Walt Disney's E.P.C.O.T film (1966)

[@MacToronto]

Walt had lung cancer while recording this and actually had to stop to have oxygen a number of times. He thought he was just tired, but months after was dead.

[@khalilrichardson491]

December 15, 1966- the date that will never be forgotten... Walt Elias Disney dies of respiratory failure

[@djbis]

Very sad, really.

[@stephenlangsl67]

I wonder what it must have been like in an alternative timeline where Walt Disney took much better care of Himself and had Lived for an extra 20 years.

[@joejohnson2478]

@@stephenlangsl67 I agree but these slimeballs running it after those 20 years still would have ruined it. Take a look at KZbin videos of the 1964/65 NY Wolrds Fair. Take a look at the people attending and the way that they were dressed attending this public exhibition. A different time and a much better time.

[@DavidVitrano]

With the all new Disney story living company established, and with creating Cotino. I think it’s time for Disney to finally bring this place to life!

[@BrentFitzgerald11]

Man I could sit here and listen to Walt speak all day. You can truly sense his enthusiasm in everything he talks about. I really wish he could've lived longer...

[@JayFoxFire]

If he hasn't smoked that much....

[@GamerCo29]

People didnt know smoking was bad then :(

[@JayFoxFire]

Gamer Co.29 I know....:(

[@Angie2343]

Brent Fitzgerald Me too.

[@FlynnRider4]

+Brent Fitzgerald Walt is the reason that I will never smoke.

[@dixiedream1n]

A very grand dream - this man was a true creator, builder, visioneer, and futurist. One of the truest this world has ever seen. Sadly, when he died, no one picked up that same spirit - not only the EPCOT vision, but Walt's entire way of seeing the world and his eager, even joyful drive to improve it. I enjoyed Epcot Center as a kid (probably more then than I would now, seeing as it was at least more educational and innovative then).... and I like quite a few Disney movies even today. But the Disney company today is nothing, in spirit, like what Walt meant it to be. Walt Disney was an entertainer yes - but he was also so much more than that. More than most people will ever know.

[@CosplayCore]

EPCOT is still educational... There's still Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Journey into Imagination and the World Showcase. Spaceship Earth teaches science and history, Living with the Land teaches business in agriculture, Journey into Imagination shows guests ways to imagine and the World Showcase can be very educational about different cultures.

[@12InchFigureFanatic]

The problem is people don't want to be educated anymore, they want explosions and virtual reality rides. Every time I go to Disneyland I go to the Great Moments with Lincoln show. There are always no more than 6 people in there with me. We have been groomed to seek instant and intense stimuli. Disney is only providing what is in demand.

[@Lemuel928]

I would like to be that Futurist..

[@DavidVitrano]

Check out my ideas for this place to finally come to life.

[@Holo_x3]

actly, i think elon will try that in a few years..

[@thehexagonalconstruct857]

Mind blown. Why am I only learning about this now? This is serious inspiration to my own ideas for urban planning.

[@marhawkman303]

you should read up on Dyson's plans and the logic behind the "Dymaxion" home.

[@Angie2343]

Mobotropolis can become real!

[@inhometraineroakville1174]

It's an interesting concept. The big issue would be expansion. If you box in the city center like that, it would be hard to expand. You'd only be able to build residential areas outside. Obviously they decided to not go through with this but visiting EPCOT at Disney World is awesome. Been there many times.

[@marhawkman303]

I think Walt's idea is to just... build another city. there's an economy of scale aspect to city planning. a 30 minute or less commute to work is great, but if the plan gets expanded like you suggest... suddenly it's... more. This is why NYC is functionally 5 different cities adjacent to each other. working in Manhattan would be very awkward to live outside it.

[@Dean.Crockett]

@@marhawkman303very good point, and good analogy with the boroughs

[@ELKFILMZ]

He nailed the flow of traffic on this one, why is the FLOW of traffic such a hard concept to grasp for individual drivers.

[@trandom2083]

I think he passed away before this design materialized and that is why Orlando is such a perpetual dysfunctional mess of a metropolis to this day. Walt knew how big Disney would become but the city didnt plan for it

[@Angie2343]

@@trandom2083 Agreed

[@ndawg1308]

Its sad how walts original plan were abandoned after his death , if i was walt i would be pissed .

[@suvidashetty812]

The top bosses abandoned the plan as they felt it was really no use continuing with epcot without Walt's guidance. They were kinda upset bout it but the original plan was based on 50's futurism. Updating it to suit changing standards of futurism would not really be financially feasible either. You have to see that factor as well. Sorry if this reply pisses u off

[@Nuggetlover96]

I believe that it's honestly better that it never happened that way... without, y'know.. Walt himself there to express his vision it wouldn't be the same as he envisioned it... never truly as he designed. One wish was kept though I believe, and that is that there still are aspects of both people coming together from all walks of life as a community with world showcase, and the effects of futurism with the other section of the park. So while it wasn't true to Walt's original design, I feel like they still kept his wishes in mind.

[@suvidashetty812]

Yeah exactly. It really wouldn't have done justice to Walt's vision n genius

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Yes, it would have been super cool if they could have built it just like Walt wanted, but the truth is, when they started doing costs analyses they discovered that it would be prohibitively expensive. JW3HH

[@suvidashetty812]

JustWasted3HoursHere Exactly. They'll also have to lobby with the govt.

[@fathertime1331]

Visionaries are the rarest of humans. This project didn't happen because no one of Walt's caliber was around to push it through.

[@jacobvanover8792]

Father Time and the price tag on this would be more than Disney was and is worth even today

[@vallytine]

Or the fact it was just a terrible, inhuman idea.

[@BaseballPlayer0]

How is it inhuman

[@arthurzetes]

@@vallytinehow is it inhuman if people are not forced to live there?

[@me-ry9ee]

@@arthurzetesartificial scarcity

[@drandomvideocritic]

Can't believe that some people would ever put immediate profit over long-term productivity and proper vision. EPCOT's failure is arguably the greatest tragedy of the free market incentive or rather, the failure of man to see beyond his immediate interests. I've no doubt that ECPOT the city would be more profitable and more significant had Walt lived. No new attractions can save it right now, for all of Bob Iger's hard work, sadly.

