Would Walt Be Happy Today??

[emwatdworld]

Hello Everyone --

Mywife, daughter and I just returned last night from 8 wonderful days at DisneyWorld. While on this trip, I found myself thinking about what Walt would think of everything if he were alive today.

That leads me to this question. In your opinion, if Walt were alive today, would he be happy with what Disneyworld has grown to be? Would he be pleased with the attractions - the resorts - what Epcot turned into - Animal Kingdon - MGM and such?

I am thinking that overall Walt would be pleased, although I am not sure he would like the fact that Disney is more of a business now than ever. Sure, it has always been a business, however I don't think Walt made all of his decsions based on ROI. In this day and age, a publically held company does have to look at the ROI on most things, however I don't think Walt would be pleased with a couple of things that I noticed.

One example would be the decision to not do the Christmas version of Bear Country Jamboree. Also in regard to Bear Country Jamboree, I noticed when I was on it this past week, the attraction is being let get. There was a malfunction with one of the spot lights that had it on one of the red curtains during the entire performance and the speaker of one of charchters was so muffled that it was rather hard to understand. Even though Bear Country Jamboree may not "pack 'em in", I am not sure Walt would be happy with just letting an attraction go. As a side note, I wonder if Disney is not putting money into BCJ because they are going to do away with it or perhaps have a major upgrade in the works?

On the other side of the street, my daughter and I noticed one charachter within Small World that was not working. We went back on Small World the next day and found that the charachter had been repaired and was working - leaving us to believe that Disney is still on top of things when it comes to the popular attractions.

So, what do some of you think - would Walt be happy today if he were able to take a stroll through the parks?

 

[Buford]

I think anything will be obscured with the fact that EPCOT the city was never built...... then he'd focus on the other stuff later

 

[Big-Bad-Dave]

I don't think Walt would be happy with MGM. Especially when you compare it to Universal.

 

[darthjohnny]

I've always wondered on that very same subject.

I think he would generally be happy with where the parks have gone.

The Disney Company usually thinks when doing something, "What Would Walt Do?" (Although somethimes I think they really wonder "What will make us the most money?" :lol

But if they think what would Walt do, then in that sense, they are always doing what Walt would have wanted and liked.

 

[jedimaster1227]

I used to think that Walt would be dissatisfied with what had become of his "World," but as my experiences with Disney became more numerous, I think I have come to a changed conclusion:

Think about this-

When the Magic Kingdom opened, it had many blank spots on its map (like this). That was the only Florida park he lived to see built. It wasn't even complete at the time it was opened, but he was still very happy with it.

Epcot opened as a full park, with very little room for expansion-ready to stay open for years without anything new expected to be added (other than Wonders of Life and a few countries' exhibits later on). So, technically, Epcot beat out the Magic Kingdom's amount of attractions.

MGM Studios was built with about the same amount of things to experience as the Magic Kingdom had when it opened (referring to attractions overall including shows). It continued to grow with new shows and features added over its first 5 years of being open, so again it succeeded in surpassing the Magic Kingdom on Walt's standards.

Animal Kingdom, the largest of the parks would probably be one of Walt's favorites, being that he was a man interested in animals and so much more. Even though Beastly Kingdom never came to fruition (though if he were alive at the park's construction, I believe he would have pushed that it would be built), the park still features more than what the Magic Kingdom did on opening day under Walt's standards.

Not only does the world contain 4 parks, but it also contains 2 waterparks, too many resorts to count and its own marketplace and club district. Walt's world was originally intended to consist of two main landmarks, the Magic Kingdom, which would support the financial endeavor that would become EPCOT. After his death, EPCOT transitioned from being a community to a theme park of tomorrow. After that, the world continued to expand, spreading the joy, wonder and magic that Walt himself had been doing since he aired the first episode of his own television show. So, even though he isn't here today with us, his spirit lives on in every Disney park around the world, even if he never visited them.

In conclusion, I believe Walt Disney would truly be happy with his world.

 

[darthjohnny]

I used to think that Walt would be dissatisfied with what had become of his "World," but as my experiences with Disney became more numerous, I think I have come to a changed conclusion:

Think about this-

When the Magic Kingdom opened, it had many blank spots on its map (like this). That was the only Florida park he lived to see built. It wasn't even complete at the time it was opened, but he was still very happy with it.

Epcot opened as a full park, with very little room for expansion-ready to stay open for years without anything new expected to be added (other than Wonders of Life and a few countries' exhibits later on). So, technically, Epcot beat out the Magic Kingdom's amount of attractions.

MGM Studios was built with about the same amount of things to experience as the Magic Kingdom had when it opened (referring to attractions overall including shows). It continued to grow with new shows and features added over its first 5 years of being open, so again it succeeded in surpassing the Magic Kingdom on Walt's standards.

