Theme Parks & Themed Entertainment

From the JHM Archives — M – I – C in NYC : Disney at the 1964 New York World’s Fair

Published

10 years ago

April 27, 2014

There has long been this legend about the importance the
1964 New York World's Fair played
in the history of the Walt Disney Company. How the Fair was supposed to be this
vital stepping-stone in the creation of Walt Disney World. How Walt had to see
if his theme park rides and attractions would meet with the approval of those
East Coast sophisticates before he'd agree to buy all that land around Orlando.

It's a nice story. Not true, mind you. But it's a nice story
nonetheless.

Truth be told, Disney operatives had already been scoping
out property around Florida for
at least three years prior to the Fair's opening in April of 1964. Indeed,
Disney's chief purchasing agent — a lawyer named Bob Foster — made a big
point of being seen publicly in New York
for the opening festivities for the '64 World's Fair just before he slipped off
to Orlando to pick up the options
on 12,400 acres of property.

Robert Foster. Copyright Disney
Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved

Why for? Just in case someone in Florida
had recognized Bob and later asked him whether he'd been in Central
Florida doing the Mouse's bidding. Foster would then be able to
deny the accusation by saying "Wasn't me, pal. I wasn't in Florida
that week. I was in Flushing attending the Fair. I've
got witnesses."

So if the New York
World's Fair wasn't really the birthplace of Walt Disney World, then why do
Disneyana fans and theme park historians place so much emphasis and/or apply
such significance to the Fair?

The answer is simple, really. So much of the technology that
Disney developed to create the company's break-through theme park attractions
of the 1960s — "Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Haunted
Mansion," etc. — were a direct result of Walt Disney Productions'
involvement in the Fair.

Walt, having already created a few small exhibits for
earlier versions of the World's Fair (the 1939 New York World's Fair even
featured a special Mickey Mouse cartoon — "Mickey's Surprise Party"
— that Walt personally put into production promoting the product line of the
National Biscuit Company, AKA Nabisco), was already well aware of the
opportunities that an exhibition like this would offer to a company like
Disney.

Don't believe me? Then take a gander at this transcript from
a March 1960 meeting at WED Enterprises, where Walt tells his Imagineers about
the opportunities that he sees in the recent announcement that there's another
World's Fair held in New York in 1964:

"There's
going to be a big fair in New York.
All of the big corporations in the country are going to spend a hell of a lot
of money building exhibits there. They don't know what thy want to do. They
don't even know why they're doing it, except that the other corporations are
doing it and they need to keep up with the Jones. Now they're all going to want
something that will make them stand out from the others, and that's the kind of
service we can offer them. We've proved we can do it with Disneyland.
This is a great opportunity for us to grow. We can use their financing to
develop a lot of technology that will help us in the future. And we'll be
getting new attractions for Disneyland, too. That will
appeal to them. We can say that they'll be getting shows that won't be seen for
two six month periods at the Fair. These shows can go on for five to ten years
at Disneyland."

You see? Walt saw the New York
World's Fair not so much as a chance to show off what his Imagineers were
capable of, but more as a tremendous business opportunity. A way to connect
with many of the corporate leaders of America
by helping them develop entertaining attractions that would properly showcase
their products at the Fair. Disney also saw the Fair as a means to an end, a
way to move some of his company's highly expensive dreams off the drawing board.

Take – for example – Disneyland's
"Enchanted Tiki Room" attraction. Now keep in mind that this was back
in the early 1960s, a time when the Walt Disney Productions was just beginning
to experiment with audio animatronics. Walt desperately wanted to put this
feathered floorshow into his Anaheim
theme park.

But the guy who actually held the company's purse strings –
Walt's brother, Roy – was reluctant to free up the millions that would be
necessary to build a full-sized version of this then-cutting edge robotic show
for Disneyland.

That's when Walt had a brainstorm. He'd agree to build the
Tiki attraction for some poor company that was desperate to find a show to
present inside their pavilion at the 1964 New York
World's Fair. Disney would then make sure that his company's lawyers worked the
terms of the contract with this other corporation so that A) the pavilion's
sponsor would fully underwrite construction of the Tiki attraction and B) once
the fair was over, the Enchanted Tiki Room would automatically be shipped back
to Anaheim and begin presenting performances there. That way, Disneyland
would get a brand new high tech attraction without the Walt Disney Company
having to layout big bucks to build the thing.

It's an ingenious sounding scheme, isn't it? And here's the
intriguing part: It almost worked. Walt Disney Productions and Coca-Cola spent
most of 1962 going back and forth about whether the cola giant would underwrite
the cost of creating an Enchanted Tiki Room attraction that would be presented
as the centerpiece attraction at the company's pavilion at the 1964 New
York World's Fair. In the end, the folks back in Atlanta
decided that the price that Walt was asking was just too high. Which is why
Coke opted to take a pass on Disney's feathered friends.

Walt then supposedly tried to interest both the Gas Industry
and GM in including the Tiki Birds as part of the entertainment offered at
their World's Fair Pavilion. When these two companies also passed on the
project, Walt decided to bite the bullet and have Walt Disney Productions pick
up most of the cost of creating Disneyland's Enchanted
Tiki Room. With a slight financial assist from Stouffers Foods, the
Adventureland attraction opened in June of 1963 to great acclaim.

