Product Description

During the final months of his life, Walt Disney was consumed with the world-wide problems of cities. His development concept at the time of his death on December 15th, 1966 would be his team’s conceptual response to the ills of the inner cities and the sprawl of the megalopolis: the "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow" or, as it became known, EPCOT.

This beautifully written, instantly engrossing volume focuses on the original concept of EPCOT, which was conceived by Disney as an experimental community of about 20,000 people on the Disney World property in central Florida. With its radial plan, 50-acre town center enclosed by a dome, themed international shopping area, greenbelt, high-density apartments, satellite communities, monorail and underground roads, the original EPCOT plan is reminiscent of post-war Stockholm and the British New Towns, as well as today's transit-oriented development theory.

Unfortunately, Disney himself did not live long enough to witness the realization of his "model city." However, EPCOT's evolution into projects such as the EPCOT Center and the town of Celebration displays a remarkable commitment by the Disney organization to the original EPCOT philosophy, one which continues to have relevance in the fields of planning and development.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #953710 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Review
"...solid academic historical research and a "great read" about one of the most fascinating people of our century." -- Richard Peiser, Michael D. Spear Professor of Real Estate Development, Harvard Design School, Massachusetts, USA

"Mannheim does a remarkable job in detailing the Disney's revolutionary urban planning contributions that shape most of the modern world." -- Edward J. Blakely, Dean, Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy, New School University, New York, USA

"The book is the first to reveal Walt Disney's deep personal concern for the urban "crisis" of the time..." -- Gerald Gast, Associate Professor, Portland Urban Architecture Program, The University of Oregon

"...a well-documented historical account of the decision-making processes regarding EPCOT...an indispensable resource." -- Jeffrey Sasha Davis, Pennsylvania State University

"For professionals, practitioners, and students of community development...Walt Disney and the Quest for Community provides a nugget of unique information." -- Roger L. Galatas, Urban Land

Customer Reviews

The Evolution of Walt's EPCOT Concept
This is a great read about Walt Disney's EPCOT concept. It draws upon original interviews, research in archives, Disney company building experience, and history to tell a fascinating story of Walt's original ideas and how they evolved into later projects like Epcot and Celebration. Most important, it is clear that the author has a solid understanding of Walt Disney the man and uses it to put EPCOT into context. In addition, the author provides many references with which I was unfamiliar. Finally, the book is organized in such a way as to make it very accessible. I think that this book will be an important resource for both scholars and Disney fans in the future.

strange, controlling vision
Mannheim gives an independent look at Walt Disney's last dream. Of a planned urban community that would not have the various ills common in American cities in the 60s. The text goes into many details of how EPCOT was designed. It draws key distinctions between the EPCOT of Walt's vision and the Epcot centre that actually was built in Florida.

The vision was for an experimental community. What the Disney Corp. later did was set up a planned community, "Celebration", in Florida that evoked Walt's ideas. The text describes how this community could well be seen as culturally stifling by some readers, with many restrictions on its inhabitants.

The textual portion of the book is only 70% of the pages. The remaining 30% has an extensive bibliography that indicates serious scholarship by Mannheim.

The Story Behind Walt's EPCOT
This well organized, well researched book provides great insight to the original dreams and plans Walt Disney had for the prototype community of tomorrow - the EPCOT that never was built.

A great read for any EPCOT fan, Walt Disney fan or those interested in city plannning.