Animal Kingdom, the largest of the parks would probably be one of Walt's favorites, being that he was a man interested in animals and so much more. Even though Beastly Kingdom never came to fruition (though if he were alive at the park's construction, I believe he would have pushed that it would be built), the park still features more than what the Magic Kingdom did on opening day under Walt's standards.

Not only does the world contain 4 parks, but it also contains 2 waterparks, too many resorts to count and its own marketplace and club district. Walt's world was originally intended to consist of two main landmarks, the Magic Kingdom, which would support the financial endeavor that would become EPCOT. After his death, EPCOT transitioned from being a community to a theme park of tomorrow. After that, the world continued to expand, spreading the joy, wonder and magic that Walt himself had been doing since he aired the first episode of his own television show. So, even though he isn't here today with us, his spirit lives on in every Disney park around the world, even if he never visited them.

In conclusion, I believe Walt Disney would truly be happy with his world.

I would have to disagree. In short, Epcot does have room for expansion. And Walt died long before the Magic Kingdom in WDW opened. I do think though he would have liked seeing Animal Kingdom.

I think he would have been happy with the expansion. He said that Disney would never be complete as long as there was imagination left in the world.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

This is a really difficult question because it is not necessarily so much a reflection on WDW but on society. I, frankly, don't think Walt would know what to do with WDW and DL today because society itself has changed. From technology to education to the simple individual-focused ethos of modern America, people simply aren't what they were. Therefore, the understanding of entertainment is completely different.

As for what is there, I think Walt would be disappointed with TL and Epcot only because of his own obsession with the future and new, improved life. That would be Walt the man, though, not "Walt Disney" the creative idol that drives (or at least drove at one time) the company.

 

[dreamscometrue]

I think that despite changes in society, Walt would still approve of all the parks that bear his name because they still adhere to his philosophy of providing a place that entire families can enjoy together. I don't believe that there are any other parks that accomplish this as well as Disney Parks. Since these are family trips for us, it's important to be able to enjoy time without having to split up often. Our trips have always involved teenagers, adults in their 30's and 40's, and grandparents. We've been able to experience 90% of the attractions at WDW together as a group. The grandparents don't do M:S, EE, RnRC or TOT...that's about it. I think Walt would be pleased by this fact along with the exceptional standards of cleanliness friendliness that still do exist.

 

[disneyphilip]

This is a really difficult question because it is not necessarily so much a reflection on WDW but on society. I, frankly, don't think Walt would know what to do with WDW and DL today because society itself has changed. From technology to education to the simple individual-focused ethos of modern America, people simply aren't what they were. Therefore, the understanding of entertainment is completely different.

As for what is there, I think Walt would be disappointed with TL and Epcot only because of his own obsession with the future and new, improved life. That would be Walt the man, though, not "Walt Disney" the creative idol that drives (or at least drove at one time) the company.

Why must you be so negative all the time, Epcot82Guy?

Anyway, I also agree that Walt would be pleased with today's WDW in many ways.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

Being the perfectionist he was, I think there are little things here and there he wouldn't be thrilled with but as a whole, I think he'd be pleased.

 

[darthjohnny]

From technology to education to the simple individual-focused ethos of modern America, people simply aren't what they were. Therefore, the understanding of entertainment is completely different.

Not necessarily true. Somethings never change. The icons and memories created from Disney transcend generatinos. That is why people are still thrilled with rides created 50 years ago (i.e. Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan's Flight) as they were thrilled back when they first opened. :xmas:

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Why must you be so negative all the time, Epcot82Guy?

Anyway, I also agree that Walt would be pleased with today's WDW in many ways.

Perhaps because people read negativity into what I write and don't read. Nothing in my post was negative at all. What I said was that he wouldn't know what to do with it. Times have changed. People have changed. Therefore, to ask the question is somewhat irrelevant. He may be very happy and agree with how things changed. He may think it is vile and terrible. There is no way to know because what he created and appreciated was for a different audience. There have been marked changes in the approach to entertainment from teh 1950's and 1960's to this new century. So please don't confuse skepticism with negativity. I just choose not to blindly accept (and not saying that you are, either).

And, Darthjohnny, I would love to agree with you. However, posting on these boards has suggested that that may not be true. The "old formulae" seem to be slipping away. I really do hope that your sentiment is correct because that is what I equate to the "Walt Way". There are ways to create things that are relevant because they are simply high quality and well done. They inspire generation after generation because they appeal to something baseline. Walt was incredibly adept at doing that. He certainly had his failures, but he really could reach down to the common denominator of most people.. to that child that still exists in everyone. I think that is still a great model for entertainment, and a return to that (as some of the new stuff has suggested is possible - and pretty much the whole of TDS suggests) would be phenomenal. I will gladly change THAT feeling of realistic, negative skepticism when it comes to pass. :lol: