Walt's original WDW aka "the FL project"

[Lou... 3,118]

It came up on TCD's latest TR, and it has come up a number of times before, so I thought it would be an interesting topic, for some, if it was discussed in depth without it being a hijack.

 

As an engineer, "Disney World" aka "the Florida project", has always intrigued me. I've done a lot of research on it, compiled as much official documentation as I can find pertaining to Walt's original concept, and how it all turned out.

 

So weigh in on what you know, what you think, ask questions, answer questions, post photos or drawings if you have them, whatever.

 

For those who don't know what "the Florida project" is all about, watch the video to get started.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGEKE5JZQV8

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I know naught about the origins but I am interested to see how this thread goes...

[Lou... 3,118]

I know naught about the origins but I am interested to see how this thread goes...

 

You get a prize for being the first Fiend, evah, to use the word "naught".

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I am also interested in this topic.

 

Last year, I bought and read this book, which focuses on the maneuvering and strategy used by Disney in acquiring the land for Disney World:

 

 

It also discusses a lot of the original plans that Walt had for the land-including the idea of building a domed city.

 

The Magic Kingdom was not even on his radar.

 

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I know naught about the origins but I am interested to see how this thread goes...

 

 

You get a prize for being the first Fiend, evah, to use the word "naught".

 

I am full of old words that no one has a use for...and I like them.

 

I am also interested in this topic.

 

Last year, I bought and read this book, which focuses on the maneuvering and strategy used by Disney in acquiring the land for Disney World:

 

 

It also discusses a lot of the original plans that Walt had for the land-including the idea of building a domed city.

 

The Magic Kingdom was not even on his radar.

 

TCD

Funny story, along time ago when I was younger, I though Epcot was all in Space Ship Earth.  Boy was I disappointed the first time I came to WDW.

[Lou... 3,118]

I don't believe that Walt's city of tomorrow could have been built as he envisioned it then, and not possible even today.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

How much of the actual design did he actually do?

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

This is a topic I'm interested. I'm going to have to buy that book.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

This is a topic I'm interested. I'm going to have to buy that book.

 

If I can find it, you can have my copy.  It wasn't that great of a book.  There were a few interesting tidbits in there, but you've probably heard the rest already.

 

TCD

[DaveInTN 3,247]

I have always been fascinated with the Progress City model.  The small piece of it you can see from the Peoplemover, in its dilapidated condition, saddens me.  

[Lou... 3,118]

How much of the actual design did he actually do?

 

Of the original Epcot concept, the Monorail and Peoplemover are the most obvious.

There are probably other elements scattered throughout WDW, but they essentially scrapped the building of an entire city until much, much, later.

[Discamper 394]

Great find but Orlando was not the frist choose in Florida

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

I believe Disney boug

Great find but Orlando was not the frist choose in Florida

I've heard this one before.

Was area around Ocala the first location they considered?

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

This is a very interesting topic and I looking forward to reading more about the Florida Project.

But Lou. Don't you think it's a bad idea to suggest not hijacking this thread.

This is so tempting.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I read a book that said Kismet, FL was one of his first places he looked.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

I read a book that said Kismet, FL was one of his first places he looked.

I never heard of Kismet Florida so I looked on my map app and nothing came up. So I googled it and according to the inter web. It's a ghost town about 50 miles from the World, I still don't know where it was.

But you maybe correct. According to another article. Walt's father, Elias, married his bride in Kismet Florida.

[Lou... 3,118]

But Lou. Don't you think it's a bad idea to suggest not hijacking this thread.

 

 

I meant without having to hijack someone else's thread, in this case TCD's current TR, but it has come up on other threads as well, and turned into a hijack.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

I never heard of Kismet Florida so I looked on my map app and nothing came up. So I googled it and according to the inter web. It's a ghost town about 50 miles from the World, I still don't know where it was.

But you maybe correct. According to another article. Walt's father, Elias, married his bride in Kismet Florida.

 

From what I can find, Kismet was located within what is now the Ocala National Forest, just to the north of Lake Dorr.  Here is the approximate location on a map of Central FL.

 

 

 

What is the primary thing you notice about that location compared to where WDW was built?  

 

No highways.  

 

It's in the middle of nowhere.  And even though the land WDW was built on was considered to be the middle of nowhere in 1965, it was blessed to sit at the junction of two new superhighways.....I-4 and the FL Turnpike.  And Walt could see that from the air when they scouted locations, knowing that access was key to the Florida Project's success.  

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

From what I can find, Kismet was located within what is now the Ocala National Forest, just to the north of Lake Dorr.  Here is the approximate location on a map of Central FL.

 

 

 

What is the primary thing you notice about that location compared to where WDW was built?  

 

No highways.  

 

It's in the middle of nowhere.  And even though the land WDW was built on was considered to be the middle of nowhere in 1965, it was blessed to sit at the junction of two new superhighways.....I-4 and the FL Turnpike.  And Walt could see that from the air when they scouted locations, knowing that access was key to the Florida Project's success.  

 

I have never heard of the possible Kismet location.

 

You are correct about the location of the highways being key.  Walt says so himself in the video Lou posted, above.

 

TCD

[DaveInTN 3,247]

I have never heard of the possible Kismet location.

 

You are correct about the location of the highways being key.  Walt says so himself in the video Lou posted, above.

 

TCD

 

If he won't read my trip reports, I'm not going to watch his videos.  

[Helmsey......Todd 134]

This is a topic that interests me, I will be following along with this one closely.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

If he won't read my trip reports, I'm not going to watch his videos.  

ditto

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

I have never heard of the possible Kismet location.

 

You are correct about the location of the highways being key.  Walt says so himself in the video Lou posted, above.

 

TCD

the Kismet location makes sense to me.

his mother and father were married there, and its in the Ocala National Forest, some what near Ocala.

Combine what carol read and what i remembered and just googled.  And you could get Kismet

[Lou... 3,118]

I think history has shown that the location is perfect.

The scope of the project appears to have been way to much for the Disney Company to take on as Walt envisioned it. I think Walt's ideas for EPCOT were bigger than his wallet. Not to mention that he knew he had limited time left. The city was destined for failure.

[Lou... 3,118]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw9hUrJXuhU