Speaking of GM, the real reason that the auto making giant
opted not to go with Walt's Enchanted Tiki Room (or any other attraction ideas
that the Mouse has put forward) is that — while the corporation had been
negotiating with Disney — it had also been forming its own in-house World's
Fair exhibit committee. So in the end, the carmaker felt that they didn't
really need Mickey's help to make a big splash at the 1964 World's Fair.

But — as they closed out negotiations with Disney in late
1960 — GM officials reportedly jokingly remarked: "You know who you
should really be talking to, Walt? The folks over at Ford. We hear that they
don't know what the hell they're going to do when it comes to the Fair."

This — as it turns out — was indeed the case. Which was
why Ford jumped at the chance of having Disney create an exhibit for their
company to display at the 1964 World's Fair. By July 1961, the Imagineers were
already on site in Dearborn, Michigan
looking for ideas that they could possibly use in Ford's Fair attraction.

Oddly enough, Disney didn't discover any concepts for
possible Fair attractions out of this particular trip to Michigan.
But what they did get was an idea for a new theme park ride system. Observing
how Ford started out with a half ton of molten metal, then moved that super hot
pile of steel along a half mile long assembly line, only to have a finished car
burped out at the other end of the factory, Veteran Imagineer John Hench
wondered … could this same technology be used to move people?

That trip to Dearborn
lead to the creation of Disney's Omnimover system — the very system that the
Mouse uses today to move millions of people each year through their "Haunted
Mansion" attractions as well
as along its PeopleMover system.

Anyway … the first idea that Disney pitched to Ford was a
"Symphony of America" ride, which would have taken Fair visitors on a
simulated tour of the United States.
Guests would have sat in Ford vehicles as they rolled past elaborate
recreations of the Grand Canyon, the Everglades,
the Sequoias, etc. Ford rejected this idea outright. Why? Because — back in
those days — you didn't tour America
in a Ford. You saw "the U.S.A.
in your Chevrolet." So Ford didn't want to do anything that might
inadvertently helped its competition.

That's where the Dinosaur ride idea came from. Veteran
Imagineers Claude Coats, Marc Davis and Blaine Gibson were put in charge of the
Ford project and then told to get as far away from the "Symphony of
America" idea as possible. Which is why they decided to set the revamped
Ford attraction in the distant past.

The end result; The Ford Wonder Rotunda featuring the Magic
Skyway, which was a huge hit at the Fair. It was also a massive undertaking. At
275,000 square feet, Ford's show building was easily the largest structure
erected on Flushing Meadow. The 127 audio animatronic figures that lined the
Magic Skyway's ride track also made Ford's show one of the more technologically
complex shows presented at the Fair.

Walt Disney and Henry Ford II
inspect model of the Ford Wonder Rotunda.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved

Indeed, Ford's Wonder Rotunda — with its ambitious size and
scale — could be considered the mother of such Disney mega-attractions as
"Pirates" and many of Epcot's original attractions like "World
of Motion" and "Horizons." And the dinosaurs featured in Epcot's
"Universe of Energy" should look very familiar to '64 World's Fair
fans. They are the exact same figures — down to the creatures' poses and
actions — that terrorized visitors to Flushing back in
'64 and '65. Minus a few minor cosmetic changes, of course.

This brings us to another Fair favorite: General Electric's
Carousel of Progress. Which, as it turns out, wasn't originally developed for
the Fair at all. The Carousel was actually envisioned as the centerpiece
attraction of a late 1950s expansion of Disneyland's Main
Street U.S.A.
area: Edison Square, a
whole new land that would have celebrated the era when America
was shifting over from gas street lamps to the electric light bulb for its
primary source of illumination.

However, back in 1958, when this show was first pitched for
the Anaheim theme park, the
attraction's trademark theater-go-round technology didn't exist yet. Which is
why Disney's Imagineers envisioned audiences getting up and walking from
theater to theater to view this six-act show.

By the way, this is the show that proves — beyond a shadow
of a doubt — that progress is always on the move. After closing in NYC back in
1965, this New York World's Fair
favorite moved to Anaheim where it
ran for several years. Then it was on to Orlando,
where Carousel has been entertaining visitors at Walt Disney World's Magic
Kingdom since the mid-1970s.

Speaking of shows that weren't originally created for the New
York World's Fair, let's now take a look at
"Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln." What's intriguing about this
attraction — particularly given that a significantly revamped version of
"Great Moments" just re-opened in Anaheim
to significant acclaim — is that this isn't the show that Walt really wanted
to do. "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" is a significantly stripped
down version of an attraction that Disney wanted to have debut at Disneyland:
"One Nation Under God."

This attraction was supposed to have been the centerpiece
attraction of yet another expansion of Disneyland's Main
Street U.S.A.
area: Liberty Street. This
proposed Anaheim addition was to
have celebrated America's
colonial period, featuring thirteen authentic period structures that were
supposed to represent the original thirteen American colonies.

The "One Nation Under God" show? Well, if you ever
saw the original version of Walt Disney World's Hall of Presidents, you've seen
"One Nation Under God." However, due to the huge cost of mounting
this particular production, Walt couldn't afford to produce this show all on
his own. Which is why he spent years trying to line up a corporate sponsor for
this super-patriotic show. Unfortunately, none of the companies that Disney
approached in the late 1950s / early 1960s bit on the high cost project.