[@staringcorgi6475]

Epcot is a bad idea because making a town is much much bigger than a town

[@carsonb.7157]

I so wish Walt could have lived long enough to complete this. Only Walt had the creative thinking to see this process through.

[@bio2020]

+Carson J. I could do it. I just don't have any fight left in me to get rich.

[@carsonb.7157]

bio2020 haha same!!

[@kobeasiama3265]

+bio2020 what exactly is your career

[@christopherlee7334]

Maybe, just maybe, someone like Elon Musk or another Steve Jobs could bend their minds in this direction, and finally complete Walt's dream of a community of tomorrow.

[@fenderstratADHD]

I wish Steve Jobs built an "Apple World" taken from Walt's ideas. 2 of the greatest men in the world. May they rest in peace

[@a.town.2053]

I am thankful that Walt Disney existed and gave us all of this. Even though he is gone, his spirit lives on

[@ShortsAndSpookies]

Amen. RIP Walt. May you forever watch over your kingdom from above.

[@frankydman]

The opening of Disney World truly is one of the most bittersweet stories in Disney History. EPCOT and Disney World were Walt's last great dreams, and this film outlined exactly what he wanted to do. But less than two months after this film, he died of lung cancer. Walt's brother and business partner, Roy, willingly postponed his retirement to oversee the construction of Disney World, and after it was opened and dedicated in October 1971, Roy died two months later of a seizure.

[@Angie2343]

He's now friends with Jim Henson and Alex Trebek.

[@NothingToDoCrew]

I could watch these videos all day...I don't think there is an adjective worthy enough of explaining how great Walt was.

[@homebuiltindoorplane]

+NothingTo DoCrew He was magnatificent

[@acdeditch99]

Well, isn't it obvious? If you don't know what to say, then clearly he is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

[@loveshankme]

"Here it is, our perfect system. All white people." -Walt points to a picture of a crowd of people in his schematic- "There's a tan guy in the background, but that's where we're drawing the line."

[@Justin72walker]

They kind make me depressed, but only a little. I used to watch this stuff when I was young and just know that the future we are currently in would be bright and shiny. Lately... not so much. But I still have faith and hope, because when you wish upon a star...

[@NothingToDoCrew]

i know what you mean (and i am now an engineer at one of the big three). It seems like nobody dreams big anymore. Everybody is turning into a robot

[@nickyoung630]

Just imagine if Walt Disney had today's technology, the original Epcot might have actually happened. He was such a visionary and so ahead of his time!

[@jeffreygao3956]

You REALLY want another company town?

[@azrieldalusong5042]

​@@jeffreygao3956at his time. It could've work.

[@jeffreygao3956]

No, company towns are just a bad idea in general.

[@swaylikesmusic]

all of that just to exploit workers yayyy

[@pablogoa08]

he was from spain and not from chicago, search mojacar almeria thats his real birthplace

[@thomasmoore9232]

Why is Walt Disney's voice so relaxing?

[@thomasmoore9232]

AdrenalineAddict610 Or Telling you about the moles on his ass,,, you'd still be hypnotized.

[@elizahamilton9688]

Jesse Kimball I know he's like almost like a good grandfather who loves you more than anything and gives you a bunch of toys and candy as a child but he died too early.

[@thomasmoore9232]

He could have been telling you how he murdered your family slowly with a butter knife and you'd be unable to get upset with him.

[@joemancini327]

Jesse Kimball you do realize that this was taken was taken 1 and a half months before he was gonna die

[@thomasmoore9232]

Hmm?

[@k98killer]

I gotta make an EPCOT mod for Cities: Skylines when I get the time. The people mover and underground traffic system would be epic.

[@ThatEccentricguy]

k98killer Hows it coming along?

[@k98killer]

ThatEccentricguy Haven't had time to play any games recently. Crunch time with my current dev project. My free time is mostly spent getting up in the morning and going to bed at night. It'll be a few months at least.

[@tbestig4164]

+k98killer How many months is "a few"?

[@k98killer]

TheInsaneGamer Good question. I just got money the first time in "a few" months (startup life sux), so I'll consider buying this game now. I'll have to play it for a while before I decide to make a mod.

[@tbestig4164]

k98killer Cool

[@willy7369]

Clips and videos like this are 1 of my top reasons for Loving KZbin. Totally enjoyed this TY for finding and sharing this greatness

[@ginauccelatore3002]

it was one of my top reasons for getting a computer at all!

[@saretin86]

Thank God, that some people didn't forgot this projekt, and it didn't sink entirely with Walt Disney, after his death. It's a shame, that it's only a theme park now, but the Venus Projekt carries on this magnificent, and useful idea of tomorrow. Maybe some day, somebody will complete his vision. I would like to live in a community like this. :)

[@tommy1138]

The People Mover and Monorail system were so far ahead of their time that today's transportation STILL hasn't caught up 60 years later. We use the same archaic bus system in every city instead of taking transportation above-ground and making it electric. Even the modern street cars and rail systems hold up traffic, cause accidents and create even more carbon emissions (from stopped traffic). Uncle Walt was a man way ahead of his time. It's a shame he didn't live for another 20 years.

[@FridayTeardrop]

yeah it is a cool system but for people mover or monorail systems you would have to spend more money because the tracks and other stuff because the way they are built. that is the reason why you mainly find them only in parks or at airports to get from one terminal to the other.

[@RocKiteman]

Monorails may INITIALLY cost more, but after the FIRST motor vehicle or pedestrian accident with a light rail train & someone gets KILLED - and that HAPPENS - the savings in $$$ will not seem like such a big deal....

[@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent]

For the Most part Monorails are essentially the same thing as tram systems such as the ones in San Diego California. except its off the ground and doesn't require a conventional track relying more on a magnetic or roller type system to aid in its mobility. They tend to be much quieter and don't have stuff like electrical lines over the train or using gas engines. You can also essentially build one without doing too much area damage. As the raised track allows you to build pretty much anywhere. That in itself is a worthwhile investment. Also because of the raised tracks you can avoid obstacles that normally would be a danger to trains such as other vehicles or pedestrians this in turn allows the Monorail to pace along at a faster speed knowing there is little danger to it. Well expensive it would probably be accepted as a worth while form of transportation for many people seeking to reach there jobs from the suburbs to the inner city or to bypass traffic to say the beach. there is lots of potential for a monorail system. Its a shame such a tech could never enter the current US transportation system due to the political unrest

[@chrisstory563]

there are few Los Vegas hotels in the strip that used the people mover and monorail system. so it not just airports.

