Funmeister's Delight
Active Member
Disneyland is 100 times closer to what he had than Magic Kingdom is.
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Which park would Disney have loved the most if he still were alive?
- Thread starter Jose
- Start date
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
I know, but we can't take away the fact that's it has significantly changed. We don't know if he'd approve of these changes.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Walt doesn't announce a second Magic Kingdom. You can watch the EPCOT film as well as the original announcement with Roy and the Governor. Actual development of the second park began after Walt's death. Any design from Walt's lifetime would be a huge deal to post-Walt Walt Disney World and be constantly shown.
The clone is a placeholder, not really an intended plan. It's a symbol others could easily understand.
Or "dull, unimaginative" Roy was trying to "top pigs with pigs."
steamboatjosh
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know why EPCOT was made into a theme park instead of the city that he wanted?
Funmeister's Delight
Active Member
I know he would approve of it a hell of a lot more than whats going on in Orlando.
Funmeister's Delight
Active Member
Also the changes made to Disneyland since his death for the most part have been great with the exception of Tomorrowland 98.
Tonka's Skipper
Well-Known Member
Walt's Epcot city was to always be rebuilt, adding the newest and the best. I think it was not workable in that if you were living there, you would not be happy with crews coming in now and then and rebuilding your home!
It was decided to go with the worlds fair look in Epcot, as it was still a way to demonstrate the newest and the best and Walt was very pleased with the 1964/65 New York's Worlds Fair and the fine attractions Disney provided to their sponsors at the fair. Ford, GE, the state of Illinois, Pepsi.
AKK
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
How exactly do you know?
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
I voted DL just because it's where his heart seemed to be. I think he'd be pleased with the new FL, but I'm not so sure about EPCOT , DHS, or AK.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
I agree, for the most part (there have been other changes besides Tomorrowland that are/were very disappointing), but they're great according to our standards and outlook.
Funmeister's Delight
Active Member
The Winner is Disneyland hands down, anyone who says otherwise isn't properly educated on Disney history.
Funmeister's Delight
Active Member
Lets see cheap attractions all over the place; mixed and questionable themeing; you can see backstage areas clearly from the hub; sight lines in the park are horrible; half the restaurants are closed for a majority of the year; abandoned buildings in the middle of the park; the list goes on.
Funmeister's Delight
Active Member
The fact he didn't even want a copy of Disneyland in Florida and was a later decision just to add in cash flow is why Disneyland wins.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
Okay. Well, I THINK Walt Disney would go with Disneyland, based on history, but I won't try and state what I think as fact. For the most part, I agree with you, but since Walt Disney isn't here and none of us knew him personally, it's a little complicated to try and state as fact which park he'd like the most. That's all I'm saying.
steamboatjosh
Well-Known Member
I just did some research. I guess Roy insisted that EPCOT be carried on after Walt died, but he couldn't convince the board to do it, so he then began to focus on the Magic Kingdom project.
However, I guess the World Showcase is pretty much an exact recreation of what the concepts were for the dining/shopping district that Walt wanted in Epcot.
"Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966. Even when he was dying from lung cancer, his brother, Roy O. Disney, stated that Walt was still planning his city in the hospital. Walt was using the ceiling to imagine his city, planning excitedly. Florida Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. signed Chapter 67-764[3] into law on May 12, 1967, establishing the Reedy Creek Improvement District. However, Disney directors eventually decided that it was too risky to venture into city planning now that its biggest advocate was gone. But Roy persisted and took the reins on the project, stepping out of retirement to do it. However, Roy could not convince the board to build EPCOT. But, he did forge ahead with the Magic Kingdom project. The Walt Disney World Resort opened in October 1971 with only the Magic Kingdom and two hotels. Roy insisted it be called Walt Disney World as a tribute to the man who had dreamed it up."
"Surrounding the hotel, inside the enclosure, would have been "shops and restaurants that reflect the culture and flavor of locations 'round the world". According to the concept art, these areas would be themed to each country, having the look and feel of each of the exotic locales. This concept eventually evolved into the World Showcase area of the Epcot theme park. The PeopleMover track would travel above these downtown shops and streets in a similar fashion as the system did in Disneyland. Preliminary plan indicated that the people who would have worked in these shops would have also lived in the city."
However, I guess the World Showcase is pretty much an exact recreation of what the concepts were for the dining/shopping district that Walt wanted in Epcot.
"Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966. Even when he was dying from lung cancer, his brother, Roy O. Disney, stated that Walt was still planning his city in the hospital. Walt was using the ceiling to imagine his city, planning excitedly. Florida Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. signed Chapter 67-764[3] into law on May 12, 1967, establishing the Reedy Creek Improvement District. However, Disney directors eventually decided that it was too risky to venture into city planning now that its biggest advocate was gone. But Roy persisted and took the reins on the project, stepping out of retirement to do it. However, Roy could not convince the board to build EPCOT. But, he did forge ahead with the Magic Kingdom project. The Walt Disney World Resort opened in October 1971 with only the Magic Kingdom and two hotels. Roy insisted it be called Walt Disney World as a tribute to the man who had dreamed it up."
"Surrounding the hotel, inside the enclosure, would have been "shops and restaurants that reflect the culture and flavor of locations 'round the world". According to the concept art, these areas would be themed to each country, having the look and feel of each of the exotic locales. This concept eventually evolved into the World Showcase area of the Epcot theme park. The PeopleMover track would travel above these downtown shops and streets in a similar fashion as the system did in Disneyland. Preliminary plan indicated that the people who would have worked in these shops would have also lived in the city."
jdmdisney99
Well-Known Member
Yep. There's that one documentary where some older Imagineers, Bob Gurr and Marty Sklar I think, say that Walt would look around and say, 'What took so long?' I don't know what, but I beg to differ. Walt would keep looking for problems to fix, because, even in the high quality early '90s Disney, nothing would be perfect. PLUSSING.
Minnie_girl
Active Member
The Winner is Disneyland hands down, anyone who says otherwise isn't properly educated on Disney history.
luv
Well-Known Member
Nobody else had his vision or drive. It was his thing and nobody could do it, really.
I'm sure they said it wasn't possible or financially prudent. Walt would've done it, though.
Wish he'd lived another decade.
disney4life2008
Well-Known Member
Wasnt that was Celebration was initially about? I remember all the promotion of celebration when it was being built - is that town even still around?