Welcome back to Walt Disney’s World. Come along for Part Two (read Part One here) of our Walt-inspired tour of the Most Magical Place on Earth. You don’t have to visit Disneyland in California to walk on the same ground Walt once walked. In the final years of his life, Walt visited the swampy Florida landscape several times. By the time of his death, he had purchased all the property he needed, and planned the first stages of development for what he was going to call Disney World (it was only after Walt passed that his brother Roy insisted on calling the resort Walt Disney World). 

The very first order of business in developing Walt Disney World was to create a Disneyland-style park, which would attract visitors and fund future Florida projects. Magic Kingdom fit the bill perfectly and included many of the whimsical touches Walt infused into Disneyland, as we explored in Part One. Resorts and other parks followed, and have combined to make Walt Disney World the top vacation destination in the world. Here in Part Two of our series, let’s connect with Walt in other Walt Disney World parks and resort hotels.

EPCOT

“But the most exciting and by far the most important part of our Florida project… in fact, the heart of everything we’ll be doing in Disney World… will be our Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow! We call it E.P.C.O.T.”

EPCOT was by far the most progressive portion of Walt’s Florida project. What was once meant to be a prototype for future living, transformed, after Walt passed, into a demonstration of scientific concepts and cultural ideals. Disney artists, designers, and Imagineers incorporated two key elements of Walt’s EPCOT dream – technology and world culture – into the two facets of a World’s Fair-style exposition.

World Showcase

As much as the 1964 World’s Fair was a celebration of…well…the world, in actuality it shone brightest as a showcase for Walt Disney’s imagination and his talented team. Walt was always interested in world culture, as evidenced by some of his more internationally-flavored films such as Pinocchio, Mary Poppins, Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, Darby O’Gill and the Little People. These stories, and others, are celebrated throughout World Showcase.

The Germany Train

Many guests breeze right by the dynamic model train set dutifully running its loops outside the Germany pavilion. Others (such as myself and a great many other kids) are entranced by the sense of peace and purpose embedded in this tiny society. As we know, Walt Disney was a train enthusiast through and through. While this set doesn’t (to my knowledge) have a direct link to Walt, just the presence of a working train system like this is enough to connect with him.

Future World (now World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature)

Walt Disney wanted to entertain his guests first and foremost, and secondarily, help them learn something. While Disneyland and Magic Kingdom weighed heavily on entertainment, EPCOT’s Future World skewed more in the direction of education, matched with a healthy dose of entertainment. This philosophy, dubbed “edutainment” – a phrase used by Walt as early as 1954 – set EPCOT apart from all other theme parks in the 1980s.

The educational component of Future World has faded over the last couple decades, with most of the original pavilions being replaced with more story-based rides. Still, plenty of EPCOT’s World’s Fair flavor remains, including the immensely popular seasonal festivals, celebrating food, art, and culture from around the world.

The Monorail

The introduction of the Disneyland Monorail is the stuff of legend. Just ask Disney Legend Bob Gurr how the first official ride in that Monorail went. The look of the Disneyland Monorail circling above Tomorrowland directly inspired the way Walt Disney World’s EPCOT beam Monorail circles above the Future World portion of the park.

Diving a little deeper into the Monorail, we learn that Walt Disney didn’t just want the Monorail to be a ride. He wanted it to be a fully functioning mode of transportation. Today, almost sixty years after Walt’s death, the Monorail is still running strong in Florida.

Nighttime Spectaculars

When viewing the nighttime spectaculars in EPCOT (and other parks for that matter) keep an ear out for Uncle Walt. You just may hear his smooth, comforting voice stopping by to shmooze the crowd. Of particular note in EPCOT, the intermittent fireworks display “EPCOT Forever” features Walt giving part of the quote you read at the top of this section. It’s always nice to hear Walt.

Coming Soon – “Walt the Dreamer” in Dreamers Point

For several years now, EPCOT has been in a state of transformation, as Future World has been changing over to the trio of lands to be known as World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature. Coming soon to World Celebration, right behind Spaceship Earth, guests will have a new way to thank Walt. A “Walt the Dreamer” bronze statue will show Walt sitting at the top of a handful of steps (to be called Dreamers Point), gazing out at the endless possibilities of the world in front of him. Guests will be able to step right up to Walt, for a quick photo or just to pause and reflect.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly known as Disney-MGM Studios) was created to honor the world of cinema and film, and celebrate the glitz and glamor of Hollywood and moviemaking. According to previous Disney CEO Michael Eisner, the park celebrates “a state of mind that exists wherever people dream and wonder and imagine, a place where illusion and reality are fused by technological magic. We welcome you to a Hollywood that never was—and always will be.” Of course, this romantic version of Hollywood lines up precisely with Walt Disney’s heyday in Tinseltown, and it’s only appropriate that the first entry on our list for this park is the only attraction in Walt Disney World specifically dedicated to celebrating the life of Walt Disney.

