What if Walt hadn't died?

[George]

He would rule the world and distribute his immortality technology to a few chosen "luckys" while the 99.999% that comprised the rabble would be constantly trying to find ways to remove their permanently embedded RFID tags.

 

[luv]

No way to know. He'd have continued to do good work, I'm sure.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

1) I think we would have fewer theme parks, as Walt quickly tired of things and never wanted to repeat himself. I believe we would have gotten the MK, and then he would have gone to work on the real EPCOT. We quite literally could have a WDW with one theme park and a city.

2) I think he would have allowed animation to evolve with technology, but he wouldn't have let it completely die. Disney animated features would still be the cream of the crop, and he would have paid to train his classic animators on new technology the instant it became available (or, knowing how Walt worked, before it became available).

3) I think TWDC would have created things like the iPhone/iPad/iPod (albeit with different names). Walt was an innovator, and never stopped looking ahead or for a way to create the next best thing. He had a huge ego (while trying to mask it with some humility) and always wanted to be the first and best.

4) I think Disney stock would not be at the level it is today because (unless he was just ousted from his seat), because he would use profits to reinvest in the company, over and over and over. Walt and today's Wall Street would NOT get along well. He only "went public" because it was the only way to keep from going completely bankrupt. It was likely the biggest regret he had (although unavoidable), second only to his studio going union.

I'm just not sure that, if he were to come back to life today, he would be overly impressed with what's happening. If he knew that WDW had 4 parks that weren't even close to being "perfect" - he'd have a fit. I believe he would rather have one perfect park, than a pretty good park, a mediocre park, and 2 pathetic parks. But again, I believe he would have lost interest in theme parks halfway through the construction of the MK and moved on to the next big thing, which would again change the world and bear the Disney name at the same time.

Exactly how I feel it would have played out...I seem to remember reading something he originally didn't even want a Magic Kingdom in Florida. Roy told him that it was necessary to finance the other parts.

 

[SMS55]

I think EPCOT would be the only big change. MK was supposed to be a better version of Disneyland, which I think it is. The original plans called for a "swamp ride" which I think is where Animal Kingdom and the live animals which is what Walt originally wanted as part of the Jungle Cruise. He envisioned EPCOT as a city of the future and it would have been at the very least for his employees.

 

[lego606]

What if JamesTown wasn't settled?

What if NASA was never commissioned?

I mean, those really are legitimate questions as well.

He'd be very old.

Well if he hadnt died, he'd be turning 112 this year haha but I get your point. I don't know. I think movies would have stayed the way they were which would have reflected in the parks. It would be interesting to see what he would have done with increasing technology. Would he embrace it or reject it?

Obviously he's not immortal. I just mean if he'd lived past 1966 to continue more of his projects.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

I think he would have at least recognized Animal Kingdom as forward thinking...and providing an experience you can get in very few places....I've always thought Animal Kingdom at it's core...is VERY Disney. I think he would look at DHS and be like..."?"

 

[litaljohn]

would Walt play well with others or try to outdo them? both the recent purchase of marek and Lucas are huge purchases that I don't know would happen with Walt. I think we live in an era where Name creates loyalty FAR more than actual quality. we all enjoy blu rays today but far and away the HD DVD that died was better tech at the time. it was better to create, with less disc errors as early blu rays suffered, it was higher quality material. (blu ray held more data, however blu ray players all suffered from lower disc read rates than its counterparts. in fact in console wars the same used to be true with ps3 data read rates vs a standard DVD read in Xbox 360, a big reason why ps3 games had huge mandatory installs early on, and in fact HS DVD had some aspects and features blu ray still can not handle and implement well.)

but blu ray won out. it wast based on better quality, it was better brand loyalty to makers and certain studios.

it's a tough question I honestly don't know the answer to, I don't even know of we would have Pixar. would Walt just buy into them or try to create yakity film to try to compete and be better than them?

 

[ifuhadwings]

he would have 112 birthday candles to blow out on Dec. 5th

 

[bethymouse]

Walt Disney would have been amazed at the talent of his "imagineers". One can only hope that the talent continues to be used to create bigger and better things in WDW ( not just new resorts/DVC). The 7DMT is also one of those very innovative ideas! I think he'd be pleased w/ that.

 

[Kitchandro]

Agree with those saying EPCOT would be very different. And tbh, even though I find his original idea fascinating, it sounded a bit unrealistic and I love the way it is now.

Disney World may not be quite in his vision, he might have been down right peed off about certain things in fact. But I'm not complaining.

 

[Fletch]

Do u think he would say it is crazy prices. Walt did like to make money and would still like to make money. He would not care about the prices. He would care about the quality that we pay for. Why should a price to the MK be the same as HS with less rides and Less stuff to do.

Good point. In the end you need to make a profit to keep things going. To me its always about value for your buck. I have zero problem paying good coin if I believe I am getting true value for it.

 

[DDEPILLO]

We would have Walt Disney Planet, Walt would have taken over Mars and it would have been the top vacation destination the happiest planet in the solar system....lol. No but for real I think it would be very much the same but park condition and ride condition would have been top priority.

