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Business Movers

Walt Disney: Building a Better Theme Park | Author Chad Denver Emerson on the Success, or Failure, of “Project Future” | 5

Business Movers

Wondery

History, Business, Entrepreneurship

4.81.5K Ratings

🗓️ 4 February 2021

⏱️ 39 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

For Disney World expert Chad Denver Emerson, the Walt Disney World Resort is more than entertainment. It’s one of his greatest passions. Chad is the author of multiple books on Disney World, including Project Future: The Inside Story Behind the Creation of Disney World. He’s also an expert on city and urban planning, which makes him uniquely qualified to answer the question: Does the Walt Disney World Resort live up to the highest ideals of Walt’s vision for a City of Tomorrow? 

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Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:21.0

It's late spring 1954 in Southern California. Two friends are out for a drive.

0:26.0

In the passenger seat is Art Linkletter, the host of the wildly successful game show People Are Funny.

0:32.0

Behind the wheel is his good friend Walt Disney, the brilliant entrepreneur and world class entertainer.

0:38.0

Art wasn't surprised when his friend Walt asked him to go for a country drive earlier today.

0:43.0

But Art is a little confused why that drive has taken him 25 miles south, Los Angeles.

0:49.0

Walt, are we almost there? How many times are you going to ask that? Come on, how much longer? Relax.

0:56.0

Walt pulls off the main road and turns onto a small dirt path that winds its way through a seemingly never-ending field of orange grows.

1:03.0

Soon Walt pulls his car over in front of an open swatch of land and turns off the ignition.

1:08.0

I thought we'd never make it. Where is this place? Come on.

1:12.0

Walt steps out of the car. Art follows suit.

1:16.0

The two men stand at the edge of the road looking out over a large expanse of flat uninhabited land.

1:22.0

So Art, what do you see? A few horses, abandoned sheds, not much. You know what I see? I see opportunity.

1:29.0

Art listens as Walt launches into an impassioned monologue about his vision for what he calls Disneyland,

1:35.0

a first of its kind family friendly theme park. But Art's heard this spiel before. Everyone who knows Walt has heard it.

1:43.0

So eventually Art breaks in. And Walt no offense. But who in the world is going to drive 25 miles to ride a roller coaster?

1:51.0

Thousands of people. Thousands of people in huge parking lots. And there's no roller coasters here. It's not that kind of part.

1:57.0

Then what are people going to make the drive for? Acres of colorful buildings, magical places, tomorrow land, jungle land, fantasy land. Walt.

2:06.0

Look Art, there's a reason I brought you here.

2:08.0

Financially, I can only handle Disneyland. But the land bordering it. Where we're standing right now.

2:14.0

And just a couple of years, this spot will be jammed with hotels and restaurants and convention halls to accommodate the people who will come to spend their entire vacations here at my park.

2:24.0

I brought you here because I want you to have the first chance at this surrounding acreage. Because in the next five years, it will increase in value several hundred times.

...

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