progress and family combined to show how dreams really can become a reality to make a brighter tomorrow with work and courage: another aspect which has brought our nation to successes in the many chapters of our American adventure. Walt’s passions for American values exceeded in the stories of his attractions and films: “More than ever, I believe in the permanence of any well-founded institution which recognizes and caters to the basic needs of people, spiritually as well as materially. And in my opinion, entertainment in its broadest sense has become a necessity rather than a luxury in the life of the American public.”
The ideals and history of America can presently be seen today in one of its best forms yet: The American Adventure at EPCOT. Being one of the most technologically advanced and truly inspiring attractions, this 30-minute production focuses on the promise and dreams of this nation. The Hall of Presidents became a reality in 1971, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is still showcasing the ideals it set out to teach in 1964.
Feel free to discuss your views on Walt's outlook in our never-ending cause for freedom and liberty for all!
“Our heritage and ideals, our ode and standards – the things we live by and teach our children – are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings.” – Walt Disney
Walt Disney has always had a fondness of America. Even as a child, young Walt and his friend, Walt Pfeffer, would dress up for vaudeville-style shows, one of them themed to Abraham Lincoln – Walt’s favorite president. Throughout his years of cartoons and theme-park envisioning and building, Walt Disney stressed the importance of American history and culture: “Here we experience the story of our country’s past…the colorful drama…Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage, and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed trails across America.”
However, when technology came available, Walt Disney hoped to increase the mediums on ways to educate and inspire. With help from the current WDI President Marty Sklar, Walt hoped to create a “Hall of Presidents.” However, due to time constraints, Walt had to decide upon a way to bring American history into their new project: The 1964 New York Worlds Fair. After building a presidential attraction based on his childhood hero, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln became a reality. In it, the Audio-Animatronics figure of President Lincoln stresses the importance of liberty: “This government, must be preserved in spite of the acts of man, or set of men. Nowhere in the world is presented a government of so much liberty and equality."
Through his entertainment, Walt hoped for the unity of a family – a spiritual component of American culture. He showcased this ideal in his Carousel of Progress, in which the these ideas American progress and family combined to show how dreams really can become a reality to make a brighter tomorrow with work and courage: another aspect which has brought our nation to successes in the many chapters of our American adventure. Walt’s passions for American values exceeded in the stories of his attractions and films: “More than ever, I believe in the permanence of any well-founded institution which recognizes and caters to the basic needs of people, spiritually as well as materially. And in my opinion, entertainment in its broadest sense has become a necessity rather than a luxury in the life of the American public.”
The ideals and history of America can presently be seen today in one of its best forms yet: The American Adventure at EPCOT. Being one of the most technologically advanced and truly inspiring attractions, this 30-minute production focuses on the promise and dreams of this nation. The Hall of Presidents became a reality in 1971, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is still showcasing the ideals it set out to teach in 1964.
Feel free to discuss your views on Walt's outlook in our never-ending cause for freedom and liberty for all!