Determined to finally line up a corporation to help
underwrite this proposed Disneyland attraction, Walt has
his Imagineers work up a full scale version of one figure from the show:
Abraham Lincoln. Walt hoped that — once potential sponsors got to see one of
these robotic presidents in the flesh (so to speak) — they'd immediately jump
at the chance to be associated with this show. Ever the showman, Walt had his
Imagineers set up a manually controlled version of the Lincoln
robot that could stand up and shake the hand of any potential sponsor.

Finally, the right man got the chance to shake Abe Lincoln's
hand: Fair President Robert Moses. Moses was said to be ecstatic when he
finally got to "meet" Mr. Lincoln, allegedly declaring that "I
won't open the Fair without this exhibit."

The only problem was that — like Walt — Moses wanted the
big bells-and-whistles version of the show, "One Nation Under God."
So Robert personally began pursuing potential sponsors for the show. First off,
he went after the folks with the deepest pockets … the United States
Government. (The U.S. Government — after much hemming and hawing — had
finally agreed to put up $15 million toward the construction of a federal
exhibit for the 1964 New York World's Fair in early 1962.)

Moses appealed directly to the Department of Commerce, the
one office within the government with direct control over how the U.S.'s
money would be spent at the fair. He met personally with the undersecretary of
Commerce — Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt, Jr. — to try to get his office behind
"One Nation Under God" show. In the end, the U.S. Government —
though impressed with Disney's proposed presentation — felt that a show that
featured "talking doll" versions of our Commanders in Chief might be
viewed by some as being demeaning to the office of the President. So they opted
to pass on the project.

Now it's been suggested that FDR Jr. — who allegedly felt
that a robotic version of his dad would be extremely disrespectful —
personally put the kibosh on the Government picking up the tab for the
"One Nation Under God" show. Well, while I had heard this story from
literally dozens of former Disney Productions employees, no one's ever been
able to provide me with definitive proof on this matter. So — until that proof
turns up — I'm afraid that we're just going to have relegate the "FDR Jr.
killed 'Hall of Presidents' for the '64 World's Fair" story to the urban
legends pile.

Moses refused to give up, though. He kept pursuing potential
sponsors for the "One Nation Under God" / "Hall of Presidents"
show until December 1962. Robert even appealed to Coca-Cola, which — after
passing on presenting Disney's "Enchanted Tiki Room" — was still in
search of an attraction for the Fair. Hoping to finally close the deal with
Coke, Disney supposedly had the delicate Lincoln
figure shipped all the way from Burbank
to NYC to give a demo to Coke's CEO.

Unfortunately, the Chairman of Coca-Cola — while riding
into the city to see the Lincoln
demonstration — was supposedly insulted by a bunch of African-American
teenagers who were riding in an open car next to his limo. This supposedly put
the CEO in a foul mood that morning. Which — according to Robert Moses'
autobiography, "Public Works: A Dangerous Tale" — is the reason that
Coke ultimately decided to pass on sponsoring this project.

Things were looking pretty bleak for the electronic Honest
Abe until the state of Illinois
entered the picture. Illinois —
which didn't even get around to putting together the funding necessary sponsor
an attraction at the 1964 New York
World's Fair until early 1963 — was desperate to find some sort of show to
present at the Fair. Disney and Moses were desperate to find someone to sponsor
their "One Nation Under God" show. In one of those great "You've
got Peanut Butter in my Chocolate" moments, these three came together and
— Presto Change-o — Lincoln
finally had a sponsor.

The Illinois "Land
of Lincoln" pavilion as seen
from above

Unfortunately, given the limited amount of prep time left
until the Fair opened, Abe would NOT be appearing alongside the other Chief
Executives. Why for? Because Disney just didn't have time to build AA versions
of all of the other Commanders in Chief. Which is why Lincoln
ended up doing a solo act — his "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln"
show.

Of course, give that Disney got a late start on the
"Great Moments" show, it just makes sense that the robotic version of
our 16th president didn't debut with the rest of the Fair on April 20th. Due to
all the hassles associated with the rushed production, Lincoln
didn't officially open to the public until two weeks later, May 2, 1964.

As you probably already know, the finished version of
"Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" was a complete smash. Walt was
proud, but not prouder than Moses — who had worked like a champ for nearly two
years to find Disney's remarkable Lincoln
figure a home at his Fair. How proud was Robert of this particular exhibit?
Years after the 1964 New York
World's Fair closed, Moses was often heard to say "My two greatest
accomplishments at the Fair were Michaelangelo's Pieta and Disney's Lincoln."

New York World's Fair visitors viewing the Pieta from the
Vatican Pavilion's moving walkway

But — at least from Walt's point of view — Walt Disney
Productions' greatest accomplishment at the Fair had to be its high-speed
creation of the "It's a Small World" ride. After all, this was a show
that no one thought would happen, let alone work.

You see, Pepsi-Cola was working with UNICEF — the United
Nation's Agency for Children's Welfare — to come up with an attraction for the
Fair that would salute UNICEF as well as pay tribute to all the children of the
world. After months of floundering, the creative staff at the cola giant
finally had to admit to management that they were stumped. They just couldn't
come up with a workable concept for a Unicef show for the Fair.

It was at this point that somebody finally said, "Let's
call Walt Disney." After all, given Walt Disney Productions' reputation
for turning out fine family entertainment, it just made sense to the folks at
Pepsi to approach Disney. After all, Walt and his staff were sure to be able to
find a way to make this UNICEF tribute show work.

Admiral Joe Fowler. Copyright Disney Enterprises,
Inc.
All rights reserved

The only problem is that Pepsi didn't approach Disney about
helping out with this project until April of 1963. Given the limited amount of
time until the Fair opened, head Imagineer Joe Fowler politely turned the cola
people away, explaining that there was just no way that Walt Disney Productions
could get a full-scale attraction for the Fair designed and built in the amount
of time that was left.

Which, as it turns out, was a mistake. When Walt got wind of
what Joe had done, he was furious. Disney called Fowler into his office and
basically read the man the riot act. "I'm the one who makes the decisions
around here," Walt allegedly roared. "So you call the Pepsi people
back now and tell them that we'll do their damned UNICEF pavilion."

Kind of ironic, isn't it? That the only reason that
"the Happiest Little Cruise That Ever Sailed " (or so says Disney's
own press releases) actually exists is that someone made the mistake of
upsetting Walt Disney.

Anywho … what's truly fascinating about the story of the
creation of Disney's "It's A Small World" is how much of what this
now beloved attraction is today was determined by how quickly the project was
slapped together. How so? Well, a lot of the layout and design of the finished
version of "Small World" was due to the fact that the Pepsi-Cola ride
building for this attraction was actually under construction before anyone knew
for sure what was going to go into the structure. That's why the folks at the
Fair just threw up a simple L shaped building with 32,000 square feet of space
inside. Those who actually worked on the attraction called it "the ugliest
building you ever saw in your life."

(Perhaps recognizing that the Pepsi-Cola building wasn't
what you'd call attractive, Walt Disney asked veteran Imagineer Rolly Crump to
come up with something to jazz up the front of the "small world"
structure. Distract people from seeing how boring the building really was. That's
when Rolly came up with the Tower of the Four Winds, a colorful but complex
array of mobiles that stood over the entrance to "Small World."
Which, in the end, proved to be a brilliant plan. Crump's mobile is now
remembered by many as one of the more charming things they saw while touring
the Fair. But almost no one remembers how boring the exterior of the Pepsi-Cola
building was. Anyway…)

It was until after the foundation had been poured and steel
was flying up that Walt decided that he wanted some sort of boat ride to run
through the Pepsi-Cola building. So — working with the L shaped boundaries of
the building — the Imagineers quickly roughed out a floor plan for a ride that
would pay tribute to all the children of the world. Only — in the original
version of the attraction — the children were all supposed to be singing the
national anthem of each of their individual countries.

An early test on the Disney lot proved that this idea was a
complete disaster. All of the national anthems sung simultaneously meant that
the songs drowned each other out or — worse than that — bled together, making
this unholy noise. That's when Walt got the idea of grabbing the Sherman
Brothers — Bob and Dick — and asking them to do a song for the show.

Best known today as the Oscar winning composers of the score
for "Mary Poppins," the Sherman Brothers had already contributed
several songs for other Disney shows at the Fair. Remember "It's a Great
Big Beautiful Tomorrow" for G.E.'s Carousel of Progress? That was theirs.

Anyway, working off of Walt's instructions, Bob and Dick
quickly knocked out a roundelay, a song that could be sung as a round by the
robotic kids with an occasional counterpoint. Sticking a temporary title on the
tune of "It's a Small World After All," they dropped their first
draft of the song on Disney's desk — apologizing for the song being so silly
and simple. They promised their boss that they'd come back with something more
musically complex sometime later. Walt wouldn't hear of it. So the
thrown-together tune that the Sherman Brothers delivered to Walt Disney that
afternoon in late 1963 is the very same song that we can't get out of our heads
— no matter how hard we try — 50 years later.

Luckily, all of this hard work by Walt's Imagineers paid
off. All four of Disney's shows for the Fair received enormous acclaim. Indeed,
in some surveys that were taken to gauge the popularity of various shows and
attractions at the 1964 New York
World's Fair, Walt's shows often took four of the top five slots.
Attendance-wise, "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln," "It's A Small
World," "Carousel of Progress" and "The Magic Skyway"
always made it into the top 15.

Of course, it's not like Disney didn't have a few
difficulties with its attractions during their days at the Fair. For example,
Mr. Lincoln had to have his glass eyes and false teeth repaired repeatedly. Why
for? Because some guests at the Fair became convinced that there was just no
way that this lifelike figure could be a robot. So — in an effort to prove
that Disney's Lincoln figure was
really just a guy in a suit — these folks used to whip the free ball bearings
that they'd pick up the SKF exhibit at the Honest Abe AA figure. Hence the
cracked eyeballs and the chipped false teeth.

The "Small World" attraction also had to deal with
periodic damage caused by pranksters. Not-so-nice New Yorkers were forever
stealing fish out of the Koi pond at the Japanese pavilion and slipping the
colorful creatures into the immense water-filled trough that ran through the
Pepsi-Cola show building. That is, of course, when they weren't emptying entire
bottles of Mr. Bubble into the water … which would result in the boats having
to push through 4-foot high walls of foam.