[@Tsumami__]

Molasar So much yes in this comment. Agree 100% The monorail and peoplemover systems being implemented in large cities would drastically reduce carbon output from vehicles. Throw not necessarily full vegetarianism but cutting down on cattle consumption and the world might actually be saved from the current climate change literal meltdown that’s getting out of control.

[@Olderaccount17]

I just dig this old-timey, golden age of the American dream music so much!

[@LEGODino34]

Gosh Walt would've been such a great man to hangout with. I grief upon his death. His idea of the future is so...words can't describe how creative Walt is. RIP Walt Disney

[@wahoo7654]

Starting at 1:22, the video repeats for about one minute. Needs to be fixed...

[@crypt0nym0ussec57]

It was so seamless, I didn't even realize it was looping for a few moments. Lol

[@JJceo]

I love the "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow" orchestral being played in the background. 16:00

[@jeffpuha8187]

Yeah. It's a shame this never came to fruition. It would have been wonderful. When I was 11-years-old, in 1967, I sent to WED for a form that would include you in a lottery that was going to be held to pick the residents of EPCOT. Sadly, nothing ever came of it and I don't think the lottery was ever held. Unfortunately, I no longer have the paperwork. I wish I did. It would be cool to look at it after all these years. The dream pretty much died with Walt when he passed away at the very end of 1966. He was a true visionary.

[@jeffpuha8187]

Ryan rogerson It's absolutely true. As far as the excitement of the time goes, well, "traditional" American culture was starting to crumble and a lot of weirdness was becoming apparent--drug use, Hippies and the whole counter-culture, etc. It really wasn't that great. If I had a choice I wouldn't pick the mid to late '60's to grow-up in again. Though it was still better than it is now, in my opinion.

[@gavinmarkoff738]

I think this is all amazing, and I think if Walt could've seen his vision through, it would've been one of the most amazing feats in human history. But even today, I think it just demonstrates the insane power of the Walt Disney Corporation. Because not only did they buy all that land, they lobbied in Florida to the point where they were granted full administrative and bureaucratic control of that land. Which is insane to think that a multi media conglomerate also acts as a full municipal government.

[@dwightk.schruteiii8454]

Actually thats what Walt wanted. He wanted his company to have control of the land. He said so somewhere in the beginning of this presentation. So get off your high horse. We need an Elon Musk type to ‘twitter’ the Reedy Creek corp. and make Walts dream a reality.

[@FinarfinNoldorin]

@@dwightk.schruteiii8454 Walt made Florida what it is today for those who live there..not to have someone come and take it all from them. If they can do that to Disney then they can do it to any city. Most think Disney is just an amusement park. It's not. It is a legal municipality.

[@classicalextremism]

@@FinarfinNoldorin Thats a violation of law and securities fraud. The bonds issued to RCID all mandate a disclosure that the bond is public use only and that RCID and Walt Disney are separate entities. Its amusing to see people openly defend a major mega corporation illegally usurping government power from a state government. Like thats not a dystopian horror flick come to life. But, the marriage of police power and profit is a central tenet of the left's vision so it makes sense.

[@marhawkman303]

@@FinarfinNoldorin Problem is... the current Walt Disney company leaders, abdicated Walt's promises to Florida. this is why Florida did what it did. Disney co chose not to live up to their end of the bargain, so the bargain is void.

[@andrewasaro9596]

The final version of Epcot became a theme park that promotes science, tecnology, and geography. I dont have a problem with that. But still, this idea for a futuristic city sounds awsome. I still think Disney should bring this idea back and rename it. But I know that rent would be too expensive for nearly anyone to live there.

[@DougPoston]

+Andrew Asaro I keep hoping Google's R&D (now Alphabet Inc.) will try something like this using today's technology to try and solve today's problems.

[@ginauccelatore3002]

I still like EPCOT the way it is, it s all we have, it s better than nothing actually I liked it better in the 80's than now, with all those sherman songs and that eerie atmosphere

[@chriso0015]

It’s called Tomorrowland

[@ginauccelatore3002]

THOSE MUSICS STILL GIVE ME GOOSEBUMPS can still be heard sometimes in waiting lines, that s why I hate fastpass

[@markburzenski9783]

The entire Disney executive board does not have the creative intuition that wall had

[@Angie2343]

Walt, sir, you were way ahead of the times. You deserve to be honored. :)

[@διαβόητο23φάντασμα]

Imagine if he could see this place today? I saw people from around the world crazy

[@Angie2343]

@@διαβόητο23φάντασμα Agreed

[@jeffreygao3956]

Was he or just another wannabe tyrant trying to make a company town?

[@cealdi1516]

@@jeffreygao3956 you're SUPER jealous of him, how funny.

[@jeffreygao3956]

@@cealdi1516 Why would I be jealous of someone far crueler? Besides, it’s time to quit hero worship of Disney and admit that he’s just a man.

[@MamaSodaLego]

A comment I read from this video said: "I could listen to Walt Disney explaining his plan for World Domination and I will still support it. He's that good." I couldn't agree more. XD

[@quoisegames1937]

Oh but you did lol

[@Rilly0]

I understand that Disney was a flawed man, but I can't help but think the child-like enthusiasm he had for our future as a species is such a breath of fresh air in 2021. It feels like we've regressed so far from these admirable dreams

[@dwightk.schruteiii8454]

Because we’ve become increasingly reliant on our government. We wanted security and safety at all cost. And well we got what we wished for.

[@619chrisoriginal]

Search Ross Perot balancing the budget. He had a lot of similar ideas as Walt. I wouldn’t be surprised if they at one point was one the businessmen Walt talked to

[@Mr-Bogs]

@@dwightk.schruteiii8454 Not to mention every moron has a voice now on the internet. Dissent and stupidity is much easier to propagate and infect the minds of the youth than it was before.

