EPCOT, What Happened?

“I’ve been watching the Walt Disney video about EPCOT, and I’ve always wondered what happened to his original vision for the park. In the video, Disney describes EPCOT as a ‘community of tomorrow,’ a place where people could live, work, and learn together. He also talks about how EPCOT would be a showcase for new technologies and ideas.

But the EPCOT that was built is very different from the one that Disney envisioned. It’s a theme park, not a city. And while it does showcase new technologies and ideas, it’s not the same as the living, breathing community that Disney dreamed of.

So what happened? Why didn’t EPCOT turn out the way Disney wanted it to? I’ll talk about the challenges that Disney faced in trying to build his vision, and I’ll also look at the ways in which EPCOT has evolved over the years.

I’m hoping that by the end of this article, you’ll better understand what happened to Walt Disney’s EPCOT, and why the park is the way it is today.

EPCOT was not built according to Walt Disney’s original vision for several reasons. First, Disney died in 1966, before construction on EPCOT even began. This left his team of Imagineers to carry on his vision, but without his direct input.

Second, Disney’s original vision for EPCOT was very ambitious. He wanted to create a fully functioning city of the future, with its own transportation system, businesses, and schools. This was a very expensive undertaking, and it would have been difficult to achieve even if Disney had lived.

Third, the world had changed a lot since Disney first conceived of EPCOT. By the time construction began in 1971, the Cold War was in full swing, and there was a growing sense of environmentalism. These factors led Disney’s Imagineers to scale back his original vision, and to focus on creating a theme park that would showcase new technologies and international cultures.

As a result of these factors, the EPCOT that was built is very different from the one that Walt Disney envisioned. However, it still embodies many of his core ideas, such as the importance of education, innovation, and international cooperation.

Here are some of the specific differences between Walt Disney’s original vision for EPCOT and the park that was actually built:

• Size: Disney’s original vision for EPCOT was much larger than the park that was actually built. He wanted it to be a city of the future, with a population of up to 200,000 people. The park that was built is only about 2 square miles in size, and it has a population of around 15,000 people.
• Transportation: Disney’s original vision for EPCOT included a futuristic transportation system that would have allowed people to get around the city without cars. The park that was built has a monorail system, but it is not as extensive as Disney had envisioned.
• Economy: Disney’s original vision for EPCOT included a thriving economy, with businesses and industries that would support the city’s population. The park that was built does not have a true economy, as it is primarily a tourist destination.
• Culture: Disney’s original vision for EPCOT included a diverse population, with people from all over the world. The park that was built does have a focus on international culture, but it is not as diverse as Disney had envisioned.

Despite these differences, EPCOT still embodies many of Walt Disney’s core ideas, such as the importance of education, innovation, and international cooperation. It is a place where people can learn about the world around them, and explore new ideas.