Disney also wanted to have some of the company's rubberheads
– you know, those full-sized costume characters that regularly meet-n-greet
tourists at Disneyland and Walt Disney World – make
daily appearances in front of the Pepsi-Cola Building.
However, after Snow White had a switchblade pulled on her and Practical Pig had
his arm of his costume torn off, Disney's rubberheads suddenly began greeting
guests at the Fair from above – waving down at the people standing in line at
"It's A Small World" from a platform that was fixed to the
bottom-most portion of the Tower of the Four Winds.

True to his word, Walt tried to get all four of the exhibits
that Walt Disney Productions produced for the Fair brought back to Disneyland.
To that end, Disney was about 75% successful.

He got "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" and the
"Carousel of Progress" brought back to Anaheim
virtually unchanged. "It's A Small World?" Well, the ride made it
back to Disneyland … but not the Tower of the Four
Winds. As charming as this immense mobile might have been, Walt balked when he
learned about the projected cost of dismantling the tower and having it shipped
back to California.

Walt Disney & Rolly Crump
with the Tower of the Four Winds in
Glendale,
before it was disassembled & sent to Flushing
Meadows. Copyright Disney
Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved

Which is why — after the Fair closed — the Tower of the
Four Winds was unceremoniously pulled down. The all-metal structure was chopped
into itty, bitty pieces using acetylene torches, then tossed into the Flushing
Rive The Tower's final resting place? I keep hearing that most of it ended just
offshore of the Fair's Lakeside Amusement area / Transportation Zone. Anyone up
for mounting an underwater salvage operation?

Ford's Magic Skyway? Well, given the size of the thing,
there was just no way that the entire attraction was going to make it back to Anaheim.
Walt settled for just the dinosaur AA figures, which he then tacked on the
park's "Grand Canyon" diorama as a trip
through the "Primeval World." This sequence has been serving as the
grand finale for the grand circle tour of Disneyland
aboard the park's steam locomotives for almost 35 years now.

Of course, these are the sorts of stories that any dedicated
Disneyana fan could already tell you about the company's involvement in the New
York World's Fair. But one of the more intriguing but
least well know aspects of Disney's tenure at the Fair was — after the 1964
season closed and the billion dollar extravaganza hadn't even come close to
meeting its attendance projections — Moses supposedly met with Walt and asked
for his help in driving up attendance for the 1965 season. Robert allegedly
proposed a new Disney-designed amusement area, which would have been built on a
large vacant piece of land next to the gas pavilion. Moses reportedly
envisioned a miniature Disneyland, complete with castle
and dark rides. Walt politely refused Robert's request.

(L to R) Robert Moses, Walt
Disney & Henry Ford II at the grand opening of the Magic
Skyway at the Ford
Wonder Rotunda. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved

Why for? Well, maybe it was because Disney knew that Moses
was skating on thin ice at that point. As 1965 and the Fair continued to fall
behind its financial projections, a movement was started to oust Moses as head
of the Fair. And whose name was on the short list to take over Robert's
position as President of the Fair. You guessed it, folks: Walt Disney.

When approached about the position, Walt again supposedly
politely refused. Why? Probably because his top secret Florida
project was already well underway. So why waste time trying to find ways to
improve attendance at Flushing Meadows when there was a whole new world to be
carved out of the swamps of Florida?

Of course, even though Walt turned down the job as President
of the Fair, that didn't necessary mean that he wasn't above raiding the Fair's
staff to help run his own organization. That's why Walt hired away Robert
Moses' right hand man, General William E. (Joe) Potter (USA,
ret.) as the Fair was winding down.

William E. "General
Joe" Potter points to the Magic Kingdom
construction site.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

Who's General Joe Potter? Well, prior to his time spent
working with Moses, Potter spent many years working with the Army Corps of
Engineers. Joe was a man who accustomed to taking on big jobs and getting them
done. At one point, Potter had actually been governor of the Panama
Canal Zone.

After watching Potter masterfully ride herds on the
construction of the dozens of different pavilions that were rising up out of
Flushing Meadow, Walt knew that Joe was exactly the guy he needed to help turn
all those cypress swamps in Florida
into a vacation paradise. Which is why — as the Fair was drawing to a close in
late 1965 — Disney offered Potter a position with the Disney organization.

In the end, Potter was the man responsible for turning the
28,000 acres of Florida swampland
that Disney had purchased outside of Orlando
into a workable construction site. Starting in July 1967, Joe and his staff dug
44 miles of canals. Potter's crew also drained the 450-acre Bay Lake,
scraped the bottom clean, refilled the lake, then move 9 million cubic yards of
earth to create a nearby lagoon. This monumental effort led to the creation of
the scenic centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom Resort area: Seven Seas Lagoon.

The Seven Seas Lagoon worksite
as seen from above. Copyright Disney
Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

So who knows if Walt Disney World would have become the
enormous success it is today if Gen. Joe Potter hadn't been available to help
carve this vacation paradise out of the Florida
wilderness. Of course, Walt probably wouldn't have even met Joe if the Disney
organization hadn't done all those shows for Robert Moses and his 1964 New
York World's Fair.

So — in the end — I guess maybe the Fair WAS actually the
vital stepping stone in the creation of Walt Disney World. But just not in the
way you might have thought that it was.