 

[Polydweller]

I'm going to say something that will not be very popular. So be it. I think if he hadn't passed away when he did, the company would no longer exist. His plan for EPCOT was, in my opinion, going to fail big time. It would have started out OK, but very soon, just like in Celebration, the folks living in EPCOT would have quickly resented the control that he intended to maintain on the community. It was a theory that all people do not mind living the same, with all the same freedoms erased and all control over their own environment completely out of their hands. It's normal for all of us to think of Walt as infallible, but, he was not. The cost of this dream would have very easily pulled the Disney Company into bankruptcy. It wasn't as big and powerful as it is today. Assets were limited and this would have eaten through a lot of it. It was an admirable idea, but, not workable in this country in my belief.

I happen to agree. When I look at the drawings in One Man's Dream and the model on the TTA they always look like trial balloons to see if Walt could get any interest. I doubt he would have gotten much interest because the design is just poor urban planning. No way for the city downtown/core to grow and expand and little way for urban renewal to take place when it would inevitably be needed. The company couldn't do it without getting partners on board and so it likely would have died.

The man was a dreamer but it's really impossible to guess what he would do and what would have been different. But by our time he wouldn't have been running the company for about 30 years so we would undoubtedly have the very corporate Disney company we have now.

 

[cynic710]

tough call, but I think the biggest impact would be Epcot. I feel like he had even grander thoughts for it.

 

[HatboxGhost]

If he had lived into his 80's or even 90's, problems that are going on now would just be pushed ahead and arrive at a later date.
Walt is gone and the people in charge know that. If Walt were alive today, would be kicked and people would be fired.

 

[All Disney All The Time]

He'd be like really old, living in a nursing home, drooling and crapping on himself, and years ago would have bulldozed the entire WDW property and sold it to strip mall developers. He would have based that decision totally on the broken Yeti. And WDWMagic opinions of course. And their views on chipped paint, burned out lightbulbs, gum on the walkways, and the closing of Horizons. And oh yeah, Kali isn't any good.

 

[Runmyhorse]

I think walt would like the majority of the directions the parks have gone. I do think though he would look for improvements. If what I read was right he always was asking what was wrong with the rides, now I might be wrong on that just something I read. I also think he would be worried about the customers . I guess we will never really know though

 

[All Disney All The Time]

AND, he'd have an annual pass to Uni. Be the world's biggest Harry Potter fan, because that's what Alzheimer's will do to you and once a year they'd let him out of the nursing home to go to WikiWachee (or whatever its name is) to chase the mermaids, yelling, "Johnny Depp said we could mate!!". He'd be all confused trying to decide between the "teams" on "Twilight" and wonder why "Little Red" has been replaced by horses in striped pajamas. He'd want to set a trap for the "damn Mouse" and his well-known racism and anti-Semitism would have reached epic proportions, leading to massive backlashes against "Princesses and fairies", although he'd finally conclude, "Not that's there's anything wrong with alternative lifestyles." He'd believe that "Dole whip" was an S and M activity and that the Dapper Dan's were a "boy band" (an example of the medication allowing him a moment of lucidity) and wonder, "Why in the hell would anybody go to a theme park to get a freaking haircut?" He'd vigorously support the idea of people paying money to do the Bobiddity botique thing saying, "Man, the current management knows how to rake in the bucks on peoples' desire to spoil their brats" and and love the expanded Meet and Greets with the statement, "Yeah baby, pay a bunch of wannabe actresses minimum wage to wear cheap costumes and pose, rather than add ridiculously expensive rides". He'd praise the guided fishing trips saying, "People come here to fish? When they can do that at home? And feel obligated to tip the guides and have to throw the fish back? BEAUTIFUL!!" He'd apply for Brazilian citizenship saying, "They're given cheap packages, spend a gazillion dollars shopping and look fantastic in skimpy clothing on top of it? Dayum, what genius thought of that?" He'd just fall over himself thinking about PhotoPass wondering, "What idiot doesn't own a freaking camera of their own these days and is afraid to ask another guest to take a photo for them?" He'd ponder, "Who came up with the idea of charging people for a picture of themselves on a ride? Give that man a RAISE!" And beforet the nursing staff took him off for his daily apple sauce and jello he'd finish with, "It don't matter what we do, what we shut down, what we let fall apart, WDWMagic posters will gripe and complain but still come and spend thousands. And those who don't, we'll just fill their spots with more Brazilian SHOPPERS!!!!"

 

[All Disney All The Time]

I think walt would like the majority of the directions the parks have gone. I do think though he would look for improvements. If what I read was right he always was asking what was wrong with the rides, now I might be wrong on that just something I read. I also think he would be worried about the customers . I guess we will never really know though

Walt was all about improvement and innovation. Horse, I won't give you any grief. I like your style.

 

[unkadug]

He'd be like really old, living in a nursing home, drooling and crapping on himself, and years ago would have bulldozed the entire WDW property and sold it to strip mall developers. He would have based that decision totally on the broken Yeti. And WDWMagic opinions of course. And their views on chipped paint, burned out lightbulbs, gum on the walkways, and the closing of Horizons. And oh yeah, Kali isn't any good.

You have nothing but contempt for everyone here...please do us all a favor and find another website to haunt.