World Drive Land Clearing

brent2124

brent2124

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Just drove up World Drive and saw significant tree and land clearing just south of the Epcot turn off on the right side of World Drive, anything of importance going on? If this has been discussed previously disregard, a quick phone check didn't find any previous discussion.
 
Unplugged

Unplugged

Well-Known Member
They should have added a couple wind turbines, then they could have made a really awesome update to Universe of Energy at EPCOT that had real-time monitoring of the new systems and weather. I'm sure if they went with multiple sponsors as opposed to a single fat cat, they could have landed multiple revenue streams for it and done something at least cool and up to date.

...Why oh why do I waste my typing and your time by even thinking such things? I suppose it's the kid in me trying to be hopeful of the future even though the rest has died a slow Disney death.
 
Victor Kelly

Victor Kelly

Well-Known Member
ShoalFox

ShoalFox

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
Victor Kelly said:
actually, having researched solar power, UoE's solar cells likely have degraded so much that they probably produce little power now.
Click to expand...
I read somewhere, I can't remember where though, that the original panels were replaced during a major pavilion renovation. Again, I can't remember when it was or where I read it.
 
Unplugged

Unplugged

Well-Known Member
Victor Kelly said:
Wind is not really much of an option. Wind is typically better at oceans and on hill tops. Florida is kinda flat, not completely flat though. Also it is not windy all of the time. Sunny a huge percentage of the time unless it is night.
Click to expand...

I know what you're saying and I agree with it technically.

My point was that it is not sunny all the time in Florida due to occasional storms and nightfall. My point was that only 1 or 2 mid size turbines with real weather monitoring can demonstrate the differences in power production. When those differences are scaled across a nation, optimizing solar in the sun, turbines in the windy areas, these can maximize power output. Also, since solar does little good at night, there is a demonstration of how, when charted through out the day, wind can provide benefits. The thought was not that turbines would produce high yield outputs, but that only 1 or 2 would produce enough for great demonstrations. If GE or another manufacturer were a sponsor, getting 2 of them would be no big deal or expense.
 
Victor Kelly

Victor Kelly

Well-Known Member
fox_198 said:
I read somewhere, I can't remember where though, that the original panels were replaced during a major pavilion renovation. Again, I can't remember when it was or where I read it.
Click to expand...
I tried a google search and came up with nothing, which is weird because wikipedia usually has a reference to start with and chase down answers.

Unplugged said:
I know what you're saying and I agree with it technically.

My point was that it is not sunny all the time in Florida due to occasional storms and nightfall. My point was that only 1 or 2 mid size turbines with real weather monitoring can demonstrate the differences in power production. When those differences are scaled across a nation, optimizing solar in the sun, turbines in the windy areas, these can maximize power output. Also, since solar does little good at night, there is a demonstration of how, when charted through out the day, wind can provide benefits. The thought was not that turbines would produce high yield outputs, but that only 1 or 2 would produce enough for great demonstrations. If GE or another manufacturer were a sponsor, getting 2 of them would be no big deal or expense.
Click to expand...

I agree with you technically as well. Especially since it could bring Epcot to its original theme park purpose which was to teach. Hydro power would be nice as well, even a slow moving body of water will turn a turbine if it is geared correctly.

I am sure that with all types of energy generation. Solar site situation in relation to the sun's track during the day (increased with sun tracking gear., placement of wind turbines where they would get the most wind, hydro near the best body of moving water.
 
boufa

boufa

Well-Known Member
Unplugged said:
They should have added a couple wind turbines, then they could have made a really awesome update to Universe of Energy at EPCOT that had real-time monitoring of the new systems and weather. I'm sure if they went with multiple sponsors as opposed to a single fat cat, they could have landed multiple revenue streams for it and done something at least cool and up to date.

...Why oh why do I waste my typing and your time by even thinking such things? I suppose it's the kid in me trying to be hopeful of the future even though the rest has died a slow Disney death.
Click to expand...

I wish I lived in a world where it was as simple as you think it is. Sitting on the sidelines telling people how it should be, and complaining that it is all ruined because its not that way.
 
Unplugged

Unplugged

Well-Known Member
boufa said:
I wish I lived in a world where it was as simple as you think it is. Sitting on the sidelines telling people how it should be, and complaining that it is all ruined because its not that way.
Click to expand...
You're misinterpreting my remarks with a per-determined attitude towards my post. Please don't over simplify anything you read on any forum by assuming you know with 100% accuracy. I certainly am not telling anyone "it should be this way or it's cr@p", but more so "Oh rats, it would have been cool if they had..." which is in essence agreeing with numerous long time members here who have made recent comments regarding how a few key attractions including UoE could have been improved for reasonably less capital than an entire re-build. I'm only adding my opinion to the mesh of conversations after seeing the progress being made on the solar farm and feeling like they may have missed an opportunity to revive an attraction without IP or over the top budget requirements.

I also never said "it is all ruined" because they didn't add some turbines. I'm simply expressing, as many others have regarding EPCOT over the past years, my opinion of being wishful like a kid when I see something new going up while the adult in me knows that it's all business these days and more so about IP and franchising.

