“Why For” goes ’round the world …

Jim Hill

20 years ago

First up, Tom Morrow writes in to say:

Hello there!

I couldn’t begin this mail without dropping some kind of HAPPY NEW YEAR to the whole JHM team . All my best for the eleven months that remain

I have had a real pleasure to see your previous “Why For” with all these concept arts, actually that is what I prefer when dealing about the Mouse ; Concept Arts 😀

But I wondered, couldn’t you do the same thing with European footage?? All those beautiful rides WDI designed back in the 90’s, at a time when EuroDisneyland was supposed to be a roaring success, during that forgotten era when Creativity and Innovation were keywords for the French resort…

I know there have been some great additions planned, and I’m sure there have been plenty I never heard of!

I guess that woold be cool to have a look at them, a good way to dream (or rage) in comparison with what DLRP is gonna build during the years to come…

Thank you for reading my mail, au revoir!

Dear Tom.

Ask and ye shall recieve. Below, you’ll find a piece of concept art for Disneyland Paris. Back when the Imagineers were toying with building a much more elaborate version of the Orbitron for Discoveryland.

Of course, this massive version of Leonardo da Vinci’s astrolabe dates back to the bells-and-whistles version of Discoveryland that WDI originally wanted to build for the Parisian theme park. Back when EuroDisneyland guests were supposed to be able to board miniature versions of the Hyperion at a dirgible station high atop Discovery Mountain and then leisurely float over to Fantasyland.

“So what happened to that version of Discoveryland?,” you ask. When the proposed construction costs of EDL slid north of $2 billion, the Imagineers were asked to pare back their plans for this theme park. Which is why Discoveryland’s Orbitron lost most of its fountains, its double-decker load & unload area as well as its elaborate frame. And — as for all those little Hyperions … They went the way on the Hindenberg. As in: up in smoke.

Anywho … You’re right, Tom. There have been a lot of great projects proposed for the Disneyland Paris resort over the past 15 years. Hopefully, with the help of JHM’s photo archivist, Jeff Lange, we’ll be able to show you some images from those planned-but-never-built rides, shows and attractions over the next few months. So hang in there, okay?

Next up, Bobo Burns writes in to say:

Hi Jim,

Now that WDW’s River Country has officially been closed, can you tell us if Disney has any plans to go forward with that “Pirates of the Caribbean” Water Adventure Park? Or will they just new attractions to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach?

Your articles are fantastic, keep them coming!

Bobo

Dear Bobo —

To be honest, I’m not sure what the current status of the “Pirates” water park project might be. After JHM ran an article which prominently featured Scott Sherman’s concept painting for that proposed water adventure park, the Imagineers got rather tight-lipped about that project. So — whenever I’d ask my sources inside of WDI about what was going on with the “Pirates” water park — all I’d get is a terse “No comment.”

As for expanding Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach … All I can tell you, Bobo, is that the Imagineers are always looking for ways to expand those water parks’ capacity. Long before the Crush ‘N’ Gusher (and its three separate slides, the “Banana Blaster,” the “Coconut Crusher” and “Pineapple Plunger” ) was ever proposed, WDI was looking for ways to add more rides and attractions to that particular water park.

For example, take a look at this early, early version (circa 1992) of a new set of slides that WDI had wanted to add to Typhoon Lagoon …

… as well as this second snorkle pool, which would have allowed WDW visitors to swim among Easter Island-like statuary …

… Not to mention this proposed kiddie pool / water play area, where tykes who had made the trek over to Typhoon Lagoon could then slide down shell-shaped slides and/or get squirted by a sperm whale-shaped fountain.

Please note that all of these concept paintings are dated back in 1992. You see, this was back when the Imagineers were thinking that — since Walt Disney World already had two water parks (I.E. Typhoon Lagoon & River Country) — that there was no need to build a third park. That — in order to handle guest demand — the smart thing to do was expand the pre-existing parks by adding new rides & attractions.

And — given the Crush ‘N’ Gusher is nearing completion at Typhoon Lagoon — one has to assume that today’s mentality at WDI echoes what the Imagineers were thinking back in 1992. As if: Let’s not waste our money on building a brand new water park. But — rather — let’s expand & improve on what we already have.