Walt Disney Presents

Perhaps the most complete (yet amazingly compact) way to learn about Walt and connect with him in Walt Disney World is by visiting Walt Disney Presents. This self-guided mini museum tour walks guests through the life of Walt Disney, starting with his childhood, continuing through his early career in Hollywood, the building of an animation and film empire, Disneyland, Disney parks worldwide, and looking toward the future. Originally opened to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Walt’s birth, the gallery includes a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind sketches, photos, models, costumes, artwork, and more. Guests looking for a quick break from the Florida heat can easily spend 10-15 minutes strolling through and cooling off. But Walt superfans like myself may spend an hour or more exploring the nooks and crannies of this trip through the life of a creator, dreamer, and doer.

At the end of Walt Disney Presents, guests often have the opportunity to catch a quick 15-minute documentary film called Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream. This short film showcases the life and times of Walt, featuring audio recordings, historical footage, and rarely seen home movies. If you are looking for a shot of inspiration, One Man’s Dream will certainly do the trick. Occasionally, One Man’s Dream is replaced with sneak peeks of upcoming Disney or Pixar films. While those sneak peeks are fun too, I’ll take a short film on Walt any day.

Hollywood Boulevard

Entering Hollywood Studios, guests first find themselves on Hollywood Boulevard – the “Main Street, USA” of the park. This chrome and neon-adorned thoroughfare immediately puts guests back into Walt’s heyday.

Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

At the far end of the boulevard, guests will find a full-scale replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre – the famous Hollywood landmark. Grauman’s Chinese Theater notably hosted premieres of Mary Poppins in 1964 and The Jungle Book in 1967. Disney’s theater facade proudly honors Walt’s greatest creation – Mickey Mouse – with an attraction all his own (of course, park purists still lament the loss of the theater’s former attraction – the much missed Great Movie Ride). In the theater’s forecourt,  guests can explore over 100 celebrity imprints, including Audrey Hepburn, Tom Cruise, Dick Clark, Donald Duck, Michael J. Fox, Michael Jackson, Angela Lansbury, Roger Rabbit, George Lucas, and Robin Williams, among many others.

Echo Lake and Gertie the Dinosaur

So you know that tall green brontosaurus happily wading in the lake to the left of the Chinese Theater? It’s not a misplaced resident from Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand U.S.A. It’s Gertie the Dinosaur – a pioneer of animation! Gertie is an homage to one of the earliest animation pieces, created by Winsor McKay in 1913. Early animation pieces like Gertie were among the largest influences of an up-and-coming animator named Walt Disney.

As for the lake Gertie is using to cool off? That is Echo Lake – based on a small lake of the same name in Northern Los Angeles. Being conveniently located in LA, the lake has been the filming location of many movie scenes. Are you a Star Wars fan like me? You may have mistakenly thought Echo Lake was named after Echo Base – a location from Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. Given the nearby proximity of Star Tours and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, this is a perfectly understandable mistake to make!

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Opening alongside the Polynesian Resort and Magic Kingdom in 1971, Disney’s Contemporary Resort has Walt’s urban planning fingerprints all over it. The skeleton of the unique A-frame building was constructed in place, but the individual rooms were actually built off-site, then lifted by crane and slid into place in the frame, with the intention that rooms could be replaced when needed, based on the need for updates. In keeping with Walt’s historical insistence of cohesive theming, the modern-looking hotel blends nicely with the futuristic feel of nearby Tomorrowland.

The resort is located only a short walk from Magic Kingdom, but it also offers the convenience and whimsy of hopping a ride of the Monorail, which passes directly through the hotel’s Grand Canyon Concourse. The name of the concourse was inspired by the giant floor-to-ceiling mural created by Disney Legend Mary Blair. Blair was one of Walt’s favorite artists. She and her husband Lee both had the privilege of joining Walt on his South American goodwill tour, as part of “El Grupo.” Blair’s use of color and simplistic designs appealed to Walt, and her style directly influenced films like Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, and the iconic attraction “it’s a small world.”

The Pueblo Village Mural wraps around all four sides of the Contemporary’s center support (which also functions as the main elevator bank). The mural stands 90 feet (nine stories) tall, and includes over 18,000 one-foot-square tiles. 