History

The Evolution and History of Mickey’s ToonTown

Published

3 months ago

February 7, 2024

Jim Hill

Disneyland in Anaheim, California, holds a special place in the hearts of Disney fans worldwide, I mean heck, it’s where the magic began after all. Over the years it’s become a place that people visit in search of memorable experiences. One fan favorite area of the park is Mickey’s Toontown, a unique land that lets guests step right into the colorful, “Toony” world of Disney animation. With the recent reimagining of the land and the introduction of Micky and Minnies Runaway Railway, have you ever wondered how this land came to be?

There is a fascinating backstory of how Mickey’s Toontown came into existence. It’s a tale of strategic vision, the influence of Disney executives, and a commitment to meeting the needs of Disney’s valued guests.

The Beginning: Mickey’s Birthdayland

The story of Mickey’s Toontown starts with Mickey’s Birthdayland at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Opened in 1988 to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 60th birthday, this temporary attraction was met with such overwhelming popularity that it inspired Disney executives to think bigger. The idea was to create a permanent, immersive land where guests could step into the animated world of Mickey Mouse and his friends.

In the early ’90s, Disneyland was in need of a refresh. Michael Eisner, the visionary leader of The Walt Disney Company at the time, had an audacious idea: create a brand-new land in Disneyland that would celebrate Disney characters in a whole new way. This was the birth of Mickey’s Toontown.

Initially, Disney’s creative minds toyed with various concepts, including the idea of crafting a 100-Acre Woods or a land inspired by the Muppets. However, the turning point came when they considered the success of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” This film’s popularity and the desire to capitalize on contemporary trends set the stage for Toontown’s creation.

From Concept to Reality: The Birth of Toontown

In 1993, Mickey’s Toontown opened its gates at Disneyland, marking the first time in Disney Park history where guests could experience a fully realized, three-dimensional world of animation. This new land was not just a collection of attractions but a living, breathing community where Disney characters “lived,” worked, and played.

Building Challenges: Innovative Solutions

The design of Mickey’s Toontown broke new ground in theme park aesthetics. Imagineers were tasked with bringing the two-dimensional world of cartoons into a three-dimensional space. This led to the creation of over 2000 custom-built props and structures that embodied the ‘squash and stretch’ principle of animation, giving Toontown its distinctiveness.

And then there was also the challenge of hiding the Team Disney Anaheim building, which bore a striking resemblance to a giant hotdog. The Imagineers had to think creatively, using balloon tests and imaginative landscaping to seamlessly integrate Toontown into the larger park.

Key Attractions: Bringing Animation to Life

Mickey’s Toontown featured several groundbreaking attractions. “Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin,” inspired by the movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” became a staple of Toontown, offering an innovative ride experience. Gadget’s Go-Coaster, though initially conceived as a Rescue Rangers-themed ride, became a hit with younger visitors, proving that innovative design could create memorable experiences for all ages.

Another crown jewel of Toontown is Mickey’s House, a walkthrough attraction that allowed guests to explore the home of Mickey Mouse himself. This attraction was more than just a house; it was a carefully crafted piece of Disney lore. The house was designed in the American Craftsman style, reflecting the era when Mickey would have theoretically purchased his first home in Hollywood. The attention to detail was meticulous, with over 2000 hand-crafted, custom-built props, ensuring that every corner of the house was brimming with character and charm. Interestingly, the design of Mickey’s House was inspired by a real home in Wichita Falls, making it a unique blend of real-world inspiration and Disney magic.

Mickey’s House also showcased Disney’s commitment to creating interactive and engaging experiences. Guests could make themselves at home, sitting in Mickey’s chair, listening to the radio, and exploring the many mementos and references to Mickey’s animated adventures throughout the years. This approach to attraction design – where storytelling and interactivity merged seamlessly – was a defining characteristic of ToonTown’s success.

Executive Decisions: Shaping ToonTown’s Unique Attractions

The development of Mickey’s Toontown wasn’t just about creative imagination; it was significantly influenced by strategic decisions from Disney executives. One notable input came from Jeffrey Katzenberg, who suggested incorporating a Rescue Rangers-themed ride. This idea was a reflection of the broader Disney strategy to integrate popular contemporary characters and themes into the park, ensuring that the attractions remained relevant and engaging for visitors.

In addition to Katzenberg’s influence, Frank Wells, the then-President of The Walt Disney Company, played a key role in the strategic launch of Toontown’s attractions. His decision to delay the opening of “Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin” until a year after Toontown’s debut was a calculated move. It was designed to maintain public interest in the park by offering new experiences over time, thereby giving guests more reasons to return to Disneyland.

These executive decisions highlight the careful planning and foresight that went into making Toontown a dynamic and continuously appealing part of Disneyland. By integrating current trends and strategically planning the rollout of attractions, Disney executives ensured that Toontown would not only capture the hearts of visitors upon its opening but would continue to draw them back for new experiences in the years to follow.

Global Influence: Toontown’s Worldwide Appeal

The concept of Mickey’s Toontown resonated so strongly that it was replicated at Tokyo Disneyland and influenced elements in Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland. Each park’s version of Toontown maintained the core essence of the original while adapting to its cultural and logistical environment.

Evolution and Reimagining: Toontown Today

As we approach the present day, Mickey’s Toontown has recently undergone a significant reimagining to welcome “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway” in 2023. This refurbishment aimed to enhance the land’s interactivity and appeal to a new generation of Disney fans, all while retaining the charm that has made ToonTown a beloved destination for nearly three decades.

