The Land Escalator Replacement?

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
I just had to check and see that this thread really exists.

It's threads like this and the Tangled toilets and the construction wall/planter/benches ones that are why UNI fanbois beat up Disney fanbois and steal their lunch money. Y'all realize that, right?
 

Bolna

Well-Known Member
I just had to check and see that this thread really exists.

It's threads like this and the Tangled toilets and the construction wall/planter/benches ones that are why UNI fanbois beat up Disney fanbois and steal their lunch money. Y'all realize that, right?

I do think it is a bit a question like with the hen and the egg: Do Disney fans talk about escalators because literally NOTHING else is happening to talk about or is NOTHING happening because Disney fans talk about escalators.

And I must say that this thread provided some fine escalator humour - way more classy than the potty humour!
 

articos

Well-Known Member
So sad to see the dumbing down of buildings. My favorite building of all time is the Villa Giulia in Rome, which has a similar parti to The Land Pavilion's original design (not trying to compare them in greatness here, just in intent). At The Land, you approach a large scale building, upon entry the space is compressed and humanized by bringing down the scale, only to open up again making the new space feel even grander. The suprise is that not only does the top open up, but also the floor is removed and you are presented with a view of whats to come below. You are then allowed to descend into the space, but only after being forced to view and take in the volume in its entirety.

The Villa Giulia upon approach appears to be a large box of a building, but after entering you find that the center has been thinned so you are almost immediately back outside in a courtyard. You then travel through to a pavilion which appears to be the end of your journey (it is raised just a few steps to hide what is beyond), but once you get there, the elevation drops before you and reveals a grotto below which you can travel to but only circuitously. Subtle but dramatic at the same time. It's a Mannerist approach of playing with what you think will happen but doing something different to slow you down.

Nothing to do with escalators I know, but a well designed building is an attraction much greater than a pretty movie where you smell some oranges...but I like that too!

Great post.
 

articos

Well-Known Member
I guess that all makes sense, but, the vast majority, myself included, never had that thought jump into their mind. I doubt you did that first trip either. In fact I never really thought about why and I was amused by the design even if I didn't understand it. I think that my thought were more of just the uniqueness of the design more then the function.

Also at the time, there was a lot less emphasis on accessibility. Soarin indeed exacerbated the situation, but, it was always a problem for those with mobility issues especially when you figure that everything worth seeing was two stories down with limited elevator availability. Today that pavilion could not be build without extensive alteration of that noble, but vague, intent.

It's not supposed to jump into your mind, though. It's supposed to feel a certain way, or ellicit an emotional response. Back in the day, it did. When I walked into The Land the first time, I still remember my response. I remember kids running up the entry ramp, into the doors and stopping cold to just look. They they'd drag their parents down the ramps to get down to the boat ride. That's what it was designed to do.

Accessibility is much more a problem these days. When built, the elevators could handle the number of wheelchairs the building got. More recently, after the mid-90s, not so much. I agree the pavilion is badly in need of an update, but it's just a product of a different time with a different purpose and before Soarin'.
 

pixargal

Well-Known Member
I just had to check and see that this thread really exists.

It's threads like this and the Tangled toilets and the construction wall/planter/benches ones that are why UNI fanbois beat up Disney fanbois and steal their lunch money. Y'all realize that, right?
You must admit, Spirit, that some posts here were pretty darn clever and funny. Wonderful way to start my morning.
 

wishiwere@wdw

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I just had to check and see that this thread really exists.

It's threads like this and the Tangled toilets and the construction wall/planter/benches ones that are why UNI fanbois beat up Disney fanbois and steal their lunch money. Y'all realize that, right?

lol I created it more out of curiosity to see if they would really be taking these 'stairs' out of commission over the July 4th crowds.
 

willtravel

Well-Known Member
It's not supposed to jump into your mind, though. It's supposed to feel a certain way, or ellicit an emotional response. Back in the day, it did. When I walked into The Land the first time, I still remember my response. I remember kids running up the entry ramp, into the doors and stopping cold to just look. They they'd drag their parents down the ramps to get down to the boat ride. That's what it was designed to do.

Accessibility is much more a problem these days. When built, the elevators could handle the number of wheelchairs the building got. More recently, after the mid-90s, not so much. I agree the pavilion is badly in need of an update, but it's just a product of a different time with a different purpose and before Soarin'.
I love your post. I feel the same way as intended and do when I walk in still to this day. I can see them closing the theatre down. Just change the d!@m film!!!:mad: I think soarin is fine but over 50 minute wait, I am out of there....
 

Texas84

Well-Known Member
I just had to check and see that this thread really exists.

It's threads like this and the Tangled toilets and the construction wall/planter/benches ones that are why UNI fanbois beat up Disney fanbois and steal their lunch money. Y'all realize that, right?

Everyone on the running board will be happy to get your lunch money back. Just point us to the UNI fanbois.
 

montyz81

Well-Known Member
It's not supposed to jump into your mind, though. It's supposed to feel a certain way, or ellicit an emotional response. Back in the day, it did. When I walked into The Land the first time, I still remember my response. I remember kids running up the entry ramp, into the doors and stopping cold to just look. They they'd drag their parents down the ramps to get down to the boat ride. That's what it was designed to do.
Love this! So true. I can remember in March 1983 being in awe of that building inside. Then again, I was in awe of every building in Epcot Center FW. None of it feels like this anymore. The closest is this building from inside. The smell inside is a top 5 greatest smell in all of WDW. Also, the most aweinspiring for me back then was walking up to WoM. Seeing the ride curl around outside and into the building was magnetic for my imagination! Every ride in that park (1983) had me at "Hello" I was 12 yrs old too!
 

Clamman73

Well-Known Member
Love this! So true. I can remember in March 1983 being in awe of that building inside. Then again, I was in awe of every building in Epcot Center FW. None of it feels like this anymore. The closest is this building from inside. The smell inside is a top 5 greatest smell in all of WDW. Also, the most aweinspiring for me back then was walking up to WoM. Seeing the ride curl around outside and into the building was magnetic for my imagination! Every ride in that park (1983) had me at "Hello" I was 12 yrs old too!


Would be nice if the balloons moved up and down again...I guess it's like a shaking rock on Thunder though. Oh...maybe the balloons are powered by the escalators....;) :p
 

articos

Well-Known Member
I had forgotten about that. How long has it been gone now?

475167576_0ae99f0325_z.jpg

There she is, the way she's supposed to look, with proper landscaping and clean glass/paint. Not bleak, as The Land does today. I honestly don't know how long the skylight's been gone. Martin might. It let a ton of light in under the canopy, which is what it was supposed to do, illuminating the entry and the planter below. With the tree now growing through it, very little light gets through.
 


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