Carolwood Pacific Railroad Room at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Always a kid at heart, Walt Disney enjoyed a lifelong fascination with trains. They were a part of his life from his earliest days in Marceline, Missouri. The Carolwood Pacific Railroad Room at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge celebrates Walt’s love of trains. This peaceful place doesn’t attract many visitors. It is not in a heavily traveled area, and there are no cast members offering tours. Functionally speaking, it is one of those quiet little nook rooms that Walt Disney World sprinkles outside the main lobbies of most of its moderate and deluxe resorts. There are a few tables, a handful of chairs, a stone fireplace…and an awe-inspiring collection of memorabilia and imagery celebrating Walt Disney’s romance with the rails.

The centerpiece of the room, carefully protected in a plexiglass case, displays two cars from the Lilly Belle train that circled Walt’s backyard of 355 Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. Nearby on the wall, guests can see photos of Walt and his visitors (many of them children) enjoying the train in his yard. Other pieces in the room include models of other Walt-centered trains, memorabilia, photos, paintings, and notes. This room is a must-see for fans of Walt Disney, railroad enthusiasts, and anyone who just wants to rekindle a bit of that childlike sense of wonder. You can read my full experience of the Carolwood Pacific Railroad Room here.

Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

One of the newest additions at Walt Disney World is Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. The sixteen-story tower is themed with a modern twist to classic Spanish style, and celebrates the relationship of Walt Disney and Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali, who jointly created the breathtaking short film Destino.

This film was literally 58 years in the making. Production on the collaboration began in 1945, but was put on hold in 1946 (conjecture on the reason for pausing production ranges from financial constraints to creative differences). True to the “No Good Idea Ever Truly Dies” spirit of the Walt Disney Company, the project was resurrected by Walt’s nephew Roy E. Disney in 1999, during production of Fantasia 2000.  The short was completed and released in 2003.

The story is largely set in the surreal world of Dali’s paintings, and features the ill-fated love story of a mortal woman named Dahlia and the immortal Chronos, who personifies time.  Though the two wish to be together forever, their destiny will not allow for it.

The influence of Salvador Dali and Destino can be found all throughout Gran Destino Tower, in the art and decor. Dahlia is specifically represented in a beautiful portrait in the main lobby, across from a similar portrait of Walt and Mickey. Destino plays on several screens in the main lobby and in the Dahlia Lounge, located on the tower’s 16th floor.

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Thank you for coming along on our Grand Circle Tour of Walt Disney’s inspirations in Walt Disney World. Keep Walt’s spirit alive by leading an inspired, creative, and positive lifestyle. You just may be surprised at what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it!

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Disney parks worldwide offer guests a chance to shed the weight of “real life” and experience a bit of magic and whimsy for a few days. The essence of Walt Disney is embedded into each and every Disney park, and specific connections and tributes are plentiful, if you know where to look. Disneyland may be the “holy grail” of Walt Disney connections, but Walt Disney World has more than its share of inspiration from the man who started it all.

In this two-part series, let’s take a look at the best places to appreciate Walt Disney in Walt Disney World. Since Magic Kingdom is chock full of Walt’s spirit, we’ll start there in Part One, and move on to the other parks and a few resorts for Part Two.

Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is the closest thing Florida has to Walt’s original Disneyland park. So it is unsurprising that the majority of Walt Disney connections reside firmly in this park. Let’s go for a walk. You’ll notice many of these highlights mirror what you’ll find in Disneyland (and that’s perfectly ok).

Main Street Train Station

The very first place guests go on the way into the park is beneath the famous Disney train tracks. Much like in Disneyland, Magic Kingdom’s train tracks lovingly wrap the park, encircling guests inside Walt’s wondrous world. The station’s exterior is modeled after a former Saratoga Springs railroad station, which no longer exists today. The most notable homage to Walt on the outside of the building is the famous window reading “Walt Disney World Railroad Office – Keeping Dreams on Track – Walter E. Disney – Chief Engineer.”

The bottom floor of the train station (which is primarily used for stroller rentals) is chock full of images celebrating Walt’s love of trains. The ground floor also features a bulletin board displaying train arrivals and departures. The destinations on this board are full of subtle Disney references, including Kimball Canyon (named after Disney Legend Ward Kimball), Medfield (named after Medfield College – the setting for a number of Disney films, including The Absent Minded Professor, Son of Flubber, and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes), and Harrington (the town depicted in the Disney film Pollyanna), among others. Even if you have no need for a stroller, a visit to this space is well worth the time.

