Why no utilidors at the other 3 parks?

[dwaters]

This is really neither news or a rumor.
Just wondering why there is no "underground city" or utilidors at the other 3 WDW parks. The posters in this section of DIS seem very knowledgeable, so I was just wondering if anyone knew. It seems to work well for the Magic Kingdom--keeping the behind the scenes/non-magic underground.
I guess cost would be a big factor- especially in a big park like Epcot.

 

[seashoreCM]

1. When Magic Kingdom was built, the terrain was built up from its original level by addition of tons of dirt that was surplus from landscaping elsewhere. (The MK main level is the second floor so to speak.) It was easy to build in channels that became the Utilidors, and also rooms. The other parks were built more or less on existing terrain and to excavate Utilidors would have gone below the water table resulting in water control complications (flooding alleviation if you wish). Some of the dirt was that excavated to form the 7 Seas Lagoon in front of MK.

2. It was found out that, with different planning, hidden tunnels were not necessary to the operation of the park. Epcot in particular has backstage areas at the perimeter.

3 .(?) One of Walt's experiments towards fulfilling his dream of developing an E. P. C. O. T. To see what the final version of the E. P. C. O. T. turned out to be, taking into account some practical limitations, go visit Celebration.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Dznefreek]

Epcot has a small tunnel underneath.
It is about 3/4 of a circle and is big enough for a golf cart and a person to travel through and is divided into 2 lanes.

 

[vonpluto]

Epcot has a small tunnel underneath.
It is about 3/4 of a circle and is big enough for a golf cart and a person to travel through and is divided into 2 lanes.

There's a pic on this site:

http://www.stevealcorn.com/Work/Epcot/EpcotConstruction/EpcotConstruction.html

 

[ChrisFL]

3 .(?) One of Walt's experiments towards fulfilling his dream of developing an E. P. C. O. T. To see what the final version of the E. P. C. O. T. turned out to be, taking into account some practical limitations, go visit Celebration.

E.P.C.O.T. (the city plan) and Celebration share almost nothing in common

 

[All Aboard]

E.P.C.O.T. (the city plan) and Celebration share almost nothing in common

Indeed. For those who have not seen it, the full version of the EPCOT film is included with the "Tomorrowland" Walt Disney Treasures that was released in the third wave of Treasures in 2004. You've likely seen pieces of it, but the full version is very interesting. Walt gets into a more thorough description of how the city was to function.

 

[ChrisFL]

Indeed. For those who have not seen it, the full version of the EPCOT film is included with the "Tomorrowland" Walt Disney Treasures that was released in the third wave of Treasures in 2004. You've likely seen pieces of it, but the full version is very interesting. Walt gets into a more thorough description of how the city was to function.

it's also shown on waltopia.com although its small and not the best quality

 

[Diznenut]

I always thought that it was becuase the utilidors were to keep the different lands from merging - ie no tomorrowland people in fantasyland.

Since the other parks are more of a allover theme and no real "lands", it wouldnt matter to see characters etc in other places. All of the admin stuff is handled in the perimeter areas.

 

[seashoreCM]

There is a city, I forget where (South America?) with a central core and with bus-only roadways going straight out in various directions like spokes of a wheel, giving an overall layout suggestive of Walt's original E. P. C. O. T.

I read about it in a news article about "bus rapid transit" which describes in a roundabout way the obvious, buses and streetcars can give speedy service when there are no private cars in the way. Contrasted with the thinking beginning in the 1930's that traffic in cities could be speeded up by getting rid of streetcars.

A place (the only IMHO) in WDW badly in need of transportation improvements is Downtown Disney.

 

[YoHo]

I always thought that it was becuase the utilidors were to keep the different lands from merging - ie no tomorrowland people in fantasyland.

Since the other parks are more of a allover theme and no real "lands", it wouldnt matter to see characters etc in other places. All of the admin stuff is handled in the perimeter areas.

Disneyland doesn't utilize Utilidoors and yet it had the same requirments (they don't enforce this at all anymore at either location, but particularly at DL.

 

[dwaters]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've alwayss been fascinated by the whole idea of the Magic Kingdom being on the "second floor" and wonder what's going on under my feet when I'm there.
I'd like to do the tour someday but also worry that it would ruin some of the magic for me.