[@silentsmilez503]

Walt Hitler

[@dragontail2k6]

@@silentsmilez503 Joseph Stalin

[@paytonharvey979]

Walt may not have gotten his true EPCOT that he wanted, but Celebration is a town near if not on Disney property (I live just a few miles from Kissimmee and there have always been back and forth rumors about how much of Kissimmee Disney actually owns) Celebration is a small town, with a town square where people can shop and eat and hold festivals, and then there are the houses and apartments surrounding it. There are even schools, a hospital, libraries, and churches inside this community. All just about 5-10 minutes away from the gates to one of the parks. It's pretty creepy if you ask me, every time I go out there for something it just seems too perfect.

[@jacobvanover8792]

Payton Harvey Celebration was built by the Walt Disney Company

[@gdawg1585]

The way you describe it reminds me of a movie I saw called Pleasantville with Toby Maguire in it

[@LSSYLondon]

Celebration reminds me of Hampstead in Montgomery Al. Super creepy. It's really "perfect" and when you drive through it, it feels like you are on a movie set. A bit like the TV show "The Gates".

[@TheDrexxus]

Celebration isn't a typical community. Not only is living there outrageously expensive, but you must sign contracts and agreements that make a typical homeowner's association look like your best friend. They regulate everything and have extremely high standards. That is why everything looks perfect there, it is because it IS perfect. They force it to be perfect. Anyone who violates their rules are fined or removed. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, and obviously the people who live there want to live in a perfect community and are willing to follow those rules when they move in, but that is why it is the way it is.

[@jeffreygao3956]

So can you enjoy non-Disney stuff there?

[@rachelsewell7026]

I love hearing "It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" in the background at 11:40

[@ginauccelatore3002]

yes and also the monorail song, and people mover song in those kinds of documentaries the less known alternative song "now is the time" was very good too "life is a price, live every minute"...how true!

[@wasteofspace69420]

It plays throughout the video and I love hearing it

[@GEKGanon]

To all those begrudging what Epcot is today; after Walt Disney's passing, the company was uneasy attempting to realize his vision without his guidance. The idea of running his city without him was just something they weren't comfortable with, so they simply opted not to even attempt it. In the end, they built Epcot as it is today to be a celebration of culture and technology, as opposed to trying to making a functioning city.

[@kevinconners2283]

Walt was so eaten up by cancer at this point, it's amazing he pulled this off. Good job, Walt!

[@LPJack02]

RIP Walt Disney (December 5, 1901 - December 15, 1966), aged 65 You will always be remembered as a legend.

[@juniorcasemiro]

If you stop and think, the whole Walt Disney World Complex could be considered an E.P.C.O.T... there's people living in there, people who work at the parks and hotels and they never leave the property. They use the Monorail as a transportation, etc. The WDW Complex is HUGE, it's basically a city of it's own!

[@ginauccelatore3002]

hey that s right! now I feel a little better and all of us just by posting comments here, inspiring each other, somehow we're all part of the community too each time you buy a movie ticket or a toy or even a box of cereals, you help build the future of disney

[@danopticon]

The Reedy Creek Improvement District only has about five or eight residents tops, although I forget the actual number … and they’re only allowed residency status by the Disney Corporation so that they can perform certain ministerial duties, like filing paperwork and running the fire department, that sort of thing. I mean, it’s a nice idea and all, to think that people would live onsite and commute via monorail to their resort jobs … but the reality is that Disney’s Florida employees all drive in to the campus daily from surrounding Orlando, then return to their homes at night. Disney even divested their Celebration project from Reedy Creek entirely upon completion of the city and returned it to Osceola County, just so that Disney wouldn’t have to deal with Reedy Creek having residents. I personally love the idea-well, most of the idea, anyway-of a city designed in this mid-century modernist/futurist aesthetic … although projects like Brasilia seem to prove that radial design only works up to a point: mixed-use zoning makes for more vibrant neighborhoods, while segregating commercial sectors away from residential areas makes for rather sterile environments instead. And hiding away city services in a series of tunnels is pretty classist: why shouldn’t sanitation workers be seen and waved at by kids? And also, regarding the central district, it’d be difficult to enclose fifty acres in such a way that it felt neither claustrophobic nor like some dull mall-see Montreal’s RESO, for example, which avoids claustrophobia and which occasionally is even quite beautiful, but which overall alas doesn’t live up to the vision of some domed Xanadu, but rather resembles a large suburban shopping mall instead. But the general principal of a radial green-belt city built around pedestrian use is fantastic, having ample public transportation is ideal, weatherproofing some parts of downtown is eminently feasible, and the architecture shown in this film-that mid-century blend of brutalism, modernism, and minimalism-still seems inspiring and futuristic today. But maybe lose the single-family housing and instead build townhouses and low-rises, and have mixed-use zoning throughout the city rather than zoning commerce away from living areas, throw in a few mid-rises for greater density and maybe just one or two high-rises, and don’t try to hide city services from sight, and you’d have yourself a pretty great city to live in.

[@dwightk.schruteiii8454]

@@danopticon See. Never step in a project like this. You sound ideologically possessed by leftist ideas of “class” and urbanization. The same ideas that run city’s like New York and Detroit to the ground.

[@ceecoursian]

Almost 50 years later and there is nothing like this

[@mathieuhalpin2211]

ceecoursian Well, Disney built a smaller controlled society called Celebration, Florida.

[@antovador]

Masdar City is a similar project like EPCOT and being build.

[@antovador]

Celebration is different. The only thing linking both projects is the goal of Disney to build a community.

[@rjc0234]

I guess that Brasilia (in Brazil) got close to the look of Epcot

[@Npf2002]

ceecoursian There are many cities around the world that are always pushing the limit. For example, a new city in the United Arab Emirates will be carbon free. Other cities push the bar on efficiency, or transportation.

[@ethanfrakes6663]

If I was ever able to design a city, I'd take a LOT of inspiration from this.

[@bradycrosby1705]

Fascist

[@thebrinksf69]

Me too

[@marhawkman303]

@@thebrinksf69 yeah, form follows function.... laid out in brick and concrete. Of course if function changes... then you might have a problem.

[@homersamson2635]

Being old, I am a sucker for late 1950s to mid 60's futurism. I wonder how Walt would have enhanced his plans to cope with digital technology. His responses would have been fascinating.

