PROGRESS CITY, THE MODEL
The Progress City Model at the Carousel of Progress, Disneyland
(Model by Walt Disney Productions - The Walt Disney Company)
The Progress City Model at the Carousel of Progress, Disneyland(Model by Walt Disney Productions - The Walt Disney Company)
The Carousel of Progress was one of Walt Disney's attractions developped for the New York's World Fair in 1963-64. Guests stayed in their seats as an outer ring of six theaters moved around a fixed, circular section. While guests were entering into one theater and exiting from another, guests in the other four theaters were watching the tireless Audio-Animatronic actors in the four acts of the show depicting the evoluation of the science and technology in our lifes through the eyes of the same family.When the Fair ended, Walt Disney had a perfect attraction to export to Disneyland. Walt Disney died in December 1966. He never saw the July 1967 re-opening of the attraction this time at Disneyland.
In Disneyland, the show concluded with a fifth act, featuring the detailed model of what was known as Progress City. This city was the preview of Walt's vision for Epcot. Extremly detailed, the model features all of the major key elements of his project:
- the radial design
- the urban center and its towering hotel
- the green belt
- the industrial park
- the Monorails and PeopleMovers.
The Carousel of Progress closed its doors in 1973 and was moved to Walt Disney World at the Magic Kingdom in 1975. The model of Progress City (Epcot) was not included in the floridian version and the model was put on display along the tracks of the PeopleMover where it's still there to this day. The model on display is in fact only a small section of the original model (the urban center and the greenbelt) and the detailed animation are now turned off, only the internal lighting is being maintained.
In these rares video clips, you can see the model as it was working in the Carousel Of Progress and its making of where the level of details is simply astonishing.
- the urban center and its towering hotel
- the green belt
- the industrial park
- the Monorails and PeopleMovers.
The Carousel of Progress closed its doors in 1973 and was moved to Walt Disney World at the Magic Kingdom in 1975. The model of Progress City (Epcot) was not included in the floridian version and the model was put on display along the tracks of the PeopleMover where it's still there to this day. The model on display is in fact only a small section of the original model (the urban center and the greenbelt) and the detailed animation are now turned off, only the internal lighting is being maintained.
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The Films
In these rares video clips, you can see the model as it was working in the Carousel Of Progress and its making of where the level of details is simply astonishing.
"Progress City Model" film
(Film by Walt Disney Productions - The Walt Disney Company, 1963-64)
"Making the Progress City Model" film
(Film by Walt Disney Productions - The Walt Disney Company, 1963-64)
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The original 1966 model
Below are some photos of the Model including rarely seen construction and close-ups of the original working and animated model.
The making of the model
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (a)
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (b)
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (c)
Aerial view of a church and dedicated parking area
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (d)
Urban center: view from the greenbelt and the residential areas
The Stadium and Urban Center
The towering cosmopolitan hotel
The recrational deck of the hotel: tennis courts and pools
The Progress City Model at the Carousel of Progress, Disneyland
(Model by Walt Disney Productions - The Walt Disney Company)
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (e)
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (f)
Industrial Activities close to the highways and monorail line
The Progress City Model center section at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
(Photos by Sebastien Barthe)
The making of the model
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (a)
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (b)
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (c)
Aerial view of a church and dedicated parking area
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (d)
Urban center: view from the greenbelt and the residential areas
The Stadium and Urban Center
The towering cosmopolitan hotel
The recrational deck of the hotel: tennis courts and poolsThe Progress City Model at the Carousel of Progress, Disneyland
(Model by Walt Disney Productions - The Walt Disney Company)
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The remaining center section in 2008
Below are some photos of the remaining section of the model. being on display along the PeopleMover route at The Magic Kingdom, it's not easy to have a full extensive view of it. Here are some shots of this great vision.
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (e)
Urban Center with hotel and domed international shopping center offices (f)
Industrial Activities close to the highways and monorail lineThe Progress City Model center section at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
(Photos by Sebastien Barthe)