Of course, should those two “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel films do really well at the box office in 2006 … Disney may revisit the whole “Pirates” Water Adventure Park idea. But — for now — it’s more a “Let’s work with what we’ve already got” attitude. So I’m predicting that the Mouse won’t be announcing any new water parks for the Walt Disney World resort at least for the new year or two.

And — speaking of things that didn’t get built at Disney World — Taz M. writes in to say:

Jim —

I’ve been re-reading a lot of your old articles in the JHM archives lately. And I can’t help but notice that you really don’t seem to like Epcot, Jim. That you seem to go out of your way to bash that theme park every chance you get.

So ask me this, Hill: “Why For” don’t you like Epcot?

Dear Taz —

You want me to list the reasons that I don’t like Epcot. Jeese, how much time to you have?

I’m sorry. But I have to admit that I’m really not a fan of that Disney theme park. Mostly because Epcot (the theme park) isn’t what Walt wanted. Back in the early 1960s, the Old Mousetro had Walt Disney Productions secretly buy up all that swampland in Central Florida because Disney wanted to build Epcot (the city).

So no matter how poetically General Grizz and the rest of the crew folks at d-troops.com wax about the “Wonders of Life” and/or “The Land” pavilion, I have to admit that I really can’t get all that excited about proposed changes at this theme park. Sure, it would be nice if the Imagineers would eventually go ahead with their plans to make this theme park much more kid-friendly by building some new leap-frog fountains around World Showcase Lagoon and/or adding some more stuff to Future World that the small fry could climb on …

… But — to be honest — no matter what the Imagineers could add to and/or subtract from this theme park, all I’d eventually think is: “This still isn’t what Walt would have wanted. Walt wanted a city. Not a glorified suburban subdivision like Celebration. But a really-for-real city. With skyscapers and factories and a hospital …”

Now — to be fair — I guess I should mention that, while I’m not all that fond of Epcot, I was a huge fan of Westcot. That proposed second gate for the Disneyland Resort was going to be truly incredible. Green & lush, with an assortment of state-of-the-art attractions …

… Westcot was going to get right everything that Epcot (the theme park) got wrong. I mean, take a look at the above concept painting. This is the base of Spacestation Earth, which was supposed to be the Westcot equivalent of Spaceship Earth.

Now — when you enter the Future World section of Epcot — what do you get? Lots of metal & concrete. Which makes the future seem cold & kind of forbidding. Whereas Disneyland resort guests who wanted to explore the Future World section of Westcot Center … They had to take an escalator down to this lush, green garden. An area filled with fountains and greenery. Not a piece of concrete in sight.

Remind me sometime to actually do a full-blown story about Westcot Center. You want to talk about a tale that will really upset Disneyana fans. That was the theme park that would have truly turned Disneyland into a destination resort. A place where people would have happily spent a three-or-four day-long vacation.

Speaking of vacations … After digging my house out from under two different snowstorms over the course of 72 hours, I’m in need of a bit of a break right now. Which is I think that I’m going to close up shop at JHM for this week.

But — before I go — I guess I should let you know who won this week’s photo caption contest. Over the past four days, we’ve recieved a number of truly funny entries from JHM readers. But these are the three that really made me chuckle:

Dee Clifton’s take on that photo:

“Wow, I found an ‘Incredibles’ unitard in my size! So what ya think? Sexy or…..”

Scott Ross’ somewhat mean-spirited (but still funny) spin on that picture:

“MiceAge photography would like to thank you for your pose. Now please move. There might be peeling paint behind you.”

And then there is Robert L. Kolakowski’s entry. Which I’ve posted below:

Robert — as you can see — went all out. So kudos to Mr. Kolakowski for doing such a great job with his JHM photo caption contest entry … As well as reminding me that I still have a lot of work to do.

Speaking of which … I gotta get back to work on my “Mary Poppins” series. Which (hopefully) will begin popping up on JHM in a significantly revised form next week.

Til then … You folks have a great weekend, okay?

jrh