If Walt Were Alive Today: How would WDW be Different?

[civileng68]

If Walt Disney was alive today, how would Walt Disney World be different, if at all?

Exclude any corporate items, just relate it to the park.
Also exclude how old he would be, etc.

How would the parks be different in your opinion?

 

[grinningghost]

Oh, this is JUST my kind of question, as I'm very into the history of the Disney Company and have read pretty much everything out there on Walt.

I'll just list them:

1. The parks would be spotless, no matter what. There would be no "we can't get competent workers" being spewn around. SOMEONE would be cleaning those parks until they "shined like the top of the Chrysler Building" (to borrow a quote from "Annie") .

2. There would NOT be motion simulators everywhere you turned. Walt would have embraced it when it was new technology and moved on to the next thing as soon as it passed it's prime.

3. Great classics like Carousel of Progress would not be thrown in the "operates seasonally" category. It would operate all the time and be updated whenever new technology came along.

4. Chester & Hester's Dinorama would NOT have ever become reality. The second someone suggested a "carnie" land, Walt would have ripped the plans right off the drawing board and told the guy to get back to work - without the crack pipe.

5. The monorail would be running between all parks, resorts and Downtown Disney - "don't tell me it can't be done - figure out a way".

6. 20K Leagues would not have been stripped away without a plan for either an update or a new attraction to take it's place - and not another character greeting area.

7. Future World would not be stagnant. Whatever needs to be done to keep it current and vibrant - do it - don't rest on your laurels Imagineers.

8. Resort mugs would have a "refillable for life" warranty.

OK, maybe #8 isn't quite what Walt would do, but this is a fantasy, is it not?

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

I totally agree about the Monorail. Walt LOVED that kind of stuff. There would also be more Monorail resorts other than those just around the MK.

 

[grinningghost]

I totally agree about the Monorail. Walt LOVED that kind of stuff. There would also be more Monorail resorts other than those just around the MK.

That's right. The man was a train freak, and what was more fun than a train in the air.

 

[Tiziminchac]

I think your right grinningghost! I would also like to add that I don't think Walt would be up for tieing everything possible in the parks to some cartoon creature from a movie. But that's just my opinion.

I would also like to add that I think Mr. Disney, if he were still around, would probably give me a free lifetime pass to any Disney park I wanted to visit. I'm a nice guy and I really think he'd like me if he ever got to know me.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I totally agree about the monorail thing!

I also think that there would not be nearly as many thrill rides. Walk liked the idea of a place for families, and while I think certain ones like Splash Mountain would probably have come about, I doubt if something like Rockin Roller Coaster would ever have been built. Animal Kingdom would probably be very different and the parks would definitely always been spotless.

That's all I can think of right now

OT: grinningghost, Freaks and Geeks IS the best show EVER!

 

[grinningghost]

I think your right grinningghost! I would also like to add that I don't think Walt would be up for tieing everything possible in the parks to some cartoon creature from a movie. But that's just my opinion.

I would also like to add that I think Mr. Disney, if he were still around, would probably give me a free lifetime pass to any Disney park I wanted to visit. I'm a nice guy and I really think he'd like me if he ever got to know me.

ITA - as I generally do agree with you Tiz, on most things.

Many of the original DL attractions weren't tied to cartoon characters, they were generally tied to ADVENTURE. Whatever you had to do to bring out the sense of adventure or exotic lands - do it. Pirates of the Caribbean wasn't even a movie and neither was the Haunted Mansion - they were all about the adventure and the fun. And they still work today.

And I think he'd give me a lifetime pass too, as I'm a really cool chick who's a bit of a Walt groupie - at least maybe I could score a backstage pass to the Festival of the Lion King show.

 

[grinningghost]

OT: grinningghost, Freaks and Geeks IS the best show EVER!

OT: Without a doubt.

 

[Tiziminchac]

ITA - as I generally do agree with you Tiz, on most things.

That goes both ways.