To ride the rails, guests must first ascend to the second floor loading platform. There, guests might catch a ride on one of four trains, No. 1 – Walter E. Disney, No. 2 – Lilly Belle (named after Walt’s wife), No. 3 – Roger E. Broggie (head of the Disney Studios machine shop and fellow train enthusiast, often considered the first Disney Imagineer), and No. 4 – Roy O. Disney (Walt’s brother). There’s no better place to ride with Walt than on a “Grand Circle Tour” around his wonderland.

Main Street, U.S.A.

The ideals of Walt Disney’s America began in the place where Walt spent his most vividly memorable childhood days – Marceline, Missouri. Main Street, U.S.A. captures the romantic spirit of America’s small town yesterday, nestled in between the train station and Cinderella Castle. This early 20th-century throwback is a combination of Walt’s boyhood home of Marceline, mixed with a bit of Fort Collins, Colorado (the childhood home of Disney Legend Harper Goff).

On Main Street, time stands still, so feel free to take it slow, relax, and enjoy a trip into the idealistic past. The smells of popcorn and pastries waft through the air. The klip-klop of horse-drawn buggies and the ringing bells of busy trolleys ping the ears. If you’re there at the right time, the Dapper Dans will fill your soul with the musical melodies from a simpler time.

Walt Disney was the ultimate American. As he himself stated, “If you could see close in my eyes, the American flag is waving in both of them and up my spine is growing this red, white and blue stripe.” At Disneyland, Walt insisted that the American flag be respectfully raised up the Town Square flagpole every morning, and safely tucked away each night – a tradition that continues to this day (even during the COVID park shutdowns!). Flag raising and retreat ceremonies are part of daily life on Magic Kingdom’s Main Street as well.

You may wonder about all the flags atop the other buildings along Main Street? Those flags are of a slightly different design, with a slightly different number of stars and stripes. As such, those flags don’t qualify as Old Glory, and serve instead as pennants, which wave proudly through day and night, but don’t carry the same protocol of maintenance.

Speaking of Town Square, don’t forget to say “hi” to Walt’s brother Roy, who sits comfortably “Sharing the Magic” on a bench with Minnie Mouse. Roy was not only Walt’s brother, he was a tireless business partner 100% invested in Walt’s dream, who worked behind the scenes to help his brother’s whimsical dreams come reality. After Walt passed, Roy postponed his own retirement so he could guide the opening of Walt Disney World. He courageously delivered Magic Kingdom’s Opening Day speech on October 1, 1971, and sadly passed away only a few months after the park opened.

Walking up Main Street towards Cinderella Castle, don’t forget to look up. Many windows along the Main Street shops pay homage to folks who helped make Disney magic a reality. Disney Legends like Buddy Baker, Mary Blair, X. Atencio, Tony Baxter, John Hench, and Walt Disney himself (among many, many others) are memorialized here in beautifully crafted, clever nods to greatness.

When you reach the hub at the top of Main Street, take a moment to thank Walt for the magic that surrounds you. In fact, feel free to take a picture with him. The “Partners” statue of Walt and Mickey stands proudly at the center of the park.

Nods to the 1964 World’s Fair

The later 1950s and earlier 1960s was a time of explosive creativity for Walt Disney and his storytellers and artists. Disneyland’s Tomorrowland was given a major expansion and update in 1959 with the addition of the Monorail, Submarine Voyage, and the Matterhorn. In the early 1960s, prominent corporations came calling for Walt when they wanted show stopping attractions for the upcoming 1964 World’s Fair in New York. Walt and his team wowed the world when they created four unforgettable attractions (and one very cool tower) for the fair. Three of those attractions are represented in Magic Kingdom.

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Originally created for General Electric, the Carousel of Progress is a four-scene play, following the American family through four eras of life, seen through the progression of technology. The father, John, narrates the journey from a central, fixed stage. The audience revolves around the central stage, giving the carousel its name. The Carousel of Progress wasn’t the first attraction to feature audio-animatronics, but the previous pioneering of this technology paved the way for this show. The Carousel of Progress was moved from its location at the World’s Fair to Disneyland in 1967, and then eventually to Magic Kingdom in 1975.

Of course, no discussion of the Carousel of Progress would be complete without acknowledging the legendary Sherman Brothers, who penned the show’s original theme song “It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” as well as a one-time replacement theme song “The Best Time of Your Life.” Before you head into the theater, take a few minutes to watch the video of Walt Disney with Richard and Robert Sherman, playing the show’s signature song as a sort of “pitch” to General Electric. The video perfectly showcases Walt’s unending charisma.