Dive Deeper into ToonTown’s Story

Want to know more about Mickey’s Toontown and hear some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, then check out the latest episode of Disney Unpacked on Patreon @JimHillMedia. In this episode, the main Imagineer who worked on the Toontown project shares lots of interesting stories and details that you can’t find anywhere else. It’s full of great information and fun facts, so be sure to give it a listen!

History

Unpacking the History of the Pixar Place Hotel

Published

3 months ago

January 30, 2024

Jim Hill

Pixar Place Hotel, the newly unveiled 15-story tower at the Disneyland Resort, has been making waves in the Disney community. With its unique Pixar-themed design, it promises to be a favorite among visitors.

However, before we delve into this exciting addition to the Disneyland Resort, let’s take a look at the fascinating history of this remarkable hotel.

The Emergence of the Disneyland Hotel

To truly appreciate the story of the Pixar Place Hotel, we must turn back the clock to the early days of Disneyland. While Walt Disney had the visionary ideas and funding to create the iconic theme park, he faced a challenge when it came to providing accommodations for the park’s visitors. This is where his friend Jack Wrather enters the picture.

Jack Wrather, a fellow pioneer in the television industry, stepped in to assist Walt Disney in realizing his dream. Thanks to the success of the “Lassie” TV show produced by Wrather’s company, he had the financial means to build a hotel right across from Disneyland.

The result was the Disneyland Hotel, which opened its doors in October 1955. Interestingly, the early incarnation of this hotel had more of a motel feel than a hotel, with two-story buildings reminiscent of the roadside motels popular during the 1950s. The initial Disneyland Hotel consisted of modest structures that catered to visitors looking for affordable lodging close to the park. While the rooms were basic, it marked the beginning of something extraordinary.

The Evolution: From Emerald of Anaheim to Paradise Pier

As Disneyland’s popularity continued to soar, so did the demand for expansion and improved accommodations. In 1962, the addition of an 11-story tower transformed the Disneyland Hotel, marking a significant transition from a motel to a full-fledged hotel.

The addition of the 11-story tower elevated the Disneyland Hotel into a more prominent presence on the Anaheim skyline. At the time, it was the tallest structure in all of Orange County. The hotel’s prime location across from Disneyland made it an ideal choice for visitors. With the introduction of the monorail linking the park and the hotel, accessibility became even more convenient. Unique features like the Japanese-themed reflecting pools added to the hotel’s charm, reflecting a cultural influence that extended beyond Disney’s borders.

Japanese Tourism and Its Impact

During the 1960s and 1970s, Disneyland was attracting visitors from all corners of the world, including Japan. A significant number of Japanese tourists flocked to Anaheim to experience Walt Disney’s creation. To cater to this growing market, it wasn’t just the Disneyland Hotel that aimed to capture the attention of Japanese tourists. The Japanese Village in Buena Park, inspired by a similar attraction in Nara, Japan, was another significant spot.

These attractions sought to provide a taste of Japanese culture and hospitality, showcasing elements like tea ceremonies and beautiful ponds with rare carp and black swans. However, the Japanese Village closed its doors in 1975, likely due to the highly competitive nature of the Southern California tourist market.

The Emergence of the Emerald of Anaheim

With the surge in Japanese tourism, an opportunity arose—the construction of the Emerald of Anaheim, later known as the Disneyland Pacific Hotel. In May 1984, this 15-story hotel opened its doors.

What made the Emerald unique was its ownership. It was built not by The Walt Disney Company or the Oriental Land Company (which operated Tokyo Disneyland) but by the Tokyu Group. This group of Japanese businessmen already had a pair of hotels in Hawaii and saw potential in Anaheim’s proximity to Disneyland. Thus, they decided to embark on this new venture, specifically designed to cater to Japanese tourists looking to experience Southern California.

Financial Challenges and a Changing Landscape

The late 1980s brought about two significant financial crises in Japan—the crash of the NIKKEI stock market and the collapse of the Japanese real estate market. These crises had far-reaching effects, causing Japanese tourists to postpone or cancel their trips to the United States. As a result, reservations at the Emerald of Anaheim dwindled.

To adapt to these challenging times, the Tokyu Group merged the Emerald brand with its Pacific hotel chain, attempting to weather the storm. However, the financial turmoil took its toll on the Emerald, and changes were imminent.

The Transition to the Disneyland Pacific Hotel

In 1995, The Walt Disney Company took a significant step by purchasing the hotel formerly known as the Emerald of Anaheim for $35 million. This acquisition marked a change in the hotel’s fortunes. With Disney now in control, the hotel underwent a name change, becoming the Disneyland Pacific Hotel.

Transformation to Paradise Pier

The next phase of transformation occurred when Disney decided to rebrand the hotel as Paradise Pier Hotel. This decision aligned with Disney’s broader vision for the Disneyland Resort.

While the structural changes were limited, the hotel underwent a significant cosmetic makeover. Its exterior was painted to complement the color scheme of Paradise Pier, and wave-shaped crenellations adorned the rooftop, creating an illusion of seaside charm. This transformation was Disney’s attempt to seamlessly integrate the hotel into the Paradise Pier theme of Disney’s California Adventure Park.

