PROJECT vs REALITY

While Walt's plan for EPCOT hasn't been created, several of his ideas have survived and were developed. This page describes some of the key plans and outlines how they've been made a reality.

Climate Control / Glass Domed City
(not implemented)

Walt wanted to control the climate of the city center by completely enclosing it, thus making it very easy as a pedestrian to get around. This was not implemented although technically this exists in a limited form in the experimental gardens at the Land Pavilion in Future World at EPCOT.

Advanced Garbage Disposal System
(implemented)

The Swedish-built Automated Vacuum Assisted Collection (AVAC) was the first waste system of its type installed in the United States. It is an integral part of waste collection for the theme park, intricately linked through the utilidors by pneumatic tubes. Trash is deposited in several collection points around the park. Every fifteen minutes it is drawn through the tubes at speeds up to 60 miles per hour and sent to a central compactor station.

Planned City / Radial Plan
(not implemented)

Although the designs for each of the theme parks use a key icon (the castle) to serve as a central focal point. The lands surrounding the icon radiate like spokes from this central icon.

Transportation Systems
(not completely implemented)

PeopleMover: Although the transportation system does exist inside the Magic Kingdom themepark, it's more a ride than a transportation system since the vehicule departs and arrives at the same point.

Monorail: Implemented in 3 separate lines (The Express Monorail from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom, The Resort Line from the TTC to the Monorails hotels and the Epcot line from the TTC to Epcot themepark)

Airport of the Future: The current resort has a small aircraft runway located east of the Magic Kingdom parking lot. When the resort opened in 1971, Shawnee Airlines began regular passenger service from Orlando's McCoy Air Force Base (now Orlando International Airport) directly to Disney World's STOLport (Short Take Off and Landing) on a daily basis, with flights lasting only a few minutes. Today, the runway mostly is used as a staging area for buses and no longer is in service for aircraft.

Transportation Hub: The multi-level hub designed by Walt was not built but some of its philosophy was kept. For instance, no car can go to the Magic Kingdom and visitors must park their cars and board a monorail to get there. The only thing close to this hub is the TTC, the Ticket & Transportation Center connecting the 3 Monorail lines and the ferryboats lines.

Living showcase to the world
(not completely implemented)

Walt had in mind a "showcase" of cutting edge technology... A place where you could "see it first..." In some ways the Communicore areas (now Innoventions) has featured cutting edge technology. World Showcase - a permanent World's Fair featuring the look, feel, cuisine, entertainment and shopping from countries around the world.

Urban Center
(not implemented)

While not part of a real "city" Downtown Disney features the WEST SIDE shopping and dining area; PLEASURE ISLAND evening adult dance and entertainment; restaurants, and shops.

Tower Hotel / Conference Center
(not implemented)

Because the city itself was never built, a central hotel icon has never been established - there are hotels throughout the Disney property. The closest hotel to the original "tower" concept is the Contemporary Resort, inspired by another building of Walt's project.

The Athletic Stadium
(not implemented)

Walt's original plans called for a stadium for sporting events. Disney built professional sports complex (Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex), while not technically part of a city, part of the Walt Disney World property.

(Artwork by Walt Disney Productions - The Walt Disney Company)