[@newearth3057]

On this map you can see earth crater

[@jeffreygao3956]

Old enough to have battled Minutemen and seen Britannia rule the waves?

[@cealdi1516]

@@jeffreygao3956 cIueless as usual.

[@georgiateixeira1920]

This is absolutely amazing WOW I'm crying I love Walt EPCOT would have been so much better if Walt was alive to see it :(

[@houston-coley]

This is bittersweet, since EPCOT never quite turned out the way Disney had hoped it would - but it's still pretty amazing.

[@JeffGR4]

I love Walt Disney, he was a great man. It's a shame that he needed an oxygen mask between takes in this presentation, since he was suffering from the ravage of lung cancer.

[@snadwichesyes]

+JeffGR4 he was a huge anti-semite

[@homebuiltindoorplane]

+Elena G He was right, too.

[@Gutta1917]

+Zac Miller Many people in the US were anti semites at that time, just because the Nazis were also anti-semites doesnt mean anyone who supports the US was a pro-semite. Also we can admire Walt Disneys creativity and brilliance while also denouncing his bigotry at the same time.

[@abbycollins]

+JeffGR4 Yeah, and now we have a completely different Epcot. But its OK, because we have Walt inside of us.

[@thisisasword8916]

+Elena G I don't think there's much evidence he was an antisemite. I'm pretty sure that's just another one those things people believe because the claim was widely circulated. Now you could make a case that he was racially insensitive as a great deal of people were at the time, but that doesn't make him antisemitic or a racist (another circulated claim). It doesn't really make sense to hold the past to the standards of the present.

[@bunberrier]

Damn Walt, I wish you were still here to take this company back again

[@Angie2343]

Me too. This is NOT your vision.

[@corporaliron6820]

If only he was back

[@Angie2343]

@@corporaliron6820 Agreed, along with Alex Trebek and many others.

[@markburzenski9783]

His nephew Roy junior left the company prematurely because it was being run so poorly

[@hunterb7561]

I love Walt! He wasn't a man looking to make money. He was a visionary! He wanted to make the world better. He thought about people, their experiences, and their happiness. I love the idea of the original EPCOT because it was a community where people could solve the problems of the day. Can you imagine what kind of inventions and solutions would have come out of there? Kids would have grown up in schools with the idea that they were going to change the world, and DIsney would have provided their education!! GAH!!! If only if only

[@GrayNeko]

The funny thing about it is, despite being insanely ambitious, it looks like it could almost work.

[@gemmapartlow8279]

Walt Disney is so cool. He's just magical.

[@edwardyoung522]

Imagine what Walt could have done with a few more years. Amazing.

[@newearth3057]

In this map you can see earth crater

[@dwightk.schruteiii8454]

@@newearth3057 earth crater?

[@Angie2343]

The parks would be very different.

[@jimmyboyle3543]

It's really cool to see where the imagineers actually took inspiration from Walt's original ideas when turing Epcot into a theme park. Like the world showcase idea.

[@ZJ-ne9kn]

Love these old disney promotion videos jusr a different feel from a different time Waltnwas a dreamer and a lover til the end Thank You Walt.. 😊

[@cbwim]

My daughter went to and graduated from CalArts - the California Institute of the Arts which was another major Disney project. I am in awe of his artistry and forever grateful on my daughter's behalf. The corporation he left behind is what it is....

[@fawkewe]

Epcot definitely would have failed but Disney deserved to get to the point where it could fail. He was so passionate and did it not only so people would remember him but because he genuinely wanted to better society. He was flawed but his heart is usually in the right place.

[@darealepic]

Even tho the city would have been VERY creepy, this guy alone basically fixed half of major city problems

[@BarbieDarling]

It's so sad that Walt didn't live longer. He really had a passion and enthusiasm for every project he undertook whether it was Disneyland or a film. Now it seems like the Disney company is too concerned with money and politics and is losing its wonderful charm. After Walt died it went downhill. Things revived but now it looks like we're headed back into another Disney dark age

[@jeffclaterbaugh6415]

Walt likely had a very high EQ (emotional quotient) ... Always pulling the best out of those around him. Getting people with different abilities to cooperate toward a common goal. He was always able to use corporate sponsorship monies to build his dreams and later, retain full use of these creations in his own parks. There is no shortage of dreamers in the world but some, like Walt, know and posses what it takes to bring their visions to fruition...that in itself is brilliance defined!

[@mcrfan343]

We need more dreamers.

[@suvidashetty812]

Dreamers like Walt Disney who can hold on to their dreams n materialise them in the face of ridicule #respect

[@pikppa]

That is what Tomorrowland movie is about

[@jimbotheassclown]

lol and we seen how that turned out lol Disney death squads....

[@Larry]

I watch this and just see a potential plot for a new Bioshock game. :D

[@Chrnan6710]

Hi Larry o_o **heavy breathing**

[@Larry]

Chrnan6710 hello :D

[@williewokkel]

OMG ITS LARRYYYYYYYYY :DDDDDDD

[@williewokkel]

how are you doing? :DDDDDDDD

[@Larry]

Not too bad thanks, and yourself?

[@DamonCassada345]

EPCOT could be a great setting for the next Kingdom Hearts game just so the player could explore the vision that was Disney's original idea.

[@atom-o-tronic3505]

That's a great concept. I would definitely be on board if they implemented the parks into the Kingdom Hearts games.

[@JDoelker]

With Walt's death came the death of any ideas and control over the Florida Project Walt had. His brother Roy made sure that Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom already started was completed. It opened in October 1971 and in December of the same year, Roy died as well. With the two oldest members of the Walt Disney Company gone the grand plan described in the film for Florida went with them. This would have made a big difference where I live. The airport and industrial park would have brought more jobs and tax dollars to Osceola County, but as the future plans changed all the major projects were kept in Orange County and only Celebration (where the airport would have been) and ESPN's Wide World of Sports is in Osceola County. cars and busses are the main mode of transportation, and the electric monorail and people mover are just rides within the Seven Seas Lagoon area and the extension to EPCOT (Erased Planned Community of Tomorrow).

[@Angie2343]

Agreed

[@sodadrinker89]

Looks like Iron Man 2 took cues from this.