“it’s a small world”

Another World’s Fair inspiration, “it’s a small world” was created for Pepsi Cola (way back when Pepsi was still a major partner with Disney). This journey around the world of children was of particular importance to Walt, who himself always maintains the spirit of a hopeful child. The Magic Kingdom version doesn’t quite match the caliber or spectacle of the Disneyland version, but it still speaks to Walt’s unfailing optimism. And you know that infectious earworm song? You can thank the Sherman Brothers for that little tune.

Hall of Presidents

Another of Walt’s big splashes at the World’s Fair was Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, created for the state of Illinois. Lincoln was, at the time, the most advanced animatronic ever attempted by Disney, and he wowed guests from all over the world with his lifelike movements. The original Mr. Lincoln moved to Disneyland after the conclusion of the Fair, and he resides there to this day.

But over at Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square, A second Lincoln leads a cast of every president ever to serve the United States in the Hall of Presidents. Lincoln once again recites his famous Gettysburg Address, and George Washington recites a speech as well. The current U.S. president recites the presidential oath.

Walt’s patriotism is fully on display here, as evidenced by several photos of Walt with former presidents. There’s also a bust of Walt in the attraction’s lobby. And perhaps the coolest nod to our Founding Fathers is the The Great Seal of the United States, which is only displayed in two locations – the White House and Magic Kingdom’s Hall of Presidents.

When you leave the Hall of Presidents, be sure to walk across the square to check out the Liberty Tree and its hanging lanterns, made famous in Disney’s 1957 film Johnny Tremain. Next to the Liberty Tree, check out the state flags of the original 13 states and a replica of the Liberty Bell. Walt would be proud of this homage to colonial America.

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

The birthplace of Disney’s famous audio-animatronics is Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland. This roughly 15-minute show treats guests to a relaxing “tropical serenade” including over 150 singing and dancing birds, flowers, tikis, and even a singing waterfall.

Walt originally conceived of the Tiki Room as a restaurant where guests could enjoy a meal while being serenaded and entertained. Rolly Crump – one of Walt’s favorite creators – led the artist design of this legendary attraction. This attraction, along with the Carousel of Progress, are the only ones in Walt Disney World which are titled “Walt Disney’s…” Tip: grab a Dole Whip nearby before entering the attraction – you can enjoy it during the show!

Country Bear Jamboree

One of the last projects Walt Disney was working on before his death in 1966 was the Mineral King Ski Resort in California. While not a great skier, Walt enjoyed a good day on the slopes. His dream ski resort in the Sequoias would have included upwards of 14 ski lifts and a gondola system that would connect eight mountain peaks above the resort’s village. Dining options would include ten restaurants and cafes, and a 150-seat coffee shop set atop Eagle’s Crest Ridge, which would be called Walt Disney’s Sky Crown.

Entertainment at one of Walt’s restaurants would be provided by none other than a group of audio animatronic bears, straight out of the Sequoias. Disney Legend Marc Davis designed the show with a healthy portion of his classic humor and wit.

After Walt’s death, environmental concerns over the development of this pristine land stalled the project. With growing environmental opposition, and without Walt to champion the romance of the project to success, the Walt Disney Company eventually dropped the idea. But out of this failure was born the Country Bear Jamboree, an attraction which lives on to this day in Magic Kingdom.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Transportation and urban planning were among Walt Disney’s passion projects. Walt’s fascination with transportation improvements led him to employing the short-lived Viewliner in Disneyland, which was followed by the world-famous Monorail. A slightly more casual way of traveling around Tomorrowland was the PeopleMover. While this attraction no longer exists in Disneyland, it is still wildly popular in Magic Kingdom.

While the transportation aspect of this attraction is a worthwhile Walt connection in and of itself, an even more poignant connection to Walt resides along the PeopleMover’s route. When cruising above Tomorrowland on the way to Space Mountain, attentive guests will notice a small diorama of a “city of the future” along an inside portion of the route. This is a portion of Walt’s Progress City/EPCOT model. This model formerly resided outside the window of the last scene in Disneyland’s Carousel of Progress. When the attraction moved to Magic Kingdom, the model was displaced, and a portion of it was installed along the PeopleMover’s route.

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Did you find enough of Walt Disney in the Magic Kingdom? He’s all over the place, once you know where to look. Connect with Walt in other parts of Walt Disney World in Part Two of our series, where we’ll explore other Walt Disney World parks, as well as a few resorts.

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