Would Walt Be Proud?

[DisneyLily]

Would Walt Disney be proud to see the world he created for everyone around the world to enjoy? Or would he be disappointed to see what has happened to it over the years?

I'm not quite sure where my opinion on this topic lies. In some ways I think he might be a bit disappointed, but than again I think he would be happy to see the smiles on peoples faces.

Why might he be disappointed?
Well, with the merchandise offered at Walt Disney World - it is basically all the same at every park, and at every resort. It would be nicer to have merchandise specific to a park. I know they have some stuff like this, but I think there should be more. I would certainly buy something that wasn't available at another park or at my hotel. It is simply not unique, you could say for the merchandise offered at each park.

So what do you think? Would he be happy with Walt Disney World today? or disappointed?

 

[TDC Nala]

He'd miss the Adventurers Club too.

 

[inkkognito]

I think he would love Soarin'. He was all about rides that could be enjoyed by parents and kids together, and that one is pretty much for all ages and is almost universally loved as the wait times indicate!

 

[polineedyan]

Well, we wont talk about Walt's view on smoking here..(lol) But I think for the most part he'd be proud. I, myself, and hopefully he, would be putting more of an emphasis on leading edge technology..Sometimes, the attractions, in all their splendor, are a little low-tech..I would want The World to be the first place people could see a lot of new technologies. Specifically, epcot. I think sometimes they are focusing on yesterday and today..Where's the fire? Doesnt discuss future firefighting at all..Spaceship earth is questionable..it tells you what your own personal life MAY be like..The seas..aquaculture may be more prevalent in the future, but what technologies? The land..nuthin..I know predicting the future is tough, and that theres a lot involved with patents, etc..but it is EXPERIMENTAL PROTOTYPE COMMUNITY OF TOMMORROW..

 

[the_princess]

WDW and Disney are here to make money... Yes, I said it!!!! It's a money machine that sells happiness. I don't know if Walt would be disapointed, but I'm quite sure that this isn't what he had in mind... but then again, The Disney Company is a world wide success. That have to make him proud.

 

[CarolA]

He'd miss the Adventurers Club too.

Well He died before it was opened so... I doubt he would miss it. And if we are going on the "original Walt view" for Disneyland the whole Pleasure Island concept doesn't fit. It was not a place to "take your girls on Sunday afteroon as a family" Yes, I know folks took thier kids there, but.... that wasn't the goal LOL!

I have actually done a lot of reading on Walt.

1. The "Saint Walt" view on the DIS does not really appear to jive with reality! As a matter of fact when it came to "merchandise" one of his first deals was to sell Mickey stuff that only HE got paid for and not the company. (Roy was not happy as this presented issues with bankers etc LOL!) Walt also engaged in what we would refer to as "union busting"
2. Walt liked to make money. He liked to spend it too, but he did like to make it.

I often think that with his attention span.... he would have long ago moved on from amusment parks. He moved on from movies (see union busting) to amusement parks.... I think he would have found something else "new" if he had lived longer.

 

[TDC Nala]

Well He died before it was opened so... I doubt he would miss it.

If he'd been around and got to go, he'd miss it. He liked a drink, and a show, and immersion in a theme.

Technically he died before any part of WDW opened, so by that logic this thread makes no sense whatsoever except as speculation, which, I believe, is how it was intended.

 

[DisneyLily]

If he'd been around and got to go, he'd miss it. He liked a drink, and a show, and immersion in a theme.

Technically he died before any part of WDW opened, so by that logic this thread makes no sense whatsoever except as speculation, which, I believe, is how it was intended.

Yes, you are correct. This thread is more of a "what if".

 

[bicker]

Would Walt Disney be proud to see the world he created for everyone around the world to enjoy?

Abso-friggen-lutely.

 

[Mr. Pig]

I think Walt would be impressed with what technology can do and would be first in line to be able to put it to use. He may not like some things at WDW but we differ in opinion ourselves.

I agree that Walt was in it to make a living so I think he would be happy on the financial success of the parks. He also spent a lot of money building things. I may be wrong but I think he believed that if he spent a lot creating a product that people enjoyed the money would come in. This is one thing I think is lacking in some business today. Do things absolutely as cheaply as possible and put all your effort into "selling" it to the public. Of course even Walt had financial limitations - they had to cut some corners to get DL built.

What Walt might be overwhelmed with is the size of the Disney Company. He liked to have hands on control of so much and that would be a lot harder today than in the 60's.

 

[eazyeray]

I would say he definitely would love AK. He would also like some of the well themed resorts. EPCOT is not what he imagined but he may have liked the world showcase. He may have liked DHS when it was MGM and an almost real studio/park hybrid. Now it's kind of a mish-mash and he may not like it.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Upon Walt's death, Roy sent out a two page memo to all employees of the Walt Disney Company.

I think there are many words in here that highlight the answers to the question posed by this thread.

Walt was proud of the fact that at the time of his death, there were over 4000 employees of Walt Disney. How proud would he today knowing that over 50,000 are employed in Florida alone?

Disney understood business. And he would understand that you can't continue to offer the same services and features when you have 50,000 guests / day as when you have 15,000 guests/day.

What he would stick to .. is whatever those services and features are that are still offered - they should be at the same high quality regardless.

Here's the memo..

 

[Goofy4]

Yes, from what I know he would be very pleased to see families having a good time -- as families. But he wouldn't have enough cash in is pocket to get in, and he would wonder who put the name 'Walt' in front of 'Disney World'.

 

[goofyernmost]

In answer to original post...not just yes, but absolutely yes. The use of technology and creativity that is shown in all Disney parks is something that would have had Walt shaking his head in disbelief. It is so much more than even he could have imagined.