[@dixiedream1n]

Yes they did, actually. :)

[@ginauccelatore3002]

oh I m so glad somebody noticed and the song is by the shermans maake way for tomorrow today, such a good song can already hear it in the first catain america, if you listen carefully

[@thealisour8475]

THATS WHY IM HERE MY BRO SAID THAT I WAS LYING

[@ShintaMasamune0923]

Looks like a Giant energy collector or LHC at middle scale powered by people just walking by

[@slender321425xboxplayer]

RIP WALT WILL BE remembered

[@jimbodeek]

I kinda wish they kept to the idea of using the PeopleMover as a transportation system around Disney World instead of just a ride. Think about it. Instead of having to wait for the bus, you could head up to the station, hop aboard a PeopleMover train, and voila! You're on your way!

[@docubentary]

If Walt was alive today and Steve Jobs too, imagine the things they could've done. Epcot City and Disney World would've been way better.

[@jacobvanover8792]

Presignify except Epcot isn't a city it's a theme park. Epcot in theory is good but in reality Disney would control every aspect of your life

[@fenderstratADHD]

Presignify yeah. Steve could've put his Macintosh into Innoventions

[@cridgeway50]

Presignify steve jobs mever actually did shit.

[@MisterMultiverse]

well the point was for you to live under a microscope, they control everything because its an experiment that would have been constantly ongoing. Any time you join an experiment of this magnitude you sign away your liberties to some degree or even totality, look at NASA astronaut's while in training and during physiological effects experiments in orbit. You would know this going in, if its not your thing don't sign up - i know i wouldn't lol. Stop trying to make Walt out to be big brother.

[@djbis]

add Elon to that... Walt's concepts on the use of electricity throughout his projects would have made them best imagineer buddies.

[@cdfreester]

An incubator. I had heard about this concept before but never seen it laid out in such detail. Very interesting. Brave New World, indeed.

[@sonicfan23]

This is so brilliant. Why has no one worked on this type of project?

[@MithunOnTheNet]

+Jonathon Gillis Because it would cost billions!

[@dracowar6]

+Jonathon Gillis think how much money banks and oil companies would lose if towns would be built like this . Also look up Jacque Fresco

[@mutesparrow]

+Jonathon Gillis This is the blueprint of every major city on the planet, what do you mean ? The only thing missing is the Disney world and the Dome, instead we have reality.

[@h3st]

+Jonathon Gillis Among other things, NIMBYism. It's hard to even install bike lanes or do a road diet without having people scream bloody murder. Something as hugely top-down as this would require an absence of democratic influence on the planning process.

[@jimbotheassclown]

because it would have ended like epcot out of date and empty....

[@TIG5574]

I wish they would have all these films on Disney+ too.

[@aprils376]

But then we could not enjoy these videos on KZbin. I for one will never give any more money to Disney and of course never subscribe to Disney+.

[@TIG5574]

@@aprils376 OK fair enough. And I was only suggesting Disney+ because most people have no idea these types of old docs or TV specials even exist. On KZbin you have to go looking for them or maybe get recommended by it which is how I found out this even existed. But on Disney+ they would all be in one place for people to explore. And I would just like to see more content focused on the parks in general there: especially older stuff.

[@Cabin_Fever13]

Biggest two issues are: prioritizing major companies interests over regular citizen rights, and by definition being a autocratic / dictatorship that’d by every measure make Walt a king of Epcot. Innovative urban planning but this would be a terrifying world to live in

[@YannM]

EPCOT could have been a big city. The big city of the future. Walt Disney was a genius and a visionary man. 👍👏

[@Angie2343]

We can still build it. We just gotta put it somewhere else.

[@numberonegraduate]

Simply brilliant! He was so far ahead of his time

[@kernals12]

Wish it had been built, a very attractive alternative to the urban sprawl that has created car dependency, pollution, and congestion.

[@SRose-vp6ew]

Disney Springs is basically car free shopping and entertainment with parking structures on the outside. Cars in this idea are simply moving underground with a Disney Springs in the center. A few towns will have days when you can't drive the car through the town. Even in the US you see this for Farmers Markets or Street Events where the roads are blocked off and used only for people. That is something that can be requested locally and you can help make happen. Even malls are sometimes built so you only need a car or bus ticket to get there and not to move store to store. One issue that he saw was weather, we are often car dependent because of weather yet covered walkways and sky walks are a simple enough solution that city planners ignore.

[@maxpowers3732]

11:50 Why isn't EPCOT today following Walt's vision of being a place that pioneers new and exciting technology and solutions? It's no longer a "living blueprint of the future" 12:40 Why isn't EPCOT stimulating American industry to develop new solutions? I used to love seeing cutting edge technology and becoming inspired about what's on the horizon or far into the future. Instead they had exhibits about fire drills in the technology pavilion and "jib jab" type program at the end of Spaceship Earth. They need to go back to making technology and progress fun and exciting. There is so much potential that is being wasted and they're not following Walt's vision at all

[@DennisChurch]

He said early on that this is just a rough sketch. Plans will likely change many times before it was made real.

[@maxpowers3732]

Dennis Church Yes, details will of course change and the layout, but he was pretty clear the basic idea was innovation and discovery and that the park would never truly be finished. Today it has lost its sense of inspiring you for the future

[@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent]

Walt's plan was a vision in progress. Disneyland in Florida was always meant to exist Epcot was to be Walt's Crown Jewel. A visionary city. Even the existing Epcot of today has elements of the city. Well the city itself doesn't exist its influence is slowly coming into existing cities and new ones Heck Los Angeles now is so different now then it was 20 years ago especially with the much needed rail systems. San Diego City is a better example. In-fact it maybe ironic but the new movie coming out in 2015 called tomorrow land there is a city in the background of the teaser it may be progress city the city of tomorrow which means we will be seeing Walt's City re-imagined to our time.

[@josephfl]

Walt was a true leader and when he passed only Roy was left. Roy got the magic kingdom built and the surrounding hotels but he died right after the magic kingdom was opened. The magic kingdom was the last thing built from walts dream. The Florida project which was started and had many companies on board was no more after his death. The existing theme parks are nice but walts dream was about helping humanity as well as entertaining people. Too bad because if he was alive during the 70s and 80s you would have seen a tremendous influence in cities built today.

