Showing posts with label Epcot. Show all posts

Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Truth About "If you Can Dream It, you Can Do It"

Q: I have found the quotation, "If we can dream it, we can do it," attributed to Walt Disney, on the Internet. Do you know when he said it?

Thomas, Lincoln, Nebraska

A [Dave Smith]: Despite its frequent publication, that is not a Walt Disney quote. We checked with Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald for the definitive answer: "I am very familiar with that line — because I wrote it! It was written specifically for the Horizons attraction at Epcot and used in numerous ways, from dialogue in the ride to graphics. I find it amusing that the Science of Imagineering DVD series attributes it to Walt Disney, but I guess I should be flattered."

[Marcio Disney]

He is one of the Walt’s original Imagineers and nowadays, you can read articles wrote by Tom Fitzgerald for the Disney Parks Blog! He's all about Star Tours. Just Visit: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/author/tfitzgerald/

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Why has Figment left Epcot?

Q: Why has Figment left Epcot? I last took a picture with him by the "leaping" fountains in 2006 and now he is gone. There are traces of his history there, but no more Figment or Dreamfinder, for that matter. What happened?
Connor, San Antonio, Texas

A [Dave Smith]: Figment is still the mascot of the Imagination pavilion. In 1999, with the premiere of Journey Into Your Imagination, he only had a cameo role. However, after an overwhelming number of guests pleaded for his return, the attraction was refurbished again, and since 2002, Journey Into Imagination with Figment has featured the playful dragon. Dreamfinder holding a small Figment used to pose for photos outside the pavilion until 1998; Figment alone made appearances after 2004, but not recently.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Follow Us… to Walt Disney World - A Promotional Film made in 1984

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Q: I am a huge Disney fan (and D23 Member) and a big fan of Walt Disney World with a preference for EPCOT (yes, I still write it as an acronym). Back in the 80s, my wife and I saw a promotional movie about EPCOT that was played before a Disney animation feature (The Great Mouse Detective or The Black Cauldron, I think). This promotional movie ended with a musical if my memory is not playing with me (but I am sure there was a moment with men and women in "futuristic" dress singing and dancing in EPCOT). And more, this was in France! I guess it was part as an incentive to promote overseas customers for Walt Disney World. Any guess where I could see it on the web or as an extra on a DVD? That would be a fantastic emotional trip for my wife and me to see this film again.
Olivier, Auriol, France

A [Dave Smith]: You may be remembering Follow Us… to Walt Disney World, a promotional film that was made in 1984. It can currently be seen on the Internet on YouTube.

[Marcio Disney]

Friday, March 25, 2011

Before the Nemo ride in The Living Seas at Epcot

Q: Before the Nemo ride in The Living Seas at Epcot I remember another ride but cannot remember its name. I remember that it stated with a movie and then a ride. Do you know the name?
Carrie, Poland, New York

A [Dave Smith]: When The Living Seas first opened, guests would see a film, The Seas, then "descend" into the depths of the sea in Hydrolators. They would board two-passenger Seacabs for a three-minute ride through a 400-foot long tunnel, offering views through large windows of the coral reefs teeming with fish and other sea creatures, before arriving at Sea Base Alpha. The short ride in the Seacabs did not have a name; it was closed around 2001.

[Marcio Disney]

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

How were the Countries selected to the World Showcase

Q: First of all, thank you for your historical contributions to all of us as Disney fans. My question focuses on EPCOT. How were the countries selected to create The World Showcase?

Larry, Marion, Indiana

A [Dave Smith]: Disney originally sought sponsorship from governments of different countries (they had in mind a group of key countries which they felt had to be in World Showcase, such as Canada, Mexico, England, China, France, Germany, Italy and Japan) but found such a pursuit to be difficult. Disney then sought sponsorship from companies that operated within the countries, and here they had more success. Canada and Mexico were placed closest to Future World as they are the countries that border the U.S. (originally The American Adventure was to be placed between them). As sponsors were found, the countries of Norway and Morocco were added, though some, including Costa Rica, Spain and Equatorial Africa, never came to fruition.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Disney Undiscovered - Never Built Attractions

Q: In the 23-month calendar given as a membership gift ["Disney Undiscovered"], there are many wonderful never built attractions. But, the one that surprises me the most is that an updated Matterhorn was never built in the World Showcase in Walt Disney World along with the rest of the Switzerland pavilion. Why is this? I feel it would've added more thrill and appeal to young people for World Showcase and Epcot all together as well as drawing more people who were in love with Disneyland.