Many of the original DL attractions weren't tied to cartoon characters, they were generally tied to ADVENTURE. Whatever you had to do to bring out the sense of adventure or exotic lands - do it. Pirates of the Caribbean wasn't even a movie and neither was the Haunted Mansion - they were all about the adventure and the fun. And they still work today.

My point exactly!

And I think he'd give me a lifetime pass too, as I'm a really cool chick who's a bit of a Walt groupie - at least maybe I could score a backstage pass to the Festival of the Lion King show.

I hear ya!

 

[Troy08]

If Walt were alive today the monorail would run between ALL Disney parks.

Tomorrow land and Future World would be cutting edge.

Classic rides like 20,000 Leagues would not have abandoned

and last but not least controversy wise would be higher standards for what people wear to the parks.

Walt's parks, Walt's rules, don;t like them, don;' go!

 

[Micca]

This is a good topic. When I think about these things, I always wonder how much Walt would have changed with the times. The man has been gone for nearly 40 years and much has changed in our society. I sure don't think Walt would have condoned a tie-in of Aerosmith to an attraction(yes I know Aerosmith wasn't around yet, but work with me here, or substitute the Rolling Stones). Would he have recognized these changes, or would he have stuck to his Main Street USA principles and mores. Would CMs still be subject to the stricter dress code of earlier years in the parks, or would he finally admit that not hiring people with tatoos would severely limit his human resources?
And the biggest question of all: how would Walt have handled the modern day corporate world where product quality usually takes a back seat to the bottom line(ergo Wall Street).

 

[jann1033]

i do think many of the attractions would be tied to movies( umm thinking of swiss family tree house, fronterland with tom sawyer island and i think there was at one time a Davey Crocket something or other, 20,000 leagues, Cinderella, dumbo, snow white, sleeping beauty( dl) mickey and the gang, peter pan...all films/cartoons ect i remember from the original wonderful world of disney tv show or movies) but i think the claiber of disney movies( more like little mermaid and beauty/beast, lion king kind instead of some of the recent ones) and therefore attractions would be better. from what i've read he was a perfectionist so I can't really picture the hack job some of the attractions are. there were tons of animal shows on wwod though so i think ak would exist. and he also was into making money somewhat so i think he would have included the themed thrill rides since this is a different time and a 15-17 yr old boy doesn't want to go on peter pan so much

 

[SnackyStacky]

If Walt were still alive - you wouldn't recognize the place.

Walt was through with theme parks. He wanted to build E.P.C.O.T. Not Epcot, not EPCOT Center - but E.P.C.O.T. - the living, breathing community.

You wouldn't have Walt Disney World - it would just be plain 'ol Disney World.

Check out www.waltopia.com for a concept of what it might be like today if he were still around.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I can bet you wouldnt see the Swan and Dolphin on Disney property - or at the very least you sure wouldnt have it totally ruin the theming in World Showcase.

 

[dizkid85]

I agree that the monorail would be running to all resorts and parks.

Pop Century would not have made it.

The biggest change would be the cost for everything would be more reasonable.

In 1972 the price for the Polynesian was $29 per night only a few dollars more than a typical motor lodge at the time.

 

[disney1990]

There wouldn't be alcohol served in any of the parks.

 

[MonkeyPants]

4. Chester & Hester's Dinorama would NOT have ever become reality. The second someone suggested a "carnie" land, Walt would have ripped the plans right off the drawing board and told the guy to get back to work - without the crack pipe.

NO DOUBT!

 

[flminivanmama]

ditto on the monorail
ditoo on futureworld
ditto on the cleanliness & the dress code

 

[allaboutmm]

I agree that the monorail would be running to all resorts and parks.

Pop Century would not have made it.

The biggest change would be the cost for everything would be more reasonable.

In 1972 the price for the Polynesian was $29 per night only a few dollars more than a typical motor lodge at the time.

Yes, I would hope that the cost to stay in the park would have been more "family friendly". Except for the Value, and value season @ the Moderate, way to much $ for this family of 5!!
ditto- Monorail all parks

 

[Tabetha]

MGM would continue to be a working animation studio,