Looking Beyond Paradise Pier: The Shift to Pixar Place

In 2018, Disneyland Resort rebranded Paradise Pier as Pixar Pier, a thematic area dedicated to celebrating the beloved characters and stories from Pixar Animation Studios. As a part of this transition, it became evident that the hotel formally known as the Disneyland Pacific Hotel could no longer maintain its Paradise Pier theme.

With Pixar Pier in full swing and two successful Pixar-themed hotels (Toy Story Hotels in Shanghai Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland), Disney decided to embark on a new venture—a hotel that would celebrate the vast world of Pixar. The result is Pixar Place Hotel, a 15-story tower that embraces the characters and stories from multiple Pixar movies and shorts. This fully Pixar-themed hotel is a first of its kind in the United States.

The Future of Pixar Place and Disneyland Resort

As we look ahead to the future, the Disneyland Resort continues to evolve. The recent news of a proposed $1.9 billion expansion as part of the Disneyland Forward project indicates that the area surrounding Pixar Place is expected to see further changes. Disneyland’s rich history and innovative spirit continue to shape its destiny.

In conclusion, the history of the Pixar Place Hotel is a testament to the ever-changing landscape of Disneyland Resort. From its humble beginnings as the Disneyland Hotel to its transformation into the fully Pixar-themed Pixar Place Hotel, this establishment has undergone several iterations. As Disneyland Resort continues to grow and adapt, we can only imagine what exciting developments lie ahead for this iconic destination.

If you want to hear more stories about the History of the Pixar Place hotel, check our special edition of Disney Unpacked over on YouTube.

Stay tuned for more updates and developments as we continue to explore the fascinating world of Disney, one story at a time.

History

From Birthday Wishes to Toontown Dreams: How Toontown Came to Be

Published

4 months ago

January 14, 2024

Jim Hill

In the latest release of Episode 4 of Disney Unpacked, Len and I return, joined as always by Disney Imagineering legend, Jim Shull. This two-part episode covers all things Mickey’s Birthday Land and how it ultimately led to the inspiration behind Disneyland’s fan-favorite land, “Toontown”. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. It all starts in the early days at Disneyland.

Early Challenges in Meeting Mickey

Picture this: it’s the late 1970s and early 1980s, and you’re at Disneyland. You want to meet the one and only Mickey Mouse, but there’s no clear way to make it happen. You rely on Character Guides, those daily printed sheets that point you in Mickey’s general direction. But let’s be honest, it was like finding a needle in a haystack. Sometimes, you got lucky; other times, not so much.

Mickey’s Birthdayland: A Birthday Wish that Came True

Fast forward to the late 1980s. Disney World faced a big challenge. The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park was under construction, with the company’s marketing machine in full swing, hyping up the opening of Walt Disney World’s third theme park, MGM Studios, in the Spring of 1989. This extensive marketing meant that many people were opting to postpone their family’s next trip to Walt Disney World until the following year. Walt Disney World needed something compelling to motivate guests to visit Florida in 1988, the year before Disney MGM Studios opened.

Enter stage left, Mickey’s Birthdayland. For the first time ever, an entire land was dedicated to a single character – and not just any character, but the mouse who started it all. Meeting Mickey was no longer a game of chance; it was practically guaranteed.

The Birth of Birthdayland: Creative Brilliance Meets Practicality

In this episode, we dissect the birth of Mickey’s Birthdayland, an initiative that went beyond celebrating a birthday. It was a calculated move, driven by guest feedback and a need to address issues dating back to 1971. Imagineers faced the monumental task of designing an experience that honored Mickey while efficiently managing the crowds. This required the perfect blend of creative flair and logistical prowess – a hallmark of Disney’s approach to theme park design.

Evolution: From Birthdayland to Toontown

The success of Mickey’s Birthdayland was a real game-changer, setting the stage for the birth of Toontown – an entire land that elevated character-centric areas to monumental new heights. Toontown wasn’t merely a spot to meet characters; it was an immersive experience that brought Disney animation to life. In the episode, we explore its innovative designs, playful architecture, and how every nook and cranny tells a story.

Impact on Disney Parks and Guests

Mickey’s Birthdayland and Toontown didn’t just reshape the physical landscape of Disney parks; they transformed the very essence of the guest experience. These lands introduced groundbreaking ways for visitors to connect with their beloved characters, making their Disney vacations even more unforgettable.

Beyond Attractions: A Cultural Influence

But the influence of these lands goes beyond mere attractions. Our episode delves into how Mickey’s Birthdayland and Toontown left an indelible mark on Disney’s culture, reflecting the company’s relentless dedication to innovation and guest satisfaction. It’s a journey into how a single idea can grow into a cherished cornerstone of the Disney Park experience.

Interested in learning about Jim Shull’s original idea for a Winnie the Pooh ride? Here’s concept art of the attraction proposed for the original Toontown in Disneyland. More on [Disney Unpacked].

Unwrapping the Full Story of Mickey’s Birthdayland

Our two-part episode of Disney Unpacked is available for your viewing pleasure on our Patreon page. And for those seeking a quicker Disney fix, we’ve got a condensed version waiting for you on our YouTube channel. Thank you for being a part of our Disney Unpacked community. Stay tuned for more episodes as we continue to “Unpack” the fascinating world of Disney, one story at a time.