[@kmisialek3]

+maxpowers3732 After Walt passed away, the people at Disney decided it would be too much of an undertaking, to run a city and they found it was something they weren't interested in doing

[@videomuseum_ch]

I Love Walt Disney 🥰

[@jediknight38]

The executives who took over the Disney company claimed that they couldn't build EPCOT the way Walt himself envisioned because they all agreed that the original design wasn't practical (they didn't think a prototype community wouldn't make as much money as a theme park would.)

[@chrisyako8762]

The genius of Walt Disney, I remain in awe.

[@Jonathanest90s]

If this EPCOT would have been a reality, I would have live there and stay there forever!!!

[@ginauccelatore3002]

me too

[@jeffreygao3956]

I might if they allow non-Disney stuff. If not, I'm hightailing to somewhere far, far, away from there!

[@cealdi1516]

@@jeffreygao3956 no coping skills for the lil tiny insanely jealous guy

[@JP-1990]

This idea of his was so wild and out there and ahead of it's time that I can't help but find it beautiful in it's sincerity and earnestness.

[@ImBlahew]

This seems like such a great idea but probably very expensive. Would of loved to visit this if it became a thing.

[@LunarSault23]

I just noticed the song "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" instrumental is playing in the background :o

[@josephlopez9891]

The difference between Walt Disney, and the people of science and technology today, is that Walt wanted to make technology to better humanity not to take away our humanity.

[@saskoilersfan]

No he didnt._. He wanted to take over the world

[@darthwisetheplagueis5869]

This comment is as deep as a puddle on a sidewalk

[@diegov1743]

Americans: Big Brother 😡 Big Brother, Disney 😲

[@billserratore]

Tough to believe he would be dead in less than a year. I often wonder how different the E.P.C.O.T would have been had he lived. Such a great guy who really cared about the public and his customers! R.I.P Walt we love ya

[@alexalolz689]

To all the people who said Walt would have been very disappointed by how they have changed the company, I say that he wouldn't have been. He says time and time again, if something no longer works or if they have a new idea for it that they will rebuild it or make some adjustments. Sure he might have been a little disappointed but more proud for how well they have kept the Disney spirit alive without him.

[@jordanmartel2937]

The Disney spirit was not a company for children and mass produced toys and theme parks. Walt’s company was about inspiring everybody of all ages and this version of Epcot was the epicenter of that vision. Walt’s Disney made fantasia, today’s Disney makes cgi remakes. They are not the same.

[@swizzle1199]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@jordanmartel2937that is simply just not true. Brave, Frozen, Tangled, Moana, Wreck It Ralph, Big Hero 6 to just name a few. Pretty successful 2010s if you ask me. Also read The Art of Walt Disney, there’s an entire page on merchandising Walt did when Mickey Mouse was starting to blow up with Mickey toys, and other Mickey items that took the world by storm.

[@SammEater]

Comments that aged like milk.

[@alexalolz689]

who let me leave comments at 11 💔💔 embarrassing asf

[@mikemaryadventureseekers8749]

I love this very much the music and his voice are so soothing my grandfather helped build walt disney world up haunted mansion and many many other attractions there I'm very proud to be a part of walt disney world history Walt disney where dreams ✨️ do come true I believe this with all of my heart ❤️

[@DoctorJK3]

There was concern among the upper management of Disney at the time that the residents of EPCOT might not want to live under a microscope (not so sure that remains true today for most people in hindsight), and that there would be no unemployed permitted in the community (not sure that could be enforced legally today).

[@BadlanderOutsider]

Incredibly fascinating stuff. The technocratic utopianism of the 1960s is often understated as most focus is placed on the social revolutions that occurred at roughly the same time. It's very interesting to think what would have happened had these ideas, of which EPCOT was just one of many, been given proper backing and funding and had enjoyed popular support.

[@dirtypure2023]

Counter culture, to a point, derailed everything the United States should've become.

[@dirtypure2023]

Of course there's so much more to it than that, and there were powerful influences behind the scenes, pulling those countercultural strings.

[@dirtypure2023]

Still are.

[@marhawkman303]

@@dirtypure2023 Well, it's simple. vested interests don't want true change. modern academia is strangled by it, the "scientific" community is strangled by it, and politics is strangled by it. Those in power see change as good only if it increases their power.

[@dirtypure2023]

@@marhawkman303 Wow I made these comments a long time ago. 2016. Hi 👋

[@jeffnobles214]

The manual artistry needed to produce this film is amazing.

[@reidboggs4344]

Well he did have an animation studio working for him.

[@hmmmmmmmmm2]

Very interesting. I had not realized the original plan for EPCOT. At first when I watched this, I thought, how sad that this never came into being (because Walt died)... but then I thought about it more... This is a completely planned city where people live, work, worship, and their children go to school - and designed by Walt Disney himself! How wonderful! But therein lies the problem. The individual people have no control whatsoever. I checked… Walt Disney successfully petitioned the state legislature for full municipal legal jurisdiction over the land they had acquired because he didn’t want to have to fight anyone to do anything he liked. Disney was to decide the building codes. Disney handled all in-city transportation. Disney would handle sanitation and fire prevention and law enforcement. Disney designed every room and every outdoor park. Disney operated the schools. Probably Disney would authorize the churches. If there was a corporate contract with, say, Coca-Cola, then that is all there would be in the Disney grocery stores. Disney decided what the temperature and humidity would be in your house or apartment or in the closed interior “exteriors” of the center of the city. Disney was to own everything - all houses and apartments - even all furniture and all appliances. Interior decorating was to be done by the corporation. You might even come home to find your furniture switched or all of your kitchen appliances changed to whatever the corporation decided. And -- you would have had no input into how things might be done - Disney would be deciding that. No board or council elections - at least none that you had input on. No input at all. Perhaps they would have had a “suggestion box.” You worked for Disney -- or a Disney-authorized corporate partner -- and you paid rent to Disney. If you could not continue to work for Disney - maybe you got injured or maybe you got to be 65 or 70 years old - whatever the reason that you couldn’t contribute, you were out. You were exiled. And he imagined that this utopian city was to be a showplace prototype to export the same vision to cities all over the U.S. I love Walt Disney. However… visiting a completely constructed and artificial theme park for a few days is one thing, but is it a good idea to turn all decision-making and individualization over to one corporation/person? Of course, no one would be forced to live there -- and they could leave at any time… but could their children? And once one got used to it, would one forget the difference that freedom used to make - especially when everything was provided for you? Walt Disney would arguably have been benevolent dictator - but a dictator he would be. I believe that this design is actually called Fascism. Perhaps it is fortunate that it never came to fruition. Another of those ideas that seem great on paper… but…

[@tijuanagringo]

A thoughtful response. Monopoly.