So, how are you actively involved in getting some of our old favorites up to speed at EPCOT? Just asking since I'm "sitting on the sidelines" as you put it, that implies you're involved in some projects for Disney. Are you a contractor working on construction, or part of a design team? It'd be great to get more real-world input. Thx
 
DisneyGentleman

DisneyGentleman

Well-Known Member
Unplugged said:
I know what you're saying and I agree with it technically.

My point was that it is not sunny all the time in Florida due to occasional storms and nightfall. My point was that only 1 or 2 mid size turbines with real weather monitoring can demonstrate the differences in power production. When those differences are scaled across a nation, optimizing solar in the sun, turbines in the windy areas, these can maximize power output. Also, since solar does little good at night, there is a demonstration of how, when charted through out the day, wind can provide benefits. The thought was not that turbines would produce high yield outputs, but that only 1 or 2 would produce enough for great demonstrations. If GE or another manufacturer were a sponsor, getting 2 of them would be no big deal or expense.
Click to expand...

Wishful thinking - if only there were enough wind to make it work. Florida is dismal from a wind resource perspective - and great for sun.

Too bad nature has to enter into this, and trump the wishful thinking. If only the Texas park were real...

USwind300dpe4-11.jpg
 
jayhawkmickey

jayhawkmickey

Well-Known Member
Unplugged said:
They should have added a couple wind turbines, then they could have made a really awesome update to Universe of Energy at EPCOT that had real-time monitoring of the new systems and weather. I'm sure if they went with multiple sponsors as opposed to a single fat cat, they could have landed multiple revenue streams for it and done something at least cool and up to date.

...Why oh why do I waste my typing and your time by even thinking such things? I suppose it's the kid in me trying to be hopeful of the future even though the rest has died a slow Disney death.
Click to expand...
Wind or no wind, those things are huge!!!! I live in Kansas and see the pieces go by all the time. The single blades alone take up three train cars each. You can see them from five miles away. People complain about how you can see swan and dolphin from EPCOT, just imagine if they could see the turbines from Magic Kingdom! I know they make smaller ones than out here, but I don't think they would even power one trip around test track. Maybe a smaller demo just for educations sake.
 
boufa

boufa

Well-Known Member
Unplugged said:
So, how are you actively involved in getting some of our old favorites up to speed at EPCOT? Just asking since I'm "sitting on the sidelines" as you put it, that implies you're involved in some projects for Disney. Are you a contractor working on construction, or part of a design team? It'd be great to get more real-world input. Thx
Click to expand...

My only influence in the operations of Disney is to spend my money or not to spend my money. I am curious what they are doing, but I am aware of a few things. 1) I don't have a clue about how to run a theme park, nor do I know anything at all about their finances, legalities, or any other such details to make an informed decision. 2) There may be a few insiders on these forums, but for the rest of us, there is absolutely nothing that we do here that is changing the parts in even the smallest of ways.

I apologize if I misinterpreted your comments, they seemed to have been presented with such absolute certainty that it inspired my reaction.
-------------------
Back on topic... wind power using wind mills would be a mistake, they tend to have issues that I would hope that Disney would not get involved with. There are definite wildlife concerns, and they also create sight line issues. I would bet that if a wind mill was set up near UoE, people would scream so much about how it looked that Disney would think that putting the wand back on the side of Spaceship Earth might be a good idea.

I thought the solar farm was 2 things, a money maker for them (utilizing non revenue generating property) and a good PR move. The company doing the work and running the solar farm would get the prestige of having a working install to show off, and having at Disney might sway investors some too. I never thought it was really there in any way for the general public to even realize it was there. Something like the Laundry facility rather than a "living with the land" type environmental statement.
 
Unplugged

Unplugged

Well-Known Member
jayhawkmickey said:
Wind or no wind, those things are huge!!!! I live in Kansas and see the pieces go by all the time. The single blades alone take up three train cars each. You can see them from five miles away. People complain about how you can see swan and dolphin from EPCOT, just imagine if they could see the turbines from Magic Kingdom! I know they make smaller ones than out here, but I don't think they would even power one trip around test track. Maybe a smaller demo just for educations sake.
Click to expand...

There are some massive wind farms up my way and you're right that the large ones aren't just large but HUGE and would be unaccaptable. I was thinking smaller for demo purposes, like one not far from here installed at a Electricians Union training center that is about 1/4 the size. It was just a thought for demo/education only and if provided by a manufacturer as their "sponsorship". </end soap box>
 
jayhawkmickey

jayhawkmickey

Well-Known Member
Unplugged said:
There are some massive wind farms up my way and you're right that the large ones aren't just large but HUGE and would be unaccaptable. I was thinking smaller for demo purposes, like one not far from here installed at a Electricians Union training center that is about 1/4 the size. It was just a thought for demo/education only and if provided by a manufacturer as their "sponsorship". </end soap box>
Click to expand...
I agree, that would be great and more along the lines of what EPCOT was built for.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom