EPCOT Walt statue has no ramp.

[BillSears]

It really does bother me that the new Walt Disney statue in EPCOT has no ramp. I'd love to get a picture up close but there is a step.

 

[SueM in MN]

I remember thinking the same thing when I saw pictures, but in person, it worked out.
We parked our daughter's wheelchair at the as close as possible to the bench part next to the statue. Her wheelchair seat was about he same height as the bench. I sat on one side of the statue and my husband sat on the other.
If someone is able to transfer, they could park there and transfer to the green X.
If the guest is alone and not able to transfer, it might look a bit awkward

 

[ButterflyEffect]

I agree, why on earth did they think that step should be there. It serves zero function.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

It serves zero function.

Well, Walt would look a bit funny with his feet hanging out in midair 6" above the pavement.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Well, Walt would look a bit funny with his feet hanging out in midair 6" above the pavement.

Then the question comes up as to why they built that whole scene where sizes don't match up. A bench to sit on but your feet don't go all the way to the ground. I haven't even found the statue, but I do wonder. Why wasn't the bench made lower, so that he, and other people, could reach the ground when they sit. Or were his legs too short? It seems that something was "off" in order to necessitate that step.

 

[DisneyOma]

Not sure why they didn't make one end a ramp, but there's a good reason why the footing is there - to keep the statue above flooding level during a downpour. The feet should be anchored into the footing, and flush so that nothing can get snagged underneath. If the feet were at ground level, water could get into the the concrete where it's anchored in and rot out.

 

[lanejudy]

Then the question comes up as to why they built that whole scene where sizes don't match up. A bench to sit on but your feet don't go all the way to the ground. I haven't even found the statue, but I do wonder. Why wasn't the bench made lower, so that he, and other people, could reach the ground when they sit. Or were his legs too short? It seems that something was "off" in order to necessitate that step.

I believe he’s sitting on a wall, not a bench. And the step up/platform is to make it easier for ambulatory guests to sit next to him. But to Bill’s point — they could have easily included a ramp or even left the one side open for mobility devices to pull up next to him for a photo op. No excuse.

 

[sunburnin]

View attachment 867861
I remember thinking the same thing when I saw pictures, but in person, it worked out.
We parked our daughter's wheelchair at the as close as possible to the bench part next to the statue. Her wheelchair seat was about he same height as the bench. I sat on one side of the statue and my husband sat on the other.
If someone is able to transfer, they could park there and transfer to the green X.
If the guest is alone and not able to transfer, it might look a bit awkward

We took the same photo, and it looked great. I just pulled it up again.

 

[Goldelpack]

I agree, why on earth did they think that step should be there. It serves zero function.

It's an ongoing issue with they. But I do think it looks nice and there is a decent amount of space to pull up to Walt's right side. I thought it would make sense to have the longer part of the step on the left side to slope down for easier access. Perhaps at some point one of they that can fix it, will.

 

[SueM in MN]

What is up at EPCOT is the accessible version of the statue.
There is a space on the left side as you face it where someone with a mobility device is able to park. The reason for not cutting the bench off at that end is so guests can sit on either side of the statue. Guests with mobility devices can park there or transfer over to the little bench on that side.
If there was a ramp to get to the level of the step on either side, guests with mobility devices would be sitting higher than Walt. The 'parking spot' put my daughter's wheelchair seat at the same height as the bench.
The Photopass CM asked if my daughter wanted to transfer. She didn't, so I sat on one side of Walt and my DH sat on the other.

These were the original concept drawings, which were more aesthetically pleasing, but nowhere near accessible. I also remember seeing an earlier version with Walt sitting on an actual bench - like the one of Walt's brother at MK. That one is not accessible at all since there is no way to get close to it unless you can transfer

 

[North of Mouse]

I think it looks great elevated a little - would look 'off' if on ground level. You can easily get a good picture no matter your situation. Some things sure get nitpicked.

 

[mamabunny]

I think it looks great elevated a little - would look 'off' if on ground level. You can easily get a good picture no matter your situation. Some things sure get nitpicked.

I think it's not so much "nitpicking" as it is folks pointing out what appears to them to be a deficiency in that (newly remodeled) particular part of EPCOT.

For a lot of Disney Adults, emotions run high when it comes to Uncle Walt. Especially for those of a certain age (like myself) who remember sitting on the floor on Sunday nights, waiting for Tinkerbell to wave her wand, and give us "The Wonderful World of Disney" and then the announcer would say "Now in Living Color!" and our new color TV set would glow with all of the fabulous things that Mr. Walt Disney wanted me and my family to see, in Living Color! With that show, he brought Disney Land, and his animation, and so many recurring segments & characters, as well as his dreams of The Florida Project to anyone who had a TV set, and the time to watch on Sunday evening.

There's a reason why the "Partners" statue at MK is so photographed, from every angle, at every time of day. It resonates with those of us who come to Walt Disney World Resort to play and relax, and enjoy ourselves in the very place that its namesake dreamed of. He is a hero to some, a father figure to others, and the original Imagineer for us all. Whatever he means to all of us, the fact remains that he created - first on paper, and in the last days, imagined on the ceiling of his hospital room - the very place where we find these statues.

The new statue of Walt Disney at EPCOT is all about his dream for his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Had Walt lived, I think we all could agree that EPCOT would be quite different today. Instead, this new statue shows him at the aptly named "Dreamer's Point", where he is destined to remain. He sits there, with that familiar grin, gazing off into a distance that only he can see, but that he would happily share with us, if only he could.

We are invited to sit next to Walt, and for a moment, join him in his dreams. When it is not readily apparent that there is an accessible way to sit "next" to Walt, some folks have gotten upset. I understand it, because in the past, I myself have been upset when trying to find out about accessibility features at Disney World. There is a reason why this place this DISabilities Forum is so popular. People come here seeking information and guidance so that they can fully and completely enjoy their time at WDW.

So, maybe not so much "nitpicky" as - to some folks - disappointing, or not readily apparent what to do to have the same experience as everyone else.

@SueM in MN has shown (and described) for those who want or need to know, how and where to park a mobility device so that the user is properly represented in the picture, and at the same sitting height as the statue. I appreciate the information, because without a Photopass photographer present, or the information posted here, it would not have been readily apparent to me that I could park at that left end, and be a part of the picture.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think it's not so much "nitpicking" as it is folks pointing out what appears to them to be a deficiency in that (newly remodeled) particular part of EPCOT.....

We are invited to sit next to Walt, and for a moment, join him in his dreams. When it is not readily apparent that there is an accessible way to sit "next" to Walt, some folks have gotten upset.....

So, maybe not so much "nitpicky" as - to some folks - disappointing, or not readily apparent what to do to have the same experience as everyone else.....

I remember seeing the concept photos for this statute and setting and thinking, "it is beautiful, but it doesn't look accessible".
Not only from a disability viewpoint, but in general...it was too grand and not inviting. Putting 'Uncle Walt' up on a pedestal like a museum display. Impressive and imposing, but not approachable by either people with disabilities or other guests.
(I posted the concept photos in an earlier post).

When I saw the final setting, I was underwhelmed.
It was not impressive. It looked casual. The bench he was sitting on looked strange with it being very long on one side and very short on the other.
I didn't understand how someone in a wheelchair/mobility device would access sitting by the statue from just seeing the final installment pictures. And, that's what people have been disappointed with - not being able to clearly visualize how they would be able to access it.

But, in real life, it looked 'right' and I could see why it has that strange little bench part on the left side.
It's humble and inviting and looks like you just happened upon Walt casually sitting and thinking about his park.
The pose is very similar to this photo of Walt sitting alone in Disneyland.