OK, EPCOT didn't work out the way he had envisioned it, but it is hard to understand how that concept was going to work in a freedom loving country anyway. With the exception of that particular dream, it would be hard to not be proud of so many accomplishments.

I agree with other posters that it wouldn't have taken long for him to lose interest in theme parks and have moved on to whatever else caught his attention.

I have also read the books about Walt and it is obvious that he was every bit human. He made mistakes, he took things personally and he was as mule headed as any one could be. He held grudges and sometimes treated those that he relied upon the most, with anything but kindness. No, Walt was not a saint, but he sure was never lacking for imagination or the ability to get the best out of everyone around him. We have been lucky enough to be the recipients of his creative side and here 40 years after his death we still are benefiting from it. What more could anyone ask of a man.

 

[Inignotlover]

CanadianGuy, awesome post! How neat to see!!

I think that Walt would overall be proud. Proud that his dream has turned into the piece of Americana it has. Proud that when something good happens, we say "what are you gonna do next? I'm going to Walt Disney World!". Proud that because it is a quality product that can lift us out of everyday duldrums his dream can go on despite a recession and post 9/11 traveling.

However, there are a few things I think he would be disappointed in:
The lack of cutting edge technology. Tomorrowland and Futureworld especially. Futureworld should stay on top of the game as far as technology. It shouldn't look forever stuck in the 80's. Innoventions is sad. He would want to see things that only the future could hold. For example- the monorail, the peoplemover (which came up with the technology to be refined to give us bullet trains). Technology that we could only see first at a Disney park and then see the greater forms in our community.

I think he would also be disappointed in the decline of service throughout the parks. Understandable it is hard to have over 50k employees in FL alone and maintain a 100% workforce that are dedicated to their jobs, but he simply would not have stood for any decline in quality.

I'm not sure if he would approve of the mass selling of Disney property for others to profit on (and leaving the working man farther and farther behind) would be something he would like, as he did like money. But I know I don't!

I also think some of the parks overseas (and dhs here) lack quality and imagination. HK Disney is drowning. Just one bad park can leave a bad taste in people's mouth.

I think that the appointing of John Lasseter will bring in a wonderful golden age for Disney, the likes of which we haven't seen since Walt himself. Pixar is on the cutting edge of technology, with a wonderful passionate creative man at the helm, and truly loves the company he works for. For that as well, he'd probably be very proud.

If only Walt could tell us himself.

 

[boBQuincy]

"providing the finest quality in family entertainment". That still rings true of the Disney Company and of that I believe Walt would be very proud.
There is nothing anywhere that can come near the level of family entertainment of Walt Disney World.

 

[~Kik-Kik~]

I think he would be pround of what DIsneyland has become, it's very him. You can feel the HE made it. They keep improving in every year and it never gets gets old.

California Adventure, with the new theme, I think he would be overjoied. It is essentually the whole reason he made Disneyland. Originally Disneyland was supposed to just be a very high qualty carnival, but it turned into so much more. The new DCA has taken that idea up a notch and themed it around vintage Mickey cartoons and Walt. Walt would be proud.

Magic Kingdom. I think he would be disappointed that there has been no real evolution in the park. Its stayed where it started...no real improvements at all. It found a comfortable place and it stayed there. Sure it replaces bad rides with good ones, but it also replaces good rides for bad onds. The themeing of Fantasyland is stuck in the 70's. I personally think if he was alvive it would be a VERY diffrent place. I think it would be on par, or better than Disneyland.

Epcot, I think he would be very impressed. VERY VERY impressed. It is so original and very relivent. Epcot changes enough with the times so it's never really outdated. the World Showcase is AMAZING!!! I think it would be his second favorite park.

Disney Hollywood Studios. Very meh. I think thats what he would say about it. Nothing about it pulls people in like the other parks. There is no real POW to it. It dosnt seem like anything Walt would make. It'ss fitting, but not him at all. The way it's set up makes the park look like the place to put all the new rides the Disneyland gets in Florida. It's a very random park with very little themeing.

Animal Kingdom, I dont know what he would think. On ne hand it's amazingly well done, however, I cant see HIM making it. I think he would love it, but I cant see him being the reason behind the park. It's well themed, well made, everyhing a Disney Park is, just themed around Animals. He would be proud.

Overall I think he would be pretty happy!

 

[~Kik-Kik~]

Well He died before it was opened so... I doubt he would miss it. And if we are going on the "original Walt view" for Disneyland the whole Pleasure Island concept doesn't fit. It was not a place to "take your girls on Sunday afteroon as a family" Yes, I know folks took thier kids there, but.... that wasn't the goal LOL!

I have actually done a lot of reading on Walt.

1. The "Saint Walt" view on the DIS does not really appear to jive with reality! As a matter of fact when it came to "merchandise" one of his first deals was to sell Mickey stuff that only HE got paid for and not the company. (Roy was not happy as this presented issues with bankers etc LOL!) Walt also engaged in what we would refer to as "union busting"
2. Walt liked to make money. He liked to spend it too, but he did like to make it.

I often think that with his attention span.... he would have long ago moved on from amusment parks. He moved on from movies (see union busting) to amusement parks.... I think he would have found something else "new" if he had lived longer.

Your right about everything. And he DID move on from theme parks. Remember what EPCOT stands for? THAT is what would have been next for him.

 

[dexim54]

He'd miss the Adventurers Club too.

Well actually AC would not have been built. Walt would not like people drinking on property.

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

I think he would enjoy Splash Mountain. It is very richly themed, like POTC. Also, it has a good story and lots of music. Most of all, he would like the fact that multiple generations of a family can experience this attraction together.