[@619AGT]

It most certainly would have been a municipal dictatorship run by the Disney corporation. But if you look at it another way, not all of it would have been so bad. Walt Disney's vision wasn't so much as to be fascist ruler of some sorts, but more about spreading his ideas for unity, prosperity, and world peace with people of all races, cultures, and religions. That was Disney's true goal for the Epcot project.

[@cayalti73]

That sounds more fact than fiction. We live in a world with massive regulations for food, employment, transport and income. And we vote, but for limited choices. But the rides and entertainment and junk food distract us from the hard structure.

[@jazzyjen5083]

This was also thought of during a time where america as a whole was looking for protection during the cold war and people seeked out that form of utopia because that was such a focus on every science fiction novel back then. I don't agree with this arguement about the original epcot being a dictatorship because I don't think it would have been controlled to that degree. keep in mind the way disney is now is like that due to theme park sponsorships and you need that kind of control over a theme park/resort. one would learn very quickly when it comes to a city that you just wouldn't be able to have that much control over a functioning, working city and maitain the disney values

[@drb6025]

Hell called Disney!

[@MrSuperior248]

So awesome to see what Walt's vision was back then who knows it still might happen someday

[@JoshTumath]

With a few cost cutting measures, this could be a less intimidating offer to modern-day investors or governments. Replace the monorail with normal heavy rail, keep the people movers, remove the roof above the large core and increase the density of the low-density housing by making them semi-detached housing and perhaps bunching them up into two layers. Done. But I guess that's the point: EPCOT is an experiment with lots of ways it could be implemented as long as you stick to the core design.

[@ulyssesnorth6843]

Disney Parks were definitely better then. I mean, I still love them, but just too commercialized and expensive.

[@Tsumami__]

Ulysses North well you used to have to pay per ride, the higher cost of a full day ticket is basically eating the cost of each ride that you’d pay for anyway. Surely over three days I would have spent well over two hundred dollars if I had to pay per each ride I wanted to ride. Or you know, the amount that would be relative to today’s $200 lol

[@derekk.2263]

They were always commercialized and expensive, this is literally just an advertisement.

[@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent]

It's likely the other parks would have been made eventually. As for the money issue. Blame the late 70s and 80s when someone thought it was a great idea to introduce trickle down economy and fuck over the middle class

[@EnsignGeneric]

Walt was by no means a perfect man (that fiasco with the strike of '41 alone), and I don't wanna diminish the work of the thousands of people who helped make his dreams into reality. But it's remarkable how many world firsts he was directly responsible for, and how little he valued his own accomplishments. The man went from a paper route to founding a company that survived the Great Depression, redefined art and engineering, and established itself as an arm of American identity so recognizable he was practically a diplomat in his own right. He WAS the American story, good and bad and all. And he still had a burning need to get this one last win, because if he didn't he thought he'd be remembered only for, "the invention of a mouse." Imagine being that hard on yourself.

[@PhantomSavage]

With a vision this grand and vast, this would have wound up as either one of two ways: The Jetsons... or Bioshock.

[@benwasserman8223]

It became something in between

[@newearth3057]

Is the map of earth crater

[@jeffneis553]

At least Walt still looked really good, so great to have this video of him and his thoughts, we miss you Walt, RIP.

[@jediknight38]

If you want an idea of what Walt envisioned for EPCOT, go see the movie Tomorrowland.

[@GlitterOutlaw]

its a Great movie i have it on bluray

[@ginauccelatore3002]

I went to see it 22 times!!!! I always went to see jurassic world the same day JUST FOR THE MONORAIL now I have both dvds and watch them all the time the problem of the tomorrowland is not that people didn t like it, it s that they didn t see it I ve never met anybody disappointed by it but tons who have never heard of it

[@DavidVitrano]

Check out my ideas for this place to finally come to life.

[@kamalindsey]

If it looks familiar, you should know Midgard from Final Fantasy was based off EPCOT :P

[@dallasjewett1295]

Rest In Peace Walt Disney

[@elizahamilton9688]

I love Epcot because of its original plan and even the people mover because it shows the original plan for Epcot.

[@GlitterOutlaw]

Basiclly this is what "Tomarrowland" the movie with clooney was about building the perfect city that never happend

[@ChristianMoncayo-dz2ic]

God Bless You Walt.

[@ElectricSlevin]

some really nice ideas, I especially like that it was supposed to be centered around pedestrians and electrical transport systems. But it comes with a bitter taste, to watch utopian videos in a dystopian future xD

[@johnbehneman1546]

GREAT VIDEO, PRESNENTATION AND EDUCATION. THANKS FOR SHARING. I LEARNED ALOT.

[@tadstrange1465]

This feels like the peak of that 50s-60s futurism movement.

[@newearth3057]

In this map you can see earth crater

[@jeffneis553]

Walt, even thou he was sick, still demonsrrated his passion for Disney World and especially EPCOT, RIP Walt so sad to see you go.❤❤

[@bigbadbuggaboom5]

This could still work today! How has nobody built this yet?

[@ofclshn]

That would mean completely closing and demolishing the current EPCOT, which I highly doubt Disney will ever consider.

[@bigbadbuggaboom5]

They could always build it somewhere else! :D

[@SpudMackenzie]

This is my "If I ever become an eccentric billionaire" fantasy

[@cjs83172]

bigbadbuggaboom5 Actually, they have built a city that was somewhat based on Walt's vision of EPCOT. It's known as Celebration, Florida. Certainly it's not exactly what Walt had envisioned, but they did build a town near Disney World and named it Celebration, Florida.

[@bigbadbuggaboom5]

***** I've heard of that! It seems more like a housing estate than a town though :/

[@painexotic3757]

Walt reminds me so much of myself. A visionary living in the future.