Amy, Katy, Texas

A [Dave Smith]: There were preliminary plans for many different countries to be added to World Showcase but for a number of reasons we ended up with the 11 countries that we have there today. There is some additional space available, so perhaps other countries might be added later. When World Showcase was planned, the designers were hesitant about adding anything from another Disney park; they wanted Epcot to be unique.

[Marcio Disney]

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Where's the Original Plans to Epcot

Q: Why is the Epcot of today so different from the original plans given by Walt in the Disneyland show? Also, what ever happened to those original plans that hung on the wall in the background?
Joe, Springfield, Missouri

A [Dave Smith]: Walt Disney's 1966 film giving his ideas for EPCOT were shown on local television stations in Florida, but not on his regular television show. Since Walt did not have time to refine his ideas before his untimely passing, plans had to be changed in ensuing years to make the project viable. The original plans for EPCOT are filed at Walt Disney Imagineering.

[Steven Miller, Project Manager, Disney Trading]

The Florida Project – September 9-11, 2011

I wish I could have attended the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 (some of you reading this probably did – lucky!). One of my all time favorite Disney films from that time period is called “The Magic of Walt Disney World.” It was released in 1972, but I recall seeing it on the Disney Channel in the 1980s. What a classic slice of Disney – the lush sounds of Buddy Baker; the images of polyester and people eating food; groovy music in Tomorrowland and just pure 1970s Disney fun. A different time and a different place. It is in that same vein that I’m pleased to announce “The Florida Project: a Disney Trading and Collecting Experience” coming to World ShowPlace at Epcot on September 9-11, 2011. The image above is a rough concept poster designed by Chris Chapman from Disney Design Group. He is the lead designer for this event and spoke about the origin of this event.

“With the 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World in 2011, we wanted to focus on the feeling of nostalgia that people have when thinking about those early years,” said Chris. “The story for this event involves an alternate Preview Center that we uncovered. It was never used because the official Preview Center opened on Buena Vista Drive. The experience will be as if you stepped back in time as we will pay tribute to as much as possible from that era.”

When we had our initial idea session, I brought several of my vintage Disney items to share (it’s one of the things I collect – Disney merchandise from 1970 to 1984). We looked at vintage postcards, at images in souvenir books and even at my Polynesian Village glass vase (behold those 1970s colors). We all agreed that we wanted the merchandise created for this event to have a similar vibe.

“We plan to create a retro look with the character designs” explained Alex Maher, senior character artist with Disney Design Group. “The character designs in the early 1970s were unique. We want to incorporate a similar look with the merchandise we are designing.”

As mentioned, this event will be a Disney Trading and Collecting Experience. This means you will find a variety of items from pins to Vinylmation to potentially some additional categories. And there will be trading (of course). I consider this event an evolution of our Disney Merchandise Events. We still have plenty of details to finalize, and feedback to consider from our previous events. I will share additional information in the coming months on the Disney Parks Blog, so stay tuned.

I leave you with one final question: Did you visit Walt Disney World in the 1970s? What was it like (as sadly my time machine is still not functioning)? I’d love to hear your stories.

Everyday, Disney fans send dozens of questions for Disney Chief Archivist Dave Smith. Here are Dave's answers to your questions. Check back every day for a new post with a new question.

Dave Smith (born October 13, 1940) was the Walt Disney Archives founder and chief archivist which is located in the Frank G. Wells Building at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He joined the company June 22, 1970. Forty years later, on July 2010, he retired.

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ºoº Marcio Disney Family Sites Network ºoº

Saturday, August 28, 2010

A Master Sculptor for Kitchen Kabaret, Mickey atop the World and More!

Q: I have a friend whose father, Perry Russ, used to work with Imagineer sculptor Blaine Gibson. As I understand it, Mr. Russ worked here in Florida on Epcot projects and then later on other projects around Walt Disney World (including the Magic Kingdom). Can you tell me anything about Mr. Russ and the projects that he worked on?
Brian, Kissimmee, Florida

A [Dave Smith]: I remember Perry well. He was a well-liked master sculptor at Walt Disney World and Walt Disney Imagineering for 20 years, beginning in 1972. Besides working on Emporium window displays and sculpting figures for merchandise, he created the cast of talking fruits and vegetables for the Kitchen Kabaret at Epcot, the Mickey atop the world on the Crossroads of the World pylon at Disney's Hollywood Studios and the original bronze Tinker Bell figure I among others received as a 25-year Disney service award. Perry was noted for his tremendous talent and artistic judgment.

[More to See - Marcio Disney]